The Bluffton news. [volume], February 08, 1940, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXIV
SEMINARY WILL
RE-OPEN DOORS
First Steps to be Taken at
Meeting of New Board Here
Next Tuesday
Prominent Mennonite Leaders
To Attend Session at
College Library
the
Prominent leaders of two of
country’s largest Mennonite groups—
the General and Central conferences
—will attend a meeting here next
Tuesday to formulate plans for the
reopening of Witmarsum Theological
seminary, a Bluffton institution
closed since 1931.
The meeting will be held in the
Musselman library on the Bluffton
college campus at which time will
take place a reorganization of the
seminary board of trustees.
Time and place for the reopening
of the seminary are expected to
occupy a major place at the delibera
tions of the meeting here. As yet
there has been no indication as to
when the institution may open—or
whether it will continue in Bluffton
or be moved elsewhere.
Strong Conference Support
As a result of the impending re
organization the seminary will have
definite and official support from the
strong General and Central confer
ences. Besides this, well informed
sources stated the first of the week
that at least two other Mennonite
conferences will support the newly
reorganized institution unofficially at
the present time.
These two conferences, whose
identity has not been disclosed are
said to be preparing to send students
here and financial support will be
forthcoming from individuals in these
branches,
ever, it is
ences will
stitution.
Within a few years, how
believed that the confer
officially support the in­
At the meeting to be held here
next Tuesday, the present seminary
board of trustees which has served
since the institution closed nine
years ago will turn over the adminis
tration to the new board composed
of representatives from the enlarged
constituency. Several of the present
trustees will continue to serve as
members of the new board.
Incoming Board Personnel
Members of the new board
trustees which will take over the
ministration of the seminary at
meeting Tuesday are:
of
ad
the
G.
E.
General conference—Dr. E.
Kaufman, North Newton, Kan.
W. Baumgartner, Berne, Ind.
A. S. Rosenberger, Dalton
Lester Hostetler, Upland, Calif. Rev.
Paul Whitmer, Pandora Rev. C. E.
Krehbiel, Newton, Kan-
Rev.
Rev.
Central conference—Rev. Emanuel
Troyer, Carlock, Ill. Rev. I. R. Det
weiler, Bloomington, III. Rev. Allen
Yoder, Goshen, Ind.
vote)
H. T.
Advisory members (without
—Dr. L. L. Ramseyer, Rev.
Unruh, Bluffton Rev. P. K. Regier,
Moundridge, Kan. John D. Unruh,
Freeman, S. Dakota Rev. W. S.
Shelly, Wadsworth.
Outgoing Board Personnel
Personnel of the outgoing semi
(Continued on page 8)
Leaves For Denver
To Attend School
Marjorie Moser, thirteen-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Homer
Moser, missionaries in Brazil, South
America, who stopped here during
the past week is now in Denver,
Colorado, where she has entered high
school.
The girl, together with her sister
Ruth, aged eighteen arrived in New
York city last month
voyage from Brazil.
after an ocean
Bluffton high
her home with
Mr. and Mrs.
Ruth has entered
school and is making
her uncle and aunt.
Ezra Moser. Marjorie, while attend
ing school in Denver will reside with
another uncle and aunt, Dr. and
Mrs. Cal Stuckey. Mrs. Stuckey,
formerly Miss Marie Lahr, is a
ter of Mrs. Homer Moser.
sis-
Roger Hauenstein
To Teach At York
Roger Hauenstein, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Edgar Hauenstein, of South
Jackson street, has accepted a posi
tion as instructor of music in York
Centralized High school of Van
Wert county.
Hauenstein is graduate of the
Bluffton college department of mu
sic. He will succeed Miss Betty
Burk who left York to take a posi
tion in the Louisville, Ky., school
system.
Gay Cricket Chirps
In Cellar Despite
Cold Wave Outside
TT’S a gay cricket that is spend
ing the winter in the basement
of Oswin Luginbuhl’s residence
on South Jackson street. Shy at
first, the cricket has grown ac
customed to its winter home and
now chirps forth a daily concert
nmindful of the snow and cold
weather outside.
