The Life of “Father Tadje” Philipp Ernst August

Transcription

The Life of “Father Tadje”
Philipp Ernst August Tadje
Printed with support of descendants of the
Philipp Ernst August Tadje Family
Now I say unto thee: go and remember the trials of thy fathers in
this land, and in the land of Germany and remember how great
things He has done for them; for they were persecuted and
downtrodden, but they were faithful and true in keeping His
commandments and in proclaiming His gospel and He has
delivered them and has made them a mighty people in the tops of
the mountains.
Adapted from Mosiah 27:16
“He could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which
was in him. For he did cry from the morning, even until the going
down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto
repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by
faith all things are fulfilled.”
Ether 12:1-2
“those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet
unto them”
D&C 42:46
ii
Philipp Ernst August Tadje
Prepared and printed by
Steven F. Sonntag
4814 Marabow Circle
Holladay, Utah 84117
(801) 278-5948
iii
Corrections
to
The Life of Father Tadje - Philipp Ernst August Tadje
Page ix
The acknowledgment beginning “Kathy Mickelson” 2/3 down the page should
read:
Kathy Mickelson and the Frei Family - Kathy obtained the photographs of Elder
Edward Frei and his companions from a grandson of Elder Frei - Robert Frei of
Santa Clara, Utah.
Page xiii
The date beginning 1886 should read
1886 Sep 05
Page 8
Birth of son, Frederick Tadje
The first paragraph should begin:
On the 24th of May 1879 at the age of twenty, ...
Page 33
The paragraph beginning “The funeral was held” should read:
The funeral was held on the 10th of November in the Burton Ward chapel and was
lead by the bishopric ... In addition to her two sons, Grandmother Tadje left
behind three granddaughters - Lina Walz of Rexburg, Julia Jenkins of Salt Lake
City - wife of her friend Harrison F. Jenkins, and Emma Wightman of Globe
Arizona, 22 granchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. The Lord bless all those
who sorrow.
Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Tribute to Elder Edward R. Frei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi
Father Tadje Time Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Life in the Village of Barsinghausen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Birth and Babyhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
School Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Confirmation into the Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Young Manhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
5
6
7
7
8
Conversion of August Tadje to the LDS Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Conversion of Philipp Tadje to the LDS Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Elder Edward Frei's Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction by Fred Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Elder Frei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Impressions by Fred Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
14
14
14
19
After Baptism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Church Service in Barsinghausen and Hannover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finding a Place to Hold Church Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paying Train Fares of the Missionaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prayer Changes Work Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Word of Wisdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Qualities of Father Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Julia and Fred Leave for America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting Money for the Saints to go to America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Departure of Philipp and Family for America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
20
20
20
23
24
26
26
27
28
29
Life in America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Testimony on Tithing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fred and Philipp August Serve Missions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philipp’s Mother Juliana Schrader Tadje Dies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philipp’s First Mission to Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Description of a Prophecy Fulfilled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visit to Barsinghausen in 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Persecution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Influenza Epidemic 1918-1919 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Death of Philipp’s Brother August Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Death of Philipp’s Wife Karoline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sight Restored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
30
32
33
33
34
35
37
37
37
38
39
41
Service in the Swiss-German Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Cologne Prophecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
v
Contents
Talk given by Father Tadje in Dresden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A Testimony of Paying Tithing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trust in the Lord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Another Prayer is Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
42
44
45
46
The Death of Father Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letter Written the Day After Philipp’s Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letter Written a Week After Philipp’s Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tributes from Church Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Father” Philipp Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Elder Philipp Tadje has Died in the Mission Field . . . . . . . . .
Father Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Philipp Tadje Obituary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
49
56
58
58
58
58
61
A Final Tribute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Appendix: German Language Tributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letter Written a Day After Philipp’s Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letter Written a Week After Philipp’s Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
«Vater» Philipp Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ältester Philipp Tadje im Missionsfeld † . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vater Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wie Vater Tadje starb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Erinnerung an Vater Tadje . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ein Zeugnis über das Zehntenzahlen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Der Herr ist zuverlässig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Noch eine Gebetserhörung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
vi
63
63
66
67
67
68
69
70
70
71
72
Preface
As a young man I read a carbon copy of Incidents in the Life of Philipp Tadje, Sr.
Recently as I reread this history on Philipp’s remarkable life, I felt a more
complete version should be made available to family members.
The original was taken from letters, talks, and experiences recorded by Philipp’s
son and daughter in-law Frederick J. and Eliza W. Tadje. Eliza, with the
assistance of her stake missionary companion, Clarissa Raddon, typed and
arranged these experiences. At a later time Eliza made some additions titled
Some Outstanding Characteristics of Philipp Tadje Sr.
I found four distinct versions of Incidents in the Life Philipp Tadje Sr. These
documents have been carefully compared and the most complete content of the
four are combined into this document. In addition, all German phrases are
translated into English. The writings of Fred or Eliza Tadje from the above
documents are marked (EWT) in this history to identify their origins. I have
taken the liberty to make minor modifications to these sections to improve
readability, correct punctuation, and have arranged the experiences in
chronological order. Those sections that appear to be commentary by Clarissa
Raddon are marked as such.
Additional information has come to light as well. Four articles were published
in 1930 and 1931 following the death of Philipp in the German magazine Der
Stern an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
One of these articles includes excerpts of a talk Philipp gave in Dresden in 1927.
Even though it duplicates some information presented previously, it is included
in its entirety, so that each of us can experience Philipp’s testimony in his own
words as we read this talk. For those who understand German, the original
German version is included in the Appendix as Erinnerung an Vater Tadje.
Obituaries of family members that died during Philipp’s life are also included.
Fred and Eliza Tadje, who were presiding over the Swiss-German mission at the
time of Philipp’s death, wrote two beautiful letters to Fred’s brother Philipp
August Tadje detailing the events of Philipp’s death and paying a loving tribute
to him. I have included these precious accounts as well.
Philipp Tadje was much loved by the people of Germany. They affectionately
gave him the title of “Father Tadje” or in the German Language “Vater Tadje”.
You should note that there are three generations of Philipp Tadje’s, Father
Philipp Ernst August Tadje, his son Philipp August Tadje, and grandson Philipp
Frederick Tadje. Unless otherwise noted any reference to Philipp Tadje refers
to Father Philipp Tadje.
Many of the most notable events of Philipp’s life relate to his work as a
missionary. On the 17th of July 1904 Philipp and Karoline received their
patriarchal blessings. Among other things, Philipp was promised “and if thou
desires thou shall yet stand among the nations of the earth to preach the gospel
of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Priesthood shall be with thee and thou
shall yet do much good upon the earth.” To Karoline was promised “Lift up thy
head dear sister, and rejoice for thy best days are before thee, joy shall fill thy
heart for thou shall dream dreams and see visions and behold the glory that is
in store for the faithful daughters of Zion.” On March 30th 1906, Philipp was
further promised “thou shall in due time return, to thy native land, a messenger
vii
Preface
of glad tidings to those in darkness among whom thou shalt find kindred, and
friends of thy youth ... thy guardian angel will whisper in thine ear (and) give
thee strength in time of trial and warn thee of events to come (and) give thee
power over the destroyer that thou shalt lay hands upon the sick, rebuke evil
influences ... and with thy posterity thy name shall be handed down in
honorable remembrance as a father in Israel.” To Karoline he promised
“Therefore be of good cheer, be buoyant in spirit and look always on the bright
side, for the adversary will strive to place barriers in thy way to cause if possible
that you look on the dark side or become despondent which will be a trick of the
adversary ... Health and peace shall abide in thy dwelling, thy children shall
grow up around thee (and) be a comfort unto thee, and bear thy name in
honorable remembrance.”
We have included pictures, certificates, and other information, to help us all
better relate to Philipp and his generation. May the memory of his life inspire
each one of us.
Steven F. Sonntag, July 2000.
viii
Acknowledgments
Frederick J. Tadje - The son of Philipp Tadje. He is commonly referred to in this
history as simply Fred. Much of the original written history of Philipp
was related by Fred or his wife Eliza.
Eliza Walz Tadje - The wife of Frederick J. Tadje. Eliza and Clarissa Raddon
put the original history together.
Clarissa Raddon - A dear and loyal friend and Stake Missionary companion of
Eliza W. Tadje. She assembled and typed the original account of stories,
and testimonies.
June Johnson - The sister of Emma Tadje, wife of Philipp F. Tadje. She typed
the Clarissa Raddon document into the computer.
Ruth Sonntag Mickelson - Ruth supplied the photograph of Juliane Schader
Tadje, mother of Philipp Tadje, as well as personal documents and
certificates of Philipp Tadje.
Alan Mickelson - Alan designed the front cover of this history.
Kay Sonntag Wagstaff - Kay supplied the earlist known version of the Incidents
in the Life of Philipp Tadje Sr. history.
Lawrence Sonntag - Larry provided the double spaced copy of the history
Incidents in the Life of Philipp Tadje Sr. in common circulation among the
family.
James Lawrence Sonntag - James located and translated the articles from the
German church magazine Der Stern that were printed following the death
of Philipp Tadje.
Jeanne Sonntag English - Jeanne supplied pictures of Philipp and Karoline
Tadje and the electronic copy of the Incidents in the Life of Philipp Tadje
Sr. typed by June Johnson.
Kathy Mickelson and the FreiFamily - Kathy obtained the photographs of Elder
Edward Frei and his companions from a son of Elder Frei - Robert Frei.
Fred W. Tadje - Fred supplied a photograph of his parents Frederick J. and
Eliza Walz Tadje.
Cecile Linford - Cecile provided the first two pages of the German letter written
by Fred & Eliza Tadje at the death of Philipp, as well as the certificates
associated with his death.
Tom Pixton - Tom provided the last two pages in German as well as the English
language translation of the letter written by Fred & Eliza Tadje at the
death of Philipp; also copies of pages from the history of the church in
Hannover that contained the German version of obituaries of August
Tadje and Juliana Schrader Tadje.
ix
Acknowledgments
History of Barsinghausen - The history and customs of Barsinghausen were
taken from the following books:
Gudrun Wildhagen and Wilhelm Stegen, Barsinghäuser Lesebuch
‘93 (Philipp Aug. Weinaug, Barsinghausen, 1993)
Werner Krause, Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der Stadt
Barsinghausen (Philipp Aug. Weinaug, Barsinghausen, Dec. 1984)
Horst Krenzel, Erinnerungen an den Steinkohle-Bergbau im
Deistergebirge (Geiger-Verlag, Horb am Neckar, 1996, ISBN 389570-195-5)
Hans-Helmut Marquardt, Barsinghausen (Gerhard Stalling AG,
1972)
x
Tribute to Elder Edward R. Frei
In 1895, Philipp and Karoline Tadje lived in a small German
village, population 5000, named Barsinghausen. There was
little to distinguish them from their neighbors. This all
changed when Philipp’s brother August introduced a humble
Mormon Elder, Edward R. Frei, to them. They embraced the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and their lives changed to something
remarkable. How thankful we are for this dedicated
missionary Elder Frei and his companions. In describing the
conversion of August Tadje, Elder Frei relates:
Elder Frei
I was left alone in a strange city, without a friend or Saint within
one hundred miles. It was at this time that I had my greatest
struggle. I freely admit that I was homesick and discouraged. I had
one friend, however, and that was my Heavenly Father. I appealed
to Him in humble prayer. It was at this time that I was lead to a
man and a young lad who were working in a grove of timber. They
were sawing a large log in two with a double hand saw. The boy
was not able to take his part of the job so I took off my coat and
took his end of the saw and helped finish the job. I also helped to
load the log on their wagon. The man noticed that my accent was
not true German and asked me where I was from. I told him that
I was an American. He became very much interested in me and
asked me what I was doing in Germany. I told him I was a
missionary. That made him more curious and he began asking
questions. The result was that he became the first member of the
Mormon Church in that part of Germany. Thus, by a coincidence,
the foundation was laid for the opening of a great field, where
hundreds of people joined the church. They, their children, and
even their grandchildren refer back to this incident in the woods
where a humble elder was lead by the inspiration of our Heavenly
Father. Those who are in a position to know tell me that there are
at present (January 1944) some sixteen hundred people who have
joined the church from that district. I do not take the honor for
this. I was only a humble elder playing a small part in the work of
our Heavenly Father and to Him is all the honor given.
Thank you Elder Frei!
xi
xii
Father Tadje Time Line
(All events pertain to Father Tadje unless otherwise indicated)
1854 Mar 05
Marriage of Parents, George August Philipp Tadje & Juliane
Christiane Charlotte Schrader
1858 Nov 19
Birth in Barsinghausen near Hannover, Germany
1859 Feb 04
Death of Father, George August Philipp Tadje
1859 Aug 20
Birth of his future wife, Karoline Sophie Fredericke Westphal,
in Barsinghausen.
1855
School in Barsinghausen begins
1872
Confirmation in the Lutheran Church
Work begins in the mining industry
1879 May 24
Marriage of Philipp Tadje & Karoline Westphal
1882 May 13
Birth of daughter, Julia Wilhelmine Tadje
1883 Aug 04
Civil marriage of Philipp Tadje & Karoline Westphal
1886 Sep 01
Birth of son, Frederick J. Tadje
1889 Aug 08
Birth of daughter, Lina Emma Tadje
1890 Sep 24
Birth of son, Philipp August Tadje
1894 Nov 19
Baptism of brother, August Tadje, into the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
1895 Jun 29
Baptism of Philipp into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints
Jun 30
Baptism of mother, Juliana Schrader Tadje
1896 Jun
Baptism of wife, Karoline
1897 Aug 04
Baptism of the wife of Philipp’s brother August, Anna (Hanna
Sophie Leifferman Tadje)
1898 Aug
Emigration of the August Tadje family to America
Philipp presides in Hannover & Barsinghausen.
1902 May 19
Birth of son Arnold Hugo Tadje
Emigration of daughter, Julia Tadje, to America
1903 Dec 17
Birth of son, Walter Philipp Tadje
xiii
Apr
1904 May
Emigration of son, Frederick Tadje, to America
Emigration of Philipp, Eliza, and remaining four children to
America
Aug 16
Marriage of daughter, Julia Tadje, to Frank Yurka
Aug 23
Death of son, Walter Philipp Tadje age 8 months
1905 Feb 17
Endowment & Sealing of daughter, Julia Tadje, & Frank
Yurka
Feb 24
Endowment of Philipp & Karoline Tadje
Feb 24
Sealing of the Philipp & Karoline Family in the Salt Lake
Temple
1906 Jun 27
Endowment of son, Frederick Tadje
Mission of son, Frederick Tadje to Holland
1909 Jan 16
Death of son, Arnold Hugo Tadje, age 6 years
Return of son, Fred Tadje, from mission in Holland
Sep 20
1911 Apr 20
American Citizenship granted to Philipp
Endowment & Marriage of daughter, Lina Tadje, to Richard
Peter Sonntag
Mission to Germany of brother, August Tadje
May 03
Endowment of son, Philipp August Tadje
Mission of son, Philipp August Tadje, to Germany
1913
Return of brother, August Tadje, from mission in Germany
Nov 06
Death of mother, Juliane Schrader Tadje, in Burton, Idaho
Dec
Return of son, Philipp August Tadje, from mission in Holland
1914 Apr
First Mission of Philipp to Germany
Jun 24
Marriage of son, Philipp August Tadje, to Meta Buchholz
Aug
Invasion of Belgium by Germany
Sep 15
Transfer of Philipp from Germany to Milwaukee Mission
Return of Philipp from Mission in Milwaukee
xiv
1916 Sep 14
Marriage of son, Frederick Tadje, & Eliza Sophia Walz
1918
Flu Epidemic - Philipp gave a fluent blessing in English
1922 Apr 22
Death of brother, August Tadje, in Salt Lake City
1925 Feb 10
Death of wife, Karoline Westphal Tadje
1926 Apr 16
Mission to the German-Austrian Mission
1928 May 28
End of Mission to the German-Austrian Mission
1928 June
Mission service in the Swiss-German Mission
1930 Jan 22
Death in Biel, Switzerland
Feb 16
Burial in the Salt Lake City Cemetery
xv
xvi
Introduction
The Life of “Father Tadje” is a series of experiences about Father Tadje. Several
people participate in its telling, each one contributing to the remarkable canvas
of his life. These culminate as Philipp himself stands before us. We hear him tell
in his own words some of the things we have already read - short versions of
familiar stories – reviewed to help us learn important truths, and capped by his
stirring testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The telling continues as friends and loved ones review his impact on their lives
and express feelings for one so dearly loved. It is my hope that the telling will
continue in your lives as you remember and ponder The Life of “Father Tadje.”
The Villiages Surrounding the Deister
Life in the Village of Barsinghausen
How dear to the hearts of the Tadje family should be the little town of
Barsinghausen, near Hannover, Germany, birthplace of Philipp Tadje, and
scene of experiences, testimonies and memories not common to most families.
Although a coal mining town, Barsinghausen holds much scenic beauty. It is
Page 1 of 73
located at the foot of a lovely mountain forest (Deister) which extends from the
little town of Springe in the east, a hunting ground for Royalty, to the health spa
Bad Nenndorf on the west. For a lovely description of Barsinghausen we quote
from Fred Tadje:
Father was born into a display of nature such as few places offer,
for in the vicinity of Barsinghausen, naked nature moves from
season to season in full majesty of beauty. The people of the
surrounding cities visit this forest in the summer by the
thousands. During this season of the year, it is a virtual paradise
and even in the winter it is enchanting.
(EWT)
So begins the Eliza W. Tadje history of Philipp Tadje.
The German village of Barsinghausen has a very long history. A record from the
year 892 AD refers to the nearby village of Kirchdorf. Barsinghausen is first
mentioned by the name of Berkingehusen three hundred years later in 1180 AD.
Barsinghausen is located in a
beautiful setting on the north side of
a hill called Deister (pronounced
dyster). The Deister rises from the
flat farmlands that surround it at
200 ft above sea level to a forested
height of about 1100 ft. at its
highest point. The dense forest
covering the hill grows even today
right up to the southern edge of
Barsinghausen. The Deister is about
12 miles long and is generally about
Barsinghausen Stone Quarry
2 miles wide. Fifteen miles to the
north-east of Barsinghausen is the metropolis of Hannover, Germany.
The villagers in Barsinghausen spoke a dialect of German called “low German”
or Plattdeutsch.
At one time stone quarries dug into the Deister
provided the principal industry in the town. By the end
of the 16th century every third male living in the village
was employed in the stone quarries. The farmers living
nearby were employed hauling and transporting the
stone. As the quarries became depleted near the end of
the 19th century that industry declined. The last
remaining stone mason closed shop in the 1950's.
As Germany became more industrialized in the
beginning of the 19th century, coal fed its ever
increasing energy needs. Mining the coal from tunnels
dug into the Deister became the dominate industry, and
by the turn of the 20th century the population of the
village had quadrupled. The Deister section of the
Coal Miner
Page 2 of 73
railroad that opened in 1872, and in 1899 followed by a tram line to Hannover
encouraged this growth. Mining ended in 1957 when the last remaining mine
closed.
The institution of the church played a big part of life in Barsinghausen. The
Catholic cloister founded in 1189 AD controlled 22 nearby villages and 3000
acres of land, with tithe rights on an additional 12 villages. The cloister church
of Barsinghausen was dedicated to Saint Mary and supported and protected the
village that grew up around it. In 1543 as the reformation swept through
northern Germany the cloister became a Lutheran convent. The church and
village government were tightly coupled. In the 1800's the church had
responsibility for schooling the youth of Barsinghausen. Here Philipp received
his education.
The midwife was the most expert helper at the birth of a child in
Barsinghausen. With her help all the children of the village were brought into
this world. She cared for the mother and child during and after pregnancy.
Because of the high mortality rate of newborns, the midwife usually took the
child to the church to be christened soon after the birth of the child.
Following an old custom, the new child was usually given the surname of the
godparents in addition to its own Christian name. It was often the case that the
name of the father or grandfather, mother or grandmother was given to the first
son or daughter born to the family. In Barsinghausen, some names were quite
popular, such as George (Schorse), Ernst-August, Wilhelm, Frederich, and
Heinrich for the boys; and Luise, Marie, Friederike, and Wilhelmine for the
girls.
A big step in a child’s life was the first day of school. Usually, the parents had
no time to take to child to school on the first day, so that duty was left to the
older brothers or sisters. The children viewed this day with great anticipation.
The parents often viewed school as a help in training their children. Here the
child would learn submission to authority. The children were often threatened
with the words “You just wait, when you go to school,” or “The teacher will
knock some sense into you!” Usually during the winter months, a Sunday
School was held where students learned religious subject matter, typically
reading, writing, and memorization of songs from the hymn book and passages
from the catechism.
