Reflections on the Rev. Dr. George E. Meetze

At age 97, on Thanksgiving Day, the Rev. Dr. George Elias Meetze passed into eternity. In the heart of Shandon, George Meetze was pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation from 1942 until his retirement in 1974. To most, he was famous for being the Chaplain of the South Carolina Senate for over 56 years. That is an astonishing feat. When I was a 15-year-old at Hand Jr. High, I was very proud that our pastor was named Chaplain of the Senate. In my 71st year, he was still Senate Chaplain!

But for hundreds or thousands of us, he was simply, "Pastor Meetze." His sermons, unlike many given by young pastors today, were never esoteric. Pastor Meetze was a man who preached the gospel. As with all of his sermons, he would sometimes pause and look about the congregation.

One Sunday he preached on the "sins of commission and omission." When he paused and perused the congregation, I, along with several of my Dreher High School classmates, was sure that he was staring straight at us!

During my time at Dreher I was involved in something Pastor Meetze and his wife, Margaret, disapproved of. Late that very evening, I was summoned to his home. I received a very stern lecture, particularly from Margaret. I recall saying, "yes ma'am and no ma'am many times. At the end of this painfull ordeal, Pastor Meetze said, "Tommy, now everything is all right - let us pray." Whew! But It was a reproach that I deserved, and I profited from it.

In January 1955, I married Clare Derham, also a Dreher graduate. Pastor Meetze was one of the officiating clergy. In 1956 and in 1958 he baptized our daughters, Susan and Sheryl. When I was in Vietnam twice, he sent me church bulletins and notes of encouragement. Later, he conducted the funerals of my parents and a brother. In 1980, he performed the wedding of Susan and Captain Mitchell (Mick) Zais.

Over six years ago, Mick Zais, by now a Ph.D and a Brigadier General, was being considered for president of Newberry College. Once again, Pastor Meetze came forth for the family. During a period when questions could be asked of Mick, Pastor Meetze stood up and said, "I have no questions of him, but I do say this, it is providential that Mick Zais is being considered for your president." After a rather long speech about it, Pastor Meetze looked skyward, pointed toward the heavens and fairly shouted, "I tell you all, this man is providential!" Mick Zais was promptly named the 20th president of Newberry College.

In January 2005 he performed the wedding of Sheryl to George Dominick in Newberry. That very evening at Newberry College, Pastor Meetze helped Clare and me celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and Susan and Mick's 25th.

The Rev. Dr. George E. Meetze was a man of towering intellect, a man of great compassion and a great man of God. This world will not see his likes again.

Colonel (Ret.)

Tom Fincher

Chapin, S.C.