There’s just one thing lacking,
says the Luginbuhl family—the
cricket should have a name—as
yet it is nameless.
The statutes require that any pro
posed ordinance be read before the
town council three times, either at
one meeting or three separate meet
ings. The council adopted the latter
course for the anti-firecracker meas
ure and according to regular proced
ure it will be up for vote on its adop
tion early next month.
Noise-making Devices Barred
The ordinance will prohibit the sale
and use of noise-making devices which
include besides firecrackers, roman
candles, rockets, bombs, balloons,
wheels, blank cartridges, torpedoes,
concussion canes and cap pistols.
Cold Weather Turns Slush Of
Streets Here To Glare Of Ice
REWORKS BAN
UP TO COUNCIL
Ordinance Prohibiting Noise
making Devices Placed on
First Reading
May
Sparklers not Included
Ask Action from Richland
And Orange Twps.
Cooperation of Richland and Orange
townships may be sought in Bluffton’s
movement for a noiseless Fouth of
July observance this year. At the
meeting of the Bluffton town council
Monday night when the anti-firecrack
er ordinance was placed on its first
reading, council members discussed
the possibility of firecrackers being
sold just outside the corporation lim
its.
To check such a move it was sug
gested that the trustees of the two
townships be approached with a pro
posal that they enact ordinances sim
ilar to the one now under considera
tion by the council here.
Under the present arrangement, it
was pointed out there would be noth
ing to prevent the unrestricted sale
and shooting of firecrackers just out
side the corporation boundary line.
Forecast Passage of Ordinance
Although the anti-firecracker ordi
nance reached only the preliminary
stage at Monday night’s meeting when
Tt was placed in its first reading, there
is every indication that the council
will enact the ordinance unless strong
public sentiment should develop
against the measure which apparently
is not likely.
Sparklers, colored fires, and non
explosive novelties are not banned by
the ordinance. Also the mayor may,
at his discretion, issue a permit for
the use of fireworks at a public gath
ering or exhibition.
Violations of the ordinance will
subject the prepetrator to a fine of
from $25 to $100.
Funeral Services
For Henry Matter
Funeral services for Henry Mat
ter, 59, prominent Richland town
ship farmer, were held at St. John’s
Reformed church, Wednesday after
noon with his pastor, Rev. Emil Bur
richter officiating. Interment was in
Maple Grove cemetery.
Mr. Matter died in Bluffton Com
munity hospital Monday evening
from a streptococcus infection
lowing a ten days’ illness.
fol
and
was
The son of the late Christian
Regina (Stauffer) Matter, he
born January 2, 1881, two miles
south of Bluffton on the farm which
was his home all his life.
He was a native of Richland town
ship and widely known here. For
eighteen years he was secretary of
the Richland Township Farmers Mu
tual insurance association from
which position he retired two years
ago. He was a member of the St.
John’s Reformed church.
On February 12, 1905, he was
married to Mary Waltz who survives
together with a foster-daughter, Mrs.
Helen Reynolds of Marion. Also sur
viving are two sisters Mrs. Anna
Groman of Bluffton and Mrs. Gideon
Oberly of Lafayette and a brother
Peter Matter, of Bluffton.
Traffic Hazardous to Motorists
And Pedestrians Wednes
day Morning
lichland Township Snow Plow,
Bought in 1936 Gets First
Workouts
Falling temperatures early Wed
nesday transformed Bluffton’s streets
and highways from a sea of slush
to a glare of ice making traffic haz
ardous for motorists and pedestrians
alike.
The slush Tuesday which followed
rain and snow was the worst of the
winter.
Residents of Bluffton have had
plenty of exercise in attempting to
keep walks clear of snow and ice.
Streets have been treacherous at
times, but on the whole state high
way workers and city employes have
kept the thorofares safe for motor
ists.
This winter’s heavy snow has giv
en the township plenty of opportun
ity to use the snow plow, bought in
1936 after officials found the equip
ment of that time unable to cope
with drifted roads.
Use Snow Plow
Purchase of the plow was in the
fall of 1936, but the winters of 1937,
1938 and 1939 offered no occasion
for its use.