Students typically attended school until about the age of 14 at which time they
received confirmation into the Lutheran church. This was a high point in a
young persons life and was attended by ritual and celebration. Confirmation
was usually held eight days before Easter on Palm Sunday. It began with the
confirmation examination, which was preceded by a two year preparation.
Usually, the children were taken to Ronnenberg (about half way to Hannover)
to be examined there by the Superintendent. The friends of the children waited
expectantly, and when they newly examined finally returned, the friends shared
with them bonbons and other sweets. Even to this day, Palm Sunday is called
in Barsinghausen bonbon day. As the children walked in solemn procession
from the vicarage to the church, the street was strewn with green, typically pine
boughs cut into small pieces. The girls wore wreaths of rosemary, beech, or
myrtle in their hair, and the boys wore on their lapel a twig of beech or myrtle.
Page 3 of 73
Following the confirmation festivities, the young people began work or
apprenticeship in their future field of labor. The girls, as a rule, worked in a
household typically at a neighboring a farm house. The most sought after
positions were in Hannover, to work in a more modern house, but the girl had
to bring money to pay for lodgings and necessities. Others learned sewing,
tailoring, and cleaning. The boys usually learned one of the trades, others with
less means worked on the farms or in the mines.
Marriage was typically church function in Barsinghausen. It was only in the
year 1877 that civil marriage became obligatory in Germany. On the eve of the
wedding a type of wedding shower called
“Polterabend” was celebrated where old
crockery was smashed to bring good luck
to the wedding couple. The noise would
keep evil spirits far away from the
wedding couple. Glass could not be
smashed, as it would bring bad luck.
The wedding began in the morning with
a procession to the church which was
usually blocked by the children of the
village who stretched a string across the
way. The couple had to buy their way
Deister Forest
clear and threw coins to the throng of
children. This custom continues today in Barsinghausen.
Following the marriage when the couple returned home, it was custom to give
them bread and salt. They then together had to saw through a thick log, or the
groom had to carry the bride over the threshold of the house.
When someone in the village died, the family requested the services of the
“Totenfrau,” a woman who assisted in preparing the dead. She washed and
dressed the body. She notified the neighbors of the death and gave the date for
the burial. The coffin maker measured the body and made a coffin. The body was
laid in state in the house of mourning. Mirrors were draped and the clocks in
the house were stopped. On the day of death or at noon the following day, the
death bell was sounded so everyone in the village knew someone had died.
The family made wreaths by weaving willow branches together and adding pine,
holly, or other green branches. Into this wreath they wove seasonal or paper
flowers.
The coffin remained in house of mourning until the time of burial. The pastor
gave the discourse for the dead on the day following the death. On the evening
before the burial neighbors, friends, and relatives came to view the body one
last time, after which the coffin was closed. On the day of burial, the pastor
came to the house of mourning and gave his discourse of mourning, after which
the coffin was placed in a hearse pulled by two black horses. The pastor walked
behind the hearse followed by close relatives and friends. Often the Miner’s
band would accompany the funeral procession. After the burial close relatives
met in the house of mourning for refreshments.
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During the year following the death the immediate family observed several
restrictions and obligations. The marriage partner wore black. Dancing and
other amusements were avoided. No marriage was held during this time, or at
least not with any celebration. Typically a grave marker was erected and was
made from Deister sandstone.
When Philipp bas baptized by Elder Frei, Barsinghausen had a population of
about 5000. In 1967, Barsinghausen was elevated to the status of “city” and
currently has a population of 14,000. If you include the
seventeen neighboring villages that belong to the
municipality, the population totals 36,000. The city coat
of arms with colors of Black (coal), Gold (sand stone), and
Green (the Cloister in the forest) shows a jumping stag,
a mill stone, and crossed stone mason’s hammers.
In this village Philipp Tadje was born, educated, grew to
manhood, married, and began his family. Along with
many others he worked in the mines. His father and
grandfather were stone masons. Karoline’s father worked
in the mines. The Tadje children played in the forests of
Deister and traversed those paths as they went to and
from school.
Barsinghausen
Coat of Arms
Birth and Babyhood
Ernst August Philipp Tadje was born at 5 a.m on Friday the 19th of November
1858 in Barsinghausen, Germany. His father Georg August Philipp Tadje was
a stonemason, and his mother was Juliane Christine Charlotte Caroline
Schrader Tadje. Following the custom of the time, Philipp was named after his
godparents, Ernst Wildhagen, August Jürdens, and Philipp Dunsing – Ernst
August Philipp. However, the child was known throughout his life as Philipp
Tadje, or Philipp Ernst August Tadje. Just 2½ months after his birth, Philipp’s
father died at midnight on Friday the 4th of February 1859, just two weeks short
of his 30th birthday. The cause of death was “Auszehrung” which is a general
term for weakness and often refers to consumption.
Birth Entry for Ernst August Philipp Tadje
The Eliza Tadje account continues:
Philipp was the youngest child of George August and Juliana
Schrader Tadje. He had two sisters, Sophie (born the 18th of July
1849) and Louise (born the 23th of March 1854), and one brother
August (born the 24th of October 1856). When Philipp was only
thirteen weeks old, a great misfortune befell the family in the
death of the father. It now became necessary for the mother to
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provide for herself and children, the oldest child being only about
seven years of age. So great was the widow's problem and so
desperate her needs that she often pleaded with the Lord to let the
little one pass away.
Death Entry for George August Philipp Tadje
Working hours and transportation in those days were not as we
know them today. Her work took her away from home to the cities
and she was compelled to do much walking. She often had to leave
home at midnight in order to be at work on time in the morning.
We are told she had many weird experiences during these walking
travels, as fear, superstition, and stories of evil spirits were very
prevalent in those days.
Juliana Schrader Tadje was small of stature and attractive. With
a spirit of faith and courage she faced her burden, leaving baby
Philipp and the rest of the children in the care of her seven year
old daughter. The neighbors loved and admired her, and helped the
best they could during her absence and while the older children
were at school. Baby Philipp often would not see his mother for
weeks at a time as he would be asleep when she left and in bed
when she returned. Under these conditions he did not receive
proper care, often being in the crib too long, but in spite of these
handicaps he grew and developed, and when time came for him to
enter school he was ready and well prepared.
School Days
Even though, through necessity, Philipp had been neglected in
babyhood, the Lord had been very mindful of him in preparing him
for his great mission in later life. His capacity to acquire
knowledge and his great understanding and power to comprehend
it, was far above average. When he entered the Lutheran school,
he became an outstanding student. So great was his desire to
learn, he begged to get up before the other children of the family
that he might give extra study to his lessons. In spite of the fact
that the family was poor and oil very expensive, his mother
permitted him to do so. During these hours, he not only learned
every story in the Bible, but he became familiar with whole
chapters. What a blessing in the years ahead!
Although he was the poorest boy in the class, he did so well in
school that he was often called upon to help the children of the
more advanced class with their lessons. Because of his well
prepared lessons, he was often excused from school to earn a few
pennies to help his mother.
Page 6 of 73
Confirmation into the Lutheran Church
In the Lutheran Church school which Philipp attended, the
children were arranged according to their scholastic attainment,
and when fourteen years of age were confirmed into the church. As
Philipp had been head of his class for three years, he was well
prepared for this ceremony which was preceded by six months to
a year of weekly study with the Lutheran Priest. Confirmation
depended upon the child's ability to answer questions presented by
the Priest. The candidates were lined up all at one time, boys in
one place, girls in another, while the test was given. During the
test, some children were not able to answer all questions. When
Philipp became aware that a child was not able to answer a
question he would call out the correct answer without being asked.
This made such an impression upon the Minister that he pleaded
with Philipp's mother to send him to a higher school at the
Minister's expense. While this was considered a great honor, his
Mother, after several visits from the Priest, felt it best that her son
earn a living in the mine rather than at the pulpit. We shall learn
later how wise that decision was.
Cloister Church in Barsinghausen
Young Manhood
Soon after Philipp's confirmation, he started to work in the coal
mine. His mother was still very much in need of someone to help
in assisting and providing for the necessities of life and he was
most happy to do it. Being very ambitious, efficient and
dependable, he did so well that those over him appreciated his
worth, and his services were always in demand. He was self skilled
along many lines even as a child. As he grew in years we are told
he could repair shoes, clocks and watches, build a house, wire
houses, pour cement, upholster furniture, plow and sow grain,
make sausage as good as a butcher, and was a skilled land
Page 7 of 73
surveyor. There seemed nothing he wouldn't try to do.
(EWT)
Marriage
On the 4th of August 1879 at the age of twenty, Philipp married Karoline1 Sophie
Frederike Westphal also age twenty. She was daughter of the coal miner
Friederich Westphal (deceased) and Wilhelmine Knocke Westphal. Later they
were married civilly on the 4th of August 1883. The law requiring civil marriage
had just gone into effect a few years earlier in 1877.
Philipp’s Mother
Juliane Tadje
Karoline’s Mother
Wilhelmine Westphal
1
She was usually called Lina which is a short form for Karoline
Page 8 of 73
The young couple lived in a house Philipp had helped to build for his sister
Dorothea’s husband, August Weiter. This home was situated across the road
from the beautiful forest already described. Six children were born to them:
Julia
born 13 May 1882 - died 1 March 1958 at age 75
married Frank Yurka, 16 August 1904
Friedrick J. born 5 September 1886 - died 10 January 1951 at age 64
married Eliza Walz, 14 Sepember 1916
Lina Emma born 8 August 1889 - died 25 November 1953 at age 64
married Richard P. Sonntag, 20 Apr 1911
Philipp A.
born 24 Sepember 1890 - died 21 October 1959 at age 69
married Meta Buchholz 24 June 1914
Arnold H.
born 19 May 1902 - died 16 January 1909 at age 6
Walter P.
born 17 December 1903 - died 23 August 1904 age 8 months
Frank & Julia Yurka
Lina & Richard Peter Sonntag
Philipp & Meta Tadje
Eliza & Frederick Tadje
Page 9 of 73
Civil Marriage Record of Philipp & Karoline
Page 10 of 73
They were a very loving and devoted family and the children enjoyed a most
happy home life. Fred relates the following:
This beautiful forest gave us a grand place in which to play and
romp around and for this we lost no
opportunity. Through our close contact with
this forest, we came to love it as one of the
dearest places we care to remember. On our
way to and from school we would select the
road that led us through the forest. Would we
go quietly through the maze of trees? Indeed
not! We would shout and whistle and sing
long and loud the songs we had learned
around our mother's knee and in school. It
seemed we were singing and whistling in
competition with the many birds that
abounded in this forest of oak, beech, pine
and larch trees. Thinking about it brings
Deister Forest
fondest memories.
Father loved his children. Well do we remember the little things
he used to do to bring joy into our lives. Very often they were only
little things, but they meant a great deal to us. For instance, when
he worked in the mine, he took his lunch with him, as was
customary. But he learned that his children were hankering for a
piece of his lunch after the day's work, no matter how soiled it
would be. So in order not to disappoint them, he used to bring
home a little every day. He knew that the little morsel of bread
and sausage or ham, etc., was sweeter and tastier to his children
than the finest piece of cake. We surely used to relish it. What
made us do that I cannot explain. But it was the case, and not a
day passed that he wouldn't bring a little of it home. We used to
watch for him and run to meet him and go through his coal-dustcovered clothes to find the little linen sack in which he took his
lunch. It was simply thrilling for us to go through this experience
every day, but more so to him.
(EWT)
Page 11 of 73
Conversion of August Tadje to the LDS Church
The following account was written by August Tadje and is preserved in his own
handwriting. It appears to be a talk he gave in church.
An account of the conversion of my family to
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In the middle of summer of the year 1894, my son August and I
were collecting wood in the Eilenride Forest near Hannover. There
we met a man who was taking a walk through the woods. In the
course of our conversation, I noticed that he was a foreigner, and
upon asking him, he promptly replied that he was an American,
that he was a servant of God, and came to urge the people to
repent and be baptized that they may receive forgiveness of their
sins. On this occasion, he gave me a small red book and asked me
to read it. I put the book into my pocket, and after he told me his
name, I invited Mr. Frei to visit me in my home. This visit took
place the next Sunday. The day after, Mr. Frei was transferred to
Berlin, where he remained for about six months. In his absence, I
now had the best opportunity to read all the books he gave me
before he left. I was able read and test if they were in harmony
with the Bible. I was completely satisfied, and upon the return of
Mr. Frei from Berlin, I readied myself to be baptized, and became
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on
the 19th day of November 1894. About a year and a half later on
the 30th of April 1896 my two older children August and Anna had
the wish to become members of the church. The two younger
children Frieda and Martha were blessed on January 25th 1897 by
Elder Thomson. 17 months later, my wife had a testimony that she
had found the right path to salvation. By her request, she was
received into the church on the 4th of August 1897 by the holy
ordinance of baptism. So I was a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years and 11 months when I
was ordained a teacher and received the holy priesthood, and was
ordained by Brother Thomas on the 6th of October 1897.
May our Heavenly God lend me strength perform this office in
righteousness before him, and to endure until my end comes. This
is my prayer in the Name of Jesus.
Hannover, the 12th of September 1897
Aug. Tadje
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Final Page of August Tadje’s Conversion Account
Conversion of Philipp Tadje to the LDS Church
When Philipp Tadje was thirty-seven years of age and still living in
Barsinghausen as an established land surveyor, he had a most wonderful
experience – an introduction to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This message
was brought to him by his brother August Tadje who lived in Hannover and was
the first convert baptized in that locality. Philipp's early training and study of
the Bible well prepared him to understand the truth of the gospel as soon as he
heard it, and from the day of his baptism until the hour of his death, the soul
stirring testimony of Philipp Tadje never wavered. The following are two
accounts about his conversion.
First Account: A talk given by Elder Edward Frei, the missionary who
baptized August and Philipp Tadje This talk was given fifty years later on
Tuesday evening, August 7th 1945, in the Tenth Ward, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Second Account: Impressions of Fred Tadje, son of Philipp, who was eight
years old at the time of the event, recorded in Salt Lake City, many - many
years later.
Page 13 of 73
First Account: Elder Edward Frei's Talk
Introduction by Fred Tadje, son of Philipp Tadje
The first gathering of the Barsinghausen members took place
Tuesday, August 7, 1945, in the patio of the Tenth Ward. We called
the occasion the 50th anniversary of the founding of the
Barsinghausen Branch, for it was February 24, 1895 when Elder
Frei visited us on a Sunday morning, in the company of Uncle
August. Father and I met them at the station. I believe I shall
never forget that morning. It had been snowing a little. Never
could I dream, no, not for a moment, that that visit could be so
important for all of us. Well, we came together for the purpose to
talk things over again. I believe in most of us surged a feeling of
profound appreciation and thankfulness for the blessings and
experiences that have come into our lives by reason of the gospel.
I am sure that God’s Spirit was present.
Willy Glissmeyer took charge of the program. Our opening song
was “Heil sei dem Glanze von Zion's Hehr Morgen.”2 The
invocation was offered by Brother Friedrich Vose. Willy offered a
few words of welcome. His remarks were timely and fitting. He
pointed out the privileges and blessings that have come into our
lives through the missionary service rendered by the faithful elders
of the church, like Elder Frei, who is with us tonight to tell us of
his experiences in opening the work of the Lord in the Hannover
District, in the years of 1894-95.
Elder Frei
Most of your faces are strange today. Some of you I have met. To
say the least, I am proud to be here. This is one of the highlights
of my life, one of the occasions I shall remember for a long time to
come.
As has been stated, it was my privilege to be an instrument in the
hands of our Heavenly Father, in the humble spirit of
peace, to carry the gospel of the Master to the city of
Hannover. I started on my mission in June of 1893.
Just as an introduction to show you the kind of a chap
I was and still am, I went over to St. George to take the
buckboard to go one hundred-twenty miles before I
reached the railroad. The buckboard was piled high
with mail sacks. There was another passenger besides
the driver and myself, and the other passenger had the
Bishop
privileges. He was a Methodist preacher.
Edward Frei
I finally reached the old country after a lot of sea sickness, trouble
and worry. The first thing I got was the seven year's itch. It lasted
2
“Hail to the Brightness of Zion's Glad Morning”, Hymns #42
Page 14 of 73
only six months though, but it was the worst illness I went
through.
I labored in Switzerland, County of Graubünden for nine months
and then was called to Germany. In the forepart of April in 1894,
President George C. Nägli wrote me and said: “There is an old man
in Westfalen, up in Germany, waiting for you to take charge. He
has to learn the language.” Well, after some experience, I wasn't
quite as bad as Elder Wilkins who was sent from Switzerland to
Germany. It took him ten days to get there. Not knowing the
language at all, he would take money from his pocket and tell
people to take the amount he owed them. He arrived with very few
pieces left.
Elder Hahn and I started tracting and then found out it was a
Catholic district. (This city could have been Osnabruck.) In a
week's time we were driven out and couldn't even find a place to
eat. The Priests had such a hold on their people. The President of
the Swiss-German Mission, on hearing the news, advised us to go
to the city of Hannover. So we went there. Elder Hahn was
discouraged before I got to see him. Therefore, I wrote to the
President and said: “Brother Hahn is an intelligent man and he
could do a lot of good in England, but he cannot learn the German
language, he is too old.” Well, he was transferred to the British
Mission. But then my troubles began. I stayed a few days and
tracted around, but I wasn't making much headway.
One morning I got up with an awful headache and cried like a
baby. The thought came to me: “I am sick. I might just as well go
home. I can't do anything anyway.” But our Father in Heaven
came to my rescue and a voice said: “You are not sick. Get up, eat
your breakfast and get out of here.” The first place I set out for was
a secret place I could lay my troubles before the Lord. I felt
inspired to go out away from the City, and so I went to the
Eilenriede, a place many of you know. It is north and west of the
main part of the City, I believe, if I remember the directions
correctly. There in the shade of the trees I opened my heart to the
Lord in humble prayer, and as I prayed, a light appeared to me,
and when I arose, I felt inspired. I was ready to go to work. I felt
the Lord had heard my prayers when I said: “I am here to do thy
work and you must help me.”
As I was walking along the trail, I heard voices and the inspiration
came to me to go and see. I made my way through the underbrush
and timber and saw a great big six footer grumbling at his boy.
They were trying to saw a maple log in two. The boy wasn't so able
at his end of the saw. I walked up and greeted them and took off
my coat and took the boy's end of the saw. Then said the father to
his boy: “Now that’s better. See, he knows how its done.” Then the
elderly gentleman asked me the question: “Where are you from?”
I stated: “From America.” Then he asked me what my business
was and what I was doing there. I told him I was a Mormon
Page 15 of 73
Missionary, preaching the gospel, which, of course, surprised him
more than ever and he became interested in my message which
resulted in an invitation to his home. I helped him load the log.
Then we separated and this was the beginning of the friendship
with this family. I learned this man's name was August Tadje. He
became very interested in my message and I spent considerable
time with him, giving him literature and starting him to
investigate very soon.
Missionaries in Germany, all from Santa Clara
Marmon Hafen, Henry Gubler, Edward Frei
Theodore Graf, William Tobler, Frederick Reber, John Graff
All at once I received a letter from the Mission President, calling
me to go to Berlin and preside over the North German Mission.
After laboring in Berlin for six weeks, I received a letter from
Brother Tadje indicating that he was getting really interested in
the work. He was investigating around to see if he couldn't find
more friends. Then I asked the President for the privilege of
continuing my labors at intervals in Hannover, which he granted,
stating that I was to use my best judgment in spreading the gospel
to the people. “You are free to do what you wish”, said the
President. I had corresponded with Brother Tadje and had seen
that he was getting interested. I had left him the Doctrine and
Covenants, Book of Mormon and The Voice of Warning. He read
them faithfully and he was really interested in the gospel. I didn't
think that August Tadje was naturally very religious, but he was
just the kind of man who wasn't afraid to tell anybody on earth his
convictions. His brother, Philipp Tadje, was more of a spiritually
minded man than August. After we had corresponded together for
a while, I went back to Hannover and found Brother Tadje really
Page 16 of 73
interested.
I made plans to stay in this City for some time and, therefore,
sought a place to reside. The first attempt proved disastrous and
I stayed but one night. I then visited Brother Tadje and told him
that I must find another place. We went over the ads in the paper,
mapped out four or five places for rent. The first place was Kronen
Straße 11, second floor. As I knocked at the door, a middle-aged
lady appeared. She was a very fine looking woman. I stated my
mission, looked over the room, and told her that I would return at
twelve o'clock. In this case, Brother Tadje was with me. As we
went down the steps and out of the front gate and started up the
street, I received the impression to return and hire that room.
