USA > Ohio > History of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other states from the earliest beginnings to 1919 > Part 13
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PROF. K. HEMMINGHAUS, Director, Woodville Normal.
furnishing them facilities to obtain an education for any business or professional calling in which they may desire to engage. We shall make such provision by founding a Normal School of our own, whose management shall be under the control of our Church.
At the meeting of Joint Synod at Saginaw, Mich., in 1886 the brethren interested in the project got together
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
and took some preliminary steps to launch the Normal School. But matters lagged and not until 1890 was the Lima Lutheran Educational Association formed and in 1893 a college building was erected in Lima, O., and the school opened. Rev. C. Ackerman was elected President.
Though the new school had its ups and downs in- cident to new projects the work gathered momentum until it had several hundred students enrolled. In 1897 Rev. S. P. Long became President and succeeded in collecting enough money to place the institution safely on its feet, but the regular income was not sufficient to keep it there. Rev. Long resigned in 1902 and Rev. Eckhart succeeded him.
Joint Synod was asked to accept the institution as her own but in 1904 when the offer of the Lima Association came before Synod she could not see her way clear to accept the school as a synodical institution.
In 1905 the building and grounds were disposed of to private parties and the school soon ceased to exist as a college. Today it is in the hands of the Board of Educa- tion of Lima and is used for local common school purposes.
This was not a happy ending of a rosy prospect but the purpose which animated the fathers in founding Lima College has not died. In all but one of our educational institutions we at the present time are either educating our daughters by the side of our sons or we are making provision to do so. We have perhaps lost some valuable time but we are riper in experience. We enter our second century as a Synod practically committed to co-education with modifications.
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EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION.
Woodville Normal.
"About 1880 the venerable Pastor G. Cronenwett and his energetic school teacher Mr. J. L. Fehr, together with a few of the neighboring pastors, determined to instruct a few young men and prepare them as well as circum- stances would admit, for the acceptance of calls from such congregations in our Synod as desired Christian schools and were looking about for properly educated Christian teachers. The beginning was made in a modest way. A devoted friend of the cause in Pastor Cronen- wett's congregation at Woodville, O., furnished a frame building as a home for the students, and the brethren mentioned gave the instruction without pecuniary remunera- tion and God prospered the work of faith and labor of love."
It was soon found that the demand for such teachers was much greater than the supply. It therefore became imperative to enlarge the work which the founders could not do in addition to the work already being done by them. The newly established Seminary was therefore offered to Joint Synod and cordially accepted. This was in 1882. The teaching force was augmented. Pastor Huebner was called as Director. The number of students kept increas- ing until the frame building became inadequate for the pur- pose. In 1884 Synod resolved to erect a commodious brick building in which to house the Seminary. The structure erected presented a fine appearance and adequately met the needs of the work. Rev. Huebner continued as director until 1887 when he was succeeded by Dr. Steinmann who had assisted in the work of teaching for some time previous. He continued as Director for about one year when Dr. Theo. Mees of Columbus was called, Dr. Steinmann how- ever continuing to teach as before. At this time there were
WOODVILLE NORMAL.
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EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION.
about forty students in the institution preparing to teach in the parish schools.
In March, 1892, the Seminary building was destroyed by fire but within two days after, the students were housed in neighboring buildings and the work of the school went on as before. As soon as the insurance on the building was adjusted rebuilding was begun and within a year after the fire the new quarters were ready for occupancy.
Teacher C. F. Theiss followed Dr. Steinmann on the teaching force. Later Profs. Phil. Gauff and K. Vogel, both pupils of Dr. Mees, rendered excellent service as teachers in the Normal. In 1903 Director Mees was called to a theological professorship at Capital University. This call was accepted. For fifteen years Dr. Mees had given his best services to the school. It had grown up about him as it were and his departure was keenly felt. Rev. E. Ger- fen was called to succeed Dr. Mees. He accepted the posi- tion but remained but about one year. It seemed at this time that interest in Woodville was lagging. The institu- tion was closed for about two years. It soon became evi- dent however that the supply of teachers for our parish schools must be kept up. After Synod resolved to open the school again, Prof. K. Hemminghaus was finally prevailed upon to accept the Directorship. This was in 1906. The status of the school was changed somewhat. It was made a teacher's Normal, co-education was introduced and in every way it was made a thoroughly modern school.
