ILLINOIS HISTORICAL SURVEY Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/timeforremembranOOwile : "L I E> RARY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS nam mmmi mm A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE History of 125 years of First Evangelical United Brethren Church Naperville, Illinois ELIZABETH WILEY MILDRED EIGENBRODT Published by FIRST EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH Naperville, Illinois Printed by THE NAPERVILLE SUN, INC. Naperville, Illinois Cover designed by Helen Gamertsfelder Barrett DEDICATED to past, present, and future members of FIRST EVANGELICAL UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH OF NAPERVILLE- to the followers as well as the leaders! TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Beginnings 1 II. Environmental Settlings 11 III. Schismatic Reverberations 19 IV. Unions, Organizations, and Buildings . 23 V. Social Gospel 39 VI. Liturgical Leanings ... ... 61 IN GRATITUDE Project "A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE - 125" could never have left the launching pad without the solicited and voluntary help of many persons through corre- spondence, interviews, and questionnaires. A list of such persons will be found following the bibliography. We wish in particular to express our gratitude to fellow-workers on the History Committee — Ruth Gam- ertsfelder, James Stein, and Paul Washburn — for sug- gestions and criticisms and for faithfully attending the bi-monthly meetings on Monday mornings through a winter with weather reminiscent of that endured in early years in Naperville. TO THE READER One of the best ways of understanding what something is, is to be told what it is not! This book is not an erudite and solemn ecclesi- astical account of the first 125 years of First Church in Naperville. It is, rather, an informal story of people and events connected with this church as against the background of the college and the town. Naturally in such an undertaking as this we have had information pouring in from many sources. Our biggest problem has been one of elimination and selectivity. We hope you will realize our dis- appointment in not being able to include many other names worthy of mention. We assure you that such omissions mean lack of space only — not of appreciation! Along with the informality of subject matter, you will notice the unconventional treatment of some items of bibliography and the almost total lack of footnotes. It would be much too formal and space-consuming to attempt to give the sources for all material used. So, as persons who have labored for decades to persuade would- be youthful scribblers to be accurate and authentic and to avoid plagiarism, we do therefore solemnly affirm (without our tongues in our cheeks) that in this book we have earnestly endeavored to follow our own admonitions! Elizabeth Wiley Mildred Eigenbrodt Naperville, Illinois September ,1962 CHAPTER BEGINNINGS Before the coming of the families responsible for the beginning of the First Evangelical Chnrch in DnPage County, Naper Settle- ment was already a pioneer community. In the early 1830 's, Bailey Hobson and Joseph and John Naper had built their first rude cabins of logs and mud, with a single high-up window covered in winter time with a gunny-sack or lard-greased paper. By 1835 they and their Yankee and New England neighbors had set up trading posts with the Indians and built saw mills and grist mills, first run by horse power, later by water power. (The river here at that time carried much more water than now, and was rightly called the "Roaring DuPage".) The trouble with the Indians already had been peaceably settled after the Black Hawk War, in another one of those "Christian" treaties which drove the Red Man to the barren lands west of the Mississippi ! Among these early immigrants came several Evangelical families in 1836, followed a year later by a number of others from Warren County, Pennsylvania. These were the first German-speaking people in this part of the country. Like many of the other pioneers, they must have been intrigued with the beauty of the Northeast Illinois prairie and the potentialities for making a good living. One early pioneer in a letter declared that this was "the best country he had ever seen for a rich man or a poor one, a lazy or industrious one. ' ' Some of these early settlers couldn 't understand why this fertile prairie land had been neglected for so many years, when they remembered that Marquette and Joliet had discovered these grass plains and wide rivers as long ago as 1673 — nearly 160 years earlier! Little blue stem, big blue stem, and Indian grass, from three to nine feet high, rolled on for mile after mile. As much of the timber land already had been "preempted" before 1837, these German families settled on the prairies, not knowing at that time they had the best of the bargain. In 1837 a group of fifteen Evangelicals organized and met in the homes of the members or in a school-house built earlier on Scott's Hill (now corner of Franklin and Washington). Strong feelings of neighborliness and hospitality existed among the various religious groups of the time — Congregationalists, Evangelicals, and Methodists. All were served at first by itinerant preachers or missionaries. Ser- mons were often more effective than elegant. One man, in defending one of these preachers for "slaughtering the King's English", re- marked, "Thank God, he slaughtered sin also!" The story is told of one of these preachers who had the "thirdly" part of his sermon blown away by the wind, and his ideas were so confused thereby that he abruptly came to a full stop. If people wouldn't come to church, the " exhort er" followed them home from the stores or mills and earnestly tried to bring about their salvation. Jacob Boas preached the first sermon to the Evangelicals in 1837. lie was sent as a mission minister, a circuit rider, from Ohio. The small congregation received Reverend Boas with great joy and happi- ness, lie stayed for six months, riding or walking courageously through inclement weather over unbroken terrain at times to cover a territory of 400 miles. Even then he was not satisfied with the distance covered, for at the end of that same year he wrote to friends in Penn- sylvania : "I could not, however, travel far about, because my horse was sick nearly all the time since I came here, consequently I could not make the circuit as large as I wished to do."* When he was called back to Ohio, he promised to send someone in his p^ace : but it was eight months before another circuit rider. Reverend M. Hauert, ap- peared. At this time all churches were finding it very difficult to recruit new ministers. In the course of his duties, Reverend Hauert, in this wide territory, preached as often as he could to the group here in Xaperville, who had become quite discouraged at being left so long without a minister. Some even talked of going back to Pennsylvania, so much did they miss their regular church services. A reporter on "The Naperville Clarion" writing in 1900 of these early times said, "We can easily see that the people in those days did not hear so many sermons as we do today, but they prayed more." Since it was thought at that time desirable to make an annual change of ministers, Reverend Hauert stayed only a year, as did many succeeding pastors. One of the most indefatigable preachers in these early times was John Seybert, elected bishop by the General Conference in 1839, meeting near Millheim, Pennsylvania. For the next twenty years he worked continuously for the Evangelical Association and for the God whom he served with humility and with his uttermost strength and somewhat limited talents. A recent authority on the history of the church writes: "None did more in molding the expansion and char- acter of the Evangelical Church in the midwest than Bishop John Seybert." There were more travelling preachers than local preachers in 1850. A preacher could be "located" because of personal or family reasons if his request seemed plausible to the conference members. He might beg off because of bodily infirmities if he could no longer withstand the rigors of horseback locomotion. Because of the failure of the revolution in Germany in 1830 against tyranny, many refugees fled to America. Here they were enticed by the tales coming from Illinois, and numbers of them joined their coun- trymen just west of the lake village of Chicago. By 1840 this Evan- better transited from the German. gelical congregation was large enough to undertake the building of the first church to be constructed in DuPage County. The people had very little money to contribute, but they donated lumber and labor. They cut down logs in the Big Woods west of town in the fall, and in the spring hauled them by ox-teams to the local sawmill. From this lumber and a load purchased and hauled from Chicago by the only man among them with a team of horses, they erected in 1841 the walls and roof of a small building on a lot given them by Captain Joseph Naper. As he was not a member of their group, this gift was another evidence of community cooperation. At the camp grounds east of Naper Settlement one Sunday ■morning in early summer of 1849, Bishop Seybert was con- ducting Sunday Services for a large crowd attending the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Association. As no building in the village was large enough to accommodate them, they were holding a "bush meeting." This was the same year when the 49'ers were going by on the plank road headed for the gold rush in California! What a contrast in motives for trekking! This Zion Evangelical Church faced the south on Van Buren, half- way between Eagle and Webster streets. Two doors led from it, with two or three steps in front of each, the east side for the men and the west for the women. Inside, a few steps led up to the low pulpit — from the east side, of course! (See sketch by Hannah Ditzler Als- paugh.) There was an aisle on each side and a division down the center of the plain unvarnished, unpainted seats separating the men from the women. A very small and humble structure, but these forefathers regarded it with pride and reverence. Happily they found the membership increasing so fast that four years later they had to build an addition. At this time a visit from Bishop Seybert was a great encouragement to the congregation. After the good bishop had given an inspiring missionary sermon in the fine newly-made-over church, $60.00 was presented in offering, and a "Missionary Aid So- ciety was organized in which the members pledged themselves to give at least a dollar a year for missions besides the regular missionary collections." The rapid increase in members was augmented later by the coming of many more German families from eastern Pennsylvania, largely Evangelicals. The next fifteen years were busy and progressive ones for the community in which this sturdy congregation was developing. Mem- bers of other religious groups, some alreadj' organized in the 1830 's, built their own churches during the 40 's and early 50 's — Congrega- tionalists, Methodists, Baptists, and Catholics. The Lutherans and Episcopalians found church homes a few years later. Representatives of most churches were interested in the project of a DuPage County Bible Society, established in 1841 with Reverend John H. Prentiss as I resident. This organization handled more than $15,000 worth of Bibles in a period of forty years — selling* some, giving away others. Successful revival meetings were held in the various churches. After one particularly outstanding series in the winter of 1848 in Zion Evangelical Church, even unbelievers talking on the street cor- ners remarked, "That Little church up here is a blessing to the town after all." People walked for miles to attend these meetings every evening and on Sunday too. One lady, Mrs. Kailer, used to serve food to the people who walked in from the country. The reading material found in the homes of these pioneer families consisted nearly always of the Bible and an almanac, with a few scat- tered copies of Fox's "Book of Martyrs 1 ', "Lives of the Apostles", "Pilgrim's Progress", Rollin's "American History", and Weem's "Life of George Washington." With the establishment of more schools; including the Catholic Parochial School and several other private schools; with the printing of the first newspaper in Naperville ("The DuPage County Recorder"); and with the incorporation of "The Naperville Library" in 1845, with its thirty subscribers — much greater opportunities for reading became available to the people. Even though "The DuPage County Recorder" lasted less than a year, several other attempts were made to publish a better newspaper until finally one came out in 1856 that showed a big improvement over its predecessors — "The DuPage County Journal." Gradually in the homes of the Evangelicals had begun to appear "Der Christliche Botschafter", first published in 1836, and a little later the English paper, "The Evangelical Messenger", appearing first in 1848. As to physical comforts, even from the beginning these people were lucky as far as climate and food were concerned. Though the winters were sometimes severe, with huge drifts of snow making com- munication almost impossible, there was plenty of sunshine to make the climate as a whole a healthful one. From the first there was no danger of starvation, with wild ducks and geese on the banks and in the water of the DuPage and many kinds of fish waiting to be caught. Raccoons, rabbits, and deer roamed the woods. Quail, prairie chickens, and wild turkeys scattered through the tall grasses. As soon as the men could make plowshares that would break the tough matted roots of this virgin prairie land, they raised luxuriant crops of corn, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, and potatoes. In the autumn between chores with their cattle and sheep and the harvesting of their crops, they roamed through the trees for walnuts, butternuts, and hickorynuts to store away for the winter before the chipmunks and squirrels beat them to it. In the spring and early summer the women hunted along the edges of the Big Woods for wild blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cherries. In 1853 Naperville was a town of 1200 inhabitants. Even then the ladies were an enterprising group. Before many of the swamps were drained, they fought the ague year after year with Soppington's pills. As there were practically no doctors, the women had much to do with nursing the community back to health after a severe epidemic of cholera in 1849 that took the lives of many people. They even got up fairs to earn funds for building plank walks for all the principal streets of the little town. Of the four district schools organized by this time, three of them were taught by women. As more and more people moved into Naperville and the surround- ing territory, there was an increased attendance at the various churches. In spite of the addition made to the Evangelical Church in 1845, it again became too small to accommodate all the people who wished to attend services. The congregation erected a new church in 1858-59 on the corner of Franklin and Center Streets, where the present church now stands. Jonathan Ditzler was the master-mind in this construction — its architect, carpenter, and financier. A visitor after one of the serial camp meetings in 1846 urged that two improvements be made: "There ought to be more light to enable one to see the preacher's face at night; in addition, while it is a commendable thing to have a picket fence separating the brethren from the sisters during the meeting, why must the brethren use the fence as a hat rack?" It is the qualifying clause of concession beginning with "while" that we find most amusing today! Men hauled the bricks for building the walls of the forty-four by sixty-six foot structure from the old Buck place east of town where they had been made. As the Naperville quarries had not yet been opened, they brought the stone for the foundation from Lockport. The lumber came from Chicago and Lockport, including some "im- ported" white pine from which the pews and pulpit were made by hand by Jonathan Ditzler. This particular kind of wood had prob- ably been shipped to Chicago from farther north. There were no in- digenous evergreens in the Big Woods, where hickory, oak, maple, and walnut trees grew in abundance. The black walnut altar rail made a striking contrast with the white pine wood. The entrance to the church was through a door into the basement facing west, from which led two winding stairways to the auditorium overhead, the south for the women and the north for the men. In later years there were times of friendly rivalry between the two sides as to collection and attendance. This custom of separation was observed even into the next century. Mrs. Thomas Finkbeiner tells of her indignation at going to this Zion Church and finding herself and infant son sitting in one part of the church, her tall professor husband leaving her, to sit with the rest of the men. She says she had a big notion at that time never to go back ! As the 1841 building had already been sold to the Lutherans, regular services were held in the .Methodist Church just across the corner until the basement for the new church was completed. (Many years Later this kindness was returned when the Methodist Church suffered from a disastrous fire.) As there were no sidewalks on this corner at thai time, straw was used in the aisles to keep mud from being tracked in. then shoveled away in the morning. Finally, in spite of a severe winter, the Zion Church, that was to stand for half a cen- t ury, was completed at a cost of $7,000 and was dedicated by Reverend J. J. Esher in the spring of 1859. (For a long' time this was the only church in town not made 1 of wood ; consequently it was later referred to. often affectionately, as the "Old Brick Church.") Eight years | later, in 1867, a large, tuneful bell was hung in the tall steeple im- periously summoning the villagers and farmers to come to their beau- tiful new church home to sing and to pray. (In 1900 the steeple was Lowered for safety's sake, since many people had reported seeing it shake while the big bell was ringing.) During the first years in the life of the new church, several series of revivals and protracted meetings were held. Some of these people have written candid reports of the amount of time and energy neces- sary to bring about their conversion ! Often strange incidents en- livened the hours. Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh's parents told of a "rowdy" who exhausted the patience of the sexton whose job it was to keep order. He forcibly tried to eject from the church this willful "disturber of the peace" and had his thumb nearly bitten off! One good Evangelical sister, after living here for awhile, wrote back to her family about what she called "distracted" meetings. And so no doubt they sometimes w r ere ! According to a reporter in "The Clarion," however, writing of these times several decades later : ' l These brethren had glorious meet- ings. . . . Zion Church grew strong in faith and influence in this town. . . . Indeed it seemed as if the Lord took special pleasure in showering upon these people his richest blessings." (Maybe an Evangelical reporter!) However, an historian of the county of that time says: "No other church of the county met with such a degree of prosperity as Zion Church of Naperville. " (Historian not an Evangelical!) Both the Abolitionist and the Temperance Causes had strong ad- vocates in Naperville as early as 1850. Much earlier in the century the Evangelical Discipline had first exhorted, then commanded, its members against participating in the sale of men and women as slaves. A. A. Smith (who later became the first president of North- western College) was an ardent abolitionist as early at 1839. In 1847 the General Conference drafted a strong statement against this traffic in human lives "under any pretext whatever." The first temperance organization was formed in the fall of 1850, and at a later period "included among its more than 300 members every prominent business and professional man in Naperville." As early as 1839, the Evangelical Association forbade its members to participate in the sale and use of intoxicating liquors. Several other 6 organizations were established at varying periods of time, the strong- est of which was "The Blue Ribbon Club" in 1879, succeeded two years later by "The Naperville Temperance Alliance," with Professor H. H. Rassweiler of North- Western College as its first president. But these Germans in this new territory were more than frugal, hardworking farmers and shopkeepers, interested in religion and temperance and freedom for all in America. They were also concern- ing themselves with other aspects of culture and education. This was in some ways a revolutionary attitude, as they had to overcome a strong pioneer opposition to formal education. They also had to op- pose an attitude within the church itself that the untrained minister stood in closer relationship to God and received greater blessings from him than the educated person. When a vote was taken throughout the Evangelical Association on the desirability of establishing an insti- tution of learning connected with the church, the proposition was roundly voted down. Mrs. Bertha Finkbeiner remembers distinctly seeing couples walking out to the '"protracted meetings" at the Camp Grounds one mile east of Naperville, with the man stalking on ahead and the woman meekly following behind. And this in the first decade of the 20th century! Shortly after this, individual conferences began working in their own localities, and in 1850 the Illinois and Wisconsin Conferences began discussing the possibility of establishing a college here in the Middle West, closely related to the Evangelical churches but defin- itely not to be a "preacher factory." This prejudice against the spe- cial education of ministers prevailed for another decade, with state- ments such as the following appearing in some of the church papers : ' ' There is danger that the ' feed ' will be placed so high the lambs can 't get it." Ministers so trained were designated as "puny debilitated creatures with full heads and very empty hearts who can talk fluently about the stars but have never adored the God who made them." (Shades of Milton's 'Lycidas'!) In Des Plaines in the Spring of 1861, at a second meeting of mem- bers from the two conferences, together with representatives from In- diana and Iowa, Plainfield won out above other towns for the location of the new college. A Board of Trustees was appointed, with Reverend Esher as financial agent. The faculty was to consist of a president and a small corps of professors "who should be competent to teach the Ancient and Modern Languages, Mathematics, and the Moral and Natural Sciences." And so on the eve of the Civil War was brought into being an institution with a lofty vision of uniting a liberal arts education with religious teaching. Through sheer courage and perse- verance this college lived and flourished. Others with the same ideals, established near the same time, have reluctantly closed their doors. * * * * At the time of the Civil War, the state of Illinois was proud to have her sons enter a conflict against slavery, a conflict which she, among the western states, had been the first to support. An early his- torian tells of the noble record of the soldiers from here who '''took part in the most decisive campaigns and battles of the war, and those who have returned and are now living are among our most highly- esteemed citizens — efficient in the arts of peace as they were formid- able on the field of battle." A glance through the records of the Infantry and Cavalry Regiments shows the names of many Evangel- ical families. As was mentioned before, the Evangelical Association was ardent in its stand against slavery. The Illinois Conference of 1863 passed resolutions supporting the Union Cause and commending President Lincoln's proclamation for freeing of slaves. Likewise the General Conference in the same year expressed the support of the Evangelical Association in five lengthy resolutions, a copy of which was sent to President Lincoln. Two years later when the Illinois Conference met in February, 1865, resolutions of sympathy and thankfulness were written and mailed to Washington. By that time the conference mem- ] bers could say, "The Great Director of all things has of late given I our armies such decided victories, and consequently secured to the i cause of right the ultimate triumph." In that same year the General Conference decided not to continue j with its plans for sending two young men as medical missionaries to d India because of the Avar crises and financial difficulties resulting therefrom. One of these young men, Frederich Heidner, became Pro^ fessor of German at North- Western College, where he served for fifty years — perhaps laboring with young apostates here in an equally challenging situation ! Within a few weeks after the joyful ringing of church bells an- nouncing the end of the Civil War and the coming of the remaining soldiers to their homes, the whole town was thrown into shock and mourning for Abraham Lincoln. Church pulpits were draped in black and a special Day of Prayer was observed. The picture of the great Emancipator, draped with flags, was placed in front of the pulpit in the Zion Evangelical Church. Big revivals were held in several of the churches in the year fol- lowing the Avar. In the Brick Church a series of meetings lasted twelve weeks, some of the sessions continuing until midnight, "and in those clear and frosty Avinter nights the beautiful singing of the large congregation could be heard all over toAvn." An interesting story is told in the diary of a young man who for several Aveeks resisted the exhortations of the minister: "I sought all sorts of excuses. Finally, to head him off 1 said. 'I do not believe in sham shouting, such as is going on in your meeting'. 'What do you mean?' he asked. I replied, ' There is L ; she shouts to order. She ahvays takes off her bon- iict. nicely folds her shawl, lays them back Avhere they will not be 8 crushed and then steps in front like a theatrical performer and shouts. 1 hate shams and always will'. 'So do I', the minister said, 'That shall never occur again'. And it never did." Later the young man became a strong leader in the church. The year 1870 is a very important date : first, in the history of Naperville ; second, in the history of North Central College ; and third, in the history of the Evangelical Association. The following is taken from Editor David Givler's "Naperville Clarion" at that time: "Every careful observer will not fail to take cognizance of the vast difference in the status of Naperville now and two years ago. The fall of '68 was the darkest period in the history of this village, arising out of our county seat troubles and intertestine strife. In those days . . . arrests, trials, indictments, and other annoyances were resorted to . . . The public offices were ransacked and the public records carried off to Wheaton ; public officers were tormented, threatened, cajoled, frightened, and persecuted in various ways, and an unpleasant, un- healthy state of things existed. . . . Now the 'Wheaton Illinoian' and the 'Naperville Clarion' agree to drop all differences that have kept the people of this county in a state of unfriendliness the past six years. ' ' If the bell in the steeple of First Evangelical Church should start ringing some bright sunny day in 1967 and peal one hundred times, don't be alarmed. It will only be celebrating a century of calling people to worship at this particular cor- ner in Naperville. In the same year North-Western College was moved from Plain- field to Naperville, partly because since 1864 this village could be reached by the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad — a much more direct route of transportation from Chicago than Plainfield could claim. Of course the idea of extending a railroad all the way across the country to the Pacific was regarded as anything but prac- ticable, as was expressed a few years earlier in a letter written from California by Robert Naper : "I consider it one of the wildest and most foolish schemes that ever was seriously entertained by an intelli- gent people." The coming of the college to Naperville is important both for the college and for Naperville. The townspeople gave gener- ously of land and money for the new college. All the stores and busi- ness houses were closed on May 17 at the laying of the cornerstone for the new building. As many as thirty or even forty workmen were busy many days during the summer and early fall with the stone foundation, the carpentering, and the plastering, to get the building ready for the opening of school in the autumn of that year. An editor- ial in the Clarion later in the summer declared ' ' The workmen on the college are so anxious to get the building completed by the 4th of October (date set for opening) that they would gladly work Sundays if it wasn't contrary to the law and prophets." (Xo unions or eight- hour work days then!) Of equal importance is the close relationship which immediately strengthened between the college and the church. As the services were still being held in German at the Zion Church in 1870, some of the college faculty and students, as well as townspeople, organized an English-speaking congregation which met in the college chapel, now Smith Hall of Old Main. At this time in Evangelical conferences all over the country, references were frequently being made to the diffi- culties involved in various congregations in which the people wor- shiped in both the German and the English languages. This English Mission five years later was incorporated as "The Second Evangelical Church of Naperville", but was generally referred to as the "College Chapel Church." The story is told that soon after this many of the Evangelical farmers' sons in Zion Church began going to the Methodist Church to get even with some of the local girls who showed more interest in dating college men than in going out with them ! One of the interesting innovations in this College Chapel Church is expressed in the rather amusing resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees that same year: "Resolved that we will recognize and accept it as our duty to use every proper measure to maintain good order in our congregation during public worship ; but we will not assume the responsibility of separating, as to their sitting, families, ladies and gentlemen, who may come together, except in cases of misbehavior." (An awkwardly phrased sentence, but the meaning is unmistakable!) This resolution was entirely in line with the emphasis upon co- education which was being stressed at North- Western College. A re- porter from a Chicago paper upon visiting the campus shortly after that time came out with a long column statins* that here the ladies were even urged to take part in exercises of all kinds, both academic and physical. Another institution that has been closely associated with both college and church all through the years is the Evangelical Theological Seminary. Chartered in 1873 as the "Union Biblical Institute," it held its first classes in rooms at North-Western College in 1876 and its first commencement in 1878. The two-year term was not lengthened to its present ihree-year period until fifty years later. 10 CHAPTER ENVIRONMENTAL SETTLINGS One citizen, referring to Naperville back in the 1870 's and 1880 's, wrote, "A fine old town of verdant gardens and friendly sharings. " Many oleanders in huge pots stood on both sides of front doorsteps along Chicago Avenue. Arbor vitae hedges, Persian lilacs, snowballs, and flowering quinces grew in front yards shaded by evergreens and maples. At rear porches w 7 ere Virginia creepers and honeysuckle vines. The lots were huge, with room for vegetable, herb, and berry gardens. The back fences were lined with elderberry bushes on the edge of the woods just outside. Again a quote from the "Clarion": 1 ' One of the most beautiful parklike towns in the Midwest. ' ' A Naper- ville lady who spent her girlhood in Peoria still remembers how their local minister came back from a conference here with much the same report. Home decorations in the fall often consisted of pressed colored leaves and huge bouquets of prairie plants and grasses — blazing star, fever few, flowering spurge, purple prairie clover, rattlesnake master, and big blue stem and Indian grasses. As there was no thought of conservation in those days, wild flowers were often planted in yards and gardens. Children ate anything they found in the woods. One child says in her diary, "We could digest anything in those outdoor days." As a wit remarked, "Those were the good old days when meals were opened with a blessing instead of a can-opener." Frontier hospitality still abounded in the homes and churches of Naperville. Many people brought newcomers or strangers home with them from church services, concerts, or commencement exercises. The wife of Professor H. C. Smith (son of A. A. Smith, first president of the college) speaks of coming home from a college commencement without any guests. First time in her life that had happened. And this was nearly twenty-five years after she had come with her husband and family — and the college — from Plainfield to Naperville ! Many women found time to know their neighbors and plan various teas and sociables in this quiet little village. In addition they often belonged to the Civic Club, the Woman's Missionary Society, besides working for the Young Women's Christian Association at the college. 11 Most of these organizations were interdenominational, and the meet- ings were held in the various churches and homes. Some of this same cooperation was already in evidence back in 1870 at the laying of the cornerstone for North- Western College. The singers participating in the services consisted partly of members from the Congregational and St. John's Episcopal Church choirs. One of the most important social events of the early 1880 's was the celebration of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of President A. A. Smith and his wife of North- Western College. There were many guests "from abroad" — according to the wedding pamphlet — from "Traverse City, Michigan: from Janesville, Wisconsin; from Norwich, Connecticut; etc." At least it would take more hours then to get to Naperville than would be needed today for a jaunt over from Europe! Letters and poems of congratulation poured in from all parts of the country where this famous couple had lived and worked. Lengthy Victorian hyperboles of congratulations were read on behalf of the children, the grandchildren, the brothers and sisters, the nieces and nephews, the faculty, the students, the alumni, the townspeople, and the bishops of the Evangelical Association. Music was "rendered" intermittently. The program must have "consumed" hours of time! ( Everything was ' ' rendered ' ' and ' ' consumed ' ' in the ' ' elegant , eighties' 7 !) Here is a typical "regrets" received: "I never was in- vited to any gathering for which I had greater love and honor, and. from which I could expect more pleasure and satisfaction, and which ] I had so great a desire to attend, as the Golden Wedding to which you ' had the kindness to invite me." On the cultural side, music has always been an important factor of community and church life in Naperville. In the Naperville Cen- tennial Pamphlet, mention is made of a Naperville Brass Band as early as 1866. The Zion Church in 1869-70, in an effort to raise its: standard of singing, voted unanimously to discard "Strophen Singen" — that is, having the minister read the lines of the hymn and the con- gregation chant them after him. An amusing incident is related of a. minister who told his people. "Mine eyes are dim, I cannot see — I left my specs to home." The well-trained congregation chanted the lines back at him. In remonstrance he exclaimed, "I did not mean that you should sing! I only said my eyes are dim!" Again they chanted! North-Western College brought a new cultural center to Naper- ville. Some concerts and lectures continued to be held in Scott's Hall (second story of the building just north of the National Bank on Washington), but those now sponsored by the college and held in the chape] had wide acclaim from the townspeople as well. In its first year in Naperville the college purchased a Chickering Piano ($350.00). Professor II. C. Smith soon organized a "singing class" in the base- ment of Zion Church. All interested citizens were invited to join, and the class became ;i democratic community project. For nearly fifty years the musical activities of both the college and church were greatly influenced by the guidance of Professor 12 Smith. He was elected both chorister and organist for the College Chapel Sunday School choir in 1870 and served in this capacity for many years. Several contemporaries in their diaries have written of this "flourishing choir" in the 1880 's and also of the church choir under the same inspiring leader. He even conducted Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. combined choruses in concerts in the chapel on Sunday afternoons. Of course there was no grand piano nor pipe organ, but 'tis said that Professor Smith fairly inspired the small upright and the little reed organ! Sometimes the squeaky choir chairs could be heard above the music but no one seemed to mind. For twenty-three years William R. Hillegas, as secretary of the Zion (German) Sunday School, kept an accurate and detailed account of the attendance and money from each class. In the Record Book of 299 large pages (9Vi inches by 17 inches) the lines are spaced one eighth of an inch apart, yet the writing is beautiful and legible. This museum piece is a fascinating old document written by a dedicated and meticul- ous person. (See illustration) In the Zion Sunday School at this same period an organ was occa- sionally rented for six months at a time, for $4.50. Also in the 1880 's this Sunday School bought new "double singing" books and gave away the "single" hymn books to the Lutherans. (In the "single" hymn books, only the melody of the music accompanied the words.) In 1899 a special meeting was called by the College Church to elect a choir master and also an organist. Those who sang in the choir must be resident members of the church and attend regularly. Also they must participate in both morning and evening services. The Standing Music Committee (the Pastor, the Organist, and the Choris- ter) were to report selections of music to the trustees for ratification of same before any music could be purchased. In 1903, $100.00 w T as added to the budget of this church for music : the Organist to receive $25 ; the Chorister, $25 ; the Organ-blower, $25 ; and the other $25 to be used for carefully selected music. During these decades while Professor Smith was fostering con- certs in the Zion and Chapel Churches, in the college, and in the com- munity, he also interested others in venturing into Chicago with him to hear Grand Opera and listen to Anton (not Artur) Rubinstein play the piano with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Rubinstein's com- ments on this orchestra back in 1872 are most interesting: "Never in my life have I found an orchestra and a conductor so in sympathy with each other, or who followed me as the most gifted accompanist can follow a singer on the piano. There exists but one orchestra of sixty or eighty men which plays so perfectly, and it is known as the 13 Imperial Orchestra of Paris, but they have no Theodore Thomas to conduct them. ,, Increasing numbers of people began attending Grand Opera con- certs as the years passed by, especially when such singers as Melba, Schumann-Heink, Patti ,and Scotti appeared on the programs. The Wagnerian Operas were particularly popular with the Evangelicals, as they presented no language barrier for many of them. Of course the pagan background was an insurmountable obstacle for more than a few, but not for all. They had no qualms, however, about listening to Paderewski ! * * * * But not all of life was colorful and cultural during these decades. There was still much discomfort and sickness caused by inadequate facilities and inclement weather. Rooms were poorly heated and ven- tilated. People often sat around with damp clothes and wet feet. Ladies especially had to be absent from church or college because of heavy snowdrifts they could not plow through with three or more long quilted petticoats. Diaries tell of extremely cold weather — some- times thirty degrees below zero — and of terrible blizzards. One sum- mer in the 1880 's a pelting hailstorm smashed windows in the college, the churches, and many houses, and destroyed all the young fruit. Only the half -ripe grapes were salvaged and made into jelly by house- wives all over town. At the Children's Prayer Meeting that week in Zion Church, the subject was "Hailstorms of the Bible." One lady had looked up fifty references. No wonder the weather was allotted considerable space in journals and diaries of the time ! Of course there was a prevalence of colds, grippe, and malaria, with the application of home-prescribed remedies : camphor or lemon in hot water, quinine, asafoetida pills, sage and peppermint tea, and paregoric. A poultice of powdered slippery elm was the most effective cure for a sty. There were at least two reasons for the use of home remedies : first, doctors were very few; second, incomes for most people were rather small. Salaries for either teachers or preachers in those days were not much — something around $500 to $700 a year. But of course we must remember the cheapness of food : butter, eleven cents a pound ; eggs, twelve cents a dozen ; milk, three cents a pint ; soupbone, five or six cents ; dressed five-pound chicken, twenty-five cents. Someone described those times as "the good old days when the butcher gave away liver, cut the bone out of steak before he weighed it, and gave away enough scraps to feed all the household pets." Those were the days of 10-cent paper money, pennies the size of quarters, huge silver dollars, and precious five, ten, and twenty dollar gold pieces. People in the town of Naperville, however, were also interested in life outside of their own community. Many persons watched the red glow in the East one evening in 1871, only to learn later of the terrible fire that had almost annihilated Chicago. Donations were "lifted" in the churches to help relieve the suffering. A decade later (1881), when a great forest fire in Michigan took the lives of many people and destroyed thousands of homes, money was sent to the Red Cross from 14 Reverend Jacob Boas, first mission minister, 1837. Served six months. I *^&L &u/ 6uo£l^ Zion Evangelical Church — 1842. Van Buren Ave., between Eagle and Webster streets. r 'dyx. i.u±i ^yJi tf ^UfJJi Pulpit of 1842 church sketched by Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh many years later. Zion Evangelical Church — 1859. Corner of Center and Franklin Streets. Later known as the "Old Brick Church." Bell installed in high steeple in 1867. Pulpit and near-by pews of the Brick Church. Made by hand from white pine by Jonathan Ditzler. Sketched by his daughter Hannah from her father's plans. Bishop John Ssybert in the late 1850's. ■#>/ His Famous Buggy > ro /> ** *" C^ «<» ro ^> i° /> t°rO tO^ ^0^)^,0 (n^^eA^iOio/r't 1 '^ j^ro^ ./■>,* fiui ml If * 5 G < fH*§ J •go 3 CO 5- 1, -> S» ~ ^ K5 3- - 3" =" i <& * i ii >" ifoJI > J ; -4 =_s£^e ,y g ^2L - T ' :r -" : iri" : L7r;r ^5 CO CO ^'Hm^T cu c o . W P > h a ** c o a; .3 r, Ray: Koehle Kletzin Pearl Lydia QJ sfeld nee Elva rown eind, 1 Gamert d, Clare Yaggy, Mabel B: Bauernfi h c a; „ cts , Ca nfei: Oliv Ider and Oi 03 00 1 rt Koehl an Bau ■rtsfalder Gamert? ow 4: A 1 Q PQ , Elbe , Sus Game Ruth er. R V-4 o%!