The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-21
SUNDAY IN HOME OF
A GERMAN PEASANT
Absolute Serenity Marks the
Entire Day
LARGE CONGREGATIONS
Scarcely Vacant Seat in Quaint Old
Edifice-After Two Services the
Pastor Leads Boys and
Girls to Play
LARGE CONGREGATIONS

In the 100 flourishing German col
onies located in the farm lands of
the west the settlers sacredly ahhere
to many traditions of the netherlands,
says the New York Sun. One in par
ticular is the Sunday observance. It
recalls to the farmer the tranquil days
of his youth spent in the small vii
lage and his church Restfulness is
the keynote of every day in the week
at the Pfarrerhaus in Germany except
Sunday. Nora C. Usher recalls Sum
day spent among the German peasants
During six days no sound was to be
heard save the voices of the children
from the adjacent schoolhouse and the
lowing of the cattle in the meadows
beyond the churchyard Seven miles
from the nearest village, with only
half a dozen scattered houses In sight,
no discord from the busy world dis
turbed the absolute serenity. The pas
tor was childless and the silence of
the home was almost as deep as that
which EMBODIED the gray old church
which had slumbered in sunshine and
shower for IL centuries. But on Sun
day his modest dwelling became the
center of activity for a circuit of sew
eral miles. In that region of moor
and woodland no cinema shows, no
dancing saloons or beer gardens-no
not even the Salvation Army-tempted
the stolid peasants to vacate their ac-
eustomed places in the church of their
forefathers.
Bell Reminds of Sabbath
At o'clock on the Saturday even
ing the sonorous bell, reminding all
within reach of its dull voice that the
morrow was the Sabbath, gave the
premonitory sign of the approaching
excitement Then the Frau Pastor
would put out and brush her spouses
black Lutheran gown and odd shaped
cap, somewhat resembling a morton
board, while he collected and arranged
the various books and papers required
for his priestly duties.
The preparation of the Sunday dinner
too was always completed on Satur-
day night, and quantities of cold viands
intended for numerous guests were
placed ready to hand on the side
board so tht the entire household
might attend the morning service. But
strictly speaking the Sabbath began
with another ringing of the church
bell not for early celebration, as
might be supposed, but as a second
reminder to intending worshippers
Whether owing to this stimulus or to
instincts of reverent punctuality.
though half the congregation had
tramped or cycled or driven a con-
siderable distance, scarcely seat was
vacant when the leisurely old clock
struck the hour of service. The church
was full and yet as still If 1t were
empty, so still that hardly an eyelid
seemed to flicker as the men on one
10 10 or or
awaited the entrance of the pastor.
Church Is Ancient
The building was very ancient, dating
back to the thirteenth century, a plain,
barnlilSe structure, with stumpy tower,
yet adorned with the beauty of age. The
interior struck one as gloomy and de-
pressing. the uncomfortable, old-fash-
Toned pews the crumbling font, the pulpit
extraordinarily perched above at the back
of the communion table, the wheezy or
gan squeaking and groanlng, helped out
by couple of brass Instruments, the
fifteenth century hymnaI with hymns of
endless length-all bore the stamp of
time. Nor were the congregation up to
date; their placid, self-respecting con-
tentment with their life aud position
were such as are rarely met with in the
twentieth century. There was neither
any appearance of poverty nor any at
tempt to ape their betters. Several of
the women wore dark silk dresses that
would have almost stood alone. and some
of the hats were garnished with ostrich
feathers that must have cost little short
of pound. But the feathers We're worn
modestly dropping and the silk skirts
contained sufficient material to make
three of the fashionable shape. There
was nothing tawdry common to be
SEEM deep seated responsibility was
stamped on every man and woman. Dur
n ha he m raff In, A nod
seated, but stood for the prayers and
lessons. The children occupied the front
benches. the boys on one side and the
girls on the other. AS the pastor entered
boys and girls rose and remained stand
ing for the greater part of the service.
Anything more reverent and attentive
than their conduct--possibly due to the
proximity of the acknowledgements be
imagined.
The Children's Home
The second service was at 2 o'clock
after which the elders and the children
wendell their way home in chattering
groups across the sunny meadows,
through the shadowy beech woods or
along the dusty highroad. But from the
church room came the tempting odor of
freshly made coffee and through the
open windows mountainous piles of plain
cake could be seen on the trestle tables.
Thither the pastor and his family, the
schoolmaster and his assistant, the youths
and maidens who had remained when the
rest of the congregation dispersed, re-
paired and cheerful clatter of croclxery
and hum of happy voices testified to
their appreciation of the simple meal
Then-wonder of wondersi-the whole
company, including the pastor, made their
way to the school playground on the
other side of the church and there spent
the rest of the afternoon IN croquet ten
MS, races, jumping and other sports 1t
was difficult to realize that the stern
voiced. solemn faced pastor before whom
in the church the maidens dropped their
eyes and the youths bowed their heads
was the same man as he VINO now leaped
and ran and laughed and shouted as
merrily and intellectually as the young
est of his flock. 1t was a strange
anomaly.
Supper at o'clock was served in the
veranda of the Pfarrerhaus or when the
Z weather permitted under the chestnut
trees in the garden. Several parishioners
from a distance who purposed attending
an informal meeting in the church room
in the evening sat down 10 supper In
deed, the Frau pastor kept open house
more or less all day and the Herr Pastor
received visitors in his study both before
and after services They came, young
and old, men and women, one after the
other fast as patients to fashionable
Doctors consulting room. A German
pastor is father to all of his flock
Not Anxious to Enter That Category
From Judge.
The teacher was seating pupils alpha