Brother Tadje said: “What's the matter. Are you beside yourself?”
But I was impressed very strongly to return and get that room,
which I did. I made my home there for a month while pursuing my
labors in Hannover.
By this time, Brother Tadje was deeply interested in my message.
I left, however, to go to Berlin. There I pursued my labors for some
time and in the fall, about October, I again returned to Hannover
at which time I baptized August Tadje on November 19, 1894, the
first member of the church in the City of Hannover. I took him to
a little pond not very far from the four rows of trees near the city.
(This may have been near the Herrenhauser Allee.) It is a very
beautiful drive.
After he was baptized, he began to think he would like to preach
the gospel and the first fellow he struck was his brother, Philipp,
who laughed him to scorn. August hardly knew whether he was a
Mormon or not after his brother got through with him. Anyway, he
told me that he had a brother in Barsinghausen whom he would
like to have me meet. He told me he was pretty smart and knew
the scriptures.
So one Sunday morning, February 24th 1895, we took the train and
went to the aforementioned town, and met Philipp Tadje. He was
an imposing figure and had a wonderful personality. He had a
twinkle in his eye that spelled mischief. We shook hands and I was
greeted very warmly. His son, Fred, accompanied his father that
morning. The next invitation I received was from him to attend a
Sunday School class at a private home. They were discussing the
Godhead. They were intelligent people; they were educated people
and faithful people, interested in what they were doing. You know
all missionaries have a good deal of gall and are aggressive and I
was too. I took issue with them on the Godhead. I frankly stated
my views, but strove to be as calm as possible, but the subject
caused a warm discussion. The idea of a personal God was very
much opposed by these people. We barely got a chance to speak,
because of the excited condition of those present. We couldn't get
in a word anywhere. After discussing as best we could under these
conditions for some time and seeing that I wasn't getting
Page 17 of 73
anywhere, I turned to the two brothers and told them that I
thought it was needless to continue our discussion any longer
because of the excited condition of our friends and remarked: “I see
these people don't want any of my doctrine.” So we excused
ourselves and went out.
We hadn’t gone very far when Philipp Tadje took my hand and
said: “Your very attitude convinces me that you have the truth.”
From then on it was all easy. Philipp Tadje, instead of feeling that
he could show me up, was impressed by a humble servant of our
Father in Heaven. He was impressed by the truth. There is no
question about it, but that he had been impressed by the Spirit
that was with me through the influence of our Father in Heaven.
The result was that he became an investigator. Along in the spring
of 1895 I led him to the same pond where I had led his brother
before him.
Elder Frei’s Journal Entry for June 1895
Describing the Baptism of Philipp and his Mother Juliane
Page 18 of 73
I again returned to Berlin, and in the course of time went to
Stettin and baptized a Hermann Koplin, the first baptism in that
City. Through him I received the address of Gustav Koplin and
John Janke. So on my return to Hannover, I had the privilege of
baptizing these good people. I also baptized Brother Janke's wife.
Also, the sweet little mother, Juliana Schrader Tadje, of these two
brothers and a sister Lack, another very fine lady, and baptized
them in the same stream where I had baptized the others. I am
proud that I have met them and to have had the privilege of
baptizing them. They are fine people who stayed put and who are
true Latter-day Saints.
That, in short, is the story, my friends. That is the way the gospel
was introduced in that part of Germany by a humble elder with no
special qualifications, only the blessings of our Father in Heaven.
These are experiences that might happen, and do happen, to
hundreds of our elders.
My testimony is that the gospel is true. I have that testimony
burning in my heart and I know it is true, and I want to leave you
that testimony. I am grateful for the experiences and contacts with
such people as you. Finer people a man meets nowhere. I have
been impressed with friends in Salt Lake City. I have come here
practically a stranger and you have befriended me, and I have
been happy in knowing you, and particularly happy to know that
I had the privilege of introducing the gospel in that far-off land. My
heart goes out to that people.
I had misgivings when I saw that military system. I knew there
was something wrong in it. No people lived better than there. No
finer people lived than the German people. I say that without
reservation and with conviction. I was never treated better than by
the German people; never had better friends here in American
than the German friends. They surely have been friends to me.
Now, dear friends, I want you to know that I had a testimony of
the gospel when I was preaching it in your native land, and I have
that same testimony today. I have experienced a lot there. I have
filled two missions. I have been in pretty nearly every office as far
as Stake and Boards are concerned. I know our leaders are men of
God and that the Almighty is here in this church.
May God bless you, my friends. May you ever be true in your
convictions, no matter what happens. Stay put in the gospel of life
and salvation.
Second Account: Impressions by Fred Tadje, Philipp’s Son
It was my privilege to go with my father on Sunday morning to the
station to meet Uncle August and Elder Frei. I still recall that a
light snow had fallen. The meeting of these people at the station
seems to me to be as vivid as though it happened yesterday. I was
then 8 years of age. The greeting of these men, especially the elder,
Page 19 of 73
was very cordial indeed. Instead of my father showing a hostile
attitude toward the elder, which he had in part manifested toward
this religion as preached and taught by Uncle August, he felt
entirely different. He was disarmed, and when he stood in the
presence of Elder Frei and shook hands with him, a feeling came
over him that made him feel that he was standing in the presence
of a servant of the Lord. The elder thus made a profound
impression upon my father.
I don't know how old Elder Frei was at this time – perhaps twentyfour or five. He was of dark complexion and wore a mustache. His
eyes were black, at least, they seemed so to me. His appearance at
any rate was very impressive. I think it a providence of God that
he – Elder Frei – was the missionary to come and visit my father.
(EWT)
After Baptism
Philipp’s courageous and faithful mother, Juliana Schrader Tadje, was baptized
on the 30th of June 1895, the day following Philipp’s baptism, Hannover now had
a total membership of seven Saints, each one baptized by Elder Frei. These
seven were the following:
August Tadje
Brother Janke and his wife
Gustav Koplin
Sister Lack – the landlady from whom Elder Frei rented room after
receiving inspiration to do so.
Philipp Tadje
Juliana Schrader Tadje.
Lina Westphal Tadje, Philipp’s wife was baptized year later on the 4th of June
1896.
Church Service in Barsinghausen and Hannover
Philipp’s brother August Tadje left Hannover for America in August 1898,
leaving Philipp preside over the Hannover Branch. Philipp was truly converted
to the very depths of his soul and his greatest desire was to acquaint others with
the truth and beauty of the gospel. The problem now confronting him in his
home town of Barsinghausen, was where to find a proper place to invite
investigators. He earnestly sought the Lord in prayer and the answer to his
problem came to him. The following are related by Fred.
Finding a Place to Hold Church Meetings
After father's first encounter with Elder Frei, it was constantly on
his mind. He knew, at least he had an idea, of what awaited him
if he should make the townspeople acquainted with this new
doctrine. The idea grew on him as it does with all members of the
church who accept it with all their heart and soul. To make the
people acquainted with it and with what few contacts he had
already made, he felt he was going to encounter severe opposition.
Page 20 of 73
The idea of holding meetings occurred to him, for he felt he should
invite all people who wanted to hear his
message. The next question was, where was
there a place big enough to which he could
invite seekers after the truth. Our
apartment which we occupied at that time
was too small. If our family was present, we
could only invite two or three at the most,
and the room would be crowded. My father
used to say it was so small that when one
person would want to leave the room, two
would have to get up. So it was out of the
question to consider staying there if he
wanted to go through with preaching the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, time passed
and he was busy looking around and making
inquiry about an apartment. It so happened
that on the same street, where we lived, an
apartment was vacant, in a house owned by
a Mr. Garbe. After giving the matter some
thought, father rented the place. This was in
Hymn Book
the summer of 1896.
One day when father went into town, he met an old friend of his.
In the course of their conversation the friend let father know he
was greatly troubled about his house in Kaltenborn. It was a very
large house, a farmer's house. The people who had possession it,
and through circumstances not of their making, were obliged to
relinquish their lease and he tried to persuade father to lease this
place. “Oh!” said father, “what shall I do with such a large place?
No, Karl, I'm not interested. You will have to get somebody else.”
So, after a few unimportant matters, they bid each other the time
of the day.
After father was alone again, the thought occurred to him: “You
know, you have been praying to the Lord for such a place and now
you turn it down.” It was like a shock to him. He thought for a
moment: “I have already two apartments for which I am
responsible.” But, that didn't bother him any. The more he thought
of it, the more convinced he was that he should go back to his
friend, Karl Giesecke, for he felt that the Lord had provided for
him a place where he could hold meetings. Then one day he saw
his friend in town and, at first, father made it appear that he
didn't see him. He didn't want him to really know what was in his
mind. So when he was nearly passed him on the opposite side of
the street, Karl called father and told him to come over. As they
met father said: “Well, what is on your mind?” “Oh!” he said, “that
house bothers me.” “Well,” father said, “why don't you lease it out?”
“Well”, said Karl Giesecke:, “I would, but you don't want it.” Then
father inquired of him: “How much do you want for the place?”
They finally came to an agreement and the deal was closed right
then and there. A hand shake bound the contract.
Page 21 of 73
Father now had three apartments for which he was responsible.
The one in which we lived, the apartment which he had just rented
on the same side of the street, and the place in Kaltenborn (Street).
When father returned home that night and told my mother what
he had done she exclaimed: “We will go to the poorhouse yet!” She
couldn't get over it – that father had made a deal with Karl
Giesecke. Mother didn't want to go there for several reasons. She
dreaded the thought of moving to this place. I think one of the
reasons was that her folks lived in this part of the town and she
would have to make new friends in this new place. That, however,
may not have been the reason, but I think it was. I can still see
how opposed she was to the move.
Now when the widow Wulves, from whom we were renting, learned
that father had rented the place in Oberlangenkamp (Street), she
warned him that he would be held responsible for the rent if her
place was not occupied by April 1st. Then father asked her that if
she had the rent on April 1st, would that satisfy her. “Oh, yes!” she
said, “if I get the rent for the place by April 1st that will be
satisfactory.”
Now something happened that was a testimony to father that the
church was true and that the Lord
really had a hand in his moving to
the new place. Some time in the
afternoon a fire alarm was sounded
and lo and behold, it was Reicher's
place, Mr. Garbe's son-in-law, who
lived right across the street from the
place which father had rented and
had intended to move to by the first of
April. Now since the fire destroyed
the house pretty well, Reichers the
owner, and the son-in-law had to
have a new apartment, so he moved
into Garbe's apartment and the other
family that lived in the Reicher's
home, they too, had to get an
apartment They decided to move to
Widow Wulves, occupying our
apartment, which we were going to
vacate. These moves made it possible
now for us to occupy Kaltenborn, and
father was free of all obligations. We
started to move right away, and while
we had some misgivings in the new
community, it proved to be a blessing
in disguise in every way possible. For
German Book of Mormon
us children, it was a remarkable
place. We had so much room, something we had not known before.
There were many fruit trees, garden land and pasture. It was like
a God-sent gift. We spent many happy days there.
Page 22 of 73
Paying Train Fares of the Missionaries
Ever since father met Elder Frei, on that Sunday morning in 1895
when he and Uncle August came to visit us for the first time, he
looked upon the missionaries as servants of the Lord. The
experience with Elder Frei never left him. That first meeting made
a profound impression upon him.
Father was constantly encouraging the elders to come to
Barsinghausen to help him hold Sunday School and Sacrament
meetings. In order to encourage them to come more often, he got in
the habit of paying their transportation and he had done it so
much that it had become an institution with him. But it so
happened that one weekend he was without funds and he feared
that if the elders should come, there would be a sad
disappointment on the part of the elders, which he imagined, I'm
sure. Now the fact was, he was not in a position to give them their
fare, as was customary. He went to work as usual, however, with
a very heavy heart, and as time went on it became worse. In the
course of time he learned that the missionaries were in town. He
was worried about what the elders might think. “I wonder if
Brother Tadje is apostatizing”, was one of the first thoughts that
came to him. Well, he could think of no solution. He made up his
mind this Sunday morning he would face the situation. How? That
he didn't know.
Tadje family and their friends in Germany
Back Middle - Fred Tadje, Philipp Tadje
Row of 5 women - 2nd from Left Lina, 2nd from right Karoline
Page 23 of
Row of 6 children - second from left - Philipp A.
73
He quit work on Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. and as he walked
through town, he heard his name called by a townsman. “Philipp,”
he said, “sometime ago you surveyed some land for me for which
I have never paid you. I'm very sorry that I forgot it. How much do
I owe you for that service?” Father had to think quickly for he
didn't remember he had surveyed his land, it had been so long ago
So as not to give himself away he just said: “Well, Fritz, that is so
long ago, give me what you think it is worth to you.” and the man
offered to give two marks and asked: “Is that alright?” Father said:
“Yes, that is alright” and thanked the man for what he had done.
Now the first thought that came to him was: “Now, I have the
money for the elders.” And he thanked God for this experience,
that He had worked upon this man to come to his rescue just at
that morning. Walking about two blocks before reaching home, he
constantly thanked God with joy and happiness filling his heart.
He was so grateful to his Heavenly Father for this most wonderful
experience that he even told the elders about it. In talking about
the matter later, he felt that it was an act of God that he was put
in such a predicament, for the Lord wanted to show him that the
things which He had done for the Lord's servants was the reason
He gave him this experience so early in the morning at 6:15 a.m.
Prayer Changes Work Schedule
There was a time in Hannover when the missionaries were not so
much at liberty to preach the gospel. They were banished and they
stayed “on the underground.” That the work of the Lord would not
suffer too much, ways and means were thought out to carry on the
work. One factor was that meetings on Sunday would continue as
usual. My father was asked to come to Hannover to hold
Sacrament Meetings at two p.m. Father, of course, was extremely
delighted to cooperate with the elders. Now there was this
difficulty. Meetings were held in Barsinghausen in the morning
hours: Sunday School and Sacramental meeting from ten a.m. to
twelve. The train left Barsinghausen for Hannover about one p.m.
This would get him to the meeting in Hannover after two o'clock.
He was always late, and in order that he might not be late at his
work at five p.m., he would have to leave the Hannover meeting
before it was out and catch an electric street car. He did this for a
while, but it wasn't satisfactory.
Instead of making his complaints to the presiding elders that it
was impossible for him to continue that way, he put the matter
before the Lord in prayer. He told the Lord about the difficulty he
had, and asked whether the conditions could not be changed. He
told the Lord that he had been asked by the elders to preside over
the meetings in Hannover, but the train schedule was such that he
couldn't get to the meeting until it had started, and then he had to
leave early because of his work schedule, which was that he had to
be in Barsinghausen to report for work at five o'clock each Sunday
afternoon. He felt that if the Lord would intervene and help him,
Page 24 of 73
his working hours could be changed. He thought if he didn't have
to report for work until six p.m., he could carry on very well in the
Hannover Branch. Then, too, it would give him a chance to stay
after the meeting a few minutes and converse with the members
and help them with their problems.
Mine Inspectorate Building, now the City Office Building
He earnestly prayed to the Lord. Lo and behold, on the following
Sunday, the Lord had already heard his prayers. When he went to
work at five p.m. the boss3 and his wife came out of the door just
at that moment and said to father: “Well, Tadje, are you here
already?” “Yes” father replied. “It is the hour when I should start
my shift” “Oh!” said his boss, “that isn't necessary. You don't need
to come so early on Sundays after this.” “Oh yes!”, his wife
remonstrated. “Mr. Tadje should come at five o'clock just in case
we want to leave to go somewhere, which is often the case Then
the children won't have to be alone in this large house.” “Well,” he
replied briskly, “Tadje has children too, he would like to be with
them, too.” Then speaking to father “No, Tadje from now on, come
at seven o'clock on Sundays. That is early enough.” Father
thought, “I asked the Lord for one hour, to be out at six o'clock, but
as always He gives you full measure.” From that moment on his
troubles with the Hannover Branch were over. He had plenty of
time to hold those meeting, to meet the members and also the
3
The original title of this section was “Berginspection”, or Mine Inspectorate. This was a the
royal government office overseeing the safety of the mines. The boss’ title was “Ober-Bergrat”, or
Head of the Mine Commission.
Page 25 of 73
investigators.
The Word of Wisdom
Father had a difficult time obeying the Word of Wisdom. He
wanted to, but it was a struggle for him. Then the Lord gave him
an experience which he never forgot. I don't know if the elders
were present this particular meeting or not. For some reason, he
had to talk in our regular sacramental services. As he began to
think about what subject he should choose, the Word of Wisdom
suggested itself. “No”, he thought, “I can't talk about the Word of
Wisdom. The saints in the branch know I don't observe it and I
can't proclaim myself a hypocrite.” It worried him for a while, until
it was time for him to speak. For some reason it was still the Word
of Wisdom that came to his mind. That was not what he wanted to
talk about so he chose another subject.
Now, when he began to speak for about two minutes on his chosen
subject, his mind went blank and he could not continue. Again, the
words “Word of Wisdom” presented itself to his mind. “No,” he
thought, “I can't talk about that”, and so he chose still another
subject. After he had talked a minute or two on that subject, his
mind went blank again. The “Word of Wisdom” came to his mind
a third time, and he said to himself, “No”, and again chose another
subject. Then talking about a minute and a half or two, again his
mind was a complete blank. “Word of Wisdom” – “Word of Wisdom”
kept ringing in his mind. “Well, alright” he said, “I don't care what
the people think, if the Lord wants me to talk about the Word of
Wisdom, the Word of Wisdom it shall be.” That Sunday morning he
delivered a masterful address about Section 89 of the Doctrine and
Covenants, and he converted himself.
To overcome the habit of using snuff, took a supreme effort on his
part. I still remember his cousin, whom we called Uncle
Brehmeier, coming to him after this meeting, and as they were
accustomed to do before parting, one or the other would offer a
pinch of snuff. This time it was Uncle Brehmeier who offered
father the tin, but he said: “No, never again. You heard what I said
this morning in the meeting.” But Uncle Brehmeier replied, “Oh!
You don’t have to take it so literally!” Father replied: “No,
Brehmeier, I meant every word of it, and from now on I'm cured of
this filthy habit, and with the help of God, I shall live an
exemplary life before my brethren and before Him.” As far as I
know, father never had a craving for taking snuff again. He was
really cured, and it was through having to give that speech on that
particular Sunday morning that cured him.
(EWT)
Qualities of Father Tadje
Clarissa Raddon describes Philipp during the time of his service as Presiding
Elder.
Page 26 of 73
When Philipp Tadje became presiding elder in Barsinghausen and
also in charge of the work in Hannover, he was well qualified – full
of sublime faith and having an ardent desire to serve.
We are told that he had most impressive appearance; tall, blue
eyed, a pleasing personality, and a delightful sense of humor. This,
combined with unusual gifts and talents, including pronounced
prophetic powers, meant he was much loved by the saints in
whatever branch he labored. He became a real father to them. It
is no wonder that he was called by the Saints “Vater Tadje” or
“Father Tadje”.
His greatest joy was in serving God and preaching His word. His
best loved theme was “Prepare ye for the coming of the Lord.”
(EWT)
Emigration to America
At the turn of the 20th century the saints were encouraged to gather to the
center of the church, to gather to Zion – meaning the mountain west of America.
Israel, Israel, God is calling,
Calling thee from lands of woe.
Babylon the great is falling;
God shall all her tow’rs o’erthrow
Come to Zion, come to Zion
Ere his floods of anger flow
(Hymns #7)
Julia and Fred Leave for America
In 1903 Philipp, as presiding elder in Barsinghausen and Hannover, encouraged
members of the branch emigrate, and set the example by sending older members
of his own family to America. Fred describes this period.
When Julia had an inward urge to immigrate to America, mother
had no desire to let her go. In fact, she refused. She wouldn't listen
to it. What was there to do? She spoke to father about it, who was
in favor of her going. He suggested that she fast and pray about
the matter and give it into the hands of the Lord. This she did. He
too prayed about the situation. In a few days after she had fasted
and prayed earnestly to the Lord, mother, on her own accord said
to father: “If Julia wants to go to America she has to get ready for
it.” She was won over through Julia's fasting and through the
faith she had in the Lord that He would help her if it was His will
that she go to America.
(EWT)
The following year Fred also left for America with a group of members from the
branch. The Eliza Tadje account relates the following:
Page 27 of 73
Getting Money for the Saints to go to America
At the time money was rather scarce, and most of the members in
Barsinghausen were having a very hard struggle to get enough
together. There was, however, one man who had a house and some
property which he wanted to sell with the intention of advancing
traveling costs to the others to make the journey.
