USA > North Carolina > Historic sketch of the Reformed Church in North Carolina > Part 6
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The people, ministers and laymen, discussed pri- vately the propriety of establishing a high school at some point within the bounds of Classis, accessible to all the territory occupied by the Church. When in the year 1849 the Classis met in Grace Reformed Church (the White Church) in the town of Newton, the capital of the newly-formed Catawba County, the sentiment for such a school became so strong that on the last day of the meeting, April 30th, it was crystalized into the following resolution: "Resolved, that a committee be appointed to report at the next meeting of the Classis on the propriety of establishing a school of high order within the bounds of this Classis and under its con- trol." The committee appointed for this purpose consisted of Rev. G. W. Welker, Rev. Jeremiah Ingold, and Elder Henry Sechler. In 1850 the Classis met at Mt. Zion Church, Rowan County. The committee re-
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ported progress and was continued. The Classis was called to meet November 19th of that same year at Mt. Zion Church to hear the final report of the commit- tee on the high school. The report was as follows: "1. The Classis is not now prepared to locate the school; but a committee should be appointed to re- port on the most eligible situation for such a school at the next regular meeting of Classis. 2. It is not possible immediately to procure a competent teacher and the organization of the school should be postponed for the present, but a committee should be appointed to correspond on the subject and suggest a person or persons by the next annual meeting of Classis suitable for a teacher, together with the salary required. 3. That the young men now ready to engage in study be so apportioned among the several ministers of Classis as shall suit their convenience and the time and care of the ministers. 4. That the interests of this con- templated school be recommended to the attention of each minister and member of Classis." The first com- mittee called for consisted of John Coulter, Henry Sechler and Rev. John Lantz; the second committee consisted of Revs. T. Butler, J. H. Crawford, G. W. Welker and J. Ingold. The next annual meeting was held at Beck's Church April, 1851. In the meantime the last-named committee had appointed Rev. J. H. Crawford as the agent to collect funds. He reported that the scholarship plan had been adopted, and that he had secured twenty-eight scholarships at $200 each and twenty-four half scholarships at $100 each; also $125 for a building and contingent fund. He
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had visited all the charges but had not solicited all persons likely to take scholarships, and had made no effort to procure any funds for building. The com- mittee on the location of the school reported three desirable places, Salisbury, Sandy Ridge and Newton, but mentioned Newton as their preference. Newton was accordingly chosen by the Classis for the location of the school. The people in various sections of the Church had taken a lively interest in this enterprise. The citizens of the young and vigorous town of Newton were anxious to secure the prize for their community. M. L. McCorkle, Esq., a prominent lawyer of that town and a member of the Reformed Church, had already proposed, in a conversation with friends of the movement at St. Matthew's camp-ground in 1850, that the school be located at Newton. And he took the lead in securing that end. He went to Beck's Church to attend the meeting of Classis, though not an elder, and was accorded all the privileges of the floor except that of voting. Further action in the interest of the school was taken as follows: "Whereas, it will not be safe to establish the contemplated high school unless $10,000 can be secured in the way of scholarships and $5,000 as a building fund, and, Whereas, that sum is not yet secured, Resolved, that Classis continue the effort to collect funds and secure scholarships until the adjourned meeting provided for in the next resolution. 2. That Classis hold an ad- journed meeting in Newton, Catawba County, North Carolina, on Friday before the second Sunday in June, 1851, at 10 o'clock a. m. 3. That if it shall appear at
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this adjourned meeting that the required sum is se- cured, the Classis go forward to establish the school immediately. 4. That Classis appoint one or more persons in each charge as agents to secure funds." The following appointments were made: M. L. Mc- Corkle, Esq., and Dr. Q. A. Shuford, for the Newton Charge; John Coulter, Esq., Catawba Charge; Rev. David Crooks and Mr. Daniel Finger, Lincoln Charge; Rev. Thornton Butler, Mr. John Swing and Mr. Jacob Berrier, Davidson Charge; Rev. G. W. Welker and Mr. J. C. Clapp, Guilford Charge; Mr. Levi Correll, West Rowan Charge; Rev. John Lantz and Col. George Barn- hart, East Rowan Charge.