>£rn C/3 CM ohns selm Mab chut Dri: »-3 S3 c/3 ts w PM 3 h 0) Ol k— ( r^i (-( J~ J Qj£ O . <3 rissler, Vida Good, Ider. Row 2: Oliv y Brown, Lulu Um »wn, Fred Schutte, J ach, Claude Parker w w vis D srtsfe Mar; y Brc Umb w 8 g 3 g 03 ^ C 5 h in --< § - £ 03<£ QJ >o e.a •° ^rPQ • s co g « w ^5 fa •^ C ° 'C CO *" ^ ^M-^ fa * co t-. i . eu to £ '» •tf ^ - fa fa £ «S S26 ^ ^c^S eu CO ^ *g"0 ^ ..tf . fa fl fn CO O C0^£^ Ci) Tw ■9 -8* SB C C3 CO CO S8«-S ^ ^* 5 ^ ^ c ^ w So 3 ^2 S U -« CU cfl in £ 3 cd £ x: CL ^ . « cu . CU -4-> C . •-J CU W3 co cfl si as 5 ? OMtI O . S-. ^ r^ +* „ 0> 0> f£ O QB-^ 0) ^ W cjjo 5 ,- 3 o> co sh r 2 £ o 23 C4_l ► ' cO '£* N o> 5 u £ St - o £ ec bd > • CO . w O WW** c o ^ Sh ^ 0) N g So- O o^-g ^.^ S-, w 0> r-f ai . o X CO - 1? onr3 ^3H . £ c h-1 o> „-* o> „ coOg c O) -rH — ' w jd o> o> o rO 3 o ||| fe oT cc oo s-. £ c rt c MH« *?.i £ O cO-* £ ° si*-} 1 X Ok w J3 co ^ fc < * >» each age group. Ample blackboard space in each classroom produced an excellent teaching situation. Miss Laura Libutzki, who was one of the college librarians, liked to tell a story about the use of the blackboard in her classroom. One Sunday when the children were "wiggly" and inattentive, she said, * ' I can 't understand what is the matter with you boys and girls today. Last Sunday you were unusually good. Today you are creating a big disturbance. ' ' A second-grader raised his hand. "Miss Laura," he explained, ' ' last Sunday you wrote on the board : 'Be still and know that I am God'. s -^ Today you wrote: ' Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, ' and that 's what we 're doing ! ' ' Bishop Seager loved to tell stories on himself. One of his favorites concerned an experience as a young preacher offi- ciating at a wedding. Evidently the people waiting to witness the ceremony had decided to amuse themselves by singing. Just as he came through the door at the head of the wedding procession, they were chanting: "See the hosts advancing, Satan leading on!" During this period, Professor E. E. Domm, head of the Bible De- partment at North Central College, took over the Religious Education work of the Church School, and many of the most modern concepts of teaching and lesson planning were put into effect. New superin- tendents replaced those who moved away and the work continued in a most satisfying manner. One of the vigorous growths took place in the Intermediate De- partment. Mrs. Willard Muehl, who had been appointed superin- tendent, had great ability at organization and a real vision of what would attract Junior High pupils. The department was named J. 0. Y. (Jesus first, Others next, Yourself last). The department theme song was the lively and singable, "For there is joy, joy, joy down in my heart." There was a coordinated morning and evening program. This antedated by many years the unified type of program winch our General Church advocated at the merger. As there was no Junior Choir at this time, the J.O.Y. donned white surplices and served in that capacity as needed. An orchestra, original playlets, and the giving of well-planned teas and programs for such times as Mother's Day, kept the creative young minds functioning. These activities were all worked out in committee sessions, and youth participation was at a maximum. An excellent teaching staff made the Sunday morning programs stimulating and challenging. 5[C SgC 3|5 3? Contributions and pledges had come readily for the new building. 33 In 1927 the Ladies Auxiliary gave $400 for the Building Fund. Con- tributions from 929 others (including 179 college students) amounted to $13,648.69. In all, a sum of $14,048.69 was applied to the reduction of the building debt that year. All of which is an important reminder that a necessary part of any organization is the treasurer or committee or board that looks after the financial affairs. Back in Zion Church in 1908 a Committee on Stewardship was appointed, with W. W. Spiegler as chairman of the eight men. He must have been a good business man, for he held the position through the union with Chapel congregation, through the building of the new church, and through the additional building project in the early 20's. Then under the tenure of Reverend Schloerb, a Board of Stewards was organized with John E. Manshardt as First Steward. Under his guidance, "counting teams were estab- lished, a new set of books was ordered, and the Every-Member Can- vass was begun." The giving of envelopes to children was adopted at this time also and received wide support. An outside problem which was to grow to such immense propor- tions on "Piety Corners" that today there is no possible solution to it, began to raise its head already in 1927 — The Parking Problem ! This was discussed frequently in trustee meetings. Also, the day of auto- mation was at hand, and the purchase of a mimeograph machine was debated. A Weekday School of Religion was begun in Naperville in 1927 and First Church enrolled 110 pupils and contributed $2085.00 toward its support. The church was prospering and enjoying a great feeling of unity and spiritual completeness when the sword of the seven-year rule fell. Many plans were developed to try to change or circumvent the Church dictum which said that seven years was as long as a minister might serve one congregation. Some of the plans offered (publicly and pri- vately) were: insist that First Church is legally the College Church { and therefore exempt ; have Big Woods join our congregation and then there would be a different form of organization ; start an Eola mission church and let Dr. Schloerb serve both churches; or just plain J refuse to abide by the rule and insist that Conference return him to ; First Church. With the clear-eyed, above-board candor and integrity which had so endeared him to his people ,Dr. Schloerb said, "Either I am returned because Conference wills it or I shall have to go. There will be no subterfuge or evasions. ' ' Since Conference did not deem it possible to make an exception of First Church, Dr. Schloerb answered a call to the Hyde Park Baptist Church of Chicago. He served this church with great distinction and became one of the eminent church- men of America. * * * # With the going of Dr. Schloerb, the search was on for someone to fill his place. The Reverend William E. Grote, who had served suc- cessful pastorates in Illinois and one briefly in California, was ap- pointed in 1928. He was serving in Kankakee at the time and that congregation was greatly perturbed at losing Mr. Grote. The personality traits of thoughtfulness and concern for people 34 which had enriched the lives of members of former congregations were evidenced many times and in many ways during Depression Days. The horror of hungry children stalked across the land, and Naper- ville was not spared. A "Soup Kitchen" was established in the old Electric Light Plant on River Street in 1929 and First Church mem- bers contributed generously — heaping supplies of vegetables from their gardens, small gifts of money for soup meat (even small gifts could well be called generous in those days), and hours of time. The children sat at long clean tables and ate their bowls of soup at the Electric Light Plant, and then in little tin buckets carried some home. Mr. Grote gave himself unstintingly to this relief work. Later, the closing of the banks came as a shock to many in the congregation, but to one couple who were momentarily expecting the arrival of their second child, there was an added element of fear. Not one word had been said to the minister, but on the Sunday evening after the declaration of the bank moratorium, Reverend Grote arrived at the home of his young parishioners. He took from his coat pocket a handful of change and a few bills and laid them on the dining room table. Would you like to know why the attendance in Immanuel Class soared to an average of seventy every Sunday in the 1930's? The class was divided into eight teams and the cap- tains of each group would call their members each week, urging their attendance on the following Sunday morning! "This is all there was in the loose offering," he said, "for most of our congregation had very little money on hand, but I feel that your need is greater than anyone else's right now." No counting. No saying, "Pay it back as soon as you can." Com- plete trust and understanding. A few months later the healthy boy who was baptized by his ' ' benefactor, ' ' had an " E " in his name which was the same "E" as in W. E. Grote! Sunday evenings after the church service, families liked to "drop in" at the Grote home. Big bowls of hot buttered popcorn served by Mrs. Grote, a most gracious hostess ; games devised and toys supplied by parsonage daughters, Nancy and Lois, to amuse the visitors' chil- dren ; and the warm, hearty welcome and good conversation supplied by Reverend Grote, made these Sunday evenings memorable. Money was in short supply but love and good fellowship abounded. * * * # During these days the church budget was radically reduced. Earlier when the stairway to the parsonage was reported unsafe, the Church Council had decided to build a new parsonage. Now, partly because of the Depression and partly because many people saw beauty in the old building, the funds for this purpose were discontinued. 35 Despite the terrible shortage of money, however, the indebtedness on the new educational unit was somewhat reduced. By 1933, the Ladies' Auxiliary had given $4500 toward the Building Fund. The pastor's study, which had been in the small room upstairs behind the pulpit, was moved to the room at the east end of the south corridor on the first floor. There was no church secretary. The mimeo- graph machine had been purchased and the Sunday bulletins were now being mimeographed at the cost of about $7.50 a week. The work was done by high school girls. In spite of economic difficulties, however, weddings were still going on. Among the church weddings performed by Dr. Grote was that of Reverend John R. Bouldin and Miss Grace Byas, daughter of the District Superintendent. A. H. Byas. The Superintendent's home in Xaperville. which is located next door to First Church parsonage. was the home of the bride. Interestingly enough. Grace Byas Bouldin is at the present time again living in the "D. S.'s" house, this time as the wife of a (now called) Conference Superintendent. Dr. Bouldin is serving the Northern District of the Illinois Conference. The German service had continued through the years but now the pastors who had been conducting the services had either died or be- come unable to serve. As there were still quite a number of older people, however, who wanted to worship in the German language. Dr. Grote took over this early morning service. The place of worship was changed from the sanctuary to the large room with the stained glass windows across the hall. Much material and labor were donated during these years. August Ritzert refinished the pulpit furniture — the huge, solid square chairs and pulpit — to match the woodwork. George Wicks donated wood veneering to cover the balcony front. The sanctuary was redecorated at a cost of $1723 and for three Sundays the services were held in Pfeiffer Hall. The Ladies Auxiliary gave $750. which with the Rally Day ottering of $835 nearly covered the cost of decorating. When Rev. F. F. Jordan introduced newly acquired mem- bers to his congregation, he would often say: "Now Mr. R is a good carpenter; Mr, W would do a good plumbing job jor you." Just a friendly gesture, as the good man was really concerned for his parishioners. The Church School classes were serving in many ways. The Sheal Class had for a number of years taken care of the choir robes. The Work-to- Win (lass provided facilities for the production of plays in the basemen! of First Church. The Bereans had an acoustican system installed. A new class for young women was formed called Sigma < >niega Sigma, in the good Creek tradition. The letters. S. 0. S.. stood for ''Smile. Obey, Serve." The officers elected were Marian Quantz, President. Wilma Hofert, Vice-President, and Helen Lueben, Secre- 36 tary-Treasurer. Dr. Riebel, General Superintendent, reported a gen- eral Church School reorganization was in progess in 1935. Money during these years was exceedingly scarce, but members of First Church were not denied the privilege of hearing the great lead- ers of this era. These were the years when the bond between the col- lege and the church was very close, and all the college programs were listed in full on the church bulletins. Even the regular chapel services were given much space. Some of the speakers at Pfeiffer Hall were Reinhold Niebuhr on ''The Crisis in Western Civilization", Kirby Page, Sherwood Eddy, "Dad" Elliott, Dr. Edgar Goodspeed, and Dr. L. M. Sweet. The Mayers brought the insight and breadth of their vision to the missionary program of First Church. The Woman's Missionary Society, Young Woman's Missionary Circle, and The Mission Band all benefited from the concepts of the indigenous church which Dr. Mayer was already forseeing. A week's special services were con- ducted by Dr. Mayer, three days of which were in Grace Church. Later, upon his return to Japan, Dr. Mayer became active in the Kingdom of God Movement in Japan, of which the world-famous Kagawa was the leader. Ethel Spreng told us of a later incident in connection with the Woman's Missionary Society and Dr. Mayer: Reverend Eder received word that the Paul Mayer family, missionaries in Japan, would soon be coming home on a year's furlough and would like to make Na- perville their headquarters. Could a house be found for them? Mr. Eder at once took up with the "ever-ready" women of the WMS, and they went to work right away. They found that the district house next to the parson- age would be vacant that year. So an invitation was given to the women of the Grace Church WMS to join us in the project. They readily agreed. An SOS was sent out through both societies for good used furniture, beds, tables, chairs, rugs, dishes, kitchenware, curtains, drapes, and everything needed to furnish a house. The response was heart-warming. Women from both soci- eties were enlisted, and the enthusiasm was catching. With much scrubbing and cleaning and painting, in an amazingly short time there arose before us a beautifully furnished house, with everything for good housekeep- ing and comfortableness. It was most inviting. Some of the women thought it was nicer even than their own homes. And the real joy of all working together can hardly be expressed. Needless to say, Dr. and Mrs. Mayer and their family were indeed delighted, and both Grace and First Church felt that the Mayer family belonged to us all. In 1934, the General Conference of the Evangelical Church saw fit to remove entirely the seven-year limit, but since it did not become 37 effective until October, 1935, it was too late for Mr. Grote to stay on at First Church. At the farewell party for the Grote family in May, 1935, many members remembered with tenderness the kind and often unconven- tional and warmly human relationship with their pastor. In the in i mis of President and Mrs. E. E. Kail was a picture which Mrs. Rail described with vividness more than thirty years later: "As I remember it, Edward (the Rail's twelve-year-old son) was quite ill with nephritis when his age group joined the church. Later, when Mr. Grote was ill for some length of time, my husband and I were visiting him and we spoke of Edward's missing the service. He suggested we bring Edward to his house and he would have the service there. So Edward joined the church in Mr. Grote 's bedroom. Just Ed, Edward, Mr. and Mrs. Grote and myself. It was a sweet, simple and impressive service." 38 CHAPTER SOCIAL GOSPEL On May 12, 1935, the Reverend Dewey R. Eder began his ministry at First Church. Across the top of the bulletin which he carried into the pulpit with him that first Sunday he had carefully written, ' ' Acoustican ! ' ' Just to be sure he wouldn 't forget to turn it on ! This desire to have the service flow smoothly never changed during his seventeen years of work at First Church. Everything was meth- odically planned so that there were as few distractions during the worship service as possible. Regular church goers eventually became aware that a discreet touch of a folded white linen handkerchief on Mr. Eder's forehead meant, "Please, some ventilation. It's stifling in here ! ' ' The ushers always got that message, and others, probably, which the congregation never caught onto ! This concern for a smooth-running organization was felt in all areas of the church at work. On May 26th, just after the Eders' arrival, one of the all Church School pageants, written for First Church, but published for use in the entire Evangelical denomination, was presented. This pageant was called, "Ambassadors of Peace," and it seems a strangely appro- priate title, for Mr. Eder's entire ministry was encased in a firm webbing of the struggle for peace and the effects of the aftermath of war. The social gospel was making its impact upon our culture, and Church pageantry reflected this. First Church young people became world symbols in "Ambassadors of Peace." John Riebel was World Missions ; Charles Daniels, Mars, the god of war ; Lola Fuhrman (Hornback), the Church; Muriel Sievert (Conners), Peace. The chil- dren's departments under their superintendents, Mrs. Rail, Mrs. Domm, Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Muehl, all participated. Betty Lou Phelps (Reichenbacher) and Mrs. Henry Moy directed some of the groups representing missions in Africa and China. Mrs. Paul Mayer helped with the historic Japanese and American Doll-Exchange scene. The sanctuary and chancel were beautifully decorated by the Fidelis and Sigma Zeta Classes with Gordon Gamertsfelder as Chairman. Bishop S. P. Spreng impersonated a German minister and Mr. Kling- beil led the group in German songs. Karl Hochradel, a German stu- dent from the college, participated. 