Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

Page 15 text:

J. H. Bomberger, and returned Hast, locating at Landisburg, Pa. After an active pastorate of nearly four years here, he accepted a call to St. Luke’s Reformed Church, Trappe, which church had been served by Dr. Bomberger from the founding of the college to this date, i88|. While at Trappe lie was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the College, and on two separate occasions collected sums of five: thousand dollars in the community for the benefit of the institution. Beginning with September, 1886. he entered the service of the College as Field Secretary, and in 1891 became Professor of Psychology. On the sixth of July, 1893, he was elected President of the College, and one year later received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Heidelberg I'niversity. President Spangler is a man who has risen from the ranks. The same energy that enabled him to be graduated as valedictory of his class has made his life a success. Ilis life, we believe, has just begun to develop its resources of useful ness, and we trust that Ursinus may long sec him at the helm of affairs. “ Reverently, loyally, hopefully, I accept the trust which you have committed to my hands, not to impose a personal policy upon the institution, in which we enjoy a common interest, but to carry out your generous purposes, to help realize your ideals, and to crown your hopes. Relying on your cooperation and Support, confidently expecting the sympathy and good will which brother cherishes for brother, and trusting above all in the help of Ilim, whose grace alone insures success, 1 pledge you my best efforts to maintain inviolate the trust that has come to us from the past and during the time of my administration to make Ursinus College serve its day and generation to the full measure of its opportunities. ’’ Thus spoke Dr. Spangler in his inaugural address 011 the sixth of September. 1893, and we are confident that the present effective condition of the institution is but the result of his promised word. A magnificent legacy passed into his hands, when Dr. Bomberger’s stable foundation was entrusted to his care, and the fact that he has been true to his trust is most clearly shown in the superb superstructure which he has erected. In his policy and aims Dr. Spangler, as President of the College, has been true to the traditions of the institution and has labored in full accord with the principles of her history. While raising her rank among educational forces, he has broadened her boundaries and lengthened her stakes. The sound basis on which the College stands and her honorable relations to the church and educational world are all the products of our President's labor, and are justly appreciated by all well-wishers of Ursinus. Dr. Spangler has put his life into the life of the College. His success and the success of the institution have become one. The sentiment that “ Every noble life leaves its fibres interwoven forever in the works of the world.” is exemplified here ; and the Class of 1901 are unanimous in the desire that both he and the College may go on together from victory to victory. «:

Page 14 text:

Henry T. Spangler, A.M., D.D., PRESIDENT OF LRSIM'S COII I GF. ' Success iii every art, whatever mr.y he the natural talent, i always the reward of industry and j»ain-. II'ate. PRESIDENT SPANGLER is a native of Myerstown. Pa. lie was born November 14. 1853, near the spot where iiis ancestors settled on arriving in this country in 1747. The genealogy of his family is of no little importance, being traceable to the eleventh century, where the record lays bare the fact that one. George Spangler, under the llerv eloquence of Pope Urban, was induced to leave his quiet home in Heidelberg to enlist as a soldier of the cross, and to do battle in the first crusade for the recovery of the tomb of the Redeemer. The pious wish of Dr. Spangler’s ancestor, however, was unfulfilled : for with hundreds of other poor German unfortunates he was smitten with the plague, died in the Holy Land, and lies buried at Antioch. After passing through the public schools, the subject of this sketch was registered at Palatinate College, then a preparatory school of our church. On being graduated from Palatinate he entered Ursiuus College, and in two years, in 1S73, was graduated at the head of the first class to go out from his Alma Afalm. His intention after graduation was to open a private school at Harrisburg, but this scheme he abandoned in order to accept an instruetorship in ITsinus Academy. While teaching here lie entered the Theological Seminary as a student, and two years later, in 1875, completed the course of instruction necessary to the holy ministry. In June, 1875, the Classis of Lebanon had before them for examination two young men, applicants for licensure. The young men were James I Good, 1). 1).. now Dean of Ursiuus Theological Seminary, and Dr. Spangler. The examination was so well sustained that both were licensed to preach in the ministry of the Reformed Church. Led by a literary taste and a wish for a larger vision of life, Dr. Spangler that same year accepted the position of Associate Editor of the Christian World, which was published by the church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here lie became engaged in missionary work, and was ordained by the Classis of Miami, Synod of Ohio, at St. Paris in 1875. One year later, while still engaged in editorial and missionary work at Cincinnati, he was united in marriage to Marion E. Rombcrger. third daughter of Dr. Bombcrger, the founder and first president of Ursinus College. In the beginning of 1877, President Spangler began his career as a pastor at Lancaster, Ohio, where he served one year, resigning the charge to accept the pastorate at Columbiana. Two years later he was succeeded here by the Rev. 12

Page 16 text:

Our Historic Neighborhood. •• Hi.stoiy i ;« miglUy li;iiu:t, -n;ictr ! upon the theatre of time with suns for lumps, anil eternity for a hiickgrotnul —Cntlylr. TIIKRK is probably no neighborhood in all our country whose local history has played so important a part in our national development as our own. When we think that it was in this broad, beautiful valley of the Perkiomen and upon yonder blue crested hills that Washington and his ragged Continentals camped, we almost feel that we are treading on holy ground. Indeed, this district in which we live is no mean place, for it has been the arena of memorable events and honorable actions. THI-: « I.n CHI'KOI AT TK A 1 1 1- But a stone-throw from the entrance to our college lies the ancient and by no means the least important village of our community. The Honorable Judge Penny packer says of it: “ Almost within sight of us lies the rural and Pennsylvania Dutch village of Trappe, with a population, it may be, of four hundred people, whose houses are stretched on each side of the pike. In that village there lived the founder of one of the most important of American churches. In it were born a major-general in the Revolutionary Army and a United States Senator ; the president of the first American Congress under the Constitution; one of the most noted of American botanists, whose labors and writings have met with • 4