The Classis met again at Newton June 6th, 1851. The soliciting committee had succeeded in securing $10,000.00 in scholarships and $675.00 for the building and contingent fund. Final action for the establish- ment of the high school was postponed to a special meeting of Classis to be held at Mt. Zion Church, August 12th, 1851. A committee of seven was ap- pointed, consisting of M. L. McCorkle, Esq., Dr. Q. A. Shuford, D. B. Gaither, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq., Dr. J. W. Gunter, John Wilfong and Jos. A. Reinhardt, to secure in the meantime $5,000.00 for the building and contingent fund. When Classis met at Mt. Zion it was ascertained that the whole sum of $5,000.00 had not been secured, whereupon Rev. G. W. Welker, John Coulter and H. F. Ramsour were appointed to propose to the people of Newton and vicinity that when they should convey to the treasurer of Classis ten acres of ground as a proper location for the school, and erect
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CATAWBA COLLEGE, NEWTON, N. C.
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thereon a residence of specified dimensions, and also a brick building for the school in accordance with a plan submitted, then the Classis will pay $1,000.00 to the people of Newton and vicinity (this amount to be collected east of the Catawba River), and will estab- lish the school with a professor or professors to meet its needs. So certain was it that these conditions would be met that Classis proceeded to elect a principal for the school in the person of Rev. Jacob Chapman, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Chapman, how- ever, declined the position. Action was also taken to raise a fund of $1,500.00 (including the $1,000.00 mentioned above), and to increase the scholarship fund to $15,000.00. When the Classis met at Grace Church, Catawba County, October 11th, 1851, it was reported that the citizens of Newton and vicinity had met the requirements of Classis. Rev. J. H. Craw- ford, Rev. David Crooks, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq., M. L. McCorkle, Esq., and Jno. Wilfong, Esq., were accord- ingly directed to take charge of the opening of the school, to secure a teacher for the time being and to watch over all the interests of the school until the next annual meeting of Classis. Rev. G. W. Welker was at the same time instructed to recommend a suitable person at the next meeting for principal of the school. The committee having the school in charge reported at a special meeting of Classis at St. Paul's, Rowan County, February 25, 1852, that they had opened the school December 3, 1851, with' Mr. C. H. Albert as principal and Mr. H. H. Smith, assistant for the first session, and that there were then thirty-two pupils in
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the school. The Classis decided not to elect a prin- cipal at that time, and placed the school in charge of Rev. John H. Crawford, Rev. C. H. Albert, John Wil- fong, M. L. McCorkle, F. D. Reinhardt, D. B. Gaither and Joseph Reinhardt for the next session. When Classis met in annual session at the Brick Church, May 14, 1852, these commissioners reported that they had elected C. H. Albert Principal of the school and Pro- fessor of Belles Letters and the Latin and Greek Languages, and Mr. H. H. Smith Professor of Mathe- matics, Natural Science and Modern Languages. One glowing sentence in the report reads: "The committee only yet have to add that the prospects of the school are so far very encouraging, and that, with the favor of the members of the Church in the shape of dollars and cents and the blessing of God, the institution will beyond all doubt become one of the best literary in- stitutions in the State. Let our people open their hearts and their purses and certain and glorious suc- cess will follow." It was also decided at that meeting that after the close of the next term the conduct and control of the school should be vested in a Board of Trustees, consisting of eighteen members, six of whom shall be elected annually by the Classis of North Caro- lina. The following were elected the first members of this board: John Coulter, Jacob Ramsour, Esq., G. P. Shuford, Jos. Reinhardt, F. D. Reinhardt, Esq., and Col. Philip Hedrick, one year; John Wilfong, E. R. . Shuford, George Setzer, T. W. Bradburn, Jacob Ram- sour and Joshua Clapp, two years; Rev. J. H. Craw- ford, M. L. McCorkle, Esq., Jonas Bost, Dr. Q. A.
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Shuford, Col. Geo. Barnhardt and Levi Correll, three years. Rev. J. H. Crawford was appointed agent for the school to collect an endowment fund of $10,000 in addition to the scholarships already secured. Pro- vision was made to secure a charter from the State of North Carolina. The name of Catawba College was adopted for the school.
