USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Church of the Brethren in the middle district of Pennsylvania > Part 21
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Eight years after the Buffalo Mills School came to a close, Solomon Z. Sharp, who has given his life to the development of education in the church, purchased
KISHACOQUILLAS SEMINARY,
located about ten miles from Lewistown, in Big Valley. It had been built by the Presbyterians some years before and abandoned for want of support. At the time Brother
Kishacoquillas Seminary building. Still in good repair, but not used for educational purposes.
Sharp had just been called to the ministry and was prin- cipal of the McVeytown High School. On April 1, 1861, thirty-six students present, he started a summer normal
* See Life and Sermons of Elder James Quinter, by his daughter, Mary, pp. 36-38.
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for teachers. Professor Davenport, a graduate of Co- lumbia University, taught Latin and higher mathematics ; a German artist taught oil painting. Thus equipped, the school continued through the year, ending with an en- rolment of seventy-two. Among the names of students enrolled are found Amich, Bashore, Bolinger, Brum- baugh, Custer, Hagey, Hanawalt, Myers, Smith, Snow- berger, Spanogle, Swigart, Rush and Zuck. The abnormal conditions created through the Civil War greatly embarrassed the institution financially, as well as affected the attendance. At the end of three years Brother Sharp sold the school to Martin Mohler, who continued it for several years.
Thus far individual effort marked the way of education. Sentiment had developed far enough now that some brave hearts thought the time had come for concerted or
ORGANIZED EFFORT
in establishing a school somewhere in Pennsylvania.
Henry R. Holsinger, of course, stood wholehearted for better educational facilities, and now and then voiced his sentiments in the Christian Family Companion, which he had been publishing since 1865. Not, however, until 1874, when he called a meeting at Martinsburg, (Pa.), through the columns of the Pilgrim (Issue, February 24, 1874), did the pros and cons of education get down to real work. "Since our last," Brother Holsinger started out in his announcement, " we have been to Martinsburg. Have examined the school buildings, and have had an interview with the proprietor and the agent, and also with a number of brethren residing there. All agree that it is a good location, and that there is a bargain in the offer. And now we have appointed an educational meeting, to be held at Martinsburg, at the Brethren's Meeting House, on Monday, March 16th, next, all the delegates and friends to assemble on Saturday previous.
" The object of this meeting will be to effect an or- ganization of the friends of education among us, and to take such steps towards the establishing of a school as will afford the facilities to our children for acquiring an education, such as the meeting may think advisable. Should a better location be proposed and agreed upon, we
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will heartily concur, as we have nothing in view save the prosperity of the cause of light and knowledge."
The call further urged that " delegates be elected, sent and instructed. . .. Pledges are to be secured and sent along." Then the writer offered his "favorite plan for the support of the school." In brief it is that one hundred brethren give $1,000.00 each, one quarter down and the balance at six per cent. until paid within ten years. He himself proposed to be of the hundred.
With such a call in the paper published by Henry and John B. Brumbaugh, when Brother Holsinger had a paper of his own in which it might have appeared, one need not guess where the Brumbaugh Brothers stood on the issue. In fact, in an editorial (presumably by Henry B. Brum- baugh), there is open avowal of the cause in these words : " The school movement seems to be creating considerable interest, and the prospects are good for a fair representa- tion of those interested in education. The time has come that it is expected of all people to be consistent. We, as a church, must either discard education altogether or make some provisions towards obtaining it. The fact that our children are sent to the higher grades of schools by the scores and hundreds is an undisputable evidence that educational interests are growing amongst us. The Brethren are now sending enough children away from home to support several good schools, and many of them return home with their minds so tainted with sectarian influences that their after deportment does not very well correspond with the humble teachings of Christ, thus casting a stigma upon education that is wholly unjust, as true education has nothing to do with it. . . . The object of this school should not be to teach religion, but to have it surrounded by such influences as will point the young and expanding mind to the principles of divine truth as is exemplified in our holy religion. All such as can view the subject in this light should feel it a privilege and duty to attend the approaching meeting and thus show that they are concerned about the educational in- terests of the rising generation." *
The "proceedings of the educational meeting held at Martinsburg, March 16, 1874," are worthy of a place in
* The Weekly Pilgrim, March 10, 1874.
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this record. "After opening in the usual order, by sing- ing and prayer, H. R. Holsinger was chosen Chairman and J. A. Sell, clerk. The object of this meeting was then stated by the chairman to be :
First. To ascertain the sentiment of friends of educa- tion present, upon the importance or necessity of having a school of a higher grade under the control of our own membership. And if so, then,
Second. The question would arise, when shall we prosecute the project of organizing and establishing the institution? The importance of having such a school under our control was then discussed by the chairman, H. B. Brumbaugh, Graybill Myers, George Brumbaugh, and it was unanimously agreed that such a school is needed.
" It was also resolved that the wants of the Brother- hood demand such action as will most speedily put into operation such a school as will furnish accommodation sought after by our youth."
" After a discussion of how to raise money, suitable locations were then nominated as follows: H. B. Brum- baugh named Huntingdon; George Brumbaugh, Pleasant Grove in Huntingdon County ; Franklin Forney, Berlin ; H. R. Holsinger, Wooster, Ohio; John H. Shiffler, Mar- tinsburg. Thereupon nominations closed and "the meet- ing adjourned for one hour."
" In the afternoon . . . it was agreed that Martinsburg was a suitable and convenient location, . . . but that it is not advisable to purchase the proposed property, as more convenient buildings could be constructed for about the same money." All agreed " that the success of the enter- prise greatly depends upon its location." Martinsburg was "suitable in point of healthfulness, easy of access, church influence, religiously but not so good pecuniarily. Only a few thousand dollars of stock could be secured at the meeting."
Huntingdon " was shown to possess superior advan- tages in the way of railroad facilities, water works and gas light, but wanting in church influence and other points."
Berlin " was shown to possess advantages of healthful- ness ; easy of access, being warranted to have railroad
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connection before the school could be put in operation. Church influence, in patronage, religious and pecuniary influences and in sending pupils. The delegates from Berlin also offered to secure $30,000.00 stock in the school and to donate $4,000.00 in cash to the enterprise, if the school would be created at Berlin."
" It was then unanimously agreed to adopt Berlin as the location for the Brethren's school. The following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, that we raise a fund of not less than one hundred thousand dol- lars, in shares of five hundred dollars each, each share- holder to be entitled to one vote. Twenty-five per cent. of the amount subscribed to be paid in as may be de- manded and the balance to be secured by mortgage for ten years, upon which six per cent. interest shall be paid annually on the entire amount if preferred by the sub- scriber; the school to be located at Berlin, Somerset County, Pennsylvania."
Henry R. Holsinger was unanimously appointed “ gen- eral solicitor to secure the endowment." The meeting adjourned with "the best of feelings and in confidence for the success of the enterprise which it had organized."
The publication of the foregoing in the Pilgrim plunged the brotherhood into a furore of deep anxiety, as is re- flected in another editorial,* from which the following is extracted : " Since the School Meeting, there are a few of our readers, fearful that our connection with the School, as they seem to think, may result unfavorably to our work. We beg leave to state that we are unconditionally in favor of, at least, a thorough English education, but have. no personal interest in connection with the pro- posed School more than our common cause demands, and the duty of our position seems to call for. That our Brotherhood is favorable to a good education is plainly evident, if not by oral affirmation, by practical illustra- tion. . .. Is it not an undeniable fact that when a brother is to be called to the ministry, other things being equal, the one having a good education is always chosen? Is this not done on purely democratic principles by the vote or voice of each individual member? . . . Our con- clusion is nothing more or less than that the Church is
* The Weekly Pilgrim, April 28, 1874.
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favorable to education. ... Whether the school is a success or a failure will not affect our interest in the least, as financially, we are not concerned, but the cause has our sympathies and also the sanction of Annual Conference."
The Pilgrim surely did its part to help on the Berlin project. "H. R. Holsinger writes us * that he is now working in soliciting funds for the school and is hopeful of success. We just here wish to disabuse the minds of those brethren who persist in calling it the Holsinger school. While he is justly and honorably identified with the first move, he claims no more control over the school than his bonafide subscription entitles him to."
