Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1919-03-26
EDITO RIAL
DOING THE BEST HE COULD.


Heralds mind one Of the biggest incidents of the
past year was the controversy arising in the
little church over the use of English or German
in the pulpit and the final victory Of the pastor
and his supporters on the side Of our common
tongue. This battle was but one of many waged
in Wisconsin for the making of this state as a
part of our United States from hybrid that was
neither flesh, fish or fowl but reeked of pro-Ger-
manism.
1t was source of deep qualification to the
Herald and also to numerous others to note the
final and complete triumph of Rev. Rechts
idealism. This pastor newly arrived from the
old country (Rev. Recht has been here about six
years. early saw that church could not exist
with half allegiance to a new order He stated
emphatically that the duty of the church as a
mighty institution for patriotism was to cleave
completely to the country III which it existed.
He stated that great wrong was being done
children who were brought up under any other
influences. By a decisive vote his stand was up
held and Ito use the term) the American Ian
guage became installed once and for all in the
church Concessions have been made older par
ishoners who do not understand English but
nevertheless the latter tongue is the dominant
one in church affairs.
Stands for deep-seated convictions, carefully
thought out and courageously upheld are not
made without sacrifice. Any man who has at
one time or another made such a stand knows
this to be true We consider that Rev. Recht
acted with great courage and manhood in doing
as he did; knowing that he would doubtless in
curr enmty by so doing
Americanism is not to be determined by length
of residence in this new country. Few of us can
boast more than limited number Of years
Some recent arrivals (many of them from Ger
many have shown greater Americansm than
others whose ancestors came over on the May
flower. Americanism is to be determined by
the understanding of our ideaIism and the will
lingness to participate whoe-heartedly in the
sacrament of brotherhood and freedom that lies
at the base of our constitution.
Without DEPRESSING we might say that we
know another German 1--WE use this word to de-
note ancestry; in reality our friend is the
staunchest of Americans) who worked tremend-
Ously for this, our country, during the war. He
served on all the bond drives War work seemed
to automatically seek him. Brokenly, this man
his humble soul afre with the light of great
purpose, explained his to others who
doubted or did not understand Forcibly if with
plain and simple words he won his share of vic
tory for our cause. He was helping the boys
over there!
One day he told us with something like tears
in his eyes that some men asked him what he
was getting for all this work! Think of it Good
God! They thought this man was working for
money! They couldn't see that ne was giving
far more than money could pay-service to patri-
otto idealism!
We feel sorry for such men. Men who can
not understand that the world is not built on
dollars But we feel mighty proud to know cur
friend and to know that such men exist. They
are treasures of heaven on earth.
Now we will come back to Rev. Recht. He did
we'll too. We feel that some day he will be told
this by higher power. But we like to chronicle
his work here below and to let him know that
despite the storms and Universities of life he can
always take pride in doing what he did.
The mighty may sheer at battles such as these
They may think that a controversy in little
rock church is rather picayunish affair. Maybe
it is. But to Rev. Recht it wasn't. 1t was his
whole life. Humble people understood that
God too understands and takes note-we are
sure.
Life is not built on wealth or power. Life is
built on achievement of doing right. life
without some measure of this-without some
measure of sacrifice for idealisnl-is life poor
ly spent. Perhaps entirely worthless.
Wherever Rev. Geo. Recht and family go we
wish them well.
Word comes that the allies will completely
dismantle the great German war base, Helgo-