The present number of students is 67. Associated with Prof. Hemminghaus on the faculty are the Profs. K. Vogel, C. C. Robinson, F. A. Assenheimer, A. G. Allwardt and Fred Mayer.
Much credit is due the faculty, especially Director Hemminghaus, for their earnest efforts to promote the best interests of Woodville Normal.
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.
The Centennial of the Joint Synod brings with it also the twenty-fifth anniversary of the removal of our Lu- ther Seminary to St. Paul, Minn. Previous to that time the Seminary had been doing its work at Afton, Minn.
Already in 1882 the "Practical Theological Seminary," which formed the nucleus of the more pretentious institu- tion at St. Paul, was conducted as a separate department of our Seminary at Columbus, with Professor E. A. Boehme as instructor.
But the Northwest was growing by leaps and bounds. Especially since the withdrawal of the Joint Synod from the Synodical Conference did the interests of our Synod call loudly for a school in that growing territory. Accord- ingly a vacant academy at Afton, Minn., was purchased for $2,000.00 and in January of 1885 Professors H. Ernst and Weiss began instruction in "Babelsburg" with six stu- dents who had come from Columbus and a few others who had joined them. Dr. H. A. Allwardt installed the new instructors. Nearly all of the theological branches were assigned Dr. Ernst; since 1906 Prof. H. K. G. Doermann has taken part of the work, while Dr. Ernst in this centennial year continues to discharge the duties of his office with unusual vigor of body and mind.
Prof. Weiss resigned after serving but a few months and Rev. Duborg was appointed provisional instructor until 1886 when Prof. W. Schmidt entered upon his duties as teacher, housefather and treasurer. With remarkable buoyancy has Prof. Schmidt carried the many duties of his offices.
As already stated the institution was moved to St. Paul in 1893. There five acres of land had been secured near the beautiful lake Phalen. A suitable building hav-
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LUTHER SEMINARY, ST. PAUL, MINN.
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
ing been erected the dedication followed in September, 1893. To the original tract of five acres Synod later added ten by purchase for the sum of $10,000.00 and in 1911 a splendid lecture hall and auditorium was erected on this tract at a cost of approximately $30,000.00.
After Prof. D. Ahl again entered the ministry the Revs. W. Witte and W. Fiebke, respectively, succeeded him. But both of these faithful men came to the end of their life's journey while carrying forward this work. Prof. K. Busch who had been called to the newly-founded chair of mathe- matics and the sciences did not long remain. He followed a call to the East. Prof. W. Wuebben was called to fill his place but resigned in 1918. Since 1908 Prof. G. Kroening has taught the classic and modern languages. In 1914 Prof. G. C. Gast took up his work as teacher of German and Latin and in 1917 was elected to the Presidency of the Institution. However in 1918 Prof. Gast followed a call to a theological professorship at Capital University. Prof. J. Cornils teaches languages and gives religious instruction. Prof. A. Moench teaches music and voice, and Rev. P. Rick is physical director.
The Luther Seminary has become the practical mis- sionary of the Northwest. When the institution was founded Synod had scarcely a half dozen congregations in Minnesota. Today the Minnesota District alone has about one hundred pastors, the Canada District, which is an ex- tension northward into Canada, has about sixty which number has almost exclusively passed through the Seminary at St. Paul. During some years this Seminary has sent more men than Columbus into the active ministry.
May Luther Seminary continue in her great work of educating and inspiring the working forces of our Synod in the Northwest.
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Hebron Academy.
"This Academy was founded after Joint Synod had accepted the offer of the Kansas-Nebraska District to trans- fer to Synod 71/2 acres of land and a building free from debt if that body would establish an academy at Hebron, Nebraska. Synod accepted this offer in 1910 at the meet- ing held in Richmond, Ind. Not long afterwards the Kan- sas-Nebraska District bought the offered property, re- modeled the building, equipped it with modern improve- ments, and handed it all over to Synod free of debt, al- though the cost was nearly $11,000.
The purpose of the school is, primarily, to give young men who have the ministry in view a thorough preparatory training, and also to offer our boys and girls residing within reach of the school, an opportunity to acquire an educa- tion under Christian influence that will make them valuable to both our church and country. Hebron Academy hopes to become, with the help of God, a perfect unit in the Christian educational system of the Joint Synod."
