Memorial Chimes from Topeka, Kansas • 1

BUSINESS NUMBER. CtHimES Iflli No. 10. TOPEKA, KANSAS, JANUARY, 1902 Vol. IX.

THE COMHON SERVICE ADOPTED. At the congregational meeting held January 2, the matter of continuing the use of the Com mon Service was brought to a vote. Last July the council unan and in Oxford Female Seminary of Oxford, Ohio. On the 6th day of October, 1880, she was United in marriage to Dr. J.

P. Lewis, then a practicing physician at Pleasantville, Ohio. The ceremony taking place in Circle-ville, Rev. G. W.

Mechling, pastor of the Lutheran Church at Lancaster, Ohio, performing the ceremony. After a few months' residence at Pleasantville, where Mr. Lewis had been practicing for ten years, he brought his bride to Topeka, where they lived most keep her in our midst. Then she became perfectly reconciled to go and toward the last her earnest prayer was that she might be permitted to depart soon. This prayer was granted at 6:28 on the morning of December 16, when she breathed her last, surrounded by her devoted husband and loved children.

The funeral services took place on the 18th from her late home, her pastor, Rev. H. A. Ott, officiating, assisted by the Rev. J.

B. McAfee, a life-long friend of During the past nine years, in which time her health was very frail most of the time, she was obliged to give up active church duties, yet with her characteristic energy she followed the work of the church from time to time with interest, and no pastor calling on her found her indifferent to the needs and wants of the church. In disposition she was always cheerful, even during the severe afflictions of her latter days, continually looking on the bright side of life, having an encouraging word for every one. She deeply loved her home, her husband and her children and these were the subject of her fondest love and devotion. In her favorite Bible, after her death, was found this beautiful i i I imously decided to have this service used for three months on The past or made the general request that no one criticize the service either pro or con, during the three months of its use, so as to let it stand or fall upon its own merits.

We began its use the second Sunday in September and discontinued it the second Sunday in December. The result was, many who had been led to think adversely of this service from the attitude of one of our church papers, upon its real use, learned to like it, and as we antici-pated, but little opposition was raised to the use of the service, five individuals voting against it. We believe all of our peopb can see and appreciate that the use of this service under the lead-ership of our splendid choir, has added order, dignity and wor-shipfulness to our sanctuary services. One of our deacons thoughtfully testified that he never realized so much what "worship" was, until we began the use of this beautiful stated service. On New Year's day the ancient Jews were commanded to bring their offerings into the temple in a beautiful basket.

No other kind of vessel would suffice so on the Lord's Day, we bring the offering of our love and devotion in this beautiful service. The form is the basket; the spirit prayer written in her own hand and signed by her name, under the date January 1, 1891: "Grant, Lord, that I may begin the year under the guidance and influences of that blessed Spirit which will surely lead me in this life in the pleasant paths of peace and holiness. Grant that this year may not be thrown away upon anything less than those hopes and interests which are greater and better than anything that this world can contain. "Mattie A. Lewis." Mrs.

Lewis yielded up her noble spirit, reconciled, believing, trusting in the hopes of this prayer and her end was the glorious triumph of a christian reaping the sweet reward of fidelity unto death. She leaves a husband and three children, Florence, Olive and Charles, and two sisters, Mrs. Captain E. R. Black and Mrs.

James Porter, both of Tarlton, as well as a large circle of dear friends to mourn her loss. While she is daily and hourly missed in her home, and loneliness sets sadly enthroned there, yet with all this sorrow sweet words of comfort Come pouring in with the daily mail from friends afar off, all pointing the sorrowing ones to Him who is able to cheer the faint and bind up the broken heart. Rev. J. B.

McAfee. Rev. J. B. McAfee was born near Port Royal, August 8, 1830, brougut into the church through a special meeting, entered Gettysburg college in 1850, remained there three years, studied theology under Rev.

F. Auspach, was licensed to preach in 1854 and ordained by the Maryland Synod in 1856. He had charge of Mt. Prospect school in 1853, and the old state (Md.) academy in 1854. He came to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1854 and in April 1855 organized a Lutheran church at Leavenworth, which later disbanded.

In 1857 he organized a church at Valley Falls, of which Rev. J. M. Hcrbst is pastor. In 1862 he entered the army.

While at Valley Falls he organized churches at Monrovia (now Effiingham church) and one at Pardee, (no longer in existence). After the war Mr. McAfee came to Topeka, where he has been engaged in business ever since, at the same time giving very generously of his time and means toward the erection of two churches here, the old one on Topeka Avenue, and the present building at 5th and Harrison Sts. in which we render the service is the offering itself, a sweet-smelling savor unto God when offer-with a sincere and contrite heart. As the majority is so pronounced we trust the incident is closed, andthat all will unite in the use of this worshipful service, which will win to us Lutheran hearts, with which only can we build up a strong church in this city.

the family. The pastor took for his text, Revelation xxi. 3-5. Mr. McAfee confined his remarks happily together up to the time of Mrs.

Lewis' death. Mrs. Lewis was confirmed in the Lutheran church at Tarlton, Ohio, when a child. On remov to personal reminiscences. The floral offerings of the large circle The efficiency of the Sunday School as a helper in the finances of the church, is a hew factor in flRS.

MATTIE A. LEWIS. After a long, lingering illness, Mrs. Mattie A. Lewis was called to her reward above.

She made a brave struggle lor life, and 1 A 1 Ln llfo urno rro1r the experience of our congregation. Usually it simolv took of friends were unusually beautiful, completely filling one side of the spacious parlor. Mrs. Lewis was born at Tarl-ton, Pickaway County, Ohio, on the 28th of July, 1852, the daughter of Daniel and Mary Shoemaker, a sturdy family quite prominent in the early history of Ohio. She was educated in the common schools of Tarlton ing to Topeka she united with the church here, during the pastorate of Rev.

T. F. Dornblazer. While in possession of her health Mrs. Lewis was very active in the work of the church and the charities of the city.

Letters from former pastors received since her death testify to the many thoughtful acts of kindness to her pastor and his family. care of itself, but during the past thirteen months it has not only supported itself, but cave to the aOUUUCS3 lit ivc.ijf prolonged through her strong will, and the tender care of loved ones, yet finally the time came when no earthly power could I church $325. We are sure every scholar is the better and happier lor it..