This year’s snowfalls, however,
have justified purchase of the equip
ment, and altho the township is re
sponsible for keeping almost 80 miles
of roads clear the plow has proved
capable of the assignment.
the plow is fastened to the
the township truck. Gaso
the truck is furnished by
township, but Allen county
In use
front of
line for
Richland
commissioners pay the salary of the
operator, Bert Balmer.
Altho snow this week marked a
continuation of a true winter set
ting, the sub-zero cold wave of Jan
uary appears to have definitely abat
ed. Temperatures in more than a
week have been no lower than seven
above zero, last Friday’s recording,
and the weather since Saturday
been considerably milder.
has
C. D. Steiner To Be
Speaker At P. T. A.
“As A Man Thinks” will be the
subject of C. D. Steiner of Pandora
who will address the February meet
ing of the Bluffton Parent Teacher
association at the high school next
Tuesday night at 8 o’clock,
public is invited to hear him.
The
and
here
Mr. Steiner, educator, writer
practical farmer, is well known
and is in demand as a public speak
er.
Formerly operating an alfalfa
ranch in Idaho, he now has an 80
acre farm near Pandora and a poul
try plant for 1500 White Leghorn
layers. Besides this he was in
strumental in the development of the
Pandora Cooperative Egg association
doing a business of $100,000 an
nually.
He has also been a frequent con
tributor to farm papers and maga
zines as well as the farm page of
daily newspapers.
Couple Celebrate
Golden Wedding
More than
friends called
and Mrs. John
Lawn avenue, Sunday afternoon and
evening on the occasion of their
Golden Wedding anniversary.
200 relatives and
at the home of Mr.
Badertscher, of South
Observance of the Golden wedding
anniversary was marked with a
family dinner at the noon hour.
Thirty-five were seated at the table,
including members of the immediate
family, together with their pastor
Rev. Emil Burrichter of Emanuel’s
Reformed church and Mrs. Burrich
ter and family of this place and Mr.
and Mrs. Seabold of Bluffton, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Badertscher are
lifelong residents of this vicinity.
For many years they resided on a
farm near Bluffton from which
recently moved to town.
they
Baumgartner Is
Cemetery Clerk
A. L. Baumgartner, clerk of the
Maple Grove cemetery board, was re
appointed to that position Monday
night at the meeting of the town
council.
The appointment, recommended by
the board of cemetery trustees, was
made by Mayor W. A. Ilowe and
approved by the council. Baumgart
ner’s term will be for two years at
a salary of $50 annually. He was
also reappointed custodian of the
cemetery at a monthly salary of $70.
rHE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1940
STRONG FORAGE
CROPS MARKET
Corn Reckoned Worth More
Crib Than “on Hoof” in
Present Market
in
lay and Soys Market is Strong
Straw Commands Scarcity
Prices
With weak cattle and hog markets
on one hand and rising prices for
forage crops on the other, farmers in
the Bluffton district engaged in live
stock feeding projects this winter are
facing a difficult situation.
Notwithstanding one of the largest
yields of forage crops in recent years
harvested here last summer feed
prices which started rising the lat
ter part of the year have gone, in
some instances, to fantastic heights.
Official agriculture department re
ports last week disclosed that a
government “squeeze” on corn has
forced prices up to a point where it
is unprofitable for farmers to feed
the grain to livestock for market.
Worth More in Crib
During the past twelve months
corn prices have advanced approxi
mately tw’enty per cent while hog
prices declined thirty per cent and
corn is now reckoned as worth more
in the crib than “on the hoof’’.
Likewise the soy bean crop which
is generally estimated would bring
50 cents on the market is quoted at
nearly double that figure.
The hay market has been strong
for the past month with prices firm.
Alfalfa hay in the mow, second and
third cuttings, was sold in the Bluff
ton district during the past week at
$14 a ton. Bids of $10.50 for clover
and $8.50 for mixed and timothy hay
were reported. One dealer here,
however, quoted the market price of
red clover at $8 a ton with timothy
a shade lower.
No Straw
Straw has been practically off the
market since late last fall except at
i scarcity prices. The shortage of
straw supply is attributed largely to
an increasing industrial demand for
the product from paper box manu
facturers together with an increasing
practice of harvesting by the “com
bine” method.
