History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 95

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 95

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Christ Lutheran Church. - On the removal of the Capital University to its present location from the building now occupied by the Park Hotel, in 1876, a neat brick church was erected in connection with the University on its grounds east of Alum Creek. This congregation has about 150 communicant members and has been served by Professor C. H. L. Schuette as pastor. The students of the Capital University also attend services here during the school term.

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Mission .- For a number of years Professor Theodore Mees conducted a Sundayschool in the northeastern part of the city. This led to a determination by the different Lutheran congregations to establish a mission in that section as well as in the South Side. Accordingly, a mission society was started which holds monthly missionary meetings and services at the different Lutheran churches successively. This mission society was assisted by the professors of the Capital University until a call was extended to and accepted by Rev. J. P. Hentz, of Lima, Ohio, in the present year -1892. Since Mr. Hentz took charge two suitable lots costing $2,000 have been purchased, and it is intended to erect a neat chapel on these lots at an early day.

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LUTHERAN.

THE CAPITAL UNIVERSITY ; BY REV. EMANUEL SCHMID, A. M.

In order to give a correct view of the history of the Capital University it is necessary to " begin at the beginning," and the beginning of this institution we find in the German Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of the Joint Synod of Ohio, of which it is the outgrowth. Early in the history of Ohio many Lutherans from the Eastern States, and from Germany, settled in that new and promising State. These Lutherans here and there organized congregations and obtained their min- isters as best they could, from the East and from Europe, or by the help of minis- ters already settled in the new State, who prepared gifted young men for the holy offiee. All this supply, or rather want of supply, was not satisfactory. After the organization of the Evangelieal Lutheran Synod of Ohio in the year 1818, the question of founding a theological school of its own was repeatedly agitated but was not fully settled until the year 1830. In that year the Synod determined to begin the work in earnest. The first step taken was to find the proper man who should be the teacher in the new institution. The location of the proposed seminary and the necessary building were secondary considerations. Fortunately for the projectors of this undertaking a young theologian from Germany, Rev. William Schmidt, who had obtained bis training at the noted university at Halle, had about this time arrived in Ohio and was serving a few small congregations in and about Canton. He was elected to be the theological professor. Inasmuch as Mr. Schmidt did not wish to give up his charge immediately, it was agreed that the Seminary should be started in Canton. There, in his own house, Professor Schmidt began with six students - a small commencement yet one of farreaching import- ance. It may be stated here as noteworthy that this was the second Lutheran Seminary in America, it being antedated only by Hartwick Seminary in Otsego County, New York, which was founded in 1815.

It soon became apparent that the new capital of Ohio, Columbus, would be a more suitable location for the new seminary than Canton. Accordingly, by reso- lution of Synod, the transfer was made in the fall of 1831. Fourteen acres of land were purchased near the southern extremity of High Street, as that street then was. The citizens of Columbus contributed to the institution the sum of $2,500. Two buildings for the accommodation of the seminary were erected. These build- ings were then an ornament to the southern part of Columbus. Whoever today passes the beautiful property of Mr. Hayden in that part of the city passes the former site of the seminary. "College Street," just east of the Hayden property, commemorates this fact. More than this, the theological Seminary became of necessity the first school in Columbus in which an education higher than that afforded by the common schools could be obtained. It was soon felt that an academic course, limited though it might be, must be connected with the seminary if the young men who desired to study theology would be duly prepared for their future calling. Henee the course of study in the institution embraced a number of branches not usually taught in theologieal sehools, such as Latin, Greek, Logie, German, Syntax, ete. Quite a number of the prominent families of Columbus improved this opportunity of giving their sons a more extensive education than could be had in the public schools; consequently the number of pupils from the " town " was large.