This was in the spring of 1903. Buyers, at that time, were not very
plentiful and the members were not sure whether or not they
would be able to leave by the appointed date. They asked "Father
Tadje” what they should do and if he thought they would be able
to go. He said in unquestionably prophetic tones: “You shall all
leave with my son in the latter part of April. The money will come,
but not until the last minute. Make yourselves ready.”
The employment laws of Germany required that employees notify
the personnel bureau thirty days in advance if they intended to
leave, and the last day for this notification came. Again, the people
became worried and asked what they should do. The answer was:
“Hand in your resignations. You are going to America in April with
my son.”
This was done, but with some misgivings. However, the people had
faith in the wisdom of their leader and in the guiding hand of the
Lord, and so they went ahead with preparations. Trunks had to be
shipped by freight to Holland which meant they must be sent off
at least ten days before sailing time. No buyer had been found for
the house, and the people were really at a loss to know what to do.
Once more they were told to have no fears nor doubts; to pack their
trunks and send them to the port of sailing. Showing great faith
and much courage, the little group set about packing what they
thought they could take with them and held an auction, selling the
rest of their belongings.
A few days later, about a week before the sailing date, no buyer for
the house had been found. Misgivings may have begun to form in
the hearts of the people, but they didn't lose faith entirely. Finally,
a buyer came. With jubilant hearts, they set about making
financial settlements. Their joy was killed, almost as soon as it was
born, with the news that the banker refused to advance the money
on the house when he learned that the people who were to receive
it intended to use it to emigrate to America. They pleaded and
begged and implored him, but to no avail. He was unbending. He
was also the only banker in the city who could advance the money.
It looked like his refusal would be a fatal blow to their hopes.
Once more they asked the venerable “Father Tadje” what to do. He
steadfastly remained by his promise that they would sail. He told
them again that the money would come in the last minute and
urged them to go on preparing to leave.
Page 28 of 73
Preparations were made for a farewell the following Sunday. The
little group was to board the train Monday evening . Wednesday
passed. Thursday came. Friday brought no news. On Saturday at
noon, the man who was to buy the house appeared, breathless,
with the money. Great rejoicing reigned in the homes of those
faithful people that night. The next day the farewell was held, and
on Monday night all left together with Fred, the son of the local
president, in fulfillment of the prophecy he had made.
(EWT)
Departure of Philipp and Family for America
Philipp, Eliza, and the remaining four children left Germany in May 1904
sailing on the ship “Republic” of the White Star Lines. They landed in Boston
the 3rd of June 1904 and arrived in Salt Lake City the 8th of June 1904. They
were met by members of the Barsinghausen Branch, their son Fred and
daughter Julia.
Sad, indeed, must have been this parting especially for the saints
who were left behind, for Philipp had not only been a real father to
them, but a leader to whom they had looked for guidance. He left
behind him a marvelous record. He laid the foundation upon which
others built and were yet to build. Many were they who called him
blessed.
(EWT)
Life in America
The first home of the Philipp Tadje family in Salt Lake City was located in a
rented house at 640 South 800 West. It was always known as the house of bed
bugs.
Karoline & Philipp Tadje
Page 29 of 73
The first year was a hard one. It began with a joyous event two months after
their arrival with the marriage of their daughter Julia to Frank Yurka, but was
followed a week later with the death of their youngest child Water Philipp, just
eight months and six days old, who died of infant cholera, probably severe
stomach upset and diarrhea.
Although Philipp was ambitious, skilled and talented, he faced the
problem of the language barrier. Their home was in the western
part of town was near the railroads, so he picked up scattered coal
in the coal yards, and not being used to such labor, his hands
became so swollen his wife had to untie his shoe laces. But
hardships and obstacles did not daunt Philipp. He was not made
of that material. With mighty faith and strength, he fought every
handicap and surmounted them one by one.
(EWT)
Testimony on Tithing
I think we could find no better example of his faith than the following recorded
by his son, Fred.
Father was working for the Salt Lake Floral Company and was
getting $50.00 a month. This was many years ago, shortly after his
arrival in Salt Lake City. He was not so young any more, and not
knowing the language very well, he was forced to work at almost
anything. Well, the time came when his brother, Uncle August,
was called on a mission to Germany. But Uncle felt he couldn't go,
unless he should succeed in disposing of his horse and express
wagon. So one day Uncle came to father for the purpose of talking
these mission matters over with him. It began to worry him as he
was not making any headway. Father asked Uncle how much he
was asking for the outfit, and he learned that $150.00 was the
price. Up to this time he hadn't done much, if any, advertising, so
father urged him to put an ad in the newspaper and see if he
couldn't get that much. Of course, father thought the price was a
little too high, but perhaps he could get it.
Now father wanted Uncle to go on this mission very badly. For him
to turn down a call to go on a mission was something he couldn't
consider. So one day father proposed to Uncle August that if he
couldn't find a buyer, that he (father) would buy it, just so that
Uncle could accept the call to render this missionary service. He
encouraged Uncle to notify the Authorities of the church that he
would be ready to leave on a certain date, and if by that time he
had not sold his wagon and horse, father would buy it and go into
the express business himself. Well, the day approached when the
missionary had to leave and the outfit was not sold. Consequently,
father gave Uncle August $150.00 who left for the mission field
and father ventured into the express business. This was in the
years of 1913-14.
When father returned home and told mother what he had decided
to do, she was extremely unhappy. She could hardly be consoled.
Page 30 of 73
It was a shock to her. “We'll finish up in the poor house yet” she
said. “How can you conduct an express business? You have never
done anything like that in your life. You don't know anybody. You
are a stranger here, and besides, you don't know the language.
How do you expect to make a living at it? I am sure we'll starve to
death yet.” Father replied: “Mother, don't be afraid. I am going to
bind the Lord to his promises, and we won't starve, neither will we
go to the poor house.” Mother inquired: “How are you going to bind
the Lord?” “That is simple,” he answered. “I am going to pay my
tithing in advance on the amount of money I think I should earn,
and I'm going to be reasonable, too. I have given you $50.00 every
month, so if you get that amount from now on, will you be
satisfied?” Mother said she would.
Father started to figure out his express expenses and decided they
would amount to about $10.00 a month. He decided, therefore, to
pay $6.00 tithing in advance. He went to the Bishop and paid
$11.00; $5.00 for his earnings of the preceding month and $6.00 for
the month just starting, and then commenced to work.
When father came home the first day, it was natural for everyone
to ask if he had made his salt. His answer was reassuring. The
second day was successful, too. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth
had all been busy days for him. He was perfectly satisfied. When
the first month came to a close and he checked his accounts, he
discovered that he had made about $65.00, five dollars more than
he had expected. So on Fast Day, he went to the Bishop of his ward
and paid $6.50 tithing in advance again. It is singular to note that
father never deducted any expenses before he paid his tithing.
After the second month he had to pay $7.00 tithing, because he
had received $70.00.
One day Harry Jenkins (a niece's husband) passed the place where
father had his stand on the corner of Regent Street and Second
South, and asked him if he wasn't afraid he wouldn't be able to
make his expenses with so many express men standing there
between Regent Street and State Street. He assured him that he
wasn't afraid, that he was binding the Lord and everything was
going his way. So, Harry asked what it was he was doing. Father
told him the story of how he was binding the Lord by paying his
tithing in advance, and that so far he was doing alright. When
Harry heard that father had earned $70.00 the month before, he
suggested that father pay tithing on $75.00. Harry felt quite sure
that one horse of the type father had would be able to do that much
work. Father thought it was a sound suggestion and decided to do
it at once. Therefore, when Fast Day came around, he paid $7.50
to the Bishop for tithing, and he made nearly $80.00 the following
month. Then he paid $8.50 in advance and his income was around
$90.00. By this time his horse was on the go all the time and he
felt it was too much for one horse to do, so he purchased another
one. It was his plan to change horses and work them every other
day.
Page 31 of 73
Now it so happened that after Father had started the express
business, my brother Philipp August was also called on a mission.
By this time, he had already been there several months. One day
he asked for an extra $60.00. He had run into police troubles. The
German Government was bent on putting him into the army and,
consequently, he had a lot of difficulty and extra expense. When
this request came father said: “I haven't got the money, but
somebody will have to pay for it. So I think I better pay my $9.00
tithing and $6.00 in addition, making $15.00 in all, so I can send
him that money.” This he did. He actually paid the Bishop $15.00
and at the end of that month, believe it or not, his receipts totaled
$152.00. This was quite a jump from $90.00 the previous month.
Father felt his faith was vindicated. The Lord had not let him
down. His prayers were answered and the principle of tithing had
received another witness. He paid his tithing not for the purpose
of becoming rich, but merely to be able to make an honorable living
and to do his share in advancing the purposes of God. That was
uppermost in his mind. His confidence in God was unbounded.
Philipp came to Salt Lake City with emigration debts, but through
his great faith and ambition, and with a very frugal wife, was soon
able to get out of debt. He had plenty of work and in one year was
completely free of debt. He sought earnestly and prayerfully to
learn the English language and was wonderfully blest. Among the
places he worked were Hall's Hotel, The American Fork Fruit and
Stock Co. as supervisor on a forty-acre fruit farm, and in the
express business as before stated.
Fred and Philipp August Serve Missions
On the 4th of July 1906, Philipp’s son Fred left for a mission to the Netherlands.
While Fred was serving in Holland, Philipp’s eight year old son Arnold died on
the 16th of January 1909 of bronchial pneumonia. Soon after Fred's return on the
6th of June 1909, his brother Philipp August. was called to the Swiss-German
mission. He left in May of 1911 and returned the 19th of December 1913.
Fred describes a missionary experience of Philipp August.
At the conclusion of his mission in 1913, Philipp August made a
visit to his old home town. He found these people who had known
his father and had called him a fanatic, and that they still felt the
same about him. They remembered very vividly how his father had
talked of coming bad times and wars etc., and were rather cruel in
their recollection of this in the presence of the young man.
Naturally, Philipp August was incensed and defended himself,
claiming that his father had always spoken rationally and
carefully. To make their argument more forceful against the young
missionary, they recalled that his father had said in 1904: “In ten
years you shall see a great war break out.” His son Philipp denied
that his father had ever said it and claimed he had never heard it
at home and couldn't remember his having said it before they left
Page 32 of 73
Germany. However, all of them were so certain of it that Philipp
was finally forced to silence them by reminding them there were
still six more months until the ten years were up.
When Philipp August arrived home he questioned his father, and
he was quite disturbed to think they should accuse him of such
things. He couldn't remember having said it and wondered why the
people should still call him a fanatic after those many years. His
only consolation was the thought which he expressed when he said:
“Well, let's wait and see.”
Of course, all of those who made fun of him, and persecuted him,
and opposed him were victims of the scourges of the great war of
1914. Truly some of them must have been humbled by it.
(EWT)
Philipp’s Mother Juliana Schrader Tadje Dies
Juliane Schrader Tadje died in Burton Idaho near Rexburg. She suffered in her
declining years from chronic nephritis. The sum of $73 paid for her funeral
seems meager by today’s standards but was the usual amount for that day. The
following are extracts from her obituary as translated from the history of the
Hannover branch.
In Burton, near Rexburg Idaho, the widely known and beloved
“Grandmother Tadje” died on the 8th of November 1913. Sister
Julianna Tadje is mother of counselor Philipp Tadje and Elder
August Tadje, who recently served as a missionary in Germany.
Sister Tadje was born nearly 85 years ago on the 6th of February
1829 in Barsinghausen, Germany. There she accepted the gospel
in 1895 and came later to Zion. Since then she lived in Salt Lake
City and in recent times lived with her granddaughter, Sister Lina
W. Walz, where she has been active and has recently enjoyed
better health. Just recently she experienced the evidences of old
age which lead to her death. Grandmother Tadje, as one gladly
called her, was a good woman and a true Latter-day Saint, who did
her part on earth and conscientiously honored her commitments.
Of her one can truthfully say, that her influence and example have
helped to make the world better.
The funeral was held on the 10th of November in the Burton Ward
chapel and was lead by the bishopri ... In addition to her two sons,
Grandmother Tadje left behind three granddaughters - Lina Walz
of Rexburg, Julia Jenkins of Salt Lake City - wife of her friend
Harrison F. Jenkins, and Emma Mightman of Globe Arizona, 22
grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. The Lord bless all
those who sorrow.
(EWT)
Philipp’s First Mission to Germany
Fred describes incidents that occurred during Philipp’s first mission to Germany
in 1914.
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Description of a Prophecy Fulfilled
In the spring of 1914, six weeks after the return of Philipp August,
father was called to fill a mission in Germany. He had not been in
the field many months until the great war broke out and swept
with fire-fury along all fronts of Germany, and so he was
transferred to Milwaukee to finish his mission.
At the time when he was transferred to America, the general
consensus of opinion was that the war would only last about six
months. German troops were marching toward their goals and the
enemy seemed to be weakening. Just at this time, father wrote a
letter to a cousin in which he said Germany would be swept by
famine not later than 1916. After he had written it he didn't know
why, and was at a loss to know whether he should send it or not.
He felt a very pronounced spiritual influence at the time, and
decided to leave the statement in the letter.
The course of events fulfilled this prophecy literally. It was during
the year 1916 that the people in his homeland were made to suffer
intense hunger and need. It was this famine which began to turn
events in favor of the other side and eventually decided the war
question.
Philipp’s Minister’s Certificate, April 1914
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Letter of Transfer to the Northern States
September 1914
Visit to Barsinghausen in 1914
During father’s mission in 1914, he took occasion to visit
Barsinghausen and renew old acquaintances. Of course, the people
were all surprised to see him. In the course of conversation, the
women asked him if it were true that the American women had to
do all the heavy work, like farming and the like. “O yes,” father
said, “that is true. The women in America pull the ploughs and
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wagons and the horses stay home and do the kitchen duties, and
other house work.” They laughed and said, “Now Philipp, you can't
make us believe that. We don't believe it.” “Well, why don't you
believe it.” Father replied, adding “you seem to believe all the
other stories you hear about America and her people. Why don't
you want to believe this nonsense?”
They agreed it was perfectly ridiculous. He proceeded to tell that
other stories which floated around, such as the Mormon people
were locked up with walls around the City so no one could get out,
and that women were influenced to go to Utah under protest to be
in the slavery of the Mormons were just as ridiculous. It was all
such nonsense to believe.
Father was particularly adapted for starting the work of the Lord
in that City. He was witty, smart and with the blessing of having
the Holy Ghost, he was fit and qualified to meet all comers,
Ministers, the hecklers and every body. Once a discussion took
place between Pastor Rohm and father. The Pastor had to admit
that father had bested him on authority of the Bible. The druggist
who ran the drug store learned of this incident and discussion, and
spread the news of it all over the village much to the sorrow of the
pastor.
Karoline & Philipp - 1916
Grandchildren L-R Walter Sonntag, Philipp F. Tadje
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Employment
When Philipp returned from his mission to Germany &
Milwaukee, he was employed as a gardener for a Salt Lake florist
for many years, then later received employment at the Latter-day
Saints Hospital. Here he was much liked and admired. Because of
his diligence and trustworthiness, he was made manager of the
laundry department by B. F. Grant, then Superintendent of the
Hospital. He worked here until he was called on his mission to the
German-Austrian Mission
(EWT)
Persecution
World War I engendered a great deal of mistrust towards those who natively
spoke the German language. It was common for men from Fort Douglas to
listen outside the windows of the home for any seditious talk. Anything spoken
in German during this period was suspect, and the families of Philipp’s children
stopped speaking German in their homes.
Influenza Epidemic 1918-1919
Fred Tadje describes the following incident:
In the fall of 1918 and the spring of 1919 there was a terrible
influenza epidemic. It seemed to be something new and the doctors
could not cope with it, and many people died from the disease.
Father and brother Herman B. Thorpe, were very often called upon
to visit the sick and administer to them. This went on for months
and months. One day brother Thorpe became quite ill and was
unable to accompany father. A call came and father didn't know
just what to do. Then, thinking about it, he asked me if I would go
with him. I readily responded. Father then explained that he had
difficulty in sealing the anointing in the English language.
Therefore, wanting me to accompany him to do that for him,
suggesting that he would anoint and that I seal the anointing.
Well, that was agreed upon between us. But, when we arrived to
see the sick sister, her wishes were to be considered in the matter.
After the usual greetings and expressing regret of her illness,
father proceeded to tell her that he found it quite difficult to use
the English language and seeing that Brother Thorpe was ill, he
brought me along, asking if it would be alright with her.
Apparently, the sister was a little disappointed for she had a very
strong desire that father would seal the anointing and that I
should anoint her. He then inquired of her if it would be alright if
he would seal the anointing in the German language. “Oh!” she
replied. “I have no objections because our Heavenly Father can
understand you and the blessing will be just as effective when you
use the German language as the English.”
We then started to anoint the sister. Of course, I spoke in the
English language and then father was to seal the anointing. To my
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great surprise, he started right out speaking the English language.
At that moment he was not aware of it. The whole time he was
giving the sister the blessing, he thought he was speaking in
German. He was quite fluent in the use of the language. I believe
I have never heard him give a blessing when he used better
English than he did on this occasion. Now comes the surprise.
When he was nearly through and discovered he was speaking in
English, he became frightened and soon quit. At the close, he
looked so bewildered and amazed. I then complimented him on his
good use of the English language, and told him “Never have I
heard you speak with such ease before.” While it was not his native
language, it was correct and polished. It came to him so fluently
and with ease and confidence he blessed the sister. At least, it
seemed so to me. It was an incident where the Spirit of the Lord
inspired him what to say.
(EWT)
Philipp & Karolina at Fred’s Home in 1918 - 817 So. 8th East
Back Row L-R: Fred J. Tadje, Harold Tadje, Eliza Tadje, Lina T. Sonntag
Left Side: L-R Philip F. Tadje, Vernon Tadje
Front L-R: Sonntag Children - Richard, Katherine, Walter, Robert, Lawrence
The Death of Philipp’s Brother August Tadje
Philipp’s brother, August Tadje, died of bronchial pneumonia on April 22nd,
1922. He lived at 558 South 8th West and had resumed his business as an
express man following the return from his mission. This following are extracts
from his obituary as translated from the history of the Hannover branch.
Last Tuesday a well attended funeral was held for Brother August Tadje.
He died suddenly on Saturday of pleurisy at age 65 ... Brother August
Tadje accepted the gospel in 1894 in Hannover and was baptized there in
that same year. In 1899 he emigrated to Zion. From there he was sent
to Alberta, Canada on a mission to help build up that land. He returned
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in 1900 and settled in Salt Lake City.
From 1911 to 1913 he filled a mission in Germany. Within the space of
two years brother Tadje lost to death his mother, two daughters, and his
wife. Just eight months ago he married again to Sister Buse, who is now
left as a sorrowing widow with three grown children, August, Anna, and
Hugo. They thank all expressions of sympathy and the many who gave
such beautiful flowers.
The Death of Philipp’s Wife Karoline
Philipp’s beloved wife, Lina Westphal Tadje, died on February 10th, 1925, in
Salt Lake City, of a heart ailment. The family held the viewing for the body in
their home at 817 South 8th East.
Lina Westphal Tadje was a humble, quiet, unassuming woman,
with a heart full of love, understanding, and devotion to her
husband and children. Although not as well versed in the English
language as was her husband, she rejoiced in his many
accomplishments and his ardent desire to bring souls to the
knowledge of the truth. Dearly was she loved for her great, gentle
tenderness. Outstanding was her loving service to her daughter
Lina Tadje Sonntag, a wonderful woman full of faith, a devoted
wife, and mother of 12 children.
(Clarissa Raddon)
Call to the German-Austrian Mission
Philipp, now 67 years old, left for his mission on the 13th of April 1926, the year
after the death of his beloved wife Lina Westphal Tadje. Although now an
American Citizen, he loved the German people and was truly happy to talk to
them in his mother tongue. He found so many beautiful ways to express himself
which he could not do in the English language. “Now I can preach fervently and
enthusiastically again” was a comment after his first sermon on German soil in
1926. His companions were asked to take the bulk of the time in meetings so he
would not overexert himself. Even so, in his great desire to preach and expound
the scriptures, he would take more than his allotted time in conferences and
meetings, and when the presiding officers would pull his coat tail, he would turn
to them saying: “How do you think I can preach when you keep pulling my coat
tail?”