The present' high^price'levels bus
resulted in many old straw stacks on
farms formerly believed of nominal
value being sold at gratifying
ures. Likewise it is reported
one farmer in Auglaize county
week sold a quantity of hay
had lain in his mow for fifty years.
fig-
Commodity Credit Corporation
loans were said to have created an
artificial corn scarcity instrumental
in forcing prices upward despite an
alltime record supply.
Ship Supplies East
High price levels for forage crops
is attributed largely to the fact that
although the yield here last year
was above average, this situation was
not prevalent in other parts of the
country. A large part of the crop
sold by farmers here is
eastern markets.
shipped to
ratio price
reverse of
The livestock and feed
levels at present are the
what has been prevalent for a num
ber of years. How long this situa
tion will continue is problematical
However a sagging
in prospect for the
current year, it is
Ohio Cooperative
service. As for hogs, the pork scar
city of the last five years has passed
into history, according to the Insti
tute of American Meat Packers.
cattle market is
first half of the
indicated by the
Crop Reporting
Visits Mennonites
In South America
Dr. Henry A. Fast, field secretary
of the General Conference of
nonites who recently returned
a trip to South America will
an illustrated lecture at the
Mennonite church, Friday night at
7:30 o’clock, it is announced by the
pastor, Rev. H. T. Unruh.
-ocal Troop Completes First
ear with Successful Record
Of Progress
nterest Indicates Second Troop
Will be Organized Here
In Near Future
National observance of Boy Scout
Week from Feb. 8 to 14 finds one
Bluffton troop ending a highly suc
cessful first year of activity and
sentiment indicating early organiza
tion of a second troop for local boys.
Bluffton’s present troop No. 56 has
just made application for its second
year’s charter after completion of a
program that has already made it
one of the most progressive troops
in the Shawnee area.
Interest manifested in the move
ment locally indicates early organi
zation of a second troop, and a
group of men representing business
Mrs. Huber died at
pital last Wednesday
ing a seven weeks’ illness.
that
last
that
Men
from
give
First
Dr. Fast spent last fall visiting
Mennonite settlements in South
America, principally in Paraguay,
Uruguay and Argentine and will
show pictures of their life and work,
in connection with his address here.
The public is invited.
Jamboree Here
Wednesday Night
The Boone County Jamboree, a
headline attraction familiar to all
radio listeners, will be staged by the
original cast in person at the high
school gymnasium this Wednesday
night at 8 o’clock. The attraction
is being brought here under auspices
of the Bluffton Legion post.
Success Of Scout Movement Here
May Bring Formation Of Second Troop
From Bluffton People in North and South
Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Hartzler ar
rived in Hartford, Conn., the latter
part of last week, where Dr. Hartz
ler is a lecturer at Hartford Theo
logical seminary.
Of their motor trip to that place
from Goshen, Indiana, Mrs. Hartz
ler writes:
“I never saw so much snow as
there was in New York state be
tween Freedonia and Cazenovia. The
roads, however, were cleared. Here
at Hartford one sees only little
patches of snow here and there.”
Chas. F. Miller who has been in
the south since last fall on an elec-
Funeral Held For
Mrs. Chester Huber
Funeral services were held for
Mrs. Chester Huber, 54, Richland
township resident, at St. John’s Re
formed church, Saturday afternoon.
Rev. Emil Burrichter, pastor of the
church officiated at the services. In
terment was made in
cemetery.
Maple Grove
Bluffton hos
night follow-
A native of Orange township, she
was born near Bluffton on February
2, 1885, the daughter of Benjamin
and Minerva (Stover) Elsea. She
was a member of the St. John’s Re
formed church and the Richland
Township Farm Woman’s club.
Surviving are her husband and
two daughters Mrs. Howard Moser
of near Bluffton and Miss Olive Hu
ber of Columbus and two sisters,
Mrs. Rosa Mowrey of Findlay and
Mrs. Leah Klett of Columbus Grove.
Joint Orchestra
Concert On Feb. 18
Bluffton and Fostoria High school
orchestras, an instrumental aggrega
tion of more than 100 pieces, will
present a joint concert Sunday after
noon, Feb. 18, in the Bluffton High
gymnasium.
