Concordia College - Spire / Concordian Yearbook (Fort Wayne, IN)

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CONCORDIA - .. 1 3 3 9 'EEZ EET : 5 WY R. A. Brscaorr dates were released as they completed the pre- scribed course of studies. Six were graduated in the spring of 1853, and Hve accepted calls immediately. They were G. Volk, E. Metz, M. Guenther, O. Eisfeldt, M. Stephan, and Th. Gruber. Candidate Beyer passed his examination in the fall of 1855, but the rest of his class, five in number, was re- leased at Easter. 1856. All entered the ministry im- mediately. This group consisted of K. Gros, F. Ahner, G. Loeber, A. Huegli, and H. Hanser. G. Gruber, A. Schmidt, and R. Voigt were gradu- ated in 1858, and three more followed in 1859, viz., I. Moll, W. Achenbach, and F. Schaller. The largest class came in 1860 when ten completed their course. These were: O. Hanser, M. Tirmenstein, H. Wun- derlich, St. Keyl, W. Bartling, D. Buehler, H. Fruechtenicht, M. Zucker, E. Boese, and I. List. All accepted calls, except one, who continued his studies at a university in Germany. By 1861 Concordia College had reached its legal age of twenty-one, and now for the first time it was privileged to stand on its own feet. Until then, the college and the seminary were combined, but now the college was moved to Fort Wayne and became a separate school in its own right. But the change was not made too hastily. The Synodical convention, meeting in October, 1860, at St. Louis reached the momentous decision only after mature deliberation. The Civil War then, con- trary to what has been so frequently stated, had nothing to do with the change. President Lincoln had not yet been elected and no state had seceded from the Union at that time. In fact, the most burn- ing question, which evoked the real issue in the debate, was the advisability of combining the two seminaries, the theoretical seminary at St. Louis and the practical seminary at Fort Wayne. The official proceedings cite the seven reasons which motivated the convention as follows: C15 That the combination would be conducive to greater har- mony and unity in doctrine, C25 that it would pro- mote teaching efliciency by making specialization in the faculty possible, C37 that the employment of new teachers would not disrupt the program of instruction so much as would be the case if the seminaries remained separated, C43 that it would facilitate the problem of placing candidates, C53 that an advantage would be gained by having be- ginners and mature theological students at the 1 HANSER HALL, ERECTED 1869 Page 16

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1939 QgQgLgLEGgE g W gggg ,gg g 1: 15:57--im: FREDERICK ZUCK1-:R Of these 74 in the college department, 23 were from St. Louis, and the rest from various states. The increase in attendance made it possible to organize the students into graded classes. This was done for the first time in 1857 when the present arrangement was instituted dividing the students into four high school and two junior college classes with Latin names from Sexta to Prima. More stu- dents also meant increased demands for space. So the center portion between the two wings Cder Gedankenstrichl was placed under construction in 1856. But the necessary funds were slow in coming and the completion of the building was delayed until it was occupied in November, 1857. A bed- room had been equipped in the building, despite the fact that the building was incomplete, in the latter part of 1856. The most significant changes, particularly in the last half of the decade at St. Louis, were made in the teaching personnel. In 1855 the administration of the college was separated from the seminary. Dr. Walther was named president of the school, while Professor Biewend was then called as direc- tor, and thus was the first director of Concordia College. Rector George Schick was called as Kon- rektor at about the same time. Both were formally installed in impressive ceremonies on March 31. 1856. Dr. Walther was the speaker, and both Bie- wend and Schick responded. Director Biewend died unexpectedly on April 10, 1858, just shortly before the central portion of the new building was to be dedicated. Rector Schick taught at Concordia College until 1914, and thus wins the distinction of having taught longer at the college than any other teacher. No man has left a more lasting im- i57i5Ei'5EE' 1S!I '.T.E pression on a larger number of alumni at Con- cordia than he. Candidate A. F. Hoppe assisted for some time, especially in 1855-6, teaching Latin and German in the lower class, and Greek grammar in the upper class. On May, 1856, G. Alexander Saxer took the place of Professor Goenner, who left tem- porarily to edit the Altenburger Bibelwerlc. Saxer's position was only temporary, since he had no for- mal call. In July, 1856, Dr. Gustav Seyffarth ac- cepted a position on the seminary faculty, but also taught history and science in the college depart- ment. In the fall of 1856 Synod extended a formal call to him and also to Professor Saxer. Dr. Sey- Pfarth was a noted Egyptologist and gave up his position as professor of archaeology at the Univer- sity of Leipzig. He refused to accept any salary since he had sufficient private means of support. He left the institution in 1859 when he left for New York where he found better library facilities to continue his archaeological researches. The Rev. Rudolf Lange was the last man to be formally called to the college while it was in St. Louis. He assumed his duties of teaching philosophy and English on December 7, 1858. He was considered the successor of the deceased Biewend. At this time also arrangements had been made with the Nor- wegian Synod to take care of Norwegian students. Three Norwegian students had enrolled in the fall of 18583 five more entered during the following year. So the Norwegian Synod sent Prof. Lauren- tius Larsen, formerly pastor at Rush River, Wis.. to take charge of this work. He began teaching in November, 1859, and continued until 1861. During this period the Rev. Theodor Julius Brohm, a founder of Concordia College, who had left New York to accept a call in St. Louis, assisted at the college for some time. Prof. K. Kleppisch also taught at the college during the last few years at St. Louis. The number of graduates also increased rapidly. There was not yet an annual class. but the candi- GI-zo. Sci-ncx Page 15

