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X 


REV.  W.  A    PASSAVA.NT.    D  D. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 


OF 


W.  A.  Passavant,  D.  D. 


BY 


G.  H.  GERBERDING,  D.  D., 

Professor  of  Practical  Theology  in  the  Theological 

Seminary  of   the  Evangelical  Lutheran 

Church,   Chicago,  111. 


AUTHOR  OF 


The  Way  of  Salvation  in  the  Lutheran  Church — New  Testament 
Conversions — The  Lutheran  Pastor,  Etc. 


FOURTH    EDITION. 


THE  YOUNG  LUTHERAN  CO.. 

GREENVILLE,  PA. 
'■1906. 


Copyright,  IQ06. 

By  G,  H.  Gerberding. 


(?i(^lo^\ 


DEDICATION. 

To  the  cause  of  Inner  Missions,  which  is  one  of  the  crown- 
ing glories  of  our  Church  in  other  lands,  and  one  of  her  coming 
glories  in  this  land  where  she  only  awaits  the  proper  leader,  this 
book  is  hopefully  dedicated  by 

Tlie  Author. 


"  Co  LitJe,  to  Lotje,  to  Laftor/' 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  Life  of  Dr.  Passavant  should  have  been  given  to  the 
Church  at  least  a  decade  ago.  All  good  biography  is  history 
in  the  concrete.  In  the  lives  of  God's  eminent  children  we  have 
most  useful  and  delightful  information  for  the  mind,  inspira- 
tion for  the  spirit,  braces  for  our  faith,  stimuli  for  our  hope 
and  most  effective  incentives  for  our  love.  Such  lives  are  lived 
for  others.  They  are  not  over  when  those  who  lived  them  are 
gone,  but  being  dead  they  yet  speak.  The  stories  of  these  saints 
are  written  for  our  inspiration,  for  our  warning  and  for  our 
comfort.  If  posterity  is  to  have  the  benefit  of  such  lives,  their 
story  must  be  written.  It  ought  to  be  written  while  the  memory 
of  the  heroes  is  still  fresh  and  the  heart  still  warm  towards 
them.  Few  lives  have  been  so  eminently  beautiful  and  attract- 
ive, so  useful  to  others,  so  many-sided,  so  helpful  to  the  Church 
and  so  signally  owned  of  God  as  the  life  of  Dr.  Passavant. 

The  Rev.  William  A.  Passavant,  junior,  the  gifted  and 
grateful  son,  had  fully  intended  to  write  the  story  of  that  won- 
derful life.  He  had  made  considerable  preparation.  He  was 
selecting  and  arranging  the  thousands  of  letters  in  hand  when 
death  came  and  stopped  it  all  before  he  had  written  a  page. 

About  five  years  ago  the  Author  of  this  book  was  officially 
requested  by  the  Passavant  family  and  by  the  Institution  of 
Protestant  Deaconesses  to  undertake  the  work.  On  account  of 
pressure  of  work  in  and  for  the  Chicago  Seminary  he  hesitated 
and  at  last  after  much  urging  reluctantly  undertook  the  task. 
The  Passavants  put  the  accumulated  letters  of  a  lifetime  and 
files  of  papers  edited  by  the  Doctor  together  with  fragmentary 
journals  and  other  documents  at  his  disposal.  As  Dr.  Passavant 
had  preserved  all  his  letters,  there  was  a  very  formidable  mass 
of  them.  Detmar  L.  Passavant  was  specially  helpful  in  gather- 
ing and  chronologizing  this  vast  correspondence. 

5 


6  INTRODUCTION. 

The  author's  difficulty  was  not  in  any  lack  of  material,  but 
in  the  selecting  of  what  was  most  needed  for  his  purpose. 

Dr.  Passavant  was  an  editor  for  fifty  years.  He  wrote  on 
almost  every  conceivable  subject.  "What  wealth  of  wisdom  was 
here!  What  a  tempting  rhass  of  material!  Volumes  of  interest- 
ing, instructive  and  inspiring  reading  matter  might  be  culled 
from  what  was  before  us.  At  every  point  the  writer  had  to  re- 
strain himself.  Again  and  again  he  cut  out  what  had  already 
gone  into  the  manuscript.  He  tried  to  select  and  retain  only 
what  seemed  necessary  to  the  understanding  of  the  man  and  his 
work.  What  was  needed  to  throw  light  on  his  character,  his 
spirit,  his  inner  life,  his  motives,  his  aims  and  achievements  was 
retained.  The  man  and  the  life  were  found  a  most  absorbing 
study.  Four  summer  vacations  were  spent  on  the  manuscript, 
before  it  went  to  the  publisher. 

We  present  to  our  readers  not  merely  our  story  of  that 
Life.  We  offer  the  "Life  and  Letters,"  including  under  letters 
anything  that  he  wrote.  We  have  tried  to  make  it  an  Auto- 
biography rather  than  a  Biography.  As  far  as  possible,  we 
have  made  the  Doctor  tell  his  own  story. 

Dr.  Passavant 's  Life  covers  a  most  important  period  of 
American  Lutheran  Church  History.  It  was  a  formative  period. 
He  threw  his  whole  great  soul  into  the  life  and  development  of 
that  part  of  his  church  which  God,  in  His  Providence,  had 
planted  first  on  our  shores.  That  formative  period  was  of 
necessity  a  period  of  searching,  sounding  and  sifting.  The  old 
Church  found  herself  in  a  new  environment.  In  how  far  could 
she  adapt  herself  to  the  new  surroundings,  without  giving  up 
her  distinctive  character  and  life?  How  could  she  become  a 
proper  child  of  her  new  motherland  and  do  her  part  in  the 
making  and  conserving  of  her  new  home?  How  could  she  be- 
come thoroughly  American  and  yet  remain  thoroughly  Lutheran  ? 
Should  she  throw  aside  all  her  traditions,  all  her  hallowed  asso- 
ciations, repudiate  her  distinctive  faith  and  life  and  be  content 
to  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  many  American  denominations, 
affiliate  with  them  on  grounds  of  equality  and  gradually  lose  her 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

identity  ?  These  were  the  questions  that  had  to  be  settled.  Able 
and  aggressive  men  took  opposing  sides.  Controversy  was  in- 
evitable. Dr.  Passavant  took  his  full  share  in  the  controversy. 
His  life  could  not  be  written  without  going  over  some  of  these 
old  controversies.  The  writer,  being  a  friend  and  advocate  of 
Lutheran  Union  on  a  proper  basis,  and  not  a  partisan  of  any 
particular  branch  or  organization  in  the  church,  being  by  na- 
ture a  friend  of  peace  rather  than  of  polemics,  regrets  the  neces- 
sity of  the  controversial  statements  and  references.  Facts, 
necessary  to  the  understanding  of  our  church,  ought  however  to 
offend  no  one. 

The  pages  of  the  book  will  show  to  how  many  kind  friends 
the  Author  is  indebted  for  helpful  material,  assistance  and  ad- 

» 

vice.  He  is  under  special  obligation  to  Mr.  D.  L.  Passavant  for 
his  counsel  in  selection  of  matter,  to  the  Rev.  Wm.  J.  Finck  for 
assistance  in  reading  the  proof,  and  to  the  Rev.  J.  R.  E.  Hunt 
for  preparing  the  Index. 

We  send  forth  this  book  with  the  prayer  that  it  may  move 
young  men  to  consecrate  themselves  upon  the  Altar  of  Christ, 
even  as  our  sainted  hero  did,  and  then  go  forth  and  serve  God 
and  humanity  even  as  he  served. 

Cottage  Rest, 

Grand  Junction,  Mich. 
August,  1905. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

m 

THE  PASSAVANT  FAMILY:— The  Burgundians.— "Burg  Passa- 
vant.  "— Anselm 's  History. — Eminent  Names  and  Achievements. 
— Protestant  Refugees  from  Burgundy. — Passavants  at  Basel. — 
In  Distant  Eegions.— In  Frankfurt.— Jacob  Passavant.— Goethe's 
Poem. — Detmar  Basse. — His  Estate  at  Zelienople,  Pa. — Marriage 
of  Ludwig  Passavant  and  Zelia  Basse. — Journey  to  Bassenheim. 
— Pioneer  Privations  and  Trials. — Character  of  Ludwig  Passa- 
vant.—Of    Zelia   Basse    Passavant 17 

CEAPTEB  II. 

