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

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CONCORDIA -if -E: 1 QI' I l L. 153 3 9 - .5 ss- EE li? 1----at MR. AND MRS. ANDREW SCHUST ganization of young people of the Trinity congre- gation whose purpose was to assist college students. The members wore a red cross over their heart. The cause of the college was furthered in the fourth annual convention of Synod, which met in October, 1850, at St. Louis. Trinity congregation, on October 8, 1849, and the Altenburg congregation, on June 4, 1850, had drawn up a statement with conditions under which they would submit to turn- ing the school over to Synod. The four terms in- cluded the following: C15 That the institution should serve the Lutheran Church forever and that only ministers and teachers should be trained there f ...und nur ihre Prediger un.d Lehrer erziehe Jg C25 that the German language shall al- ways be the medium of instruction, except that certain seminary subjects could be taught in Latin, as was the custom in German universities, C31 that the school remain what it is, a preparatory school for ministers and teachers, that others who wish to prepare for another vocation may at- tend, but the original purpose must never be aban- donedg C47 that Professor Goenner's call be hon- ored, and that provision be made for Mr. Nietzschke. The convention acceded to these condi- tions, and so the college formally and legally be- came the property of the Missouri Synod. At the same time, October, 1850, the convention gave the school a name. Concordia was selected in honor of the Lutheran symbols. The action of the conven- tion is recorded in the following words: Der Name der Anstalt ist: Concordia-Collegium CCon- cordia Universityb der evang.-lutherischen Synode von Missouri, Ohio, und anderen Staatenf' It was also reported at this convention that the current expenses of the college for the entire year, includ- ing salaries for three teachers, were 3707.95 Concordia College had only two teachers at this time, Professor Goenner and Dr. Walther, who was, strictly speaking, on the seminary faculty. Professor Goenner resigned at Easter, 1856, to edit the publication of the Altenburger Bibelwerk at the request of Synod. He taught at the college later again, resigned in May, 1861, and died on June 25. 1864, at the age of 57 years. The Rev. Adolf Fried- rich Theodor Biewend was now called and joined the faculty on October 28, 1850. He had served on the faculty at Columbian University at Washing- ton, D. C., before coming to Concordia. An expansion of the school with a definite pro- gram of procedure was immediately planned. The college department was now separated from the seminary department, courses for a general educa- tion were offered, and a definite plea was made to Page 12 ?g.,,L,.,,, h- X Vx f:, , . , -il., qt 5 1 ,g LL , 1, 1 . is -1 5 .-:re H JH . f' -I r',, -rl, 1- ,,-4' 5: A at - x A jk' fl. ' 'i f - ','.' -. JJ .30 'Qs - , ' - 1 K, L -, 8,-'gt 1 -If .jg .Am f-T1 -.S---AT--1' 5-5 ' QV. .4 X ,, F-if 5' f A A I if ur- . - .1- - -M 'mitffrt'-t .':H:..-. E - .1-si' 1 A f . ' L, . , A. -- , ,,,, . ..... .,... .. 5 . ..,,, , V . U Y . T.-f - A f-fl ' 1 aa. . et We --:fry -:- Leif, -.. , Q A - sys -.r wwf A D iv. . ,- , . 4, :trgf ,welt ea .1-ts. L : f V T --, xi 4, 1 7 r-1 x , . tw A 4 Aggie . - Hg 1 -, . : -E. ga I M .g -Q 3,45 ' ZF' areas: f. ff 4-1 v '1 I llgaitgfet f x I . 1- ,J -x ' 1 Qi 5-., A ll:-, X ,iii , 1, K U ' ' If Lf. Ti . Ln 1- X5 V j g If '-,Qi 1' f'-A -,f?','.,',fg:.fe.a 1, ' i'?7.-gfi s i' I' .milf-Z-:-5' .' -. 2-' .1 1 ,V -f3ii'xY inff'tfT1-fi in' like EM , nuns- '3 - - ' 1 ' 'T -, 5 i,'f'lFz' ' ' - -.E-.fe 12 , ,tu lg- 5 ,.i 'iw-I-13. ,tw .--.-:-gxwqg.-ra5'4L?.'. 5 -. QS, 'na E,--.rx-'lm-.V -1 Q, Jr-u., ,- 35 -1' '-4 ' -- -yn-1:3 '- , f' ' - :yt -25 , ,,,g-va-V f.':.'E.. L' ..,. -5 1- '25 . .