Professor Schmidt died in 1839, only thirtysix years of age. His successor was Rev. C. F. Schaefer of Hagerstown, Maryland. He had for an assistant Mr. C. Jücksch, who taught the ancient languages. Professor Jücksch, however, soon

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resigned. Thereupon Reverend F. W. Winkler became second professor of theol- ogy and assistant teacher in the preparatory department. The " language ques- tion " about this time caused considerable difficulty in the Synod and the Semin- ary. Both professors resigned, the one in 1842, the other in 1845. In 1846 Rev. W. F. Lehmann received a call and accepted the vacant professorship in the Sem- inary. Of Professor Lehmann Doctor Schodde truthfully says in a historical sketch of the Capital University : " A new era in the history of the Seminary begins with the appointment of Rev. W. F. Lehmann as theological professor in 1846. Professor Lehmann, although in purely scholastic attainments he may have been surpassed by some, yet through his eminent practical taste that always seemed to know and do the right thing at the right time, and through his intense devotion to the school, has probably done as much as, or even more than, any other man to make the institution what it is. From 1846 down to his death in December, 1880. he was engaged as teacher in the seminary, and when a college department was added, he was professor in the college also, later becoming the president of the whole institution. Through his mastery of both the German and English languages, he practically settled the language question for the seminary by delivering his lee- tures in both languages."

This is perhaps the proper place to state that the Theological Seminary, as a branch of the Capital University, is still performing its work very successfully in educating young men for the ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other States. And very urgent indeed is this work, inasmuch as the Synod has extended her boundaries far beyond the State lines of Ohio - even from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Great Lakes in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. There are now three theological professors, viz. : Rev. M. Loy, D. D., Rev. C. H. L. Schuette, A. M., and Rev. F. W. Stellhorn. The theo- logical students have also the opportunity of hearing lectures in the college and taking part in the recitations of this branch of the institution.

In the course of time it became evident that a literary institution, with a full college curriculum, was needed by the Synod of Ohio. The desire to establish such an institution, and thereby to advance the cause of a higher education, per- meated with a true Christian spirit, grew from year to year until it found its fruition in 1850. On March 7 of that year a charter was granted by the legisla- ture, according to which the Capital University, with all necessary privileges and immunities pertaining to a literary institution of the kind, was established. The directors in whose name the charter was given were the following: James Manning, C. G. Schweizerbarth, Christian Spielmann, C. Albrecht, John Leist, Jacob Beck, J. Machold, Lewis Heyl, G. W. Boerstler, Andrew Henkle, E. Gebhart, Henry Lang, Emanuel Greenwalt, John Minnich, D. Rotbacker, A. B. Bierdemann, J. Stemple, Henry Everhart, Jonas Mechling, and John Zimmermann. These were all members of the Lutheran Church and of the Joint Synod of Ohio, but besides them the following prominent citizens of Columbus, irrespective of church affiliation, were charter members of the Board of Directors: Samuel Galloway, Henry Stanbery, Lincoln Goodale, Samuel M Smith, George M. Parsons, Thomas Sparrow, John P. Bruck, Thomas Roberts, Matthew Gooding and Fernando C. Kelton.

On the evening of the day on which the charter became a law (March 7, 1850) the Board of Directors unanimously elected Rev. Professor William M. Rey- nolds, D. D., of Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as President of the new institution. The board at the same time elected Rev. A. Essick and J. A. Tressler as teachers in languages, mathematics, etc., and Professor Lehmann, of the Theological Seminary, as teacher of German. All of these accepted the appointments tendered them. In the meantime the site of the Seminary had been changed from the south end of the city to Town Street, where the old Covert

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property, situated at the head of Fifth Street, had been purchased, the grounds on South High Street having been sold in the fall of 1849 to Mr. Peter Hayden. The new college was opened at the Town Street site. The inauguration of President Reynolds took place on the evening of May 21, 1850, and the grammar school, which was the whole of the college at that time, opened on May 22 of the same year. A " Faculty of Letters" was constituted at a regular meeting of the board on September 11, 1850, by appointing, in addition to the President, Rev. A. Essiek as professor of Ancient Languages and Literature, J. A. Tressler as professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, and Rev. W. F. Lehmann as professor of the German Language and Literature. At the same meeting Mr. Daniel Worley was appointed Tutor. Doctor T. G. Wormly was soon afterwards appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural Science.

The location on Town Street did not prove satisfactory, and steps were taken to secure a more appropriate one. It was then that the liberality and kindness ot Doctor Lincoln Goodale became manifest towards the Capital University. He donated a fouraere lot just east of Goodale Park, at the corner of High and Goodale streets, to this institution of learning on condition that an appropriate building should be erected on the ground thus generously granted. This donation was thankfully accepted by the Board of Directors. The work of building went forward briskly and by September, 1853, a noble edifice was completed and ready to receive the school with all its departments, including the Grammar School, the College proper and the Theological Seminary. The dedication of the new building took place September 14, 1853, and on that occasion the wellknown statesman, Honorable William H. 'Seward, of New York, delivered the English address, the German one being delivered by Rev. Doctor Stahlman, of New York City. The cost of the building was 840,000.

Untoward circumstances, which need not be particularized here, caused the resignation of President Reynolds in the following year. His successor was Rev. C. Spielmann, who remained in office until 1857, when failing health caused his resignation. Then came the presidency of Professor W. F. Lehmann, which con- tinued until his death in 1880. Of the successful labors of Professor Lehmann we have already spoken above. Professor M. Loy, D. D., was chosen as the fourth President and is the present incumbent of that office.

When the Capital University was located on the grounds donated by Doctor Goodale it was considered to be situated in the midst of rural scenes and quiet. And so it was, indeed, for a number of years. But this state of affairs soon changed, especially after the war, when Columbus began to grow rapidly. The city and the railways crowded around the school to such an extent as to make a change of its site desirable. This change was accomplished in the year 1876, when the institution was removed to its present location just east of Alum Creek on the old National Road. The former building was sold and is now, after hav- ing been remodeled and enlarged, used as the Park Hotel. A new and greatly improved edifice was ereeted on the tenaere lot presented to the institution. A commodious boardinghall has been built in the immediate vicinity of the college, and in connection with several residences of professors and a neat church, gives the location a lively and inviting appearance. The institution and its adjuncts already form, in faet, a pleasant little suburb of the city, enjoying at the same time all the advantages of a quiet rural life. A street railway now passes the doors of the institution. The University edifice affords ample accommodation for students, including leeture rooms, society halls and everything that can render such an institution attractive. The design is to have only two students occupy the same room as a study and dormitory, but at present the crowded condition of the school makes a departure from this rule necessary. A threestory building for recitations and library was erected in 1891, at a cost of $13,000.

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The institution known as Capital University has no endowment. It is finan- cially supported by the contributions of the congregations and the members and friends of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other States, which has now a membership of about 80,000 communicants. A few legacies in its favor have been left by friends, but not to a large amount. More are expected, yet the chief reliance of the university rests upon the annual collections and gifts of the members of the Synod. A small income from tuition must be added to this sup port. Many of the students are maintained by the liberality of the church. The organization of the University includes the Preparatory or Grammar School, the Collegiate and the Theological Departments. Two years are assigned to the Grammar School, four years to the college course, and three to the theological department. The college course is complete in itself; it aims at a thorough train- ing upon the foundation laid in the Grammar School, and not merely at confer- ring the bachelor's degree. This degree, however, is conferred upon students who satisfactorily complete the full classical course. The master's degree (A. M.) is conferred only upon those who have shown themselves worthy of the honor by literary work, which must be submitted to the faculty for examination.

The college course embraces the following subjects : Latin, Greek and Hebrew languages and literature, with exercises in Latin and Greek composition through- out the entire course. The study of Hebrew is begun in the Junior year, and by those who study theology is continued in the seminary. Mathematics, pure and applied, are taught throughout the course. Connected with this are theoretical mechanics and natural philosophy. Universal history is taught in lectures through all the classes. Much attention is paid to the study of German, which extends through the preparatory and collegiate departments. Through the whole course due attention is given to studies in English literature and philosophy, embracing mental and moral science, logic and rhetoric. Weekly debates and exercises in composition and declamation are held. There are two literary socie- ties, one English and the other German, connected with the college. A library of about 5,000 volumes is at the service of the members of the institution, of course under certain restrictions.

The members of the present board of trustees are Rev. A. W. Werder, President, Wheeling; Rev. J. Beck, Secretary, Columbus ; Rev. D. Simon, Prospect, Ohio; Rev. H. Wickemeyer, Richmond, Indiana; Rev. G. Mochel, Galion, Ohio; Rev. E. A. Boehme, Youngstown, Ohio; Rev. Professor M. Loy, D. D., Columbus; Rev. G. F. H. Meiser, Detroit ; C. Nagel, Springfield, Ohio ; P. Schuh, Galion, Ohio; G. H. Spielmann, Columbus ; L. Baum, St. Paul, Ohio ; J. L. Trauger, Columbus ; F. W. Stock, Columbus ; and G. Hellermann, also of Columbus.