THE  CHILDHOOD  OF  WILLIAM  A.  PASSAVANT:— Birth.— In- 
fancy.— Early  Training. — Scenic  Surroundings. — Their  Influence. 
— Fondness  for  Pets.— His  First  School.— Mother 's  Influence....     24 

CHAPTEE  III. 

AT  COLLEGE:— Jefferson  College.— Its  Standing.— Its  Eeligious 
Life. — President  Brown. — His  Influence  on  Passavant. — Letters 
Home. — Religious  Experience. — Letters  from  Gottlieb  Bassler. — 
Studying  German. — Canvassing  for  Church  Papers. — Finding  of 
Brobst  and  Schweigert. — His  Mother's  Counsels.— His  Love  of 
Home.  —  The  Burn-Out  Miller. — His  First  Literary  Work,  a 
Lutheran  Almanac. — Sunday-School  Teaching  on  a  Log. — Colored 
Sunday-School. — Phrenologist. — Death  Detmar. — Out  of  School. — 
Letters  from  College. — Back  in  His  Class.  —  Pioneer  Lutheran 
Sunday-School  Work. — His  College  Life  Characterized  by  Class- 
mates     , 28 

CHAPTER  IV. 

IN  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY:— Critical  Period  in  Luth- 
eran Church. — Suggestions  of  Union  with  Other  Denominations. — 
Of  Lutheran  Union. — Of  a  General  Synod. — Objections.  —  Organ- 
ized in  1821. — Its  Weakness. — Its  Laudable  Purposes.— Opening 
of  Gettysburg  Seminary.— Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker  Characterized. — 
Teaching  and  Influence  of  Gettysburg. — Passavant 's  Journey 
Thither. — Writes  His  First  Impressions  to  His  Mother.— Charac- 
terizes the  Preaching  of  Professors. — Favors  Preaching  by  Stu- 
dents.—Tells  of  a  Great  Revival.— Revival  Criticized  by  Parents. 
— Canvasses  for  Observer. — First  Visit  to  General  Synod. — Meets 
AbralTam  Reck.— Student  Manners.  — The  Lutheran  Almanac  Out. 
— Its  Contents. — Not  the  First  Lutheran  Almanac— Bible  Can- 
vass in  the  Mountains.— Dr.  Eyster's  Reminiscence.— Christmas 
Donations  to  Poor.- Lack  of  Clearness  in  Lutheran  Pulpit.— Vir- 
ginia's Letter.- Offer  to  become  Assistant  Editor  of  Observer. — 
His  Mother's  Misgivings.— Preaches  in  Penitentiary. — Dr.  Eyster 
on  Passavant 's  Seminary  Life.— Dr.  Ziegler's  Reminiscence.— Pas- 
savant's  Private  Journal.— His  Rules  for  His  Daily  Life.— His 
Agonizings. — Growing  Clearness. — Pleads  and  Labors  for  an  Eng- 
lish Church  in  Cincinnati.— Believes  in  Fasting.— Recounts  Five 
Special  Sins.— Makes  More  Rules  for  Himself 48 


10  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

IN  BALTIMORE:— First  Impressions  Concerning  Dr.  Kurtz.— 
Krauth's  Mission  at  Canton.  — Passavant  Called.— Luther  Chapel. 
—Licensed  October  17th,  1842.— His  Account  to  His  Mother.— 
His  "New  Measures.  "—Reek's  Revival.— Controversy  on  New 
Measures.— Passavant  Visits  Fountaindale  and  Gettysburg.— Is 
Urged  to  take  Observer.— Mother  Advises  against.— Remains 
Assistant.  — His  Editorial  Work.  — Letters  Home.— Estimate  of 
the  "Learned  Blacksmith.  "—Favorite  Books.— Hears  Alexander 
Campbell.— A  Fruitful  Year.— His  Mother's  Advice  on  Sermon- 
izing.—Pastoral  PLxperiences.— Starts  a  New  Sunday-School.— In- 
fluenced by  the  Wesleys.— A  Letter  of  Reminiscence  and  Pastoral 
Counsel.- Preaches  to  Negroes.— Restlessness.— His  Mother's 
Counsel.— News  from  the  Young  English  Church  at  Home.— Re- 
signs at  Canton.— Weddel's  Account  of  Passavant 's  "Work  there. 
—Desire  to  "Collect  and  Organize.  "—His  Love  for  Children.— 
Estimate  of  the  General  Synod. — Gossip. — Estimate  of  a  Sensa- 
tional Preacher.— Uses  Shovel  and  Mattock  for  a  Chapel.— Visit 
to  Philadelphia.  — Finishes  His  Sunday-School  Hymn  Book.— Crit- 
icism of  the  Lutheran  Standard. — Visits  Lancaster. — Solicits  for 
the  Historical  Society. — Characterizes  Dr.  Baker. — Visits  York. — 
Characterizes  Krauth's  Preaching.— Lehmanowsky.— Call  to  Pitts- 
burg.-Perplexed.— Gossip.— Counsel  from  Home.— Engaged.— De- 
sires to  Accept  Pittsburg. — Mother  against. — Accepts. — Retracts. 
-Second    Call 78 

CHAPTER   VI. 

BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG: -A  Visit  Home.- The  First  Church. 
— Pittsburg.  — Sketch  by  Thomas  H.  Lane. — By  Rev.  A.  H.  Waters. 

—  First  Mention  of  Rev.  Gottlieb  Bassler. — JPassavant  Missionat- 
ing. — Preaches  in  the  Jail. — Congregational  Missions. — His 
Preaching. — McCollough 's  Estimate. — Death  of  Virginia  Passa- 
vant.—First  Mention  of  Organizing  Pittsburg  Synod.— Passa- 
vant's  Part  In.— The  Rev.  J.  M.  Steck.  — Meeting  in  Pittsburg 
Church. — Organization. — Missionary  Spirit. — Educational  Work. — 
Constitution.— His  Mother  on  New  Measures.- Union  Efforts. — 
Foreign  Mission  Interest. — The  Pittsburg  Fire.— Marriage.— Mrs, 
Passavant 's  Account.- Married  Life.— To  Go  Abroad.— Rev.  Mel- 
horn's  Letter.- Relief  of  the  Poor.- Missions  at  Home. — Trip  to 
the  Furnace. — Other  Trips. — Increasing  Work. — Correspondence. 
—Failing  Health.— Sent   Abroad.— Evangelical   Alliance 113 

• 

CHAPTER   VII. 

ABROAD:— Preparaitiong.—Leave-Taking.— On  the  Sea.— Halifax.— 
Its  Old  Lutheran  Church.  — Results  of  Passavant 's  Investigations. 