39 The German scene in the pageant was one in which the theme re-j fleeted the statement which the Committee of Reference and Counsel of the Foreign Missions Conference of North America had made in their Fortieth Annual Report. The German Christians had said they fell an unbearable burden because "the treaty of Versailles forced the representative of their nation to sign the declaration that Germany alone was to blame for the World War. ..." The Conference of North America tried to bring Christian understanding in their state- ment, "... While conscious of incompetency to deal with any of the political implications of the question, which we approach only by reason of common spiritual concern with our German brethren, the members of the Committee of Reference and Counsel take this oppor- tunity of expressing the judgment that the World War was the in- evitable outcome of historical national rivalries which found expression in competitive military and naval armaments; and state their convic- tion that for the existence of these rivalries and their inevitable result in the World War, no single nation can justly be declared solely re- sponsible." Rev. A. J. Boelter had his own particular methods of re- cruiting. He was much interested in individuals and families. Often when he was visiting in a home he would say to a talented child, "Johnny (or Susie), you certainly are cut out to be a missionary!" And Johnny or Susie would feel the call immediately! It was in the midst of these attempts on the national and local level to heal hurts and assuage breaches made by W T orld War I that Mr. Eder began his ministry at First Church. But it was also in the midst , of the sowing of Hitler's seeds of World War II. Almost at once ) First Church began to feel the depth of Mr. Eder's conviction that the i Church Universal must assert itself aggressively on the Peace road. We find many topics all through the church reflecting Mr. Eder's concern. Dr. Heininger in 1936 spoke on: "If Jesus Had Been a Militarist." Youth groups were selecting such topics as: "What Are Some of the Causes of War?" "What Keeps the War Tree Green?" "War and Its Horrors." Thought expressed in the bulletins were slanted toward this pas- sion for peace — e.g., Sundays of November, 1936 : Next Sunday morning: "Christians But Not Paci- fists ? ? ? ' Are you ready to put your convictions on record against war? and Have you signed your pledge for PEACE ? See your pastor if you wish to do so. While the undercurrent of peace seemed to run through all chan- nels of church life, other social issues were receiving their measure of 40 attention. After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the liquor problem was again before the public. Speakers such as Mrs. Ida B. Wise Smith, National President of the W.C.T.U., Dr. Albion Roy King, who spoke on: "The Psychology of Drunkenness," and Dr. Tripper of the Keeley Institute, were presented. Professors from the science depart- ment at the college spoke frequently to youth groups on such topics as : "The Physiological Effects of Alcohol." The W. C. T. IT. of Naperville had among its leaders a number of women from First Church: Mrs. E. Grant Simpson, Mrs. E. N. Him- mel, Mrs. R, Kemmerer, Mrs. 0. Mehnert, Mrs. August Muench, and others. Mrs. Lottie Holman O'Neil, representative from this district to the General Assembly in Springfield, and later the first woman state senator, spoke a number of times to the W. C. T. U. on alcohol and the way the issue was being handled in the state legislature. Mr. Eder, who often used the bulletin to present little homilies on matters of current moment, wrote in 1936 : According to the report of an insurance company, not one passenger was killed in a train collision or de- railment on an American railroad in 1935. During this same year 36,400 met their death on motor highways. While many factors contribute toward this condition, the fact that booze is taboo in an engine has much to do with railroad safety. Gifts for Sherwood Eddy's Cooperative Farm in Mississippi; col- lections for the Deaconess Hospital in Chicago (canned fruit, vege- tables, lard, butter, eggs, household linen, etc.) ; studies on the aware- ness of the Negro problem by the presentation of leaders like Mr. George Arthur, author of ' ' Life on the Negro Frontier ' ' ; visits to our church by groups of foreign children ; and the giving of money to help Bishop Stauffacher with the founding of the Chinese Conference all were in keeping with the social outreach of First Church. In 1937, the one hundredth birthday of First Church received recognition. In September there was a Preaching Mission to enrich the spiritual life of the church before the Centennial celebration. In No- vember a Teaching Mission was held with Professors Heininger, Him- mel, Kalas and Finkbeiner as leaders. The Naperville Evangelical Choirs presented a concert of sacred music ; Dean Charles Gilkey spoke at a Centennial Community Service ; and Bishop Epp preached on "Evangelical Landmarks." A Centennial Pageant consisting of ten historic tableaux was written and directed by Mrs. Thomas Fink- beiner as a climax to the celebration. An Institute of International Relations was held at North Central College for several summers in the late thirties. Such speakers as T. Z. Koo, Max Yergan, and Norman Thomas appeared on the pro- gram. Dr. W. A. Visser t'Hooft, brilliant international student leader, became a popular figure on the North Central campus and spoke a number of times. All members of First Church were urged to attend these meetings. 41 Iii the next few years before the actual outbreak of World War IT, the Church entered with a good spirit into Community activities. Many attended Sunday evening services at Pfeiffer Hall in winter and in Central Park in summer. Dr. H. Augustine Smith appeared several times to present one of his world-famous pageants or his art exhibit. The charm of Central Park, before the days of elm tree disease and parking-take-all, was described in connection with one of Dr. Smith's art exhibits: "The Gothic arches of the elms of Central Park provide an inspiring setting for this service at the twilight hour." (Note: Tn case of rain meet at First Church.) The Naperville Council of Churches had three community goals Community betterment ; Week-day School of Religion, Vacation Bible School and Naperville Youth Council ; and Interchurch activities, in- cluding the community Sunday evening services. First Church gave the council its loyal support. In 1938 the combined choirs of First and Grace Churches sang at Orchestra Hall for the Sunday Evening Club. This was just one of j man}' instances of the growing cooperative spirit between the two churches. The college E. L. C. E. (Evangelical League of Christian Endeavor) alternated between the two churches for its meeting place. Grace and First held many Sunday evening services together. The Woman's Missionary Society often shared programs and speakers, j The names of Dr. and Mrs. Paul Eller, members of Grace Church who I had begun to travel widely, appeared often on First Church programs ; as they generously showed pictures and told of their travels to interest- J ing far-away places. Dr. Paul Keen came often to First Church to j show and discuss his growing Bible collection. In turn, members of ! First Church taught classes at Grace Church and presented programs, j The year 1940 at First Church, the last before our entrance into World War II, had many interesting events. Perhaps it was because it had started out beautifully. On New Year's Eve, a ''Service of Lights" was held in the sanctuary. Each member brought his own J light and the lighted candle held by each person as he left the service 1 was the only light there was. Out into the cold, crisp, snowy night went dozens of glowing candles. Up and down and across every j street, the tiny flames pierced the darkness of the new year. On the wall of the tower exit hangs the following plaque: In Memory of G. B. Kimmel, D.D. 1874-1939 Beloved Teacher Immanuel Bible Class 1913-1939 On April 10, Dr. H. R. Heininger, who had served in many ca- pacities in First Church, was inaugurated as President of Evangelical 42 Theological Seminary in the sanctuary of his home church. In May, a Naperville Music Festival was held in Pfeiffer Hall under the direc- tion of Dr. Frederick Toenniges, who later became director of First Church Choir. A ninety-piece orchestra, a massed chorus of the church choirs in Naperville, and a large Children's Choir from the grade schools under the direction of Arthur Hill (one-time First Church Choir Director), made this a spectacular event. This festival was broadcast over the Aurora radio station WMRO. On October 20th of this year, the long-dreamed of Victory Sunday was celebrated. Professor James Kerr, Building Fund Secretary, had previously reported that this date would be satisfactory, as the build- ing debt would be cancelled by this time. Dr. Rolland Schloerb, under whose capable guidance the Church School building had been erected in 1925, spoke on the subject, "A Channel for Christian Energies." Looming now on the horizon was the reality of the Evangelical merger with the United Brethren Church, and Bishop G. E. Epp brought an informative address in November on the subject, "The Proposed Merger with the United Brethren". Care of the church building has always been a matter of deep concern to the trustees, and although some work was done in 1940 — the Church School roof repaired, a platform built for the Junior Choir and the building redecorated in spots — the sanctuary seemed to call for a more complete redecorating job. In 1941 the trustees au- thorized new lighting and repairs to the auditorium ceiling up to $5,000. Rededication Sunday was October 12, 1941. A new grand piano for use in the Junior Choir loft was given by Mrs. Hof ert and her daughter, Wilma. Mr. and Mrs. George Wicks gave four elaborate church lanterns. The Homebuilders' Class erected a new sign for the front of the church. Mrs. Druschel, organist, gave fifty music folders for the choir. During this year, the urgency for educating for peace was greater than ever before. President Rufus Bowman of Bethany Biblical Sem- ; inary of Chicago lectured on "The Quaker Philosophy in a World : at War ' '. A meeting was held in First Church for the members of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Conscientious Objectors, and others in- , terested in peace. Money was collected for boys in army camps, and also for those in Conscientious Objector camps. One speaker from a j Christian Public Service Camp in Indiana told "What Conscientious Objectors Do." After December 7, 1941, all hope for peace was gone, but the desire for an ultimate peace was kept alive. In January of 1942, the congre- gation was urged to pause each noon as the twelve o 'clock whistle blew for a moment of intercessory prayer for our missionaries who were in constant danger, and for peace. In March of 1942, John Riebel and a quartette of young men from Merom Public Service Camp presented a program of music and short ' talks on ' ' The Effect of the War on the Conscientious Objector. ' ' Mrs. Koerner's Church School Class served tea to the friends who attended. It had been reported that certain groups were not pleased that these men were going to speak, and that objections would be raised at the meeting. The young men, however, conducted themselves with 43 such poise, dignity, and goodwill flint any who may have come to protest left without uttering- a word. Lists of our boys in service, with their addresses, began to appear on the bulletins. Letters were being sent regularly from our church and members were urged to write. One Sunday the altar table was piled with New Testaments which were to be sent to the boys. The s. ( ). S. Class did the mailing and addressing of the letters and pack- ages. On February 21, 1943, the fiftieth name was posted of men and women in the armed services. By November there were 83 names. On December 5 a meeting was held to honor all our members in national service. By May. 1945, the list on the Service Roll was 107. There were twelve honorably discharged. Two young men, Sgt. Paul Henslcy and T Sgt. Oliver John Ebinger, both employed on bombers over Europe, were reported as missing in action. Pfc. Arthur Schnabel was killed in action in France on March 16, 1945. Occasionally a little slip would be stapled to the church bulletin asking for signatures of donors to the Blood Bank. Henry Moy was in charge of this project. The women of the church were urged to help make surgical dressings. Word was received in September, 1942, that Dr. and Mrs. Paul Mayer would be returned on the next trip of the repatriation ship from Japan and that Miss Lois Kramer was well and would continue her work under limitations of war. She was interned in 1941, and it was not until September, 1945, that her family received word from Guam that Miss Kramer would be coming home. In the midst of the all-consuming cover of war, other projects of moment were going on in the church. In June of 1942, Mr. Eder joked about the unfinished parsonage repair job. To quote him: "Since- June 1st it has been 'Open House' at the parsonage: everyone could look straight through!" Thirty or more men came for a number of( evenings through the summer and early autumn, under the direc-i tion of Ed Miller, and the parsonage was ready for a real Open House', by November. Necessary modern changes were made without eliminat-/ ing the charm of many of the older features. Even though we still; find today on the north wall of the southeast bedroom upstairs a pic- ture of Mt. Fugi painted right on the plaster, nobody seems to mind ! Of course, it was essential to get the refurbishing done before the General Conference of the Evangelical Church met in Naperville. This was the last General Conference of the Evangelical Church before the merger. The Ladies Auxiliary had worked for months in advance to have food and shelter ready for the delegates who came October 7-16, 1942. Of special interest to the members of First Church was the fact that this was Bishop S. P. Spreng's sixteenth General Conference. He had attended every one since 1883. During this period in the forties, a Week-Day School of Religion was organized by Professor E. E. Domm with Harriet Miller as the teacher; the Woman's Missionary Society celebrated its sixtieth anni- versary with a birthday party; the Centennial Session of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church was held in Naperville; Mr. 44 Quentin Lansman became the first Associate Minister, his main job being to work with the youth; speakers were beginning to use "Juven- ile Delinquency" as a topic. At the General Conference session a new pattern had been sug- gested for the youth work. On October 22, 1944, First Church was the scene of the transition from the old E. L. C. E. pattern to the new E. Y. F. (Evangelical Youth Felkrwship). Four commissions were appointed : Spiritual Life, Missions, Social Action, and Recreation. The Campus Youth Fellowship (C. Y. F.) and the Grace Church young people joined with First Church in a candle-lighting consecra- tion service. Both choir lofts were filled with dedicated youth. John Eigenbrodt and Martha Himmel became co-editors of the first paper for the Youth Fellowship of the Illinois Conference called "The Illini Courier." During the next few years Patsy Horman and Clyde Galow served as presidents of the State E. Y. F. The reorganization of the denominational young people's work dis- placed and augmented the work of the former Young People 's Mission- ary Circle. The group had been organized in 1913 as Young Woman's Missionary Circle. In August, 1916, dues are recorded as five cents a month. Names of some of the officers during these early years were: Mrs. C. B. Bowman, Ethel Spreng, Lillian Faust, Bertha Schutz (Shis- ler), Minnie Jaeck, Vida Good. Later, Mrs. E. E. Domm became presi- dent for several years. Study books, Happiness Boxes, Spend-a-Days were recorded in all records. Delegates were sent to all Woman's Missionary Society Conventions. Not without a struggle did some of the German- speaking people from the Old Brick Church give up holding services at the regular hours in their beloved language after they joined with the chapel congregation in the new church. It took an outspoken young man like Arthur Goodge to say indignantly to one of the most obstinate of the older opposi- tion: "But this is America, Mr. Brown. If we want to empty our church before we fill it. let us go on speaking German!" The group sponsored the Mother-Daughter Banquet in 1934. In the 1940 's they took their turn in arranging outstanding monthly dis- plays in the Missionary Visual Education Case in the second floor foyer, which had been presented to the church by the Clarence Egge- stein family. In referring to the group as the Young People's Missionary Circle, Helen Lueben writes humorously: "All records from 1933 on show Y.P.M.C., but nowhere can a boy's name be found on the membership lists." Another change was taking place in the youth program of the church. This one was not brought about by the General Conference 45 but by the War. On account of war restrictions the regular assembly was not held in 1945, and there were no services for the public at the ('amp Grounds. This broke a tradition of Camp Meetings which had been in existence for more than a century. The Camp Meetings had played such an important role in the life of the whole area during the early years of the 20th Century that the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy (C. B. & Q.) trains stopped at a little station a mile or so outside Naperville so that the camp-meeting attendants could be discharged and board the trains there. The path is still visible where the thousands of feet made glad procession to the huge Ebenezer tabernacle and well-run hotel. For many, many years Professor E. N. Himmel taught classes at the campgrounds on the beauty and wonder of Nature. In 1958, he wrote "The History of Camp Seager, " in which he paid tribute to Dr. I. L. Schweitzer, District Superintendent, and to Mr. A. L. Tholin, both of First Church. Dr. Schweitzer w r as honored for successfully completing the involved transition of transferring the ownership of the Camp Grounds from a small group of shareholders to the Evan- gelical United Brethren Church, and for his vision of a larger pro- gram of improvements. Mr. Tholin, Administrator of Public Works in Chicago w46 a panel appeared before the congregation! of the two Evangelical Churches to tell about the great event in Johns- town. Pennsylvania, which made them no longer Evangelicals, bnt Evangelical United Brethren. The delegates from Naperville, Dr. I. L. Schweitzer. Dr. C. J. Attig, Dr. Paul Eller, Dr. H. R. Heininger, President C. Harve Geiger, and the Reverend Dewey Eder, spoke on the subject: "Making History at Johnstown." And an interesting history it is. Entries in the journal of a United Brethren minister show that there were dreams of a union between his church and the Evangelical Association several years earlier than 1817, when representatives from the two denominations actually met to contemplate such a possibility. Even at this time they were conscious of the similarity in their back- grounds. Both were ministering in German to German-speaking peo- ple in America ; therefore their churches were often side by side in the same community, and there was much friendly cooperation and asso- ciation among the congregations of the two denominations. Always in a contemplated union there are compromises which must be made on both sides. Sometimes the cost seems prohibitive to j one party or the other. This time both hesitated. For one thing, the j Evangelicals were too much concerned with the ecclesiastical and the organizational to suit the United Brethren. They, on the other hand, •• with many Mennonite descendants in their group, were more inclined [ to let each congregation formulate its own rules and regulations. A ; modern church historian says : * ' Be that as it may, each group thought • so highly of its own ways that neither would compromise". Strange as it may seem, nearly a century elapsed before there was any further formal attempt at a union. This definitely did not rule j out all kinds of informal fraternizing at k k grass-root ' ' levels. Both i denominations were much devoted to fighting sin and all kinds of evil by strong Evangelistic methods through ' ' camp-meetings, protracted ; meetings, and revival meetings". Both were people by tradition and faith who were greatly concerned about human need and suffering everyAvhere, not only in this country but in other parts of the world. In fact the establishment of missionary societies came simultaneously in both denominations. At the close of the century, an important delaying agent was the split among the Evangelicals. Even at this time, both parties to the schism kept in touch with the United Brethren Church. A bishop from the Evangelical Association spoke of his church and the United Breth- ren Church as the "conservators of Christian orthodoxy". A bishop from the United Evangelicals, addressing a general conference of United Brethren said : "I know of no doctrine of the United Evan- gelical Church that yon do not believe and teach." It is no wonder that with these words of encouragement from both sides, two bishops from the United Brethren should turn up in Chicago in 1911 at that important session of the sundered church. Politely and 50 firmly the bishops were told in effect: We Evangelicals have to get our own family a little better united before we start joining up with any of our neighbors, no matter how much we like them. Again at the time of the Union of the Evangelical Association and the United Evangelicals in 1922, practically the same request was made by the United