Trinivia
In 1994, the following year-long series of
Trinity trivia questions, prepared by Mr. Stu Fliege, appeared in
our Sunday bulletins:
 Trinivia:
We'll start our Trinivia with one of God's greatest blessings to
Trinity, it's wonderful elementary day school. In what year did
Trinity begin a day school? (we'll give you, say, 20 years either
way). X-tra credit: In what month did school begin?
Answer: In February
(that's right, February) of 1860 Trinity's Pastor Huschman began
classes for our elementary school. This was the beginning of the
school and what a tremendous blessing it has been!!
Trinivia:
Surely you have been impressed with the wonderful, new design on the
Bulletin Cover today. This design will be used throughout the year.
For today's Trinivia we could ask who designed the cover, but that
would be too easy as most would know that Bob Eschenfeldt, Trinity's
own, who has contributed so much of his talent over the years, is
responsible. For his artwork, Mr. Eschenfeldt chose various symbols
in the church, but where are they located? The scroll on the upper
left, "Verbum Dei" - where is it found and what do the Latin words
mean? On the upper right is the Sheaf of Wheat and the Grapes with
Vines - where are they located? Finally, where did Bob get the idea
for the border around the top of the bulletin?
Answer: For the fresh new
design of the bulletin, Bob Eschenfeldt utilized the scroll on the
front of the lecturn, "Verbum Dei", which means "The Word of God".
The Sheaf of Wheat and the Grapes with Vines are atop stained glass
windows. (second from the back, up in the balcony) and the
bulletin's Grape Vine Border comes from the trim around the altar,
the lectern, and the pulpit.
Trinivia:
Back to the subject of our day school, Trinity's strong commitment
to Lutheran education is illustrated by the fact that our
congregation has built four elementary schools. When and
where were they built?
Answer: Trinity first
purchased a house at 123 East Jefferson to hold school in, but in
1880 the congregation razed this house and replaced it with a new
two story school (midway between 1st and 2nd Street on the north
side). The next school was a two story school built in 1906 behind
the church (this is the one familiar to many of us old timers and,
if you look close at our present parking lot, you can see the
outline of where it once stood). In 1916 Trinity built a branch
school on East Matheny Street which eventually became Immanuel's
first church. Finally, in 1953 Trinity built the wonderful education
edifice at Governor and MacArthur.
Trinivia:
If you've seen the recent film "Gettysburg" you know that a Lutheran
Seminary was near the battleground. Which two of our congregation's
Pastors graduated from this Gettysburg Seminary?
Answer: Rev. Francis
Springer (founding Pastor of our church) and Rev. Simeon Walcher
Harkey graduated from the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.
Trinivia:
Both Revs. Springer and Harkey were key individuals in the formation
of the ill-fated Illinois State University. They were also
affiliated with the Lutheran Church in Springfield when it divided
into English and German speaking factions. In what year did this
division take place?
Answer: On Dec. 15th,
1854, the Springfield Lutheran Community voted to divide into
English (now Grace) and German (now Trinity) speaking congregations.
Abraham Lincoln was still a Springfield resident and the Civil War
was six years away.
Trinivia:
For Trinity's Boy Scout Troop, forty-seven is the magic number this
week. On Feb. 10, 1947, (47 years ago, of course), Troop 47 was
first chartered. Art Brockschmidt, Lou Klekamp, Bob Tarr and other
adult leaders were instrumental in it's beginning. Meetings were
held in the basement of the 2nd & Monroe School. Four members of
Trinity today were Boy Scouts in that Troop so long ago. Can you
name any of them?
Answer: Present Trinity
members Sam Dodd, Alvin Elchlepp, Paul Bogan, and Harold A. Olsen
were Boy Scouts in Troop 47 back in 1947. Present members Herb
Kobialka and Ray Boehner joined in 1948.
Trinivia:
How high, in feet, is the top of the steeple (not including the
cross) above ground level? Go outside (after the service, of
course), take a long look, and make a good guess. Give you +
10 ft.
Answer: From ground level
to the top of the steeple (not including the cross) is 129 feet
high. How close were you?
Trinivia:
Okay, -- if the steeple is 129 feet high, how tall is the cross atop
the steeple?
Answer: The cross on top
of the steeple is 8 feet 4 inches tall. Hard to believe when you
look at it from the ground, isn't it? The cross was given as a gift
by Mrs. Carl Reinhart in memory of her husband.