—  The  Evangelical  Alliance.— London  Sights.  — Meets  Noted  Per- 
sons.—An  Epitaph  and  Tribute  to  His  Wife.— Visits  Other  Cities. 
Kaiserswerth.—FIiedner.-Duesseldorf.—Elberfcld.— Letter  to  His 
Congregation.-Paris.— Belgium.— Up  the  Rhine.— Frankfurt.— 
Religious  Life  in  Germany.— Basel  Mission.— Rationalists.— Dea- 
conesses.—Needed  in  Pittsburg. — Admonitions.  —  Pestolozzi. — Hen- 
rietta Passavant.— Bunsen.—Cappel.— Stanley.  — Impressions  and 
Lessons  from  Evangelical  Alliance.— Maternal  Counsels.— What 
the    Alliance    Accomplished.— Its   Weakness.— Estimate    of    Kurtz, 

the   Church   Historian , 141 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HOME  AGAIN:— Welcomed.— Receptions.— Sorrow  in  the  Home.— 
At    Work    again.— DiflBculties.-Loose    Lutheranism. — Wyneken. — 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  11 

Reynolds.— Dr.  Lane.— Krauth.— B.  M.  Schmncker. — Seiss.— Spiel- 
man.— Lehman.— Morris. — The  General  Synod. — Reynold's  Ad- 
vice.— Morns. — Reuben  Weiser. — A  Retrospect. — Called  to  New 
York. — Advice  from  Mother. — Recalls. — The  Jewish  Orphan  House 
in  London. — Its  Influence. — Fliedner 's  Work. — Influence  on  Pas- 
savant. — His  Account  of  the  Restoration  of  the  Deaconess  Office. 
— To  Bring  Deaconesses  to  Pittsburg. — Plea  for  American  Can- 
didates.— A  Later  Account  of  Kaiserswerth. — Extract  from  Ser- 
mon.— Opens  House  for  Deaconess  Hospital.  —  Cautioned  by 
Mother.— Opening  of  First  Protestant  Hospital.  — The  First  Pa- 
tients and  Nurses.  — Trials.— Exciting  Experiences. — Removal. — 
Purchase  of  Site. — Arrival  of  Fliedner. — Consecration  Service. — 
Summary  of  Two  Years'  Work.— Organization  and  Principles  of 
the  Institution  of  Protestant  Deaconesses. — Death  and  Burial  of 
Father    Steck    162 

CHAPTER  IX. 

WORK  FOR  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS : —The  EvangeU- 
cal  Review.— Opposed  by  theO&server.— Need  of  a  New  Church 
Paper. — Passavant  Starts  the  Missionary.  —  Its  Standpoint  and 
Purpose.— Contents  and  Tone  of  Early  Volumes.— Criticisms.— 
Weddell.  —  Commendations.  —  Krauth.  —  Reynolds.  —  Jacobs. 
—  Observer.— Standard.— Editorial  Life.  — Interest  in  West.— In 
the  Germans.— In  the  Scandinavians.  — Swedes  on  the  Delaware. — 
Norwegians.   —  Rev.  Diedrichsen.  —   Clausen.   —   His  Ordination. 

'  —Sanctioned  by  the  Theological  Faculty  of  Christiania.  — Preuss 
and  Stub  Arrive.- Ellmg  Eilsen.—Proselyters.— Passavant 's  In- 
terest.—Testimony  of  Norelius.— Lars  P.  Esbjorn.— The  Franck- 
eans.— Passavant  Solicits  Literature  and  Money  for  Esb,]orn. — 
First  Trip  West.— Letter  to  Mother.— Paul  Anderson.— In  Chi- 
cago — Unonius  the  Episcopalian.— Passavant  Exposes  Him.— Ap- 
peals to  Eastern  Lutherans  for  Help.  —  Shows  What  Ought  to  be 
Done. — Jenny  Lind  is  Deceived  by  the  Fpiscopalians.  —  Their  ^ 
Schemes  Thwarted  by  Passavant.  —  Esbjorn  and  Norwegians 
Aided. — Welcomes  and  Assists  Hasselquist. — Ole  Bull. — Renegailes 
and    Def amers    194 

CHAPTER  X. 

ORPHAN  WORK:— Multiplied  Labors.-Counsels.— Material  Aid.— 
Selects  Right  Helpers.— Beginnings  of  Orphan  Work.— Incidents. 
— Removal  to  Zehenople. — Bassler  becomes  Director. — Erection  of 
Main  Building. — Prayers  with  the  Workmen. — Basic  Principles. — 
The  Rev.  G.  C.  Holls.— The  Rev.  H.  Reck.— The  Germantown 
Home.^-Opposition.  —  Fire  m  Pittsburg. — Fire  in  Farm  School. — 
Check  from  Ladies'  Seminary. — Expenses  of  Orphans.— State  Aid. 
— Fruits  of  Orphan  Work. — Missions  of  the  Pittsburg  Church. — 
First  American  Deaconess. — Events  in  Passavant 's  Church. — His 
Daily  Schedule. — Home  Life. — Christmas  in  Hospital. — At  Home. 
— In  Church. — Deliverances. — A  New  Deaconess. — Plans  a  Home 
for  Colored  Girls.— Helps  Student  Norelius.— Trip  to  Gettysburg, 
—To  Baltimore.— Death  of  Mr.  Passavant 's  Father.— Deaconess 
Work.— Visit  to  Canada. — Organizes  First  Conference  There. — 
Plea  for  More  Institutions  of  Mercy.— Visit  to  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.— A  Touching  Case  of  Charity.— Cholera  in  Pitts- 
burg.—Work  of  Hospital.— Support.— Tribute  to  the  Deaconesses. 
— A  Morning  among  the  Sick.— Attack  on  Lutheran  Church. — 
Passavant 's  Defense.— Criticism  by  Parishioners. — Defense. — Dif- 
ficulties in  Work.— Fluctuating  Population.— Isolation  of  Congre- 
gation.—Debt.— Progress.— Cause   for   Thankfulness 221 


12  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XL 

LIFE  AND  "WORK  IN  PITTSBURG:  — The  First  Church  a  Fruitful 
Mother.  — The  Bimiiiigham  Church.— The  Rev.  H.  Reck.— The  Al- 
legheny Church.— Manchester  Church.— East  Liberty  Mission.— 
Church  at  Chartiers  Creek.— Sunday-Schools  at  Bayardstown  and 
Lawrenceville.— Early  Events  in  First  Church.— The  First  Amer- 
ican Deaconess.— Home  Life.— Bereavement.— Charles  Porterfield 
Krauth.— Christmas  in  Hospital,  Church  and  Home.— Compassion 
for  Colored  People.— Plea  for  Canada  and  Texas.— Trip  to  Gettys- 
burg and  Baltimore.— Death  of  Philip  Louis  Passavant.— Sidney 
Passavant.— Deaconesses  Marry.— Deaconess  Work.— Trip  to  Can- 
ada.—Plea  for  More  Institutions  of  Mercy.— New  York  and  Phil- 
adelphia.—Mercy   to   Orphans.— Work  of  the   Infirmary.— Cholera. 

—  Support    of    the    Infirmary.  — Manifold    Activities.  — Further    In- 
firmary Work.— Defence  of  Lutheran  Church.— Her  Achievements. 

— Tenth   Anniversary   Sermon 249 

CHAPTER  XII. 

RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH:  —  Multiplied  Labors.  —  Gathers  and 
Builds  Churches. — Growing  Labors. — Thinks  of  Resigning. — His 
Mother's  Protest. — Answers. — Begging  Sermons. — Secular  and 
Spiritual. — His  Mother  Reconciled.  —  Resigns  the  First  Church. — 
Resolutions. — New  Mode  of  Life. — Missionary  President. — Builds 
Church  and  Congregation  in  Rochester,  Pa. — How  Supported. — 
Receives  D.  D. — Rescues  Germantown  Orphanage.  —  Missionates  in 
Baden. — Logstown. — Crow's  Run.  —  Rehoboth. — An  Earnest  Plea 
for  Such  Missions  at  Home. — Tells  the  Story  of  these  Churches. 
— Account  of  Rev.  H.  Peters. — Reminiscence  of  the  Writer. — Pas- 
savant on  Pastoral  Visiting.  —  On  Being  Rightly  Called.  — 
' '  Blessed  are  They  Who  Stick. '  '—A  Donation 280 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

WAR,  VIEWS,  AND  WORK:— Disturbance  and  Distress.— Troubles 
in  the  Church.  —  Tendency  of  Lutheranism. — Lincoln  Elected.  —  Ex- 
citement.—  Editorials  on  Our  Comfort,  Our  Duty,  Our  City.  —  De- 
moralization of  War. — The  Times. — Nurses  for  the  Army. — Doro- 
thy Dix. — Passavant  Goes  to  Washington  with  Deaconesses. — 
Their  Work.- Colonel  Ellsworth.— Letter  to  Mother.— Public  Trib- 
ute to  the  Sisters. — Passavant  Elected  President  of  His  Synod. 
—Called  to  be  Army  Chaplain.  — Works  among  Soldiers  with 
Sisters.  — The  Inevitable  Negro.  — Teaching  Him  the  Testament. 
— Preaching  and  Evangelizing  among  the  Soldiers.— Letters  from 
the  Sisters.— From  ^liss  pix.— Description  of  an  Improvised  Hos- 
pital.—  Rescues  Southern  Orphans. — Efforts  for  Prisoners.— Gen- 
eral Interest  in  War.— Assassination  of  Lincoln 301 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH: -Dangers  from  Doc- 
trinal Laxity.  —  Examining  the  Foundations.  —  Witnesses  for 
Sound  Lutheranism.— Radical  Opposition.  — The  Observer.- Defi- 
nite Platform.  — Its  Defenders.— Passavant 's  Criticism.  — Proposed 
New  Paper.— r/ie  TVeclly  .limtOTiari/.— Explains  It  to  His  Mother. 
—Contents  of  First  Volume.— Principles  and  Purpose.— Pitts- 
burg Synod  on  Platform.— Passavant  Explains  His  Change  of 
Views  to  His  ^fother.- Influence  of  Loose  Views  on  the  Ministry. 

