6 
 
My baptism took place on Sunday, August 2nd 1889 in the first Evangelical Lutheran church at 
Walla Walla. Pastor Egen officiated at the Holy Baptism. I was given the name Maria Magdalena. 
Elizabeth Lieschke, later Mrs Jacob Wenke of Date Palm Hill, Walla Walla, who carried me into 
the church and my Auntie Maria, Mrs Samuel Muller, who was born in Saxony, were my 
Godmothers. My Uncle, Johann Mickan, was my Godfather. In reference to the christening party 
for me. The guests were – Elizabeth Lieshke, later Mrs Jacob Wenke, my Aunt and Uncle Augusta, 
and Johann Mickan, no doubt a day to remember. My mother told me, my ages were, I was 
crawling at six months, and walking at ten months, and now in regards to my earliest memories, and 
this is a vague recollection, firstly, “I a young babe sitting on the floor near the doorstep of our 
home, and it was the front entrance, and I was crying. My mother’s brother, my uncle Gotthilf 
Arnold, squatted down beside me, put his arm around me, and said, “who is crying so much.” I 
tearfully answered, “Hahtel, looking up to my dear uncle, I said, “Whotah, - and I do remember my 
uncle holding me, in his arms, walking along the verandah – next I remember my Grandfather 
planting a tree, I was standing closeby, when the evergreen Elm tree was planted. I think the name 
would be the Montana Elm tree, and this tree holds so many memories, as it is still flourishing as 
good today as yesteryear … Next I remember, my Grandfather holding my hand, as we were 
walking together in the Hoff yard, toward our home, and another thing, I still remember quite 
clearly, walking in the garden with my mother, who was picking lots of flowers, and then taking 
those blooms and placing them on the back seats of our buggy. 
I can still picture the lovely chrysanthemums and the nice double stocks, “O beaut colours, at that 
time, during Autumn my age would have been, about three years and nine months, those flowers 
were taken to decorate the new Evangelical Lutheran church at Walla Walla. 
 
Something else I still remember is that my mother and I stood outside, on the front verandah, 
looking towards the Gerogery road and this is very clear in my mind, we saw the family buggy, my 
father and a passenger in the front seat, it was Pastor Herlitz, who came from Melbourne by train, 
arriving at the Gerogery Railway Station.  
 
My mother was a good hostess, entertaining this Reverend Gentleman, for midday dinner on that 
day. I also remember quite clearly some very nice red stewed quinces and boiled rice, which were 
served as sweets on this occasion. Pastor Herlitz talked to my grandfather and my father, and I was 
also with them as Pastor Herlitz was holding me on his knee, and I can still remember his black 
beard and his friendly mannerism, 
 
This Reverend Gentleman was purposeful indeed in that he had arrived for the opening and the 
dedication of the new Evangelical Lutheran church at Walla Walla and the second church. 
 
On that special day I walked with my mother who was carrying Andy, and I was holding my 
Grandmother’s hand. My Grandmother was almost blind. We entered the church, through the door 
at the vestry and another door behind the pulpit and the Altar. We took our seats right in front, and I 
very clearly remember seeing and recognising my Grandfather who was sitting on the seat placed 
across in the front pew, being an official dignitary. Grandfather was an Elder and Lay reader for 
many years. I was told that the speech my Grandfather Mickan gave at the opening and the 
dedication ceremony was very good, and very well spoken indeed. 
 
After the ceremony everyone assembled in the first Lutheran Church and took their seats at the long 
tables. I should mention that the Festive Spirit was present. Firstly, the tables were beautified with 
lots of vases of beautiful flowers. The guests stood up and sang the Grace, that is the table Grace. 
There was certainly a Christian Community Spirit, throughout the Festivities, and during the 
afternoon, they had Hymn singing, with Organ music, and some prayers were said. 
 
Later in the afternoon, coffee was served and the tables were laden with lots of plates containing the 
Deutchen Kuchen Streusal cake.  
 

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