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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECOND PERIOD—1774-1800 Ch.4—Mr. Otterbein called to Baltimore Ch.5—The Otterbein Church in Baltimore Ch.6—The Movement Toward a Separate Church Organization Ch.7—The First and Second Conferences THIRD PERIOD—1800-1815 Ch.10—The Conferences of 1801-1814 Ch.12—The Departure of the Leaders FOURTH PERIOD—1815-1837 Ch.13—The First General Conference—1815 Ch.14—The General Conferences of 1817-1833 FIFTH PERIOD—1837-1885 Ch.15—The General Conferences of 1837 and 1841 Ch.16—The General Conferences of 1845 and 1849 Ch.17—The General Conferences of 1853-1861 Ch.18—The General Conferences of 1865-1881 SIXTH PERIOD—1885-1897 Ch.19—The Nineteenth General Conference—1885 Ch.21—The Twentieth General Conference—1889 Ch.23—The Twenty-First General Conference—1893
PART II DEPARTMENTS OF CHURCH WORK Ch.1—The United Brethren Publishing House Ch.2—The Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society and Its Work Ch.3—The Church-Erection Society Ch.4—The Woman's Missionary Association Ch.9—The Young People's Christian Union Ch.10—The Board of Trustees of the Church
PART III THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES Ch.1—A Group of Early Conferences Ch.2—Other Conferences Organized from 1835 to 1853 Ch.3—Conferences Organized Since 1853
PART IV HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLES Appendices Index
NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1897. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation:
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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by Daniel Berger |
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CHAPTER VI UNION BIBLICAL SEMINARY I. THE FOUNDING. p.523 It is a somewhat remarkable fact that the successors of Otterbein, a man of broad and generous learning, should have been for a series of years averse to trusting the ministry with a liberal education. It was not until nearly a third of a century after the death of Otterbein that the first movement was made toward establishing an institution of learning for the Church, and then twenty-four more years passed before steps were taken toward the founding of a theological seminary. Meanwhile, some of the more wakeful young men sought for an education elsewhere, and when United Brethren colleges began to be built a considerable number of the graduates who were candidates for the ministry sought for a theological education in the institutions of other churches. And thus the Church, through neglect to provide the means of theological training, sustained material loss, since there was a constant temptation to young men educated in the schools of other denominations to form permanent attachments elsewhere than in the old home. The General Conference of 1865 took action recommending special biblical studies in the colleges, but no speaker on the floor of that Conference even suggested that any further step be taken. In the General Conference of 1869, at Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the Committee on Education presented in their report the following resolution: p.524 That we recommend to those having the care of our institutions of learning the propriety of increasing the facilities for biblical instruction, especially for the benefit of young men preparing for the ministry. This proposition was opposed by Rev. H. Garst and Rev. W. J. Shuey, of the Miami Conference, on the ground that if adopted it would defeat itself. Mr. Garst held that under this recommendation every college in the Church would soon be attempting to give theological instruction, and that failure must necessarily follow. He expressed himself in favor of concentration, and that the conference might "give its voice in favor of one or two thorough biblical institutions." Mr. Shuey followed with a strong speech urging that the time had fully come for the Church to take an advance step, and proceed to build and equip one thorough theological seminary. He closed by moving to send back the resolution to the Committee on Education, with instructions to report to the conference a plan for the founding of such an institution, to be under the control and direction of the General Conference. In due time the committee laid before the conference the following resolution : Resolved, That the Board of Education be instructed to devise and adopt a plan for the founding of a biblical institute, to be under the control of the General Conference; and said board is hereby instructed and empowered to take measures to raise funds and locate said institution, and to proceed with its establishment as soon as practicable. The resolution was with great unanimity adopted. The Board of Education appointed by this conference consisted of Revs. Lewis Davis, D.D., Daniel