Reference Room - Three
German Hymns Heard Again
In a series of several telephone conversations with Terry Batt, from Overland Park, Kansas, I have learned about an exciting venture being initiated by Terry during the last several months. He introduced a German hymn sing in his community which has apparently caught on like a prairie grass fire. I was also impressed with this young man's ability and excitement for the history and culture of the German-Russian people. Terry has allowed me to interview him and has also agreed to submit the following information to me, which I believe would be of great interest to all our German-Russian folks everywhere. Although he is untrained as a musician, Terry is nevertheless instrumental in music and has proceeded to put together some sing-a-long concerts for German songs. These were produced in Kansas. Together with Terry, we have discussed the prospects of producing some audio and video tapes of these concerts. I expect to report more on this in the near future. Here now is the report that Terry was kind enough to submit to me for inclussion in our website and our magazine.
St. John's Church in Russell, Kansas has been the site for two hymn singing gatherings in the past several months. Terry A. Batt of Overland Park, Kansas organized the gatherings to honor the local heritage of Germans from Russia.
Russell, Kansas was one of the original destinations of immigrants from the Volga River Region in Russia. In 1876, a large group from the village of Kratzke immigrated to New York, then by train to Indiana. There, they boarded a different train to Kansas City, Missouri. After remaining there for several weeks and sending scouts ahead on the Union Pacific Railroad, they boarded their last train and arrived in Russell Kansas in October, 1876. They stayed in Russell, while the men of the group traveled by horseback and wagons to a small, hilly area south of the Smoky Hill River, approximately six miles due south of Russell. The men of the group constructed dug outs in the sides of the hills. At that time, Russell had only been incorporated five years, and was little more than an outpost between Fort Fletcher to the southwest, Fort Hays to the west, and Salina to the east. Russell had been known as Fossil Station, and included a general store and a Methodist church.
The settlers eventually moved into their dug out homes, and spent that first harsh winter there along the banks of the Smoky Hill River. Their new settlement was now called Benderville, and later changed to Bender Hill. This name was derived from the surname, "Bender," who had a large contingent in the first group of colonists. In the spring of the following year, April, 1877, another group migrated to the same area. This group consisted of settlers of Kratzke and of Eckheim Russia. By October, 1877, the group erected the first church of sod and mortar construction. Within another year, they were proud to construct a modest, stone church with stone hewn of rock they discovered along the banks of Landon Creek and the Smoky River hills the very hills that gave them shelter their first winter in Kansas. They named the parish „Dreieinigkeits Kirche,‰ or Trinity Church. The faith was Lutheran in the catholic tradition. The church was not very big, and was long and narrow. The pews were made of roughly made planks and boards. They secured a pump organ from a catalog order company, and the first service was held in the spring of 1878. This building lasted until 1927, when a new building was erected. The new building was red brick, boasted a tall white spire with brass bells, and hand-carved white altars from Germany. The main altar was the pedestal for a richly decorated statue of the Sacred Heart of Christ. New oak pews seated approximately three hundred
parishioners. This church was lost to a fire in the early morning hours of March 27, 1950. A gas leak ignited a furnace spark, and the church was totally destroyed. The third building was dedicated in October 1950. The parish finally closed due to a lack of membership in August, 1980.
More settlers continued to arrive around the Russell area. The Milberger community was founded in 1884, and they built and dedicated their first parish in 1985. The parish split in the early 1890‚s due to increased population. Soon after, many new parishes began forming. Most churches adopted the names of the families who donated land for the parish. Parishes around the Bender Hill and Milberger areas, and in addition to those
parishes, were: the Schneider Church (Lutheran) , the Michaelis Church (Lutheran), the Bitter Church (Lutheran), Schoenfeld Church (Reformed), St. Paul‚s Church (Lutheran), Emmaus Church (Lutheran), and St. John‚s Church in Russell. At the same time, many Catholic parishes and villages were being formed approximately ten miles west in Ellis County. The villages of Herzog (St. Fidelis), Catherine (St. Catherine's), Pfeiffer (Holy Cross), Liebenthal (St. Joseph's), Munjor (St. Francis), Walker (St. Ann's), Lorretto (St. Mary's), Severin (St. Severin's), and Schoenchen (St. Anthony‚s) all became very important Volga German villages and parishes.
As time passed, many young people began settling elsewhere. "Wanderlust" especially took ahold after WW II, and most villages suffered dwindling populations. The Schneider, Bitter, Emmaus, and Michael's churches all closed before 1950. The Schoenfeld church closed in the mid-fifties. The two Milberger churches reunited after 80 years in 1969. Bender Hill's Trinity closed in 1980. The Catholic villages of Lorreto, Severin, Pfeiffer, and Liebenthal no longer have their own parishes. Sadly, the trend continues.
With the closing of a large number of parishes in both the Lutheran and Catholic faiths, some traditions have sadly been lost. The "Deutsches Gottesdienst" (or German Church Service) is a thing of the past. There are no longer German-speaking clergy in any of the above named towns or villages. Those members of the clergy who can still speak and understand the Mother Tongue are too old to conduct Mass any longer.
In September, 1999, Terry Batt, a 33-year old Volga German descendent from Overland Park, Kansas, contacted Pastor Michael Fibranz of the St. John's Church in Russell, Kansas. Terry pitched the idea of having a German Hymn sing to not only recreate the old services of years ago, but to continue the traditions of his forefathers. Pastor Fibranz was more than willing and accommodating, the first service was set. On October 31, 1999, approximately 300 people attended the service at St. John‚s Church. Persons traveled for more than 200 miles to hear and sing to the old German hymns. Terry played hymns from the old "Volgagesangbuch" and "Selahgesangbuch". These were the missals used by the Volga German parishes.
There was such a great response to the gathering, that many requested another service at Christmas. On Sunday, December 26, 1999, the church was again full with those who enjoyed and sang the old Christmas carols. Another service has been tentatively planned for Spring, and the Christmas service will now hopefully be an annual tradition.
Terry is the Director of Trade Finance for UtiliCorp United, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born in Russell, Kansas and raised on a farm ten miles south of Russell. His parents are Garry and Ellen (nee Boxberger) Batt. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas and has been active in the local chapters of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia for over 15 years. Batt's descendents on both sides of his family are Volga Germans coming from the villages of Dietel, Kratzke, and Eckheim. He never received formal music training, nor does he read musical notes. He has played the organ for several Lutheran and Catholic parishes in Russell, Ellis, and Sedgwick counties in Kansas for many years. He is committed to keeping the traditions of the Volga Germans alive and teaching them to the younger generations and to posterity.
 News Bulletin |
Send E-Mail to: marcon@marcon2000.comCopyright © 2004 Reuben A. Bauer. All Rights Reserved