The rain we had earlier ceased and the farmers were busy making up for lost time in getting their crops out before another rain comes.
Faith Lutheran had Meals on Wheels on Monday, Wed., and Fri. this week and Zachary was able on Monday because of rain and Bethany and I did the other two days. Dave and Lucille are doing the last three days. Thank you!
I saw in the last Marcus News where Trinity Lutheran Church is going to celebrate 100 years of being in their present brick church. I went back to 1922 to find out some details of them building a new structure. There was no information. In March 1, 1923 was the first time anything was mentioned about building. The building committee met in Marcus on Tuesday to let the contract for the new church building. Mr. Geiger of Sheldon was chosen from the eight or ten bidders. Mr. Arnold, the architect from Sioux City was present as well as others representing brick and furnace companies.
But Trinity Lutheran Church did have every week in the Marcus News a write-up about their services. I was surprised when I read that their minister, Rev. Liten also came to the Swedish church to conduct services—in German language! I wonder how many Swedes could understand this language?! Then, shortly it was written that he was giving a service in German and Swedish. Evidently the Swedes didn’t have a minister at this time.
May 17, 1923—“Corner Stone Laying Sunday Afternoon”. Trinity Lutheran congregation will lay the corner stone of its new church in Amherst township in a special service to be conducted Sunday afternoon, beginning at 2:30. The service proper will be conducted in the English language with a German address from the old members of the congregation. The Rev. R. Torgler of Hinton, Iowa, will preach the English sermon and the Rev. A. R. Noack of Remsen, the German sermon, the pastor of the congregation having charge of the laying of the corner stone. A hearty invitation is extended to all the neighbors and friends of the congregation to be present at these services. The Lord has been exceedingly good to us. Come rejoice and be glad with us. There will be no services in the morning. Sent by A.C. Liten, pastor.
The day the Trinity Lutheran Church dedicated their new brick church was a “whole” day of services, dinner, afternoon services, and supper. There were supposed to have been 500 at this day of dedication. I’m sure the upcoming celebration won’t be as long as the first one! Congratulations on Trinity Lutheran Church for their 100 years celebration of their church building!
I had four articles all written up to be ready for the newspaper done during the early Sunday morning hours. I asked Bethany to save them as I didn’t want to lose them. I had printed out two of them (the longest ones) that she thinks is not necessary to print out because she seems to think that it uses too much ink. Thank heavens I did as all four of them were “lost” when she finally came to save them before noon on Sunday. She did rewrite the two that were printed and I had to start all over again with the other lost two. Maybe the next time she will understand what I mean when I ask in a kindly manner to save them.
Halloween is right around the corner. I did do an article on Halloween (hopefully there is room for it). Halloween has really got quite a past connected with it. Last week I wrote on the Chinese being in South Dakota and some of the strange things they did if one of them died. This was kind of what went on in the early times with the meaning of Halloween. Most churches today have Nov. 1 as the day they remember the people who have died during the year from that church. Back then, there was much done before this happened on Nov. 1. Times have changed. However, people wearing costumes, masks, carrying jack-o’-lanterns, and coming trick-or-treating, in today’s times all had a reason for this back in history.
I went back to some of the years when “mischief” was done on Halloween night or maybe some good parties held. November 6, 1913—“Hallowe’en Party Success”. Once of the most pleasant affairs in the city on Hallowe’en night was the social gathering of over 100 young people at the Methodist Episcopal church. The affair was given by the Epworth League and the members of the organization proved themselves royal entertainers. Social conversation, readings by Misses Mamie Helin and Gertrude Roe and the telling of ghost stories occupied the large part of the evening. A luncheon was served and for this partners were selected by matching numbers. Those present had a very pleasant time.
November 6, 1913—“An Unlucky Thirteen”. For once in the history of the city of Marcus, the authorities were determined to make the players of Halloween pranks pay dearly for their fun and a glance at the total of fines imposed on the following morning suggests that they kept faith with their intentions.
Warrants were sworn out by Special Policeman Fechter for fifteen young men and boys to appear before his Honor, Mayor Twogood, and of the number, eleven were fined each $7.85 and one $12.85 for contempt of court while two others were released. The boys did the usual amount of damage about the town, tipping over about twenty buildings. It is hoped that the lesson they were given this year will be heeded in the future.
November 14, 1898—“Property Owners”. Property owners heaved a sigh of relief as there was very little damage done on Halloween. The city water tank over flowed and covered the sidewalk, street and a tree with a heavy coat of ice.
November 3, 1910—“Halloween Parties”. To the flickering lights of tallow candles, Marcus society made merry during the Halloween season, jack-o’-lantern ghostly attire, and all the good symbols of Halloween were called into use and worked over time.
The Halloween dancing party given at the opera house on Monday evening by the ladies was a very pleasant affair. Collins Orchestra furnished the music for the occasion and the light fantastic was tripped until a late hour.
A very unique Halloween party was given in the banquet hall Monday evening by the Woman’s Club when they entertained their liege lords. Cards and flinch was the diversion of the evening.
The T.H.E. Club composed of eight charming Marcus young ladies added another social affair to the Halloween season. The party was held in the attic of the spacious home of Miss Erma Board.
November 8, 1934—“Cleghorn News”. A number of Halloween pranks were played by the youngsters but no damage was done.
November 7, 1935—“Marcus News”. Halloween pranks seem to be losing favor with the young people of Marcus. Aside from a number of soaped windows in the business district, the night passed without much mischief being done.
October 29, 2009—“Collective Thoughts by Bernice McIntosh”. There seems to be no record of who first carved a grinning face upon a pumpkin, although the jack-o’-lantern is probably the most popular of the Halloween symbols.
Since the dictionary defines the word “jack” as a popular form meaning man, one readily sees that Jack-o’-lantern means man of the lantern. A popular expression is “to play the jack,” meaning to deceive or go astray. This aptly fits the spirit of the jack-o’-lantern.
Today, Halloween belongs to the children with costumes parties, tricks or treats and pranks, but in the beginning, it was the grown-ups who had all the fun!
Spooks were no laughing matter in those ancient days for folks really believed that mysterious creatures existed. Many of the traditional customs which we consider typically Halloween go back to the time of the Druids, centuries before Christ was born. The ancient Celts of Britain, France and Belgian (as we know them today) worshiped spirits believed to be found in trees, animals, rocks, etc.
How well I remember back in my childhood days how the older boys celebrated Halloween. Tipping over outhouses, targeting the implement dealers in town by stacking their machinery in the town square in front of the schoolhouse doors, and even on top of the school building. However, the next day they were forced to undo their handiwork. Those were the days!
Remember in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost friends/loved ones to death, have had their lives changed, have a health problem some of which are terminal, are struggling to make ends meet even though they have a job, help those who desire “wants” are more important than “needs” that prestige isn’t everything and be with those who are still trying to shorten the distance between family/friends to build a bridge instead of a wall. Count your blessings!
I will close with this advice: “The average person doesn’t believe in signs unless they are pointing the way he wants to go.”