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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1909)
Jl N architectural anomaly, a beautiful build ing built from scrap material, 1h the pro duct of tho genius, energy and Inspiration nf nn Omnha clerKVinau. When completed tho First German Presbyterian church will present an cdlflco of stablo and dignified beauty, yet all the material that goes Into its construction la discarded Junk gathered from every nvnllable source. It represents what can bo accomplished by a few ear nest, hard-working men under tho leader ship of a preacher full of enthusiasm and Inspiring optimism. When hu first went to Omaha, years ago, Hev. Jullua F. Schwarz determined that his congregation should havo a now church. Tho fact that tho mem bers numbered only CO and the whole property of tho corporation waB about $5,000 troubled him not ut all, and he began to build with us much faith as if ho had tho riches of Solomon. Ills plan was to gather everywhere, whenever he could, all the old but strong timbers, all the Iron Junk available for structural use, all tho looso and Irregular stono and all tho generally discarded building materials that could bo found in Omaha and from them to build n church. It was not to bo a mean and ugly houso of worship, but a well-equipped, well nrranged, amplo meeting place for his people. Ho has now extended it to include on 11-room houso for his own fnmlly and the wholo property would havo cost $30,000 if it had been built by contract. As built by Rov. Mr. Schwarz and his fellow laborers It will cost les3 than $25,000. The other $15,000 hns been saved to his pcoplo by tho porsovoranco, energy and In genuity of tho pastor. Tho first chargo that Mr. Schwarz took when ha left tho theological seminary was at Conncravlllo, Ind. For six years ho remained thoro and waB called to Omaha three years ago on n recommendation from one of his Instructors in tho theological school. At that time tho First German 1'rcsbytcrian was a smnll frame church. As soon as tho now pastor enmo ho nnnounced that tho church was too small. To build a church with a membership of CO seemed out nf the question to all but the pastor. Ho thought he knew a way and ho set about it with almost no support, ut first, from the others. For a year ho sought for a suitable location and finally purchased tho lot tho now church is on for $1,800. When he bought this tract the fund which he drew from amounted to $57. His first move was to sell the old church for $1,850. As soon as the lot was paid for ho shouldered a spade, nnd replacing his ministerial dignity with a grim and effective energy he began to dig. Tho first thing that a church needed was a foundation. Ho had no money, but he could mako tho foundation himself, and that would bo ono step toward it. Ho asked for contributions from friends outside of Omaha and waited for his own people to contribute vol untarily. Tho dollars came slowly, but they camo with sufficient steadi ness to assure him .that ho could make a few purchases for a start. While walking on the street ono dny ho saw that In repairing tho street the old curbs were being taken up. "These ure good blocks," said the pastor-builder, and ho bargained with the contractor to lake them off his hands. That stone went Into tho foundation. His next lot of material camo when the wall that supported tho yard of the old Itosewater resldenco was to be torn down. Men hired by Mr. Schwnrz did tho work and tho brick nnd stono was taken out and put into the wniiB inui wcie Kruuuuiiy rising on the Eiie. some oi ins congregation began inuuio iwo or inroe days' work with gathering material. Tho south steps from tho old high school building followed nnd these mndo the "water tabic" on both sides of the church part of tho building. Tho pnrgonago end was being ndded to from tho stono thut could bo picked up nround stono yards for small expense nnd converted into suitable blocks. An opportunity camo to tho builders when the driveway was constructotd leading down to tho Union station on tho north side. Hero wns bought 15,000 feot of lumber thnt had been used 4n scaffolding nnd a carload of lino red saudstouo wns purchased for $20. When, n few weeks later, a contractor offered Mr. Schwnrz $70 for that samo carload of red stono becauso ho needed it to fill a contract in n hurry, tho minister gnvo up his material and added $50 clear to tho fund. Thla was tho only enterprise for profit that was entered into for tho benefit of tho cnusc, except