The school was opened in the "Old Town Academy Building," but soon became too large for its capacity and was removed to the "Old White Church" (Reform- ed), the first church built in the town, and for a num- ber of years the only one. Here it remained about two years, until a number of citizens called obligors erected a substantial brick building and a dwelling for the President on an elegant campus of about six acres south of the village, donated in part by Reuben Setzer, who was for many years a faithful Trustee and constant supporter of the school. The campus has been enlarged by several purchases since. In 1880 a new brick building, three stories, forty-five by ninety feet, was added, and in 1905 a still larger addition, with plants for lighting and heating all the buildings on the campus, was commenced. The President's house was enlarged some years before and converted into a ladies' dormitory, called the "Matron's Hall."
The scholarship plan on which the school was started entitled any person who paid or gave bond for two hundred dollars and paid the interest at six per cent. to tuition for one student. The rate of tuition for others was very low, and after running five years the plan was abandoned; the faculty resigned and the property
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was leased to one of the Professors, Charles W. Smythe, who conducted a high school until the spring of 1860, when Rev. A. S. Vaughn accepted the Presidency and began to raise an endowment of sixty thousand dol- lars. By the fall of 1860 he had secured half the above amount and re-opened the institution, with Jacob C. Clapp as Professor of Ancient Languages and his brother, William Vaughn, as tutor. The clouds of the Civil War began to thicken in the spring of 1861, and the President and his family returned to Pennsyl- vania. Many of the students enlisted in the army, and Professor Clapp finished the term with the few that remained. Afterwards, at the instance of citi- zens of the town, he conducted an academy in the college buildings until peace was declared. After the surrender he associated Major S. M. Finger with him in conducting Catawba High School. In a short time this institution rivaled Catawba College in her earlier days.
The flower of the youth of the surrounding country flocked to Newton for a practical business education and to fit for college. Many of the young men had been soldiers and had felt the need of education and had learned obedience to authority. They made model students, and teaching them was a delightful task. These men are now among the most useful and successful of our citizens. Many of them are eminent in the learned professions and captains in the army of the growing industries which are rejuvenating the South. After a few years of school work Major Finger retired and Catawba High School was con-
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ducted by Prof. J. C. Clapp, assisted by several young men who had fitted for college at Catawba, and had graduated at other institutions. Among these was Rev. John A. Foil, who in a few years became co-prin- cipal, and afterwards Professor of Mathematics. In these capacities he has done valuable service for many years; teaching first and last almost all the branches of an extensive curriculum, and being proficient especially in Mathematics, Greek and Chemistry. He worthily carries the degree of Ph.D., conferred by his Alma Mater, Ursinus College, in 1889. In 1885 Ca- tawba High School was merged into Catawba College, with Rev. J. C. Clapp, D.D., as President and Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy; Dr. Foil, Pro- fessor of Mathematics; and W. H. Thompson, Profes- sor of Latin and English. The class of 1889, consisting of J. C. Leonard, J. M. L. Lyerly and M. A. Foil, was the first to graduate. Since this date, with a few exceptions, classes have been graduated annually, varying in numbers from the above to eleven. Co- education was begun in 1880. Departments for music, art and business have since been added. The cur- riculum has always been of a high order and on a par with the best institutions in the State. The discipline and conduct of the students has doubtless not been excelled by any co-temporaneous institution in the country. Their standing and success in after life have been commensurate with their school life. They adorn the various useful avocations. In May, 1900, after an almost continuous connection as student, tutor, Trustee, Financial Agent, Professor and President,
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beginning in 1851, Rev. Dr. Clapp resigned the presi- dency, and Charles H. Mebane, an alumnus who had served several years as Professor of Greek, and had also served a term as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, was elected. During his administration Prot. Mebane well sustained the character of the insti- tution, and especially was he successful in swelling the patronage, which was, perhaps, never larger before or since. On his retiring, in May, 1905, Rev. George A. Snyder, D.D., for fifteen years the successful pastor of Christ Reformed Church of Hagerstown, Maryland, was elected. Dr. Snyder has served two years, during. which time large additions and improvements have been made to the buildings, as noted above.
11. A Home Church Paper.
Endorsement was given to authorized publications from the first. The "Weekly Messenger" was accorded many warm resolutions, and ministers were enjoined year after year to increase the subscription lists in their charges. During the period of separation from Synod the need of a church paper published at home was felt very strongly. In 1864 an effort was inaugurated to carry out this long-cherished purpose. Committees were appointed to purchase a press and issue the paper. But when this committee came to report the next year, the matter was deemed not feasible and was accordingly dropped.
The matter of a home church paper rested until 1873. It was then decided to establish such a paper at once, and a strong committee, consisting of S. M.
