Treasure Chest Thursday - Christian Linnemann's Gesangbuch

 

I saw my parents last weekend and they gave me a little book ... my great grand uncle Christ's Gesangbuch! They know that I have been researching our Linnemann line for some time and wanted me to have it!

The first page ... "Ach bleib mit Deiner Gnade." According to Google Translate, this means "Oh stay with your grace."

Christ's name is written on the back of the first page. The first two pages appear to have been repaired with some white tape that covers the end of his name and part of the next  page. The next page is printed with "Widmung" which means "dedication", but nothing is written on that page.

Christian Linnemann, known as Christ, was my great-grandmother's oldest brother. He was born Christian Fasel, but his father died shortly before he was born and his mother later married Gerhard Linnemann. I also posted a picture of him when he was in the Army and his tombstone.

The title page ... "Evangelisches Gesangbuch für Rheinland und Westfalen" which translates to "Protestant hymnal for Rhineland and Westphalia." Christian was born in Gelsenkirchen, which is in the state of North Rhein-Westfalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). His mother's religion was Catholic on Christ's birth record, but by the time his sister Elisabeth was born, she and her husband were both Protestant (Evangelishes).

The bottom of the page has what I believe is the publisher (W.Crüwell) in Dortmund, dated 1897. The Linnemann family came to America in 1904. My father only met Christ a few times as a child, but remembers him as very quiet and was often seen sitting reading his Bible or this hymnal.

The hymnal doesn't open very far, but it is a beautiful little book filled with German hymns. Thank you Dad and Mom for this wonderful gift!!