Taylor University - Ilium / Gem Yearbook (Upland, IN)

Page 24 text:

JOHN H. SHILLING in mpmnrtam RKV. JOHN H. SHILLING was born in Palestine, Incl., Jan. 14, 1872. He was reared in a Christian liome and was ronverted in rhildhciod. TTntil tlie j ear 1895, lie was a monilier of the Calvin- istic clmrch. At tliis time he united with the M. E. fhurt ' h and in the same year was licensed to preach. In 1S98 he was ordaine l local deacon and later received elder ' s orders. Prof. Shilling was one of the first students to enter Taylor Uni- versity after its removal to Upland in 1893, coming here from Man-

Page 23 text:

-:p%, In 1869 he reeeived his first license to preach, and joined the East (lenesee Conference in the State of New York in 1870. After reorgan- ization and consolidation of Conferences, and after changes of boundaries his work fell in what is now the Genesee Conference. From that time until Jau: 1,3, 1904, when he began his duties as President of Taylor University, he was a tireless worker within the bounds of the Conference, lie was pastor of some of our best churches. He served Corning Dis- trict, Genesee Conference, as Presiding Elder from 1891 to 1897. T find by consulting the Minutes of the Conference that the membership of the District increased during his term of office, notwithstanding re- movals and deaths, from 6,734, when he began his work, to 8,393, when his term expired. There was an increase in the amount given for mis- sions during his presiding eldership over the preceding six years of $4,756.00 and an increase in all the regular benevolent collections of .$6,3.54.00. He closed his last annual report to the Conference by saying: ' ' May the motto, ' Holiness to the Lord, ' burn at the head of the marching columns of the District, till its brightness shall illumine every congregation, class, Sunday School, League, home and heart witliin her bounds. ' ' Dr. Winchester sat in the General Conference of 1896 and was a delegate to the Methodist Aecumenical Conference held at Washington in October, 1891. He ' as the efficent secretary of his Conference for eleven consecu- tive years and then his duties as Presiding Elder necessitated the elec- tion of another man. In 1902 he was appointed Conference evangelist. After assisting a number of churches during the fall and winter of 1902-3 in revival work, he was elected editor of the Buffalo Christian Uplook, and was occupied in that work when elected by the Board of Trustees of Taylor University as President of the University. Since he began his duties here as President, he has been invited to preach in a large number of pulpits of the North Indiana and other Conferences, and was invited to transfer his membership to the North Indiana Conference by a rising vote. Last summer he spent about six weeks in visiting camp meetings, and representing the various phases of the work done here in the University. He has written three books, ' ' The Wells of Salvation, The Victories of Wesley Castle ' ' and ' ' The Gospel of Foreign Travel, ' ' all of which we recommend to the students, patrons and friends of the ITni- versity, as books well worthy of perusal. Dr. Winchester is an interesting and instructive preacher. He has finalities of mind of a high order. He believes in a pure morality, in the best intellectual culture and in the highest standard of New Testament piety. He will do his utmost to place Taylor University in the front rank of educational institutions. Let us all co-operate with him in all his efforts to build up the cause of education and religion, and God will surely crown our efforts with abundant success.

Page 25 text:

Chester C ollege. He was gTachiated from Taylor University in 1895, reeeivino ' the degree of Ph. B. While a student, he had a long sickness, almost breaking down in health. Determined to have an education, he went to Georgia, where he could study and at the same time build up his eonstitutli-n. Here he remained two years, comjileting the theological course in Gamman Theological Seminary, Atlanta, receiving the B. D. degree. Tn 1896-97 he was Instructor in Vocal Music in Gammon an l Clark University and President of Demorest, Ga., Summer Normal Seliool. In 18 97 he returned to Taylor University to bcM ' omc Pro1Vss n- of Theology and Dean of the Theological Department. In June, 19111. he was elected to the Vice-Presidency of the University. Pi-csiih ' ut Reade ' s failing health made it necessary for Professor Shilling to per- form many of the functions of President. After the death of Dr. Reade in July, 1902, Dr. Sliilling became acting President, serving in this difficult position until June, 1903, when, at his own recpiest, the trustees gave him leave of absence for one or two years for advanced studies in Semitic languages and related subjects in Drew Theological Seminary and Columbia University. While attending school there he served a pastorate at Hilton, N. J. After graduating in June, 1904, from Drew he took a pastorate at Dingman ' s Ferry, Pa., at the same time pursuing special work in oratory in New York City. He was holding special re- vival meetings on tliis charge when he was suddenly taken ill. He was removed to the hospital at Port Jarvis, N. Y., where he died Nov. 21, •1904, aged .32 years, 10 months and 7 days. Prof. Shilling was a tireless worker. While teaching in Taylor University he pursued courses of study leading to the following degrees: A. B., A. M., Ph. D. and S. T. D. He was faithful as a teacher in the class room and as an administrative officer surpassed the expeetaticni of his friends. He was the personification of jiush and punctuality. He was rarely late to any engagement and never put of till tomorrow the duties of today. In undertaking any enterprise his characteristic expression was, It has to go; we ' ll make it go. Tn his busy life he found time to drink at the poet ' s fountain and listen to the Muses. He has written a number of poems of commendable merit, among which are, Ruth, Broken But Not Off, Wiien I Consider the Heavens, Gammon Hall, The Old Ilarii, The Departed, ' ' etc. On Commencement Day, June, 1899, there occurred in Literary Society Hall of Taylor University a very beautiful ceremony. It was a double wedding, in which John H. Shilling was united in marriage to Miss Mary Snead and John L. Hoover to Miss Osee Snead, Dr. Reaile officiating. Mrs. Shilling has one child, Charles Wesley, three years ohl, to comfort her in her widowhood. Why a man of such promise should l)e thus cut off just when his preparation for life ' s work, for which ho toiled so faithfully with hand and brain, ' s complete, we cannot understand. But we believe that his knowledge and mental grasp obtahied in these years of study are not accoimtcd loss, either by hinisolf or the Great Teacher, as Professor Shilling now matriculates in Irs post-graduate course of study in the University of Heaven.