USA > Pennsylvania > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania Vol. II > Part 10
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"Colonial Hall," the oldest building of the group of seven which comprise the present Mora- vian Seminary, was erected in 1748, and has all the architectural simplicity and dignity of the genuine colonial style. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Bethlehem, and one around which cluster many varied memories. Dur- ing the period between 1776 and 1778 it served as a military hospital in which thousands of our Continental heroes were nursed, and during this time it was visited by John Hancock and most of the members of the Continental Congress, the daughters of many of whom afterwards were sent here as pupils. General Washington also paid a visit here, as did also many of his officers. Evi- dently General Washington was impressed with the place and school, and upon his recommenda- tion his young niece, Eleanor Lee, was entered as a pupil. On the Seminary's roll are to be found the names of representatives of nearly all the old Dutch families of New York, the German and Quaker of Pennsylvania, and the French and Eng- lish of Virginia and the South. Catholic and Protestant, Jew and Gentile, are all represented, for denominational differences have never been recognized here. Over eight thousand of Amer- ica's best women have gone forth from the Sem- inary, and today there is not a more devoted and
loyal body of alumnae to be found anywhere than those who have graduated here. The school is divided into "Room Companies," groups of about twenty, that for all practical purposes constitute little independent families of their own, sitting at table together, using a common study room and dormitory, going for the daily walk together, and for the most part having the same duties and privileges alike. The average attendance at the Seminary is about one hundred pupils, ranging in age from ten to twenty years and upward. These are in charge of more than twenty able and ex- perienced teachers, thus insuring that thorough- ness of instruction and supervision which is pos- sible only when the classes are small enough to have personal attention given to the individual scholar. The Seminary prepares for college and for life. Its course of study is carefully planned to give a complete and solid education, and to make its graduates broadly cultured and truly re- fined women, fit to meet all the duties and de- mands of the best modern society and a useful active life. There are three grades-preparatory, intermediate and academic.
While a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, Dr. Hark entered upon his literary career, which alone would entitle him to distinction had he not contributed to the work of the church and the cause of education in any other way. He became a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society and the Moravian Historical Society, con- tributing to the latter named society a monograph, rich in research and striking in style, entitled "Meniolagomeka"-Annals of a Moravian Indian Village. For a number of years he wrote edi- torially for the Christian Union and The Sun- day-school Times; was editor of the official organ of his denomination ; was translator and editor of "Chronicon Ephratense," and for many years had charge of the literary department of the Penn- sylvania School Journal. He has been a frequent contributor to the leading literary, educational and theological journals of the country, and is the author of a number of works, the most important of which, perhaps, is "The Unity of the Truth in Christianity and Evolution." He was the founder
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and for a number of years the editor of Christian Culture, and he has conducted private classes in literature at a number of seats of learning. Dr. Hark has put forth earnest and effective effort to promote knowledge along directions that will ameliorate the conditions of life, develop char- acter, and add to the sum total of human happi- ness. He was one of the organizers of the Lan- caster County Historical Society, the Pennsyl- vania-German Society, the Lancaster County For- estry Association, the Clisosophic Club, and the Lancaster Cremation and Funeral Reform Asso- ciation. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Franklin and Marshall College in 1887.
A contemporary biographer has said : "Sound scholarship, joined to wide sympathies and a keen knowledge of mankind, have given Dr. Hark suc- cess as an instructor. He is equally removed from the false conservatism of the past and the ultra radicalism of some modern thinkers, and so had adopted the best means for the soundest pro- gress of today. A Christian evolutionist, he works with the calmness and sureness of the qualified optimism given by modern science. In style Dr. Hark is clear and exact, with every word touched by a latent glow of poetic fervor, and many a point rounded by a timely quotation from the masters. In speech he is fluent and eloquent, and yet as direct in forceful simplicity as he is plain and unostentatious in all the ways of the street or social circle. He is therefore a man of the masses, and yet at home with Matthew Arnold's 'Remnant'-the select hand of the schol- arly few."
Dr. Hark was married, October 7, 1873, at Riverton, New Jersey, to Milla Theresa Crosta, a daughter of Francis Grosta. They have three chil- dren : Hugo Crosta, born in Lebanon, Pennsyl- vania, November 1, 1874, a graduate dentist of the University of Pennsylvania, and who married Miss Mary Louise Bingham. Hilda Theresa, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1886, is a graduate of the Moravian Seminary of the class of 1902. Anna Amelia, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1890.
HISTORY OF MUHLENBERG COLLEGE.
(By Rev. Solomon E. Ochsenford, D. D., Professor of English and Social Science, Muhlen- berg College.)
Muhlenberg College is located at Allentown, Pennsylvania, the Queen City of the Lehigh Val- ley. This is one of the most progressive and prosperous inland cities of Pennsylvania with a population of 40,000. It has numerous industrial establishments that employ thousands of hands and cause money to circulate freely. Its mercan- tile interests involve the investment of millions of dollars. Its magnificent trolley system con- nects it, in its business and social relations, with many of the larger and smaller towns throughout the valley. In this busy city of manufactures and commerce the educational interests of the people are not overlooked; for, besides its well-equipped public schools, it has two institutions for the higher education of the young,-the one a college for women, known as the Allentown College for Women ; the other a college for young men whose corporate title is Muhlenberg College. Both of these institutions have grown out of the Allentown Seminary, which was established in 1848, and was carried on as a co-educational school, under changed forms, until 1867, when the two insti- tutions already referred to were established and began their separate existence.
Muhlenberg College was established in the year 1867, to meet a want, long felt by many pastors and lay members of the Lutheran church in eastern Pennsylvania, where the Lutheran pop- ulation is very strong. Prior to this period these people had no institution of their own for the higher education of their young people, and hence were compelled to send their sons to institutions of other faiths, if they wished their education to extend beyond the elementary training of the public schools. It was felt by many that a col- lege under Lutheran management was needed. should be established, and could be maintained. The institution, therefore, is a church school, but it is by no means to be regarded, on this account. as sectarian. It is a Christian institution of higher
Allentown Seminary 1848
FRONT VIEW
REAR VIEW
MUHLENBERG COLLEGE
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education, established and maintained for the Christian training of the young, not only for those who expect to enter the office of the min- istry, but also for those who wish to prepare for other pursuits in life, and who admittedly need the healthful and inspiring influences of Chris- tianity as much as those who assume the respon- sible duties of the Christian ministry.
Possibly the immediate cause that led to the establishment of Muhlenberg College by the Luth- eran Ministerium of Pennsylvania, was the es- tablishment of a Theological Seminary at Phila- delphia, in 1864, by the same body. The Semin- ary had no regular source of supply of students, and those who applied for admission had been prepared at a variety of colleges, often under diverse influences, so that there was a lack of unity in their preparation which was felt to be needed for successful work in the Theological Seminary. A college closely identified with the interests of the Seminary was felt to be a neces- sity. This led to the establishment of the col- lege at Allentown.
In the Providence of God it happened that there existed in the centre of the territory of the Ministerium, at this critical period of its history, an institution of high grade and with collegiate powers in which Lutheran clergymen and lay- men had been deeply and actively interested from the beginning of its existence, the authorities of which were ready and anxious to turn it over to the Ministerium of Pennsylvania. Thus it hap- pened that Muhlenberg College became the suc- cessor, to some extent, at least, of the Allentown Seminary, which was founded in 1848 by the Rev. Christian R. Kessler, a clergyman of the Re- formed Church, and of the Allentown Collegiate Institute and Military Academy, which succeeded the seminary in 1864. Under the charter granted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania the latter in- stitution, into which the original seminary had developed, possessed collegiate powers and priv- ileges, and made its first advancement towards the grade of a college. In the year 1867 the Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of Pennsyl- vania assumed partial control of the institution,
elected one-third of the trustees, and advanced it to the grade of a college. Ten years later the same body assumed the entire management of the college.