- -is ' .af Nm? 1g,'ff:-.1- U ' X' A' wr IN' .. WN' , 7 1 2- ' , Q sr 1'4 . ?Q?.4'j , Ulgg ,gg F: lasik... ,f5EQw?4,g,2Q1.giX , -,M 1 fl' ,5--f ik i ' X w .gf .... 3'!T:1U .-if 'fr -'-'llitrez' i ii' ,'-J,g5i',QigE ,ki Y, 1153, JSR -',,,-Wdrqfa.--. .L Lx . -Matty' -F 1 'liwf-w5N.!,gl 1, I 1 w 'f-31.141-ss r52tg2:Yt1f,i,'as ji -5 75 1 M ,X 9f2r5Y'vr .ff O ' fl-v-lf? -7- 1' fine! Sams? lv A 7 ' in-7,,i'2-. ,, . it 1... .-fl' , LY.,:?s,-.q, ' .im ,.M,W-V3 V tsl... 3 .t KMI MNQJ53-2:21, 'f13 '-f---f .-.'... . , - - .---+ w - - - l .- f- ft- :sf--. -- - . .-9:40.-,,.... f- -F, . .. :'4igm.f.:5i4ggg1f:,. ln gig, Naaag- sgijfe-if:-r--2 -:jg gg w,5,'.-if?--:ji,,.,,A--Q-1' , Q' - -- C V g - . vn.,....wbMg- 4, r-- -.es --dim, . -e .,-, , '18 . , . s .,,. Y . . fr . . . . Z . aff.- ' . - 5 ' .i n 4, T 4 . FIRST COLLEGE BUILDING IN FORT WAYNE

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COLLEGE the Altenburg congregation and Trinity at St. Louis had yielded to the wish of Synod in part. viz., that the seminary department be moved to St. Louis and that the college department remain in Altenburg. But a committee appointed by Synod reported favorably on moving both departments to St. Louis. advancing the following reasons: ill That the cost of construction and maintenance of buildings would be minimized: C21 that the facul- ties could teach in both departments, thus increas- ing teaching efficiency: C37 that the seminary stu- dents could have an opportunity to continue their study of languages: C47 that the location of the site in St. Louis partially offset the advantage of having the college department in the country: 157 that better facilities for a general education could be offered: C63 that the faculties. if separated. might tend to develop an unfriendly spirit towards each otherg 175 that promotions from the college to the seminary would arouse less ill will among the parents of students. The third convention. held in June, 1849, at Fort Wayne, which was destined to be the future home of Concordia College. was decisive. Pastor Loeber. who died two months later. Hnally agreed to the transfer of the school intact. This convention ap- pointed a building committee, consisting of Pastors Walther and Buenger, appointed by Synod, and other members to be selected by Trinity in St, Louis. The convention was undoubtedly also influ- enced by a tangible promise of assistance by Trin- ity, which had supported the college especially since 1843. The congregation offered two acres for the site of the school, 552.00000 in cash, the proceeds from the sale of a proposed hymnal, and the pro- ceeds from the congregation's cemetery fund. Thus the living and the dead united in their efforts to aid the college. Later financial reports show that the pledges of Trinity in St, Louis were redeemed in full. All honor to Trinity! Immediate steps were now taken to move the school. Building operations were begun. Professor Goenner came to St. Louis on December 13. 1849. with nine fledglings. Dr. Walther had been selected as the successor of Pastor Loeber on August 17, 1849, since Loeber remained with his congregation. Dr. Walther was one of the electors, and in count- ing the ballots it was found that all electors had voted for him except one. Dr. Walther had cast his vote for the Rev. Theodor Julius Brohm. Dr. Wal- ther, who began teaching in January. 1850. was called as teacher in the seminary primarily, but he also conducted classes in the college department. Since the construction of the building had not ad- vanced far enough, the classes met in the home of Dr. Walther. The entire period when Concordia College was in St. Louis records a speedy upward trend. 