History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 171

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

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dollar annually, constitutes the donor an annual mem- ber.

It was thought at the time of the organization in 1863, that measures could at once be taken to begin the work of theological instruction, but in this, the most ardent supporters of the project were doomed to disap- pointment. In 1865, however, Rev. N. Colver, D. D., gave instructions to a few students at his study, and the following year, assisted by Prof. J. C. C. Clarke, regular instruction was given to a class numbering about a dozen members in the University of Chicago. Several of those students are now efficient pastors of churches.

Active work was now begun to secure funds with which to establish and endow the purposed seminary ; in which much labor was accomplished by Dr. Colver, Dr. Everts, Rev. J. B. Olcott and Rev. I. B. Branch. Dr. Colver visited the East and obtained fifteen hun- dred dollars from W. W. Cook, of Whitehall, N. Y., and Messrs. Barnes and Davis, of Burlington, Vt., with a pledge from them of fifteen hundred dollars per annum for five years, which was promptly paid as promised. Dr. Everts visited New York and other cities, where he obtained important donations, among which was money to be used in the purchase of grounds for the seminary, and some lots in Chicago, donated by the Colgates of New York ; in later years these lots have greatly in- creased in value, thus adding materially to the assets of the institution.

In September, 1866, Rev. G. W. Northup, 1). D., then Professor of Ecclesiastical History in the Rochester The- ological Seminary, was elected Professor of Theology, and November 17, 1866, Rev. J. B. Jackson, A. M., pastor of the Baptist Church at Albion, N. Y., was chosen Pro- fessor of Ecclesiastical History to commence their labors in the following year. Early in 1867 Professor Jackson entered upon the work of raising subscriptions for the endowment fund, and prosecuted it during the summer of that year with encouraging success. Among the Chicago gentlemen who gave liberally in aid of the enterprise were Messrs. Tyler and Goodyear each $5,000 ; C. N. Holden, $3.000 ; John M. Van Osdell, $2,000 ; Charles H. Reed and D. Henry Sheldon, $1,000 each. Mr. Pierce of Lafayette, Ind., also gave $5,000 ; liberal contributions were also made by mem- bers of the Evanston Baptist Church and of the various Baptist churches in the city. In May, 1867, the Bap- tist anniversaries were held in Chicago, and at a meet- ing attended by nearly two thousand persons, addresses were delivered by several distinguished men in regard to the University and the Theological Seminary. Among the speakers were Rev. G. W. Northup, D. D., the present president of the seminary; Rev. J. G. Warren, D. D .; Rev. William Hague, D. D., of Boston; Rev. George B. Ide, D. D., of Springfield, Mass,; Rev. J. S. Backus, D. D .; Rev. Thomas Armitage, D. D., of New York; Rev. George W. Eaton, president of the Theological Seminary at Hamilton, N. Y .; and Rev. C. E. Hewett, of Michigan. At the close of the meeting the following resolutions were adopted :

" That since the benefit of theological seminaries is not local, the responsibility for their support is not con- fined to a particular locality, but rests upon the churches at large participating in their advantages,

" That the central position of Chicago, amid a vast and rapidly increasing population, and the fact that it is already the seat of a university prospectively, one of the most important connected with our body, clearly point it out as the fittest location for the 'Theological Semi- nary of the Northwest.

"That as population and material resources and

political power increase with unprecedented rapidity in the region represented by Chicago, corresponding rapid- ity of educational and religious development must be attained for the safety of the country and the ascending of Christianity ; and foundations laid in the East in a half century must be laid here in a decade, or disastrous and irreparable losses will ensue."

In September, 1867, Rev. G. W, Warren, A. M., of Boston, was appointed to the chair of Hebrew and Exegesis, and the seminary was fully organized and commenced its work on the zd of October of that year. The finances at the end of the year showed nearly $36,000 in notes and subscriptions, together with lands valued at $35,000, besides 825,000 toward the erection of a seminary building, subscribed chiefly by the First and Second Baptist churches of Chicago.