The original board of trustees of the college consisted of the following persons, elected by the stockholders, Rev. Frederick A. Muhlenberg, D. D., e.r-officio president ; Rev. Edward J. Koons, secretary ; Jonathan Reichard, treasurer ; Hon. Robert E. Wright, Rev. Samuel K. Brobst, Mel- choir H. Horn, Charles W. Cooper, William Sac- ger, William H. Blumer, Rev. William Rath, Rev. Joshua Yeager, Christian Pretz, and Rev. F. J. F. Schantz; elected by the Ministerium, Revs. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D., William J. Eyer, and George F. Miller; and Messrs. Amos W. Pott- eiger, Lewis Klump and Benjamin F. Trexler.
THE COLLEGE BUILDING :- As soon as the joint stock company had secured its amended charter entitling it to establish a college with all the powers and privileges of such an institution, had elected its board of trustees and a president, work was begun to arrange the buildings for the larger field of operations to which they were in future to be devoted. The property of the new college consisted of about five acres of land in the southeastern part of the city of Allentown, on which had been erected several commodious build- ings devoted to the use of the institution. The original building in which the Allentown Semin- ary was opened, and which was afterwards re- modeled and became the east wing of the college building, was a large double two-story stone building, known as the Livingstone Mansion. It was surrounded by an extensive lawn on the south, a beautiful grove on the north, and by va- cant grounds on the east and west sides, being bounded on the east by Fourth street, on the north by Walnut street, and on the south by Union street, thus occupying a prominent position on the southeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. The property was at one time owned by the Liv- ingstones, relatives of the Allen family, the found- ers of the town which bears their name. East of the mansion was located a smaller building which was known as "Trout Hall." Before the opening
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
of Allentown Seminary this valuable property had passed into the possession of Christian Pretz and Henry Weinsheimer, influential citizens of the town, and active members of the Lutheran church. The property continued in the ownership of these men until the establishment of the col- lege, when it was purchased by the stock company organized for this purpose and for the manage- ment of the new institution.
The original Livingstone mansion served the purposes of the seminary until 1851, when an en- largement became necessary on account of the increase of the number of students. Accordingly, during the summer of that year, a new building was erected, which now forms the west wing of the college buildings, and was used as the residence of the president of the col- lege until 1903. A few years later more room was needed to accommodate the con- stantly increasing number of students, and in the summer of 1854 the central building, four stories high, was erected, connecting the east and west wings, and Livingstone mansion was raised to three stories. The several buildings thus uni- ted presented a front of one hundred and thirty feet, with a depth of forty feet, and furnished ac- commodations for one hundred students. After the property had passed into the hands of the stockholders of the college, it was found neces- sary to alter the extensive buildings in order to adapt them to the new arrangements, and to erect an additional building. This new building, one hundred feet long and five stories high, was at- tached to the rear of the central building, and now forms the southern extension of the college building. The various parts of the building erect- ed at different times, constitute one building, provided with rooms for the accommodation of students, with a chapel, library, recitation rooms, a reading room and other necessary equipments. The entire building is heated by steam. As thus arranged, the building served the purposes of the college for thirty-seven years. In the course of time, however, these quarters became con- gested, and the need was felt for more extensive grounds and more commodious and better
equipped buildings. Accordingly, at the opening of the new century, the authorities purchased a tract of fifty-five acres of land in the western part of the city, on which new buildings have been erected for the better accommodation of the in- stitution. The new property is located west of Twenty-third street, on high ground, and makes an ideal place for the permanent housing of the institution. The administration building, one hundred and ninety feet by fifty-two feet, built of Scranton pink granite, has been completed. Berks Hall, the new dormitory, one hundred and eighty by twenty-eight feet, built of brick, has been erected, as also a residence for the presi- dent and a power house and chemical labor- atory. Other buildings will be erected in the near future.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COLLEGE .- Muhlen- berg College was named in honor of the Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, D. D., the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America, who had la- bored not only for the spiritual welfare of the people in a general way, but had also put forth strenuous efforts to organize the various and manifold works of the church for the intellectual and spiritual benefit of future generations in the organization of the first Lutheran Synod, in 1748, and in the effort to establish a literary and theo- logical institution in Philadelphia. He failed in the successfully carrying out of the latter project, not because his high aims were erroneous, but because the time was not propitious, nor were the people prepared for the important step contem- plated. Nearly a hundred years later the Minis- terium of Pennsylvania succeeded in carrying out his pious wishes, inaugurated its educational work on its own territory, in the spirit of Muhlenberg, by establishing a theological seminary at Phila- delphia, in 1864, and a college at Allentown in 1867, and rightly called one of these by his hon- ored and revered name-Muhlenberg College. Although the name of this eminent pioneer la- bored in spiritual things may not now be widely known in this country to the Lutherans in Eur- ope and America, and in India and Africa, it is a familiar and honored one, a name that stands
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
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GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS.
for everything that is noble and ennobling in the spheres of religion and right life.
The course of study adopted at the beginning of the history of the college was like those of similar institutions at that time, embracing all the branches usually included in the regular college course, and leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. This standard has ever since been main- tained on a par with the best institutions of the State. As improvements have been made by our colleges throughout the country in raising the standard of admission and graduation, as also in additions to the studies of a college course, so Muhlenberg College has made various improve- ments in this direction, 'so as to maintain its equality with other institutions of the country, and to maintain its rank in the educational prog- ress of the country. It now offers two thorough courses of studies. It does not aspire to univer- sity work, nor does it attempt impossible things ; but what it attempts to do, it does thoroughly. Its Bachelor of Arts course is the regular four years' classical or culture course ; the other is a four years' scientific course, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science, and enables graduates to enter any medical school in the country. Its standard is equal to that of any of the institutions with which it is surrounded and with which it nat- urally comes into competition.
The first faculty had as its head the Rev. Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, D. D., LL. D., who was called from the chair of Greek at Penn- sylvania College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to take charge of the new college, named in honor of his distinguished ancestor. He came to the new institution with many years of experience as a successful teacher, and the reputation of being one of the best Greek scholars of his time. Born at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1818, the son of Frederick A. Muhlenberg, M. D., and educated at Pennsylvania and Jefferson colleges, and Princeton Theological Seminary, he was well qualified to take up the profession of teaching, and, after teaching for twelve years at Franklin College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and for seven- teen years at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg,
he, in the prime of mature manhood, and with a wide and varied experience in his chosen profes- sion, assumed the responsible position of organ- izing a new institution of learning, his high stand- ing as an educator and a scholar giving at once prominence and character to the new institution.
The other members of the first faculty were also men of distinction and wide experience in their various departments. These were, besides Dr. Muhlenberg, president and professor of Greek, mental and moral sciences, and evidence of Christianity, the Rev. Edward J. Koons, A. M., vice-president and professor of mathematics, astronomy and physics ; the Rev. William R. Huf- ford, A. M., professor of Latin ; the Rev. Samuel Phillips, A. M., professor of rhetoric, logic, Eng- lish literature, and political economy ; the Rev. Joseph F. Fahs, A. M., professor of history ; the Rev. Hans N. Riis, professor of German; and Theodore C. Yeager, M. D., professor of chem- istry, physiology and botany. At the head of the academic department, and assistant professor of Greek, was the Rev. Theodore L. Seip, A. M., then recently graduated from the Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and ordained to the office of the ministry by the Lutheran Minister- ium of Pennsylvania.
During the earlier years of the history of the college, there were frequent changes in the per- sonnel of the faculty, but these did not affect the successful work of the institution. As the places were vacated by members of the original faculty, they were filled by eminent and successful teach- ers, some of whom spent their lives in connection with the institution. Among these deserve to be specially mentioned, Professor Davis Garber, Ph. D., professor of mathematics and allied branches from the year 1869 until his death in 1896; and the Rev. Matthias H. Richards, D. D., author and scholar, professor of English language and litera- ture from 1868 until his death in 1898.
