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So Many Fragile Things
Here's a strange mixture of religion and fanaticism...
Love and murder...
Deep within the pages of the Moser family book lies a secret. The leather-bound book sits high upon a shelf, quietly gathering dust because most of the Mosers aren't very interested in what's gone on long ago. They're busy going to work, raising their children, and living their lives. They go to the Moser family reunion in the summers. They eat watermelon, laugh with cousins they grew up with on the farm, and stroll over to watch their children in the swimming pool next to the park pavilion. The elderly Moser aunts sit at the picnic table, telling family stories as they leaf through the family photo albums. They know the secret. But they won't admit it. They've shoved it to the back of the closet for too many years. They have no intention of letting it out now.
In 1994, I was working as a genealogist, researching a family's history. While paging through volumes of Amish, Mennonite & Apostolic Christian relatives, I came to the story of a mother and her three young children who had all died on the same day--March 13, 1900. Was it an accident? An illness of some kind? I soon learned that the husband and father of this young family had murdered them after being excommunicated from the Amish church. The sensational trial would demand answers of the church itself.
Love and murder...
Deep within the pages of the Moser family book lies a secret. The leather-bound book sits high upon a shelf, quietly gathering dust because most of the Mosers aren't very interested in what's gone on long ago. They're busy going to work, raising their children, and living their lives. They go to the Moser family reunion in the summers. They eat watermelon, laugh with cousins they grew up with on the farm, and stroll over to watch their children in the swimming pool next to the park pavilion. The elderly Moser aunts sit at the picnic table, telling family stories as they leaf through the family photo albums. They know the secret. But they won't admit it. They've shoved it to the back of the closet for too many years. They have no intention of letting it out now.
In 1994, I was working as a genealogist, researching a family's history. While paging through volumes of Amish, Mennonite & Apostolic Christian relatives, I came to the story of a mother and her three young children who had all died on the same day--March 13, 1900. Was it an accident? An illness of some kind? I soon learned that the husband and father of this young family had murdered them after being excommunicated from the Amish church. The sensational trial would demand answers of the church itself.
- GenresNonfiction
335 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 8, 2024
So this is different....reviewing my own book. I wanted to get it out there for my friends who keep track of their reading here, so I'll review my experience of writing it! I came across this story in 1994 while doing a genealogy project for my husband's elderly aunts. They were so excited about the project, but when I called them to find out what happened to this woman and her children (who all died on the same day) they said "we don't talk about that" and hung up on me. Needless to say, that only made me more curious.
On May 13, 1900 Samuel Moser killed his wife and three children. But the story of why would divide a community - the news would spread nationwide - and the trial would eventually demand answers of the "New Amish" church. Was he a murderer or a martyr?
On May 13, 1900 Samuel Moser killed his wife and three children. But the story of why would divide a community - the news would spread nationwide - and the trial would eventually demand answers of the "New Amish" church. Was he a murderer or a martyr?
May 7, 2021
On the last page of her book, Amy Steidinger says that she wanted to be neutral and she didn't want to "cast the church in a bad light." However, her statement in the preceding paragraph tells more of what her motive is: This story "is a lesson to all of us: that religion and legalism can have very dark effects - where it becomes not about love and leading, but about punishment and control." So yes, she does intend to indict the Apostolic Christian church (the "New Amish") in this backhanded stab.
Not a church or denomination in the world exists that does not have skeletons in its closet somewhere. Furthermore, this incident happened 120 years ago and cannot be evaluated according to the religious and societal standards of 2020--as nothing can be.
Sam Moser may have been treated unfairly by the church - Who is to know the accurate story some 120 years later? I do find it hard to believe that he really was disciplined for merely looking at his baby in a service. I'm sure there is another side to the story, and I suspect that if this did have something to do with his actions in the Gridley assembly that day, that it may have been the final straw to what appears to have been years of bad behavior by a moody, difficult man. He blamed the church for his unhappiness with his wife. But he could have examined his own behavior and apologized at any time. He could have shown humility and mercy himself. R.A. Torrey's quotations on page 251-52 of the book, regarding "irreligion" rather than "religion," support this belief.
And all that aside, Sam Moser made a choice that he, and he alone, is responsible for. We all make choices and could blame things in our past for our behavior - but we must all take responsibility. Moser murdered his wife and three children. That is what matters, and that is what was muddled in this book with all the talk of the "Amish" church.
The formatting and editing of the book also left things to be desired. The facts of the case were repeated a number of times. The book could have used a more ruthless editor who would have turned it into a book about Moser and his murders, or an honest screed about the Apostolic Christian church in its early days, or a journal about Steidinger's journey. The book is a jumbled mixture of all three. Also, some outside sources are footnoted and others are not - an investigative story should be consistent in this area. And several spelling errors detracted from the text.
I cannot see the purpose in dredging up this sad old story unless one wants to cast aspersions on the Apostolic Christian Church's ancient actions, which plants negative ideas in people's minds today.
Not a church or denomination in the world exists that does not have skeletons in its closet somewhere. Furthermore, this incident happened 120 years ago and cannot be evaluated according to the religious and societal standards of 2020--as nothing can be.