Shuck, W. C. Smith, M. Wright, E. B. Kephart, D. Eberly, S. Weaver, P. B. Lee, W. S. Titus, and E. Light. At a meeting of this board, held on July 27, 1870, in Dayton, Ohio, it was determined to proceed with the work of founding a p.525 theological seminary, as directed by the General Conference; also, that the seminary be located at the city of Dayton. It was also decided that the institution should be named Union Biblical Seminary. It is a fact well remembered that the name "Biblical" was chosen rather than "Theological," in deference to the prejudice which still existed in some quarters against a "theological" education, or against " preacher factories," as some were pleased to call theological seminaries. The prefix "Union" was adopted as expressing the fact that the Church throughout all its conferences was expected to unite its interest in this one theological seminary. It was further determined at this session of the board to make an appeal to the Church for the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the founding of the school. In choosing the location the board was influenced by the belief at that time that Dayton presented, all things considered, the greatest number of advantages. The reader will notice that no resident of Dayton, or of the Miami Conference, was a member of the board, and that only one of the number resided in the State of Ohio. The board met in a second session, again at Dayton, on August 2, 1871. It was decided at this meeting that a beginning of work be made in the ensuing month of October. Two professors were elected at this meeting, leaving further exigencies to be provided for. Rev. Lewis Davis, D.D., president of Otterbein University, Rev. George A. Funkhouser, A.B., a graduate of Otterbein, and more recently of Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, were the men elected. An executive committee was also appointed, consisting of Bishop J. J. Glossbrenner, Dr. L. Davis, and Revs. W. J. Shuey, John Kemp, D. K. Flickinger, D. Berger, and Milton Wright. The committee soon afterward arranged with Rev. J. P. Landis, p.526 A.B., who had just been appointed pastor of the Summit Street Church, to do some work in the seminary. In the division of the work Dr. Davis took the department of systematic and pastoral theology, Professor Funkhouser Greek exegesis and biblical and church history, and Mr. Landis, who did not then hold in the full sense the rank of a professor, taught the Hebrew language and homiletics. Bishops Glossbrenner, Weaver, Edwards, and Dickson were chosen as a "board of supervision." The day for opening as set by the Board of Education was the 11th of October, and on this day eleven persons presented themselves as students. II. GRADUATES. Three years after the opening eight persons were graduated. Prom the opening to the present writing, January, 1897, there have been in attendance at the seminary upward of four hundred students. Two hundred and four of this number have graduated. Of the graduates one hundred and sixty-one are in the Christian ministry, three are foreign missionaries, ten are teachers, twenty are in other professions, ten have died. Nine others, six of them graduates, have been in the foreign field as missionaries. Two of the graduates are presidents of colleges, two are professors in the seminary, four are professors in colleges, one is associate editor of the Religious Telescope, one is editor of the Quarterly Review, one is editor of the Watchword, six are presiding elders, while many others are filling some of the most important pulpits of the Church. The work of the graduates of the seminary is making itself widely felt in the increased intelligence, enterprise, and activity of the denomination, as also in the higher standard of qualification for the pulpit which is gradually being demanded by the people. p.527 III. ADMISSION OF WOMEN. It is a noteworthy fact, which history should record, that in the schedule of rules adopted at the first for the government of the seminary there was one which provided for the admission of women on the same conditions as men to all the privileges of the seminary. The measure was opposed by some who were reluctant to see the seminary taking an anomalous position among institutions of its kind, and who held to a modern application of the words, "But I suffer not a woman to teach." But the wisdom of the provision was vindicated when, some years later, young women expecting to become missionaries to the foreign field, or workers at home, came knocking at the doors of the institution. In many cases wives of students have entered the seminary, taking more or less work along with their husbands. Since the founding of the school thirty-two women have been admitted to study, and eleven have regularly graduated. The results of the experiment have been so satisfactory that the