a llttlo deal In lend plpo which tho minister had with a prominent frnternnl order. Ho bought Komo old lead from tho lodgo for $1.50 and sold it for $15 to a Junk dealer, All winter long ho has been haunting tho repair gangs about tho streets, visiting stono yards and junk heaps and adding to tho pllo of mntoriala that is being mado Into a building by his men. Ono of Ills biggest nnd most profitable finds was n pair of Iron pillars in excellent condition which ho bought from tho street railway company for their prico na old iron. Tho street railway com pany also furnished him with tho most novel use of old material in tho wholo building, which la tho making of rafters out of old steel rails. Tho rails aro moro than strong enough and were bought for tho prico of Junk. Tho church, which consists of a basement with a beautiful flrcplnco and an auditorium which will seat 300, measures 41x73 feet. Tho roof extends back over tho parsonage, making It a full three stories high, with ono room In tho attic. The house part is 24x50 feet in ground Instaieat, and attar that tko wtnay will omo la faatar. U taa satio tho minister la watching aVorywhoro for anything that will mako his church moro comniodlouaorhls homo more attractive. "Tho reason for my doing nil this," said Rov. Mr. Schwarz, aa ho laid aside tho tools with which ho was helping tha workmen, "la that 1 be lieve that right hero ia tho boat field for work among the Qormnna that there Is in all the northwest. My llfo occupation Is missionary work among my German pcoplo and tho only reason why I want to stay hero and put up this big church for my Binall congregation is because from here I can reach so many Gormons. I was born an American, hut oarao from German parents nnd am thor oughly German In thought nd feel ing. When I decided to bocome a minister I. saw that the gToatcst need was among my own people, ao I studied at a German seminary. My jooooococxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Proud Heart of Danko By RACHEL CAREW 1 COCOOCodxXXXXXXX) OOOOC OOOtXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX) iCopyrlclit, by Hicrt Stories Co., Ltd.) A cloud nrono over tho sea, black and heavy llkw tho crcnt of n moun tain; it trailed across tho steppo our-tatn-llko, rifts nnd rngH of Its dark mass blotting out tho otnra ono by one; the moon became a pale opal spot, and In tho wldo steppe, now black and terrible, an It it held somo guilty secret, tiny bluo ItlghtB flamed 'forth here and thoro llku tho midden and soon-quenched glow of n mntch. Thoro watt something uncanny nnd mysterious In thecs dancing: points of light which I coutd not understand. "Do you sco the blue sparks?" asked lsergll, the miunmy-llko old gip sy from tho steppe ot lhtisnrabla -tho wido steppe which had. beon her oradle, her home, nnd waB ready soon to grant thnt surest of nil shelters, her grave. "I, lsergll, cannot soo them any more thoro la much that I can no longer Fee. I nnt nges old, but tho dancing lights aro always there." "Yes, 1 see tho llttlo bluo flames; what aro thoy?" I had often hoard mention ot those fnlry light, not fa in morgana, nob insect, but I wlahod to hear tho old sibyl's version. "Those sparks como from the hot heart of Daitko," she bogun, In tonea that vibrated with intense belief and foeling the born narrator ot tho lo genda of her tribe. "Thoro waH onco In the world n heart thut flamed llko ilro, and tho bluu gleams nro- thv, sparks from that flume. listen! I will tell you tho old, old Btiory, and how It was in that long dontt part, of which thero In nothing; good loft.; no moro ronl men; no real deeds; no ronl Htorles ns In thoso days. marah yawning for prey, and tho troos In close ranks llko n' mighty wall. Their branches woro interwoven llko n knot of snakes, ovcrywhero their twisted roots colled and clung; every Mop cost blood and sweat. Onward thoy tolled, each morrow's hardship worae than yesterday's; each day their utrcngth Icsb. "At last It grow bo dark in tho tor ust that it wns as if all tho nights, that had over been since tliuo began, had molted into ono blackness.. The thunder rolled, tho wnndorors stag gcrcd helplessly among tho rocking troos, blinded by tho cold, bluo lightning. "They halted, and In tho roar ot the foroat, In tho thick ot the darkness, exhausted and angry, they turned up on Danko: 'A uboIcsb creature aro you, harmful nnd hateful to us nit,' they began. 'You havo led Ub forth ta destruction, and for this you shall Duffer,' tho thunder and lightning giv ing forco to tholr wordB. 