—  Proposal  to  Merge  the  Lutheran  with  the  Missionary.— Writes 
His  Mother.- Her   Criticism.— Two   Parties   in   General   Synod.— 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  13 

Editorials  On.— Good  Wishes  for  the  York  Convention.— Adverse 
to  Division.— Favors  Philadelphia  Seminary.— Preaches  to  Grad- 
uates.—Commended.— Extract    from     326 

CE AFTER  XV. 

WORK    AND    INFLUENCE    AMONG    THE    SCANDINAVIANS:  — 

Church  Must  Occupy  Cities.  —  Rev.  Erland  Carlsen.  —  His  Labors  in 
Chicago.— The  First  Norwegian  Church.— The  Rev  0.  J.  Hatlestad. 
— Passavant  Warns  Norwegians. — Advocates  Their  Union  with 
General  Council.— Influence  in  Norwegian  Augustana  Synod. — 
Lutherans  in  Minnesota. — Visits  Them. — Writes  Norelius. — Father 
Heyer.— Norelius  for  English.— English  Needed  in  Milwaukee. — 
Assists  in  Erie  and  Fort  Wayne. — Visits  Canada. — Counsels 
Norelius.— Organizing  of  Augustana  Synod. — Esbjorn  Returns  to 
Sweden.— The  Indian  Massacre.— Aid  Sent.— Fears  for  Paxton 
Seminary  Scheme. — Advice  on  Swedish  Orphans'  Homes. — On  Col- 
onies.—Dangers.— Secures  Land  for  Gustavus  Adolphus  College. 
— Visits  Augustana  Synod.— The  Starter  of  Synod  of  North- 
west.—Exposes  Proselyters.- The  Right  Spirit.— Interest  in  the 
Icelanders. — On    Notoriety    Seekers 354 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL:— Pastor  Muehl- 
haeuser. — His  Plea  for  a  Hospital. — Passavant 's  Story  of  Its  Be- 
ginnings.—Selecting  the  Site. — Wonderful  Deliverance.— Opening 
Service.— Collecting  Funds.— Mercy  Work.— Sister  Barbara.— Wil- 
liam Huth,  Sr. — William  Huth,  Jr.— His  Reminiscence  of  Dr. 
Passavant.— A  Reminiscence  of  the  Author.— Dr.  Passavant  En- 
courages Bassler. — Death  of  Pastor  Muehlhaeuser. — A  Newsy  Let- 
ter.— Sends  Young  Muehlhaeuser  to  Philadelphia  Seminary. — Op- 
position to  Milwaukee  Hospital.— The  New  Building.— Plea  for 
Support.- Unfinished  Building  Fired.— Faith  and  Courage.— An- 
other Plea. — Opening  of  New  Building. — Feast  Spread  for  La- 
borers.—Sister  Martha.— Letters  to  Her— Sister  Mary.— Dr.  Pas- 
savant's  Thoughtful  Solicitude  for  Sisters. — His  Christmas  Bene- 
factions.—  Interest  in  Patients. — Remarkable  Deliverances. — Trib- 
ute to  Deaconesses. — The  Doctor  a  Patient 389 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  CHICAGO  HOSPITAL.  —  BASSLER 'S  DEATH.  -  PASSA- 
VANT'S  FAME:— Passavant 's  Trouble  with  Incompetent  Help. 
— With  Incorrigible  Orphans. — Ungrateful  Patients.— Milwau- 
kee's Success. — An  Unenjoyed  Vacation. — Chicago's  Need  of  a 
Hospital.  — Story  of  Its  Inception.— Toils  and  Triumphs.— The 
First  Patients. — Opening  Service.— Character  of  Patients.— Sister 
Isabella's  Story.— The  First  Board  of  Visitors. — Munificent  Gifts 
Offered.— Swept  Away  by  Fire.— Doctor  Passavant 's  Indomitable 
Faith.— Fourteen  Years  of  Waiting.— Help  from  Relief  Commit- 
tee.—Purchase  of  Two  Sites.— Rescues  Church  of  Mercy.  — Story 
of  Its  Beginnings. — Writes  Bassler  of  Hospital.— Acknowledges 
and  Retreats.— Hasty  Words.— Bassler 's  Illness.— Passavant 's  So- 
licitous Care.— Last  Days  of  Bassler.— Passavant 's  Tribute. — 
Mother  Passavant 's  Blindness.— He  Comforts  Her 416 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FORMATION  OF  GENERAL  COUNCIL: -Relation  of  Pennsylvania 
to  General  Synod.— Withdrawal  at  York.— Reappearance  at  Fort 
Wayne.— Ruled    Out.— Passavant 's    Speeches.— Disruption.— Bitter 


14  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Controversy.— Passavant  Defended.— Faults  on  Botk  Sides.— Pas- 
savant's  Faults.— Still  Great.— Influence  in  Beading  Convention. 
—Irony.  — Righteous  Indignation.— Pretenders  to  Superior  Spirit- 
uality.—The  First  Church,  Pittsburg.— A  Bitter  Letter.— Spicy 
Irony  from  Dr.  Morris.— Church  Trial  at  Kittanning.— Sorrow  at 
Home.— Defection  of  Ziegenfuss.— General  Council  Blamed  for 
Leading  to  High  Church.— Episcopacy.— The  Defense.— List  of 
Apostates  from  the  General  Synod.— Opinion  of  Kelle 443 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

ORPHAN  WORK.-ROCHESTER,  ZELIENOPLE,  WARTBURG:- 
Removal  of  Orphan  Girls  to  Rochester.— Dedication.— Location.— 
Consecration  of  Three  Deaconesses.- Passavant 's  Sermon.— Plea 
for  More  Deaconesses.— To  Zelienople,— Corner-stone  Laid.— Pas- 
savant's  Poem.— In  New  York.  — Sees  Need  of  Orphanage.— Se- 
cures Donations.— Perplexed  as  to  Assuming  the  Work.— Secures 
More  Subscriptions.  — Tells  Mother  of  Third  Trip  to  New  York.— 
Raises  More  Money  and  Buys  Wartburg  Farm.— Opposition  from 
Liberal  Lutherans.— Frustrate  Securing  of  Charter.— Encourage- 
ment from  Dr.  Schaflf.— Holls  Called  to  the  Wartburg.— Scarcity 
of  Orphans.  — Corner-stone  Laid.— Muhlenberg 's  Hymn.— Charter 
Settled.— Brook  Farm  Colony.— Passavant  Helps  to  Purchase 
Farm  for  Orphans.— Death  of  Rector  Holls.— Passavant 's  Trib- 
ute      463 

CHAFTEE  XX. 