Philipp’s Son Fred Serves as Mission President
Fred J. Tadje was ordained a High Priest on the 12th of March 1923 by Charles
W. Penrose, and with his family was called to take charge of the Swiss-German
Mission. He served as mission president from April 1923 to August 1925. When
the mission was divided, he served as president of the newly created GermanAustrian Mission until December 1926 when he was released. Returning home
he presided over the Latter-day Saint German organization in Salt Lake City.
After being home only 15 months, he, was called again to preside over the SwissGerman Mission, succeeding Hugh J. Cannon. He acted in that capacity until
the 24th of October 1931.
Page 39 of 73
Mission Call - April 1926
Page 40 of 73
Sight Restored
President Fred Tadje related this experience while presiding over the GermanAustrian Mission
At one time we held a conference in the City of Leipzig, Germany,
and as usual when people are afflicted they like to be administered
to while the elders are present in great numbers. A request was
made by a sister who had lost her eyesight. She desired to be
administered to so that she might again have her sight restored.
We went into a little room in the rear of the building. All elders
present participated. I recall that one of the elders opened this
ordinance with prayer. I anointed her. Father was asked to seal
the anointing. After the blessing, she was overjoyed, for she
claimed she could see again. She beheld the faces of the
missionaries which she was unable to do before. It was a great
cause of rejoicing. I don't remember the name of the sister. In my
mind I can still see how happy and thankful she was for this
marvelous blessing which came to her.
(EWT)
Release from the Swiss-Austrian Mission - May 1928
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Service in the Swiss-German Mission
Philipp was released from service in the German-Austrian Mission on May 28th
1928. His son, Fred, was then presiding over the Swiss-German Mission and it
was Philipp’s innermost desire to go into that mission and remain there until his
son, Fred and family (consisting of his wife Eliza W. Tadje and three sons
Harold, John and Fred) were released, so as to return home with them. While
there, he could still do missionary work and go to those places his services and
counsel were needed.
(EWT)
Cologne Prophecy
Fred Tadje relates the following incident from Philipp’s service in the SwissGerman mission:
After father was released from his missionary services in the
German-Austrian Mission 1928-29 and came into the SwissGerman on a special mission, we had him go through the whole
mission which was comprised of Germany, Austria and
Switzerland. He was to preach repentance long and loud to the
people. It seemed to be our mission at this time to warn the
German nation of the tragic events that were in the offing. It so
happened that in one of those visits, father attended the Cologne
Conference, held in the City of Cologne.
Now, I don't remember the specific things that were said at these
conferences by the different missionaries. However, it appears that
a few of the Saints remembered what father Tadje had said, for a
certain brother from there (Cologne) wrote me a letter after World
War II, reminding me of a conversation which he and I had. The
conversation was about what had been said in the conference
meeting and that the things which had been said had literally been
fulfilled.
Now, there was a certain sister from Cologne who was in
attendance at that mentioned meeting and remembered it very
specifically. She came into my office here in Salt Lake City about
nine or ten years after the conference and said: “Your father told
us in conference that the City of Cologne would be completely
demolished if the people did not repent of their sins and
acknowledge the Lord, Jesus Christ and the Prophet Joseph
Smith”. Now this good sister reminded me of this incident before
she knew what was in store for the City of Cologne. For just a few
weeks later, one thousand planes were sent to bombard the City.
They left the City in complete ruin. “God’s mills grind slowly but
surely.”
(EWT)
Talk given by Father Tadje in Dresden
The following are excerpts of a talk given by Father Tadje in a Priesthood
Meeting in Dresden while serving in the Swiss-German Mission as reported in
the official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in
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Germany - Der Stern, 15 May 1931, Vol. 63, No. 10, pp. 155-159.
I would like to relate some of my experiences in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hopefully, I can speak with
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that these teachings will be of
benefit to you for the rest of your lives; for I know what kind of
person I once was, and what I now am.
I was a ordinary person living in a small town of about 5,000
people near the city of Hannover. Everybody knew me there
because I worked as a land surveyor. My elder brother, August,
joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hannover
and came a few months later to bring the message to me also.
Earlier in the villages, life revolved around the Bible and the
Catechism, and so I was well versed in the Bible. My brother, on
the other hand, was not as well grounded in the knowledge of the
Bible, and, thus he was unable to prove the truth of the gospel to
me. I beat him soundly. He then asked me whether I would be
willing to invite missionaries; they could explain it to me better. I
gladly accepted and was looking forward to battle them with the
Bible.
My son Friederick (President
Fred Tadje) and I went down to
the train station to pick up the
missionary, Brother Frei, and
my brother August. It was a
Sunday morning and we wanted
to remain as unseen as possible
as we went home. So that we
wouldn’t meet the many people
who were going to church, we
took a different way home. There
were rumors going around that
my brother in Hannover had
apostatized from the faith. For
the entire time that I was in the
presence of this missionary, I
had a most extraordinary
feeling. Before we had our meal,
Brother Frei asked me whether
he could bless the food. This was
a new thing to me, but it pleased
me. Afterward, we discussed the
gospel, and following a lively
discussion I had to concede that
the teachings of the Lutheran
Church, to which I belonged, in
many respects were not in
agreement with the Bible.
German Bible
A few weeks later I went to Hannover to be baptized. At that time
Page 43 of 73
my wife did not yet understand the truth. The presiding elder in
Hannover told me that he didn’t want to baptize me yet because he
felt that I wasn’t adequately prepared. To this I replied, “In that
case then, I’ll baptize myself!” He baptized me anyway, even
though I didn’t know very much about the gospel. Soon, however,
through study and prayer I was able to catch up. I also went
regularly to the church meetings in Hannover.
Part of a Letter Philipp wrote home, 22 Aug 1928
A Testimony of Paying Tithing
Some weeks after my baptism my brother August came up to me
acting very mysterious, and said, “Listen, Philipp there is still a
point that we haven’t told you yet.” “What would that point be?” I
asked inquisitively. He replied, “You see, we should pay tithing.”
“Ah, but that is a Biblical principle,” I answered immediately, and
by that, my testimony of the correctness of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints was strengthened. I had read in the
scriptures about tithing but I didn’t know what it meant. Now I
had finally found the church where this principle was taught.
But there was another problem, and that was with my wife, for she
surely believed that our family would starve if I paid tithing.
Thirty years ago, situation in Hannover was not exactly lustrous.
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But I wanted to pay tithing, for I knew the Lord would bless us for
obedience to this commandment. Later my wife was baptized as
well, and we frequently had the missionaries over for dinner; but
she still couldn’t understand paying tithing. She was extremely
frugal. She would turn each penny over three times before she
spent it. I gave her all my earnings. Since she looked after my
clothes to make sure that they were in order, I didn’t know where
I could hide my tithing until I could take it to Hannover. Later I
found a safe place on top of the clock that only I wound, for it was
so high that my wife, who was a shorter than I, gladly left this job
to me. So that she wouldn’t notice that I had paid tithing, I
changed my pay envelope accordingly. But yet, she did notice it.
Later as I told her about it, she said, “Oh, I’ve known all about
that for a long time. I just didn’t want to say anything.” Later
through my surveying work, I was able to earn enough income on
the side so that I didn’t have to alter my pay envelope anymore. I
strove to have the blessings of the Lord and I did receive them as
I will explain.
Trust in the Lord
Shortly after my baptism I asked the Lord to give me a strong
testimony. I believed absolutely that I had found the truth. With
all my strength, I wanted to spread the gospel among the villagers.
In order to hold church meetings, we needed a roomy place. The
brethren wanted to hold the meetings in our home, but our
apartment was so small that two had to stand when someone
wanted to leave. Nevertheless, so that we could have church
meetings, I rented a large apartment on the same street at a price
of 75 Marks for six months. Right after that an acquaintance
offered to rent me a farm house with a few acres of land, since the
current tenant wanted to move out. I replied to him, “What can I
do with such a large house? What’s the use of it?” “Philipp,” said
the owner, “that would be just the thing for you.” “No, no,” I waved
him off, “It is absolutely out of the question.”
As I was going home, the thought came to mind that the farm
house would be particularly suitable for our meetings. The more I
thought about it the more this thought remained with me. I
discussed the opportunity with my wife. She was opposed to it and
said, “I will not move there. I am staying here. What do you want
with three apartments anyway? You have already rented another
one. I can’t imagine what you’re thinking of.”
But I couldn’t get rid of that thought I had to know with a
certainty, so I prayed fervently to the Lord, that he would help me.
If it be his will, may the farmer cross my path. A few days later I
met this farmer in the village. I greeted him and acted as if I was
going to walk by, but he came right up to me. Soon we were
talking together. “That house is giving me a lot of worries.”, he
said spontaneously. “Then lease it out.” I answered him. “But you
don’t want it.” “That’s right, what would I want with such a big
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house? How much are you asking?” ”Up until now I’ve gotten 600
Marks, but now if I got half that much, I’d be satisfied.” “Then I’ll
take it.” “Shall we make a contract?” “That isn’t necessary. A man
is as good as his word.” We shook hands and I had rented the farm
house. He kept his part of the bargain and I kept mine, and we
never had any difficulties over it.
Now what? - I now had three dwellings. After I explained to my
wife that I had also rented the farm house, there were a few
gloomy days at the Tadje house. She was of the opinion that we
would certainly go to the poor house, since we couldn’t raise the
money for all three places. At the time, the rental contracts were
always for six months, which meant that one could give notice to
vacate on the first of April or on the first of October. What should
I do now?
And at this moment then things looked the worst, God’s help was
right around the corner. When my landlady heard that I had
rented a new apartment, the second one, she told me, “I still want
the rent until the end of the half year.” “If I get your rent up to the
1st of April, will you be satisfied?” I asked her. She accepted, so I
told her, “You need have no worries about it!” The second landlady
also stood by her rights. She explained that she wouldn’t take some
unknown tenant into the house. I gave her the same answer and
she seemed satisfied. But the money to pay for all these rents, I
didn’t have it.
One day my second landlady came to see me and asked whether I
would be willing to transfer the apartment over to her son-in-law,
whose house a short time before had burned to ashes. Joyfully I
agreed, for now the Lord had intervened. That was absolutely clear
to me. A little later I was able to rent the other apartment to a
family who had also been robbed of their home through fire. My
first landlady was agreeable, so the whole arrangement went
through with no difficulties. The Lord couldn’t have given me a
clearer testimony. I will remember this experience the rest of my
life. Every difficulty has its end. I didn’t need to pay all the rents
and could peacefully move into the farm house. Here we could hold
our meetings any time we wanted. Fifty-five people from that
village joined the church and many of them have served on
missions in Germany and America.
Another Prayer is Granted
Naturally we also had to suffer a lot of persecution. The ministers
preached and wrote against us and incited the people to drive us
out, but we did not yield. They tried to prevail upon my employer
to fire me, because I was a Mormon. But he answered them, “If all
Mormons were like Tadje, I would wish that my entire staff were
Mormons!”
For a time, I was the leader of the branches in Hannover and
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Barsinghausen. The meeting in Barsinghausen was in the morning
and the meeting in Hannover was in the afternoon. But my
working hours were so unfavorable that I had to leave in the
middle of the meeting so that I could be to work by five o’clock.
Since this was detrimental to the branch, I prayed fervently during
the week that the Lord would open the way such that I would be
able to start work an hour later. On the next Sunday I again
arrived at work at five o’clock. As I started to go up the steps, I was
met by the boss with his wife. Surprised, he asked, “Tadje, what
are you doing here already?” “Sir, my work begins here at five
o’clock.”, I answered. “That isn’t necessary. On Sundays you don’t
need to come until seven o’clock.” His wife tried to change his
mind, “But dear, it would be better if he came even earlier. We go
out frequently, and then the children wouldn’t be alone in this
large building.” To this the manager abruptly replied, “Yes, but he
has children, too! Next Sunday you start at seven o’clock!” I
prayed to the Lord for one hour and he gave me two.
Later my daughter Julia nurtured the wish to emigrate to
America, something that my wife at first would not allow.
However, after my daughter had fasted and prayed about it, my
wife even helped her with the preparations. After she arrived in
America my wife allowed Frederick to follow her. Then my children
wrote me to come there also. So, with the rest of my family, I made
my way to America, but not until we had thoroughly scoured our
village for those who were receptive to the gospel.
Laden with debts, I arrived in Salt Lake City. Through fasting and
prayer I found some work and quickly learned a little English. In
one year, in the which I had always paid my tithing and kept up
with my other my other obligations, we had paid off all our debts.
It wasn’t long before my son Frederick was called on a mission. He
came to me and asked, “Father, should I go on a mission or stay
here and help the family to obtain a home. I would like to go. What
do you think about it?” I responded, “It is the will of the Lord that
you go on the mission. If you don’t fulfill this calling, we will
probably not get a home at all. The Lord will care for us when we
do his will.” My son then departed for Holland.
During his mission we were so blessed that in a short time we were
able to buy a house. So wonderfully did Father in heaven care for
us. Soon after my son Frederick returned home the call went to my
son Philipp to fill a mission. He had barely come home when the
bishop came to me and asked me whether I could go. It was then
I went on my first mission to Germany. Later I supported my
brother and my brother-in-law on their missions.
It often seemed that my wife would loose heart. With complete
faith in the Lord I paid enough tithing for the required income I
absolutely needed to support the missionaries and my family, and
the Lord opened the way. In time, my wife, who was originally
against this principle, always saw to it that we punctually paid
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this obligation.” With great emotion, Father Tadje continued,”Yes,
my wife possessed the gift to see heavenly manifestations. Quite
often she would see heavenly beings in the meetings. It was very
difficult for me to preach in the English language, but sometimes
I didn’t even notice that I was speaking in a foreign language. A
few times my wife told me that she had seen a heavenly being
standing at my side who had given me the words.
Brethren, I arrived in America a poor man, but our family has
been able to fulfill six missions. Keep the commandments of the
Lord and you will be blessed. I know that this is his work! I have
experienced it for myself.
Eliza W. and Fred J. Tadje
The Death of Father Tadje
Philipp spent Christmas of 1929 and the New Year of 1930 with his son, Fred,
and family in Basel, Switzerland. Then with the desire to go out again and
proclaim the gospel, seemingly healthy and full of the spirit, he left for Biel,
Switzerland. On January 22, 1930 he died while walking down the road with his
companion. His great wish was granted. He wanted to die while in the service
of the Lord.
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Letter Written the Day After Philipp’s Death
The following letter was written in German by President Fred Tadje and his
wife Eliza on the day following Philipp’s death. The letter is addressed to his
brother Philipp August Tadje.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Office of the
Swiss-German Mission
Leimanstr. 49, Basel, Switzerland
23 January 1930
My dear Philipp and all my loved ones:
A great warrior has gone to his rest and so suddenly and
unexpectedly. The news of his passing came as a bolt of lightning
out of the blue sky. Oh, how glad and grateful I am that he spent
the winter months here at the mission home and I tell you,
Philipp, he truly felt at home.
Last fall I hinted several times that he should go home, and Eliza,
too, thought that it would be better if he could be home before the
onset of winter, because, after all, he was pretty old. But do you
think we were able to persuade him? He simply would not hear of
it. His heart was here with this work and, in a way, I am glad I did
not release him against his will, otherwise he would have died over
it, which would surely have been the case, and then I would have
felt pangs of conscience, for surely the thought would have arisen
in me that he would have grieved over it. And you know how old
people are; one must treat them with care, for I would never want
him to think that I did not want to have him around anymore. On
the contrary, I did not want to part from him.
We thought, however, it would be better if he could have been with
you for a spell, but he always had excuses: “What could I do at
home? Here, I am truly in my element, steeped in my work. I can
bring souls unto the Lord, I can bear my testimony.” And since he
was so very insistent, as his son, of course I could not object.
And of course, as I already wrote you several times, he truly did a
wonderful work. In the whole mission there was not a member who
was not personally acquainted with him, and I’ll tell you, Philipp
here he has erected for himself a monument. It is almost
unbelievable, the entire mission was fond of him. Everywhere I
went I was asked, “where is Father Tadje? How is he and when
does he come back here again? Very soon, it is to be hoped.” Isn’t
it wonderful, to have such a father?
President Widtsoe telegraphed today: “Sincerest
sympathy — your father was a nobleman in soul and
service – his passing in the mission field is a glorious
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ending of a splendid life – please express at memorial
service appreciation of church for his life and
example.”
For President Widtsoe became acquainted with him and came to
love him instantly.
Father had already been with us here at the mission home for
quite a while, before and after Christmas and all of us were truly
glad to have him with us, for his delightful humor always was like
a fresh fountain. Recently we received word that a good helper was
needed in the Biel branch and when Father heard of this he said,
“Friedrich, I believe I can do some good there and don’t you think
I had better go and work there for a few weeks or perhaps a few
months, to help the brethren and cheer up the members and bring
the weak ones back?” I could see he would not have been satisfied
if I had turned him down and thus, he went there two weeks ago.
He labored there, i.e. made visits, ate with the members, spoke in
the meetings, and the members were truly happy for his presence
and his activity.
Yesterday, i.e. Wednesday, the 22nd of January, he got up in the
morning as usual. His companion, Brother Ochsenbein, too, was
with him. Father told Brother Ochsenbein, “would you look at this,
I am perspiring even this early in the morning. Something doesn’t
seem quite right,” and with that he wiped his forehead which was
quite wet. “How are you feeling,” the brother asked. “Oh, very
good, only my stomach is growling a little, but it’s not too bad.” (As
you know, Philipp, he always had trouble with stomach gases, but
since he had eaten plenty of vegetarian food it had not been that
bad.)
Father and Brother Ochsenbein then went to administer to a sick
sister. Then they went to other members for lunch and father was
jolly as usual. There was nothing wrong with him. He had, in fact,
not eaten much because he was afraid that he might burp. The
sister prepared some Vermouth tea and this was excellent for him.
Brother Ochsenbein asked him, “Well, Father Tadje, how do you
feel?” “O, Brother Ochsenbein, I am as healthy as a fish in water,”
Father laughed.
After lunch he took a little nap, as was his habit when he had the
opportunity. Then, at about 3 p.m. they took their leave from the
members and Father joked around quite a bit as he always did.
They went down into the street and together, they started walking.
Then at a bend in the road, not far from the house where they had
had lunch, Brother Ochsenbein again inquired how he was feeling.
“Oh, Brother Ochsenbein, I feel as well as a fish in water,” Father
said.
Then, when they had walked about 100 steps, Father suddenly
said, “Oh, I am so dizzy,” he wanted to steady himself at a fence by
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the side of the road, but at this moment he fell dead into Brother
Ochsenbein’s arms. Thus, he died on his feet and did not know
what was happening to him. In the twinkling of an eye his spirit
was called away. He surely must have been astonished when, in
the spirit world, he became aware of what had happened. Now, I
don’t want you to think that he had been sick. As far as we know,
and his companion confirmed it, he felt completely well. Otherwise
they would not have set out together. No, Father literally did not
taste death. He was active until the last second, and had no
infirmities, no pain. His heart simply ceased to beat in the midst
of his work. Thus: he died in the harness. It truly was a glorious
ending for this fighter for the truth. And when one considers
everything, his zeal to be a servant of God, to bring souls unto the
Lord, then I’ll tell you, Philipp, there was no better place for him
to die than in the mission field. This was the place for such a noble
man and every thinking missionary here in the field and every
member here in our mission says so.
Place Philipp Tadje Died
I was, of course, informed immediately and went to Biel. How I
felt, and am still feeling and surely will yet feel for a long time, I
cannot describe to you, Philipp, but you can imagine as much. Still
in one way I am glad it happened here, for if he had died at home,
it surely would have been very sad for me, because, as you know
every time I was on a mission someone in our family died. First it
was Arnold, then Mother and now Father had to go. This way, at
least, I had him here, and, although it is very difficult, under the
circumstances, I like the feelings, because he was a very dear and
good father. One could almost say his heart was as big as the
world. Nothing was too much for him to do, when it pertained to
his children and to the church. He only lived for these and he made
countless human hearts joyous and glad, and many owe the fact
that they are happy in the church today, to his zeal, his strong
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faith and his unshakable firmness.
I asked the brethren to photograph the spot where Father began
to feel faint. They also took pictures of the house of the members
where he had eaten and where he was taken after his death and
where he remained an entire night, until the coroner could come
for him. As you know one can always expect difficulties when a
foreigner dies. But, thus far, everything seems to be in order and
I hope we will be able to send him home via the SS “America,” of
the U.S. Lines, which departs Hamburg on the 29th of January. In
all probability Elder Fred Tiedemann will accompany him. He is
over 50 years old and was to have been released anyway in a
month. Thus he may welcome being able to travel now. I have
written him concerning this and am expecting his response at any
moment. It actually is better to have an older, more experienced
man go, rather than our young brethren.
