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,
