Lebanon Valley College - Quittapahilla Yearbook (Annville, PA)

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The Bizarre he bore on his brave heart burdens enough to bury a giant. In my judgment he saved its hfe and placed it in the hne of promotion to its present proud position of growing usefulness. Many desirable improvements were made during President Bierman ' s in- cumbency, among them the purchase and addition of four acres of ground to the campus ; but the most important and by far the largest single contribution yet received was the Mary A. Dodge Fund of $10,000 to aid needy students. This gracious benefaction has made possible the education of many a worthy young man and woman. Dr. Bierman, by his devotion to duty and business tact, suc- cessfully tided the institution across the breakers during the unfortunate reloca- tion agitation and the severe financial depression of 1893-4-5. After his retirement in 1897 he was not connected with the College until he was called back to official relations in June, 1906, when he was elected treasurer of the College by a unanimous vote. In this position he has the confidence of the business public and the student body alike because of his sterlifig integrit y and loyalty to duty. Only once before had he severed his connection with the College, from i88r to 1890, when he was a resident of Philadelphia, where he taught part of the time. Dr. Bierman is the best authority on the history of Lebanon Valley College, being the only man now officially connected with it who assisted in its founding. Working with a singleness of purpose through all these years what Dr. Bierman has done to inspire the work, to broaden the outlook and to extend the scope and influence of the College, is as yet unwritten history. In 1867 Lafayette College conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1892 Ursinus College honored him with that of Doctor of Philosophy. From 1878 to 1880 he served as secretary of the National Teachers ' Association, in the Higher Education Department. Dr. Bierman has also had a successful political career. In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican State Convention, as also in 1905, and in the Garfield campaign he served on the Republican State Central Committee. In 1900 he was, after a hotly contested campaign, elected a member of the General Assem- bly of our State, and in 1902 he was re-elected by a largely increased majority. In both sessions he served on a number of important committees, and even those who differed with him politically attest to his ability as a legislator. Among other bills that he succeeded in having passed are two of no small moment, one permitting county commissioners to appropriate money to aid county historical societies in the prosecution of their work, and the other authorizing the same officers to provide at public expense metal grave markers of our deceased sol- diers, both highly meritorious measures.

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8 The Bizarre HON. E. BENJAMIN BIERMAN HON. E. BENJAMIN BIERMAN was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, December i, 1839. His ancestors were Prussians who emigrated to this country from WestphaHa, Germany, near the close of the eighteenth century. They were prominent in civic, church and educational relations, and on his maternal side — the Bertrams — represent a long line of teachers in this country and in Prussia, the line being easily traced back to the period of the Thirty Years ' War. After enjoying the usual advantages of private schools of his boyhood days, at the age of seventeen he entered the Reading Classical Academy, then under the principalship of the Rev. William A. Good, A.M., where he prepared for the junior class in college, studying the ancient and modern languages including Latin, Greek, French and German, the literature of these languages, also higher mathematics, general history, logic and mental philosophy. In 1864 he was called to the principalship of the Hamburg, Pa., Public High School, which position he successfully filled until March, 1867, when he was chosen to assist in the organi- zation of Lebanon Valley College and became its professor of mathematics and astronomy, and ever since. Dr. Bierman has been deeply interested in the welfare of the institution, and through all the vicissitudes of fortune has nobly stood by her. He has been interested in the various auxiliary projects connected with the school, and is one of the founders of the Philokosmian Literary Society, the oldest of our literary societies. After the retirement of President Kephart in June, 1890, affairs at the Col- lege reached a crisis. Many persons prominent in our church and educational circles warmly advocated the relocation of the College and this movement un- fortunately retarded its progress seriously, and divided its patrons. At this juncture Dr. Bierman was called to the presidency at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held July 28, 1890, and after receiving assurances of hearty co-operation from members of the Faculty and m any other interested friends of the College, he decided to accept the position. Rev. Dr. Brane, the then Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees, in a recent address before the Lebanon County Historical Society, says : When Dr. Bierman accepted the presidency of Leba- non Valley College he undertook the management of the school in the midst of a financial crisis the fog of which shut out the sunlight of hope from many loving hearts. After he was elected I was appointed to notify him of the fact, and re- quest him to accept the responsibility. After much deliberation and prayer he reluctantly consented to take charge of the school, and for a period of seven years

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K preparing this book for publication, the editors have worked long and hard, and in presenting it to the friends and students of Lebanon Val- ley College, we solicit their kindest consider- ation in the judgment of its merits. We ask that you, who may read this book will not criticise too liarshly, for we are not masters in the art of editing, neither do we lay claim to. great originality in the material of which this work is composed. Where we have copied, we have tried to copy the best, and our thanks are due to the editors of annuals and books from which we have received many helpful hints. We desire also to thank those who have aided us in fur- nishing material for this book and who have given us helpful advice and criticism. Ve send out this volume in the hope that its readers will find in it something that is instructive and inuch that is interest- ing, and that it will serve as a link to bind all in closer touch with our Alma Mater.