MERCY  WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE.-FOR  EPILEPTICS.-FOR 
IMMIGRANTS:  —  Offer  of  Jacksonville  Property.  —  Refusal. — 
Pressed  on  Him.— Accepted.— Orphans  Taken  Out  by  Reck.— Pas- 
savant Craves  His  Mother's  Blessing  on  Enterprise.— Donor  Dis- 
satisfied with  Orphanage.— Gets  Back  Property  by  Lawsuit.— 
Gives  It  Back  for  a  Hospital.— Its  Humble  Beginnings.  — Its 
Blessed  Work.— Passavant 's  Review  of  Julia  Sutter's  "Colony 
of  Mercy.  "—Purpose  to  Open  a  Similar  One.— Carried  Out  by 
His  Son.— Rev.  William  Berkemeier.— His  and  Passavant 's  Inter- 
est in  the  Immigrant.— Story  of  the  Founding  of  the  Emigrant 
House.  —  Passavant 's  Assistance  and  Lifelong  Interest. — Three 
Published   Letters    483 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THIEL  COLLEGE. -COLLEGE  LIFE.-HOSPITALITY: -Louis 
Thiel.  — Professor  Copp.— H.  E.  Jacobs.— Reminiscences  of  Thiel 
Hall.— Passavant 's  Tribute  to  Jacobs.— Willie 's  Confirmation. — 
Thiel  Hall  becomes  Thiel  College. — First  Corner-stone  Laid  in 
Greenville. — Passavant 's  Address. — Letters  to  William  at  College. 
— On  College  Fraternities. — Wants  William  to  become  His  Helper. 
— Letters  to  His  Own  College  Mate,  Rev.  Hugh  Brown. — Editorial 
on  Higher  Education.— Death  of  Mother  Passavant.— The  Passa- 
vant Mountain  Home.— Its  Hospitality.— A  Word  for  Decorah  Col- 
lege        501 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH.— LETTERS.— JOURNEYINGS.— RE- 
FLECTIONS AND  DELIVERANCES:— Tribute  to  Dr.  Krauth. 
—  On  the  Luther  League.— Letters  to  Berkemeier.— Tribute  to 
Doctor  Greenwold. — Letter  to  William  in  Leipzig. —Tribute  to 
Doctor  Walther.— Daniel  Payne. — Letter  from. — Appeals  to 
Schack  for  Freedmen.— Hasselquist 's  Interest.— To  Pacific  Coast. 
—Stops  at  Fargo.— Other  Stops  and  Plans  for  Churches  and  In- 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  15 

stitutions.— Tells  Doctor  Morris.— A  Weakness  in  Passavant. — 
Writes  of  Deaconess  Work  for  Iowa  Synod. — Newsy  Letters  to 
Morris.— Reflections  on  Many  Subjects.— Tribute  to  Schweigert. 
— Wonderful  Deliverances    524 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE  EDITOR.— CHICAGO  SEMINARY.-THE  MINISTRY:  — 
Need  of  New  Church  Paper. — Starting  of  the  Workmmi.  —  Lts  Mis- 
sion and  Influence.  —  Its  Transfer  to  William. — The  Doctor  Re- 
assumes  It. — Plans  for  Chicago  Seminary. — Preaches  Sermon  to 
General  Council. — Krauth's  Resolutions. — Jacobs  Elected  Profes- 
sor.— Passavant 's  Editorials  on  Seminary. — Organization  of 
Board. — First  Professors.- Opening. — Three  Years  Later. — Passa- 
vant's  Last  Commencement. — Next  to  Last  Editorial. — Spirit  and 
Purpose  of  Seminary. — On  an  Increased  Ministry. — Kind  of  Boys 
Wanted.— Exposure  of  Impostors   551 

CHAPTEB  XXIV. 

THE  LAST  WEEK.  —  DEATH.  —  BURIAL.  —  CONDOLENCES.  — 
CHARACTER  SKETCH:- The  Last  Chapter.- The  Wonderful 
Last  Week.— Last  Works  and  Words.  — The  Last  Editorial. — 
William's  Story  of  Last  Illness.— Death. — Funeral. — The  Grave. 
— Condolences. — Character   Sketch.— Secret   of   Power 575 

CHAFTEB  XXV. 

THE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS:— Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  Jr.— 
Preparation  for  His  Father's  Work.— Becomes  Director. — Con- 
solidates Orphan  Homes. — Spirit  and  Regime. — Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Kribbs.— Changes.— A  Deaconess  Station.— Other  Orphanages 
Out  of  Passavant 's. — An  Old  People's  Home. — The  Epileptic 
Home.— Passavant 's  Helpers.— Mrs.  Thaw.— History  of  Homes. 
— Milwaukee  Hospital.  —  Improvements  Within.  —  Without.  — 
Doctor  Frick.— Doctor  Ohl. — What  He  Accomplished. — Passavant 
as  Rector. — The  Motherhouse. — Rev.  H.  L.  Fritschel.— Sister  Cath- 
arine.—Pittsburg  Hospital.— Place  for  a  Memorial.- Fifty  Years. 
—Fifty  Thousand  Dollars.  — The  New  Wing.— Doctor  H.  W.  Roth, 
— Sister  Katharine  Foerster. — Miss  Sarah  Shaffer. — Her  Sister- 
house. — Chicago  Hospital. — Passavant 's  Disappointment. — Mrs. 
Waters. — Improvements. —Jacksonville. — Sister  Caroline. — Mission 
of  the  Hospital.— The  Chicago  Seminary.— Spirit.— Work.— Men. 
—  Achievements.  —  Future 589 


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CHAPTER  I. 

THE  PASSAVANT  FAMILY. 

"When  we  study  the  life  and  achievements  of  one  of  God's 
eminent  men,  we  always  are  interested  in  his  antecedents  and 
lineage.  This  is  especially  true  of  one  of  whom  it  has  been 
well  said:  ''Of  such  men,  God  gives  us  only  one  in  a  century." 

In  the  ancient  dukedom  of  Burgundy  of  France  lies  the  old 
city  of  Luxeuil  or  Luxon.  The  original  Burgundians  were 
Germans,  who  from  the  banks  of  the  Oder  and  the  Vistula  had 
extended  themselves  to  the  Rhine  and  Neckar  and  in  the  year 
406  had  penetrated  into  Eoman  Gaul.  In  after  ages,  the  do- 
mains of  Burgundy,  were  incorporated  with  France. 

About  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  from  Luxeuil  lies  the  lonely 
little  town,  "La  Cote  Passavant,"  overlooked  by  the  ancient 
castle,  "Burg  Passavant."  ^ 

Only  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  fastness  remain.  Conspicu- 
ous among  them  stands  the  old  round  tower  about  sixty  feet 
high  built  of  massive  hewn  stone.  This  Burg  was  the  seat  of 
the  Seigneurs  de  Passavant,  a  line  out  of  the  ancient  generation 
of  the  De  la  Haya  which  appears  as  early  as  the  tenth  century. 
The  oldest  account  of  this  family  which  we  have  is  found  in 
Anselm's  General  History  and  Chronology  of  France  (Paris 
1712).  The  De  la  Haya  family  divided  into  six  lines  of  which 
La  Haya  Passavant  is  the  fourth.  This  is  the  oldest  and  best 
known  of  the  Passavant  families  in  French  history. 

Johann  David  Passavant  von  Passenburg,  the  eminent 
French  art  critic  and  connoisseur,  has  gathered  a  chronological 
register  of  this  line  reaching  from  1200  A.  D.  to  1679.     The 


^  There  are  at  least  three  other  Passavant  castles  in  France,  viz. 
a  little  town  and  fortress  in  Angou  nine  miles  from  Montreuil  Bel- 
lay;  a  second  in  the  province  of  Champagne,  six  miles  south  of  Clermont, 
and  a  third  in  the  canton  De  Beaune,  eighteen  miles  northwest  of  Mont 
Beliard.  It  has  not  been  definitely  ascertained  whether  the  Passavants 
of  these  different  castles  all  came  from  the  same  family.  The  line  of  the 
Passavants  with  whom  we  are  concerned  can,  however,  be  traced  to 
the  ancestral  seat  in  Luxeuil  in  Burgundy. 


18  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

register  was  improved  and  enlarged  by  inspector  Johann  David 
Passavant.  - 

In  this  remarkable  register,  we  meet  the  names  of  men  and 
women  who  were  eminent  in  church  and  state,  in  literature  and 
science,  in  bravery  and  benevolence.  Among  others,  one  Jean 
de  Passavant  is  mentioned  by  Kurt  Sprengel  in  "Versuch  einer 
pragmatischen  Geschichte  der  Heilkunde,"  as  Dean  of  the  Med- 
ical Faculty  of  Halle  about  1295. 

Jacopo  Passavant  who  lived  in  Florence  became  a  very 
learned  man,  an  organizer  and  Prior  of  a  number  of  Cloisters 
and  Bishop  of  Monte  Cassino.  A  relief  figure  may  still  be  seen 
in  the  Monastery  of  St.  Mary's  in  Florence  where  he  is  buried. 
Among  other  learned  works,  he  wrote  a  devotional  book,  "Lo 
Speechio  della  vera  Penitenzia,"  "The  Mirror  of  true  Repent- 
ance," which  ranks  with  Thomas  a  Kempis',  "Imitation  of 
Christ."  A  zealous  champion  of  Romanism,  Louis  de  Passa- 
vant, in  1528,  wrote  a  book  against  Johann  Agricola  which 
Luther  noticed  and  called  "a  cunning,  wicked  and  poisonous 
book." 

It  seems  that  most  of  the  other  Passavants  felt  themselves 
drawn  towards  the  new  teaching  emanating  from  "Wittenberg. 
At  any  rate,  we  find  that  in  the  persecutions  of  the  French 
Protestants  preceding  and  following  the  revocation  of  the  Edict 
of  Nantes  in  1598,  a  number  of  the  refugees  left  Burgundy  and 
became  exiles  for  their  faith.  In  an  old  chronicle  of  the  refu- 
gees, M^e  read:  "Among  these  refugees  from  Eastern  France, 
the  Passavant  family  was  prominent.  In  1595,  Nicholas  Passa- 
vant came  to  Basel  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  from  Luxeuil 

in  the  Vosges He  soon  identified  himself  with  the  silk 

industry  and  lace-making."  This  Nicholas  Passavant  seems 
to  have  been  a  grandson  of  the  preceding  Louis  Passavant, 
the  ardent  Catholic.  Of  the  Passavants  who  came  to  Basel  from 
Luxeuil,  it  is  written  that  they  were  scrupulously  careful  to  have 
their  children  marry  only  into  families  of  noble  ancestry  and 
high  standing.  How  jealous  they  were  of  the  Protestant  faith 
is  showTi  by  the  following  incident:  The  Passavants  that  re- 
mained in  France  and  in  the  Catholic  faith  saw  that  their  name 
was  in  danger  of  becoming  extinct.  To  prevent  this,  they  wrote 
to  I^'rankfurt  and  begged  to  have  two  Passavant  youths  sent 


"     See   pages   nine   to   eleven  "Johann  David  Passavant,"  Ein  Le- 
bensbild   von  Dr.   Adolph   Cornill,  Frankfurt  am  Main,  Verein  fuer   Ge- 


schichte   und    Alterthumskunde,    1864. 


THE  PA8SAVANT  FAMILY.  19 

over  to  be  trained  in  the  ancient  traditions  and  faith  and  to 
propagate  the  Passavant  name.  This  request  was  never  an- 
swered, but  was  burned  leaf  it  might  become  a  temptation  to 
some  young  man. 

From  Basel,  the  family  spread  into  many  distant  regions. 
Descendants  of  Nicholas  found  their  way  to  London,  to  Mo- 
rocco in  Africa,  and  to  Tranquebar  in  India.  Johann  Ulrich 
visited  the  four  continents;  another  became  a  missionary  in 
Surinam.  Fanny  Passavant  gave  herself,  her  means  and  her 
life,  to  the  care  of  the  sick  and  poor. 

Rudolph  Emanuel,  grandson  of  Nicholas  Passavant  of 
Basel  settled  in  Frankfurt,  became  a  rich  merchant  a,nd  a  pil- 
lar in  the  Reformed  Church.  He  was  the  progenitor  of  the 
Frankfurt  line  and  died  in  1718.  His  son  Rudolph  followed 
in  his  steps.  A  valuable  coin  worth  sixteen  ducats  was  made 
by  the  City  of  Frankfurt  in  honor  of  his  golden  wedding  in 
17.59.  His  son,  Johannes,  in  the  same  year  had  the  order  of 
nobility  conferred  on  him  by  the  Emperor  Francis  I.  Through 
his  son,  Peter  Frederick,  his  grandson  Christian  and  the  lat- 
ter's  son,  Philip  Theodore,  the  line  was  kept  up. 

A  step-brother  of  Rudolph,  the  son  of  Rudolph  Emanuel, 
named  Jacob,  was  the  head  of  another  line.  He  was  very  suc- 
cessful as  a  merchant,  became  wealthy,  and  was  the  father  of 
twelve  children  by  his  wife  IMargaret,  nee  Ziegler,  with  whom 
and  his  descendants  he  celebrated  his  golden  wedding  in  1758. 
For  this  occasion  the  City  also  had  made  a  suitable  gold  coin. 
Johann  Ludwig,  the  son  of  Jacob,  married  the  beautiful  and 
high-born  Maria  Koch. 

Of  their  five  sons,  we  are  especially  interested  in  Jacob  who 
'carried  forward  his  father's  large  business  and  in  1744  married 
Susanna  Fredericke  Philippine  Schuebler  of  Mannheim.  His 
brother  Ludwig,  then  a  student  of  theology,  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  the  poet  Goethe  and  had  him  write  a  poem  in  honor 
of  Jacob's  marriage,  entitled  "Dem  Passavant  und  Schuebler- 
ischen  Brautpaare  die  Geschwister  des  Bnmitigams. ' '  ^ 

Philip  Ludwig,  the  eldest  son  of  Jacob  was  born  in  1777, 
was  brought  up  in  his  father's  business  and  also  became  a  suc- 


3  See  the  poem  in  "Johann  David  Passavant,"  Ein  Lebensbild, 
from  Dr.  Adolph  Cornill,  pp.  26  and  27.  The  poem  was  not  finished  in 
time  for  the  wedding,  but  was  presented  after  marriage  and  read  at 
the  golden  wedding  in  1824,  together  with  the  congratulations  of 
Goethe. 


20  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

cessfiil  merchant.     He  was  attracted  by  the  beautiful,  accom- 
plished and  amiable  Zelia  Basse,  born  Nov.  20,  1786.  * 

Her  father,  Detmar  Ba.sse,  an  only  son,  was  a  man  of 
wealth  and  s'ood  taste.  He  had  held  several  positions  of  trust 
in  his  own  country.  During  the  Napoleonic  wars,  he  had  been 
sent  as  an  ambassador  from  Frankfurt  to  Paris  where  he  re- 
mained for  ten  yearc  and  where  his  Avifc  died  in  1800.  In  the 
year  1802,  possibly  drawn  by  a  desire  for  adventure,  he  came 
to  America.  Exploring  the  land  west  of  Pittsburg  he  was  at- 
tracted by  the  beautiful  and  fertile  Connoquenessing  Valley. 
Here  he  purchased  10,000  acres  from  the  government,  in  Butler 
and  Beaver  Counties:  and  on  the  pleasantly-located  south  side 
of  the  stream,  on  an  elevated  plateau  of  wide  extent.,  this  cult- 
ured and  scholarly  German  determined  to  found  a  town  and  a 
Bassenlieim.  To  the  prospective  town  he  gave  the  name  of 
Zelienople  in  honor  of  his  daughter  Zelia.  The  place  is  indeed 
beautiful  for  situation.  To  the  northward  the  wide  Conno- 
quenessing extends  its  course  around  wooded  hills  whose  grace- 
fully arching  summits  are  a  pleasant  contrast  to  the  level 
valleys. 

In  1806  Mr.  Basse  returned  to  Germany,  On  his  arrival 
there  Philip  Passavant  asked  him  for  the  hand  of  his  daughter 
Zelia.  The  father  was  at  first  averse  to  the  union  but  after- 
wards consented,  on  condition  that  the  young  couple  go  back 
with  him  to  America  and  permanently  reside  on  the  Bassenheim 
estate  at  Zelienople.  To  thir  they  consented  and  in  1807  they 
accompanied  the  father  to  their  nevv^  wilderness  home.  They 
sailed  from  Amsterdam  on  the  Frederick  Augustus  and  landed 
in  Philadelphia,  September  fifteenth,  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
red  and  seven. 

Here  father  Basse  had  built  a  large  three  story  frame 
house  and  christened  it  the  "Bassenheim."  It  was  built  in 
imitation  of  a  German  castle,  the  main  portion  being  three 
stories  high.  There  were  two  porches  in  front,  one  above  the 
other,  with  two  bow  windows.  The  front  door  was  reached  by 
a  long  flight  of  steps.  The  house  had  two  wings,  each  two 
stories  high.  The  roof  of  the  main  part  was  flat  and  sor- 
rounded  by  a  railing.     There  were  many  out-buildings  of  var- 


*  Her  baptismal  name  was  Freclerice  Wilhelmina.  It  was  changed 
to  Zelia  on  account  of  a  little  story  which  she  wrote  when  a  child, 
in  which  the  principal  character  was  named  Zelia.  Her  parents  were 
so  much  pleased  that  they  began  to  call  her  Zelia  and  continued  it. 


THE  PA88AVANT  FAMILY.  21 

ious  and  curious  shapes.  The  whole  villa  lying  half  hid  by  the 
large  trees  made  a  strange  and  romantic  impression.  Mr. 
Basse  had  laid  out  a  road  from  Bassenheim  through  the  woods 
to  the  village.  This  antique  and  interesting  house,  a  landmark 
for  the  regions  round  about,  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1842. 

As  Mr.  Basse  had  a  knowledge  of  the  use  of  simple  drugs, 
he  often  prescribed  for  the  ailments  of  his  neighbors  and  was 
familiarly  called  Dr.  Basse.  As  he  built  and  operated  the  first 
grist  and  saw  mill,  he  was  also  called  Dr.  Miller.  He  brought 
the  first  merino  sheep  to  Western  Pennsylvania.  People  came 
from  the  eastern  states  to  purchase  them  at  enormous  prices.  Mr. 
Basse  also  built  and  operated  the  first  furnace  in  these  parts, 
called  the  Bassenheim  furnace,  in  which  pigiron  was  manu- 
factured and  pots,  kettles  and  flatirons  were  cast. 

Mr.  Basse  was  noted  for  his  fine  appearance  and  attractive 
manners.  He  finally  returned  to  Germany  in  1818  and  died 
June  19th,  1836,  in  Mannheim  where  he  was  also  buried.  Could 
the  story  of  his  life  in  America  be  written,  it  doubtleSs  would 
be  romantic  and  interesting. 

We  return  now  to  Philip  Louis  (Ludwig)  Passavant.  Mr. 
Basse  had  consented  to  let  him  have  his  daughter  Zelia  on  con- 
dition that  the  young  couple  would  return  with  him  to  America 
and  occupy  and  manage  the  Bassenheim  estate. 

After  a  hard  and  tempestuous  voyage  of  nearly  four 
months,  they  arrived  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  where  they 
were  hospitably  entertained  in  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Wallace. 
Here  a  warm  friendship  sprang  up  between  the  young  Mrs. 
Passavant  and  Miss  Eliza  Wallace.  In  a  letter  to  Miss  Wallace 
of  Jan.  8,  1808,  Mrs.  Passavant  describes  the  hardships  of  the 
five  weeks  overland  journey  by  wagon  from  Burlington  to 
Zelienople;  also  her  impressions  of  the  lonely  settlement,  the 
unfinished  buildings  of  Bassenheim,  the  primitive  mode  of  liv- 
ing— so  devoid  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  to  which  she  had 
been  accustomed  all  her  life.  On  the  first  morning  after  their 
arrival,  they  found  their  bed  covered  with  snow.  She  had  been 
accustomed  to  have  all  the  servants  she  needed.  Here  she  had 
to  bake  her  own  bread  and  make  her  own  clothes.  In  her  lone- 
liness, and  isolation  from  kindred  spirits,  ^he  shed  many  bitter 
tears  in  secret.  Before  her  brave  husband  she  kept  up  a  cheer- 
ful appearance  and  encouraged  him  in  his  pioneer  work  of 
finishing  the  house  and  mill  and  other  buildings.  To  Miss  Wallace, 
Mrs.  Passavant  also  writes  feelingly  of  her  loneliness  on  account 


22  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

of  the  lack  of  the  kind  of  society  in  which  she  had  always  moved. 
Pier  confidential  and  loving  correspondence  with  Eliza  Wallace 
was  kept  up  for  ten  years.  It  gives  a  deep  insight  into  the 
heart,  character  and  life  of  this  noble  and  gifted  woman.  It 
shows  iher  devotion  and  helpfulness  to  her  manly,  energetic, 
thrifty  and  pious  husband.  It  brings  out  her  loving  care  and 
scrupulous  training  of  her  children  and  her  wholesome  in- 
fluence over  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact.  In  the  midst 
of  her  cares  and  privations,  she  kept  herself  well  informed 
and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  stirring  events  in  her  Father- 
land. 

For  a  time  she  kept  a  weekly  journal  concerning  the  con- 
duct and  behavior  of  her  children.  This  it  seems  she  would 
read  to  the  children  on  Sundays.  It  is  full  of  the  most  mother- 
ly solicitude  for  the  developing  character  and  tendencies  of 
each  child.  Most  earnestly  and  affectionately  does  she  warn, 
counsel,  admonish,  entreat  and  encourage  her  dear  children. 
She  speaSs  of  their  forgetfulness,  thoughtlessness,  unkindness 
toward  each  other  and  occasional  disobedience  to  herself.  She 
reminds  them  of  their  advantages,  of  her  pains  and  privations 
in  their  behalf  and  of  her  heart's  desire  that  they  might  learn 
early  to  curb  the  evil  propensities,  to  cultivate  the  good  and 
to  grow  up  into  such  men  and  women  as  she  would  have  them. 
She  speaks  of  her  reading  to  them  from  the  New  Testament 
and  of  teaching  them  the  hymns  which  she  loved,  and  regretted 
their  lack  of  interest  in  these  things.  She  was  a  true  mother  in 
Israel,  a  follower  of  Hannah  and  Elizabeth  and  Mary  and  Eunice. 
No  wonder  that  her  praise  was  in  the  gates  and  that  all  her  child- 
ren rose  up  afterwards  and  called  her  blessed. 

Philip  Louis  Passavant  was  for  years  the  most  influential 
citizen  of  Zelienople.  He  was  the  first  merchant  in  the  place. 
Bringing  some  goods  with  him  in  1807,  he  built  a  store  and  con- 
tinued it  until  1848  when  he  sold  it  to  his  son  C.  S.  Passavant 
whose  son  until  a  few  years  since  continued  the  Passavant 
store.  Philip  Passavant  gave  the  land  for  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  called  the  Stone  Church,  which  was 
the  first  church  built  in  Zelienople  and  which  is  still  used  by 
the  congregation.  It  was  built  in  1826.  Before  this  the  congre- 
gation which  was  organized  in  1821,  had  met  in  the  town  hall 
or  school  house.  Mr.  Passavant  gave  the  stone  and  furnished 
much  of  the  labor.  He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  and  con- 
tinued all  his  life  one  of  the  most  active  workers  and  the  most 


THE  PASSAVANT  FAMILY.  23 

liberal  supporter.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Schweitzerbarth  was  tbe  first 
pastor  and  remained  for  thirty  years.  Mr.  Passavant  acted  as 
agent  for  the  disposal  of  the  land  of  the  Basse  estate.  He 
bought  for  himself  the  tract  on  which  the  town  now  stands. 
He  died  in  Zelienople  in  1853  and  was  buried  in  the  church- 
yard which  he  had  presented  to  the  Lutheran  Church  .  He  and 
his  good  wife  are  held  in  grateful  remembrance  for  their  simple 
and  unaffected  piety,  their  kindness  and  charity  to  the  poor, 
and  their  constant  efforts  for  the  culture  and  improvement  of 
the  community.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Passavant,  the  subject  of  this 
biography,  always  maintained  that  the  divine  favors  vouch- 
safed to  him  were  largely  due  to  the  blessing  of  God  for  the 
piety  and  goodness  of  his  parents  which  God  remembers  and 
covenants  to  children  and  to  children's  children. 