In August, 1868, the seminary building. and which now stands just west of the university at Chicago, was begun and completed by July of the following year. It was built of brick, and was two hundred and fourteen feet long by forty-eight feet wide, was four stories high, and cost $60,000. It contained four residences for families, with thirty-four suites of rooms for students, be- sides recitation rooms, reading room, parlor and an exten- sive boarding department. The building was dedicated July 1, 1869, on which occasion addresses were delivered by G. W. Northup, D. D., president of the Seminary; Rev. C. E. Hewett, of Illinois; Rev. E. Eaton, D. D., of Iowa; Rev. R. A. Patterson, of Minnesota; Rev. M. G. Hodge, D. D., of Wisconsin; Rev. H. L. Morehouse, of Michigan, and Rev. S. Tucker, D. D., of Indiana. The prayer of dedication was offered by Rev. William Hague, D. D., of Massachusetts. There were, during that year, twenty-five students in the Seminary, three of whom completed their course and graduated. July 1, 1869, the treasurer made his report, showing the assets of the Theological Union to be $1 44,000, with liabilities, including the bonds issued to raise funds for the erec- tion of the Seminary, of 854,266. Of these assets, $80,000 consisted in buildings and grounds, $11,250 in other real estate, and the remainder in notes and sub- scriptions. In that month, too, Rev. Albert N. Arnold, D. D., of the Theological Seminary at Hamilton, N. Y., was appointed Professor of Biblical Literature and Ex- egesis in the stead of Professor G. W. Warren, and Rev. William Hague, D. D., was also appointed professor of homiletics and pastoral duties. The Seminary was thus provided with four instructors, Dr. Northup, Dr. Arnold, Dr. Hague and Professor Jackson.

It was during this year that friends of the Theolog- ical Seminary and University purchased from the estate of Dr. llengstenberg, of Berlin, Prussia, the library of the deceased, consisting of eighteen thousand treatises in thirteen thousand volumes, and constituting one of the richest collections in Biblical literature in the world.

With the close of the year 1870 the Seminary may be said to have become firmly established on a basis highly satisfactory to those who had labored so unceas- ingly in its behalf. The treasurer's report for that year showed the total resources to be $167,723.40, with liabilities of only $54,951.20, leaving a net surplus of $112,772.20. During the remaining seven years that the institution was located in Chicago, it was attended with a steadily increasing growth, and in the character and extent of its work fully met the expectations of its warmest friends.

In 1877 the officers of the Theological Union received an offer from the Blue Island Land & Building Company at Morgan Park, of a donation of five acres of ground,

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to be given to the Seminary, on condition that it be removed to and permanently located at that place. In view of the fact that this offer was made at a time when the managers of the Seminary had already begun to feel the necessity for more ground, or of a location where needed enlargements to the institution could be made, it was promptly accepted, the removal made and the present buiklings erected during that year, at a cost of $20,000.

When it is remembered that this is thoroughly a benevolent institution, that students are admitted to its courses free of all expenses, save the actual cost of boarding, that they not only pay no tuition, but are fur-

George W. Northrup, D.D., LL.D., president, and pro- fessor of the systematic theology; James R. Boise, D. D., I.L.D., professor of New Testament interpretation; William R. Harper, Ph. I),, professor of Hebrew and the cognate languages; Eri B. Hulbert, D.D., professor of church history; professor of homiletics, church policy and pastoral duties (the duties of this chair are per- formed by the president and by the professor of church historyi; Justin A.Smitn, D. D.,lecturer on modern church history; J. Alexis Edgren, D.D., professor in the Scandi- navian department, of Biblical literature, interpretation and theology; N. P. Jensen, B. D., instructor in the Scandi- navian department, in history, philosophy and homiletics;

BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, MORGAN PARK.

nished rooms in the building free of cost, the impor- tant character of the work it is performing may be bet- ter understood. The purpose of the Seminary is to fit men to become ministers of the Gospel. It isopen to students of all denominations of Christians, the only conditions of admission being, the applicant must pre- sent a certificate from the church of which he is a mem- ber, approving of his purpose to devote himself to the ministry. The course of study embraces three years, and is arranged with special reference to graduates of colleges. The library now connected with the school includes nearly twenty thousand volumes, and offers to students almost unequaled facilities for thorough re- search in the departments of Biblical literature, church history, homiletics and systematic theology. In the building there are rooms arranged in suites for the accommodations of sixty pupils, but as the attendance now numbers nearly one hundred, some forty are pro- vided for in private families living in the vicinity of the Seminary. The institution has also a Scandinavian department for the instruction of ministers to preach the Gospel to this race of people. The faculty of this department are J. A. Edgren, professor of Biblical literature, interpretation and theology, and N. P. Jensen, instructor in history, philosophy and homiletics.