'Yotl bado '.no lend you, and I oboyed,' crlod Dan ko, confronting tho angry troupe with bared broaat. 'I have tho courage to load, thnieforo I do It and you what hnvu you dono to help yourselves? You follow only, and your courage Is too weak for tho strain of hardship. You only follow follow llko n drovo of ahcup.' These words angered tho people Btlll moro. 'You shall dial thoy cried, and to tholr clamor tho wind howled an echo, and tho light ning toro rents in tho darkness. "Danko gnzod upon thorn, his fol lowers, for whoso snko ho had borno mich toll and Buffering, and saw that thoy woro llko wild beasts. Thoy "A fig for you young peoplo of mod- crowded about him, but In no oyo wob Edifice dewd 'tEreebecl by. Schw&rkz flflaBBBBBBBBBBBBHflS JSaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBKt'f Rev. Jullua F. 6chwarz. church to con- teams In dimensions nnd has 11 fine rooms. On the front of tho church will be a tower which will be Just as high and substantial 38 it can be made from whnt is left of tho stono after tho rest of tho structure Is finished. Tho plans for all of it were sketched by the Rev. Mr. Schwarz and made exact by an archi tect. There aro no specifications In uso. Tho plans are fol lowed not by get ting material to fit them, but by con forming them aa nonrly as possible to material that can be cheaply bought. The work went slowly, because Mr. Schwarz could noi afford to put on n large force of men. His foreman, Fred Slnthcr, la a German stone mason. The wages of the men are the ono debt which Mr. Schwarz does not Intend to neg lect nnd his men are paid every Saturday as it they woro working for a wealthy contractor who had thousands to back his operations. To do this tho builder hns had to rely upon tho kindness ot his other creditors, who have helped the cause by not pressing their claims. That $6,000 that has already been put into tho work was gathered mostly from the contributions of frlonda nil over tho country. Other pastora havo taken up benefit collodions, a friend in In diana sent $200, nnd the congregation haB con tributed far beyond whnt might bo expected from their means. Mr. Schwnrz mado a hoiiBo-to-houso campnlgn of four days down In Riley, Kan., and raised $200 In that way. Ono of tho church trus tees, who declared whon the project was bogun thnt ho would not do anything to aid It, baa al ready given $100, nnd othera have given $100 nnd $200 contributions. Churches havo promised contributions that will probably avorago $25 each and several hundred dollars moro Ib expected from that source. "If I Just had $0,000 moro I could finish It," says tho minister, and ho scorns not to luck faith that tho $0,000 will como aB it is needed. Mr. Schwnrz'a unique undertaking has attract ed considerable attention nnd promises ot finan cial noslstanco have como In from various parta of tho country. Thoso donatlona to a most wor thy cause aro for tho most part In smnll amounts, but nro nono tho less appreciated by the ener getic pastor and tho encouragement thus re ceived has had no little part In helping along tho good work. Rov. Schwarz hns announced that all outsldo contributions will bo gratefully received and promptly acknowledged. Tho biggest ndditlon to tho fund thnt has como bo far wns tho $2,500 got from Belling tho old parsonago, which tho pastor advised as Boon us ho saw tho possibility of making a homo for himself as a part of tho now building. It ia bo Moved that enough moro can easily bo raised to put on a root so that services can bo hold ia the position makes it posslblo for mo to reach many who are in need of help and mnny who are Btran' gerB and I want to stay hero and make my work effective In helnlng the German citizens In this. country," It la because of this sincere desire to be of help to his church that Mr. Schwarz haa labored with his hands and brain to build the now church. It haa arisen out of what soemed to bo Insurmount able dilllcultlea. Not only tho cornerstone, but every atono In It wns onco refused by tho builders. but when it la finished there will bo no fault found with Ita smooth, gray walls, Ub modern equipment and Ita generous dimensions. In connection with his pastoral and building work Rov. Mr. Schwarz de votes nine Mourn a. week to teaching in tho University of Omnhn. where he has charge of tho Gorman classes. Ho Is nlso stated clerk of the presbytery of Omaha, nnd the compensation received from this additional work ho conaldors providential In thnt It helps U