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CAQL L G E gg gg gggg g same school: C63 that the combined theological faculties could render the church more effective service by way of publishing printed material and in rendering decisions on policies and problems submitted to them: C79 and that economic advan- tages would accrue from the combination. Three considerations delayed action for some time. These were C17 Whether the convention had the right to act in this matter without consulting the congrega- tions directly: C25 whether amalgamation of the two institutions would not eventually bring about the destruction of the practical seminaryg C37 whether the proposed change would involve a breach of the agreements made with Pastor Loehe and the congregations at Perry County and in St. Louis. Pleas for gaining their consent were sent to Pastor Loehe in Germany, to St. Paul's congrega- tion in Fort Wayne, and to the Altenburg congre- gation. At the same time, the convention com- missioned Dr. Wilhelm Sihler of Fort Wayne to present in a pamphlet the arguments in favor of the change. It appeared before the close of the year in the form of a 'tDenkschrift , consisting of thirty-nine pages. and was sent to all congregations for consideration. The transfer to Fort Wayne was effected in 1861. Professors Saxer, Schick, and Lange, with their families, arrived in Fort Wayne during the sum- mer. The students assembled in St. Louis early in September and were sent here in a special coach by train. There were 78 students, with Primaner August Crull. as Primus Omnium, in full charge. Crull received detailed instructions up to the mo- ment of departure, The train then left St. Louis at noon and arrived at Fort Wayne in the evening llfff lll it I .mln l 9 3 9 -s Q . :rf- '-C,x AUGUST CRULL of the following day, September 9, 1861. There were many annoying delays on the journey: the night was especially tiring for the younger stu- dents. The older boys smoked large quantities of tobacco, known as Killikinick Cwhich some wag had dubbed Kill-me-quick 7, which retailed at fifteen cents per pound. They also kept up a chatter until early in the morning. Two upper classmen stood at guard throughout the night. Thus, hag- gard, hungry, and grimy from dust, the group ar- rived at Fort Wayne and marched out to the college grounds on Maumee Road, which at that season of the year was covered with dust. In Fort Wayne the college fell heir to the phy- sical plant formerly occupied by the practical 'W ev- ,f ' ' ' 'A -.2 -vu '..4--sa H .1 CW , i -asset-.-fa v. ' , - . 'S N1 -' Wt- +'rt1:'f Axawase i..1,.s:-.-3.-ox., A- N. ., , M . , , -. 1 .- Li. PROFESSORS' RESIDENCES Page 17