Otterbein University - Sibyl Yearbook (Westerville, OH)

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In Memoriam - JOHN E. GUITNER URING the past year, Otterbein University has suffered an irreparable loss in the death of John E. Guitner, who, for almost forty years, was Professor of Greek in the institution. The news of his death was re- ceived with much surprise and unspeakable sorrow by hundreds of stu- dents and by the citizens of the village. Such had been his life, that he held the esteem and affection of all who knew him. Nothing more appropriate to his memory can be given than the following address made by Dr. Garst, on the occa- sion of Prof. Guitner's funeral. ' John Emanuel Guitner was born in Greencastle, Pa., January 21. 1841, and died in Westerville, CJ., on the early morning of September 28. IQOO, aged 59 years, 8 months and 7 days. Prof Cuitner was the eldest son of Dr. Daniel and 'Urilla C. Guitner, and was one of six children. His thirst for knowledge and his studious inclinations early manifested themselves, and he made rapid progress in his studies in the public schools, and later in the academy of his imiv-C town. ln 1857, when he was six- teen years old, his parents moved to Wfesterville in order that he and the other children of the family might enjoy the advantages of Otterbein University in the pursuit of a higher education. The deceased graduated with the class of 1860. My own acquaintance with Prof. Guitner began in 1857, when he became a student at Utterbein. The relations between us were never those of chums. but always those of friends. lndeed, I am not sure that, with his dignity and reserve. and the want of abandon in his nature, he could in the ordinary sense be the chum of anyone. 15

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IOHN E. GUITNER I I

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My recollection of l'rof. Cuitner as a student is, that he was diligent and capable. not content simply to satisfy his teachers, but eager to know all that could he learned of a subject. and that he never halted until he had gained the com- pletest mastery possible. The painstaking and thorough-going student foreshad- owed the accurate, capable and efficient professor. ln his own chosen field, the Greek language and literature, he was an expert and master, but his scholarship was by no nieans confined to his special field. l'rof. Guitner has often surprised me by the accuracy and extent of his knowledge upon subjects to which I had supposed he had given little or no attention. He was remarkably tenacious of memory, so what he once acquired he ever after retained. He was quick to detect blundering and error, and had a quiet way of suggesting the correct, which w-as very embarassing to the careless and imperfectly informed. l deem it to have been one of the great good fortunes of my life to have been closely associated with him as a meznber of the same college faculty for a period of over thirty-one years. l have always felt. when uttering myself in his presence. that I was on my good behavior as to matters of pronunciation, grammar and literary form. l'rof. tluitner was happily married to Miss Lydia XYinter, in 18130, and. to- gether they built a home and reared a family, which it is in every respect a great pleasure to contemplate, and in no respect more so than from the standpoint of culture and godliness. l lis profession of faith in Christ was followed in 1867 by identification with tlie Church of the l'nited llrethren in Christ, which relation was faithfully main- tained to the day of his death. lt is a great satisfaction to say that in my long association with him in the fellowship of the same church, l have observed, as the j.'c2tl's have multiplied, a growing spirituality and an increased activity in religious service on his part. lint nowhere, except in his own home, the sorrow and desolation of which catisefl by his death, no pen can portray, will l'rof. Guitner be more missed than in the college in which he wrought so long and efficiently, where his real life work was done, llis period of service of over thirty-eight years ffimipi-i-lit-iifls several generations of students, and a sharp pang of sor- row will affect the hearts of thousands who have gone forth from this institu- tion, and who are scattered in every part of our own land, as well as in foreign , . 4 . lands. when they learn ot the death ol l'rof. fitutner. 113