This institution has prospered from the beginning under the able directorship of Prof. Paul Buehring. It is efficiently meeting its purpose in the growing Kansas and Nebraska District. In 1913 "Theodora Hall" was erected at a cost of about $15,000.00. The "Egg Plan" promoted by Mr. Theodore Buehring collected the funds for this enterprise.
The report of the Board for 1917-'18 shows an attend- ance of 76 students. Profs. Paysen and William Young are rendering good service on the teaching force. May Hebron continue to prosper.
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HEBRON ACADEMY, HEBRON, NEB.
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EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION.
Pacific Seminary, Olympia, Wash.
The same reasons which seemed to urge the establish- ment of a school at Hickory, Melville or Hebron seemed also to call for a similar institution in the Far West of the United States. In 1906 the Washington District peti- tioned Joint Synod for permission to found the school, ask- ing only for $2,000 annually, and promised to secure grounds and buildings and turn the same over to Synod free of debt. It seems this petition was granted. A prop- erty in Olympia, Wash., was secured for $5,000 but valued at about $15,000, for Synod's use. Dr. Carl Ackerman and Rev. Wm. Hohberger were called as professors and the first school year 1907 was a successful one according to the report of the Board. The total enrollment was 67, three of these being in the Theological department. In 1910 however it seemed that the theological work at Olympia was not patronized as it should be; there were also some difficulties at the school. Synod resolved to continue the Department one more year and thereafter the school to be continued only as an academy. This was done and Pacific Seminary became Pacific Academy.
In 1909 Dr. Ackerman resigned because of failing health. He was succeeded temporarily by Rev. Luther Feeger and permanently by Rev. Armin P. Meyer who because of ill health did not remain long.
In January of 1914 Rev. A. O. Swinehart was called as President of the school. By this time the Board was of the conviction that Olympia was not the best place for the institution and asked Joint Synod to be permitted to sell the property and accept the overtures of the Spokane College Board of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church. This privilege was granted.
In 1918 the Board reporte to Joint Synod chat
212 HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
Spokane College found it necessary to eliminate the Col- lege Department with the close of the school year 1917. Prof. Swinehart resigned and for the time being the work is practically given up. Some of the students were sent to eastern institutions and a few continued in the Spokane Academy. It is to be hoped that our far western field will ere long find sufficient patronage for a good live academy.
LUTHER ACADEMY, MELVILLE, SASK.
Luther Academy, Melville, Sask.
Away up in western Canada we have planted a recruit- ing station for the Christian ministry. Experience has taught us that those who serve best in our outlying dis- tricts are usually those who have been reared in those districts.
On the 30th of May, 1913, the sod for this insti ..
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EDUCATIONAL EXTENSION.
tution was broken. The corner-stone was laid on July 6 of the same year. Rev. H. Schmidt was called to the Presidency of the Academy September 30. The dedication of the building followed November 16. The doors were opened to the students Jan. 5, 1914. And thus the work was launched at this strategic point in Canada. The build- ing cost about $24,000.00 which was nearly covered by sub- scriptions at the time of dedication.
The building was soon overcrowded and a petition for additional room was made before Joint Synod. But the in- roads of the War soon began to be felt and the matter of erecting more buildings is for the time being held in abeyance.
The Board reports 42 studens in attendance, 1917-'18, twenty of whom are preparing for the ministry. On account of the United States immigration laws at this time none will be able to enter Luther Seminary at St. Paul. After the war these hindrances will no doubt fall away and the work will go on unimpeded. Teacher All- wardt who has been giving good service as a teacher at the school has been called into the military service so that in this year of 1918 the teaching force needs assistance.
The Seminary at Hickory, N. C.
This sketch of our institutions would not be com- plete without at least a reference to the Practical Seminary at Hickory, N. C., which no longer exists but nevertheless deserves honorable mention for what it has done.
It began its work Oct. 17, 1887, when Rev. E. G. Tressel began teaching in a private residence near Hickory. Rev. Tressel however was not the called professor nor was the country residence the proposed place of beginning, but because of the zeal of the brethren and the urgency of undertaking the work, this attempt was made. The start
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
was very similar to that of our very first attempts at education for the Gospel ministry.