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Finger, M. L. McCorkle and Rev. Dr. J. Ingold, was appointed to take charge of the enterprise. But they reported at the next meeting that insufficient patron- age rendered issuing the paper impracticable. The matter rested again for a great many years.
In 1887, after the Trustees of Catawba College had re-organized the institution under the provisions of the charter, the Philomathean Literary Society estab- lished the "College Visitor." It was intended prim- arily to represent the College, but at the same time it did a vast amount of good for the whole Classis. The editors in each issue gave a page or two to items of church news from the several sections of Classis. It was a financial as well as literary success. Voluntary subscriptions were given by friends to back the enter- prise in case more money was needed than the sub- scription list and advertising brought to the business manager. But these subscriptions were not needed and were not called for. Rev. J. A. Foil was appointed editor-in-chief, and associated with him were Messrs. J. M. L. Lyerly and J. C. Leonard, members of the Sophomore Class in the College; Rev. J. L. Murphy was editor of the church news column. The "College Visitor" had an interesting and successful career for several years. Its successor is the "Catawba College Educator," now issued by the Athenæan and Philoma- thean Literary Societies.
In 1893 Rev. J. L. Murphy began the publication of a parish paper in the town of Hickory, called the "Corinthian," after his church. At the end of the year its publication was discontinued for a few months.
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But in March, 1894, Revs. J. L. Murphy and J. C. Leonard as editors began the publication of a monthly paper under the same title, but with a wider scope, the intention being that it should be a local paper for the entire Classis. The new periodical received a hearty welcome from the Reformed people of North Carolina. In 1894 it was endorsed by Classis, and the pastors were directed to urge their members to give it their moral and material support. In 1896 Classis re- affirmed its endorsement in the following action: "Resolved, that the 'Corinthian' is endorsed as the local organ of Classis, and that the pastors are directed to secure subscribers." Rev. J. C. Leonard resigned in 1897, but the paper was continued by Rev. J. L. Murphy and was a valued supporter of the work of the Classis of North Carolina. At the beginning of March, 1906, the name was changed to the "Reformed Church Standard," and the paper has since been issued twice a month. Rev. J. L. Murphy, D.D., continues editor; Rev. C. E. Wehler, D.D., is business manager.
12. The Records of Classis.
The minutes of Classis are complete from the be- ginning. They are in a good state of preservation, though the first records are somewhat soiled from age. Since 1901 all the record books of Classis have been kept in a fire-proof vault. During the first seven years the minutes were written by a secretary, chosen as an officer of Classis at each annual meeting. The first meeting was held at Clapp's Church in 1831, and Rev. J. H. Crawford was the secretary. The second meet-
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ing was at Pilgrim Church in 1832, and the secretary was Rev. D. B. Lerch. The third meeting was held at Savitz's Church, 1833; the secretary was Rev. W. C. Bennet. At the fourth annual meeting, in Grace Church, 1834, Mr. John Coulter was the secretary. In 1835 the fifth annual meeting was held in Brick Church, and Rev. J. H. Crawford was elected secretary. At the sixth annual meeting, held in Pilgrim Church in 1836, Rev. J. G. Fritchey was secretary. Rev. J. H. Crawford was the secretary in the seventh annual meeting, at Lower Stone Church, in 1837. This method of keeping the records proved unsatisfactory, inasmuch as the books and papers had to be carried from place to place and change hands so often. Consequently at the eighth annual meeting, at Lower Stone Church (to which place Classis adjourned from St. Paul's Church, Lincoln County, where there was no quorum present), in 1838, it was decided that the records should there- after be kept by a Stated Clerk. Rev. J. H. Crawford was elected to this office. He did his work well, and kept the minutes neatly and accurately. He held the office nine years, until the seventeenth annual meeting, at Emanuel's Church, Davidson County, 1847, when he resigned. Rev. G. W. Welker, who had become a member of Classis in 1842, was thereupon elected Stated Clerk. He filled the position for the long term of forty-five years, resigning at the sixty-second annual meeting, in 1892, held at Hedrick's Grove Church, Davidson County. Classis accepted the resignation in the following resolution: "Resolved, that this Classis appreciates the services of Rev. Geo. W. Welker, D.D.,
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as Stated Clerk for forty-five years; that we have un- limited confidence in his ability as an officer of Classis and as a correct parliamentarian; that it is only with kind consideration for his advancing age that we accept his resignation; that we pray God's richest benediction upon him, and that he may be spared many years yet to our Church and the North Carolina Classis." Rev. J. C. Leonard, then pastor of the Upper Davidson Charge in Davidson County, was elected Stated Clerk, and has now filled the office fifteen years. The Classis thus in seven years had five different secretaries, and in sixty-nine years it has had three Stated Clerks.
