Muhlenberg College - Ciarla Yearbook (Allentown, PA)

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MARKED THE FIRST OF 200 YEARS IN THE EXISTENCE OF AN AMERICAN NATION CALLED IN- TO BEING BY A REVOLUTION WHICH EXCITED THE IMAGINATION OF THE WORLD. AND WHICH CONTINUES TO FASCINATE THOSE IN THIS COUN- TRY AND ABROAD WHO SEE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AS ONE WHICH SET IN MOTION PROCESSES WHICH HAVE NOT YET COMPLET- ED THEMSELVES. THE QUESTION OF WHAT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MEANS IS A QUESTION THAT EACH AMERICAN GENERATION RAISES ANEW AS IT CONFRONTS THE FACT OF THE REVOLUTION WITH ITS OWN COMPLEX OF VALUES, ASPIRATIONS. ANXIETIES. ★ For Thomas Jefferson as he faced the question of American independence the meaning of the revolution was some- thing other than what the revolution may mean when seen from the specific perspective of a corporate America, an America which is an international nu- clear power, an America that has just recently experienced severe urban dis- orde rs. student dissent, the Watergate crisis, and the appearance of environ- mental and even spiritual limits to incessant industrial and technological growth. What, as we now see it, was the overall social impact of the revolution; how does the city comport with the revolu- tionary ideal; how does the revolutionary heritage relate to our changing perspec- tive on the world; how did religion deal with the revolution and the revolution with religion; what unique themes enter American literature reflecting the ex- perience of the revolution and its his- torical background; what impact in ed- ucation, especially higher education, did the revolution have? ★ As a principal segment of its year-long program of special events commemorat- ing the 200th anniversary of the birth of the United States of America, Muhlen- berg College presents a public Bicen- tennial Lecture Series by six distin- guished American scholars, each ex- aminin g different aspects of these themes. WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN THE MUHLENBERG COLLEGE COM- MUNITY, AS CONTEMPORARY AMER- ICANS EXPLORE THE PERENNIAL QUESTION — WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION — FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF OUR Thursday, February 19, 1976 Edward C. Banfield Professor of Public Policy Analysis and Political Science University of Pennsylvania “The City and the Revolutionary Tradition Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. Monday, February 23, 1976 Gordon S. Wood Professor of History Brown University “The Revolutionary Heritage and Changing Perspectives on the World Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 1976 Robert A. Nisbet Albert Schweitzer Professor-Elect of the Hu- manities Columbia University “The Social Impact of the Revolution Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 25, 1976 Leo Marx Professor of English and American Studies Amherst College “The Uniqueness of American Literature Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, 1976 Marvin Wachman President. Temple University “The Impact of The Revolution on American Education Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 26, 1976 Peter L. Berger Professor of Sociology Rutgers University The Churches and the Crisis of the American Creed Science Lecture Hall 8:00 p.m. HLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLEN Thus, both brothers were involved in the politics of Pennsylvania and the United States at a crucial time. Gotthilf was the youngest son of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, and usually signed himself Henry. Of the three brothers, he was the one that followed in his father’s footsteps most closely. He served for a time as president of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and spent the last 25 years of his life at an influential church in Lancaster. He was named the first principal of Franklin College (which later evolved into Franklin and Marshall). His preaching career was interrupted in 1778 when he had to flee Trappe, where he became quite involved in botany. He educated himself in the field to the point where he could converse as an equal with the world’s leading authorities. Later, at Lancaster, he

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Gotthilf Henry Ernest Muhlenberg GMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUI was elected to a full term of his own the followin g November. After that, his neighbors drafted him to the General Assembly where he was so well regarded that he was chosen to be that body’s speaker. His next position was chairman of the Pennsylvania Convention for the ratification of the Constitu- tion in 1787. Shortly, he was joined in politics by Peter, who was elected to the Supreme Executive Council of the State in 1784, and then to its vice-presidential post. Peter had to assume many of the responsibilities of the President, Ben Franklin, who was in failing health. Both Peter and Frederick were elected shortly to the House of Representatives and so were part of the First Congress of the United States. On April 1, 1789, Congress, on its initial organizing act, elected Frederick Muhlenberg as its first Speaker. He served continuously from 1789 to 1797, declining to run for re-election in 1796. 7

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G MUHLENBERG MUHLENBERG MUHLENBERG MUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUHLENBERGMUI made an exhaustive collection of the varieties of plants in the area, and in 1791, he contributed his cataloging of the nearly 1100 species from the area to botanical science. It is perhaps interesting to note that while his brothers became highly involved in politics, Henry Ernest was a political quietist who devoted his attention to God’s presence in nature, not history. So, although the Muhlenbergs grew up in the same house and the same church, their opinions on the American Revolution differed in range from neutrality to militant support. Regardless of position, the Muhlenbergs of Pennsylvania were truly leaders in their time — a time critical to the birth of this nation. The Bicentennial Celebration at Muhlenberg College was highlighted by a full week of special 9