Brethren, and the same refusal was given. It was not until 1933 that a bishop from the Evangelicals presented to a general con- ference of the United Brethren an offer of readiness for union. After eight years of careful and sagacious study on the part of a small com- mittee consisting of three representatives from each denomination, they were able to present a Basis of Union very widely acceptable to both churches. And so, in line with the modern tendency for union among the protestant churches, the Evangelical United Brethren Church came into existence in Johnstown, Penn., on Nov. 16, 1946. Another occasion for joy and thankfulness! Too bad Miss Bucks couldn 't have attended this union too, and bequeathed to us her glow- ing account of the heart-warming experience of singing "Lead On, King Eternal" and "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds" with the hun- dreds of people crowding the doors and aisles of the spacious church that memorable day ! It is amazing how closely tied are sermon topics and speakers' themes to the life of the age. About the time of the Union, the issues were: "The Battle After the War", "My Country and I", "Foxhole- less Faith", "Human Relations in Industry", "Russia and the Atomic Age", "Mental Health", "What Does God Want Us to Do About Russia?" It is a tradition of First Church to use a bulletin cover depicting the work of the YMCA at the time of the annual drive. Many men and women of the church are very active in the local YMCA as board members, campaign workers, and group leaders. Always, always, First Church was aware of its world obligation. In 1948 an Easter offering of $1500 was asked, and with a sense of apology it was earmarked for "local use" for the first time in years. However, the congregation was assured that anything labeled "for relief" would be so used ! To keep the personal and affectionate touch in our giving, the church sent to the pastor in Dresden, Germany, where the Evangelical Church was totally destroyed by bombs, the silver communion set and baptismal bowl which had been used in the Old Brick Church. Before North Central College students left for vacations at home, they brought extra clothes and shoes to the church. Mrs. J. S. Gam- ertsfelder, Mrs. R. Kemmerer, Mrs. Ira Oertli, and others, headed the 51 UiMIVHRSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY dozens of women who were devoting many hours every week to mend- ing ami making completely wearable the clothes brought in. The bombed-out peoples in Europe did not even have needles, thread, buttons or scraps for doing their own mending. First Church ex- pressed appreciation to the men who did the heavy work of preparing the boxes for shipping — Bradlee, Werner. John Eisele. and Fred Broeker. Letters told that people in Germany were using hunks of clay for soap, and so "Grease for Peace" became a by-word, and every bit of waste cooking fat was saved and sent to be made into soap for ship- ment abroad. The wells of compassion were not limited to adults. The Youth Council of Naperville collected 1500 pairs of wearable shoes. The State E.V.F.. headed by a Social Action Chairman from First Church, collected almost $1600 to use to buy goats for Japan. Letters from Germany to our youth, such as the one which follows, kept them eager to build the bridges of understanding over "all the unblessed con- traries of nations." We wish to thank you heartly for your rich and beautiful gifts for Christmas. Surely you are enjoyed to know to whom they have come and which happiness they prepared. Our house belongs to Evangelie-Luth- eran church to the Union for Inner Mission in Nurem- berg. We are a sanatory for tuberculoses children and on the Christmas days we had 110 children in our sana- tory. Children are here for a few months by inspection of a physician. Amongst them there is a great deal having lost their parents or their home during the war and we often don't know how to get clothes or stockings or linen for them, because the few things bringing with are so teared. that is it hardly possible to mend them. Opening the packets to distribute the gifts for the chil- dren on the Christmas-tables by growing-up persons, there was a great happiness and rejoicing about the pretty and useful things being visible choosed and packed up with great love and careness. It is a wonder- ful experience for us to feel how communications of faith is a real bridge over all the unblessed contraries of nations. We wish you might have been able to stay a little amongst us at the Holy Evening to experience how chil- dren when they had attentive listened the story of Christ- child and had astonished the tree with the lights and the cril) were standing rejoicing before their gift-tables how their eyes were lightning and how they often could not believe that this or that present should belong to them. Herefore we thank you once more very heartly particularly in the name of our little patients, send you our best wishes for the new-begun year and reach you in mind our hand about the ocean! Yours sincerely Hedwig Furst 52 individual families of First Church still treasure letters written in German which came to them from some family they had chosen to help. One Junior High School boy became fast friends with a German lad his own age. After the American family had sent several pack- ages of used clothing, and Helmut in Germany had written letters of appreciation for clothes which fit him exactly, the First Church lad insisted that when a new jacket or sport shirt was purchased for him, one also just like it be bought and sent in the next box to Helmut. The First Church family income was limited and this was explained. The boy simply answered: "Then I'll take less myself. I don't want to send only my old stuff to Helmut," A real bridge? Yes! During the summer of 1948 Reverend Eder, Reverend Andrew Kurth (former Administrative Dean of North Central College and active member of First Church), and Reverend Wilmert Wolf (pastor of Grace Church) joined a group going- to Europe. The church had given Mr. Eder a Bon Voyage gift which was to be used to enrich his travels. In keeping with the empathy he had for the stricken people of Europe, he used part of it for purchases of Care packages and for other benevolent negotiations at such places as Stuttgart, Frankfurt and Hamburg. Upon their return, the pastors of the two Naperville churches gave a Sunday evening series to their combined congrega- tions on the theme : ' ' Reflections on a Continental Journey. ' ' A steeple-eye view of the church in the changing years of the late forties and beginning fifties would include : Frequent visits to the church by Julian Gromer, well-known pho- tographer of far-off lands and America, making use of the new, large movie screen which could be set up in the sanctuary. Also, educational hours for many groups with the Reverend Howard Orions of Wiscon- sin, who had become a nationally known ornithologist ; and an ac- quaintance with Rosa Page Welch, noted singer and lecturer who pre- sented the negro's role in our land with great insight — A "Thank-you" to Mr. Will Frederickson and Ed Miller, ushers in the balcony, which was filled each Sunday with North Central College students, for "putting so much congeniality into their duties as ushers ' ' — When the Federal Supreme Court decided that released time for Religious Education Classes could no longer be available in public schools, Mrs. Violet Bischoff met the sixth and seventh grade young people of First Church for classes in Christian Education immediately after school every Tuesday — A tribute paid to Mrs. L. H. Seager, who had come "to the end of a highly useful earthly pilgrimage. Her presence in turn graced the parsonage, the College President's home, and the Bishop's residence. With equal grace she lived victoriously in the years of retirement"— A. Fellowship Class was formed by a group of couples who had previously belonged to other classes where the men and women me1 separately. The husbands and wives of this group, whose children were leaving home for college, marriage, and jobs, decided they want- 53 c(l to be together for Sunday morning Bible study of a serious nature, as well as for social evenings adapted to the "bifocal club." The class lasted only a few years, but memories of those hours with like-minded couples are very dear to many whose 1 lives are now set in different molds — Miss Leona Kietzman and Mrs. Gideon Broberg, leaders of a group of First Church ladies, made drapes for the church parlors and the Pastor's study from material bought by the Ladies' Auxiliary — A Lrlassed-in broadcasting booth set up in the balcony above the .Junior Choir where Professor Guy Eugene Oliver and his students broadcast the services of First Church over the North Central College Radio Station. WNCC, to the shut-ins of Xaperville. Those confined to their homes were linked to the church in worship — An altar in the parlor chapel, made by Arnold Wolf, and dedicated in honor of Mrs. S. J. Gamertsf elder, teacher-emeritus of the Work- to-Win Class — The Immanuel and Sheal Classes decided to join forces for the study of the lesson each Sunday morning. -However, the Sheal Class lias kept its identity and has regular social meetings on the first Tues- day of each month. (An interesting item: the Sheal Class has met for its June picnic at the farm home of Mrs. Myrtle Boebel every June for more than thirty years. With tables set on the lawn or in her home, according to the weather. Mrs. Boebel has always had a generous supply of fried chicken for the whole group!) — The joy of Mrs. Vernon Farnham and the children shared by the congregation as Dr. Farnham, after many months of detention in Red China, sailed from Hongkong, homeward bound — Students in C.Y.F. discussing such topics as "Should my negro brother become my brother-in-law ? ' ' — North Central students. Gudrun Frese of Germany and Toshio Ota of Japan, reading the Scripture one Sunday — first in English, then in their native tongues. To see First Church pass in panoramic procession is to witness the tremendous changes made in a short period of time. Some changes are of local origin. Others are brought about by legislative measures passed at General Conference. This was true in the establishment of the Women's Society of World Service. The 1951 Discipline of the Evangelical United Brefhren Church gave the regulations for forming this organization, which would unite all the women's work of the church into one fellowship. When First Church decided to have this unified program, the Ladies' Auxiliary, which had been such a powerful force in the church since 1908, ceased to exist. Mrs. Geggenheimer was chairman when the auxiliary was organized, and Mrs. Paul Zimmermann was the last chairman before the new era began. In between these two women the names of the following appear as chairmen: Mrs. John Manshardt ( !) years i. Mrs. W. W. Spiegler (8 years), and varying lengths of service for Mesdames Rickert, Coultrap, Schaefer. Koehler. Muehl. Xolte, Reinhart, Eggestein and Hooten. First Church is grateful to 54 these women and their hundreds of helpers through the years for the excellent dinners which were prepared. (Just reading Airs. Man- shardt's private diary of auxiliary work with menus ranging from roast chicken to chop suey. makes one hungry!). The banquets served to church and college were unlimited — College and Seminary Alumni ; Booster Clubs; Father-Son and Mother-Daughter; Woman's Club luncheons; North Central Homecoming; Annual Seminary Banquet: Junior-Senior and Football Banquets; Weddings; YWCA and Big- Little Sister; Faculty-Trustee; and any or all types of dinners, recep- tions and banquets asked for by the church. No matter what the pres- sure, however, the Ladies' Auxiliary steadfastly refused through the years to sponsor public dinners where the tickets were to be advertised for sale. The Woman's Missionary Society, also, no longer existed as a sep- arate entity. The tremendous influence of this organization for promot- ing world concepts of brotherhood among all ages in the church can never be estimated. Acting as sponsor for the Little Heralds, Mission Band, YWMC (or YPMC), as well as doing adult work, the leaders saw to it that all programs had a sound educational foundation and a depth of perception which led to a true understanding of other peoples of the world. Among the women who served as presidents of this group from 1912-1951 were: Mrs. A. J. Boelter, Mrs. S. J. Gamertsf elder, Mrs. G. Kimmel, Mrs. D. W. Staffeld, Mrs. E. E. Domm, Mrs. Frank Umbreit, Mrs. Chester Attig, Mrs. E. D. Riebel, Mrs. J. N. Lehman, Mrs. Clarence Eggestein, Mrs. Lester Schloerb, Mrs. H. R. Heininger. In February, 1951, the new organization of Women's Society of World Service (WSWS — pronounced Wiss Wiss by the initiated) was completed. The election of officers took place at the annual Birth- day Dinner. The nominating committee consisted of Mesdames Egge- stein, Koten, Michel, Schultz, Bradlee, Lehman, and Stover. All women over 18 who were members of the church were entitled to vote. The election results were as follows : President — Mrs. W. C. Harr, Vice-president — Mrs. A. J. Senty, Secretary — Mrs. Harold Henning, Treasurer — Mrs. P. G. Gamertsfelder, Sec. of Spiritual Life — Miss Ethel Spreng, Local Activities — Mrs. Paul Zimmermann, Social Rela- tions — Mrs. Henry Moy, Missionary Education — Mrs. L. J. Schloerb. Circle Leaders: Number 1 — Mrs. Charles Schuler, Number 2 — Mrs. Lester Stover, Number 3 — Mrs. Don Jamison, Number 4 — Mrs. I. A. Koten, Number 5 — Mrs. C. H. Eggestein, Number 6 — Miss Leona Kietzman. The WSWS has continued to serve the church in every facet of its total life. Through the afternoon and evening circles, all women have an opportunity to make a contribution. Mrs. Harr, who began the work as president of the new organization in First Church, proved such an able administrator that she was later elected to serve as president of the General Women's Society of World Service for the entire Evangelical United Brethren Church, which is a department of the Board of Missions. The change-over to the unified work among the women in the local 55 church was not the only major change in First Church in 1951. It was also the time when an early morning service was initiated in the social parlor at 8:30. The "parlor-chapel", with the addition of altar and hangings, became a popular place for worship. After the sched- uled five-Sunday trial run, the council decided to continue this early service until further notice. An even greater change outwardly came in the remodeling: work done. The floor of the sanctuary was refmished and new carpeting laid in the chancel and aisles. The old carpeting was placed in the balcony. New heating units, a new ceiling in the banquet room, new washroom facilities, robing rooms for the senior choir, and the renewal of the hearing aid system, were all a part of the improvement pattern. The room behind the pulpit, which once served as the pastor's study, now became a well-planned workroom with counter space and cabinets for the use of altar guild and communion stewards. When the sacrament of Holy Communion is shared in First Church, the reality of the priesthood of believers, in which every person is not only his own priest but priest to all other worshippers also, is emphasized. It is a true wor- ship experience both to speak and to hear the words: At the Communion of the Broken Bread, The Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His body for thee, preserve thy soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this bread in remembrance that Christ died for thee. Feed on Him in thy heart by faith with thanks- giving. At the communion of the Wine, The Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for thee, preserve thy soul unto everlasting life. Drink this cup in remembrance that Christ shed His blood for thee. Partake of Him in thy heart by faith with thanksgiving. A memorial gift of $5,000 by Air. and Airs. S. J. Lang of Detroit in honor of Mr. Lang's uncle. Professor E. E. Domm. had inspired the total program. The congregation set its financial goal at $35,000, of which $29,000 was raised by cash and pledges in November, 1950. The gift of Air. and Airs. Lang was used for the building of the new chancel, which has greatly enriched the worship of First Church. After careful research, the symbols of the chancel were meaningfully interpreted by Airs. Floyd Shisler, who has made the care of the altar and the training of the acolytes an act of sincere dedication. We quote Airs. Shisler 's words: 56 The center aisle serves an important symbolic function. It has been called "a parable of the Way of Life reaching from birth to the Throne of God." It should be left open, a sign of the individual's free access to God. The Christian altar is a perpetual reminder of Christ's death, the one full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for all time. Here in gratitude we offer our gifts to God : bread and wine, sanctified in remembrance of our Savior's suffering and triumph; money, con- secrated to the building of His Kingdom ; flowers, to commemor- ate our Lord's resurrection. The cross on the altar is the symbol not only of the passion of Christ but of His triumph. On either side of the cross are candles to remind us that Christ is the Light of the World. One stands for His divine nature; the other for his human nature. On the cross are the letters I H S, the first three capital letters from the Greek word for Jesus. The ever-burning light above the altar lifts our eyes, our thoughts, our hearts to the ever-living, boundless love of God our Father. On the front of the altar in the center is the hand-carved symbol, "The Lamb of God" (Agnus Dei), the most beautiful of the ancient symbols to represent the Son of God. The head sur- rounded by the three-rayed nimbus signifies divinity, the banner indicates victory. The Lamb lies on the book of seven seals de- scribed in The Revelation. The sheaf of wheat and the cluster of grapes symbolize the Bread of Life and the Blood of Christ. The principal carving on the pulpit is the open book, the Word of God open toward the people. On the lectern the cross and the crown remind us of Christ's suffering and His reward. The shields of the four Evangelists on the wall from left to right are : St. Matthew, a winged man ; St. Mark, a winged lion ; St. Luke, a winged ox; and St. John, a winged eagle. These signify the humanity, the royalty, the sacrifice, and the divinity of Jesus. The dedication service of the new chancel took place on Palm Sunday, March 18, 1951. Mr. Lang participated in the service and Bishop Stamm read these words as a part of the service of dedication : Bishop Stamm : In grateful remembrance of all who have loved and served the church and who have joined the Church Triumphant: and in special memory of Professor Edward E. Domm, faithful teacher of the Christian truth, willing counselor of teachers, friend of children and youth, devoted Christian minister and servant of the church ; People: We dedicate this chancel. Gifts for the chancel began to come in. A fund started by Marietta Hoffman Lambrecht at the time of her wedding resulted in two 7- branch candelabra; the Ira Oertlis gave two candle lighters and snuffers ; Coral Manning donated a Prie Dieu in honor of her mother ; the neighbors of Miss Emma Martin gave new bread plates for the Communion Service in her honor. The two exquisite old pulpit chairs with their cathedral type backs placed on either side of the chancel had been used almost a 57 hundred years ago in the Old Brick Church. The chairs had not fitted into the square, heavy pulpit appointments of the 1912 chancel and so they had been relegated to a storeroom. However, they had not been idle. College students had discovered that the chairs made elegant thrones for the crowning ceremonies of the May Queen. They had even gilded the chairs to make them stunning for the May Day festivities with their red velvet baeks and seats. The chairs did not lose their church relationship even on the campus, however, for they were often sat upon by our own Naperville Evangelical May Queens. The first was Ruth Gamertsfelder, of the Class of 1915. Others from our two churches who have graced the "throne" were: Mil- dred Mover Stauffer, Lois Rieke Stauffer, Dorothea Kimmel, Helen Dewar Norton, Ruth Groves Riebel, Phyllis Schendel Wedsworth, Dorothy Juhnke Kolb, Monie Gamertsfelder Kinney, Mary Lee Siemsen Wolf, Barbara Irwin Thompson, Donna Siemsen Larsen, and Mary Ann Uebele Sroufe. Probably Barbara Thompson in 1950 was the last queen who sat upon one of the chairs. Luckily Arnie and Bea Wolf discovered them and refinished them to match the new chancel. In restoring the chairs to their original beauty, the Wolfs forged a visual link with the historic Old Brick Church. For a number of years the Palm Sunday procession by the Junior Choir was given special beauty as the children in their fresh, snowy-white surplices marched down the cen- ter aisle of the sanctuary carrying palm branches sent from Florida by the Reverend and Mrs. Harold Oeschger, who serve our church in St. Petersburg. Mrs. Oeschger is Mrs. John Hornback's sister. It is also of interest to note here that the change in the chancel marked the passing of full-scale dramatic productions in the church. The big old circular platform could no longer be fitted on its wooden horses between altar rail and chancel. For more than thirty years plays, pageants, tableaux, and pantomimes had provided an outlet for creative energies. Professor and Mrs. Guy Eugene Oliver gave great leadership in this field. Many times, more than 200 people took part in the productions. Other names which come readily to mind for leadership in this are Jamison, Eigenbrodt, Finkbeiner, Moy, Daniels, Seager, Stoos, Hornback, Heininger, Eder, Schmidt, and Boelter. So many were the achievements of Reverend and Mrs. Eder in the service of First Church, and so vital had been their relationship to the church members, that it w T as to a shocked and unbelieving con- gregation on May 11, 1952, Reverend Eder preached his farewell sermon entitled "Uncharted Voyage." 