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By Kent Larsen
Meissen, Germany Rejects Placement of Maeser Statue
MEISSEN, GERMANY -- The birthplace of Karl G. Maeser, early German convert
to Mormonism and first principal of what later became Brigham Young
University, has rejected an attempt to place a statue of Maeser in th town.
Maeser's great-grandson Earl Maeser, who spent eight months raising funds
for the $40,000 statue, says the town rejected the statue because it thought
the family's motive was "solely a missionary thing."
The gift was intended to cement a sister-city agreement between Provo, Utah
and Meissen that was announced in 1999. Provo officials say that the
agreement will go forward despite the dispute over th statue, and Maeser
hopes that the agreement will eventually let Meissen relent. "We need to
show them that we're friends unconditionally," he said. Maeser says he's not
discouraged over the turn of events, "I think it will eventually happen."
Source:
Germans leery of Maeser statue
Deseret News 3Jun01A2
By Leah L. Culler: Deseret News staff writer
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