Confirmation Class - 1882

First Row (left to right)-
Emma Stepler, Ida Rhoda, John Henry Frail.
Second Row-
Rev. J.H. Stepler, Tillie Snook, Emma Snook.
Third Row (standing)-
Mollie Zietz, Mary Beck, Ada Cook, William Zietz.

Special appreciation to Bettye Jo Frail for loaning the photograph. John Henry Frail was her grandfather, and great-grandfather of her nieces Jane King and Karen Elwer.  

Confirmation Class - 1938

Confirmands with Rev. Reuben J. Schroer (in alphabetical order)-

John Alstetter, Betty Rose Arnold, Amelia Benny, Jean Chenoweth, Jack Crumrine, Eugene Denison, Dorothy Fridley, Dorothy Gierhart, Dorthala Gilmer, Joan Jennings, Jean McClintock, Rose Mumper, Betty Reese, Bruce Ring, Marilyn Stilgenbauer, Ruth Timmerman, Mary Walker, Eleanor Wildermuth.   

Confirmation Class - 1908

Confirmands with Rev. A.G. Gekeler (in alphabetical order)-

Mary Andregg, Alvina Armbrust, Harry Bauer, Martha Boegel, Leroy Clausing, William Degen, Helen Dickman, Edna Dinkel, Irene Dinkel, Sophia Feil, Ernest Guenther, Myrtle Haege, Frieda Herold, Amelia Leidner, Rupert Neubrecht, Irene Rhoda, Fred Schlosser, Evelyn Woll.   

Greetings to the Troops (1918)

A letter from our tenth pastor Rev. Tillman W. Hoernemann, written at the end of World War I.  

(Transcribed below for easier reading) 

December 14, 1918

To Our Dear Boys:

     Christmas, [particularly] the festival of the fireside, is very near.  In many homes some very familiar face will be missing, and it will be to some the first Christmas away from home. I am sure many of you will be with us in thought and spirit on that day and be assured that our thoughts will also be with you.

      Was there [ever] a year when the coming of the Christmas Child was more significant than this year! The Christmas message: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men," comes to mind with a new emphasis and power. That Christmas bells are peace bells should double the joy of the world. 

     The Star of Bethlehem shines with a new lustre this year. A Star is the universal symbol of beauty and glory. For uncounted centuries it has been emblematic of the greatest heights of achievement and ideals to which men aspire.

     "Star of Hope," "Star of Empire," "Star of Freedom," these are the superlative phrases by which we express our faith, our triumphs, our visions. Whatever is not to be surpassed in beauty and achievement, that we symbolize by a Star.

     In the hearts of the members of the First Reformed Church this Christmas, one star is set above all others save one. In our homes hang 35 stars, silently telling the message to everyone that passes that a brave heart went forth from this home to march under the banners of the greatest flag that was ever unfurled and to be in the immediate service of the greatest country in the world. 

     A service star in the window of a house that gives a son. How it singles out this house, how it ennobles it. As we gaze at it in this Christmas season, this star that even surpasses the service star comes into view. Long ago, in the sunrise of history, God hung out his Service Star above a lowly house, an inn with a manger, marking the house, whose son offered and gave his life and liberty for the whole world. It is the Star of Bethlehem. May it lead us as the Wise Men of old, to the Christ child, and may we there with a new willingness and consecration worship at the feet of the Prince of Peace.

     May we [now] in this momentous year bring you the Season's Greeting, and we enter the new year with fond hopes that you will soon be with us and we are looking to your home-coming with the highest anticipation. 

Sincerely yours,

T.W. Hoernemann

Charity Begins at Church

     
     The Women's Missionary Society was organized on November 7, 1904 by Rev. Paul H. Land, with the pastor's wife serving as the first president. 
     Other charitable groups such as the Nettie Snook Society formed in 1931, and the Girls Missionary Guild united in lending their support to the Women's Missionary Society. 

The Women's Missionary Society - 1963
President - Miss Martha Shaefer
Vice President - Mrs. Donald Coon
Secretary - Mrs. Ralph Burkholder
Treasurer - Mrs. Marvin Bucher

Front Row (Seated left to right)-

Mrs. John McNett, Mrs. Richard Vitz, Miss Martha Schaefer, Mrs. Ralph Burkholder, Mrs. Marvin Bucher, Mrs. Donald Coon, Miss Anna Klein, Mrs. Calvin Rable.

Second Row (Standing left to right)-

Rev. Richard P. Vitz, Mrs. Donald Crosson, Mrs. Roger Page, Mrs. Robert Nusbaum, Mrs. Donald Herold, Mrs. Douglas Hadding, Mrs. G.E. Herold, Mrs. Richard Dole, Mrs. Carl Rhoda, Mrs. Daniel Anthony, Mrs. William Kreher, Mrs. Lillian Gerstenlauer, Mrs. Lydia Stilgenbauer, Mrs. Grover Neumann, Mrs. Arnim Woll, Mrs. Ben Green, Mrs. Martha Garmhausen. 

Pastor Profile

Rev. Paul H. Graeser

Our Twelfth Pastor

(1939 - 1952)

     Paul H. Graeser was born at St. Louis, Missouri on October 6, 1896. 

     Following his father's vocation, he graduated from the Mission House Seminary located at Plymouth, Wisconsin, and was ordained on July 8, 1923. Rev. Graeser immediately began his pastoral career at Wausau, Wisconsin where he remained until 1935. 

     He married Miss Ruth Sager on September 15, 1923, at Kaukama, Wisconsin. Their children are Robert, Janice, and Richard.

     After serving the Salem Evangelical & Reformed Church at Ft. Wayne, Indiana from 1935-1939, he accepted the call to our church. 

     During his pastorate in Lima, there were traditional changes and advancements of our congregation. Under the shadow of World War II, the German language was finally terminated during church services. And the basement was enlarged in the Sunday School area later in his term. 

     Rev. Graeser made many acquaintances in the Lima community, and was active with several worthwhile civic and humanitarian organizations. Past President of the Allen County Ministerial Association, he was also a delegate to the Synod of our denomination.

     Ministering to our congregation for 13 years, he left to serve the Evangelical & Reformed Church at Van Wert, Ohio, until 1960. 

     In 1963, following a leave of absence due to illness, Rev. Graeser resumed ministry at Lake Helen, Florida. There he received the distinguished "Pastor Emeritus" honor with the Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. 

Confirmation Class - 1920

Front Row (left to right)-
Hilda Snook, John Smith, Rev. T.W. Hoernemann, Elizabeth Rable, Paul Blase.
Back Row-
Chester Badertscher, Margaret Heil, Alton Heil, Esther Wilhelm, Louise MacDonald.

Presidential Recognition

 

From the President of the United States

John F. Kennedy

 

(Our 100th Anniversary - 1963)
 

 

 



Pastor Emeritus

Reverend Richard P. Vitz

Twenty-six Year Pastorate at First E&R Church

January 1, 1953 - June 3, 1979

 

 

 

     Rev. Richard P. Vitz was born in Sherwood, Ohio on June 27, 1917; the son of Rev. and Mrs. Nathaniel E. Vitz. When Richard was 4-years of age the family moved to New Bremen, Ohio where his father served the Zion Reformed Church for 22-years. Richard's paternal grandfather, Rev. Peter Vitz, emigrated to America from Germany, studied at the former Heidelberg Seminary and served several congregations in eastern Indiana. 

     With deep Christian roots, Rev. Richard P. Vitz graduated from Heidelberg College in 1939. Studied at Eden Theological Seminary, ordained on June 28, 1942. He immediately began his ministry career on July 1st at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Fostoria, Ohio. He also served congregations in Findlay and Germantown, Ohio before coming to our church in Lima on January 1, 1953. 

     Rev. Vitz served on various Boards and Committees, to name a few: Trustee at Heidelberg College for 22-years. Four-time delegate to the General Synod. Vice President of Northwest Ohio Synod. Board of Children's Home in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Board of Child and Family Services in Lima. Member of the Citizens Advisory Board of Lima State Hospital. President of the Allen County Ministerial Association.     

     Interesting statistics of his dedicated 26-years of ministry to our members: 

• 490 Infant Baptisms
• 143 Adult Baptisms
• 406 Youth Confirmations
• 633 Adult members by Faith & Transfer
• 269 Weddings
• 328 Funeral for Members of First Church
• 266 Funerals of infants, relatives, and friends
• 51,855 total  number of Communions    

     Reverend Richard P. Vitz was called to his Heavenly Home at the age of 87, on September 17, 2004, in Waverly, OH.

 

 

"...well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy of your Lord..."

~Matthew 25:23 KJV

 

Confirmation Class - 1897

John Urfer, Oscar Snook, George Bollinger, Philip Schnabel, ____Meckstroth, ____Loescher, Catherine (Snook) Lyle, Elizabeth Baker, Bertha (Wilhelm) Stump, Minnie Neubright, Bertha (Klein) Rable, Jon Weber, Catherine Schlosser.

Rev. Christian Baum, Pastor

Confirmation Class - 1935

Front Row (left to right)-

Dorothy Ridenour, Arthur Brutzer, Grace Griffith, Rev. R.J. Schroer, Eloise Stilgenbauer, Ennis Walker, Delores Timmerman.
Back Row-
Louis Wessler Jr., Helen Stelzer, John Neumann, Ruth Ella Dew, Paul Stueber Jr., Elfrida Wolf, Richard Neumann, Theresa Benny, Wilbur Bailey.

Earliest Certificate

     The oldest Confirmation Certificate in our archives dates back to 1874, written in German, issued by Rev. C.F. Waldecker to Friedrich Stuber.

     

  

      Young Frederick would grow up to be a prominent eye surgeon.

      Dr. & Mrs. Emma (Moser) Stueber were the parents of two "kinder" also confirmed in our Church.  Their son Dr. Paul Stueber was confirmed in 1901, by Rev. Paul H. Land; and daughter Ruth (Mrs. William Daniels) in 1907, by Rev. A.G. Gekeler.

Next Door to God's House

    
     During the days of itinerant Preachers, traveling miles by horseback to the communities they served, it was a brave venture for the fledgling congregation to construct a small wood frame parsonage in 1876. Reverend C.F. Waldecker was the first Pastor to occupy the house.
     In 1921, during the Pastorate of Rev. Tillman W. Hoernemann, a modern brick structure was built at the cost of $17,000.

                   

       
     The Parsonage was home to First E&R Pastors and their families throughout the decades until 1984. Seen here in 1987, before the dwelling was demolished that year.     
  

Home is where the "Hearth" is...

 

Reverend Reuben J. Schroer

Our 11th Pastor

(1930-1938)

 

The Schroer Family
Hilda, Hal, Corinne, and Rev. Schroer
(left to right) 

(Seated by the fireplace in the Parsonage)

Vitz Family Portrait

 

Reverend Richard P. Vitz

Our 13th Pastor

January 1, 1953 - June 3, 1979

 

 

 

The Vitz Family

Barbara, Marianne, Robert, Rev. Vitz & his wife Mildred 

(clockwise)

 

Faith Confirmed

    
     Since our earliest beginnings, Confirmation is considered a sacred rite of passage for young men and women. At about 13-years of age, they begin a thorough 2-year instruction in the Bible, the Heidelberg Catechism, and church history.  
     The Heidelberg Catechism dates back to 1563, developed in Germany. But it has been translated into all European languages, as well as some African and Asian. The document consists of 129 questions and answers.
     After completing their studies, the Confirmands stand in the presence of God before the congregation; answering random questions from memory, asked by their teacher. This review traditionally occurs on Palm Sunday. Embraced by the Church body, our newest members receive their first Sacrament of Holy Communion on Easter Sunday.   
      

Confirmation Class

Easter Sunday ~ April 12, 1903

Front Row (left to right) -

Leonard Schanbel, Irvin Clausing, Nina Schulz, Charles Klein, Rev. Paul H. Land, Otto Rhoda, Winnie Rhoda, John Weller. 

Back Row -

Ethel Schaub, Otto Aue, William Kissel, Mary Bacher, Karl Renz, Clarence Frey, 

Charles Tiemeyer, Minnie Heil, Walter Haege.    

THE FIRST QUESTION IN THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

"Was is dein einiger Trost im Leben und im Stebern?"

(What is thy only comfort in life and death?)

"Dass ich mit Leib und Seele, beides im leben und Sterben, nicht mein, sondern meines getreuen Heilandes, Jesu Christi eigen bin..."

(That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ...)

Sabbath Studies

     
     Sunday School at First E&R Church has always been a stronghold of learning about the Good Book. On August 7, 1873 the German Reformed Church was host to a district Sunday School Festival, with six German Sunday schools of Allen County and several English schools participating. Approximately 1000 people paraded to the old fairgrounds on Bellefontaine Avenue where they enjoyed a picnic, before returning downtown for a concert at the City Hall located on Main & High Streets. 
     During the Pastorate of Rev. C. Pluess, the Sunday School flourished under the leadership of Superintendent Jacob Moser. 
      One visiting Pastor who attended the event, wrote the following account featured in a periodical of the Reformed Church of the United States: 


"Taken as whole, it was the grandest Sabbath school festival we ever witnessed, its success evidently attributable to the untiring exertions of Mr. Moser, the Superintendent, and his co-workers in the school. We were very much gratified that where twenty years ago we preached to a few scattering Germans only occasionally, now we have a German congregation able to make such a display...May the Lord Bless the Lima Sabbath school and congregation!" ~ J. Klinger

     See below a photo of the Sunday School Cabinet (Officers & Teachers) circa early 1930's, under the Pastorate of Rev. Reuben J. Schroer. 