58 -ill te j " l m f 1 . jjffe II a §. ,#, ...» V ?3 • % * 2i . r J , i ** y»-- First Church C h oi r , middle 1930's, under direction of "Prof." Pinney. Members (mostly stu- dents) not distinguishable indi- vidually but very impressive nu- merically! Standing, left, Dewey Eder, pastor, and Freda Druschel, organist. At right, Claude Pinney. Claude C. Pinney Director First Church Choir 1919-1942 USHERS IN FORMAL GARB, 1941 Front row: Chester Attig, William Ritzert, Dewey Eder (pastor), Floyd Shisler (head usher), Edward Domm, Guy Oliver. 2nd row: Wilmert Wolf, Clarence Erffmeyer, Harold Schmidt, Willard Muehl, Herdis Deabler. o ^ '~ 3 • ? 2 £W ^^ US V _ ^ W S-< O hH 0> a; H »H y fl -r-, cd I w Q w c/: Q O w s-< C O - W w ££ 2>>^ ^ C 03 p, ffi (Dd)U t-3 C« 03 jC o 13 fl, ^ o cd CO C X5 £££§ = cd <« •£ • -j 0> 3 CT3 W ffi 2 >» « 3 . rfju m 5< :3 ^ Ij w ^ a CO .2^ 03 CO g 3w:S'Ss-a OJ 'f 2 ^ cd r/] Qj O CO " -rt •» i — i ••PQ co^^xTx-o 5hW .° 3 C+J cu 3 > *H CO fc^QPQ 0> CO O -3 > *-i OUR EVANGELICAL Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church Dr. Wilmert H. Wolf Pastor HEN NEIGHBORS Dr. Paul H. Eller President Evangelical Theological Seminary ANOTHER CLOSE NEIGHBOR Old Main North Central College Sl!i ;: ■ '■ Dr. Arlo Schilling President Dr. C. E. Erffmeyer Dean $##f<»lfc0&H£**«* i k 4 '4* J* It fa if, it to A t IB > ■£- <*> * 1 if •4* # t 4* It A ft 4r * Chinese note of gratitude (1947) for cloth to make clothes. For clearer comprehension begin reading at upper right hand column! The old chancel, wood paneled, with a door at center back. Pulpit cen , -'i tered, with altar rail enclosing the chancel which had steps to left andj right, it typified the "Akron" style of architecture. The chancel is shown ready for the wedding of Betty Muehl and Jack Lyden. The new chancel, with carved altar, divided chancel, eternal light. The liturgical emphasis in worship has been evident since the dedication of the chancel in 1951. KINDERGARTEN DEPARTMENT 1962 ERLA KREIMEIER, SUPERINTENDENT PRIMARY DEPARTMENT 1962 ARLENE BOELTER, SUPERINTENDENT When the realization came that the Eders had chosen to go out into wider fields of service, the congregation showed their high esteem and affection by presenting their minister and his wife with a new, black Chrysler. Reverend Eder wrote his final little homily to his people in these words: It would take "the tongues of men and of angels" to express the gratitude which we have in our hearts as we leave First ( hurch. The past is flooded with pleasant memories which we will cherish as long as we live. The generous gift of a shiny new Chrysler sedan was altogether unexpected — a complete surprise. How it was done and with such secrecy will always amaze us. Any attempt to express our appreciation in words might be like a "noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." So, as St. Paul ad- monished, we will say it in LOVE enriched by seventeen years of your genuine Christian affection. Here might end the story of the Eders' ministry at First Chnrch, but the greatest tribute that can be paid to them is to let Professor W. H. Heinmiller describe what happened in the congregation when, after World War II, Mr. Eder asked that warm, practical cloaks of Christian love and fellowship be thrown about the shoulders of cold, hungry neighbors across the ocean : In June, 1946 Mr. Eder developed the project of sending cereal to Europe. After extensive investigation it was found that the Ralston-Purina Co. had developed a mixed cereal with high food value which they would sell at low cost. Since the amount of money to pay for a carload, about 50,000 pounds, was more than First Church could shoulder alone, the churches of the Illinois Conference were invited to participate and many responded. The total cost for cereal and transportation was $4,970 of which First Church paid $2,206. The food was distributed overseas through Church World Service. In August, 1946, in conversation with Missionary Sundberg of China, Mr. Eder found that the pastors (native) of our church in China were in need of new suits or the conventional Chinese long garments. After scouring wholesalers and mills for the desired cloth, a mill was found in Pawtucket, R.I., which had just the required amount of suitable cloth. We had it shipped to the West Coast for Mr. Sundberg to take along on his return to China. The cost was $230. The results are recorded in the many letters of gratitude from Mr. Sundberg and a number of the Chinese ministers. In March, 1947, a sizable shipment of dry milk was made to Dr. Paul Mayer in Japan at a cost of $127. In the same year two shipments of insulin were made to Evangelical hospitals in Germany. Each of these contained 100,000 units. The Squibb Pharmaceutical Co. was very co- operative both in the matter of price and in preparation for shipment. Cost $370. In July of 1947 First Church gave $1,000 to the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) toward their Child Feed- ing Program. 59 At the same time a sewing machine, sterilizer and sewing supplies were purchased for Miss Justine Granner, Missionary in China. The sterilizer pressure cooker was not to be used for medical purposes, but to make it possible for the missionaries to cook a variety of beans which could only by this method be made soft enough to eat. Food was very scarce. The next project was really unique. In the fall of 1947 it came t<> our attention that a young man. the grandson of one of our pastors in Germany, was in need of assistance to continue his medical education. His family were Quakers and he had served in a non-combatant capacity in the medical corps of the German army. He had contracted tuberculosis and been sent to Switzerland. lie wanted to continue his medical education there, but had no funds. 1 1 is father had a fair income, but there was oothing in Germany to buy with the money nor could they send it to Switzerland. So an interesting plan was developed whereby we agreed to furnish the money for eight months. This was sent through the missionary office of the denomination to a repre- sentative of the church in Switzerland and he paid it to the young student. In turn, his parents agreed to pay back the money on an agreed basis of exchange to the pastor of the Evangelical Church in Kassel where they resided. Our church there had been com- pletely bombed out. They paid back every dollar and the money was used toward the rebuilding of the church in Kassel which is in the American zone. Later Gert Legatis returned cured to Germany without interrupting his medical education. He is today a specialist in internal medicine, practicing in the city of Ihmover. He is married to the daughter of the celebrated Bishop Lillje. One of the best investments we made. Cost $675. In February, 1948 we raised $1,850 toward the purchase of a portable chapel for Berlin or Dresden. One could be purchased in Switzerland for $5,000. In Dresden all three Evangelical churches were totally destroyed. In addition to these special projects hundreds of CARE packages of food and many packages of clothing were sent. In December of 1946 alone, 210 CARE packages at $10 each were sent. The postage and express on clothing shipments amounted to $381 for the period 1945-1948. There were also money contri- butions to the relief work of the American Friends and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. First Church raised a total of $11,628 for relief work overseas in this period and that without any urging or pressure. 60 CHAPTER VI. LITURGICAL LEANINGS And now one hundred and fifteen years have passed in review. There are but ten years left to be accounted for before the day when "Finis" will be written to this history of First Church. Before that last word, it would be a powerful revelation if the unique contribution of each of more than a thousand members could be recorded. And yet, it is the composite of these countless offerings of time, talent, and money, on the human side, which sustain the Church and make it the channel by which the love of God is brought to man. Individuals and organizations, many and diverse, serve only as the vehicles which carry forward the story of the real purpose of the Church. As the present day multi-colored workings of First Church are separated, accented, and evaluated, they are set in the background of an awakened appreciation for a rich liturgical heritage, centuries old. The new chancel dedicated by Reverend Eder shortly before the close of his ministry, opened the way for his successor and the congre- gation to bring new dimensions of dignity, beauty, and liturgy to the worship services. The altar flowers for January 13, 1952, were the gift of Mrs. Carrie Rariden, in memory of her grandfather, the Rev- erend Jacob Schaefle, who was a pioneer preacher in the Mid- dle West 100 years ago. His first convert in Cedar Falls, Iowa, was Mrs. Barbara Pfeiffer^ to whom the Barbara Pfeiffer Memorial Hall at North Central College is dedicated. (Music School a.nd auditorium) When the Illinois Conference met in 1952, the choice of a new minister for First Church, Naperville, lay upon conference leaders. Wisely they chose a man in the prime of life, who had shown a creative approach to his work in guiding the renewal of St. John's 61 Church in Rockford, Illinois, and for whom the Liturgical service is the embodiment of the oneness of the church for all men through all ages. The Reverend Paul Washburn, with his wife, Kathryn, and their four children, Mary. .Jane. Fredrick and John, were welcomed to First Church at a reception on .June 11. 1952. While summer is usually a slow-paced time, that of 1952 proved to be an exception. Back in October of 1951, at a fall fellowship dinner, the trustees had been authorized to sign a contract for a new Renter organ for approximately $25,000, to be "dedicated to Cod in honor of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Wicks". Shortly before this a hint from Dewey Eder to Delmar Kroehler as to the congregation 's dire need for a new pipe organ prompted the Kroehlers to contribute half of the sum. The other half was easily "lifted" from the con- gregation. Delmar Kroehler 's father, Peter Kroehler. was the brother of Mrs. Wicks. Mr. Wicks served for more than a quarter of a century as a trustee of our congregation. He and Mrs. Wicks were faithful workers in many phases of church life. Their relatives and friends were happy to honor them in this way. On July 13, 1952. a Sunday morning- prelude recital was played. It was the musical farewell for the old Moeller organ, some of whose parts were too excellent to be discarded when the new organ was constructed. It had served well for forty years. Mrs. Harold Schmidt, one of the choir soloists, was chairman of the organ committee and devoted herself completely to this work through a long, busy summer. Even though yawning holes and stretches of canvas faced the congre- gation, and there was no organ to use. the summer months found people still enjoying Bach and other great composers at the worship services. Two-piano selections were played for preludes and postludes. For many months to come a piano had to be used continually for the hymns and anthems. The organ itself was not delivered until early December, from Lawrence. Kansas, through snow-laden western states. The Dedicatory Recital, set for January 4, 1953, was played by John Eigenbrodt. who had helped in the planning of the organ. He returned from his studies at Yale Divinity School, where he was organist at Marquand Chapel, to play the recital. His selections included compositions by Dunstable. Brahms. Bach. Handel, and by the contemporary composers, Hindemith, Widor. and Messiaen. The organ itself, built by the Reuter Organ Company, contains thirty ranks of pipes in four sections as follows : The Great Organ 8 ft. Diapason 73 pipes 8 ft. Melodia 72 pipes 3 ft. Melodia 73 pipes 8 ft. (icmshorn 73 pipes 1 ft. Octave 73 pipes 2 ft. Fifteenth 61 pipes 2 2/3 ft. Twelfth .... 61 pipes The Choir Organ 8 ft. Viola 73 pipes s ft. Bourdon 73 pipes 62 8 ft. Dulciana 73 pipes 8 ft. Unda Maris 61 pipes 4 ft. Flaute Traverso.72 pipes 2 2/3 ft. Nasard 61 pipes 2 ft. Blockf loete 61 pipes 8 ft. Clarinet 73 pipes Swell Organ 16 ft. Lieblich Bourdon 12 pipes 8 ft. Diapason 73 pipes 8 ft. Gedeckt 85 pipes 8 ft. Salicional 73 pipes 8 ft. Voix Celeste .... 61 pipes 8 ft. Spitz Flute 73 pipes 8 ft. Flute Celeste ... 61 pipes 4 ft. Principal 73 pipes 4 ft. Lieblich Flute . . 73 notes 2 2/3 ft. Rohrnasat ..73 notes 2 ft. Flautino 61 notes 3 rks. Plein Jeu (mixture) 183 pipes 8 ft. Trumpet 73 pipes 8 ft. Oboe 73 pipes 4 ft. Hautbois Clarion 73 pipes Pedal Organ 16 ft. Diapason 44 pipes 16 ft. Bourdon 32 pipes 16 ft. Lieblich Gedeckt .32 notes 16 ft. Gemshorn 12 pipes 8 ft. Principal 32 notes 8 ft. Bourdon 12 pipes 8 ft. Still Gedeckt ... 32 notes 8 ft. Gemshorn 32 notes 5 1/3 ft. Twelfth 32 notes 4 ft. Choral Bass .... 12 pipes 4 ft, Lieblich Flute . . 32 notes 16 ft. Trumpet 12 pipes 8 ft. Trumpet 32 notes The organ is completely equipped with couplers, with adjustable combinations, with combination couplers, and the entire organ is under expression. It is played from a three-manual and pedal console. The console is of draw-nob design. The action is electro-pneumatic. 5fC ■ 5JC q§E 5jC From the time of the installation of the Moeller organ in 1912, which had been one of the most important and expensive innovations in the new church, until the rebuilding of the organ in 1952, "First Church has been widely known for the high quality of its ministry of music". The skill and devotion of Freda Schwab Druschel was a continuing link which helped make the music outstanding. Paul Zim- merman reported: "Young Freda Schwab, with great elation and talent, began her years of service when she wjis barely out of high 63 school". Her contributions to the total life of the church through forty-one years of service can never be estimated. Her early Christmas morning recitals became a tradition. Even though Mrs. Druschel has been in California since If).")?, each Christmas dawn the majestic March of tin MH ^ t o Si d 73 r-H £ «j*>WN JO ^ M c ug 13 §£14 .2 S 'a; * o -,£ a> 5 CO cs o rt « fc § £ 'S CQ £ <3J OJ „- .EJ^h O CD r^j O >>:£ «nS u 7^ Efl m O %P 3 «tf So SS£o3 S « £ CD g fe >» co c a; CO - G 8)3.2 c o CD CO '53 £ £ g tf^ CO § . i< >>t-s ~ S3 i2 o O ^ CO O co'C pq e $h co «S £ c " S a» (h X co a> co 53 co c > x *j g cfl'-s i-> CO „ O QJ CO Cti ^-i CU .3 £N 5-1 n _ q^ w o „ a cd Ti o ^ 5 ° B .2 7 S Q) Q) O o c _;s 03 3 > t-l a» C a> > oW a>QH.a 03 -s.£ &£•>."* 3 sog w - rt „ 3 Hi 03 V.2 fcjgpQ 03 ffi „ iS&'f-Msi'S tt£ ■2*S CO "" i if s? fc ga'?.s|a| S 2 £g|J|s« Officers of Junior High Youth Fellowship: Steve Weidemier, President; Jane Carlson, Secretary; Lauren Moss, Treasurer. Missing, Mindy Schlue- ter, Vice-President. Senior High Youth Fellowship: Sue Yelverton, Sec- retarj r ; Karen Moss, President; Carol Sydow, Vice-President; Bob Shif- fler, Treasurer. Mr. Brian Bender, Minister Intern. Mr. Obed Albrecht, chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee, wearing the Anniversary stole, which was chosen by Miss Doro- thea Kimmel and fashioned by Mrs. Lola Hornback. The stole was worn by a different lay per- son each Sunday for twenty Sun- days during the 125th celebration. Highlights of the history of First Church were related by the An- niversary Persons. Century-old parsonage — good example of gracious dignity of early Naper- ville architecture — plus some carefully chosen modern alterations. fit 9ff * First Evangelical United Brethren Church as it looks today — 1962 ,v. N Li -:> Ls C^ v v /:>: ?*«,* 4 the gfitH Theft** <***. *»c& ffesTt- it no i Ftatt Church EYcm7»lieal United Brethren J>t. rW Washburn, .Uioato Invitations of Christ Mr. A. J. Senty, the present Chief Steward, reported that during 1961 about 80 men had been organized into thirteen counting teams and faithfully recorded the contributions made each Sunday by our members to the program of First Church. The Stewards also solicited the commitments and financial support which will make possible the functioning of the 1962 budget, which is as follows: Miscellaneous Offering $ 500.00 Easter Offering 1,200.00 Christmas Offering 2,500.00 Loose Offering 4,000.00 Weekly Envelope Offerings 68,770.00 Total $76,970.00 At this point (lest we forget that we once had no bulletins because of cost, and that we closed the church three days a week to save money), it seems most appropriate to take a quick backward glance at the "Depression" budget of 1930-31: SALARIES : Pastor $2,700.00* Choir Director 720.00 Organist 360.00 Janitor 1,200.00 $4,980.00 LOCAL EXPENSES: Organ and Music $ 250.00 Printing & Stationery 425.00 Taxes 100.00 Light, water and coal 1,200.00 Repairs 540.00 Insurance 700.00 Interest 1,000.00 Miscellaneous 360.00 Church School 1,350.00 Reserve Fund 50.00 $5,975.00 GENERAL ITEMS: Missions and Benevolences $2,700.00* Presiding Elder 335.00* Religious Education 590.00* Bldg. Fund Principal $1,000.00 $4,625.00 TOTAL $15,580.00 Through the years, the name W. W. Spiegler has been inextricably bound up with the financial program of the church. In December 28, 1958, not many months before his death, Mr. and Mrs. Spiegler were honored at the chancel. The following notation comes from the bulletin : "Mr. W. W. Spiegler is being honored today in our moment of Koinonia. He has served outstandingly as *Subject to Approval of Quarterly Conference 77 our Financial Secretary for fifty years. We congratulate him for his record and uniqueness of service. We are confident that he has been richly blessed in the doing of his work. We want him to know we are grateful." Another person who has made a great contribution to the financial structure of the church is Joyce N. Lehman. As Church treasurer for twenty years, he has questioned or recommended various propo- sitions, always with a vision of operating "in the black." An interesting attitude of the congregation toward its budget has been strikingly illustrated twice — once during the depression and once in 1962. In depression days a motion was made in congrega- tional meeting to have our lay delegate ask conference for a reduction in our apportionment from $2700 to $2430.00. The motion was lost because a majority didn't want such a request to be made! In 1962, when the pledges did not completely cover the proposed budget, it was suggested that some of the mission funds be allocated to balance the budget. This too, was defeated. The congregation has a definite "Let's get busy" policy rather than a "Let's cut the budget" one! Individual gifts and special offerings nearly always fill the gap. One of the special offerings which has always been meaningful tc the congregation is the traditional White Gift offering. The gifts have been used for projects which are as diverse as the needs of people at home and abroad. Although several suggestions are usually given to the congregation as a whole, such as CARE, special mission projects, orphanages, old people's homes, Red Bird Hospital, and others, yet each Church School class may choose the destination for its gifts. The rising and falling status of our economy is typified in the amounts given. In the 1933 depression the gift was $292.71. Steadily the amount moved upward until 1945, when, for the first time, the thousand dollar mark was crossed — $1048.80. In 1946, the amount was more than doubled and $2881.38 was raised. In 1947, the two thousand dollar goal was again exceeded, but from then until 1957, it was not reached. A beautiful family tradition was begun in the middle forties in connection with the White Gift Offering. At the Christmas program a representative of each class brings the envelope bearing the gift and lays it at the manger where the Holy Family