Local Preacher Often Wrote About Familiar Topics, People
November 1, 1979

Click

pix 1 Fuge, when he was young, wanted to deep-sea dive, but his diver friend wouldn’t permit it It. The closest the preacher ever came was to have himself photographed in a diving suit.

pix 2 This artist’s conception of the incident in which Fuge’s father scared away three whales.

The Old Constitution

Just this one excerpt provides the essence and purpose of Fuge’s reason for writing it: “There is at present a general outcry all over these United States for every true and loyal citizen to stand by the grand old Constitution of this wonderful Republic. For 150 years it has been the bulwark, the plank, the ribs and the keel of this old ship-of-state. But it is being assailed and assaulted on every hand. Those who swore by the God of heavens to be its defenders and its friends have held it up to ridicule and contempt, and regarded it but little more than any other scrap of paper.”

Jonah

This pamphlet, on the story of Jonah’s experience in the belly of a whale, contains some very interesting insights on the Bible story which many have doubted, but which a Fuge defended, and provides Bible truths about Jonah, which many students may have overlooked.

Dangerous Fallout and Bomb Shelters

Fuge’s views on those subjects, written many years ago, are as interesting today and as pertinent as they were then. “I tell you bomb shelters may protect for a little while, but when the last great storm of insulted justice breaks over this poor old troubled world then may God be merciful to all. But yet, there is a shelter. Listen to Isaiah 32:2 --- ‘A --- man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of waters in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.’ That man is Jesus Christ. Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee; let the water and the blood from Thy wounded side that flowed, be of sin, the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.”

The Woman That Nobody Knows

In that article, Fuge shares his opinions about the wife of Job, claiming that she must have had many sterling qualities to suffer along with her husband all of his sickness and misfortunes, and through the days of their restoration. Fuge maintains that we all have trials and adversities and that in the dark days the strong should help the weak and be charitable. The Lord will bring us out.

Poems

Fuge wrote scores of stirring and beautiful poems, many of a religious nature, but others about people and events right here in Fostoria. Here are a few: “Goodbye to the Old School Fence,” written during World War II when scrap metal was eagerly sought to aid the war effort. An iron fence which surrounded the Fostoria High School (now Emerson Junior High) which many will remember, finally fell to the torch. Here are a few verses from the poem:

The iron-clad bulwark that guarded the campus,
And sternly announced to the intruder, “Stand back”
Has yielded at last to the torch of the spoiler,
To send to destruction the war-minded Jap.
The most of the people who saw it erected,
Are at rest in their graves on the top of the hill,
But should they return, they would hail the decision,
That sent the old fence such a mission to fill.

“A Eulogy to J.J. Seever” was written to honor a native Fostorian and executive secretary of Ohio Savings and Loan for many years, when he passed away in 1965. Here are just three verses out of twelve, expressing his appreciation for “Jake,” as he was known by all:

The man I love is gone, A prince whom I adore
A king that never wore a crown, A friend of rich and poor.
I have traveled far over land and sea,
Met brave men, and the braver,
But a grander man I have seldom known,
That Mr. J.J. Seever.
Whenever I meet a kindred spirit
A treasure for my archive, I write a poem to remember him
And keep his name alive.
His good advise and counsel given, When I have been in need---
Has given me hope and energy
And courage to my speed.
Now from me and all thy friends, That still remain outside,
I throw a kiss of fond farewell, Across the Great Divide
From they admirer F.T.F. on this side of the river,
May we meet with God in Heaven above
Forever and Forever! Amen!

Thrilling Adventures on Land and Sea The above is the title of one of Fuge’ s books. In the book’s foreword, written by him, he described it as “the finest collection of remarkable stories of great adventures on sea and land that has ever been gathered in one book.” Having read the book myself I can attest to that statement. I recommend them for both young and old. The following are excerpts from just a few of the stories.

When I Was But A Boy

“My father and all his people followed the seal long before I was born, and nearly all the stories of my childhood were directly or indirectly connected with the sea.

