Susquehanna University - Lanthorn Yearbook (Selinsgrove, PA)

Page 25 text:

History of Susquehanna University. T HE Rev. E. W. HuTTER, D. D., in a Eulogy on the Life and Character of Rev. Benj. Kurtz, D. D., states that the original suggestion of the Missionary Institute came from a school established by Dr. Bogue, at Gosport, England, in 1789. This school, with but few facilities, but with wise devotion, had been eminently successful in training men for home and foreign Gospel work. Dr. Kurtz had already been prominent and most useful in advancing the interests of the American Lutheran church. He was identified with the formation of the General Synod, with the founding of the Seminary at Gettysburg, for which he secured $12,000 in Europe, together with thousands of books, and was instrumental in establishing on a firm basis the Lutheran Observer. Now, as his life work is nearly done, his heart is moved by the great need of more ministers to take up and sustain the work of the Lutheran church — to meet this need was his purpose in urging the establishment of this school. During the years 1854, ' 55 and ' 56, Dr. Kurtz continually used the Editorial columns of the Lutheran Observer, of which he was Editor, to press on the Lutheran people the need and advantage of a Missionary Institute. He says, No Christian denomination in our land is suffering so much for the want of ministers of the Gospel as the Lutheran. We need plainly and moderately educated men as well as showy and profoundly learned men, and there are neighborhoods and churches to which the former are better adapted, and in which they can do more good than the latter. If the policy which we have again and again proposed, and have been advocating on every suitable occasion during the last quarter of a century, had been pursued — namely, that of searching for and sending out pious and sensible lay men as preachers, after a brief course of preparatory read- ing, our church would at this time be vastly larger, and present a much more encouraging aspect. Under date of May 18, 1855, he calls attention, with stirring comments, to an appeal sent out into the church to the pastors for more ministers. This plan to secure one young man from each respective pastorate,

Page 24 text:

M. C. Barbehenx, A. M., Instructor of Greek and [Mathematics in the Preparatory Department. Born at Gettysburg, Feb. 16, [873. After graduating from the Gettysburg High School he finished his preparatory course in the Prep. Dept. of Penna. College, and graduated from the Collegiate Department with the degree of B. A., in ' 95. During the course he received honorable mention for the Freshman Prize in General Scholarship, captured the Junior Latin Medal for general work in Latin, and graduated with second honors, being one of the ten commencement speakers. He then took a Theological course at Gettysburg, graduating in ' 98, after which he engaged in private work for one year. During ' 99- ' oo he taught in the Nazareth Hall Military Academy, and in the fall of ' 00 became Instructor of Greek and Mathematics in the Preparatory Depart- ment of Susquehanna. Miss Rose May Gortner, B. S., Professor of English and History in the Preparatory Department. Born at Halls, Prince George Co., Md., Dec. 14, 1S76. She came with her parents to Selinsgrove in ' S7, and graduated from the Borough High School in ' 91. In the autumn of the same year she entered Missionary Institute, where she remained until her health failed in ' 94. After a rest of one year she again took up her studies, graduating with first honors in the class of ' 98. Miss Gortner has the honor of being editor-in-chief of the first college annual published at Susquehanna. In the spring of ' 99 Miss Gortner took up graduate work at S. U., and in the autumn of the same year entered Cornell, taking up special work in English and History. In the fall of ' 00 she became Prof, of English and History in the Preparatory Department of Susquehanna. Rev. A. X. Warner, A. M., Registrar. Born July 15, 184S. at Manchester, Md. He entered Preparatory Department of Pennsylvania College in ' 66, graduated from college in ' 72 and from seminary in ' 75. He accepted a call to the Goldsboro and New Market charge, which he served until compelled to resign on account of ill health in ' 78. In 1880 he was called to the Williamsport and Moutoursville charge, where he was successful in paying off a large church debt, and greatly enlarged the work of the church in that place. He was called to Pine Grove Mills in ' S5, and three years later accepted a call to the Northumberland pastorate. His work here was very successful, and in 1S98 the Board of Directors of Susquehanna University elected him Financial Secretary and Registrar of the College.

Page 26 text:

was signed, among others, by Revs. J. G. Morris, C. P. Krauth, W. A Passavant, Benj. Sadtler, Chas. F. Schaeffer, S. C. Wedekind, Jacob Fry and Reuben Hill. For the need voiced by such men, he had a help in his plan of the Missionary Institute. A few months later he makes explicit statement of his desire and purpose — to take up sensible and pious men, partially educated, possessing aptness to teach and willing and anxious to labor in the ministry, and after judicious training for a year or two, sending them forth to tell the simple story of the Cross to our desti- tute churches, and preach repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. Our mark is a Missionary In- stitute something like that established at Basle. For the special benefit of this description of men we have long prayed to God and pleaded with our brethren that some provision should be made. At the meeting of the Maryland Synod, in 1856, a report was read by Dr. Kurtz on the subject of establishing a Missionary Institute for the education of lay men of decided talents and adequate mental discipline for the Gospel ministry. The institution is designed for the theological training of pious, strong-minded lay men, who are somewhat advanced in life, and men of families. The report was adopted and the following committee was appointed to carry it into effect: Dr. Kurtz, Rev. J. McCron, Rev. G. Deihl, Rev. F. R. Anspach, Rev. J. G. Butler, Dr. W. M. Kemp, Mr. Wm. Bridges, Mr. C. W. Humrichouse, Mr. J. Ream and Mr. W. C. Wisong. The first meeting of this committee was held on Dec. 15, 1856, in Baltimore, when it was resolved to locate the institution in Baltimore Co., Md. Statutes for the government were also adopted. The design is thus stated: This Institution shall be established and carried forward for the education of pious and sound- minded men (irrespective of age or domestic ties ) for the office of the holy ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. After stating the subjects of theological study it was also added that, provision may also be made by the managers for instruction in the various branches of an acadimical and scientific course. No formal appeal was yet made to the church, but the first donation, afterward followed by other gifts from the same source, was of $10 from Mrs. S. E. Winter, widow oi Rev. John Winter, a Lutheran minister. In Feb. 1857, an appeal and a statement were made to the church, in which Dr. Kurtz asserted his deep faith in his work and his assurance of support from the people: To them we look and to their Christian sympathy we appeal. They have heart to feel and throb in union with ours ; they also have money to consecrate to the cause of God and the furtherance of his Kingdom, and from the lessons taught us in our Lutheran Zion by more than forty years ' experience, we believe they will come to our aid and pour out their gifts with a freeness and richness, which, under God, will insure success. — 24 —