is being portrayed by the family of the congregation having the newest baby boy. Some members of the original planning committee worried lest the baby cry and "spoil" the climax of the Christmas program. Others felt that the touch of realism would in no way detract, and the idea took root. (The babies have behaved marvelously well!) The family which probably started the tradition was Mr. and Mrs. Lester Stover and Bruce. Some of the other families who have had the youngest son in the congregation when Christmas rolled around were : the Samuel Foemmels, Walter Klasses, Richard Koehlers, Weston Spencers, Elwin Yoders, John Bells, Richard Winters, Robert Gridleys, James Swal- lows, Wesley Wilsons, and William Lankenaus. The traditions which are so meaningful to families and churches are harder to establish today than in bygone days. Already in 1957, 78 Mr. Washburn commented on the mobility of our congregation. "The present membership is 993. In the past five years 330 members have been received, but our gain in membership is only 132. This means that avc must receive five members to gain two members . . . ." In January, 1962, when the total membership had risen to 1,081, Mr. Washburn wrote in his annual report, "The parade of persons through our congregation continues .... We must be more diligent at winning persons. We must be more diligent at assimilating people. We must be more diligent at dialogues of spiritual significance with people while they are with us. We must send people on their way with a genuine sense of continuing to belong to our fellowship . . . ,'j To make vivid what he had in mind, Pastor Washburn presented Mr. and Mrs. William Kilgus (who were moving away after having served First Church in many places of leadership) to the Annual Meeting as "Mr. and Mrs. Parade." They personified the continuous coming and going of our members. But while the membership becomes more and more fluid the build- ing itself stands solidly on the corner of Franklin and Center as it has for fifty years. The trustees, however, are always aware of the need to keep the building in excellent repair, and to modify and re- model as the times and needs change. At a special meeting of the con- gregation on February 13, 1956, it was voted to have the church fiscal year coincide with the calendar year and to approve a number of major changes in the interior of the building. All proposals won easily except that for the building of a Prayer Chapel. This was approved by such a narrow margin that the trustees brought new propositions to the Board later. This time their suggestions were accepted by a sizable majority. On April 8, 96 men went out to raise $20,000 toward the improvement fund. The men and their wives held a Victory Din- ner at the church that evening. It was a "man's world" on the trustee board at First Church for over a century, but since 1950 five women have served on the board: Mrs. Willard Muehl, Miss Ruth Gamer tsf elder, Mrs. Lester Schloerb, Mrs. Elmer Koerner, and Mrs. Obed Albrecht. In 1962, Mrs. Allie Stehr was elected Lay Leader (often called Class Leader), the first woman to hold this office in First Church's long history. The dedication was set for November 25, 1956. The proposed changes had been made and the areas outside the sanctuary took on a beauty which was comparable to that of the sanctuary. The church kitchen was made modern in every respect; the library was established in the old location of the pastor's study; part of the old parlor became a suite of church offices consisting of a reception room, a work room, the assistant pastor's study and the 79 minister's study (all conveniently located immediately to the right of the weekday entrance to the church) ; an unusually warm and at- tractive social parlor was designed by a professional decorator ; and a prayer chapel was made beautiful through simplicity of design and richness of symbolism. The creation of the Prayer Chapel made possible the beginning of another church family tradition which so enriches both church and family. During the advent season, each Sunday afternoon at the Vesper Hour, 4:30-5:30, families may kneel at the chancel in the chapel while their pastor offers individual prayers for each member of the family and then serves them communion as an act of devotion to Christ who is the center of Christmas. The first " family sacra- ment" in the new chapel will remain forever a blessed memory to one family, for it was the last time they had the privilege of kneeling together at the altar as an unbroken family unit. Two pages in the Book of Remembrance deal with the memorial gifts given to the Prayer Chapel. They read as follows : THE PRAYER CHAPEL was dedicated TO THE GLORY OF GOD November 25, 1956, graced with ALTAR given in memory of Mrs. 8. J. Gamertsf elder ; CROSS AND CANDLESTICKS given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John Manshardt ; BIBLE AND BIBLE STAND given in honor of Mrs. Elizabeth Wahl; PRAYER RAILS given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Pope ; CLERGY SEATS given in honor of The Reverend Charles Rodesiler ; HYMN BOOKS given in honor of The Reverend H. Creighton Powell; LEC- TERN given by friends; LECTERN ANTEPENDIA criven by children in the kindergarten; ALTAR VEST- MENT AND BAPTISMAL BOWL given by The Rever- end and Mrs. Theodore Rockwood. THE WINDOWS OF THE CHAPEL, four in number, presenting events in THE LIFE OF OUR LORD were dedicated November 25, 1956. The NATIVITY WIN- DOW was given by Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Shisler. THE BAPTISM WINDOW was given in memory of The Reverend and Mrs. William Albrecht. THE CRUCI- FIXION WINDOW was given in honor of The Reverend and Mrs. E. D. Riebel. THE RESURRECTION WIN- DOW was given by friends of the church. In 1962, Professor W. H. Heinmiller and his family added Chapel Bibles in loving memory of Mrs. Heinmiller. The window lighting was given by the Reverend and Mrs. Leslie Gabel. That same Christmas, 1957, when the "family sacrament " was begun, First Church sent a large part of the White Gift Offering to CARE. A letter which reached the church in March said that the gift purchased almost eight tons of food for the needy people of the world. Food was distributed equally among Berlin, Colombia, Greece, India, Italy, Pakistan, and Germany. The letter stated, "Yours is a most tangible expression of brotherhood and will carry with it a message of hope to those assisted." 80 In 1958 the Committee on Social Action appealed to the congre- gation again: "After World War II we were happy to gather cloth- ing for tlic destitute people of the world. That was in 1946 and 1947. The riot lies given them are long since in shreds ..." Since that time one or two big clothing drives a year have meant tons of clothing going on their way to the n ly of the world. The spring and fall drives for 1961 had Mr. Frank Singer and Dr. J. Rnskin Howe as chairmen. Professor Allen Buck is Chairman of the Social Action ( 'onimittee. The six persons who have held membership in First Church for the longest period of time are: Mr. Judson Gamertsf elder (longest continuous membership), 1901 Professor Thomas Finkbeiner, 1893 hula Wagner Reik, 1894 Bertha Schutz Shisler, 1899 Frohnia Fink Stoner. 1899 Mary Brown Feucht, 1899 The world relationship ties are kept taut in Xaperville. In 1959 the Denomination purchased a much-needed apartment house for missionaries home on furlough. On August 23 the new five-apartment brick building on the corner of Washington and School Streets was dedicated to Bishop Epp, with ceremonies attended by many members of First Church. This George Edward Epp Hall is a fitting tribute to Bishop Epp, who is one of the outstanding leaders in the field of missions in the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In the local congregation, in the same year, a tribute was paid to Dr. Washburn for his twenty-five years in the ministry. The congre- gation gave him a sterling silver bowl and many personal expressions of appreciation. In 1960 the congregation, which had begun the sup- port of Mr. and Mrs. John Dennis at the Inter- American University in Puerto Rico, sent the pastor to get first-hand information on the project. Gratefully he returned to share with members of his con- gregation the new and enriching experience which had been his, and to give them visual and verbal accounts of the work. This desire on the part of the congregation to have intellectual and spiritual enlightenment go hand-in-hand has been in evidence all through the history of First Church. The building of the modern Church School unit, the careful choosing of superintendents, depart- ment heads, and teachers all bear witness to this. The plans for a full-time director of Christian Education had been on the books for a long time. Quentin Lansman had served part-time in 1958. Mrs. Howard Mueller was full-time Educational Assistant from September 81 1959-1961, and in September, 1961, Mrs. J. Ruskin Howe became full- time Director of Christian Education. Mrs. Howe is extraordinarily well-prepared to handle this position. Her work includes the total educational program of the church at all age levels. Mr. Henry Moy, who had twice been elected Church School Superintendent and had a thorough knowledge of the work- ings of the entire school, served as the competent first chairman of the newly organized Board of Christian Education. Dr. Arlo L. Schilling, who became President of North Central College during the Centennial year of 1960-61, is now serving as the Chairman of the Board. His ability as an educator and administrator makes him particularly well suited to this work. Mrs. Howe's vision of Christian Education places it within the context of the church. She says, "Through Christian Education we communicate the Christian faith. We think and plan in terms of the wholeness of personality. The church provides for the Christian nur- ture of individuals. We want our Christian Education program here at First Church to be such that it is always possible for the pupil, whatever age, to be confronted with God, through Christ, and to be given the opportunity to respond." This background will serve them in good stead as they grow older, for the Sunday morning services at First Church are real experiences of worship. Mechanical devices and material aids are merely adjuncts to the main purpose of the service and are used as inconspicuously as pos- sible. The flowers on the altar always add beauty to the service, never detract ; for their arrangement is done with skill and artistry by the Altar Guild, Mrs. Adam Keller, chairman. The men who serve as ushers are friendly and dignified. In speaking of the ushers, it is interesting to note a change in the philosophy of ushering. For many years, the church advocated the use of one team of ushers. During the pastorate of Dr. Schloerb, the ushers were organized and dressed uniformly in conventional English morning garb. With boutonnieres in place, they were an impressive addition to the service. There have been only three head ushers : Mr. George Wicks, Mr. William Ritzert, and Mr. Floyd Shisler. Mr. Shisler tendered his resignation as head usher on January 4, 1962. He had served as an usher in First Church for nearly fifty years and as head usher since 1935. In a letter to Mr. Shisler the church expressed appreciation for the skillful handling of the ushering staff. They are all well trained in the gracious greeting of guests and careful seating of regular mem- bers. Mr. Shisler worked with the men from the time of the original ten to the latest arrangement of team ushering, where 70 men are involved. These teams function with captains and co-captains. Dur- ing 1961 five teams of ushers worked: one for early service and the other four alternated for late service. At the present time the co- chairmen are Gilbert Meyer and Willard Muehl. Mr. Willard Broeker lias served faithfully as captain of the firsl service since its beginning. Other team captains are Melvin Gabel, Marvin Ilartwig. Oliver Ki-eimeier. Walter Sehall. and Paul Uebele. 82 Another change over the years is in the serving of the communion. All communicants came forward and knelt at the altar until 1927. At that time it was voted that they might stand at the altar instead of kneeling. During the pastorate of Reverend (Jrote it was re- commended that the communion symbols be passed through the con- gregation. The Ladies' Auxiliary bought a new larger table and a new communion set. In 1933 communion cup holders were installed in the pews. Caring for the communion cups and preparing the emblems have become acts of loving service, and many hands have shared in this preparation. At the present time Mrs. Joseph Beever is chairman of the Communion Stewards. The Communion at one time could be served only by licensed ministers, but that rule has been changed within recent years so that laymen may also serve. Communion is a solumn ritual of remem- brance. The pastor, the assistant pastors, and the servers of the em- blems are so much a part of the service that the thoughts of the wor- shipper may be fixed only upon the meaning of the memorial act. The young men who have served as the assistants to the ministers of First Church have added much to the morning worship service. Their willingness to become a true part of the congregation and its life has been a rewarding experience to the members of the church and to the young men themselves. At the present time First Church is enjoying its first intern minister. Brian Bender is regularly on the church staff for a year and is not attending Seminary during this time. He worked as an assistant pastor last year, and has been wel- comed gladly by the congregation. One of his many diverse duties is to assist in the worship service. The robed ministers ; the chancel with its high altar, eternal light, and liturgical hangings which follow the church calendar; the light- ing and extinguishing of the altar candles by an acolyte ; the beauty of anthem and organ — all these become a part of Divine Worship on Sunday morning. The sermon adds strength and inspiration to the worshipper. The preaching ministry of Pastor Washburn has been an outstand- ing one. His appeal to his congregation is to accept the Divine Pre- sence so completely that their humanity is permeated through and through with the love of God. When this happens, their relationship to their fellowmen becomes one of understanding, love and goodwill. Human beings are of this world, but they are also capable of being instruments of the love of God. Dr. Washburn's sermons have both spiritual and intellectual depth. He, like some other ministers of First Church, is an avid reader and interpreter of contemporary theological thought. His sermons reflect the wealth of reading and contemplation he has done. To preach to a congregation in which there are perhaps a retired bishop and several ministers, a conference superintendent or two, college and seminary faculty and students, a laity with varied interests and talents but with unusual perception, has been a challenge through several decades to many of the ministers. Not only have these ministers been good preachers, they have 83 been good pastors as well. They have been close to their people be- cause they have had the "open door" policy to their parishioners. Day or night, winter or summer, on vacation or at home, the people of the congregation have felt free to call their pastor. In these last years, pastoral counseling has taken on a new significance, and Mr. Washburn has added much of this to his schedule. To the aged, the sick, the bereaved, the pastors of First Church have offered comfort and solace beyond the mind of man to compre- hend — only with the warming of a despairing spirit at the fire of their God-given empathy can this have meaning. Perhaps the pastors have been close to their people, also, because they have all been human, even as their people are human. They have worked beyond their strength many times. They have known dis- appointment, discouragement, sorrow. They have become involved in too much work at conference and at home. They have taken on too many committee chairmanships, just as their people do. And yet the bond of serving to the utmost binds pastor and people together in common understanding. When Miss Mary Washburn became Mrs. Ronald Smith in 1958 at the altar of First Church, she was the first daugh- ter of the parsonage to be married by her father in the pres- ent sanctuary. This feeling that service must go beyond the bounds of our own doorstep is typified by Mr. Washburn. He is widely involved in the general church and conference. Some of his involvements include— - In the general Evangelical United Brethren Church : the general Council of Administration the Commission on Church Federation and Union (Ex- ecutive Committee) the Board of Trustees of Evangelical Theological Sem- inary (Executive Committee) the Board of Trustees of College-Seminary Library the Board of Directors of North Central College Alum- ni Association. In the Illinois Conference : the Council of Administration (Executive Committee) the Board of Trustees (President) the Committee on Public Relations with Colleges and Seminaries (Chairman) The designation of Mr. Washburn's position on the Commission on Church Federation and Union is a sign that the Evangelical United Brethren Church (which has been a great "uniter" as this history shows) is not through yet. The ecumenical movement is gaining momentum daily, for a united Church must bear witness to a world which is wavering morally, atomically, and spatially. There must 84 be solidity somewhere — and the united Church must furnish it. Jet planes make it possible for Mr. Washburn to go far and to attend many meetings, but the purpose is the same as that which creaked along with Bishop Seybert in his old wagon more than a century ago. Meeting, praying, preaching, dedicated men have inspired the congregations of First Church. The cultural patterns have changed and the church has been a part of this cultural development. From the day of prolonged evangelistic endeavor with emphasis on personal salvation, through the spread of the powerful social gospel, to the present emphasis which comes to focus in the preaching of Pastor Washburn. First Church is still searching for the way God speaks to man. and how man must respond. The sermons-in-series of Mr. Wash- burn illumine this search with themes like: Dialogues and Worship — sermons to vitalize worship Involvement in Crucifixion — sermons on the atonement Involvement in Proclamation — sermons on mission The Revelation of St. John — sermons on a Biblical book The Church Apart — sermons on the uniqueness of the Church Born for What — sermons on the incarnation The Celebrating Church — seven sermons emphasizing Communion, Baptism. Confirmation. Matrimony, Ordination. Requiem, and Worship as Celebration With the realization that the thinking of a congregation is molded and brought to spiritual fruition, in part at least, through the think- ing of the preacher, there can be no better way to epitomize First Church today than to close this history with a portion of one of the sermons preached by Dr. Washburn. This is a tribute of appreciation from his people to their pastor : THE ALLURING CHRIST - VI Introductory portion of 6th sermon in series) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews xiii . 8 Revised Standard Version Introduction — The Sunday mornings of this early autumn have found us witnessing a parade ... a parade of declarations about our Lord Jesus Christ . . . a parade of declarations made by men with a mind to adore Him. The parade of declarations comes to conclusion this morning with a line from the letter to the Hebrews. The line is the eighth verse in the thirteenth chapter. It reads. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Before turning to this magnificent declaration, I want to speak, and I will speak ... in brief compass, to be sure . . . my personal testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ. For purposes didactic . . . and for purposes poetic . . . my testimony is arranged in alliteration. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a present. We have not earned So him. We have not deserved him. He has come to us . . . all unmerited ... all unexpected ... a gift from God. He is a present. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a presence. He was in eternity before the foundations of the world. He was in Pales- tine once in time. But since His resurrection He is in every faithful situation as a presence. He said, "Lo, I am with you always" and I take him at his word. He is a presence. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a pretender ... a claimant for the throne from which our lives are governed. While he does not violate our right to resist him, he is constantly laying claim to his right to govern us as citizens of his kingdom of grace. He is a pretender. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a pressure. With loving scrutiny he judges us. His judgments pressure us. With lovingkindness and tender mercies he constrains us in all our thoughts ... in all our words ... in all our deeds. His lovingkindness and tender mercies pressure us. He is a pressure. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a primate . . . the person rank- ing first in his one holy catholic church. He expresses himself through the congregations where he is the first person. He has so arranged his primacy that where he is not the first person there is no church. He is a primate. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a problem ... a problem be- cause we do not know him fully. We can be sure, how- ever, that what we will yet find in him will not be contradictory to what we have already found. All this Christ is to me ... a present from God . . . a presence here ... a pretender for authority over me ... a pressure upon my thoughts, words, and deeds . . . the ranking person in his church . . . and a problem. These are my thoughts when I own him as savior and Lord. And such is he when he ... is the same yesterday and today and forever. 86 BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Albright, R. W. History of the Evangelical Church, 1942. Blanchard, Rut'us. History of DuPage County, 1882. Breyfogel, S. C. Evangelical Landmarks, 1887. Eller, 1*3111 II. These Evangelical United Brethren, 1950. Quaife, Milo M. Chicago's Highways, Old and New, 1923. Richmond, C. W. History of DuPage County, 1857. Roberts, Clarence N. North Central College, 1961. Schwab. J. G. and Thoren, II. 8. History of the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical Church, 1937. Watts. May Theilgaard. Reading the Landscape, 1957. NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS Alspaugh, Hannah Ditzler, Historical Sketch of Zion Church, Naper- ville Clarion, Oct. 24, 1900. Evangelical Children's Worker, May 1935 and April, 1938. Scobey, Frank F., The Year 1870 in the History of North Central College (Compiled from the files of the Naperville Clarion, 1952). Seminary Review, Evangelical Theological Seminary (gleanings from many issues). PAMPHLETS Centennial Souvenir of Evangelical Churches, 1937. Diamond Jubilee Bulletin for North Central College, 1936. DuPage County Guide, DuPage Historian, May, 1946, and Fifty Fruitful Years (Evangelical Theological Seminary), Publica- tions of DuPage County Historical Society, E. T. George, 1926. History of Camp Seager, Edward Himmel, 1958. How Mission Bands Began and Grew in the Evangelical Church, Mrs. E. C. Basom, (n.d.). Illinois Conference, The Evangelical Church — Centennial, 1844-1944. Jubilee Church Book of First Evangelical Church, 1919. Naperville Centennial, 1831-1931. Pamphlet of tin Golden Wedding Celebration of A. A. Smith and His Wife, 1833. Program of Dedication of Church School Building, First Evangelical Church, 1925. Souvenir of the Naperville Home Coming, 1917. Story of a Sunday School, Beulah Tillotson Dwinell, 1924. 87 UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS (Often containing' quotations from "Der Christliche Botschafter" and "The Evangelical Messenger"). Alspangh, Hannah Ditzler, History of the Church of the Evangelical Association of Naperville, 1918. Buck, Mary 8., Reminiscences, (written for centennial of Evangelical Churches in Naperville), 1937. Finkbeiner, Bertha, Church Pageant (also written for above centen- nial), 1937. Goetz, Mrs. 0. A., Historical Record for Centennial — Harvest Home Celebration at Grace Evangelical Church in 1937. Hildreth, Fanny Smith, Red Plush Album — A Family Chronicle (written in 1943, including excerpts from many journals, diaries, and letters of various members of the Smith family). Hoesch, Lydia, History of First Evangelical Church (written as a History Seminar paper under Dr. C. J. Attig, 1934. Huelster, William, Excerpts from his diary compiled by Ada Huelster Sickels. RECORDS Various and Sundry — Off and On from 1868 down to now — both English and German. Class Records Church Bulletins, 1933-1960 Minutes of Annual Congregational Meetings, 1961-1962 Pastoral Reports Records of Congregational Meetings Records of Quarterly and Annual Conferences Sunday School Record Books Trustee Record Books (Read and translated from the German, when necessary, by Ruth Gamertsfelder, assisted by Gustav Dietz, Elizabeth Wahl, and Olive Kluckholm. Ruth has distinguished herself as an indefatigable researcher, spending uncountable hours with records and in vaults — far beyond the call of duty!) 88 HELPERS Barrett, Helen Gamertsfelder Lehman, Joyce Bender, Brian Lneben, Helen Broeker, Mrs. Carl Manshardt, Mr. and Mrs. John Diet/. Gustav Muehl, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Donini. Mrs. E. E. Pope, Mrs. Philip Eggestein. Mrs. Ethel Rail. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Eller, Paul H. Rinehart. Freda Finkbeiner. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Schloerb, Mr. and Mrs. Lester George, E. F. Schutte, John Hallwachs, Mrs. Shisler, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Heinmiller, W. H. Spiegler, Milton Hoeseh. Vernon Spreng, Ethel Koerner. Elmer Stoos. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Klingbeil, William Thornton, Vic Krug, Mrs. Jessie Wahl, Mrs. Elizabeth Lane, Betty Schloerb Zimmermann, Paul EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF THE 125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH'S FOUNDING January 7 — Proclamation of the Celebration February 4 — Anniversary Mission Festival The Reverend Lowell Gess, B.D., M.D., Medical Missionary to Sierra Leone. Mission Preacher February 25 — 50th Anniversary of The Dedication of the Sanctuary March 11 — Anniversarv visit of the congregation's bishop The Reverend H. R. Heininger, Ph.D., D.D., LL.D., Bishop of the Northwestern Area of The Evangelical United Brethren Church, Preacher April 29 — Anniversary Confirmation Service — Class of 1962 May 19 — Anniversary Banquet Student Union Building of North Central College Music by the Centralaires of Indiana Central College October 3 — Presentation Banquet for First Church Historj- "A Time for Remembrance," by Miss Elizabeth Wiley and Mrs. Mildred Eigenbrodt October 7 — Anniversary Celebration Finale Exhibit of historical artifacts Open House of our renovated church building 125th Anniversary Committee Obed Albrecht, Chairman, Mrs. Robert Sckroeder, Secretary, Mrs. Hettie Domm, Mrs. Mildred Eigenbrodt, Harold Erffmeyer. Mrs. •I. R. Howe. Miss Dorothea Kimmel, Mrs. Elmer Koerner, Russell Lovingier, Harold Riebel, August Ritzert, A. J. Senty, -larvis Spreng, Marvin Thompson, Miss Elizabeth Wiley. Paul Washburn. Paul Zimmermann. APPENDICES NAPERVILLE CHURCH AS HOST TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE (Prepared by Professor E. F. George) 1847 3rd Annual Session Bishop Seybert, Chairman 1849 5th Annual Session Bishop Seybert, Chairman 1852 8th Annual Session Bishop Seybert, Chairman 1864 20th Annual Session Bishop J. J. Esher, Chairman 1867 23rd Annual Session Bishop Long, Chairman 1876 32nd Annual Session Bishop J. J. Esher, Chairman 1880 36th Annual Session Bishop J. J. Esher, Chairman 1885 41st Annual Session Bishop T. Bowman, Chairman 1894 50th Annual Session Bishop Wm. Horn, Chairman 1901 57th Annual Session Bishop S. C. Breyfogel, Chairman 1915 71st Annual Session Bishop Thomas Bowman, Chairman 1920 76th Annual Session Bishop S. C. Breyfogel, Chairman 1927 83rd Annual Session ..Bishop S. C. Breyfogel and Bishop Maze Merger of the Illinois Evangelical Association and the United Evangelical Annual Conferences. Merger service in Pfeiffer Hall. 1933 89th Annual Session Bishop L. H. Seager, Grace and First Churches 1944 100th Annual Session Centennial Bishop G. E. Epp, Grace and First Churches 1953 109th Annual Session Bishop E. W. Praetorius, Grace and First Churches Merger of the Evangelical and the United Brethren Annual Conferences forming the Illinois Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. 1957 113th Annual Session Bishop Reuben Miller, Grace and First Churches 1959 115th Annual Session Bishop H. R. Heininger, Grace and First Churches 1960 116th Annual Session Bishop R. Miller, Chairman, Grace and First Churches 1962 118th Annual Session Bishop H. R. Heininger, Pfeiffer Hall In addition three sessions of the General Conference have been held here in Naperville. 1859 12th General Conference — the first General Conference held in the West. The last General Conference attended by Bishop Seybert. From this meeting he started, by wagon, on his long journey eastward ending with his death Jan. 4, 1860. 1871 15th General Conference. At this conference the question of merger with the Methodists was brought up and voted on. However, the vote, a majority of one, was thrown out as inconclusive by Bishop J. J. Esher. 1942 33rd General Conference. This conference voted for the merger of Evangelical and United Brethren Churches. 90 PASTORAL MINISTRY OF FIRST CHURCH Zion Evangelical Church 1837 Jacob Boas 1867-69 S. A. Tobias 1838-39 M. Hauert 1869-71 M. Stamm 1839-40 L. Einsel 1871-73 J. C. Kiest J. Lutz 1873-74 S. Dickover 1840-41 Frank Hoffert 1874-76 J. Kuechel Daniel Kern 1876-79 H. Rohland 1841-42 A. Stroh 1879-82 W. P. Walker C. Lintner 1882-84 J. G. Kleinknecht 1842-43 G. A. Blank 1884-87 V. Forkel 1943-44 C. Copp 1887-88 C. A. Paeth 1844-45 G. A. Blank 1888-90 L. B. Tobias 1845-46 C. Lintner 1890-91 W. Schmus, P. E. 1846-47 C. Copp 1891-92 H. Hintze S. Dickover 1892-93 J. Meek 1847-48 C. Augenstein 1893-96 W. C. Frey G. Messner 1896-98 J. B. Elf rink 1848-49 C. Hall 1898-1900 V. Vaubel H. Welti 1900-04 F. F. Jordan R. Ragatz 1904-07 W. F. Klingbeil 1849-50 S. A. Tobias 1907-10 G. M. Hallwachs C. A. Schnacke 1850-51 B. Appier Naperville College Chapel M. Hauert 1870 C. S. Condo 1851-53 J. Riegel 1871-73 C. Schmucker G. Franzen 1873-76 W. W. Shuler J. Trombaur 1876-79 W. H. Bucks 1853-54 A. G. Blank 1879-80 H. Messner C. C. Pfeil 1880-82 W. H. Bucks 1854-56 J. P. Kremer 1882-84 S. C. Schmucker J. Gibeis 1884-85 E. L. Kiplinger 1856-58 W. Strasberger 1885-87 T. W. Woodside H. Hintze 1887-90 S. F. Entorf 1858-60 S. Dickover 1890-93 H. A. Kramer J. G. Kleinknecht 1893-94 W. H. Messerschmidt 1860-62 J. Schneider 1894-98 H. A. Kramer M. Stamm 1898-99 H. J. Bittner 1862-63 C. Augenstein 1899-01 W. A. Schutte 1863-65 J. Himmel 1901-05 W. B. Rilling 1865-67 W. Goessle 1905-10 G. A. Manshardt First Evangelical Church 1910- ■14 W. A. Schutte 1914- ■16 F. F. Jordan 1916- 21 A. J. Boelter 1921- ■28 R. W. Schloerb 1928- 35 Wm. E. Grote 1935- 52 Dewey R. Eder 1952 Paul A. Washburn 91 MINISTERIAL CANDIDATES RECOMMENDED BY FIRST CHURCH (ZION AND COLLEGE CHAPEL) TO THE ILLINOIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR A LICENSE TO PREACH The following list has been verified, as far as possible, by reference to the local Quarterly Conference Records, membership rolls, Illinois Conference Journals and to Schwab and Thoren's "History of the Illinois Conference". Notable gaps are due to inability to find source material. Note especially the period before 1870. Many college students have answered the disciplinary questions at our Quarterly Conference meetings. Many of these did not actually belong to our church or conference, and the results of the examination were sent to their home pastor or to their Annual Conference. 1869 Neitz, Wilhelm Hoffman, Samuel 1871 Hansing, Friedrich Landwehr, F. Knoble, G. C. Nicolai, G. W. Stockhowe, Charles Pflueger, R. Trapp, William Pieper, H. Umbach, Simon L. 1887 Mertz, A. 1872 Einsle, E. D. Neitz, F. C. Caton, W. 1888 Fidder, G. Dryer, C. Reutlinger, 1874 Staffeldt, C. Unangst, Chas. 1875 Klipphart, G. G. 1889 Boetlinger, J. M. Miller, S. H. Droeger, J. M. Vossler, Jacob Gasser, F. 1876 Spaeth, Philip Scher . . . , F. S. Stoebler, Christian Siewert, George 1877 Arlen, Henry Tesch, H. Bunte, August 1890 Schluter, H. C. Kletzing, H. F. Schutte, W. A. Koch, H. 1891 Daran, John Kordes, H. Finkbeiner, Samuel Luehring, W. Jegi, G. F. Murdock, J. Kreisel, J. J. Wing, L. M. Raney, Elton 1878 Grumbine, Henry Reichert, Friedrich Haeffle, A. Rilling, James Neuman, C. (or Nauman) Tayama, H. T. Paeth, C. A. 1893 Boelter, August Spaeth, G. Finkbeiner, Thomas 1880 Reinhart, J. F. Moehl, S. W. Spins, S. F. Schumacher, F. P. Ziegler, J. F. 1894 Harbes, G. J. 1881 Kraushaar, Friedrich 1895 Osterland, H. J. Paul, Washington Umbreit, S. J. 1886 Bunte, John 1896 Killian, W. C. Daescher, F. 1897 Miller, Ezra (not ordained) Forkel, William Orth, L. L. Fuehrer, C. Zahl, Arthur Hoffman, Julius 1898 Osterland, J. W. 92 MINISTERIAL CANDIDATES Stoll, R. C. 1899 Mithfissle, Newton Umbach, M. 1900 Behner, F. G. (NWC Donde, Ferdinand Kelhoefer, Ernest Meyer, S. E. Ranck, Clarence E. 1901 Beese, S. Brockmiller, John Byas, Arthur Dagenkolb, G. D. Domm, J. S. 1901 Hallwachs, W. C. Haman, J. W. Linge, Bro. Pentecoff, Oscar Schulke, W. 1902 Courier, G. F. Flora, Elmer S. Kletzing, H. F. Powell, H. Creighton Richter, William Sorg, C. L. Spaar, J. H. Staffeld, D. 1903 Bohner, F. G. 1904 Kesselring, Max Meyer, F. B. Ott, E. Reep, S. N. Schaeffer, H. B. Stauffacher, J. W. 1905 Feucht, J. G. Kaiser, E. E. Oldt, W. B. Plapp, E. E. Rife, E. E. Schneider, J. F. D. Schuster, W. H. 1906 Bergsthaler, Herbert Frank, Chester Mayer, Paul S. 1907 Straub, Harry E. Reux, A. 1908 Goehring, Levi Schrammel, Henry 1909 Glaser, E. L. Loose, R. V. Werner, Ed 1910 Hagemeier, A. G. Herman, Mentor 1912 Gackler, C. F. Schwab, Ralph K. 1917 Buckrop, R. N. Ramus, H. S. 1918 Frankhauser, C. R. 1920 Stauffer, W. A. Stroebel, F. O. 1921 Schwab, Paul 1922 Laubenstein, Webster Martin, Daniel Noerenberg, Hugo Rickert, C. Hobert Stopfer, Lewis 1923 Marti, Truman Young, Edward 1924 Giese, Paul Weinert, Lawrence J, 1927 Neuman, Harvey 1928 Rickert, Marvin 1931 Schaefer, John F. 1933 Wagner, Gerald 1940 Weishaar, Martin 1941 Shaffer, John 1947 Eigenbrodt, John Galow, Clyde 1949 Cook, Herman Schendel, Harold 1950 Reinhart, Bruce Riebel, John 1952 Attig, Charles Bruns, Robert Stehr, Truman 1953 Snider, Theodore 1955 Rockwood, Theodore 93 FIRST CHURCH MISSIONARIES I. Missionaries who were originally members of First Church, or who in their college and seminary days have been a part of our congregation prior to entering missionary service under our denominational Board of Missions: Missionary Area of Service Year Commissioned Barrett, Helen Gamertsf elder Japan 1950 Bauernfeind, Susan Bruns, Robert Bruns, Mrs. Robert Butzbach, Mrs. Laura Minch Galow, Clyde Hoffmann, Harold Kilhoefer, Ernest Ranck, Mrs. Anna Kammerer Ranck, Clarence B. Ranck, Elmira Reinhart, Chester Umbreit, S. J. Senn, William Senn, Mrs. William II. Persons who have gone from First Church to serve in areas of the Christian world mission with other than appointment by the Evangelical United Brethren Church: Eder, Dewey Eder, Mrs. Dewey Gamertsfelder, Mary Gocker, Marie Iwan, Clara Stauffacher, J. W. Tholin, Linne Tholin, Mrs. Linne Tayama, Henry Woodside, T. W. Woodside, Mrs. T. W. Japan 1900 Japan 1952 Japan 1952 China 1906 Africa 1954 China-Philippines 1946 China 1904 Japan-China 1900 China 1904 Japan 1905 Africa 1948 Japan 1905 Chile 1960 Chile 1960 Lebanon 1952 Lebanon 1952 Africa 1906 Africa 1912 South America 9 Africa 1904 Thailand 1962 Thailand 1962 Japan 1895 Africa 1888 Africa 1888 BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE — May 31, 1953 by Miss Wilma Schell in memory of her mother, Mrs. Maude Schell REPOSITORY — September 20, 1953 by their children in memory of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Arends 94 CHANCEL March is. 1951 (Altar, Sacred Desks. Symbols, Lights and Colors) by his nephew and niece. Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Lang in memory of the Reverend Edward E. Domm WICKS MEMORIAL ORGAN — January 4, 1953 in memory of George and Emma Wicks PULPIT BIBLE — August 29, 1954 by his wife, Mrs. Edith Nonnamaker and his daughter, Mrs. H. S. Van Kannel in memory of the Reverend M. E. Nonnamaker CHIMES IX THE ORGAN — April 13, 1958 in memory of The Reverend William Albrecht Mrs. May Goldspohn Mrs. Anna Haas Mrs. Sarah Jordan Mrs. Esther Kimmel Mr. Fred Lueben Mr. and Mrs. Louis Oswald Mr. Philip Pope Mr. and Mrs. William Ritzert The Reverend John C. Schaefer Mr. Richard Schloerb Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Travis in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Guv Oliver PIANO IN THE CHANCEL - - December 25, 1958 by Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Thompson in memory of Mrs. Edith Mabel Powell and Mrs. Clara Louise Thompson FESTIVAL FRONTAL — December 25, 1958 by his family and friends in memory of Harold John Eigenbrodt, Ph.D. PACE [N BOOK — 1959 by members of the Sigma Zeta Class and Immanuel Bible Class in memory of William W. Spiegler THE BRONZE BOARD — 1962 in front of church bearing the name First Evangelical United Brethren Church by Mr. and Mrs. Anton J. Senty in memory of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Korf and Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Senty THE WOODEN PRIE DIEU — 1962 by Mrs. H. S. Van Kannel in memory of her mother, Mrs. M. E. Nonnamaker THE CHOIR PEWS by Mr. and Mrs. Carl Broeker THE NEW ENTRANCE STEPS in memory of Misses Ella and Nettie Din* MEMORIAL to be given in memory of Miss Ruth Klingbeil 95 PATRONS The following persons and families made special contributions to underwrite the publication of this history: Mr. and Mrs. Clem F. Albrecht Mr. and Mrs. Obed W. Albrecht The William Albrecht Family Dr. and Mrs. John R. Bouldin Mr. and Mrs. Clyde A. Boysen Mr. and Mrs. Willard W. Broeker The Daniel K. Butler Family Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cowan Mr. and Mrs. John O. Dahlberg Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Eigenbrodt Dr. H. J. Eigenbrodt Dr. and Mrs. Frank F. Enck Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Erffmeyer Mr. and Mrs. Harold Erffmeyer Miss Ruth Gamertsfelder Professor and Mrs. E. F. George Mr. and Mrs. Fred R. George Miss Pearl Goodge Dr. and Mrs. Wilber C. Harr The Marvin Hartwig Family Dr. and Mrs. Harold W. Henning Vernon S. Hoesch Family Mrs. Irene Hofert and Wilma The Dan H. Hoffman Family The A. B. Hooton Family Mr. and Mrs. Hope H. Horman The John Hornback Family Dr. and Mrs. J. Ruskin Howe The Adam Keller Family Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Koerner Mr. and Mrs. Joyce N. Lehman The Jack Lyden Family The Richard I. Manning Family Mr. and Mrs. John E. Manshardt The Gilbert Meyer Family Mr. and Mrs. George H. Moss and Family Mr. and Mrs. August Ritzert Mrs. Martha A. Schaefer Mrs. Lena Schall and Walter The Arlo Schilling Family The George Schindel Family Mr. and Mrs. Lester Schloerb The A. J. Senty Family The Arlyn D. Shiffler Family Mr. and Mrs. Floyd A. Shisler Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shultz Harvey and Ruth Siemsen The Milton Spiegler Family The Reverend and Mrs. W. A. Stauffer Mrs. Irvin D. Stehr and Sons Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Stibbe The Marvin Thompson Family The Frederick Toenniges Family Paul M. Uebele Family Mrs. Elizabeth Wahl The Paul Washburn Family The Paul F. Zimmermann Family 96 EPILOGUE' We have been "third personish" as long as we can. The last sheet has been handed to the typist. We know what yet must be done in way of proof-reading, revision, and assembly. But the digging into old volumes, old letters, old diaries, old records, the searching for pictures (and then for someone to identify the people), the endless telephoning, the collecting of anecdotes and incidents to be found only in the memory of members, and the checking' and re-checking arc done. This has been a labor of love. Someone who read the manuscript said, "Didn't you ever have any difficulties in the church which need to be brought to light?" One of the committee answered, "They shouldn't have chosen two such incurable optimists to write the his- tory if that side was to be emphasized!" Oh, we know there have been times when individuals, or commit- tees, or segments of the congregation have not been in complete accord. The church is made up of human beings, after all. But from the long overview of the church, we know that love and warmth and oneness mark the heartbeats of the group. We as a congregation have worked together on a multiude of projects. We have rejoiced together as our children were at the altar for baptism, for confirmation, for marriage vows. We have mourned together at the loss of loved ones. We have taken Holy Communion together. We have worshipped together. This is our history. We are aware of the "humanness" of the writers and searchers. We have interpreted the place of First Church in the community, in the general church, and in the world, through eyes of appreciation for its life and history. Thank you all for giving us a bigger job than we ever dreamed it could be, but one which has enriched our lives, even as we hope it may enrich yours. Betty, Mildred, Ruth, and Jim 97