Tressel was soon succeeded by L. M. Hunt. In 1889 Rev. H. K. G. Doermann accepted a second call and the work developed rapidly. A Pro-Seminary was added to furnish the necessary academic training for those not far enough advanced to take the Seminary course. Rev. J. F. A. Lautenschlager, Pres. of Concordia District, says in his report for 1890: "Our Seminary at Hickory, N. C., to- gether with the Academic department connected with it, are commanding our admiration and joy, deliberate consideration, and united support and encouragement, be- cause of their prosperity and achievements."
There were many changes in the personnel of the teaching force in the Pro-Seminary and in 1898 Prof. Doer- mann resigned and Synod resolved to close the school but hold the property. In 1900 Synod again opened the school as a feeder for Capital University.
Rev. L. M. Hunt was called to the head of the School. He was followed by Rev. Walter Spielman.
In 1912 Joint Synod closed the school and authorized the sale of the property when it could be disposed of advantageously. It seemed the patronage in that part of the field did not justify its continuance. When a more promising field should be located Synod would again open a school within the bounds of the Concordia District. This year at Ft. Wayne it was resolved to carry out the resolution of two years ago and open an academy at Petersburg, W. Va.
CHAPTER VIII.
MISSIONS AND MERCY.
Foreign Missions.
If we should consult the archives of the old mission societies of Europe we would find that North America was at one time regarded as an important foreign mission field. We would further find that many and great. efforts were put forth to supply this great field with missionaries and missionary equipment.
As to our own Church we would find that especially the Francke Institute at Halle was deeply concerned in supplying the destitute brethren in North America with the Bread of Life. Indeed for many years the Lutheran Church of North America bore the Halle stamp, even our own Synod imbibed some of the Halle spirit of piety and zeal for which we are truly thankful. When Francke placed his hand upon Henry Melchior Muehlenberg and sent him forth to gather the scattered sheep from the mountains and vales of our Colonies, be made the future Lutheran Church of North America a child of his earnest prayers and his deepest solicitude. To Francke, Zinzen- dorf and others of like piety and concern our wilderness was the most important foreign mission field in the then known world.
These preliminary observations may answer the ques- tion so often asked: "Why have. we been so long in estab- lishing a foreign mission of our own?" It takes a long time for a foreign mission field to become in turn a home base for further foreign effort. We have been slow and perhaps
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
unduly timid but we had more than we could do in gath- ering our home forces. Hardly had we reached the Pacific and the great North West of Canada until we heard the cry throughout Synod: "Let us have our own Foreign Mission Board and prosecute this work more energetically."
Some among us are inclined to be somewhat ashamed
ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS IN PUTTUR, INDIA.
of our foreign mission efforts. Let us briefly scan our records and notice what has actually been done, perhaps we may be inspired to greater efforts in the future.
As will have been noticed in the sketch on our Home Missions the Eastern District already in 1837 formed a so- ciety to carry on Home and Foreign Missions. The effort was not a great or strong one but something was accom-
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MISSIONS AND MERCY.
plished as the subsequent contributions for foreign missions show.
We append the Constitution of our first Foreign Mis- sion Society, adopted Oct. 18, 1837. It is not an elaborate document and in justice to the committee having the mat- ter in hand it should be stated that, "prevented by the want of time to draft a full Constitution, and lest the formation of said society be put off another year," they concluded to lay the following sketch before the Synod :
1.
The name of this Union shall be: The Foreign Missionary Society of the Eastern District of the Ev. Lutheran Synod of Ohio.
2.
The object of this Society shall be to preach the Gospel to the heathen and especially to assist those brethren of our house- hold of faith, the German missionaries Rhenius, Schaffter, Mueller and Lechler in Palamcottah, East India.
3.
Its officers shall be one President, one Secretary and one Treasurer. The officers of the District shall be its officers,
4.
The Society shall choose at its yearly meeting (at the time when Synod sits) seven Directors who in connection with the officers shall form the Executive Committee, six of which shall be a quorum.
5.
Every person who contributes something can become a mem- ber. The amount of the yearly contribution shall be optional.
6.
Whoever pays ten dollars shall be a member for life
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HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
This report of the committee was approved with the following addition : That the words "Domestic and" be in- serted in the title just before the word Foreign, etc.
