Heidelberg University - Aurora Yearbook (Tiffin, OH)

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awarded to that member of the Heidelberg Literary Society, whose standing in the Orator- ical Contest of this Society is tl1e highest when judged from the standpoint of thought and delivery. The contest is held in Rickly Chapel in December of each year. The Thomas F. Keller Prize has been established by Dr. Thomas F. Keller, of Tiflin, an alumnus of the class of 1876. It is composed of two parts, gI5 and EIO in gold, to be awarded to the two members of the Freshman Class who have made the highest and second highest grades respectively in English composition for that year. The first class graduated by the institution was the class of 1854, consisting of two mem- bers, both of whom pursued the Scientific Courseu of instruction. One of these is still living, the Rev. Geo. Z. Mechling, A. M., of Hamilton, Ohio. The earliest graduates in the Classical Course were of the class of 1856: Rev. William H. Fenneman, D. D., of Hamilton, Ohio, and Charles H. Winters, deceased. Since 1854 a class has been graduated each year, with the single exception of the year 1863, when on account of the disturbance of the country by the Civil VVar no class was sent out. Up to this date the Alumni of the institution numbers 493, distributed among the several courses of instruction as follows:- in the Classical Course, 277,SClS1'l'Ell lC, 181, Philosophical, 15, a11d Literary, zo. The smallest class graduated was that of 1864, which consisted of one student, the largest class sent out was that of 1891, which numbered thirty members, twenty-Eve gentlemen, Rlld five ladies. These Alumni are all graduates of the collegiate department: of whom 43,1 are still living, and sixty-two are deceased. The Alumni of the other departments number twenty-two, and the grand total for all the departments of the University aggregates 515. This result is quite a favorable showing of the work accomplished by the institution during its fifty years of existence. Many of these Alumni are Hlling responsible positions, and are doing noble service for humanity in the various walks of life. Many of them are reflecting honor on their Alma Mater in the learned professions of the Ministry of the Gospel, the Law, Medicine, and in the profession of Teaching, while many others are doing the same along lines of mercantile work. The best advertisement that a college, or a university, can possibly have, lies in the character of the men and women who go forth from its training capable of doing their work wel! in whatever sphere of life a guiding Providence may lead them. The several Presidents of the College of Liberal Arts during the fifty years of the event- ful history of the institution have been as follows, with their respective periods of service: S. S. Rickly, Esq., 1850: Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D. D., LL. D., 1850-553 Rev. Moses Kieffer, D. D., 1855-63, Rev. Geo. W. Aughinbaugh, D. D., 1863-64, Rev. Geo. W. Williard, D. D., LL. D., 1866-90, and the present incumbent, Rev. J. A. Peters, who was formally inaugura- ted june 16th, 1891. It is a fact worthy of recognition that all of the above list of Presidents are still living except the third named, of whom it seems becoming, in this connection, to place upon record a brief obituary notice. Rev. Moses Kieffer, D. D., was born in Franklin Co., Pa., May 5th, ISI4. He grad- uated from Marshall College in 1838, and from the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., in I839. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in the same year. He served as Professor of Theology in Heidelberg Theological Seminary from 1855 to 1867, and as Pres- ident of Heidelberg College as above mentioned. He departed this life at Sandusky, Ohio, on February 3, 1888, aged 73 years, 8 months, and 28 days. His mortal remains lie inter- red in Green Lawn Cemetery near this city. After the change of charter, merging the college into a University, under the articles of incorporation it became necessary to elect a Chancellor, Rev. Dr. john Kost was elect- ed in 1890 as the first incumbent of this oHice and was duly inaugurated at the Commence- ment Exercises of the said year. He resigned the oiiice at the annual meeting of the Board