Everybody believed in dreadful sea-serpents and charming mermaids, and many imaginary creatures that never did exist. But, as I see it now, the old seafolk could not altogether be blamed for the strange stories they told. The giant cuttlefish lived in our waters; and this monster, shooting his eight great horns into the air for IS or 20 feet, and bulk beneath the surface, would forever settle the question of sea-serpents. And the beautiful sea-cow standing erect, half out of the water, holding her calf between her front flippers while it nursed, was sufficient to impress the ancient mariner with the idea of lovely sea-women; who came out of the water to fondle and nurse their babies.

“The phosphorus rolling in long scrolls of pale blue flame along the shore, and kindling night- lights on the face of the deep; St. Elmo’s fire sitting on the edge of the rugged rocks, flashing through the low-lying fogs, and burning on the tallest trees and the tops of vessels’ spars--- these glorious phenomena, together with the aurora borealis, which often changed the mighty ice fields and mountains of snow into gold and crimson and many other colors, were responsible for many weird and nerve-wracking superstitions found among the people on our coast.

“It has always appeared to me that the sea with all its strange and wonderful creatures was the most interesting and perhaps the most inspiring of all that earthly man many know of the great Creator’s work. Wherever I have gone over the world, preaching an everlasting Gospel. I have used illustrations from and have never known such illustrations to fail interesting people both young and old.”

God and Stale Water Saved us From the Whales

“When I was a boy, my father fished for a living on the coast of Newfoundland. The morning was fair, the sea calm, not a ripple to disturb the beautiful, silvery surface that stretched farther than the eye could see. It was one of those heaven-like days when God’s blessed peace seemed to settle upon the face of the deep, changing it into a typical river of life, or a sea of glass mingled with fire.

“Occasionally a submarine monster would push its dark head through the shining surface, and immediately disappear again. But, to our astonishment, three whales, evidently father, mother and child, came up from the regions below and lay upon the face of the waters. We had seldom known whales to act this way but these I suppose were after food, or taking a bath in the bright, warm summer sun. We might have enjoyed watching them had they been steering a different course. But lo, they were coming straight for our boat! This was unusual, and we could not understand its meaning.

“My father was quite reconciled and seemed to regard it as one of the special privileges that came into the fisherman’s life. I frankly confess that I was a coward. My father bade me be quiet and not be alarmed at the approaching giants, for he was prepared to settle with them when they were near enough to the boat.

“His words would have sounded like mockery had I not had great faith in him. He had brought me through many a storm. Often when the wild wind roared and the angry waves dashed over out tiny boat, he would wrap me in his old oil skin coat, and push me into the fore-cuddy, then sing for my encouragement one of his old sea rhymes.

The whales were drawing nearer and my big brother was fast losing his braggart courage. Only that he feared the fate of Jonah he might have jumped into the sea, so terrified was he at the sight of the approaching monsters. I was overcome and my heart was beating like a little steam- pump. Yet I have faith that my father would deliver us, but by what means such a wonderful piece of work could be done, I knew not.

“When the whales were so close that we could see their eyes and their awful mouths, father, quite unconcerned, took the water pail and dipped some sour water that had lain in the boat all night. This he scattered over them, and the scent of the foul water was more effective than dynamite. They instantly sank as though they were charged with lead and we saw them no more until they came up to breathe about half a mile away.

The Lion, The Eagle and the Bear

This sermon concerned the vision that Daniel saw in the 7k” chapter of the Book of Daniel. Fuge said in his sermon that three of the beasts mentioned are unquestionably England, America and Russia. Written in 1947, 32 years ago, the story predicts event which have already taken place in today’s fast-changing events.

There are scores of other true stories about his experiences in Africa and on the high seas; poems galore on religious and patriotic subjects; and stirring sermons that could serve to turn sinners to God today, just as they did when Fuge was living, if space was available to print them.. .alas, it is not.

The following words from a religious song, I believe, typify Fuge’s philosophy:
Work for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies,
Work for the bright tints are glowing,
Work for daylight flies.
Work til the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more.
Work while the night is darkening,
When man’s work is o’er.