Auernheimer, Samuel (1874-1918)

Date of Birth: 1874 May 27, Summerfield, Illinois
Date of Death: 1918 September 18, India

Three articles from The India Alliance, October, November, December 1918

Editorial Note--The death of Mr. Samuel Auernheimer, following upon that of Mr. Ramsey and Mrs. Moodie, has been a great grief to tbe whole mission. We miss them all more and more as the fact of their departure grows upon us. Mr. Auernheimer's gentle, unselfish and cheerful spirit made him much loved. His surname was so difficult for the Indian Christians to say, that he came to be called by his given name, Shamuvel Sahib, smiling, willing and modest always. Wherever he went he did the simple, practical things, and so unobtrusively that only their helpfulness proclairned them. Last hot season when Mr. and Mrs. Auernheimer were visiting their little girl at Panchgani, Mr. Auernheimer, who could turn his hand to almost anything, asked Miss Lothian in his thoughtful way to let him do any repairs or odd jobs about the childten's home for her. She showed him the many little things that need attention where there is a large family of children, and he mended them all, so quietly that she never knew they were done until to her great comfort she saw them whole and shipshape. That was thoroughly typical of Mr. Auernheimer. Some men can do a great deal, if half a dozen people stand about and wait on them, but that was never Mr. Auernheimer's way. He was thoroughly capable and not afraid of work. Another very noticeable trait in him, which was after all only another aspect of his gentleness and kindliness, was his dislike of grieving anyone. He would take great pains to avoid "hurting the heart," as we say in Marathi. Some excellent and earnest people seem to forget that the Bible says " Be courteous," as explicitly as it says " Be filled with the Spirit." Indeed, it is impossible to imagine how any one who was full of that Spirit which actuated Christ, who never broke a bruised reed nor quenched smoking flax, could ever be discourteous. At the annual convention Mrs. Auernheimer was appointed to the school work at Bhusawal. In her mission work in England, before coming to India, Mrs. Auernheimer had much to do with young people, especially girls, over whom she had much influence. She will find a much larger scope for this sort of work at Bhusawal than at most of our other stations; but the great change will be very hard at first, for the breaking up of a happy home is a grief that touches the whole life. Mrs. Auernheimar and little Ruth both need loving prayer, and such comforting as one human may be to another.

IN MEMORIAM. THE writer first met Brother Auernheimer in Southern California in the year 1900 when home on furlough. He had been converted several years prior to that, under the ministry of the Rev. S. S. Chafe, who was a worker belonging to Dr. Charles Cullis of Boston. The writer twelve years before bad been converted under the preaching of the same man, so there was very naturally a firm bond of friendship formed be- tween us that has lasted ever since. From the time of his conversion Brother Auernheimer was an active worker in the church, and he stood out clear and strong for a full salvation. He was a strong tither and in his early Christian life he used to give tw0 tithes monthly from his income. He was a staunch worker for total prohibition, and helped to close up some of the liquor joints in and near the place of his labour. He was first drawn to the work in India through some talks the writer gave in Brother Auernheimer's home town of Cucamonga, S. California, and through personal talks and conversations that we had together in the home of our old Pastor, Rev. S. S. Chafe. He could ask more questions about India and its needs than any other person I have ever met with. He finally decided that he would take a term in the Missionary Training Institute at Nyack, New York, where he spent two years, after which he was sent out to India as a missionary in the year 1902. In a talk I had with Rev. A. E. Funk who was then the House Father in the Institute, he said that Brother Auernheimer was a steady, plodding and trustworthy young man, and these traits I should say characterised his whole Christian life. Brother Auernheimer was always true to his convictions and he was not easily moved from them. He learned the Marathi language in our home, and he was a person that we could always depend upon. If he had a work to do he did his best to do it well. He had good business methods, and for a number of years he was the business manager of our India Alliance. The mission learned to trust him and for a while he was our mission secretary for the Marathi Field, which position he filled splendidly. I think that he was the premier book seller of our mission, especially in selling scripture portions. He used to sell hundreds every month. He had a habit of slipping down to the station when he had a few minutes to spare and meeting the different trains that passed through. In this way he has put thousands of copies of the scriptures into the hands of the travelling public, and these books were not carelessly given away, but all sold, which is much more likely to insure their being read. Brother Auernheimer was naturally a large strong well-built man, so that when he was stricken down with typhoid two months before his death, somehow we never thought of his dying, but expected that he would be up and around as usual in a little while. But God saw best and took him to himself. In all these years we have looked upon him as a son and loved him as such. We were with him when he crossed over to the other side, but it does not seem real yet that we shall not hear his cheery voice again this side of the grave. It all seems so very strange, his going when he was so much needed and when he was at his best; gone when we need him most, a steady worker, a competent secretary, and an active missionary. But he has just gone on ahead, laid off the armour and taken up the crown. He had a large circle of Christian friends who kept in touch with him and his work, and be will be much missed by them. He leaves a widow and a little nine-year-old girl named Ruth, and we ask for both of these your love and sympathy. Place them on your prayer list. They will miss him unutterably as the days go by for he was an ideal husband and father. We thank God for him and his faithful, cheerful life. --W. Moyser.

