USA > Arizona > A history of the Church of the Brethren [southern California & Arizona] > Part 8
USA > California > A history of the Church of the Brethren [southern California & Arizona] > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
No provision having been made to publish the District History, the report of the Commttee was received and Com- mittee continued.
E. R. Yundt, George Chemberlen, E. T. Keiser, George H. Bashor and I. B. Netzley were chosen by lot to serve as District Trustees, to hold property. They reported the by-laws, which were adopted.
Among the queries and petitions was one from the South Los Angeles Church desiring that a Bible Department and Ex- tension Course of study be placed in the Lordsburg College, and it was agreed to. W. H. Wertenberger, J. Z. Gilbert and E. T. Keiser constitute the committee to put the resolution into effect.
The Golden State Home and Orphanage not having come into form and operation yet, requests for its position of use- fulness was made. The request referred to its trustees.
The Meeting united with Oregon, Washington and Idaho in a call for the Annual Conference of 1914 or 1915 to be held on the Pacific Coast. This resulted in the Conference being held in Seattle in 1914.
The largest membership, 343, was reported from Lords- burg this year. The largest number of conversions, 20, was reported from the East Los Angeles Church.
Elder George H. Bashor represented the District on the Standing Committee of the 1913 Conference.
This District Meeting was held in Santa Ana Oct.
1913 23. Geo. H. Bashor was Moderator, J. P. Dickey, Secretary, J. W. Cline, Assistant, and D. W. Crist, Reading Clerk.
1. Plea to change name of college from Lordsburg to Palmera, and so ordered.
2. Authority to conduct street services in Los Angeles.
3. Trustees chosen to hold the Riley Fund and other trust funds of the District. Request to Annual Conference to
102
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
create an examining board to pass upon the fitness of all who desire to follow Bible Teaching.
4. Lordsburg College granted right to create annuity endowments.
5. Educational Board granted right to appoint two mem- bers for a joint committee from Northern District of Cali- fornia.
6. District Meeting officers empowered to fill Sunday School Secretary vacancy.
7. Authority asked to create a Chinese Mission in Los Angeles to fit mission workers for China.
1914 This Conference was held in Lordsburg Oct. 22. Geo. H. Bashor was Moderator, W. H. Werten- berger, Secretary, W. E. Trostle, Assistant, D. W. Crist, Reading Clerk.
1. Request to create a position on the Educational Board of the several Districts of the Pacific Coast. W. F. England chosen to said position.
2. Urgency to erect the Golden State Home and Orphan- age which has not materialized since its inception in 1907.
3. Only members of the Church of the Brethren to be representatives at Christian Workers and Sunday School con- ventions.
4. W. H. Wertenbaker and H. J. Vaniman to have charge of Rescue Mission.
1915 This District Meeting was held in Pasadena Oct. 28. Geo. F. Chemberlen, Moderator, W. E. Trostle, Secretary, J. A. Brubaker, Assistant, E. S. Young, Reading Clerk.
1. Request from Pomona Church that the Trustees of Lordsburg College be authorized to raise an endowment of $100,000 for the College.
2. Churches to contribute $50.00 for the beginning of a fund for superannuated ministers.
3. Santa Ana Church asks that the Elders of the District more fully employ Gospel Measures to bring a greater respect
103
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
from the members in regard to the doctrine of nonconformity in dress.
4. Lordsburg asks that greater care be exercised in invit- ing non-members into our pulpits.
5. Petition asking for a committee to confer with North- ern California District with regard to an Old Folks' Home.
6. Tropico asked for a plan to hold a ten-day camp meet- ing to unify all interests of the District more fully. Santee Church asked for something similar. Referred to officers of this District Meeting to produce a way.
7. Santee Church granted privilege to solicit other con- gregations for money to erect a church house.
8. East Los Angeles asks that the next Annual Meeting coming to the Pacific Coast be held in Los Angeles.
9. Mothers organization empowered. Sister William H. Wertenbaker, Sister Harvey Vaniman first officers.
1916 Geo. F. Chemberlen, Moderator, W. M. Platt, Secretary, A. C. Root, Assistant, J. P. Dickey, Reading Clerk.
1. East Los Angeles asked for Annual Meeting of 1918.
2. Santa Ana District Meeting to pass a rule that no District Officer can succeed himself in office. Referred to a committee of three to report next year.
3. Long Beach asks that the Old Folks' Home be given some consideration. Referred to Golden State Home and Orphanage Committee.