Sam Moser may have been treated unfairly by the church - Who is to know the accurate story some 120 years later? I do find it hard to believe that he really was disciplined for merely looking at his baby in a service. I'm sure there is another side to the story, and I suspect that if this did have something to do with his actions in the Gridley assembly that day, that it may have been the final straw to what appears to have been years of bad behavior by a moody, difficult man. He blamed the church for his unhappiness with his wife. But he could have examined his own behavior and apologized at any time. He could have shown humility and mercy himself. R.A. Torrey's quotations on page 251-52 of the book, regarding "irreligion" rather than "religion," support this belief.
And all that aside, Sam Moser made a choice that he, and he alone, is responsible for. We all make choices and could blame things in our past for our behavior - but we must all take responsibility. Moser murdered his wife and three children. That is what matters, and that is what was muddled in this book with all the talk of the "Amish" church.
The formatting and editing of the book also left things to be desired. The facts of the case were repeated a number of times. The book could have used a more ruthless editor who would have turned it into a book about Moser and his murders, or an honest screed about the Apostolic Christian church in its early days, or a journal about Steidinger's journey. The book is a jumbled mixture of all three. Also, some outside sources are footnoted and others are not - an investigative story should be consistent in this area. And several spelling errors detracted from the text.
I cannot see the purpose in dredging up this sad old story unless one wants to cast aspersions on the Apostolic Christian Church's ancient actions, which plants negative ideas in people's minds today.
December 25, 2024
When grace and mercy are given a hard pass, when groups of people who are just as sinful as you or I set behavior standards that reach too far into the personal lives of their parishioners, when God's Word is used as a sledgehammer rather than a stepladder, the damage and fallout may be more than any family or close community can bear.
This is a true story, and my heart goes out to all of the families, those destroyed and those who thought that they weren't, because there is destruction on every page.
Well-researched, well-written, this is a story that kept me turning the pages and that I will never forget.
This is a true story, and my heart goes out to all of the families, those destroyed and those who thought that they weren't, because there is destruction on every page.
Well-researched, well-written, this is a story that kept me turning the pages and that I will never forget.
March 30, 2021
I think "So Many Fragile Things" would only be of interest to those familiar with what is referred to in this book as the "New Amish" church or those who know the area in which this murder took place. It is a sad and horrific story. Steidinger does a good job of pulling together the details of the murder, the trial, and the background of the church that gets blamed by some people. She is also balanced in her description of the church discussing how many of the members were immigrates who didn't speak English as their first language and stayed among "their own" for social as well as religious reasons. I found the story fascinating, although the narration was a bit choppy in places. I am surprised since I am quite familiar with this denomination and the Moser family may be a very distant relations that I have never heard about this murder. Although sad to read I was glad to be aware of this part of history. However, I have an elderly aunt that also read the book. Her thought was that it is such a horrible story, why tell it? So opinions vary.
January 19, 2023
An interesting read about a tragic story involving some distant relation in my hometown (the three children would have been third cousins of my grandfather), with lots of ties to other names that I know, including some from where I currently live, and a great deal of content relating to doctrine and practices of the Apostolic Christian Church. The writing and editing could use some tidying up, and at times it felt like the text was written in period language, using words and phrasing that would be uncommon today. Repetition of some of the salient points made the book longer than it needed to be. But all in all, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to read this account of a heart-wrenching situation.
January 24, 2022
This book caught my interest because I grew up in Tazewell County, IL and have family in the Apostolic Christian Church. I don't doubt that Sam Moser felt like an outcast due to the way he was treated by the elder and the legalism that followed the people who started the church. Legalism or the Law does not change hearts, only Jesus can change hearts. The Law shows us our need for a Savior, but the keeping of it can never save us because no one has the power to keep it. Jesus came to rescue us from our sin. We are dead in our trespasses. He was the perfect 'Sacrifice Lamb' and therefore, we can stand before a righteous God covered in the righteousness of Christ. As the old hymn declares, "what can wash away my sin? NOTHING but the blood of Jesus"!
The book itself was really hard to follow after the initial telling of the story. All of the trial information was a jumbled mess, but the author somewhat explained that at the end when she let us know that much of her original research was lost in a house fire many years after she had started to research the family history. It was still interesting because of the personal connection I have to the town and the church.
The book itself was really hard to follow after the initial telling of the story. All of the trial information was a jumbled mess, but the author somewhat explained that at the end when she let us know that much of her original research was lost in a house fire many years after she had started to research the family history. It was still interesting because of the personal connection I have to the town and the church.
July 16, 2020
It was so interesting to read about a local historical crime. The role of religion in this and the way that the public in general perceived a religion that they didn't know much about was fascinating. Coming from the area and recognizing the names and being familiar with the Apostolic faith and belief system added a layer to the reading experience. I appreciated the framing of the story as well-- coming across the stories at a family reunion that no one is willing to speak about, generations later having family members still trying to reconcile what happened and how they feel about, these all contribute a depth to the story.
July 31, 2021
Incredibly interesting and accurate
July 5, 2022
A central Illinois true crime. I enjoyed learning about the history of the church, their rules and how the court system was in 1901. Such a tragic story.
July 5, 2022
I couldn't put this one down. Fascinating story.
February 17, 2025
This book was an incredibly interesting look into the denomination I grew up in
September 2, 2020
Interesting read. Heady to read names and places you know so well. Not formatted well for a Kindle read. Repetitive in parts. Ultimately, I learned a lot. Good historical view of Central IL.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews