Susquehanna University - Lanthorn Yearbook (Selinsgrove, PA)

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A number of places urged their claims and presented inducements for the location, but at a meeting of the Board. May J, 1.S58, in consideration of the fact that Selinsgrove, Pa., made offer of S15,ol2. this place was decided upon as the location. At a meeting held at Selinsgrove from May 12 to 14, 18S8, arrangements were made to open the Classical school in the brick building at the rear of Trinity Lutheran Church; this, with the use of the lecture room, was tendered to the Board by the congregation. The officers of the Board were: Pres., Dr. B. Kurtz; Vice-Presidents, Rev. S. Domer and Rev. H. Zeigler; Recording Secretary, Col. A. C. Simpson: Corresponding Secretary Rev. H. Zeigler; Treas., Jas. K. Davis. An announcement was made that the institution, so located, was ready to receive applications for admission. The Classical Department, under the man- agement of Prof. Theo. Weaver, assisted by Prof. W ' m. Noetlirg, was opened on June 14, 1858, and the Theological Department on Oct. 7, 1858. The former opened with about seventy- five students, the later began with twelve. Work was at once begun on the new building, now known as Selinsgrove Hall, which was completed in May, 1859. The course of study for the Theological Department was as follows: Biblical Archaeology, Mental Philosophy, Moral Philosophv, History, Hermeneutics, Exegesis, Catechetics, Systematic Divinity, Hom ' iletics, Chronology. Pastoral Theology, Church Gov- ernment and Missionary instruction. Rev. Henry Ziegler, D.D., was the head of the Theological Department from 185s to 1881. He also tilled the office of Superintendent or President after the death of Dr. Kurtz, from 1SM to 1881, when he relinquished his duties in connection with the institution. During the first year there were 133 students, twenty-six studying Theology and 107 in the Classical Department. Rev. P. Born was elected principal of that department, entering his work Sept. 22, 1859, as Principal and Professor of Ancient Languages. This position he filled until 1881, when he was elected Superintendent and first Theological Professor, and Rev. John B. Focht, Principal of the Classical Department. The latter resigning in 1882, Rev. J. R. Dimm was elected principal, serving in that position until 1894. Rev. P. Born. D.D., resigned the position of Superintendent in 1893, yet continued a professor until his death in 1899. Rev. F. P. Manhart, D.D., succeeded Dr. Born in 1893. In 1894 the building known as Gustavus Adolphus Hall was erected, the Junior and Senior years were added to the courses in the Classical Department, making it a full college; additional professors were secured, the title of Superintendent was changed to that of President and that of the school to Susquehanna University. Dr. Manhart resigned as President in 1895 and was succeeded by Rev. J. R. Dimm. D.D., who presided over the institution until his resignation in 1899, but continued as an active professor until 1906, when he became professor emeritus. In the fall of 1899 Rev. C. W. Heisler, A.M., of Denver, Col., was chosen President, enter- ing on the duties of his position in November of the same year. Various changes and additions were made to the courses of study, of these the most important was the establishing of the Department of Music and of Elocution, both of which proved popular and helpful. During 1900 the Ladies ' Dormitory was erected to meet the needs of the increasing number of young women students; greater attention was also given to instruction in normal methods for teachers, especially during the current vear, under the supervision of Prof. Wm. Noetling, A.M. In 1901 Dr. Heisler resigned and Dr. Woodruff was elected dean, assuming the duties of President of the Collegiate Department, while Rev. Jacob Yutzv, D.D., acted as dean of the Theological Department. During this period the Commercial Course was added. Rev. Geo. W. Enders, D.D., of York, Pa., was elected President in 1902 and it was dur- ing his term of office that the Almni Gymnasium was added to our group of buildings. Dr. Enders remained President of the institution until 1904, when he resigned and was succeeded by Rev. John B. Focht, D.D., of Selinsgrove. He remained in office but one year, when, upon his resignation. Rev. Charles T. Aikens. D.D., was elected and continues in the office to the present time. Brief and fragmentary as the historical sketch of this school is, we mav yet learn from it that God inspired worthy, consecrated men with the idea of the Missionary Institute and blessed them in their work. ' Thev rest from their labors and their works do follow them. To their successors we may confidently look for a continuance of the same abounding favor of God. and ever enlarging usefulness to the church. 13

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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

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College Directory President ' s Office Hours: 9:00 to 12:00 A. M. 2:00 to 4:00 P. M. Registrar ' s Office Hours: 9:00 to 12:00 A. M. 1:00 to 3:00 P. M. 6:00 to 7:00 P. M. College Library: 8:00 to 8:50 A. M. 1:00 to 2:00 P. M. 4:00 to 5:30 P. M. ■ 6:30 to 7:30 P. M. College Reading Room: 8:00 to 8:50 A.M. 1:00 to 2:00 P. M. 4:00 to 5:30 P. M. 6:30 to 7:30 P. M. V. M. C. A.: Wednesday, 7:00 to 8:00 P. M. V. W. C. A.: Wednesday, 6:00 to 7:00 P. M. Philosophian Literary Society: Friday, 7:30 P. M. Clionian Literary Society: Friday, 7:30 P. M. Bible Classes: Monday, 6:00 to 10:00 P. M. Gymnasium: ( pen 4:0(1 to 5:30 P. M.