Trinivia:
During the 1950's there were no less than ten gentlemen who were
registered as members of our Voters Assembly with the same last
name. What was the family name? Well, - that might be kinda easy for
some, so, give all 10 first names.
Answer: The surname of
the 10 Voters was, of course, Ostermeier. They were Alvin, Carl,
Christopher, Ernest, Fred J., Fred W., Frederick, Henry, Delmar, and
Rudolph.
Trinivia:
Ever notice the fancy grillwork high on the west wall of the
chancel. What's the story behind that grillwork?
Answer: Many Trinity
members know that the grill work in the chancel was to allow music
from an echo organ to fill the sanctuary. The echo organ had about
12 ranks of pipes plus the chimes and was controlled from the main
console in the balcony. But the echo organ was not always located
there! Before the 1940 renovation the altar stood away from the back
of the chancel (there was six feet between the wall and the back of
the altar) and the echo organ was hidden on a platform high behind
the altar. During the renovation, a room was actually added on top
of the sacristy to house the echo organ, and a hole made in the wall
which is the reason for the grill work. The empty room is still
there.
Trinivia:
What was Pastor Paul Schulz's nickname? Further, what title was
often given to his parsonage?
Answer: The dynamic, much
beloved and respected, Rev. Paul Schulz D.D. was affectionately
called "Pope" Schulz and his home was sometimes nicknamed the
"Vatican". Pastor Schulz had a tremendous sense of humor and enjoyed
the play on words.
Trinivia:
We've all heard of C.F.W. Walther, the principal figure in the
history of the Missouri Synod. What do the initials C.F.W. stand
for? Also, which hymn in our present hymn books was written, both
words and music, by the very talented Rev. Dr. Walther?
Answer: Rev. Dr. Carl
Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther wrote the inspiring Easter Hymn, He's
Risen! He's Risen! Christ Jesus, the Lord, (originally in German,
Erstanden! Erstanden!) which is hymn #198 in the Red Hymn Book and
#138 in the new Blue Hymn Book.
Trinivia:
We all enjoy receiving the monthly Newsletter. When was it
first published and who was the lady that was the driving force
behind it?
Answer: Mrs. Walter
Baepler, wife of the Seminary professor, was responsible for getting
out Trinity's earliest Newsletter; the first one was in April
of 1954. An expert in public relations, Mrs. Baepler headed up
Trinity's Public Relations Committee for years and eventually became
News Service Director at Valparaiso University.
Trinivia:
Make a good guess (or a bad one, for that matter) at the year the
first telephone was installed in the church (give you five years on
this one).
Answer: In 1926 the
Walther League was given permission by the Voters to install the
first telephone in the church's kitchen.
Trinivia:
Speaking of the Walther League, many present Trinitarians were once
members of this huge, Missouri Synod organization for young people.
Here are several Walther League Trivia questions. The International
Walther League was formed in Buffalo, New York in 1893, but when did
Trinity Youth join? What was the Latin Motto and what does it mean?
Finally, can you still sing the official Walther League Song? ...all
three verses?
Answer: Trinity's Youth
joined the International Walther League in 1924. The Latin Motto was
"Pro Aris et Focis", which means "For Church and Home". Here's the
Walther League Song:
Walther Leaguers, Walther Leaguers, one and
all are we;
Serving Jesus Christ, our Savior, who has made us free!
Walther Leaguers, Walther Leaguers, Wheresoe'er we roam;
Praying and working for our Church and Home.
God the Father, Son and Spirit, Holy Trinity;
Grant us evermore Thy presence, lead us graciously;
Bless our faith, increase our labors, let Thy kingdom come,
As we are serving Thee in Church and Home!
Lord, direct us onward, upward, battling for
the right,
In the footsteps of our Fathers, now Thy saints in light!
Keep us faithful, firm, and watchful; guide us, every one,
Till we shall meet before Thy heav'nly throne!
Trinivia:
In 1966 a history of our congregation was printed entitled 125
Years of Grace. An excellent account of the 1936 to 1966 era was
researched and written by a lovely lady who continues to worship in
the early service. Who are we referring to?
Answer: The history of
Trinity from 1936 to 1966 was very ably written by Mrs. Mildred
Bowden. The earlier historical period was originally written by
Pastor Herman H. Koppelmann in 1936 and reprinted in 125 Years of
Grace.
Trinivia:
In what year did Trinity switch from gas lighting to electric
lighting? (give you plus or minus 10 years).