4. Reports of various committees made and agreed to.
1. In 1913 the membership of the District was 1461, and the amount contributed for Mission work was $6165.62.
2. In 1914 the membership was 1455, and the amount of money for missionary work was $8718.68.
3. In 1915 the membership was 1581, and the amount given for mission was $12,938.30.
4. În 1916 the membership was 1638 and the contribu- tions amounted to $8045.36, or a total for four years of $32,867.96.
5. The amount for District incidental expenses during the four years was $5882.02.
104
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
6. The Educational contributions are $11,643.48.
7. Worldwide contributions for four years are $6464.55. According to our records, the District of California and Arizona up to May, 1907, and the District of Southern Cali- fornia since that time have given to the worldwide endowment about $45,000.00. In 1912 California ranked seventh as a state in the amount of money given to the worldwide endowment. At that time the Sunday School contributions amounted to $11,973.00. Conference in Long Beach.
WHO HAS LED IN DISTRICT MEETINGS WHEN AND WHERE
Moderators:
Christian Wine, Covina, 1889.
Peter Overholtzer, Los Angeles, 1890.
J. S. Flory, Conejo (Ka-na-ho), 1891; Lordsburg, 1892; Covina, 1893.
P. S. Myers, Tropico, 1894, and Lordsburg, 1899.
J. S. Mohler, Lordsburg, 1895; Los Angeles, 1897. W. J. Thomas, Lordsburg, 1896.
J. W. Trostle, Lordsburg, 1898, and Lordsburg, 1900.
S. E. Yundt, Los Angeles, 1901; Inglewood, 1904; Oak Grove, 1907; Long Beach, 1910.
George F. Chemberlen, Covina,. 1902; Inlgewood, 1904; Glendora, 1905; Lordsburg, 1906; Covina, 1911; Pomona, 1911; Glendora, 1912; Special Glendora, 1912; Pasadena, 1915; Long Beach, 1916.
S. G. Lehmer, Colton, 1903.
W. F. England, Inglewood, 1908.
George H. Bashor, Santa Ana, 1913, and Lordsburg, 1914. Edmond Forney, South Los Angeles, 1909, and two special meetings at the same place in same year.
Reading Clerks:
Jacob Whitmore, Covina, 1889. J. S. Flory, Los Angeles, 1890. T. J. Nair, Conejo, 1891 ; Lordsburg, 1892.
E. A. Miller, Covina, 1893; Tropico, 1894; Lordsburg,
105
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
1895; Glendora, 1896; Los Angeles, 1897; Lords- burg, 1898.
B. F. Masterson, Covina, 1899.
Christian Wine, Lordsburg, 1900.
W. I. T. Hoover, Los Angeles, 1901.
S. G. Lehmer, Covina, 1902; South Los Angeles, 1909; Special, 1909.
W. C. Hanawalt, Colton, 1903; Inglewood, 1904; Oak Grove, 1907.
W. E. Trostle, Glendora, 1905.
G. G. Lehmer, Lordsburg, 1906.
J. A. Brubaker, Inglewood, 1908.
W. H. Wertenbaker, Long Beach, 1910.
William Stutsman, Covina, 1911.
George H. Bashor, Glendora, 1912.
E. S. Young, Pasadena, 1915.
D. W. Crist, Santa Ana, 1913; Lordsburg, 1914.
J. P. Dickey, Long Beach, 1916.
Secretaries:
D. A. Norcross, Covina, 1889.
Aaron Wolf, Los Angeles, 1890.
M. M. Eshelman, Conejo, 1891; Los Angeles, 1897; Lordsburg, 1898; Oak Grove, 1907; Inglewood, 1908; South Los Angeles, 1909, and two special meetings at the same place in 1909.
B. F. Masterson, Lordsburg, 1892; Covina, 1893, and Lordsburg, 1895.
S. G. Lehmer, Tropico, 1894.
Darius Overholtzer, Glendora, 1896.
E. T. Keiser, Glendora, 1903.
W. M. Platt, Covina, 1904; Long Beach, 1916.
W. C. Hanawalt, Glendora, 1905.
W. F. England, Long Beach, 1910.
W. E. Trostle, Covina, 1911; Glendora, 1912; Pasadena, 1915.
J. P. Dickey, Santa Ana, 1913.
W. M. Wertenbaker, Lordsburg, 1914.
106
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
Assistant Secretaries:
· Justus Cline, 1900. W. M. Platt, 1901. Jesse Overholtzer, 1903-4.