sccuro him sufficient salary to bring his work to a self-supporting basla. Rev. Schwnrz' father wbb a practicing phyalclau in Franklin county, Mo. He balled from Holdel berg, linden, Germany. Ilev. Kchwarz waa fert an orpnan at the ago of 11 months. Ho was taken into tho homo ot a klnd-henrted couplo who hnd already raised eight children of their own. Aa a tribute to the memory of his fostor par enta nnd aa a token ot appreciation ot tho kind nesa received at tholr hands, the church paraonago Iiub been turned into n sort of a home for tho friendless and a refugo for tho destitute Many havo partaken of tho parson's hospitality until work or other assistance hnd been offered. Should thla sort of hospitality require moro apace, it is posslblo that an old pcoplo's homo may bo estab lished after the tlnnnclul obligations of tho now church cdlflco havo been met. SCIENCE AND FAITH Is it truo that tho groatcr tho knowledge tho leaa tho religious lntorost? Aro these two persons, tho mnn whoao zeal for religion la oqualed by his bigotry and Ignorance and tho other In whom scl entitle atudy haa dwarfed spiritual sensibility, fair typcB by which to Judge tho relations of religion and knowledge? Is intelligence Incompatible with real ploty? Will the growth of knowledge bring about tho dls solution of religion? Is tho llfo ot religious nspl rations nnd feelings out of dnto In a scientific ago such na we nro constantly rominded this ono lo lo-dny? Science haa ovorcomo superstition; Ib faith bo bound up with superstition that it, too, must go? Wo can bo euro of one thing, at least; that, no matter what our feelings, theories or Ideals may be, wo cannot turn our backs on tho great world of fact aa It is laid before ub. Tho faith that fights facta Ib committing suicide. Appeals to our foara cannot to-day mnko tho facta less real to us and wo Know mat uy thorn wo win nave to stand or fall. It yqu stop to think about it, there la a striking significance in tho fact that thU question tian arisen. Ia thoro n religion for tho Intelligent, cdu cntcd, scientific mind? It uuggestB anothor quos tlon: Can any other mind fully comprehend tho riches nnd meaning ot religion? Tho unthinking cling to customs, traditions and forma that aro the vestiges ot truth. Tho trained mind distinguishes between tho garments of t,ruth and truth Itself, orn times! whnt do you know? what do you understand? Look buck into mo pnsi; more, ovorytiung is ox plained; but you, foolish children of to-day, look not back, ns do 3, old Ioor gll, and I see, though my eyes are dim; 1 see that, you young onoB know not how to live. You wait always for opportunity which comoB not of ita own self. Then, whon you find thnt you hnvo waBted your tlmo, you whim per ovor your fnto. "What is fate? Everybody makes his own. Thoro are mnny .ftlnda of people to-day, except great and mighty onos whoro nro thoy? And lioautv in man and woman still less Is thoro ot that." After a long pnuso, tho ancient ono resumed: "Ages ago thoro wan n band of pcoplo, where it was I can not tell you. I only know thnt tho camp of thoao peoplo waB surrounded on three Bides by n taJI, Impenetrable forest, and on tho fourth Bide lay tho steppo. 'Thoy wcro a Blrong. Joyous, darlnc folk, probably gypsies, content with little, and happy in tho good of each day as it came. "After n time strange tribes cront in among them bringing discord nnd unrest, nnd driving theno slmplo folk. row in compnrlBon, deopor into tho woodB. Hero it wna dismal with Bwnmp and darkness, becauso tho for est was old ns tlmo, nrnd so donso thut ono saw no sky botwoeja tho branchos, nnd hardly n ray of light plorcod through to tho sodden ground. The, people sickened nnd died llko stricken Bhoop, Distracted with tho wooplng of tnoir women and children, tho inon looked helplessly in each othor'a hol low eyos, nsklng In vnln for rescue Two ways thoro woro out of tho anaro ono backward to tho cruel crln nf tho onomy; tho other, forward, to a far deeper, donsor forest. Giant treoa clasping each other In n tangled em brace with roots like twlntod Iron, doop in tho black Hlimc. Hero at high noon n dim twilight only fllckoreii down through tho branchen. and at night whon tho wind blow it wnlied 1 llko a dlrgo for thoso people at Uay from their enemy in tho dreary forcBt fastness. Night after night tho outcasts sat around tholr camp ilro and hothought momaeivoa or n way to freedom, but In vnln. Nothing, neither work nor follloB, so weaken men as. anxious. brooding thoughts, which