Front Row (left to right) -

Hilda Snook Wolf, Martha Schaefer, Mrs. Lillian Gerstenlauer,

Mrs. Salome Niemeyer, Mrs. Katherine Mumper, Mrs. Oscar Alstetter,

Dorothy Rhoda McNett, Mrs. Inez Herold;

Second Row -

Miss Sophia Hoff, Mrs. Norma Kessler, Miss Clara Greding, Mrs. Holtkamp,

Mrs. Carl Rhoda, Miss Ella Eysenbach, Mrs. R.J. Schroer, Mrs. Zeits;

Third Row -

Mrs. Lillian Heinrich, Lee G. Van Blargan, Bernard Wolf, Clarence Frey, Jr.,

Clarence Frey, Sr., George Urich, Mrs. Mary Perry.

     

Consistory History

    
     Annual congregational meetings of First E&R Church are held in January.
At this time we review highlights of the past year, discuss new business, and elect nominees to the Consistory (Church Board); primarily consisting of Elders, Deacons, and Trustees.           

"Consistories of Yester-year"
100th Anniversary Booklet ~ 1963 
(click on image to enlarge) 

     These photos are an example of "Chairmen of the Board" since women were not permitted to serve as Officers of the Church. It wasn't until 1971, women were nominated for positions on the Consistory. Although they were not elected, this marked a significant step in the history of our Church. Eventually by the early-1980's, women were elected to serve as Deacons and Trustees. Over the past few decades, a multitude of ladies have dutifully fulfilled these offices.
    The most reverent office of Elder remains reserved for men.  
    To serve on the Consistory is regarded as a great honor and privilege. We respect all these leaders following in the footsteps of our founders.

"Hail Mary"...!!?

     
     Rather out of the ordinary regarding our staunch German Protestant history, but this is for the benefit of sports fans in the final throes of football season. 
     Rev. Tillman W. Hoernemann was our 10th Pastor, with the distinction of serving the second longest ministerial term at our Church 1914-1929. We will pay our due respects in a future post. But thru his Pastorate, our Church connected with one of the greatest coaches of all time!       



Paul "The Fox" Hoernemann
1916-1965

       Paul "The Fox" Hoernemann, was the son of Rev. & Mrs. (Bertha) Hoernemann. Born in Lima, he was a teen-ager when his father left our Church to assume a position in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Paul was a 1938 graduate of Heidelberg College (founded in 1850 by the German Reformed Church), where he would return as Head Football Coach 1946-1959. During his 14-year career he lost only 18 games (his overall record being 102-18); consisting of 16 & 17-game winning streaks and two undefeated seasons. While he was Coach, the Heidelberg "Student Princes" won the Ohio Conference in 1948, 1952, 1954, and 1956. The Ohio Conference later established the Hoernemann Trophy, awarded to the best defensive lineman. And during those days, an article featured in Sports Illustrated listed Coach Hoernemann #7, topped by the infamous Knut Rockne from Notre Dame leading the roster.   
      In 1997, Paul "The Fox" Hoernemann was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.  
     
     To my knowledge it is a mystery how he earned his nickname. But I'll make the call, and say it was due to his cunning coaching expertise!   
     

Ladies to the Rescue

     On January 3, 1867, a group of women met at the home of Rev. & Mrs. William H. Fenneman. Among these ladies were: Lizzie Naas Badertscher, Adeline Frail, Marie Rothe, Katherine Schnug, Rosa Schnug, and Katherine Stueber. 
     The cornerstone of the new building at Wayne & West Streets had been laid the preceding August, and construction had begun. 
     The women were determined to form an organization within the Church to raise funds covering the debt, bring Spiritual enrichment, and encourage good works.   
     A Constitution was written on that day, their mission accomplished.  
     This group would be called "Der Frauen-Verien" which translates to The Ladies Aid Society. Formed 4-months before the dedication of the first building, this is the oldest  organization in our Church. 
     The Ladies Aid Society remains active to this day; holding regular monthly meetings, promoting worthy projects, and supporting Spiritual growth. We greatly appreciate the devotion of these virtuous women.  

"She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy." 

~Proverbs 31:20 (NIV)