Susquehanna University - Lanthorn Yearbook (Selinsgrove, PA)

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Courses of Study I. Theology. II. College of Liberal Arts. 1. Classical Course. 2. Latin Scientific Course. 3. Greek Scientific Course. 4. Teachers ' College Course. III. Preparatory. 1. Academic Course. 2. Teachers ' Elementary Course. IV. Conservatory of Music. V. School of Expression. VI. School of Business. VII. School of Art.

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The Board of Directors Officers President Rev. S. W. Owen. D.D. f Hon. J. P. S. Gobin, LL.D. Vice Presidents ) . , ( Rev. W. E. Wisher, D.D. Secretary R. L- Shroyer, B.S. Treasurer • Rev. A. N. Warner, D.D. Members Rev. Charles T. Aikens, D.D. Selinsgrove, Pa. Dewitt Bodine ■ Hughesville, Pa. Rev. J. M. Steck, D.D. Williamsport, Pa. J. P. Carpenter, A.M., Esq. Sunbury, Pa. Rev. S. W. Owen, D.D. Hagerstown, Md. Gen. J. P. S. Gobin, LL.D. Lebanon. Pa. Rev. G. W. Enders, D.D. York, Pa. John L- Cooper Selinsgrove. Pa. Rev. W. E. Fisher, D.D. Shamokin, Pa. William Pore . Pittsburg, Pa. Rev. A. E. Wager, Ph.D. Altoona, Pa. Ira C. Schoch . Selinsgrove, Pa. William Decker Montgomery, Pa. Rev. D. B. Lau, A.M. West Milton, Pa. Rev. A. H. Spangler Yeagertowu, Pa. Rev. J. H. Weber, D.D. Sunbury, Pa. Rev. Robt. L. Patterson, A.M. Somerset, Pa. Rev. I. H. McGann, D.D. Lewisburg, Pa. Rev. M. L. Culler, A.M. Bedford, Pa. Charles Steele Northumberland, Pa. C. I. McWilliams, Esq. Shamokin. Pa. Rev. William M. Rearick, A.M. Miminburg, Pa. M. L. Wagenseller Selinsgrove, Pa. Rev. S. N. Carpenter, A.M. Pittsburg, Pa. George C. Wagenseller Selinsgrove, Pa. Rev. A. N. Warner, D.D. Selinsgrove, Pa. W. H. Ruppel, Esq. Somerset, Pa. Hon. G. Alfred Schoch Middleburg, Pa. M. P. Moller Hagerstown, Md. 10

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History of Susquehanna University THE Rev. E. W- Hutter, D.D., in a eulogv on the life and character of Rev. Benj. Kurtz, D.D., LL.D., states that the original suggestion of the Missionary Institute came from a school established by Dr. Bogue, at Gosport, England, in 1789. The 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 forma- tion of the General Synod, with the founding of the Seminary at Gettysburg, for which he secured 812,000 in Europe, together with thousands of books, and placed the Lutheran Ob.sovrr on a firm basis, editing it for thirty years. 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 demand was his purpose in urging the establishment of this school. During the years 1854, 1855 and I85f , Dr. Kurtz continually used the editorial columns cf the Lutheran Observer, of which he was editor, to press on the Lutheran people the need and advantage of a Missionaiy 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 profourdly learned men, and there are neighborhoodsand 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 pur- sued — namely, that of searching for and sending out pious and sensible men as preachers, after a brief course of preparatory reading, our church would at this time be vastly larger, and present a much more encouraging aspect. Under the 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, was signed, among others, by Revs. J. G. Morris, C. P. Krauth, W. A. Passavant, Benj. Sadtler, Chas. F. Shaeffer. S. S. Wedekind. Jacob Fry and Reuben Hill. For the need voiced bv 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 storv of the Cross to our destitute churches, and preach repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. Our mark is a Missionary Institute something like that estab- lished at Bastle. 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 laymen of decided talents and adequate mental discipline for the Gospel ministry. The institution is designed for the theological training of pious, strong-minded lav men, who are somewhat advanced in life, and men of families. The report was adopted and a committee of eminent ministers was appointed to carrv it into effect. Of this committee Rev. J. G. Butler, D.D., LL.D., Washington, D. C, is the only surviving member. The first meeting of this committee was held on Dec. 15. 1856, when it was resolved to locate the institution in Baltimore County, 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 theo- logical study it was added that provision may also be made by the managers for instruction in the various branches of an academical and scientific course. No formal appeal was yet made to the church, but the first donation, afterward followed bv other gifts from the same source, was of 810.00 from Mrs. S. E. Winter, widow of 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. At the second meeting of the Board, on Jan. 6, 1857, the resolution to locate in Baltimore County was rescinded, and Dr. Kurtz was elected Superintendent and Professor of Theology. At this meeting the Board ' s relation to the Synod was severed, owing to the proposed location outside the bounds of that Synod: the Board was also made self-perpetuating. 12