The present faculty of the Seminary are as follows :

Professor Hulbert, librarian. The officers of the Bap- tist Theologcal Union are F. Nelson Blake, Chicago, president; Hon. F. Warren Merrill, Boston, Mass., and John D. Rockefeller, Cleveland, Ohio, vice-presidents; r. W. W. Goodspeed, D. D., Morgan Park, secretary, and Edward Goodman, Chicago, treasurer.

As to the future prospects of the Seminary, it re- mains only to add, that they are of the most encourag- ing character. Already subscriptions have been obtained for an endowment fund of $200,000, the proceeds of which will constitute a fund for paying teachers' salaries; $60,000 of this amount have been paid and the balance is speedily promised. It is expected, too, that in the course of the coming year, funds will be obtained with which to erect a suitable building for accommodating the students, as well as a fire proof structure, which is greatly needed, for the safe keeping of the large and valuable library which this institution has already acquired.

THE SOCIETY OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HEBREW. - This institution, which was, so far as is known, the first to successfully introduce the novel sys- tem of teaching the Hebrew language by correspondence, was founded in 1881 by William R. Harper, Ph. D., of the Baptist Union Theological Seminary at Morgan Park. The most prominent of the objects of the society

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are, "to awaken a more general interest among clergy- men and laymen in the critical study of the Hebrew language and the Old Testament ; to associate all who desire to carry on such study, in order that they may have that aid and stimulus which can only be obtained from an organized and systematic plan of work." The first lessons of the Correspondence School were sent out February 14, 1881, to a class which then numbered forty members, but which, by the close of that year, had increased to one hundred and fifty students. There are now seven hundred persons studying the language un- der Professor Harper's immediate supervision, which number does not include the students attending the summer schools of the institution, mention of which will shortly be made. The plan of this system of instruc- tion is as follows : " A printed lesson-paper is mailed to the student each week, which assigns the tasks which are to be performed, furnishes assistance and sugges- tions, and contains questions of the lesson. Every week the student mails to the instructor a recitation paper, on which he has written out the tasks assigned in the printed lesson ; the answers to such questions as may be asked therein, and any questions or difficulties which may have occurred to him in the study of the lesson. This recitation-paper is promptly returned, with the errors in it corrected, and with such suggestions as it may be thought best to offer. In this manner each les- son in the course is studied and the results of the study submitted to the instructor for correction, criticism and suggestion. It can not be doubted that the profit to be derived from such work is second only to that which is received from actual contact with the living teacher." There are four courses of instruction, which, for con- venience, have been named Elementary, Intermediate, Progressive and Advanced. The elementary course is intended chiefly for those who have never studied He- brew, the intermediate for those who, having before studied the language, have since grown "rusty," and who desire to review ground already once gone over; the progressive course is intended to meet the wants of a large number of ministers who have a fair knowledge of the language, but desire the help and stimulus of an organized course of study, in prosecuting their work still further, and the advanced course is for those who are advanced in the study of the language. The Hebrew Summer Schools were also opened in the summer of 1881 at Morgan Park, with a class of twenty-five pupils; sessions are now held at Chautauqua, N. Y., and at Worcester, Mass .; at all these places the most encouraging prog- ress has been made, each term opening with an increased attendance. At the third session of the Chicago school, held at Morgan Park July 1-29, 1883, there were pres- ent eighty-four regular members, besides several who were only temporarily connected with the school. The following denominations were represented : Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal, Wesleyan Methodist, Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian, Episcopal, Protestant Episco- pal, Congregational, Seventh- Day Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist. The members of the school represented the following States and countries: Alabama, California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, lowa, Massa- chusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. During the term, lectures were deliv. ered to the school by Professor S. Ives Curtiss, D. D .; President D. S. Gregory, D. D .. Rabbi B. Felsenthal, Benjamin Douglass, Professor E. L. Curtis, Professor E. B. Hurlbert, D. D., Professor John N. Irvin, Pro-