The period of Dr. Muhlenberg's presidency was also the period of struggle for the newly founded college. In acquiring the property, ar- ranging it for enlarged usefulness, erecting new buildings, and providing for the maintenance of
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HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS.
the institution, without a dollar of endowment, the board of trustees had assumed enormous re- sponsibilities. Everything had to be provided for the successful operation of the new enterprise. They began with fair prospects of success; but the panic of 1873-75 came upon them and almost wrecked the enterprise. During the financial stress caused by the panic, the Rev. Dr. Seip was appointed as the financial agent of the institution and by his untiring efforts succeeded in re-es- tablishing confidence in the institution, in secur- ing new students, and in collecting large sums of money to relieve the most pressing needs. As one of the results of his efforts he could report the endowment of the Mosser-Keck professorship of Greek. Some years later, as an indirect result of his labors, came the endowment of the Asa Packer Professorship of Natural and Applied Sciences. Dr. Muhlenberg continued as president of the college and as professor of Greek until the close of the year 1876, when he resigned in order to accept the professorship of Greek in the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia. His withdrawal was a cause of sincere regret to the best and most deeply interested friends of the college. He remained long enough, however, to establish the institution on a firm educational basis and give it a prominent place among the edu- cational institutions of the State. It remained for one of his successors to place it on a solid financial basis.
LATER HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE .- In the year 1876 the Rev. Benjamin Sadtler, D. D., who had been successful in the active ministry of the church as pastor of various congregations, and as principal of the college for women at Lutherville, Maryland, was elected to the presidency of the college, and entered upon his duties on January I, 1877. He was inducted into office by the presi- dent of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania at its convention held at Allentown, May 28, 1877. At this convention, also, the full control and respon- sibility for the maintenance of the college were assumed by the Ministerium, and the entire board of trustees was elected by this body. Dr. Sadtler was the son of Philip B. Sadtler, was born at
Baltimore, Maryland, December 25, 1823, and was educated at Gettysburg College and Theo- logical Seminary, entered the Lutheran ministry in 1844, for eighteen years served as pastor of Lutheran congregations in Pennsylvania, and for fifteen years as president of the College for Women at Lutherville. During Dr. Sadtler's presidency of Muhlenberg College few changes occurred, either in the faculty or in the external management of affairs. In 1879 Asa Packer's bequest of thirty thousand dollars was received. and was set apart as an endowment of the chair of Natural and Applied Sciences. In June, 1881, Professor Edgar F. Smith, Ph. D., now vice- provost of the University of Pennsylvania, was elected as the first incumbent of this professor- ship, and he it was who organized this depart- ment at Muhlenberg, and by his ability as a scholar and teacher gave to it immediate promin- ence. Dr. Smith remained only a few years, but the college has been successful in securing com- petent men, and much has been accomplished since then in the line of natural sciences. Dr. Sadt- ler administered the affairs of the institution un- til the fall of the year 1885, when a fall on the ice disabled him for life, and constrained him to. retire from active duties, and in the summer of 1886 he removed to Baltimore, where he lived in retirement until his death, which occurred April 28, 1900. His successor was elected November 5,- 1885, his term of office beginning January 1, 1886. This was the Rev. Theodore Lorenzo Seip, D. D .. who was the efficient and esteemed head of the institution until his death, November 28, 1903. When the vacancy occurred occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Sadtler, the board of trustees and the Ministerium of Pennsylvania unanimously turned to Dr. Seip as the most suitable and best equipped man for this responsible position. Dr. Seip was the son of Reuben L. and Sarah A. Seip. and was born at Easton, Pennsylvania, June 25. 1842. He received his classical training in Penn- sylvania College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and his theological training in the Lutheran Theo- logical Seminary at Philadelphia, having entered the latter institution in the year 1864, as a mem-
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