The faculty as at present constituted is as follows: Rev. M. Loy, D. D., President and Professor of Mental and Moral Science; Rev. E. Schmid, A. M., Secretary and Professor of History ; Rev. C. H. L. Schuette, A. M., Professor of Mathematics ; Rev. George H. Schodde, Ph. D., Professor of Greek and Hebrew ; Rev. F. W. Stellhorn, Professor of German Language and Literature; Professor George K. Leonard, A. M., Principal of Preparatory Department; Rev. A. Pflueger, A. M., Resident Professor (Housefather) ; Rev. K. Hemminghaus, A. M., Professor of Latin.

NOTES.

1. This introductory sketch was written by Professor Lewis Heyl, of Philadelphia.

2. The author is indebted for the sketch of this church to Mr. Frederick J. Heer.

3. The author is indebted for the sketch of this church to its pastor, Rev. C. H. Rohe.

4. The author is indebted for this sketch, and those which follow of the Grace Lutheran, St. Mark's English Lutheran and the Christ Lutheran churches, and of the St. Peter's Lutheran Mission, to Mr. Frederick J. Heer.

Christian Beddans.

CHAPTER XLV.

VARIOUS CHURCHES. Y. M. C. A.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

Trinity Church. - The first Protestant Episcopal Society in the Northwest was organized by the Worthington colony in 1803. Most of the colonists, comprising about forty families, were Episcopalians. In their compact it was provided that a farm lot of one hundred acres and two town lots should be set apart for the establishment of a central school, or academy, and that a like reservation should be made for the foundation and support of a church. Among the first things thought of by the colonists when they began to take up their new homes in the wilderness were these pledges in behalf of education and religion. A church and a school were therefore at once organized and became joint occupants of a large cabin built for public purposes, on the east side of the public square. Of this building, Joel Buttles, one of the colonists, says in his diary, that " at all public meetings it was a town hall; and whenever the young people wished to have a dance or a ball, that being the only room large enough for that purpose, it was used as a ballroom."1 The first trustees of the church were James Kilbourn, Nathan Stewart and William Thompson; of the school, which took the name of Academy, the first trustees were James Kilbonrn, Levi Buttles and Nathan Stew- art. Religious services were held regularly every Sunday, Rev. James Kilbourn officiating, unless he happened to be absent from the village, in which case lay reading was supplied, generally by Ezra Griswold, brother to the late Bishop Griswold. The society has maintained these services without interruption, it is said, until the present day.

On February 22, 1807, the General Assembly of Ohio passed an act incorporat- ing the church as St. John's Parish. This act named thirtyone communicants. The Academy was incorporated by an act of February 20, 1808. Without notable event or change the church and school moved along hand in hand, until, in 1812, the seat of government of Ohio was located on the " high bank of the Scioto, opposite Franklinton." To this event, greatly disappointing to the Worthington colonists, who had striven earnestly, and with much deserving, to win for their village the favor of the General Assembly, many of them adjusted themselves by removing to the new town of Columbus. Another event of great importance to the religious and literary interests of Worthington was the advent of Rev. Doctor

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Philander Chase, of Connecticut, who arrived in Ohio in 1817, and established his residence on a farm between Columbus and Worthington. The purpose of Doctor Chase in coming to the West was that of building up the interests of the Protes- tant Episcopal denomination, particularly in Ohio, of which, on February 11, 1819, he became Bishop. In 1820 his nephew, then twelve years old, and residing in New Hampshire, followed him to Ohio, and became one of his pupils at Worthing- ton. This nephew afterwards became Governor of the State, a National Senator and the finance minister of the mightiest war in history. The crowning honor of his life was that of being made Chief Justice of the United States, in which position he died. Around the name and personality of this statesman, Salmon P. Chase, cluster many of the most illustrious achievements in behalf of human progress, and the integrity of our National Union. His future fame and usefulness were doubt- less due in no small degree to the training given him by his uncle, Bishop Chase, in the school at Worthington."