13. Delegate Elders.
The names of the elders who attended the meetings of Classis as delegates in its early years form an inter- esting chapter in the history of the Reformed Church in North Carolina. These men were chosen as elders by the local congregations for their integrity and character. To be chosen an elder in a Reformed Church in those days was a mark of distinction. The elder then stood very close to the minister. Indeed he does in these latter days, but in a somewhat differ- ent sense. The elders whose names appear on the first records of Classis were representative men who stood high in the communities in which they lived. Their names were the family names still found on the membership rolls of the congregations in the several sections of Classis. At Clapp's Church in the first meeting the names of the elders are Philip Hedrick, John Hoke, Adam Roseman and Daniel Clapp. The
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names indicated that they were citizens of Davidson, Lincoln, Rowan and Guilford Counties, respectively. The next year Classis met at Pilgrim Church, in David- son County, and the elders were Jacob Leonard, Sr., Henry Sechler, David Ramsour, Daniel Clapp and Jacob Holshouser. The sections of the Church can again be easily known by the names of the elders. Mr. Leonard was from the Davidson district; Mr. Sechler and Mr. Holshouser from the Rowan district ; Mr. Clapp from the Guilford district, and Mr. Ramsour from the Lincoln district. The elders in the third meeting, in 1833, at Savitz's Church, were Daniel Cor- rell, Daniel Faust, Peter Rauch and Jacob Leonard, Sr. The elders attending the fourth meeting, at Grace Church, in 1834, were John Coulter, Henry Sechler, John C. Barnhardt and Peter Faust; Jacob Leonard, Sr., of Davidson County, was recorded as absent. The elders at the fifth meeting, in 1835, held at Brick Church, in Guilford County, were Daniel Conrad, Jacob Berrier, John Coulter and Caspar Hols- houser. In the sixth meeting, in Pilgrim Church, in 1836, the elders were Samuel Lantz, David Ingle, John Hagy, Philip Hedrick and Henry Sechler. The elders of the seventh annual meeting, at Lower Stone Church in 1837, were Joshua Clapp, Peter Harman, Jacob Lantz, Henry Moose and Jacob Berrier. The eighth annual meeting was held also at Lower Stone Church in 1838, and the elders were John Ramsour, John Peck, Christian Faust, Nathaniel Edwards and Jacob Leon- ard, Jr. The elders at the ninth annual meeting, held at Coble's Church in 1839, were Solomon Ramsour,
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John Cansler, John C. Barnhardt and Samuel Lantz. At the tenth annual meeting, held in St. Matthew's Church, 1840, the elders were John File, Jacob Berrier, George Albright, Solomon Warlick and John Carpenter. At the eleventh annual meeting, at Emanuel's Church, in 1841, the elders were Absalom Grimes, Paul Kluttz, Geo. P. Shuford, Daniel Loretz, E. L. Shuford, Bern- hardt Swing, William Faust and B. Clapp. The twelfth annual meeting was held at Brick Church in 1842. The elders were Jacob Berrier, Bernhardt Swing, John Hileman, W. A. Corrier, Jacob Lantz and Jacob Ramsour. The thirteenth annual meeting (the year marked by such signal encouragement), was held at Beck's Church in 1843. The elders were Jacob Berrier, John C. Barnhardt, Joshua Clapp, J. Ramsour, John Coulter and Bernhardt Swing. Philip Hedrick and Jacob Leonard, Jr., were present as ad- visory members.
The list might be continued through many succeed- ing years, and these family names, together with oth- ers, would be repeated over and over. As a rule the families of the Reformed Church in North Carolina have remained faithful to their Church. It is to the credit of the Reformed Church that on the present rolls of membership in all of the older churches are found the family names that have clung to the faith of the fathers through successive generations. Fol- lowing the thirteenth annual meeting, among the names of elders already mentioned, there are recorded in subsequent meetings the names of Maxwell Warlick, Henry F. Ramsour, E. P. Coulter, John Hileman,
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