question of admitting women to the full privilege of the seminary courses has ceased to be an open one. IV. THE FACULTY. Dr. L. Davis continued at the head of the faculty until 1886, a period of fifteen years, when on account of age he was relieved of the duties of a regular chair, and was elected emeritus professor and lecturer, which position he retained until his death in March, 1890. Dr. Funkhouser, on the retirement of Dr. Davis, was elected senior professor, which relation he still sustains. In 1874 Rev. R. Wahl, a scholarly German, who had been for some time connected with Drew Theological Seminary, was elected to the chair of Hebrew exegesis and church history. He served one year. In 1875 Rev. George Keister, A.B., p.528 a graduate of Otterbein University and of the School of Theology in Boston University, was elected to the chair of Hebrew exegesis and biblical history. In May, 1880, Professor Keister was elected to the chair of church history, and Rev. J. P. Landis, A.M., a graduate of Otterbein University and of Lane Theological Seminary, to the chair of Hebrew exegesis and pastoral theology. Professor Keister died suddenly in August, 1880. Rev. A. W. Drury, a graduate of Western College and of Union Biblical Seminary, was then elected to the chair of church history. In May, 1890, J. W. Etter, D.D., a graduate of Lebanon Valley College and of Drew Theological Seminary, and at the time editor of the United Brethren Quarterly Review, was elected to the chair of systematic theology. Two years later, on account of failing health, he resigned this position. His death occurred in March, 1895. In May, 1893, Rev. S. D. Faust, A.M., a graduate of Lebanon Valley College and of Union Biblical Seminary, was elected to the then vacant chair of church history. The faculty now stands: George A. Funkhouser, D.D., LL.D., senior professor, with the chair of Greek exegesis and homiletics; J. P. Landis, D.D., Ph.D., professor of Old Testament theology and exegesis; A. W. Drury, D.D., professor of systematic theology; S. D. Faust, D.D., professor of church history; Wilbur C. Kennedy, B.S., professor of elocution and oratory. The fewness of the changes which have occurred in the faculty in the quarter of a century of the seminary's existence indicates alike the conservative policy which has governed the management of the institution and the satisfactory character of the work done. Only nine men have been professors from the beginning, three of whom are deceased.
Union Biblical Seminary.
John Kemp p.529 V. BUILDING AND FINANCES. For a period of eight years the seminary was without a building, the rooms of the Summit Street Church being used for recitation purposes. In the summer of 1879 the present building was erected, at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars. The handsome grounds connected with the seminary, comprising a tract of about four acres, were the generous gift of the late Rev. John Kemp. The land, lying within the city, and valued at that time at ten thousand dollars, is now surrounded with houses, and is at the present time worth several times the above amount. Mr. Kemp was one of the warmest friends of the seminary, and was for several years its financial manager. During the years in which the seminary was without a building and without endowment, the current expenses were provided for by annual contributions from its friends. These gifts, however, were insufficient for the purpose, and a heavy debt was in time accumulated. This has recently been fully provided for by the raising of a fund of sixty thousand dollars. The endowment of the institution, in money paid in and secured notes, has reached the gratifying figure of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The seminary property, including the grounds, is valued at forty-one thousand dollars, the library at three thousand dollars. The financial managers of the institution have been Rev. John Kemp, Rev. S. M. Hippard, W. J. Pruner, D.D., Mr. S. L. Herr, and D. R. Miller, D.D. All these men performed good service for the seminary, but it is no injustice to any of them to say that Dr. Miller has excelled. His term of service began in 1885. His last achievement is that of raising, through persistent and wisely directed effort, the "silver anniversary" fund of sixty thousand dollars. The amount was exceeded by one thousand dollars. p.530 The seminary, small in its beginnings, has gradually risen to a position of honor. The work it has done has already proved a blessing above estimate to the Church, and it starts upon its second quarter of a century with rich opportunity for future success. Its needs are keeping pace with its growth, and doubtless the Lord will raise up friends for it to further provide for all exigencies, and so augment its power for good. |
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