In his annual report in 1843 Pres. Schweitzerbarth has this to say on the subject of Foreign Missions: "In 1837 this Synodical District formed itself into a Foreign Mis-
FIREY ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHE
FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, DETROIT, MICH.
sionary Society, but hitherto only small sums have been collected for this great object. In 1841 the Ev. Lutheran Synod of Pennsylvania established a mission among the heathen and the Rev. F. Heyer was taken into its service, who has commenced his labors with success. He writes from Guntur under date of January, 1843, that he is exert-
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MISSIONS AND MERCY.
ing himself to learn the Telugu language, that he has en- gaged six natives as teachers and three others as assistants with whom he conducts seven schools. The annual ex- pense is about $2,000.00. Of this sum at least $100.00 should be annually contributed by this Syond; and this can be done if every minister collects only five dollars.
To this it may be objected that we need all we can raise for our institutions at home. But in reply to this I would say, such language is not spiritual but carnal. The Lord Jesus Christ says Mark 16, 16: 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' It is high time that the Ev. Lutheran Church in the United States of America begins to render obedience to this command. Why do the institutions of the church at home lie prostrate ? The Word of God will give us some light upon this sub- ject : 'He that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly.' Cor. 9, 6. These words are fulfilled both at home and abroad. Let us continue, let us sow in India and we shall reap in America."
In support of this earnest appeal from the President, Synod resolved to support the Foreign Mission in Guntur to the extent of $100.00 annually and that every minister belonging to Synod be requested to lift an offering annually for foreign missionary purposes.
Brethren, that action was taken just 75 years ago. During this long intervening time we have been contribut- ing something to foreign mission but not what we could have done had we all had a heart and hand for the great work.
Along in the sixties, especially in the Northern District, the work of the Hermannsburg Mission Society was ac- tively supported. This support in an ever increasing stream has continued to the present. Now, owing to the exigencies of the War, the entire Hermannsburg India
220 HISTORY OF THE EV. LUTH. JOINT SYNOD OF OHIO.
Mission Field has been transferred to us. But this unusual situation also prevails : we have not a single worker from our own Synod in the entire field.
In 1901 Christ Church, Columbus (Bexley), O., com- missioned one of her own members, Baba N. Shabaz to labor in his native country, Persia. While this work was not under synodical direction it was nevertheless carried on by the sanction of the proper synodical officials. It was a noble effort on the part of the congregation and would have been carried forward without stint or flagging interest had not the missionary himself been unfaithful to the great trust committed to his care. It was a sad experience, but that the work failed was in no way due to a weakening of support and prayer at the home base.
In 1912 the Joint Synod entered into an agreement with the Hermannsburg Mission Society by which the stations Puttur and Kodur in East India should be legally transfer- red to our Synod. At the same meeting a Board of Foreign Missions was elected, consisting of Prof. E. Pfeiffer, Prof. K. Hemminghaus, Teacher Geo. L. Conrad, Mr. William Altman and Rev. J. H. Schneider.
These men met on September 7th of the same year and effected an organization by electing Prof. Pfeiffer, President, Rev. J. H. Schneider, Secretary, and Rev. A. W. Werder had already been elected Treasurer, though he was not a member of the Board.
This Board at once entered into negotiations with the Hermannsburg Society for the transfer of the East India stations to our Synod. This was done at a purchase price of $16,733.00. Thus our Synod actually came into posses- sion of property in the foreign field. We had worked and waited a long time. The old Foreign Mission Society of the Eastern District (organized 1837) had long since ceased to exist. Christ Church mission had been betrayed; but
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MISSIONS AND MERCY.
now as a Synod we had actually gained a property foot- hold in the foreign field.
The next step was to man the station. Hermannsburg kindly consented to help us by giving us the services of several of her missionaries until we could supply the sta- tions from our territory. In the meantime the Board extended a call to Rev. Jesse P. Pflueger of New Orleans to become our own first Foreign Missionary from our own ranks. The call was accepted and pastor Pflueger set about to prepare himself for the work. He was commissioned May 31, 1914, at Columbus, Ohio, and set out together with his wife on the long journey to India by way of Hermanns- burg where our missionary was to make further preparation for his work.
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