nuck tho blood from the heart. "Fear arose in tho bronBC of thcoo men, and tho womon drovo- them to despair with wailing ovor tholr dead nnd the bittor fato of thoso still liv. ing. At first in faint whlapora in tho enmp, then louder and bolder, tho tribe doclared that bondage was hot ter than death thoy would givo up their freedom and return ub nlnvca to their oncmy. "Then rose up Dunko, tho roscuor of thorn nil. Ho, Danko, was one of tho band, u benutlful youth nnd bravo tho beautiful uro always bravo and thus ho spoke to his compunlona; "'Thinking moves no atono out or tho way. Action only counts, Why aro wo wasting our strength with frot and fear? Rlao up, lot us win n wny through tho forest; thero ia an end to every Btrugglo. Como, rouso your aolvcs, ono and nil!' "Thoy" looked at tho youth and saw in his eyes that which mado him tholr leader nnd superior. 'Load us!' clam ored thoy all, and ho led them." Old Iaergll pnuscd and looked out ovor tho ateppo where tho flparka from tho hot heart of Danko gleamed llko bluo flowora. "Danko led them; willingly und trustfully they followed, "That waa a weary way, dark as night, with the black mud of the tho light of kindness to no ono could ho look for help. Then anger against tho pcoplo flamed In his heart only to quench Itself Boon In pity. Ho loved thoao, his companions, and know that without him thoy would perish. Then hla heart glowed anow with doalro to anvo them nnd lend thorn upon an easy path, nnd forth from his eyes gleamed tho light ot this desire." "Tho forest sang unceasingly Its solomn song, tho thunder roared, nnd tho rain guahed in Btrcams. 'What can 1 do for my people!' crlod Danko iu a voico louder than tho thunder. Bud donly ho rent opon his breast, tore out his throbbing heart and held It high abovo hla head. It flamed as bright as tho sun, and evon brighter; tho,whole forest foil silent, awed by his torch ot lovo tor humanity; tho darkness fluttered away from this light and sank trombllng in tho black mold ot tho Bwamp. Tho amazed peoplo Btood aB if turned to stone. "Follow I" cried Danko, striding for. ward, his glowing heart held high In his uplifted hands, lighting tho way to tho pcoplo who Hung thcniBolvoa madly in his wake. Tho roar ot tho forest began again, but tho sound of it was drowned by tho rushing footsteps ot tho people. Evoryono ran, foarlcsn and fast, enchanted by tho Bight o( tho burning henrt. Many foil by tho way nnd died ovon now, hut without lament or tears. Danko ovor at tho head of tho troop, hla heart flaming,, Ilamlng, and ovor flaming. "Suddenly tho foroBt openod and foil hack, and Danko with his flock found themselves bnthed in n soa oi -"iBhlno, and puro, Bweot-ocontcd vwnshed nlr from tho etoppa ..;jcd tholr fncoB. Tho tompost wa behind them, grumbling ovor tho for est; horo tho sun beamed, tho grass sparkled with rain diamonds, and tho river glowed llko gold. Tho sottina sun turned tho rlvor rod, llko tho blood that dripped from Danko'a torn breaBt. "Tho proud, bravo Danko cast his dying gnzo ovor tho broad steppo, and laughed with Joy at tho sight ot tho pleasant land then ho sauk down und died. "Tho wondorlng trees began a dlrgo llko murmur, nnd tho grass, wot with Dankoo's blood, whisporod In sym pathy, but tho happy, hopoful pooplo took no moro notico of Danko saw not that ho lny dead, nor that beside his body, on tho Rod, his bravo heart Btlll flamed. "Ono cautious soul only saw tho glow, and, fearful of danger, trampled tho proud heart with hla foot. Then wa tho flamo quenched and scattered In a thousand apnrks. Thoso aro tho blue lights which dauco on tho steppo boforo a thunderstorm." Ah tho old woman ended her fantas tic story, n profound Btlllnoss foil ovor tho ateppo, na if it, too, woro awed by the power of the brave Danko, tho bold spirit which burned Itself out for humanity without asking rewind. iBorgll sunk Into uneasy slumber, and watching her, I mused over the many logonds Btored in hor memory What power of human fancy to cancel vo theso legends; what horolBtn nnd bravory ndorned thnt golden past! And our proBont poor In strong men nnd gront ovonts rich iu cold dlBtrust thut turns everything into ridicule tho mlsorablo epoch of mis erable people with still-born hearts. Remarkable Golfing Feat. Miss Mnltlnnd, tho Scottish Interna tional golf plnyor, nnd Mr. 8. Christie, of Westward Ho! have accomplished tho remarkable feat of holing out in ono on tho St. Andrews old and new courses respectively. Doth paid the usunl penalty tp tfjo puddly,