The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-20

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St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Chur
Nicene, and the -Athanasian Creed
the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
the Apology Of the same, the Smalcald
Articles, the Small and the Large
Catechism Of DR.. Martin Luther. and
the Formula Of Concord.
School Was Founded.
Soon after the organization of st.
Johns church a parochial school was
founded which has been in a flourish
ing condition to this date. The bust
ness. management Of the school IL
placed into the hands Of q school
board chosen by the congregation, the
pastor acting as supervisor of the
school. It is not because the Luther
ans are opposed to the public school
system that they erect and maintain
their own schools and support their
own educators. They know that with
out the public schools our republic
would be in great danger of losing its
capability for achievement and in
danger Of lapsing into utter ignorance.
The foremost aim OF the Lutheran
parochia1 school il to give children a
thorough and complete religious
training. This training the state can
not give, and If it wishes to keep
attempt to give. The Lutherans claim
that every education, making any
claim to completeness, must include a
religious training. Education without
religion is like q ship without q COM
pass. The moral education must be
founded on and issue out of a relig-
ious training, because 1t supplies the
only real basis for true morality.
Since it is impossible to bring any
kind of religious training into our
public schools under a common head
because Of the peculiar religious
characteristics OF the various church
denominations 1t il the solemn duty
sof the house and the church to pro-
vide for the religious training of our
youth.
A Course in Religion.
This conviction has impelled the
Lutherans Of Topeka to establish their
own school and to support it with
cial support Of the state. For the
last % years Prof. w. H. Steinkamp
has had charge of the school. Two
languages, English and German, are
taught. The aim OF the school Is to
give the pupil complete course in
religion and in secular training ap-
preaching the course assigned for the
public schools in Topeka. The lower
grades are In charge Of Miss Ida
Senne. who has proven herself to be
very proficient. After finishing the
course OF st. Johns school it is Gus
tomary for our scholars to continue
their studies in the public schools, en-
tering the eighth grade.
Patrick Henry said in his last will
and testament II have disposed Of
all my worldly property to my fam
lily. There is one more thing I wish
I could give them, and that is the
Christian religion. If they had this
md 7 had DIV
they would be rich. But If they have
not the Christian religion and had
given them all the world, they would
be poor"
The Lutherans are Of the same
opinion. They maintain their own
schools. engage teachers Of their own
religious belief to teach their child
rem the fear of God which is the be-
ginning of wisdom" The school has
at present an enrolment of 60 pupils.
W. II. steinkamp was born in st.
ing the course Of the Lutheran paro-
chial school there, he attended the
Lutheran high school, now known as
Walther college, and later entered the
Normal school at Addison, Ill. He
year entered upon school work in To-
peka-
Requirements Are High.
The required musical accomplish
ments Of Lutheran teacher are thai
he be proficient on the pipe organ. OF
the piano. on the violin and also b.
able to lead Z church choir. st John'i
old organization and meets ever
Wednesday evening for practice.
achieved fame in the fall Of 1910 whel
during the session of synod at st
Johns 1t rendered program OF elev
en- numbers. chora1s, cantatas and 9th
er selections. The choir was organ
lied in 1879 by F. w. Weber and A
vogel. Prof. W. H. Steinkamp 1
president and director. F. w. Webe
, treasurer; Cord Mueller, secretary
Miss Alma Kruse and Miss Gertrud
Klein. librarians.
A very active and important organ
ization In the congregation IL the La
dies Aid society, which meets ever
first Thursday Of the month and ha
membership Of 60. The president o
this society b Mrs. J. q. Nussback
: vice president. Mrs. H. Genthe; secre
, tary. Mrs. H. Lindemann; treasurer
: Mrs. ]. Klein.
Church Organizations.
Other societies of st. Johns arr
( the Lutheran Y. p. society. whic
Q meets twice q month and the Iuthera
e Education society. Officers OF the ]
: Y. p. society are: Miss Hulda 6taerke
3 secretary; Miss Aurelia Steinkam1
treasurer. Officers Of the Luthera
z Education society: w. r. Weber. pre-
d ident; w. H. Steinkamp, vice pres
9 dent; Rev. p. D. Mueller. secretar,
u ladies committee. Mrs. s. c. Nichol
: Mrs. w. F. Weber. Mrs.. p. d. Auelle
Officers of the church: pastor, r.
, Mueller: elders. e. Senne, Emil Adam
y and William Kieninger: trustees. =
d school board, p. D. Mueller, E. Adam
r Fl Senne. VIM KieninRer. fenehar