fessor J. L. Cheney, Ph. D. The Old Testament Cor- respondence School of the A. I. Il. has also been organ- ized for the purpose of rendering material aid to those who desire to undertake an extended and systematic course of reading in and concerning the old testament. One entering this department need not necessarily have any knowledge of the Hebrew, as the work is done in connection with the English version. The institute has also a publishing department, from which are issued several periodicals in the interest of the students, and also publishes a series of Hebrew text-books by Pro- fessor Harper, which are designed as aids, both for pri- vate study and for class-room work. In 1883 the society was incorporated under the laws of this State, and the following officers, who, together with sixteen trustees, have the management of its affairs, were chosen : William R. Harper, Ph. D., president ; Benja- min Douglass and F. O. Marsh, vice-presidents ; George S. Goodspeed, secretary and treasurer. The instructors of the school are William R. Harper, principal, and C. E. Crandall, George S. Goodspeed, Frederick J. Gur- ney, Robert F. Harper and Ira Maurice Price, assist- ants.

CHICAGO FEMALE COLLEGE AT MORGAN PARK,- The first female school in Morgan Park was opened in January, 1875, hy Mrs. Mary Fields, sessions being held at the house of Colonel Clark. Already, however, the erection of a female college building had been begun, and it was completed in September of that year. This handsome structure, which is indeed among the most beautiful and imposing in its character of the various public edifices in Morgan Park, was built largely through the munificent donations of the Blue Island Land & Building Company, aided by friends of the enterprise in Chicago and at Washington Heights and Blue Island. The building is situated in a natural grove on the eastern brow of the Washington Heights ridge, and at an elevation of nearly one hundred feet above the level of Lake Michigan. Situated thus it commands a most extensive view of the surrounding country, including numerous suburbs, the trains on seven different railroads, also the towns of Pullman and South Chicago. The cost of the structure, exclusive of grounds, was $30,000. In September the school began its first session, with the following corps of instructors : Gilbert Thayer, LL. D, president and professor of mental, moral and natural science; Miss Mary Spencer, preceptress and teacher of Latin, German, French and English branches. The school opened with forty-three pupils, and now has an average attendance of seventy- five. The course of study is thorough and comprehen- sive in its character, and embraces a preparatory, scien- tific and classical course. In the first are taught orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geogra- phy, history of the United States, intellectual and practi- cal arithmetic, composition, physical geography, physi- ology. In the scientific course the following studies are pursued: First year, fall session-Arithmetic, zoology, natural philosophy, English history, composition. Spring session-Arithmetic completed, botany, chemis- try, European history, composition. Junior year, fall session-Algebra, astronomy, rhetoric, ancient history. Spring session-Algebra completed, geology, English literature, ancient history completed. Senior year, fall session-Geometry, mental science and logic, English classics, French or German. Spring session-Trigo- nometry, moral science and natural theology, æsthetics, French or German. In the classical course, first year, fall session-Arithmetic, zoology, English history, com. position, Latin grammar. Spring session-Arithmetic

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completed, botany, European history, composition, Latin reader. Second year, fall session-Algebra, natural philosophy, ancient history, composition, Casar. Spring session-Algebra completed, chemistry, ancient history completed, composition, Casar. Junior year, fall ses- sion-Geometry, astronomy, rhetoric, Virgil, French and German (optional ;. Spring session - Trigonometry, geology, English literature, Virgil, French and German (optional). Senior year, fall session-Mental science and logic, English classics, Cicero, French and German (optional). Spring session-Moral science and natural theology, æsthetics, Livy, Horace, French and German (optional). The present faculty is as follows: Gilbert Thayer, LL. D., president and professor of mental, moral and natural science; Miss Gertude Coplin, pre-

follows: Colonel S. S. Norton and Professor H. T. Wright, with Captain Edward H. Kirk Talcott, associ- ated principal. In July, 1876, Captain Talcott and Pro- fessor Wright purchased the school, and at the same time changed its name to the one it now bears. Its present organization and staff is as follows: Captain Edward N. Kirk Talcott, principal, commandant and instructor in military tactics and English studies; Col- onel Ira W. Pettibone, head master, instructor in Greek and Latin languages and English studies; Endorus C. Kenney, instructor in mathematics; Ira M. Price, in- structor in German; Mrs. Josephine L. Bannister, in- structor in French language and literature, painting, drawing and the preparatory department. Professor C. A. Havens, vocal and instrumental music, and Professor