Answer: The June 18, 1905
Voter's Minutes reveal a bill of $285.00 for the installation of
electric lights in the church. One year previous, electric lights
had been installed in Trinity's School on Jefferson Street.
Trinivia:
Our Church's stone nameplate (facing Monroe) reads thusly:
Evangelical-Lutheran; Trinity Church: U.A.C.: C.F. May, Archt. This
is the present English version which, in 1940, was inscribed on the
back of the original stone which had a Latin-German inscription on
it, and the stone was then turned around. What was the Latin-German
version? Now here's the real tuffee. The architect had originally
proposed an all German inscription for this nameplate. What was this
proposed inscription? You get this one and,...well...you really know
your Trinity trivia....or you know the GERMAN word for TRINITY!!
Answer: Trinity's
original nameplate read: Evanc. Luth: Trinitatis-Kirche: U.A.C.:
C.F. May, archt. The word "Trinitatis" is Latin. The original
proposal, however, was to use the German word for Trinity,
DREIEINIGKEIT, which means, literally, Three-in-One. Makes sense
doesn't it? (Now if you are not aware of what the U.A.C. stands for,
you should have attended Pastor Strong's recent Bible Class on the
(Unaltered) Augsburg Confession).
Trinivia:
Before 1905 Trinity Church had no electricity, which meant, of
course, that air for the organ had to be pumped by hand. It is
almost unbelievable, but there is a member of Trinity today who once
manually pumped the bellows to provide air for the organ. Who is
this venerable gentleman?
Answer: Mr. Louis Koopman,
blessed by God with a long and fruitful traverse on earth, as a
young boy, manually pumped the bellows to provide air for the organ
before the days of electricity. Further, he attended Trinity School
while it was still on Jefferson Street. During the decades of the
20's, 30's, & 40's, the name Louis Koopman appears over and over in
the minutes as he served in various roles and on different boards
for his beloved Trinity.
Trinivia:
Beyond doubt, the president of our congregation when our present
school was built has been one of Trinity's leading lay figures for
many years. Who are we referring to? X-tra credit - What is his
middle name?
Answer: Harold M. Olsen
was Chairman of the congregation when our new school was built and
the M. stands for Mathias. To list all his contributions to Trinity,
Concordia Theological Seminary, and Synod would require a separate
supplement.
Trinivia:
Have any idea when the first film (or "Moving Pictures") was shown
in Trinity School? Think about it and take a guess (+ 5
years).
Answer: On Nov. 11th,
1923, the Voters Assembly gave approval to show Moving Pictures at
the school. Wonder what that first film was? Boy, that would be real
good trivia! Anyhow, three years later the Walther League began
showing "Movies".
Trinivia:
A few years after the church was built the Ladies Aid Society agreed
to fund the building of a "Schalldeckel". For some reason it was
never built, but what in the world is a "Schalldeckel"?
Answer: A "Schalldeckel"
is a small, usually very ornate, roof above the pulpit. Literally,
from the German, it means "sound ceiling". The idea behind them is
to help project the voice of the preacher into the congregation.
Remember seeing Martin Luther in the film "Here I Stand"? He was
preaching beneath a "Schalldeckel". We have no clue as to why
Trinity never built the one the Ladies had agreed to pay for.
Trinivia:
Speaking of the Ladies Aid, what was their original German Name and
in what year did they begin providing their valuable assistance to
the congregation?
Answer: The Ladies Aid
Society of Trinity Church was formed in 1880 and the original German
name was Tabea Verein (Tabatha Society) which was changed to the
English in 1906. The name Frauen Verein (Ladies Society) was also
used.
Trinivia:
Look at the beautiful carving of the Savior above the altar. How
many times have we gazed upon it and felt the real presence of God?
How tall do you think it is?
Answer: The carving of
Christ above the altar is 7 feet 8 inches tall.
Trinivia:
Look at the In 1863 Trinity called a Missouri Synod pastor even
though the congregation was not itself a member of the synod. Who
was this pastor and when did Trinity become a member of the Missouri
Synod?
Answer: The Missouri
Synod pastor called by Trinity in 1863, during the latter stages of
the Civil War, was Rev. William Bartling. Nine years later, on Dec
3, 1872, Trinity voted to join the Missouri Synod. The first Trinity
member to be elected as a delegate to the Synod was Jacob Neu,
grandfather to Mrs. Marian Bachmann.
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