An Icon viewer poses a question concerning a church scripture verse sign. Viewers with further thoughts may respond at [email protected].

The viewer writes:

For almost 75 years, the original Swiss Mennonite church and the Ebenezer Mennonite and the St. John Mennonite churches had a large sign with the following verse written in German in their sanctuaries: Romans 12:12.

Be joyful in hope; patient in affliction; faithful in prayer.

Apparently, the signs were removed either through a 1920’s-era expansion project or the growing concern leading up to World War I over German affiliation.

I understand that Herman Hilty constructed plaques, which are now posted in the two churches with this verse.

Does anyone in the community have more information on this sign? 

Where was it hung, in the front of the churches or on the side?  How was it crafted?  It was, of course, in German. Was it taken down through fear of the German influence in World War I? Was there discussion or was it just taken down? Had times changed enough to just remove the German language from the churches?

Initial answer:

The Icon posed this question to several viewers including Kaye Phillips who collects Bible verse art on cards, pictures and books.

She tells the Icon that she is aware of one story in the World War I era when Mennonite church members were told to destroy all of the German Bibles. Instead they hid the Bibles.

Charles Niswander provided a photo of the new version of the sign in St. John Mennonite Church and offers this thought:

“I would suggest this verse was stenciled or painted on the north wall of the church. It could have been inscribed on a board, which would have been hung on the wall. If this was true it should have survived. The wall was removed in 1925 when the congregation enlarged the church to the north, which provided for a choir loft."