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elocution and oratory. The Excelsior Literary Society was organized in ISSIQ The Heidelberg Literary Society in 1859. These societies have been from the start, for the benefit of gentlemen students only of the collegiate department. On the 14th of March last the Heidelberg Society celebrated its forty-iirst anniversary by publicly rendering a literary program in Rickly Chapel, and on the 23d of March the Excelsior Society celebrated its forty-ninth anniversary with a literary program in said chapel. The Hesperian Literary Society for ladies only, who are students in the institution, was organized April 3d, 1889. Each of the above named societies has a large and beautifully furnished hall on the third floor of tl1e new University building. Mention should also be made that among the gentle- men students of the Academy an organization known as The lfVashington Irving Literary Society has, for some years, been successfully maintained. The literary societies ofthe institution have been important factors in promoting the intellectual growth of their members, and in fostering ability in debate and public speaking. Those, who have been active members, since leaving the institution have proven their edi- cient training in filling varied important and responsible positions in life. On the lists of their honorary membership may be found many of the leading literary men and women of the country. On April 14111, 1881, a society was organized by the students themselves and entitled The Young People's Christian Association of Heidelberg College, which had for its main purpose the fostering of Christian principles, and the development of Christian life not only among its own members, but among the student body. On February 16, 1882, by the adoption ofthe constitution of the State College Young Men's Christian Association, the above mentioned Young People's Christian Association was merged into the present organiza- tion known as the HY. M. C. A. of Heidelberg. On the erection of the new college build- ing, the Board of Regents generously allotted rooms on the second Hoor of said building for the use of the Association. These rooms have been handsomely furnished by the Associa- tion, and are used by it in its weekly meetings. In 1886, the Y, NV. C. A. of Heidelberg University was organized. This organization also holds weekly meetings. The influence exerted by these Chris- tian Associations among the student body for Christ and His Church, has been very great. Many a student through their guidance and help has here learned the way of salvationf, Many who have been exposed to temptation, through the counsel and fellowship of the Associations have been protected against spiritual foes, the weak have been strengthened: the desponding have been encouraged-g and characters have been built up in the Christian life. The Authorities of the institution recognize the inestimable value of these Christian Associations in helping to carry forward the responsible work of Christian Education. Mention must also be made of the founding of several Prizes as incentives to the stu- dents of the institution for the cultivation of the graces of English composition, rhetoric and oratory. In 1888 the Rev. Madison C. Peters, D. D., then of Philadelphia, Pa., generously offered to give annually 320 in gold to the student of the graduating class having the best production as to matter and manner, whether read or spoken, whereupon the Board of Trustees, at its annual meeting of said year, accepted the offer and established the Prize, known as The Madison C. Peters Prizef' In 1893 a slight modification, with the consent of the founder, was made in the conditions required for awarding this Prize. The privi- -lege of contesting for it was changed from the Senior to the junior Class, and in this way the occasion known as the junior Contest for the Madison C. Peters Prize, came to be introduced into the exercises of commencement week. The Scott F. Hershey Prize of 510 in gold was established in 1895 by the Rev. Scott F. Hershey, Ph. D., LL. D., of Boston, Mass., an alumnus of the class of 1875. This Prize is

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of Regents in 1891. In 1894 Rev. Lewis H. Kefauver, D. D., was duly elected as Acting Chancellor and continued to serve in this capacity until 1899. On February 13, IQOO, at a special meeting of the Board of Regents, the Rev. S. C. Goss, D. D., of Wadsworth, Ohio, was unanimously chosen to till this high and responsible office, and was duly inaugurated by appointment of the Board, at the opening of the Spring Term, March 28, IQO0. Whilst the space allotted for this historical sketch forbids the possibility of mentioning all the teachers who have served the College and University, yet it seems fitting to place upon record appreciation of several names of persons who served the institution long and well. Rev. Jeremiah H. Good, D. D., was one of the original teachers and may be regarded as one of the founders of Heidelberg College. He was born in Berks Co., Pa., November 22d, 1822, graduated with highest honor of his class from Marshall College in 1842, and from the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg, Pa., in 1846. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in the same year, and served as the Editor of the XVestern Mission- ary from 1848 to 1853. He served as Professor of Mathematics in this institution from ISSO to 18683 he also served as Professor of Dogmatic and Practical Theology in Heidelberg Theological Seminary from 1868 to 1888. He was gifted, scholarly, extensively informed, a ready writer, genial in manners, and held in high esteem throughout the church. He departed this life january 25, 1888, aged 65 years, 2 months, and 3 days. The venerable Rev. Reuben Good, D. Sc., who was also one of the original teachers, and founders,-who served the institution well in The days of small things, still tarries among us to give us his benediction and counsel. His time of service in the professorship of Natural Sciences extended from 1850 to 1890, when the Board reluctantly accepted his resignation. Of the present teaching force, the member of the faculty who has been longest in the service of the institution is Prof. Christian Hornung, A. M., who was elected to the chair of Mathematics in the year 1869. Closely identified for many years with the interests of Heidelberg, although not a teacher, mention rnust also be made of Elder Henry Leonard of Basil, Ohio. He was born of Swiss parentage in Fairfield County, Ohio, February 14, 1812. In 1857 he was elected by the Board of Trustees as Hthe nnancial and traveling Agent of the institution. Regard- ing his election as a Call from God, he relinquished a lucrative mercantile business which he had pursued for twenty-eight years in the town of Basil, and entered upon his arduous labors in the service of the institution. When he began his agency in 1857, the nuances of the College were in a very distressed condition, but, as Rev. Dr. Williard, in his History of Heidelberg College observes, he persevered in it in the face of all the diffi- culties with which he had to contend, sometimes hoping against hope. His success was more than he, or the friends of the College, could have anticipated, thus ailording a con- spicuous example of what perseverence and personal effort can do. By the peculiar methods which he employed in l1is work, he became known throughout the Church as The Fisherman. He was largely instrumental in increasing the Endowment Fund, and in gathering the funds for the erection of the new University building. This building may be regarded as a monument of the indefatigable labors of two men: The Rev. Dr. Geo. W. Wil- liard, the fifth President of the College, and The Fisherman, Henry Leonard He Hlled his office during thirty-two years, and did his work well. On the 7th of December, 1889, he fell asleep in jesus in the 78th year of his age, and now rests from his labors. His mem- ory in the noble work of Christian education is blessed! In the annals of the educational work in the State of Ohio, Heidelberg is also memor- able in being among the earliest institutions which have pursued their work along the line of co-education of the sexes. From the very beginning, the privileges of the institution have been open to women as Well as men. At first, doubtless, the plan was regarded as an