Philipp Tadje with the Missionaries in Bern - 1930
Some six days ago, Father was in Bern with the missionaries and
there they all had themselves photographed. I am glad for this
because Father struck a rather natural pose in this picture. I’ll
send some pictures to you and you can then give them to the
others. This evening, the district president, Elder Maycock, in
Bern, told me that the photographer is able to pick him out of the
group and can enlarge his picture.
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Now, Philipp, I hope you [all] will not feel too sad, because you
know, when a person is almost 72 years old this can be expected,
still I can assure you that this was a surprise for me. I had
expected him to live at least another 10 - 20 years. He was always
so strong and healthy and he kept his humor to the last moment.
I believe that had he not had such a disposition, he would hardly
have reached such an advanced age.
Perhaps we’ll hold a brief memorial service in each of the branches
in our mission, for I believe he has visited them all and all the
members knew him. I hope you will have a very good funeral.
There are some of the [General] Authorities who knew him, such
as Brother Talmage and several who know me. Perhaps they could
be asked to participate in the funeral. Well, whatever happens
there, you will handle and I’ll share the particular expenses with
you.
Philipp, I don’t know, I have never seen a person who died as
happy as did father and he truly deserved it. He never suffered for
even a second and thus, one can truly say, he was changed in the
twinkling of an eye and did not have to taste of death. Thus, a
glorious, blessed end after such a wonderful life; still we shall miss
him for a long time.
In his blessing, he was told that he should proclaim the gospel long
and loud, and I’ll tell you, Philipp, that is exactly what he did, and
I could forever beg him not to strain too much and to spare his
voice, still he could not do otherwise. And at times his voice was
like the rolling of thunder and many people were touched to hear
such an old man still speak from his soul as vigorous and strong as
he did. This was his mission, Philipp, and I have the thought that
the Lord sent him to Germany for this purpose, because in the
near future, great woe will again befall humanity and Germany
surely will not be spared either and, as an honest and upright man
he needed to bear his testimony. And as you know, he did not
mince words. In his blessing he was further promised that many
sick people would be made whole under his hands, the blind would
be made to see, etc. and I tell you Philipp, he had wonderful
experiences.
In Leipzig, for example, a sister who was somewhat older and had
lost her sight, was blessed by him and afterwards regained her
sight. Once, in Chemnitz, Father was called to a sister who was
dying and on whom the physicians had already given up. Father
was asked to bless her and he promised her that she would be back
on her feet. “Yes,” the members said, “tomorrow she will be in a
casket.” But she actually was up the next day, albeit for a few
hours. And thus, he had many wonderful experiences and in this
respect, too, the promises which had been sealed upon his head,
have been fulfilled. He has done his work and in such a wonderful
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manner.
You know how difficult it sometimes is to have old and young
people have to work together in the mission field but you can
believe me, Father had no enemies among the missionaries. They
loved him the same as did the members. They never left him in
peace when he was among them and they asked him about his and
that and asked his advice. Everyone wanted to be with him and all
treated him with such affectionate respect. That is a wonderful
testimony for him.
I hope the Lord will bless us. We should pray to receive comfort
and the hope which the Lord can give us through His spirit, in
such cases. You can imagine, how difficult it is, to do the work of
the mission under these circumstances, but we will continue to
faithfully endure and confidently look into the future and put our
trust in the Lord. Well, I think I’ll close for now.
Affectionate greetings,
Eliza, the children and Fred
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Philipp’s Death Certificate
Page 55 of 73
Letter Written a Week After Philipp’s Death
The following letter was written in German by President Fred Tadje to his brother
Philipp August Tadje a week following Philipp’s death.
Office of the
28 January 1930
My dear Philipp
Yesterday at midday, Sunday the 26th of January, we had a service
in the mission home and took leave of father. The body was
previously brought from Biel to Bern and prepared for ocean travel.
Yesterday, it was brought by auto from Bern to Basel. Of course we
had to order a triple casket. As I previously wrote, father is
completely embalmed. In the metal casket is an opening with a glass
window. The lid of the oak casket can be removed. Don’t forget this.
In this way you at least have the opportunity to see him again
before he is buried.
Father looked simply grand. His mouth was open just a little so
that his teeth were visible and on his countenance was a smile as if
he were saying, “I really played a trick in you, You weren’t expecting
that!?” And I really believe that he felt as good as he looked
yesterday.
Before Sunday, since his death, I have understandably had a
horrible time, as you can imagine, but yesterday - it’s hard to believe
- as I saw him there laying so noble and glorious, I felt unexpressible
joy for him, and it wasn’t at all hard for me to say a few words at the
service. Then I took little Fredy (Fred W. Tadje) in my arms and
showed grandpa to him. Do you know what he said? – “O, Daddy,
Grandpa looks like a king”, to which I answered: “He is a King.”, for
surely he who has lived as he lived is sure to receive a crown.
I only hope that his mouth doesn’t open any farther. When he is at
the undertakers, you must see how he looks. It might be that his
mouth should be closed a little, then it would be necessary to remove
the glass. If he stays the same as he was yesterday, then he will
look grand.
Lina Stockhausen came late Saturday evening in Basel and was
really happy to have the opportunity to see him one more time.
I have about $110 from father here. What shall I do with it. Should
I send it back to you? Don’t you think that the $50 or so that Sister
Sehr sent him for Christmas should be given back to her. Please let
me know what you think.
Nothing more for today, with heartfelt greetings,
Your Fred
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Permit to Ship the Body from Switzerland to Salt Lake City
Page 57 of 73
Tributes from Church Publications
Philipp Tadje, was eulogized in several articles written in German church
publications. A translation of these is given below:
“Father” Philipp Tadje
(Article from the Wegweiser, June 1930)
“Father” Philipp Tadje, the man with the great, unshakable faith
in the promises of the Lord; a special witness to the blessings that
come from following the law of tithing. His mighty testimony –
won through wonderful personal experiences – will be
unforgettable to thousands of those who heard him in the German
speaking missions – a tireless missionary right up to his last
breath, he died in the midst of his missionary work, in Biel, district
Bern on the 22nd of January 1930. – “A nobleman through and
through. He not only knew the gospel, he felt it. He not only
understood it, he also lived it.” (President Widtsoe)
His memory will be a blessing to the many that by his testimony,
were shown the correct path and strengthened in the faith.
Elder Philipp Tadje has Died in the Mission Field
(Der Stern, January 1, 1930, Volume 62, Number 2, Page 31)
Following a heart attack our beloved Brother Philipp Tadje died
unexpectedly and suddenly on Wednesday the 22nd of January at
an age of 71 years. To many members of the church and to many
friends he was known as “Father Tadje”; and was in a true sense
a “Father”. His upright character and his powerful testimony of the
truth of the gospel won over many a heart. With him a mighty
fighter for the work of the Lord has passed on. To those who are
left behind, including our beloved Mission President Fred Tadje
and his wife, as well as many on both sides of the ocean, we
express, in behalf of all members and friends our heartfelt
sympathy.
The Editorial Staff
Father Tadje
(Der Stern, February 1, 1930, Volume 62, Number 3, Pages 43-45)
“Father Tadje is dead!” For many years there hasn’t been an
obituary in “Der Stern” that has invoked such a sympathetic
response; for Father Tadje is known by nearly all of the members
of both German-speaking missions as a true servant of the Lord.
He served as a missionary in several branches of the church and
was always known there as “Father Tadje”. And he was a father of
everyone, whenever they came to him with small or great problems
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or just to spend a pleasant time with him.
Whenever he was active in a particular branch for an extended
length of time the number of investigators in the meetings grew
noticeably, for he was truly a source of living waters. He was a
preacher of repentance and gave constant warning of the coming
of the Lord. Who has not pondered the words he often spoke while
fired up with enthusiasm, “Prepare yourselves, for the Lord is
coming soon! I can already hear the footsteps of the Lord!” How
mightily he testified of the plan that the Lord Jesus Christ
restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.
Now he has gone home to his Lord. Perhaps he hastens to meet
Him, for the Lord is preparing to soon come to earth and accept His
Kingdom. May we, who have often listened to his words, imprint
even more firmly upon our minds his admonition, “The clock of the
world shows five minutes to twelve. We live in the last five
minutes.” When we have taken this to heart we will be among
those who will receive the bridegroom at midnight with oil in their
lamps.
Great was Father Tadje’s faith. The former president of the
mission, Hugh J. Cannon would gladly have had Father Tadje in
his mission. Upon one occasion he said, “I know of no man who has
more faith than Philipp Tadje. One could send him without purse
or script from Basel to Königsberg4 if it were necessary, and he
would go; because he knows that this is the work of the Lord.” The
writer of these lines has spent many pleasant hours with him and
has often thought, “If you could only be among us always,
grandfather ...”, (for all of us in the mission home called him
grandfather), “... so we could always receive some of the strength
of your faith.” He often gave us young missionaries good counsel
through word and example. Many times as we were still in bed,
Father Tadje would be up reading the scriptures, something he did
every morning between 6 and 7 o’clock. He fasted regularly and
once explained to us that he had fasted every Sunday for a period
of about ten years so that he could see his family grow up in the
spirit of the gospel. And the Lord has recognized his fasting, for his
son Fred is the Mission President, his son Philipp also carries the
high priesthood and his daughters have married good members of
the church. He was himself a good example to his own family until
the Lord called him home. Although Father Tadje had nearly
reached the biblical age he would distribute at least as many
missionary tracts as the younger missionaries and there were not
many who had more successful missionary discussions as he has
had.
Father Tadje took his material not only from the Holy Scriptures,
but also from the experiences of his own life, which left an even
4
Kaliningrad, Poland
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deeper impression upon his listeners. He was a doctor who was
often sent to treat the souls of some of the weaker saints. Many
who complained to Father Tadje, that they couldn’t go to church
meetings on Sunday because friends and relatives would always
come on Sunday to visit them, would hear the following, “I also
frequently get visitors just before the church meetings. However,
when the time comes that I must leave, I tell my visitors, Dear
friends, I must now go to my church meetings. There I have an
appointment with the Lord that I must keep. You are welcome to
go with me or stay here until I come back. My acquaintances would
soon realize that nothing would prevent me from going to church
and they would adjust their visits accordingly. Nobody was ever
insulted because of this and nobody will be insulted if you do the
same. So, you should try it.”
When someone felt that they need not pay their tithing, Father
Tadje would not only explain the promises of the prophets, that
blessings of the Lord will be poured out upon us when we pay our
tithing; but he would also use examples from his life; how the Lord
had blessed him for following this commandment. He arrived in
America with debts, yet he had barely settled down when his son
was sent on a mission. However, he always fulfilled his duty and
the Lord blessed him. So that he could support his son, and later
also his brother, on their missions, he would pay more than a tenth
so that he could raise the amount of his income. And the Lord
would give him more income from week to week so that he could
meet all his obligations. Eventually he was so blessed that he could
serve the Lord himself as a missionary in his fatherland, which he
did up to his death.
Since he was one of us, not only through the gospel, but also
through the bonds of blood as a son of the German people, we
German missionaries always found him a real joy, In spite of his
American citizenship papers, he remained always in his custom
and habit a German. On, how he loved the German language.
“Now I can really start preaching again!”, was his remark after his
first speech on German soil in 1926. In his last year of his life he
had completely offered himself to his people. He had the spirit of
John, who asked of the Lord that he remain as long as possible
upon the earth to bring more souls to the Lord. Father Tadje also
had this wish. After he had honorably finished his mission in
eastern Germany in 1928, he didn’t return to Zion, but he began
his second mission in Switzerland and western and southern
Germany, in order to win even more souls for the Lord.
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Members of both missions stand mourning before the final remains
of Father Tadje. However, this mourning is accompanied with
thanks to the Lord that he took his true servant suddenly such
that he need not taste death. He was on his way to serve his fellow
man when a heart attack left him sinking into the arms of his
missionary companion. May all who have known him also return
to their heavenly home in that same spirit!
“The memory of the just is blessed.” (Proverbs 10:7)
Helmut Plath, Stettin (Szczecin, Poland)
Philipp Tadje Obituary
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in the Assembly
Hall for Philip Tadje, 71, who died Jan. 22, while on a mission in
Switzerland. Interment will be in the City cemetery. Mr. Tadje
was born in Barsinghausen, Hannover, Germany, November 19,
1858, and was married to Lina Westphal. He joined the L. D. S.
Church in 1896 and emigrated to Utah in 1904. He returned to
Germany in 1914 on a mission, which he fulfilled. In 1926 he
went back to the Swiss-German mission, where his son, Fred
Tadje, is president.
Besides the son, Fred, he is survived by a son, Phillip A. Tadje; two
daughters, Mrs. Lena Sonntag and Mrs. Frank Yurka, and 25
grandchildren all of Salt Lake.
A Final Tribute
(Der Stern, February 1, 1930, Volume 63, Number 2, Page 45)
...
His wish had been fulfilled, he had died while working in the
vineyard of the Master. Truly he was granted a gentle and glorious
end. The Lord’s own can hope for a precious reward, the crown of
life that is made for the righteous.
“And ... those that die in me shall not taste death, for it shall be
sweet unto them.” (D&C 42:46)
May all the members of the Philipp Tadje family appreciate their noble heritage
and seek to honor his name.
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Appendix: German Language Tributes
Letter Written a Day After Philipp’s Death
The following letter was written in German by President Fred Tadje and his
wife Eliza on the day following Philipp’s death. The letter is addressed to his
brother, Philipp August Tadje.
Office of the
23. Januar 1930.
Mein Lieber Philipp und meine Lieben alle:Ein großer Krieger ist zur Ruhe gegangen, und wie plötzlich und unerwartet!
Die Nachricht von seinem Hinscheiden kam wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel.
O, wie froh und dankbar bin ich, daß er während der Wintermonate hier im
Missionsheim war, und ich sage Dir, Philipp, er fühlte sich wirklich zu Hause.
Letzten Herbst deutete ich verschiedene Male an, daß er nach Hause gehen
sollte und Eliza meinte auch, daß es wohl besser wäre, wenn er vor dem Winter
zu Hause wäre, denn er wäre schon ziemlich alt. Aber denkst Du, daß wir ihn
dazu bewegen konnten? Das wollte er einfach nicht hören. Sein Herz war hier
in dieser Arbeit und ich bin einenteils froh, daß ich ihn nicht gegen seinen
Wunsch entließ, sonst wäre er später gestorben, was wohl ganz sicherlich der
Fall gewesen wäre, und dann hätte ich mir Gewissensbisse gemacht, denn
sicherlich wäre der Gedanke in mir aufgestiegen, daß er sich darüber gegrämt
hätte. Und Du weißt, wie alte Leute sind; man muß vorsichtig mit ihnen
umgehen, denn der Gedanke sollte doch nie in ihm wachwerden, daß ich ihn
nicht mehr haben wollte – im Gegenteil, ich konnte mich nicht von ihm trennen,
doch dachten wir, daß es wohl besser wäre, wenn er noch eine Zeitlang bei Euch
wäre, aber er hatte immer Ausreden: “Was kann ich zu Hause tun? Hier bin ich
gerade in meinem Element, in meiner Arbeit; ich kann Gutes tun, ich kann dem
Herrn Seelen zuführen, ich kann mein Zeugnis geben.” Und weil er so ganz und
gar darauf bestand, habe ich natürlich als sein Sohn nichts dagegen einwenden
können. Und dann natürlich wie ich Dir schon verschiedene Male geschrieben
habe, hatte er auch eine wunderbare Arbeit geleistet. Es ist kein Mitglied in der
ganzen Mission, das nicht persönlich mit ihm bekannt ist, und ich sage Dir,
Philipp, er hat sich hier ein Denkmal errichtet. Es ist fast unglaublich, die
ganze Mission hing an ihm. Überall, wohin ich kam, wurde ich gefragt, “Wo ist
Vater Tadje, wie geht es ihm und wann kommt er wieder? – Hoffentlich sehr
sehr bald!” Ist es nicht wunderbar, wenn man solch einen Vater hat?
Präsident Widtsoe telegraphierte heute: “Sincerest sympathy – your father was
a nobleman in soul and service – his passing in the mission field is a glorious
ending of a splendid life – please express at memorial service appreciation of
church for his life – and example.”
Präsident Widtsoe hat ihn nämlich kennen gelernt und war gleich in ihn
verliebt.
Vater war nun schon eine lange Zeit hier bei uns im Missionsheim, vor und nach
Weinachten und es hatte uns alle wirklich gefreut, ihn unter uns tu haben, denn
sein köstlicher Humor war immer wie ein frischer Quell. Kürzlich bekamen wir
dann Nachricht, daß in der Bieler Gemeinde wohl eine gute Hilfe gebraucht
werden könnte und als Vater davon hörte, sagte er: “Friederich, ich glaube, ich
kann dort etwas Gutes tun und denkst Du nicht, daß ich besser hingehe und
dort einige Wochen oder vielleicht ein paar Monate arbeite und den Brüdern
dort helfe, die Geschwister ein wenig aufmuntere und die Schwachen wieder
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zurückbringe?” Ich konnte sehen, daß er nicht zufrieden gewesen wäre, wenn
ich es ihm abgeschlagen hätte und so fuhr er denn vor ca. 14 Tagen hin. Er hat
dort gearbeitet, d.h. Besuche gemacht, bei Geschwistern gegessen, in den
Versammlungen gesprochen und die Geschwister haben sich wirklich über seine
Anwesenheit und seine Tätigkeit gefreut.
Gestern nun, also Mittwoch, den 22. Januar, stand er des morgens wie
gewöhnlich auf. Sein Mitarbeiter, Bruder Ochsenbein, war auch bei ihm. Vater
sagte zu Bruder Ochsenbein: “Ach, schau doch mal, ich schwitze ja heute morgen
schon, es scheint nicht alles in Ordnung zu sein”, und fuhr sich dabei über die
Stirn, die ganz naß war. “Wie fühlen Sie sich?” fragte der Bruder. “O, sehr gut,
nur mein Magen knurrt ein wenig, aber das ist nicht so schlimm.” (Du weißt,
Philipp, daß er schon immer mit Magengasen zu tun hatte, aber das war nun gar
nicht mehr schlimm, seitdem er viel Rohkost zu sich nahm.) Vater und Bruder
Ochsenbein gingen dann weg und salbten noch eine kranke Schwester; dann
gingen sie zu andern Mitgliedern zum Mittagessen und Vater war fidel, wie
gewöhnlich, ihm fehlte gar nichts. Er hatte zwar nicht so viel gegessen, weil er
Angst hatte vor dem Aufstoßen. Die Schwester kochte ihm dann ein wenig
Wermuththee und dieser tat ihm ausgezeichnet. Bruder Ochsenbein fragte ihn:
“Nun, Vater Tadje, wie fühlen Sie sich?” “O, Bruder Ochsenbein, ich bin doch
so gesund wie ein Fisch im Wasser”, lachte Vater. Nach Tisch legte er sich dann
ein wenig zum Schlafen hin, wie es seine Gewohnheit war und wenn sich dazu
Gelegenheit bot. Dann, so ca. um 3 Uhr nachmittags verabschiedeten sie sich
von den Geschwistern und Vater machte noch allerlei Spaß, wie es immer seine
Art war. Sie gingen auf die Straße hinunter und machten sich auf den Weg
zusammen. Dann bei einer Biegung der Straße, nicht weit vom Hause, wo sie
gegessen hatten, fragte Bruder Ochsenbein wieder nach seinem Befinden. “O,
Bruder Ochsenbein, ich fühle mich so wohl wie ein Fisch im Wasser.” sagte
Vater. Dann, als sie etwa 100 Schritte weitergegangen waren, sagte Vater
plötzlich: “Ach, mir wird so schwindlig ...” will sich an einem am Wege stehenden
Staket halten und fällt aber in diesem Moment Bruder Ochsenbein direkt tot in
die Arme. So ist er also auf seinen Beinen gestorben und er wußte nicht, wie
ihm geschah. In einem Augenblick, ja in einer Sekunde wurde sein Geist
abberufen. Sicherlich war er erstaunt, als er in der Geisterwelt gewahr wurde,
was geschehen war. Ihr sollt nun nicht denken, daß er krank gewesen ist.
Soweit wie wir wissen, und wie sein Mitarbeiter bezeugte, fühlte er sich
vollkommen wohl, sonst wären sie wohl auch nicht zusammen weggegangen.