CHICAGO FEMALE COLLEGE AT MORGAN PARK.

ceptress, Latin and German; Miss Annie Rossiter, mathematics, French and the English branches; Miss Julia Thayer, history and ancient literature: Miss Mary E. Nash, short-hand and English branches; Cyrenus Hall. drawing, painting and decorative art; C. A. Havens, piano, organ, vocal culture and harmony; Miss Addie D'Vey, art needle-work. Dr. Gilbert Thayer, who has been at the head of the college from its begin- ning to the present, is an old and experienced educator, and under his management the institution has ever taken a prominent place among the colleges of the West. Before taking charge of the school at Morgan Park Dr. Thayer was principal of the Jacksonville Female Academy, at Jacksonville, Ill., the oldest char- tered institution of its kind in the West.

THE MORGAN PARK MILITARY ACADEMY Was established under the name of the Mount Vernon Mili- tary Academy by Colonel S. S. Norton, June 29, 1873. Its founder was formerly from an institution bearing the same name located at Vernon, Oneida County, in the State of New York. The Academy opened its first term at Morgan Park with ten students. The cost of the institution, including the Academy buildings, the outhouses, drill hall and fifteen acres of ground was $40,000.

The principals were at the opening of the school as

Joseph Singer, instructor on the violin. Mrs. Banni- ster is also the matron of the institution. The school, which has at present thirty six students, is in its charac- ter a preparatory course, fitting its pupils for college, for scientific school, the U. S. Military or Naval College, or for a business life. Its terms for board and tuition are $400 per school year. The Academy is in a flour- ishing condition, and enjoys the patronage of the best class of people in Chicago and elsewhere.

CHURCHES-The Baptist society of Morgan Park was organized in 1872, and the following year a church building was erected. This structure when first built was one of the handsomest and most imposing wooden buildings in the State; but the removal of its steeple in 1883, owing to its unsafe condition, has shorn it of one of its main ornaments. The cost of the edifice was borne by the owners of the plat, residents of the Park, and friends of the project in the city, on condition that the house, when finished, could be used for the services of the Christian Union. The Baptist society is now presided over by Rev. B. F. Simpson, with W. R. Har- per of the Hebrew school, clerk.

A Methodist society was formed here in 1860, the first members of which were William Frisby, the Lack- ores and Barnards. Rev. Mr. Cross was the pastor.

SCHOOLS .- For many years the children of this vi-

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cinity were compelled to attend the school at the old buikling on Ninety-fifth Street. In 1864, however, the school-house of District No. 5 was built. This was known under the somewhat pretentious title of the Prairie Academy, and continued to be used as a school building until the establishment of the present common school east of the railroad depot.

BLUE ISLAND LAND AND BUILDING COMPANY,-

order to supply the rapidly increasing demand for resi- dent houses in the village, the company will erect a number of dwellings, while others, private parties who have purchased lots, will also build homes for them- selves. Taking into consideration the delightful situa- tion of Morgan Park, its accessibility to the city, and the splendid educational facilities it affords. it is doubt- less destined, in the near future, to 1 ecome a place

MILITARY ACADEMY, MORGAN PARK.

This company, which has within a few years succeeded in building up one of the most pleasant and desirable of suburban towns in the county, was organized in 1869. Its incorporators were John B. Lyon, George C. Walker, Charles Walker, F. H. Winston, David Davis and others. The company was organized for the purposes indicated by its corporate title, but has confined its operations mainly to founding and establishing the village of Mor- gan Park. The company have now platted four hun- dred and fifty acres of ground, the boundaries of which have already been given. During the coming year, in

ranking in point of population among the first of Amer- ica's suburbs.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 171

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875