The first religious service in Columbus held in accordance with the ritual of the Protestant Episcopal Church was conducted by Rev. Philander Chase on May 3, 1817, in the Buckeye House, on Broad Street. On the seventh of the same month Doctor Chase held a second service, at the close of which thirty per- sons signed articles associating themselves as " The Parish of Trinity Church, Columbus, State of Ohio, in connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States of America." The original signers of these articles were Orris Parish, Joel Buttles, Benjamin Gardiner, Alfred Upson, Philo H. Olmsted, John Kilbourne, John Warner, Thomas Johnson, John Webster, George W. Williams, Cyrus Fay, Charles V. Hickox, John Callitt, Amasa Delano, Silas Williams, Chris- topher Ripley, Austin Goodrich, Daniel Smith, Josiah Sabin, Cyrus Allen, Abner Lord, James K. Cary, John C. Brodrick, James Pearce, M. Matthews, William K. Lampson, Cyrus Parker, William Rockwell, A. J. McDowell, Junior, and L. Star- ling. On the eleventh of the same month Doctor Chase held another service, at the close of which the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States was read and adopted by the Trinity Church parishioners. The fol- lowing church officers were thereupon appointed : Wardens, Orris Parish and Benjamin Gardiner ; vestrymen, John Kilbourne and Joel Buttles ; secretary, Joel Buttles. Messrs. Gardiner and Buttles were appointed delegates to a diocesan convention to be held at Columbus on the first Monday in January, 1818.3 The services of the church were subsequently held in various buildings, and were sometimes conducted by Bishop Chase, sometimes by other clergymen whose assistance was invoked. When clerical ministrations were not to be had, mem- bers of the congregation appointed for the purpose officiated. The records show that on September 16, 1819, Benjamin Gardiner and Cyrus Fay were appointed " layreaders to read the service of the church on each and every Sunday," and that on September 10, 1825, Mathew Mathews was appointed layreader. For a considerable time prior to 1833, the meetings of the congregation were held in a small frame building which occupied the present site of the Masonic Temple on Third Street. A current newspaper record of June 8, 1826, says : " The Episco- pal Convention of the diocese of Ohio commenced in this town on yesterday." This is all we are permitted to learn from the press of this very important meet- ing.

On March 30, 1829, the following pledge, the original of which is now in the hands of Mr. George Hardy, of Columbus, was circulated for signatures :

The subscribers promise to pay to the wardens of Trinity Church, in Columbus, on or by the first day of January, annually, for the use and support of William Preston, or whom- soever else shall be employed to officiate as clergyman of said parish, the sums annexed to our names, reserving to ourselves the right of discontinuing this subscription any time by giving notice in writing to either of said wardens.

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In pursuance of this pledge, Rev. William Preston became the first regular rector of the Trinity Church parish, and on Easter Sunday, 1829, took charge of the parish in connection with that of St. John's, at Worthington. At the expira- tion of two years he took up his residence in Columbus, and devoted his entire time to Trinity, which then comprised seventeen communicants, representing eleven families. During Mr. Preston's pastorate the original Trinity Church - first of its denomination in Columbus - was built of stone on the present site of the Hayden Bank, on East Broad Street. The lot cost $1,000, and was conveyed to the society in 1832. The church was erected in 1833, at a cost of $10,000. It was said to be, at that time, the largest edifice for religious purposes in Ohio. During the period of its erection the number of parishioners increased to 110, representing seventy families. A sale of pews in the new church took place in January, 1834.

At the first recorded confirmation, which took place September 15, 1830, the rite was administered by Bishop Chase to fourteen persons, among whom were Justin Morrison, P. B. Wilcox, Abram McDowell, Mrs. McDowell and Mrs. William Neil. The second confirmation service in the parish took place August 30, 1833, and was conducted by Bishop Charles P. Mcilvaine. Among the persons con- firmed on that date were John C. Broderick, John A. Lazell, Mrs. C. Matthews, Mrs. A. Brooks and Mrs. Kirby. The first recorded marriage in the parish was that of Justin Morrison and Melissa Boardman, solemnized October 20, 1831, by Rev. William Preston. A convention of the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Ohio was held in the Trinity Church in September, 1837.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 95

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196