1850 is. perhaps, the most momentous year in Concor- 19 3 9 :: X , p J si, Ai Li-if ' ,Ply iii G. A. SAXER dia's history: no other single year witnessed such great constructive activity. The new building was dedicated with more than ordinary pomp and cir- cumstance on June ll, 1850. The contract 'had been let on September 25, 1849, at the price of S3,649.1112 but the final cost. which included a number of in- cidental additions to the original plans, mounted to a higher figure. Three speakers were engaged for the dedicatory service: Dr. Walther. who spoke in Latin. Pastor Schieferdecker. and the Rev. Fred- erick Wyneken, from Fort Wayne. Luther's Refor- mation hymn was also sung in Latin. A proces- sional made up of an orchestra. several choirs, and local organizations added to the dignity of the cele- bration. One feature particularly elicited most favorable comment. This was the appearance of the Knights of the Cross C Kreuzritter J, an or- -Ql.j, f--.F .i, -QR'-'lf,1'5j - '- t5.:2',, .,l',.J.'f ,,- ' ' s-4' .525 if. --gill: -NJN. -- g 1 ' - ijgzek - in ,fvimmgl '3 .' . - ya? -L - g':.YY.,, Jigs ,gnc , , v- ' if' f -- 'v-,w, '- 1 ,gn-, --Y, Ja., . 2. 4 .A . ie- is - A -fr -.1 . -- it -..ie:,N,y.f ,gin .-grief PT :-. .1 :wilt 1 .l gwlkfyf 9' iv y- '.ZT,-q,,- : ' j?-1T?Ekg.- N , ,x 1'pI5:..I :T ,- if-x f- J 'G' ,5,Q,Iggjf5:---,iff sw 1 .'f':.llLL ' 'i . .- 1 H'13?1'Mc41- ' ' '- iw-sf 5' V -'l-l,' .. I W :4,. jig ft., Q , 'a f-'7 -' .-Sl 2, 1-'P s 1, 1 - ' 'vw'-.'. gift-'G A3-'fi -.15 ll. -feels?-53 YI -Q55-'v ' - 1-4 - '. .' .' . 'seize-.-. 21- 'f . -' I -.' .msg .i i - Sea- 'Z-gi: . Jim- 5 rg fb.--,... -V ,L f --1 ft: af?-rs' 1 - wil 3' Tijlgii lg., iff' 4'-Q' - 'itz-A141 1 , Ska-. iii-f' .lfaalf-so e gg , fl Q ' ,-.1--w ---Q4 , e:.--:L a-a - . 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corrgsesg attract pupils for a general education for both Lutherans and non-Lutherans. A report submitted by Professor Biewend in 1856 shows that they were successful in their endeavor. The composition of the student body from 1851 to 1855 was as follows: 1851, 10 new students, 5 non-ministerial: 1852. 16 new students, 7 non-ministerial: 1853, 13 new stu- dents, 5 non-ministerial: 1854. 23 new students, 6 non-ministerialg 1855, 11 new students: 1 non-min- isterial. Many of those who were not preparing for the ministry left early: the losses for this reason amounted to 40 for the years noted. The student register printed the names of those who spoke Eng- lish only in light print. Here are the names of Dar- win Mason, N. N. Baldwin, James Renshaw. Sam- uel Gray, Hugh Richards, William Lane Ewing. later mayor of St. Louis, Henry Gassaway, and Christian Althouse. The states represented in the student body for these years were: Missouri, llli- nois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Maryland, New York, Michi- gan, Louisiana, and Kentucky. Professor Biewend's report also calls attention to the fact that not too many non-ministerial students should be accepted, or the original purpose of the school would not be accomplished. He therefore recommended that such students should attend a private school which had been organized just the year before by a Pastor Miller. By 1852 housing facilities were again woefully inadequate. Eight students and one of the pro- fessors with his family were not able to find quar- ters in the building. So the second wing of what was ultimately to be a balanced college building was planned and completed in 1852. Both buildings were of the same size, measuring 36 by 42 feet. and ggg i939 'Il gg ff : 'g:?::3i,gr.:3Gi.- grfigrxgii -M52 l:'i:lE:?- i m: ig lii-...T--'E 3 .. , im,,.-fx-:ix C. J. O. HANSER outwardly had the same appearance. The contrac- tual price of this building was 351.10 less than that of the Hrst wing erected in 1850. Friends of the college in Germany contributed S805.26'Q. The older building now served as residence for Dr. Wal- ther, Goenner, and Biewend and their families. The new building had a hall, which was about ten feet wide, running all the way from the front to the rear in the basement and the first two floors. The kitchen and quarters for the steward and fam- ily were assigned to one side in the basement. The E. . n PROFESSORS' RESIDENCES ON CAMPUS, 1863 Page 13