Presentation of the concert by the
consolidated orchestras will repre
sent an innovation in public school
musical circles, and will join to
gether two of the best high school
musical organizations in this area.
Sidney Hauenstein and Earl Smith,
instructors in instrumental music at
the two schools, will share the
ductor’s wand.
con-
On Feb. 25, a week after the con
cert here, the same group will play
at Fostoria.
Family Night At M.
E. Church Thursday
Men of the Methodist congregation
will serve a potluck supper at
Church Family night to be observed
Thursday night at 6:30. Following
the supper a program has been ar
ranged including a duet by Dwight
and Eugene Weed, other special mu
sic and a pageant of India by the
of Rev. John Thiessen, re
missionanes from India.
family
turned
Births
The following births at the Bluff
ton hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Vilas Burry of Pan
dora, a son, Thursday.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Simon of Ada,
a daughter, Friday.
900 Pound Hog
Butchered Here
Believed Record
TV HAT is believed to be the
largest hog butchered this
winter is a 900 pound porker be
longing to Homer Zimmerly liv
ing three miles north of Bluffton
on the College road.
The hog. a 2-year old Poland
China, was so large that the
equipment of Peter Schnegg, who
does custom butchering, was
barely adequate to take care of
the huge carcass. The hog, it is
said, was not unusually fat and
could easily have been made to
weigh over half a ton.
WEATHER COMMENTS
and community leaders are now
working toward that end.
In one year of activity, Troop 56
already has three first-class scouts
and seven of second-class ranking.
Members of the troop include Nor
(Continued on page 8)
trie power line construction project I work at Princeton Theological semin
writes from Dallas, Texas: I ary, Yale university and the Univer
“Cold weather is past here. Days IS*1J Zurich.
are sunny and temperature up to I ^r‘ had the privilege
56 degrees.” I 8tudyin£ with Karl Barth, celebrat-
With The Sick
Mrs. John Kohler is seriously ill
at her home on South Lawn avenue.
Mrs. Dwi^rWtcr underwenl
a major operation at St. Rita’s hos
pital in Lima ten days ago is im
proving.
Miss Berda Gratz underwent anl
operation for appendicitis at Blufftonl
hospital, Tuesday night. Her condi-F1
tion was reported satisfactory Wed
nesday morning.
Mrs. Martha Radebaugh
critically ill at her home
Bluffton.
World Day Of Prayer
Meeting Here Friday
10:00
.. 7:30
continues!
so“*h °1
Miss Gertrude Hilty who has been I hole course for tbe Bluffton Com
a patient at the Bluffton hospital for I niunjjy jbjs year, was effected Mon
several months is improving. I day njght at
Kenneth Hilty who sustained ^Rlgchool.
injuries in an automobile-motorcycle I Rajph A.
collision east of Bluffton last sum-1 presjdent of
mer expects to enter the hospital I Romey serving as secretary-treas
here for treatments. I urer
Mrs. Mary 1’olet who has been al Members of the executive com
patient at Bluffton hospital has re-1 mittee are Dr. B. W. Travis, chair
turned to her home. man. Russen a. Lantz and Dr. Evan
Church women of Bluffton and
vicinity will observe the World Day« Will rj
of Prayer Friday afternoon at theI
Methodist church at 2:30 o’clock. I
ive and
Trade
Good
NUMBER 41
BIBLE LECTURE
WEEK TO OPEN
Annual Series Will Continue
From Sunday Thru Friday
Of This Week
Dr. Calvert Ellis, Noted Biblical
Authority, to Appear Under
College’s Auspices
Opening Bluffton college’s annual
series of Bible Lectures, Dr. Calvert
N. Ellis, professor of Biblical litera
ture at Juniata college, Huntingdon,
Pa., will make three lecture appear
ances here next Sunday.
Meetings will be held from Sunday
thru Friday in presentation of the se
ries which in past years has brought
to Bluffton some of the outstanding
Biblical authorities of the country.
Lectures will be given twice daily,
with the exception of Sunday when
an afternoon talk by Dr. Ellis also is
scheduled.