S. G. Lehmer, 1905.
W. E. Trostle, 1906-7-8, 1912, 1914.
J. W. Cline, 1909 and 1913. J. A. Brubaker, 1910, 1915. D. W. Crist, 1911. A. C. Root, 1916.
Representatives at Annual Meeting:
1889. J. S. Flory, Harrisonburg, Va.
1890. J. S. Flory, Pertle Springs, Mo.
1891. J. S. Mohler, Hagerstown, Md.
1892. I. M. Gibbel, Cedar Rapids, Ia.
J. S. Flory, Muncie, Ind.
1893. 1894. John Metzger, Myersdale, Pa.
1895. P. S. Myers, Decatur, Ills. 1896. John W. Metzger, Ottawa, Kas.
J. W. Trostle, Frederic, Md.
Andrew Hutchinson, Naperville, Ills. J. S. Flory, Roanoke, Va.
1897. 1898. 1899. 1900. 1901. 1902. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912. J. P. Dickey, York, Pa.
1914.
P. S. Myers, North Manchester, Ind. Stephen Yoder, Lincoln, Neb. By Letter at Harrisburg, Pa. Edmond Forney, Bellefontaine, Ohio. S. E. Yundt, Carthage, Mo. George F. Chemberlen, Bristol, Tenn. J. W. Trostle, Springfield, Ills. Edmond Forney, Los Angeles, Cal. D. A. Norcross, Des Moines, Ia. J. A. Mller, Harrisonburg, Va. J. P. Dickey, Winona Lake, Ind. W. Q. Cilvert, St. Joseph, Mo.
1913. George H. Bashor, Winona Lake. S. E. Yundt, Seattle, Wash.
107
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
1915. George H. Bashor, Hershey, Pa.
1916. W. F. England, Winona Lake, Ind.
1917. George F. Chemberlen, Wichita, Kas.
Of these the following named are at this time (January 1st, 1917) "absent from the body and present with the Lord:" J. S. Flory, J. S. Mohler, John W. Metzger, P. S. Myers, J. W. Trostle, Stephen Yoder.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
In 1907 at the District Meeting in Oak Grove, Fresno County, California, the Butte Valley Church, the Reedley Church, the Sacramento Valley Church and Fruitvale Church were organized into what is now known as the Northern Cali- fornia District.
In 1912 Elder D. L. Forney prepared a good sketch of these local churches with the desire of having it published in this work. We regret that for want of space the matter can- not.be inserted here.
108
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
HISTORY OF THE LORDSBURG COLLEGE
In the month of December, 1889, George L. McDonaugh, then Traveling Passenger Agent of the Southern California Railroad, in company with Judge A. P. Maginnis, took M. M. Eshelman, T. J. Nair and others to see the Lordsburg Hotel, built during the boom times at a cost of $75,000.00.
After viewing the building, Mr. Maginnis requested the party to make an offer with the view of turning the property into a business college. M. M. Eshelman prepared an option with the hope that it would be rejected, not desiring to engage in the college business. The option included the building and block upon which it stood, and one hundred town lots, many in fruit bearing trees, together with a bonus of $1200.00 to outfit the building for school purposes-all for $15,000, pay- able in three years without interest. To the surprise of all, the three sets of trustees, who owned the property, accepted the option.
In 1890 S. A. Overholter, David Kuns, Daniel Houser and Henry Kuns, who, while not having a scholastic training, were greatly interested in having a school in perfect accord with the principles and usages of the Church of the Brethren. They gave freely of their money and time for ten years to bring the institution to a high standard of usefulness. Dr. T. J. Nair was the fifth Trustee.
The institution, under the title, "The Lordsburg College," was opened in the autumn of 1891, with Dr. S. S. Garst as President, F. U. Nofziger as teacher of the Commercial De- partment, Miss Sue Wengert as instructor in Music, Prof. Solomon Hendricks teacher of Mathematics and Miss Mary Robinson as instructor in Greek; M. M. Eshelman was responsible for the Primary Department and Emma Yoder as teacher in actual charge. One hundred and thirty-five pupils were enrolled the first year. The second year found almost an entire new family, with E. A. Miller, as President, in charge.
The three-story structure has a south front of 185 feet, an east wing of 109 feet and a west wing of 189 feet. It is not ill-adapted for school purposes in its incipient stage, in a new and growing community.
.
Founders and First Trustees of Lordsburg College. Samuel A. Overholtzer. Daniel Houser.
Lordsburg College.
N
109
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
The location is perhaps unexcelled for beauty. With the high Sierra Madre mountains close by on the north and the San Jose hills on the south and open views to the east and west, landscapes dotted and fringed with flowers, deciduous and citrus orchards and ornamental trees, the charm of the aesthete and the less artistic, what could be better adapted to bring high ideals to mortals who love God's creations ?