A TRIBUTE TO SAMUEL AUERNHEIMER. FOLLOWING so closely the homegoing of Mr. Ramsey and of Mrs. Moodie, the word of the decease of Samuel Auernheimer came as a great surprise and shock to our whole mission circle. His departure from the work will be keenly felt and the fellowship of his congenial disposition and disciplined spirit will be greatly missed. After a remarkable record of about fifteen years of unbroken health, it seemed strange when he wrote to us in the early days pf July, " I'm not feeling well these days-tired and good for nothing. Guess I have this Influenza." We too thought it was but a passing trouble. But after some weeks of low fever the Civil Surgeon pronounced it "para-typhoid," which at first seemed to be a very mild case. With all the prayers of many friends, the good care which loving hands administered and his hardy constitution, one naturally thought he would easily pull through, But the Lord's thought and will seemed otherwise and our dear brother left us on September 18th after two months of suffering. It has been hard to adjust ourselves to this great change at the Malkapur mission house. Brother and Sister Auernheimer were our nearest missionary neighbours, our homes being about fifteen miles apart. As our districts adjoined; we often camped and worked together. Our fellowship, which was never broken, grew deeper as we got to know each other better. We shall always think of Samuel Auernheimer as one of the most obliging and patient men we ever knew. His life was full of those little acts of thoughtfulness which made one feel that he accepted it as a privilege to do a favour. When going to Bombay, or Bhusawal, or even to the weekly bazaar he would often write to ask, "Is there anything I can bring for you -no trouble, the bigger the order the better." As a missionary he was capable and could adapt himself to all kinds of work. This coupled with the patient cheerfulness with which he met all perplexities and adverse circumstances endeared him to all who knew him well. In the office of secretary he was most efficient. Order was the habitual state of his books and desk. When a man was needed to prepare for the Indian Christian sabha (convention), or the annual mission convention, or for any special work of the sort, "Sam" was often the unassuming handyman for the occasion. Besides preaching, he was particularly gifted in spreading the gospel in the district by the printed page. He had a real gift in selling scripture portions and was always so delighted on returning from a festival, market, or village when he had accomplished large sales. I often heard him say, holding a bunch of scripture portions in his hand--"This is bound to bear fruit some day." The Sunday before he fell ill, he ministered to the English congregation at Bhusawal, and many who were present remarked on the unusual fervor and power with which he preached. Referring to the war, the famine, the pestiIence, a railway accident, and the recent deaths of friends and fellow missionaries, he solemnly warned and entreated his hearers. "We do not know who may be next. If it should be one of us, are we ready?" Some of that congregation have since been called into the Lord's presence. Our dear brother will be greatly missed by a large circle of friends, especially by the Christians and non-Christians at Malkapur. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are for Mrs. Auernheimer and dear little Ruth in their great loss and sorrow, Personally I feel that I have lost one of my dearest friends--we were so much togethe2 in the work. But it is only "till He come." --C. Eichee.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Summerfield, Illinois
Son of Jacob A. and Susanna (Seitz) Auernheimer
Married Emma Ashwood 1907 November 26
Missionary in India

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
See David Jacob Auernheimer for sibling photo

Sources:
Gen Chart I-3
Grandma database Profile #1156367
The India Alliance, magazine of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, Oct, Nov, Dec 1918 quarterly issue