Nein, Vater hat buchstäblich den Tod nicht geschmeckt. Er war tätig bis zur
letzten Sekunde, hatte keine Beschwerden, keine Schmerzen, sein Herz hatte
einfach plötzlich mitten in der Arbeit zu schlagen aufgehört, also: He died in the
harness. Es war wirklich ein herrliches Ende für einen Kämpfer der Wahrheit.
Und wenn man alles betrachtet, seinen Eifer, um ein Diener Gottes zu sein, um
Seelen dem Herrn zuzuführen – dann Philipp, ich sage Dir, gab es keinen
bessern Platz für ihn, um zu sterben, als im Missionsfelde. Dieses war der Platz
für solch einen edlen Mann und das sagt jeder denkende Missionar hier im Felde
und jedes Mitglied hier in unserer Mission.
Ich wurde dann natürlich gleich benachrichtigt und bin nach Biel gefahren. Wie
ich gefühlt habe, und noch fühle, und wohl noch lange fühlen werde, kann ich
Dir nicht beschreiben, Philipp, aber Du kannst Dir es denken, doch bin ich einen
teils froh, daß es hier geschah, denn wäre er zu Hause gestorben, dann wäre es
für mich doch sehr trostlos gewesen, denn Du weißt, jedesmal, als ich auf
Mission war, starb jemand in unserer Familie. Zuerst war es Arnold, dann die
Mutter, und jetzt muß Vater gehen. So habe ich ihn wenigstens hier gehabt, und
obwohl es sehr sehr schwer ist, habe ich unter den Umständen die Gefühle ganz
gern, denn er war ein sehr lieber und guter Vater. Man könnte beinahe sagen,
daß sein Herz so groß war wie die Welt. Nichts war ihm zu viel für seine Kinder
und für die Kirche. Nur für diese lebte er und er hat unzählige Menschenherzen
freudig und froh gemacht und viele haben es seinem Eifer, seinem starken
Glauben und seiner unerschütterlichen Festigkeit zu verdanken, daß sie sich
heute glücklich fühlen in der Kirche.
Ich bat die Brüder, die Stelle zu photographieren, wo es Vater schwindlig wurde.
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Sie haben auch das Haus der Geschwister aufgenommen, wo er gegessen hatte,
und wo er nach seinem Tode hingebracht wurde und eine ganze Nacht dort
verweilt hatte, bis er von der Leichenbehörde geholt werden konnte. Du weißt
man hat immer mit Schwierigkeiten zu rechnen, wenn ein Ausländer stirbt,
aber bis jetzt scheint alles in Ordnung zu sein und ich hoffe, daß es uns gelingen
wird, ihm mit dem SS “America” von den U.S. Lines, der am 29. Januar
Hamburg verläßt, nach Hause zu bringen. Höchst wahrscheinlich wird
Missionar Fred Tiedemann ihn begleiten. Er ist über 50 Jahre alt und sollte
doch sowieso in einem Monat entlassen werden. So wird er es vielleicht
begrüßen, wenn er jetzt fahren kann. Ich habe ihm darüber geschrieben und
erwarte jeden Moment seine Antwort. Es ist auch besser, daß ein älterer Mann
mitgeht, der doch mehr Erfahrung besitzt als unsere jungen Brüder.
Ungefähr vor 8 Tagen war Vater noch in Bern mit den Missionaren und dort
haben sie sich alle photographieren lassen. Ich bin sehr froh darüber, denn
Vater wurde ziemlich natürlich auf dem Bilde getroffen. Ich werde Euch dann
einige Bilder zusenden und Du kannst sie dann den andern geben. Heute abend
sagte mir nun Distriktspräsident Maycock in Bern, daß es dem Photographen
möglich sein werde, ihn aus der Gruppe herauszunehmen und sein Bild zu
vergrößern.
Non, Philipp, ich hoffe, daß Ihr nicht zu traurig fühlen werdet, denn weißt Du,
wenn einer bald 72 Jahre alt wird, kann man so etwas erwarten, aber doch kann
ich Dir versichern, daß mir dies eine Überraschung war. Ich erwartete, daß er
mindestens noch 10-20 Jahre leben würde. Er war ja immer so kräftig und
gesund und seinen Humor hatte er behalten bis zum letzten Augenblick. Ich
glaube, wenn er nicht solch eine Natur gehabt hätte, so hätte er wohl kaum
dieses hohe Alter erreicht.
Vielleicht werden wir in jeder Gemeinde unserer Mission eine Gedenkfeier
abhalten, denn ich glaube, er hat alle besucht, und alle Geschwister kannten
ihn. Ich hoffe, daß Ihr eine sehr gute Begräbnisfeier haben werdet. Es sind
einige von den Autoritäten, die ihn kennen, z.B. Bruder Talmage, und
verschiedene, die mich kennen. Vielleicht könnten diese gefragt werden, am
Begräbnis teilzunehmen. Nun, was dort getan werden muß, das wirst Du ja in
Hand nehmen, und die bezüglichen Unkosten werde ich mit Dir teilen.
Philipp, ich weiß nicht, ich habe noch keinen Menschen gesehen, der so glücklich
gestorben ist wie Vater und er hat es auch sicherlich verdient. Gelitten hat er
nicht eine Sekunde und so kann man wirklich sagen, daß er in einem
Augenblick verwandelt wurde und den Tod nicht schmecken mußte. Also ein
herrliches, gesegnetes Ende nach solch einem wundervollen Leben, aber doch
werden wir ihn eine lange Zeit vermissen.
In seinem Segen wurde ihm gesagt, daß er das Evangelium lang und laut
verkündigen sollte, und ich sage Dir, Philipp, das ist gerade, was er getan hat,
und ich konnte ihn lange bitten, sich nicht so anzustrengen und seine Stimme
zu schonen, er konnte es nicht lassen. Und seine Stimme war manchmal wie das
Rollen des Donners und viele Leute wurden gerührt, wenn solch ein alter Mann
noch so rüstig und kräftig aus der Seele sprach. Dies war seine Mission, Philipp,
und ich denke mir, daß der Herr ihn zu diesem Zweck nach Deutschland sandte,
weil sicherlich in der nahen Zukunft wieder große Trübsale über die Menschheit
kommen und Deutschland wohl auch nicht verschont bleiben wird und er mußte
als solch ehrlich und aufrichtiger Mensch sein Zeugnis geben, und Du weißt er
hat kein Blatt vor den Mund genommen. Weiter wurde ihm in seinem Segen
versprochen, daß viele Kranke unter seinen Händen gesund werden würden; die
Blinden sollten sehend gemacht werden, u.s.w. und ich sage Dir, Philipp, er hat
wunderbare Erfahrungen gehabt. In Leipzig z.B. wurde eine Schwester, die
schon älter war und ihr Augenlicht verloren hatte, von ihm gesegnet und
nachher war sie sehend geworden. Einmal, in Chemnitz wurde Vater zu einer
Schwester gerufen, die am Sterben war, und die die Ärzte schon aufgegeben
hatten. Vater wurde gebeten, sie zu segnen und er verhieß ihr, daß sie am
andern Tag wieder auf ihren Füßen sein würde. “Ja”, meinten die Geschwister,
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“im Sarg wird sie morgen liegen”. Aber sie war tatsächlich auf am nächsten Tag,
wenn auch nur einige Stunden. Und so hatte er viele wunderbare Erfahrungen
erlebt. Auch in dieser Einsicht haben sich die Verheißungen erfüllt, die ihm
auf’s Haupt gesiegelt wurden. Er hat sein Werk getan, und auf welch
wunderbare Art und Weise.
Du weißt, wie schwer es manchmal ist, wenn alte und junge Leute zusammen
im Missionsfelde arbeiten müssen, aber Du kannst es mir glauben, Vater hatte
keinen Feind unter den Missionaren, sie liebten ihn genau so wie die Mitglieder.
Sie ließen ihn genau so wie die Mitglieder. Sie ließen ihm keine Ruhe, wenn er
unter ihnen war und fragten ihn dieses und jenes und holten sich seinen Rat.
Jeder wollte bei ihm sein und alle behandelten ihn mit einer herzlichen
Achtung. Das ist ein wundervolles Zeugnis für ihn.
Hoffentlich wird der Herr uns segnen, wir sollten darum beten, daß wir den
Trost bekommen möchten und die Hoffnung, die der Herr und durch seinen
Geist in solchen Fällen geben kann. Du kannst Dir denken, wie schwer es uns
wird, unter diesen Umständen Missionarsarbeit zu tun, aber wir wollen weiter
treu aushalten und fest in die Zukunft blicken und uns auf den Herrn verlassen.
Nun, ich denke, ich schließe für diesmal.
Es grüßt herzlich
Eliza, die Kinder, un Fred
Letter Written a Week After Philipp’s Death
The following letter was written in German by President Fred Tadje a week
following Philipp’s death. The letter is addressed to Fred’s brother, Philipp
August Tadje.
Office of the
28. Januar 1930.
Mein Lieber Philipp:Gestern mittag, also Sonntag, den 26. Januar haben wir hier im Missionsheim
eine Feier gehabt und von Vater Abschied genommen. Die Leiche wurde vorher
von Biel nach Bern gebracht und dort zur Überseefahrt vorbereitet. Wir mußten
natürlich einen dreifachen Sarg bestellen. Wie ich Dir schon schrieb, wurde
Vater gut einbalsamiert. Im Metallsarge ist nun eine Öffnung mit einem
Glasfenster. Der Deckel von dem Eichensarg kann abgenommen werden.
Vergiß dieses nicht. So habt Ihr wenigstens eine Gelegenheit, ihn nochmals zu
sehen, ehe er bestattet wird.
Vater sah einfach großartig aus. Sein Mund war ein ganz klein wenig geöffnet,
so daß seine Zähne sichtbar wurden und auf seinem ganzen Anlitz lag ein
Lächeln, als ob er sagen wollte, “Da hab’ ich Euch aber mal einen Trick gemacht!
Das habt Ihr wohl nicht geahnt!?” Und ich glaube ganz gestimmt, daß er so
glücklich fühlt, wie er gestern aussah.
Vor Sonntag, seit seinem Todesfall, habe ich natürlich eine ganz furchtbare Zeit
verlebt, das kannst Du Dir denken, aber gestern – Du kannst es nicht glauben
– als ich ihn so wunderbar erhaben und verklärt liegen sah, fühlte ich eine
unaussprechliche Freude für ihn, und es fiel mir nicht im geringsten schwer,
anläßlich unserer Feier einige Worte zu sagen. Dann nahm ich unsern kleinen
Fredy in die Arme und zeigte ihm Grandpa. Weißt Du, was er sagte: – “O,
Daddy, Grandpa looks like a King”, worauf ich erwiderte: “He is a King”, denn
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wirklich, wer so gelebt hat wie er, ist der Krone sicher.
Ich hoffe nun aber, daß sein Mund sich nicht weiter öffnet, so müßt Ihr mal
sehen, wenn er beim Undertaker ist, wie er aussieht. Es könnte ja möglich sein,
daß sein Mund ein wenig geschlossen werden sollte, dann wäre es nötig das
Glass einzudrücken. Wenn er jedoch so bleibt, we gestern, dann sieht er
großartig aus.
Lina Stockhausen kam Samstag abend spät in Basel an und sie ist wirklich froh,
die Gelegenheit wahrgenommen zu haben, um ihn noch einmal zu sehen.
Ich habe etwa 110 Dollars von Vater hier. Was soll ich damit machen? Soll ich
Dir diese zürucksenden? Denkst Du nicht, daß die Doll. 50.00 die ihm
Schwester Sehr zu Weihnachten sandte, ihr wieder zurückgeben werden sollten?
Bitte, laß mich Deine Meinung wissen.
Ohne mehr für heute sei recht herzlich gegrüßt von
Deinem
Fred
«Vater» Philipp Tadje
(Der Wegweiser, Jun 1930)
der Mann mit dem großen, unerschütterlichen Glauben an die Verheissungen
des Herrn; ein besondrer Zeuge für die Segnungen, die dem Gehorsam zum
Gesetz des Zehnten folgen. Sein mächtiges Zeugnis – gewonnen durch
wunderbare persönliche Erfahrungen – wird Tausenden seiner Zuhörer in dem
deutschsprechenden Missionen unvergeßlich bleiben. – Bis zum letzten
Atemzuge unermüderlicher Missionar, starb er inmitten seiner
Missionarsarbeit, in Biel, Berner Distrikt, am 22. Januar 1930. – «Ein Edelmann
durch und durch. Er kannte nicht nur das Evangelium, sondern er fühlte es
auch; er verstand es nicht nur, sondern lebte auch darnach.» (Präsident
Widtsoe)
Sein Andenken wird im Segen bleiben bei den Vielen, denen er durch sein
inspirierendes Zeugnis den rechten Weg gezeigt und den Glauben gestärkt hat.
Ältester Philipp Tadje im Missionsfeld †
(Der Stern, January 1, 1930, Vol. 62, No. 2, p.31)
Infolge Herzschlages verschied am Mittwoch, 22. Januar 1930, plötzlich und
unerwartet unser lieber Bruder Philipp Tadje im Alter von 71 Jahren. Vielen
Geschwistern und Freunden in beiden Missionen war er als «Vater Tadje»
bekannt, und er war ein Vater im wahren Sinne des Wortes. Sein aufrichtiges
Wesen, sein machtvolles Zeugnis von der Wahrheit dieses Evangeliums ließen
ihn aller Herzen gewinnen. Mit ihm ist ein mächtiger Streiter für das Werk des
Herrn zur Ruhe eingegangen. – Den trauernden Hinterbliebenen, unserm lieben
Missionspräsidenten Fred Tadje und seiner Gattin, sowie allen Leidtragenden
jenseits des Meeres, sprechen wir an dieser Stelle im Namen aller Mitglieder
und Freunde unser herzliches Beileid aus. (Näheres im nächsten «Stern».)
Die Schriftleitung.
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Vater Tadje
(Der Stern, February 1, 1930, Vol. 62, N. 3, pp. 43-45)
«Vater Tadje tot!» Es gab wohl seit Jahren keine Todesnachricht im «Stern» die
mehr Anteilnahme fand als diese; denn Vater Tadje ist fast allen Mitgliedern
beider Missionen bekannt als treuer Diener des Herrn. In vielen Gemeinden hat
er längere Zeit als Missionar gearbeitet und wurde dort immer nur «Vater
Tadje» genannt. Und er war ein Vater aller, wenn sie mit ihren kleinen und
großen Sorgen zu ihm kamen oder auch freudige Stunden mit ihm verlebten.
Wo er längere Zeit in den Gemeinden tätig war, wuchs die Zahl der Besucher
zusehends, weil von ihm wahrhaftig Ströme lebendigen Wassers flossen. Er war
ein Bußprediger, der die Ankunft des Herrn verkündigte. Wer dächte nicht an
die Worte, die er im Feuer der Begeisterung so häufig sprach: «Bereitet Euch!
Der Herr kommt bald! Ich höre schon die Schritte des Herrn!» Wie mächtig
zeugte er von Gott und dem Plane, den Jesus Christus der Welt wieder durch
den Profeten Joseph Smith gab.
Nun ist er selbst heimgegangen zu seinem Herrn. Vielleicht um Ihm
entgegenzueilen, weil Er sich anschickt, auf diese Erde zu kommen, Sein Reich
einzunehmen. Wollen wir, die wir so oft seinen Worten lauschten, uns deshalb
mehr denn je seine Mahnung einprägen: «Die Weltenuhr zeigt fünf Minuten vor
zwölf; wir leben in den letzten fünf Minuten.» Wenn wir das beherzigen,
werden wir auch zu denen gehören, die einmal den Bräutigam um Mitternacht
mit Öl in ihren Lampen empfangen.
Groß war Vater Tadjes Glaube. Der ehemalige Missionspräsident Hugh J.
Cannon hätte Vater Tadje gern in seiner Mission gehabt. Bein einer
Gelegenheit sagte er: «Ich kenne keinen Mann in der Mission, der einen
größeren Glauben hat als Philipp Tadje. Man könnte ihn ohne Beutel und
Tasche von Basel nach Königsberg senden wenn es nötig wäre, und er würde
gehen, weil er weiß: “Es ist des Herrn Werk!”» Wie manche schöne Stunde hat
der Schreiber dieser Zeilen mit ihm verleben dürfen und oftmals gedacht: «Ach,
könntest du immer mit, Großvater», wie wir ihn alle im Dresdener Missionsheim
nannten, «zusammensein, um von seiner Glaubenskraft zu empfangen.»
Machen guten Rat hat er uns jungen Missionaren durch Wort und Wandel
gegeben. Wenn wir oft noch in den Federn lagen, las Vater Tadje schon die
Heiligen Schriften. Das tat er damals jeden Morgen von 6–7 Uhr. Er fastete
regelmäßig und erzählte uns daß er hehr als zehn Jahre lang Sonntag für
Sonntag gefastet habe, um seine Familie im Geist des Evangeliums aufwachsen
zu sehen. Und der Herr hat sein Fasten erhört. Sein Sohn Fred ist
Missionspräsident, sein Sohn Philipp trägt ebenfalls das Hohepriestertum, und
auch seine Töchter haben gute Mitglieder der Kirche geheiratet. Er selbst aber
war den Seinen ein Vorbild, bis der Herr ihn in die andre Welt auf Mission rief.
Obgleich Vater Tadje schon bald das biblische Alter erreichte hatte, verteilte er
nicht weniger Traktate als die jungen Missionare, und es war wohl kaum einer,
der mehr Evangeliumsgespräche mit Erfolg geführt hat als er.
Vater Tadje nahm seinen Stoff nicht nur aus den Heiligen Schriften, sondern
größtenteils aus den Erfahrungen seines Lebens, was ja für die Zuhörer viel
eindrucksvoller war. Er war ein Arzt, der oft ausgesandt wurde, um die Seele
der schwachen Mitglieder zu behandeln, was wohl die schwerste Missionsarbeit
ist. Mancher, der Vater Tadje klagte, er könne die Versammlungen nicht
besuchen, weil Freunde oder Bekannte kämen, hörte folgendes: «Auch ich habe
häufig kurz vor der Versammlung Besuch bekommen. Wenn aber die Zeit
heranrückte, sagte ich zu den Besuchern: “Liebe Freunde, jetzt muß ich zur
Versammlung. Ich habe dort eine Verabredung mit dem Herrn, die ich halten
muß. Ihr seid herzlich eingeladen, mitzukommen oder hier zu bleiben, bis ich
wieder zurückehre.” Bald wußten meine Bekannten, daß sie mich von der
Versammlung nicht zurückhalten konnten und richteten sich danach ein.
Niemand wurde mir deshalb böse, und auch ihnen wird niemand böse werden.
Wenden auch Sie dieses Mittel an!»
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Wenn jemand meinte, er könne den Zehnten nicht bezahlen, führte Vater Tadje
nicht nur die Verheißungen der alten Profeten an, die ja sagen, daß der Herr
Segen herabschütten wird, wenn wir den Zehnten zahlen, sondern er zeigte an
Beispielen aus seinem Leben, wie der Herr ihn durch das Befolgen dieses
Gebotes segnete. Mit Schulden ist er nach Amerika gekommen. Kaum hatten
sie sich ein wenig eingerichtet, da wurde sein Sohn auf Mission berufen. Aber
er tat immer seine Pflicht, und der Herr segnete ihn. Da er später seinen Sohn
und seinen Bruder auf Mission unterstützten müßte, zahlte er im festen
Vertrauen auf den Herrn mehr Zehnten als er brauchte, um ein höheres
Einkommen zu erhalten, und der Herr gab ihm von Woche zu Woche mehr
Verdienst, daß er all seinen Verpflichtungen gerecht werden konnte und
schließlich so gesegnet wurde, daß er dem Herrn bis zum Tode in seinem
Vaterlande dienen konnte.
Daß er einer der unsern war, nicht nur durch das Evangelium, sondern auch
durch Blutsbande, ein Sohn des deutschen Volkes, haben wir deutschen
Missionare immer wieder mit großer Freude empfunden. Trotz seiner
amerikanischen Bürgerpapiere war er doch in Sitte und Gewohnheit ein
Deutscher geblieben. Ach, wie er seine deutsche Sprache liebte. «Nun kann ich
wieder mal richtig predigen!» war eine Bemerkung nach seiner ersten
Ansprache auf deutschem Boden 1926. Seine letzten Lebensjahre hat er ganz
seinem Volk geopfert. Er hatte den Geist des Johannes, der da vom Herrn
wünschte, so lange wie möglich auf der Erde zu bleiben, um Seelen zum Herrn
zu bringen. Auch Vater Tadje hatte diesen Wunsch, denn nachdem er 1928
seine Mission in Ostdeutschland ehrenvoll beendet hatte, zog es ihn noch nicht
nach Zions Höhen, sondern er begann eine zweite Mission in der Schweiz und
West- und Süddeutschland, um auch dort Seelen für den Herrn zu gewinnen.