There were then less than one dozen houses in the village, but it has grown to an incorporated city of the sixth class, with electric lights, gas, and fine water in abundance under pressure. Cement curbs and sidewalks, beautiful drives and boulevards, modern residences, fringed with palms, vines, roses and a great variety of semi-tropical vegetation make the place delightful all the year. Orange and lemon groves and highly ornamental homes entertain the eyes while one is passing over the country.
Lordsburg has no saloons, no places of evil resort, no pool rooms. Thousands of persons come to Southern California each year to enjoy its fine climatic conditions. Within the past few years quite a number of families have taken residence in Lordsburg to be near the College for the education of their children. Others have come for cultural, social and religious privileges usually found in a town with high aims.
The place is reached by three transcontinental railways. The Santa Fe system between Chicago and Los Angeles, the through trains of which stop to let passengers off at Lords- burg, as well as local trains. The Southern Pacific Railway between Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, has a depot within five minutes walk of the college. The Salt Lake between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, passes through Pomona, a most wonderful means of seeing the country, roads so smooth that one feels he is riding over a floor. Students come and go to school on their bicycles and motorcycles and automobiles with pleasure.
On March 26, 1908, the property, with its building, equip- ment and eighteen acres of land, was donated to, and accepted by, the Church of the Brethren of Southern California and Arizona. In conformity to this plan the ownership and con- trol, the charter was accordingly amended.
110
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
October the first, 1914, the Northern District of California voted to join in the ownership and management of the College on condition that the reverting clause to the deed to the property be removed, so that a clear title may be secured by the Church of the Brethren. Accordingly, on December 13, 1916, a deed in escrow was secured and is to be delivered to the Church of the Brethren on condition that a building to cost not less than $20,000.00 shall be erected.
Since the institution has been in the hands of the Church efforts have been made to bring the course of study in accord with the State requirements. The intense interest in education on the Pacific Coast has caused educational institutions to spring up all over the state, and the high schools abound in all communities. With these competitors offering splendid courses and the membership of the Church of the Brethren being very small as compared with other denominations, the attendance has been limited. The obstacles have been ever present. At no time has there been an overwhelming en- thusiasm on the part of all the church members. One of the hindrances was an insufficient sum of money to meet all requirements that other schools offered. It had to meet diffi- culties as all others have to-through much perseverance.
There have been several distinct periods in the history of the College. The first period covered the first ten years, there being a provision in the original contract of sale to the effect that a school must be maintained for ten years in order to get a clear title to the property. At the expiration of the ten years the trustees refused to put any more money, or at least very little, into the college, but insisted on leasing the property to some person or persons who would assume all responsibilities for the operation of the college. Owing to this attitude there was no school during 1901 to 1902.
The second period was from 1902 to 1907, during which time the school property was leased for school purposes. This plan had its defects also, since a college is not a commercial but a charitable institution.
The third period was from 1907 to 1908, during which time the college was operated by the Trustees of the Lordsburg
111
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
College Association. It was the transition period from private to church ownership.
The fourth period began in 1908. Since that time the college has been conducted by Trustees chosen by the Con- ference of Southern California and Arizona.
Since the beginning until 1912 the work was almost wholly that of an Academy, though there were some classes during most of this time that were only of grammar grade, such classes as grammar, arithmetic, geography and orthography. Occa- sionally during the latter half of this period there were one or two classes of college grade.
From the beginning until the summer of 1914 a commer- cial department was maintained. It was discontinued because the high schools all maintain such departments, besides many young people desiring such instruction prefer such courses in the larger commercial colleges in the cities.
Likewise were given elementary courses in vocal and piano music expression.
Another feature of the curriculum was Bible study. But owing to the fact that all work of the school was below college grade, the Bible Department never developed beyond the same standard. But now since the Bible Study of an Academy grade receives credit among the fifteen units required for entrance to the Freshman Class in college, a large per cent of the Academy students elect one or more units of Bible Study. This is very encouraging to the friends of the college, who are desirous that some Bible study be taken by every Academy student, which alone makes a marked distinction between the private Academy and the public high school.
In 1911 the Academy was placed in the accredited list of the secondary schools in California. This gave encouragement to the school authorities and a noticeable increase in the at- tendance was manifest.