By September 29, 1874, H. R. Holsinger states through the Pilgrim: " We are happy to announce to the friends of the enterprise that the local quota of $30,000.00 has been subscribed by the brethren and friends within the limits of the Berlin congregation. Besides this amount, we have nearly $6,000.00 from other places, especially Elk Lick."
Again an editorial in the Pilgrim is illuminating: "The subject of High Schools," says the editor,} " is becoming fearfully agitated, and if not stopped, we fear it will end just like every other subject that has been rabidly dis- cussed through our periodicals, nothing gained, but a great deal of love lost. In the last Companion, Number 40 (H. R. Holsinger's paper. Ed.) we notice no less than ten columns devoted to the subject, and the writers differ so widely that we feel to say, brethren, better not."
Perhaps the promoters of the Berlin School were too sanguine in raising the $100,000.00, or it may be that sentiment in favor of education was not strong enough yet. Anyhow, one thing is sure; though Berlin did her part nobly, the friends of education outside failed to re- spond to Brother Holsinger's strenuous efforts, and at last he had to give it up,-a step that cost him more pain and heartache than most people imagine. Yet his labors were not in vain. The agitation was one more step for- ward towards the educational goal.
* Editorial item June 23, 1874.
t The Weekly Pilgrim, October 13, 1874.
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JUNIATA'S BEGINNING
Meanwhile a young physician, Dr. Andrew Boelus Brumbaugh, a graduate of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in the class of 1866, located the same year in Huntingdon. He "saw visions and dreamed dreams " edu- cationally, for the future of his people, the Church of the Breth- ren. January 1, 1870, the Pilgrim first appeared in Marklesburg, a village in Woodcock Valley, off the railroad, eleven miles from Huntingdon. When the young doctor was out in that section visit- ing his patients, now and then he would drop into the office and talk matters over with his two cousins, DR. ANDREW B. BRUMBAUGH Henry Brumbaugh and John B. Brumbaugh, the publishers. His theme usually was a school for the church at Huntingdon. He finally induced the brothers to move to Huntingdon. Henry Brumbaugh built a large three-story brick building at the corner of Fourteenth and Washington Streets and here, in the Fall of 1874, the Pilgrim was located.
At this time there was more or less agitation on the school question in the Pilgrim. It was a difficult subject to handle because of the divided sentiment of the church, and this gave occasion for these three to discuss the needs of education often. Early in the Spring of 1875, Jacob M. Zuck visited John B. Brumbaugh, and these two formed a close friendship, afterwards kept up by correspondence. About a year later when, one day, the three Brumbaughs were surveying the school situation in the Brotherhood, noting that the Berlin project was failing for lack of sup- port in endowment, that the Plum Creek school was not succeeding in raising endowment very well, Dr. Andrew B. Brumbaugh proposed to his associates that a school be started in Huntingdon solely on the basis of soliciting students and not asking for endowment. So thoroughly was he enthused on this being the place for a Brethren's school that already, on his own initiative, he had pur-
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chased " two lots for a mission school or church." The three agreed that this was the thing to do. Henry Brum- baugh proposed to furnish the building, a large unoccu- pied room on the second floor of his printing plant; John Brumbaugh said he would give board, room and washing
" THE BRUMBAUGH BROTHERS "
HENRY B. BRUMBAUGH
JOHN B. BRUMBAUGH
for the teacher, free for one year; Dr. Andrew B. Brum- baugh was to "furnish the students and some furni- ture."* John B. Brumbaugh at once invited Jacob M. Zuck, of Clay Lick, Pennsylvania. He agreed to come and sent the following announcement for publication. It appeared in the Pilgrim, April 4, 1876 :
NORMAL SELECT SCHOOL
The undersigned will open a Normal Select School in the Pil- grim Building, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. The school year will consist of four terms of eleven weeks each, beginning April 17th, September 4th, November 20th, 1876, and February 12th, 1877.
TERMS
Tuition for 11 weeks. $6.50
For less time, per week .65
Boarding, per week. 3.00
The patronage of all is solicited. Special attention given to those desiring to teach. For further particulars address,
J. M. ZUCK, Box 50, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
* Gleaned from History of Juniata College, and life of Dr. Andrew B. Brum- baugh in Genealogies of the Brumbaugh Families, by Gaius M. Brumbaugh, son of Dr. A. B. B.
305
باسيـ
Professor Jacob M. Zuck, the Founder. The first three graduates, Class of 1879, Phoebe R. Norris, Linnie Bosserman, and Gaius M. Brumbaugh. The Faculty of 1878. (Standing, from left), Jacob H. Brumbaugh, David Emmert and A. S. M. Anderson. (Sitting), Phoebe W. Weakley, Jacob M. Zuck, J. C. Ewing. The Brumbaugh Building, corner this way, second story, where Juniata began. The First Chapel. The Burchinell House, Juniata's Second Home.
in the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Following in the advertisement are recommendations from Edward Brooks, Principal State Normal School, stating Brother Zuck had " taught with success in our Normal School." From A. Holsbrook, Principal of National Normal School, Ohio,'stating he had " gradu- ated in our Scientific class of 1874" and was "a man of correct habits, of remarkably clear mind, mastering with certainty every subject to which he applies himself. . .. well qualified in the Higher Mathematics, in the Natural Sciences, and in the Latin language, to teach them with success." From E. A. Hering, president, and J. B. Hamilton, secretary of the Waynesboro schools, who, after stating that he had taught nine months in the city schools, say they "take pleasure in recommending him to any in need of a first class teacher. He displayed rare administrative skill in the management of his school, etc."
An editorial in the same issue (presumably written by Henry B. Brumbaugh), after calling attention to the advertisement, declares "because we have always had a deep interest in the proper education of the children of the Brethren, we have consented to give part of our large building to be devoted to that purpose." Further, the editorial states that "the design of the school is not to teach religion, but to educate, therefore in principle it will not be sectarian, and all who are desirous of obtain- ing good educational facilities are cordially invited to attend. . . . We have no interest in this school more than that we desire to make it a success." *
Jacob M. Zuck appeared on the scene in time to open school as announced, and in the room 12 x 16 feet on the second story of the Pilgrim building, three students pre- sented themselves for enrolment :- Gaius M. Brumbaugh, the only son of Dr. A. B. and Maria Brumbaugh, the first members to locate in Huntingdon, and the lifelong, staunch supporters of the school; Rebecca Cornelius, of Shirleysburg, who later married T. Wilday Black, and now resides in Huntingdon ; and Maggie D. Miller, who married Timothy Campbell. On the third day Edward Wharton came in. Others enrolling later were a Mr. Peightal, Mary Dorborough, Ida Black, now Mrs. Wil- liam Reed, of Huntingdon, and Ida Johnson. By the end of the first term seventeen had enrolled. The following full school year twenty-nine enrolled.
The school library consisted of Webster's New Un- abridged Dictionary ; Appleton's sixteen large volume
* The Pilgrim, 1876, p. 210.
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and Chambers ten volume Encyclopedias. "Works like these," Professor Zuck wrote,* "cover the whole range of human knowledge and are indispensable to the student. . . . We have also the facilities for fitting up a first-class reading room which will enable the students, without expense, to keep themselves posted on the cur-
THE ROOM, 12 x 16, WHERE PROFESSOR ZUCK AND THE THREE FIRST SCHOLARS MET ON APRIL 17, 1876.
rent events of the day, whether in the fields of science, literature, art, politics or religion." Mention is then made of three dailies,-New York Tribune, The Witness, and the Graphic,-a number of weeklies and leading magazines. " Students, on reaching Huntingdon, . . . better take the omnibus, which will be found in readiness at the depot."
The Brumbaugh Brothers, as publishers of the Pilgrim, certainly subjected themselves to criticism in being party to this new school project as they were. John B. Brum- baugh, in an editorial,; says : " In the first place, we want it understood that the publishers of this paper have nothing to do with this school. We have a large building here, part of which is unoccupied. We invited our brother to come here and start a school. He did so, and we feel anxious for him to succeed. The more we be- come acquainted with him, the surer we feel that 'he is the right man in the right place.' His school at present
* See The Pilgrim, p. 298.
t The Pilgrim, p. 321, May 23, 1876.