Trauernd stehen die Mitglieder beider Missionen an der Bahre Vater Tadjes.
Aber diese Trauer ist gepaart mit Dank gegen Gott, daß der Herr Seinen treuen
Knecht plötzlich, ohne ihn den Tod schmecken zu lassen, zu sich nahm, als er
auf dem Wege war, seinen Mitmenschen zu dienen. Ein Herzschlag ließ ihn in
die Arme eines Mitarbeiters sinken. Möchten alle, die ihn gekannt haben
einmal in demselben Geiste zurückkehren in ihre himmlischen Heimat!
«Das gedächtnis des Gerechten bleibt im Segen.» (Sprüche 10:7)
Helmut Plath, Stettin.
Wie Vater Tadje starb
(Der Stern, February 1, 1930, Vol. 62, N. 3, pp. 43-45)
Viele unsrer Geschwister und Freunde haben den Wunsch geäußert, näheres
über das Ableben unsres lieben Vaters Tadje zu erfahren, und wir geben deshalb
nachstehende Einzelheiten bekannt:
Weihnachten und Neujahr feierte Vater Tadje im Kreise seiner Lieben in Basel.
Bald nach den Feiertagen zog es ihn jedoch hinaus, dorthin, wo sein Herz, sein
Sinnen und Trachten, seine Seele war: das Arbeitsfeld des Herrn. So reiste er
nach Biel.
Gesund und frish, wie er sich immer fühlte, machte er sich eines Tages mit
Bruder Ochsenbein, seinem Mitarbeiter, auf, um verschiedene Geschwister zu
besuchen. Mittags waren sie auch bei Geschwistern zum Essen eingeladen.
Nachdem sie die Mahlzeit eingenommen und sich kurze Zeit angenehm
unterhalten hatten, traten sie lebhaft plaudernd ein Stück Wegs, als Vater Tadje
plötzlich zu seinem Mitarbeiter sagte: «Ach, mir wird so schwindlig.» Er ging
dann auf einen Gartenzaun zu, um sich zu stützen. Jedoch kam er nicht dazu,
denn auf einmal fiel er seinem Begleiter in die Arme und war tot. Mit einem
friedlichen Lächeln auf dem Antlitz war er hinübergeschlummert. Sein Wunsch
war in Erfüllung gegangen: Mitten im Schaffen, im Weinberg des Meisters war
er gestorben. Wahrlich, ein sanftes, herrliches Ende war ihm beschieden.
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Seiner harret ein köstlicher Lohn, die Krone des Lebens, die einem
Rechtschaffenen zusteht.
«Und die, welche in mir sterben, sollten den Tod nicht schmecken, denn er wird
ihnen süß sein.»
Erinnerung an Vater Tadje
(Der Stern, May 15, 1931, Volume 63, Number 10, Page 155-159)
Vor fünf Jahren, im Mai 1926, kam Ältester Philipp Tadje, der Vater des
jetzigen Präsidenten der Schweizerisch-Deutschen Mission, als Missionar nach
Deutschland, seinem alten Heimatland in dem er nach Gottes Ratschluß, 71
Jahre alt, sein Leben beschließen sollte. Er hat in beiden Missionen segensreich
gewirkt und ist als «Vater Tadje» vielen Mitgliedern und Freunden in lieber
Erinnerung.
Oft und gern denkt man an die Zeugnisse, die dieser
glaubensstarke Mann gab. Seine vielen Erlebnisse in der Kirche haben
manchen im Glauben gestärkt. Während einer Priesterschaftsversammlung in
Dresden sagte er u. a. folgendes:
«Ich möchte euch etwas von meinen Erlebnissen in der Kirche Jesu Christi der
Heiligen der Letzten Tage erzählen. Hoffentlich kann ich durch die Inspiration
des Heiligen Geistes sprechen, damit euch diese Belehrungen für das ganze
Leben nützen können; denn ich weiß, was ich vorher war und was ich jetzt bin.
Ich war ein einfacher Mann in einem kleinen Orte bei Hannover der ungefähr
5000 Einwohner zählte, und jeder kannte mich, weil ich auch
Landmesserarbeiten ausführte. Mein älterer Bruder August schloß sich in
Hannover der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage an und kam
nach einigen Monaten, um auch mir die Botschaft zu bringen. Früher waren auf
dem Lande der Katechismus und die Bibel die Hauptsache, und so war ich in der
Bibel gut bewandert. Mein Bruder kam mir in Bibelkenntnis nicht gleich, und
so konnte er mir die Wahrheit der Kirche Jesu Christi nicht gut beweisen. Ich
schlug ihn. Er fragte dann, ob ich geneigt wäre, die Missionare einmal
einzuladen, sie könnten es mir besser auslegen. Ich willigte ein und freute mich
schon darauf, sie mit der Bibel schlagen zu können. Mein Sohn Friedrich
(Präsident Fred Tadje) und ich holten den Missionar, Bruder Frei, und meinen
Bruder von Bahnhof ab. Es war an einem Sonntagmorgen. Wir wollten
möglichst ungesehen nach Hause gelangen, und um den vielen Kirchengängern
nicht zu begegnen, schlugen wir einen andern Weg als gewöhnlich ein. Im Dorfe
gingen einige Gerüchte um, daß mein Bruder in Hannover vom Glauben
abgefallen sei. In der Nähe dieses Missionars hatte ich die ganze Zeit über ein
eigenartiges Gefühl. Vor dem Essen fragte er mich, ob er die Speise segnen
dürfe. Das war mir ganz neu, aber es gefiel mir. Danach sprachen wir über das
Evangelium, und ich mußte nach lebhafter Diskussion einsehen, daß die Lehren
der lutherischen Kirche, der ich angehörte, in vielen Punkten nicht mit der Bibel
übereinstimmten.
Einige Wochen später reiste ich nach Hannover, um mich taufen zu lassen.
Meine Frau konnte zu der Zeit die Wahrheit noch nicht verstehen. Der leitende
Älteste wollte mich aber noch nicht taufen, da er mich für nicht genug
vorbereitet hielt, worauf ich ihm antwortete: «Nun, dann taufe ich mich allein!»
Er taufte mich dann doch, trotzdem ich nicht viel vom Evangelium wußte; aber
durch Studium und Gebet holte ich bald alles nach. Häufig besuchte ich auch
die Versammlungen in Hannover.
Ein Zeugnis über das Zehntenzahlen
Etliche Wochen nach der Taufe kam mein Bruder August zu mir, tat recht
geheimnisvoll und sagte: «Hör mal, Philipp, da ist noch ein Punkt, den wir dir
nicht erklärt haben.» «Was ist denn das für ein Punkt?» Fragte ich neugierig.
«Wir sollen nämlich den Zehnten zahlen», sagte er. «Das ist ja biblisch»,
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antwortete ich ihm sofort, und mein Zeugnis von der Echtheit der Kirche Jesu
Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage ward dadurch nur noch mehr gestärkt.
Ich hatte ja in der Heiligen Schrift selbst vom Zehnten gelesen, wußte aber
nicht, was es bedeutete. Jetzt hatte ich endlich eine Kirche gefunden, wo dieser
Grundsatz gelehrt wird.
Da Kam eine andere Schwierigkeit, und das war mit meiner Frau; denn sie
glaubte sicherlich daß sie und die Familie verhungern müßte, wenn ich den
Zehnten abgeben würde. Die Zeiten vor dreißig Jahren waren in Hannover auch
nicht glänzend. Ich aber wollte den Zehnten zahlen, da ich wußte, der Herr
würde uns für den Gehorsam zu diesem Gebote segnen. Später ließ sich meine
Frau auch taufen, und nun hatten wir die Diener des Herrn häufiger bei uns zu
Tisch; aber das Zehntenzahlen konnte sie immer noch nicht verstehen. Sie war
überaus sparsam. Jeden Groschen drehte sie erst dreimal um, ehe sie ihn
ausgab. Ich gab ihr alles Geld, was ich verdiente. Da meine Kleidung stets
nachgesehen wurde, um alles in Ordnung zu halten, wußte ich nicht, wo ich den
Zehnten verstecken sollte, bis ich ihn mit nach Hannover nehmen konnte.
Später fand ich eine sichere Stelle auf der Uhr, die nur ich immer aufzog; denn
sie war so hoch, daß meine Frau, die kleiner war als ich, mir diese
Beschäftigung gern selbst überließ. Damit sie jedoch nicht merken sollte, daß ich
den Zehnten bezahlte, änderte ich die Lohntüte immer entsprechend. Und doch
hatte sie es wohl bemerkt; denn als ich ihr später erzählte, sagte sie: «Das weiß
ich schon lange, ich wollte nur nichts sagen.» Später hatte ich durch meine
Landmesserarbeiten genügend Nebeneinnahmen und brauchte demzufolge die
Lohntüte nicht mehr zu ändern. Mir lag es daran, den Segen des Herrn zu
haben, und ich habe ihn empfangen, wie ich gleich noch erzählen werde.
Der Herr ist zuverlässig
Kurz nach meiner Taufe bat ich den Herrn, mir ein starkes Zeugnis zu geben.
Ich glaubte ganz bestimmt, daß ich die Wahrheit gefunden hatte. Ich wollte das
Evangelium nach besten Kräften unter den Dorfbewohnern verbreiten. Um
Versammlungen abzuhalten, brauchten wir ein geräumiges Lokal. Die Brüder
wollten sie bei uns im Hause abhalten; aber unsere Wohnung war so klein, daß
immer zwei aufstehen mußten, wenn einer hinaus wollte. Damit wir nun aber
doch zusammenkommen konnten, mietete ich in der gleichen Straße eine große
Wohnung zum Preis von 75 Mark für sechs Monate. Bald darauf bot mir ein
Bekannter ein Bauernhaus mit einigen Morgen Land an, weil der Pächter
ausziehen wollte. Ich entgegnete ihm: «Was soll ich denn mit einem so großen
Hause. Damit kann ich ja nichts anfangen.» «Philipp», sagte der Besitzer zu
mir, «das wäre grade etwas für dich.» «Nein, nein», wehrte ich ab, «das kommt
für mich gar nicht in Frage.»
Als ich auf dem Heimwege war, da kam mir der Gedanke, daß sich das
Bauernhaus doch vorzüglich für unsre Versammlungen eignen würde, und je
mehr ich darüber nachdachte, desto fester blieb mir dieser Gedanke im Sinn. Ich
besprach die Angelegenheit mit meiner Frau. Sie war dagegen und sagte: «Ich
will nicht dorthin ziehen. Ich bleibe hier. Was willst du übrigens mit drei
Wohnungen? Du hast doch schon eine gemietet. Ich weiß gar nicht, was dir
einfällt.»
Ich aber konnte den Gedanken nicht los werden. Gewißheit mußte ich haben,
und so betete ich inbrünstig zum Herrn. Er möge mir doch helfen. Wenn es sein
Wille sei, so möge Er mir den Bauern über den Weg führen. Einige Tage darauf
traf ich den Bauern in der Dorfstraße. Ich grüßte ihn und tat so, als wolle ich
vorübergehen. Doch er kam grad auf mich zu. Bald waren wir im Gespräch.
«Das Haus macht mir große Sorgen», sagte er unvermittelt. «Vermiete es doch»,
gab ich im zur Antwort. «Du willst es ja nicht.» «Ja, was soll ich den mit einem
so großen Haus? Wieviel willst du den dafür haben?» «Bisher habe ich 600
Mark erhalten. Wenn ich jetzt die Hälfte bekäme, wäre ich schon zufrieden.»
«Dann nehme ich es.» «Wollen wir einen Vertrag aufsetzen?» «Das ist nicht
nötig. Ein Mann ein Word.» Dann ein Handschlag und ich hatte das
Bauernhaus gemietet. Er hat diesen Vertrag eingehalten und ich auch, und wir
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haben nie Schwierigkeiten deswegen gehabt.
Was nun? – Jetzt hatte ich drei Wohnungen. Als ich meiner Frau erzählte, daß
ich das Bauernhaus auch noch gemietet hätte, da gab es ein paar trübe Tage.
Sie meinte, wir müßten nun ins Armenhaus gehen, weil wir das Geld für die drei
Wohnungen nicht aufbringen könnten.
Damals wurden nämlich die
Mietverträge immer auf einen halben Jahr geschlossen, das heißt man konnte
am 1. April und am 1. Oktober kündigen. Was sollte ich nun tun?
Und grade jetzt wo die Not am größten, war Gottes Hilfe am nächsten. Als
meine Wirtin hörte, daß ich eine neue Wohnung gemietet hatte, die zweite, da
kam sie zu mir und sagte: «Ich bekomme doch die Miete bis zum Schlusse des
Halbjahres.» «Wenn Sie bis zum 1. April die Miete bekommen, sind Sie dann
zufrieden?> fragte ich sie. Sie bejahte. «Nun, dann machen Sie sich keine
Sorgen.» Auch die zweite Wirtin bestand auf ihrer Forderung. Sie erklärte mir,
sie könne nicht irgendeinen weltfremden Mieter ins Haus nehmen. Ihr gab ich
dieselbe Antwort und auch sie war vorerst zufriedengestellt. Das Geld, alle
diese Mieten zu bezahlen, hatte ich jedoch nicht.
Da kam meine zweite Wirtin eines Tages zu mir und fragte mich, ob ich denn
meine Wohnung ihrem Schwiegersohne abtreten könnte, dessen Haus kurz
zuvor eingeäschert worden war. Mit Freuden willigte ich ein, denn jetzt griff
der Herr ein. Das kam mir so deutlich zum Bewußtsein. Bald darauf konnte ich
auch die andre Wohnung an eine Familie weitervermieten, die ebenfalls durch
die Feuerbrunst ihres Heimes beraubt worden war. Meine erste Wirtin war
einverstanden, und alles ging wie am Schnürchen. Deutlicher konnte mir der
Herr kein Zeugnis geben, und es wird mir mein Leben lang im Gedächtnis
blieben. Alle Not hatte ein Ende. Ich brauchte die Mieten nicht zu bezahlen
und konnte ruhig in das Bauernhaus übersiedeln. Hier konnten wir nach
Herzenslust Versammlungen abhalten. 55 Personen aus diesem Dorfe haben
sich der Kirche angeschlossen, von denen eine ganze Anzahl Missionen in
Deutschland und Amerika erfüllt haben.
Noch eine Gebetserhörung
Natürlich hatten wir auch sehr unter Verfolgung zu leiden. Die Geistlichen
predigten und schrieben gegen uns und forderten die Leute auf, mich
fortzujagen; aber wir wichen nicht. Man versuchte, meinen Arbeitgeber zu
veranlassen, mir zu kundigen, da ich ein «Mormone» sei. Doch er antwortete
den Herren: «Wenn alle «Mormonen» so sind wie Tadje, wünschte ich, daß meine
ganze Belegschaft aus «Mormonen» bestünde.»
Eine Zeitlang leitete ich die Gemeinden Barsinghausen und Hannover. Morgens
war Versammlung in Barsinghausen und nachmittags in Hannover. Aber meine
Arbeitszeit lag so ungünstig, daß ich schon immer mitten in der Versammlung
aufbrechen mußte, um um fünf Uhr an meiner Arbeitsstelle zu sein. Da dies für
die Gemeinde zum Nachteil war, betete ich inbrünstig in der Woche, damit der
Herr die Wege öffne, das ich doch eine Stunde später in den Dienst müsse Am
nächsten Sonntag war ich wieder um fünf Uhr an meiner Arbeitsstätte. Als ich
die Treppe hinaufsteigen wollte, begegnete mir der Ober-Bergrat mit seiner
Frau und fragte verwundert: «Tadje, was wollen Sie denn schon hier?» «Herr
Ober-Bergrat, meine Arbeitszeit beginnt um fünf Uhr», war meine Antwort.
«Das ist nicht nötig, Sonntags brauchen Sie erst um sieben Uhr zu kommen»
entgegnete er. Seine Frau suchte einzuwenden: «Mann, es ist doch besser, wenn
Tadje schon früher kommt. Wir gehen häufig fort, und dann sind die Kinder
wenigstens nicht allein in dem großen Gebäude.» Worauf aber der Ober-Bergrat
kurz entgegnete: «Ach was, der Mann hat auch Kinder! Kommen Sie nächsten
Sonntag erst um sieben Uhr.» Um eine Stunde hatte ich den Herrn gebeten,
und Er hatte mir zwei gegeben.
Später hegte meine Tochter Julie den Wunsch, nach Amerika zu ziehen, was
meine Frau erst nicht zugeben wollte. Doch nachdem meine Tochter darum
gefastet und gebetet hatte, half ihr meine Frau sogar bei dem Vorhaben. Als sie
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in Amerika war, ließ sie meinen Sohn Friedrich nachkommen. Dann schrieben
mir meine Kinder, doch auch nach dort zu kommen, und so machte ich mich mit
dem übrigen Teil der Familie auf den Weg nach Amerika, nachdem wir unsern
Heimatort gründlich durch missioniert hatten.
Mit Schulden beladen kam ich in der Salzseestadt an. Durch Fasten und Gebet
bekam ich Arbeit und lernte auch bald die Sprache ein wenig. In einem Jahr,
in dem ich immer meinen Zehnten bezahlt hatte und meinen andern Pflichten
nachgekommen war, hatten wir unsre Schulden abbezahlt. Es dauerte nicht
lange, da wurde mein Sohn Friedrich auf Mission berufen. Er kam zu mir und
fragte: «Vater, soll ich auf Mission gehen oder hier bleiben und mithelfen, uns
ein Heim zu schaffen. Ich möchte schon gehen. Doch was denkt Ihr darüber?»
Ich antwortete ihm: «Es ist der Wille des Herrn, daß du auf Mission gehst.
Leistest du diesem Rufe nicht Folge, werden wir vorläufig kein Heim
bekommen. Der Herr wird schon für uns sorgen, wenn wir Seinen Willen tun.»
Mein Sohn reiste dann nach Holland ab.
Während seiner Mission wurden wir so gesegnet, daß wir uns in kurzer Zeit ein
Haus kaufen konnten. So wunderbar sorgte der Vater im Himmel für uns. Bald
nach der Rückkehr meines Sohnes Friedrich erging an meinen Sohn Philipp der
Ruf, eine Mission zu erfüllen. Kaum war er wieder zuhause, da kam der Bischof
zu mir und fragte mich, ob ich gehen könne. Dann erfüllte ich meine erste
Mission in Deutschland. Später habe ich meinen Bruder und meinen
Schwiegersohn auf ihren Missionen unterstützt.
Oft sah es traurig aus, daß meine Frau verzagen wollte. Im festen Vertrauen auf
den Herrn habe ich soviel Zehnten bezahlt, wie ich unbedingt zur Unterstützung
der Missionare und meiner Familie Geld brauchte, und der Herr hat uns die
Wege geöffnet, so daß meine Frau, die erst gegen das Gesetz des Zehnten war,
immer dafür sorgte, daß wir diese Pflicht pünktlich erfüllten. Voller Rührung
erzählte Vater Tadje: «Ja, meine liebe Frau besaß die Gabe himmlische
Erscheinungen zu sehen. Sehr oft sah sie himmlische Wesen in den
Versammlungen. Mir fiel das Predigen in englischer Sprache sehr schwer, aber
manchmal merkte ich gar nicht, daß ich in einer fremden Sprache redete, und
ein paarmal sagte mir dann meine Frau, sie habe ein himmlisches Wesen an
meiner Seite stehen sehen, das mir die Worte eingegeben habe.
Brüder, ich bin arm nach Amerika gekommen, aber unsre Familie hat sechs
Missionen erfüllen können. Haltet die Gebote des Herrn, und ihr werdet
gesegnet. Ich weiß das dies Sein Werk ist! Ich habe es erfahren.»
Weiteres über Vater Tadje im «Stern» Nr. 3 von 1930. Schon über ein Jahr ist
es her, seit der Herr Seinen treuen Knecht heim rief, aber seine Zeugnisse
werden in den Herzen vieler lebendig bleiben, bis auch sie den Lebenskampf
bestanden haben. Mögen deshalb diese Zeilen bei vielen Lesern schöne
Erinnerungen wachrufen, Erinnerungen, die unser eigenes Zeugnis stärken.
Hellmut Plath, Stettin (Szczecin, Poland)
Page 73 of 73

The Life of “Father Tadje” Philipp Ernst August

Transcription

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