In 1912 a College Course was outlined, the faculty in- creased and strengthened, and the increased enrollment con- tinued. Had not the freeze which the whole of Southern Cali- fornia experienced, in January, 1913, occurred, it is quite prob- able that the increases in enrollment would have continued,
112
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
instead of declining; the endowment of the College would doubtless have been increased, the equipment would have been enlarged and a new building be in use before the time of this writing, December, 1916. "Hard times" affected all kinds of charitable institutions throughout the state. -
The school laws of California are in many respects much more rigid than in many of the other states, which also makes it more difficult to develop a first-class college in California.
Since the fall of 1912 the College has been offering each year a number of courses in all of the main departments of College work, viz., English, Mathematics, History, Language, Philosophy and Social, Physical and Biological Sciences. Most of the courses in these departments alternate year by year, thus conserving teaching force and expense and making fewer small classes.
During the past four years of definitely outlined College work the Institution lost many of its best College students because it was still unable to give them the work that they demanded, but the encouraging feature of the situation is that other colleges of the highest standards have given these students full credit for their work done in Lordsburg College.
From the beginning the College endeavored to secure as a faculty men and women not only of high intellectual attain- ments, but of moral and Christian character as well.
Perhaps for the first two-thirds of its history, the most of the teachers were not College graduates, and held no degrees. This was, of course, unfortunate, for it implies an erroneous pedagogical principle, namely that one does not need to be a College graduate in order successfully to teach elementary and secondary subjects. There are, though, numerous exceptions, and in some of its teachers Lordsburg College was fortunate to have excellent teachers who were not College graduates. But with all of these exceptions and well intentioned efforts, the laws of California do not take much account. Hence the growth of the Institution has not been commensurate with the well meant efforts and heroic sacrifices made in its behalf.
The future of the College is of supreme interest to the Church. Great changes in all departments of life have taken
-
113
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
place in California within the last twenty years. The present Board of Trustees are keenly aware of these changes and are seeking the best means to meet them so far as the College and higher educational advantages are concerned. The friends and the patrons of the College, too, are more cognizant of the de- mands of the present time for thoroughly educated and trained young men and women for successfully coping with life's opportunities.
But best of all, the institution is most fortunate in having for its present President a man of many years of experience as a College professor and administrator. He is Elder S. J. Miller, A. M., L, H. D. He is ably seconded by W. I. T. Hoover, M. A., Ph. D., Dean of the College, who in 1912 out- lined the first College Course and issued the first College Catalog.
At the time of the election of S. J. Miller to the Presi- dency, Feb., 1915, by the Joint Board of the Northern and the Southern Districts, there was a great deal of enthusiasm in a larger Lordsburg College; however there were no steps taken to carry into effect the release of the Reverting Clause .. Not until the time of the Board Meeting in February, 1916, were definate steps taken to accomplish this. It was agreed that each District should solicit its share of the $2,000.00 to pur- chase the interest of Henry L. Kuns. When this was accomp- lished and the quit claim deed with the contract providing for the erection of a building to cost not less than $20,000.00, before Feb. 1, 1920, were placed in escrow, the way was open for planning larger things for the school.
The College building, an imposing structure, built in the boom days of California, 1888, was erected for a hotel build- ing. It has housed the College ever since the opening of the school and has at various times been repaired.
It has, however, outlived the generation to which it stands as a monument for their interest in the cause of education in the Church of the Brethren. The spirit of California demands modern equipments as well as modern buildings.
The building is not adapted to the use to which it has been
114
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
put. The recitation rooms are not well arranged and the Dormitory arrangements are not satisfactory.
Students, teachers and Boards of Directors have felt for a long time the need of modern, up-to-date structures, but the large amount of money necessary to build has always been in the way of the College men. The Districts have not felt able to do the things necessary to place the school on a solid founda- tion.
The feeling had grown strong in the minds of the students and the faculty that unless steps are taken to build, the college must close its doors. Everybody felt it an unsafe proposition to equip the building with the necessary equipments to keep the school in the front rank of colleges, since the building is -. a wooden structure, and likely at some time to burn to the ground. The need was imperative and something must be done to continue the College, for the Church of the Brethren feel the need of a school on the coast.
At the meeting of the Joint Boards, Feb. 5, 1917, Presi- dent Miller presented the problems of the college to the Board and made a plea for a new Administration Building.
After a very brief discussion a resolution was passed by the Board to institute a campaign for not less than $60,000.00 for a building, and the Executive Committee with the Presi- dent was instructed to investigate the Ward Systems Co., who have had large experience in soliciting money for charitable purposes, and if they found them reliable, to employ them.
This was done and a contract was made with them to con- duct an eight weeks' campaign, to begin March 12, 1917. At the beginning of the second week, the first donation of $10,000, the gift of Brother and Sister Isaiah Brenneman was given.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.