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is not large, ... but the prospects are flattering, . . and just as soon as the patronage becomes so large that the room is insufficient, a building will be erected forth- with. This will be strictly a private enterprise, so that the church need not fear that any burdens will be im-
JACOB H. BRUMBAUGH
DAVID EMMERT
posed upon her from this source. . . . We do not intend to have the propriety or impropriety of having a Breth- ren's school discussed through our columns, that is, a discussion on the subject shall not originate from the effort that is being and will be made here. . .. Give the school a trial, and if it does not merit your patronage, then you should go where you can do better."
Meanwhile the school was quietly going on and new features were being added as opportunity presented it- self. June 18, 1876, a Bible class that met every Sabbath afternoon was organized. Progress was also marked thus : " The class beginning Cæsar read twenty-five chap- ters, the Algebraists got as far as the Binomial Theorem (Brooks), and the class commencing Geometry completed Books 1st and 2nd." *
By February, 1877, the school had grown in numbers to such an extent that it was necessary to move across
* J. M. Zuck's Report of First Term in The Pilgrim, p. 423, 1876.
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the street into the Burchinell building. Here it remained until Founders' Hall was ready to occupy. Monday, April 7, 1879, when all moved into the new building, the first of the group now standing on College Hill, was a happy day, a holiday. Ten days later, April 17, the " formal opening of the new building was
FOUNDERS' HALL, BUILT IN 1879
basis for directing the school:
" held.
About the middle of the first school year a committee made the following report as a
We, the committee appointed at a school meeting of the brethren of Huntingdon, Pa., January 27, 1877, to draft resolutions, etc., re- port the following :
Whereas, the subject of Education has been before the fraternity of the Brethren for a number of years, and many have felt the need of a school surrounded by the proper moral influences ; and, whereas, brother J. M. Zuck has opened a school in the town of Huntingdon, Pa., known as the Huntingdon Normal School, which has met with encouragement and has awakened a decided interest on the part of brethren and others, and apparently only needs better accommoda- tions to make it a complete success; and whereas, all acknowledge Huntingdon to be a good location for a school such as we need, in order that we may retain, develop and utilize the talent that other- wise might be lost to the church; therefore,
Resolved (1), That we will make an effort to raise the necessary funds to establish an educational institution in the town of Hunting- don, Pa., and that to this end we will respectfully but earnestly solicit the co-operation and assistance of our brethren and others friendly to the cause.
Resolved (2), That we commend to the serious and prayerful con- sideration of our brethren the educational project set on foot by the brethren in the aforesaid town of Huntingdon, and appeal to all who can do so, to lend a helping hand in the way of donating or sub- scribing to the fund to be known as the "Huntingdon School Fund."
Resolved (3), That although we shall aim to get as many of the brethren as possible interested in this enterprise, yet we approach all such brethren in an individual rather than in a church capacity, and
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hence this measure ought to be regarded as a private or individual enterprise, and concerns only those who are, or may become, friendly to the cause.
Resolved (4), That the brethren who have inaugurated this move- ment, residing in the town of Huntingdon, be and are hereby consti- tuted a Board of temporary trustees, who shall elect their own officers, appoint a general agent or solicitor, and take such other steps as may be necessary in order to carry out the work in which they have engaged.
Resolved (5), That the Temporary Trustees of the Huntingdon School Fund and the subscribers and donors to said fund enter into the following articles of agreement :
ARTICLE I-DESIGN
The design of this Fund shall be to establish a school or institution of learning that will provide the young of both sexes with such edu- cational advantages as will fit them for the duties and responsibilities of life, and more especially to secure these advantages to the youth of our own fraternity at such a place and surrounded by such in- fluences as will not prejudice their minds against any of the doctrines of the Bible as believed and practiced by the Brethren.
Here follows Article II, providing for a board of nine trustees, " all of whom shall be brethren, and at least five of whom shall reside in the vicinity of the school and constitute a quorum; Article III, Manner of raising Funds; Article IV, Distribution of Funds; Article V, Obligation.
This report, prepared by James Quinter, Dr. A. B. Brumbaugh and Jacob M. Zuck, was submitted to a meeting of the Brethren in Huntingdon, February 2, 1877, and sanctioned at a council meeting of the Brethren in James Creek congregation, February 3, 1877. The following six brethren were made the temporary trustees : James Quinter, H. B. Brumbaugh, A. B. Brumbaugh, J. M. Zuck, J. B. Brumbaugh, J. W. Beer.
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