Two Lectures Daily
Each morning, beginning Monday,
the visiting lecturer will give address
es in the college chapel at 10 a. m.
Evening lectures will be in the First
Mennonite church at 7:30 p. m.
Dr. Ellis is a well known lecturer
and Christian leader. He has taken
I ed German theological leader.
I In connection with Bible Lecture
C. C. Amstutz, former Bluffton I week, the annual Mennonite Ministers*
resident, now living at Leesburg, I conference will be held on the Bluffton
Florida, writes: I campus, Wednesday and Thursday,
“Average temeperature of the past|Rev- Alva J. McLain, president of
month was the coldest January in I Grace Theological seminary, at Win
Florida for sixty-four years. The I ona Lake, Ind., will speak to those at
lowest reading in this vicinity was I tending.
twenty-four degrees. Much of the I Subjects Listed
orange crop is frozen but growers I Subjects for the Bible lectures to
believe the trees can be saved.” I be presented by Dr. Ellis are as fol
_____________________________________I lows:
10:00
.. 3:00
Mrs. M. M. Bogart of South Main! ^-30
street received a broken bone in ther
right wrist as the result of a fall
on an ice covered sidewalk last Wed
nesday night.
Sunday, February 11
a. m.—The Search for Security
p. m.—A Sensitive Spirit
p. m.—The Prophetic Vision
10:00
7:30
Monday, February 12
a. m.—The Purpose of College
p. m.—The Biblical Church
Tuesday, February 13
a. m.—One Who Knows
10:00
7:30 p. m.—The Church Yesterday
Wednesday, February 14
a. m.—One Who Grows
p. m.—The Church Today
10:00
7:30
Thursday, February 15
a. m.—One Who Shares
p. m.—The Church Tomorrow
Friday, February 16
a. m.—One Who Triumphs
p. m.—The Lord of Life
Golf Club Names
Mrs. Noah Augsburger
been ill at the home of her son, IL I
E. Augsburger of North Lawn ave-l Organization of the Bluffton Golf
nue is improving. I c|ubi which plans to obtain a nine-
who has I
Officers For Year
in the high
a meeting
Patterson
the club,
was named
with E. C.
Basinger. On the membership com
mittee are: R. L. Triplett, chair
man Harry Bogart, Wm. Edwards,
Edgar Chamberlain and Don Pat
terson.
Clipper Will it Oil OF
Each year the first Friday in Lent I ______
is marked by this union prayer I Honoring its past and present
service held throughout the world. I masters, Richland Grange w*ill hold a
Members of the cooperating I COVered dish supper at its regular
churches will have a part in the I meeting next Tuesday* night at 6:30
program which is being prepared by o»clock at the Grange hall,
women leaders of the different mis
sionary
meeting.
dent of the Methodist women’s so
ciety will be in charge of the meet
ing. Women of all churches are
urged to attend.
Tn Npw OPnfinnQ I occupying their newly completed
±11 X’lcn ±jvvl/ivii3 I home on Grove street, moving from
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Painter and I tbe Ronand Stratton apartments on
family who occupy the Faze farm I South Main street the latter part of
near Rockport expect to move this! |as^. week
spring to the D. S. Early farm near I The Stratton apartments vacated
Beaverdam. I by Triplett family will be oc-
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bixel and’
family residing west of Bluffton have
left for Texas for the benefit of Mr.
Bixel’s health.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Klickman andl cupied by Coach and Mrs Dwight
family will move from the I. R-1 Diller. Mrs. Diller is convalescing
Harris farm north of Bluffton to I gt Rita’s hospital, Lima, follow
Pandora. I jng a major operation ten days ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Amstutz andl treasurer’s office will be at the Citi
daughters will move from the Amos I zens bank in Bluffton Tuesday and
Thut farm to the Henry Diller heirs I Wednesday, Feb. 20 and 21 to col
farm the first of next month. I lect real estate taxes.
Masters Of Grange
An evening program of games and
societies sponsoring the I contests has been planned with prizes
Mrs. Edith Mann, presi-|^0 awarded to winners.
In New Home
Norman Triplett and family are
Collect Taxes Here
A deputy from the Allen county