24  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    CHILDHOOD     OF    WILLIAM    A.    PASSAVANT.— 
HIS  MOTHER'S  INFLUENCE. 

Oct.  9,  1821,  William  Alfred  Passavant  was  born,  in  the 
Bassenheim  home.  He  was  the  third  son  born  in  the  house.  The 
oldest,  Detmar  Philip,  was  born  in  1813,  and  the  second,  Sid- 
ney, in  1816. 

Of  William's  boyhood  we  know  little.  That  he  was  lively, 
from  the  beginning  is  evident  from  the  scrap  of  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  his  mother  to  her  oldest  son  Detmar,  in  June,  1824: 

"Little  William  of  whom  you  beg  me  to  tell  you  is  making 
such  a  noise  about  me  that  it  is  hard  to  write  a  sensible  word. 
He  has  brought  the  tin  watering-pot  upstairs  on  which  he  is 
striking  with  a  stick  to  imitate  the  sound  of  his  favorite  in- 
strument, the  drum.  He  has  been  gratified  with  two  promo- 
tions since  you  left.  The  first  is  a  seat  at  table  in  the  dining- 
room:  the  second,  to  wear  pantaloons  on  a  Sunday.  When  he 
is  dressed  in  them,  and  walks  about  with  his  broad-brimmed 
straw  hat,  lined  with  green,  he  looks  too  sweet,  and,  I  believe 
thinks  himself  a  complete  gentleman.  At  table,  he  behaves 
likewise  much  better  than  I  expected  and  his  dear  little  prattle 
amply  compensates  for  the  unavoidable  trouble  he  gives.  In- 
deed, when  nobody  teases  him,  he  is  one  of  the  best  as  he  is  at 
all  times  one  of  the  most  engaging  of  children.  How  cruel,  how 
sinful,  would  it  be  to  spoil  his  temper  by  constant  and  unneces- 
sary irritation,  and  yet  do  I  know  persons  who  pretend  to  love 
him  and  cannot  be  deterred  from  following  this  injudicious  line 
of  conduct  whenever  they  have  an  opportunity." 

A  month  later  she  wrote:  "Dear  little  Will  is  still  the  best 
of  boys  when  he  is  alone  with  me.  His  prattle  is  so  affectionate 
and  engaging  that  it  is  impossible  not  to  be  delighted  with  him, 
but  where  he  believes  himself  less  constrained,  he  shows  a  very 
passionate  and  imperious  disposition  and  one  of  the  most  dar- 
ing boldness.  The  little  creature  is  afraid  of  nothing.  Yester- 
day evening  he  made  his  escape  unperceived  through  the  store 
into  the  street  and  walking  up  to  Mr.  Beltzhoover's  large  horse 
he  seized  it  by  the  tail!    It  is  a  wonder  to  me,  and  an  evident 


ZELIE  BASSE  PASSAVANT 


Pi-IILLIPPE  LOUIS  PASSAVANT 


CHILDHOOD  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT.  25 

truth  that  children  have  their  guardian  angel  watching  over 
them,  that  he  was  not  dashed  to  pieces.  Every  day  he  is  ex- 
posing himself  to  danger  in  some  shape  or  other  by  his  extreme 
fearlessness. ' ' 

Again  four  months  after  this,  she  writes:  ''Willie,  whom 
I  asked  just  now  what  I  should  write  to  his  'Detta,'  wishes  to 
tell  you  'that  he  is  a  good  boy' — which,  however  you  ought  not 
to  believe  too  implicitly.  When  he  is  good,  he  is  indeed  most 
engagingly  so,  but  there  is  many  a  storm  and  shower  produced 
by  the  quickness  of  his  passions,  which  will  require  constant 
attention- and  firmness  to  curb  and  control." 

These  are  all  the  notices  of  the  boy  that  we  have  from  her 
pen.  As  we  shall  find  as  we  proceed  with  our  story,  Mrs.  Passa- 
vant  was  an  unusually  gifted  and  interesting  letter  writer  .  If 
we  could  have  access  to  the  letters  she  wrote  during  William's 
childhood,  we  should  doubtless  have  a  vivid  and  satisfactory 
account  of  that  promising  child. 

In  the  letters  that  William  wrote  to  his  mother  from  col- 
lege and  in  the  journal  that  he  kept  during  his  Seminary  years, 
he  calls  to  mind  the  maternal  monitions  and  his  own  private 
derelictions.  Like  David  he  cried,  "Remember  not  the  sins  of 
my  youth  nor  my  many  transgressions. ' '  Under  her  watchful  eye, 
W^illiam  grew  up  in  that  quiet,  cultured  and  Christian  home. 
The  town  was  a  small  country  village.  His  father  kept  the 
only  store.  The  country  round  about  was  largely  an  unbroken 
forest.  Its  shades  were  full  of  game  and  its  stream  abounded 
in  fish.    Settlers  were  few  and  lived  in  the  most  primitive  style. 

In  this  region,  unspoiled  of  its  natural  beauty,  his  sus- 
ceptible spirit  drank  in  that  love  of  nature  which  remained  with 
him  throughout  life.  He  always  loved  the  country.  The  strength 
of  its  hills,  the  uplift  of  its  trees,  the  life  of  its  winds,  the 
music  and  sparkle  of  its  streams,  its  bloom  and  beauty  and 
birdsongwere  always  a  delight.  How  often  did  we  not  see  the  tired 
man,  in  after  years,  unbend  and  unburden  himself,  as  he  stood 
or  sat  on  a  hilltop,  porch  or  log  and  drank  in  the  ins'piration 
of  the  forest,  field  and  flowing  stream !  How  he  would  look  up- 
on the  beauty  of  the  sunset  and  speak  of  the  greater  glories  and 
the  even  more  perfect  peace  on  the  other  side !  How  eloquently 
he  would  speak  of  the  goodness  of  God  and  how  the  peace  of  nat- 
ure would  inspire  lessons  of  trust  and  hope !  We  recall  an  inci- 
dent :  When  he  was  nearing  his  three  score  years,  we  assisted  him 
in  a  week's  Passion  and  Easter  services  on  the  banks  of  the  beau- 


26  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  PASSAVANT. 

tiful  Ohio.  In  visiting  the  primitive  and  spiritually  neglected 
settlers,  he  read,  prayed  with  them  and  admonished  them;  and 
then  preached  to  them  in  schoolhouses  and  private  homes  in  the 
evenings.  One  evening  after  a  day's  climbing  of  the  hills  and 
fences  and  after  evening  services,  we  heard  him  ask  a  young  lady 
of  the  house  where  we  were  stopping,  whether  she  would  get  up 
ejarly,  call  him  and  go  with  him  to  the  hills  to  gather  trailing 
arbutus.  Before  sunrise,  he  was  out  on  the  hills  with  her,  hunt- 
ing this  earliest  and  most  fragrant  of  spring  flowers. 

As  a  boy,  he  always  had  his  pets  in  the  barnyard  as  well 
as  in  and  near  the  house.  Even  in  after  years,  when  writing 
home,  he  would  inquire  concerning  the  little  ducks  and  chickens 
and  kittens.  When  we  would  call  upon  him  in  his  study  in 
Pittsburgh,  a  large  cat  would  generally  be  sleeping  on  the  rug 
before  the  fire  and  a  big  "Bismarck"  dog  would  frisk  with  him 
in  the  garden. 

There  was  as  yet  no  public  school  in  Zelienople,  as  the 
Common  School  Law  of  Pennsylvania  was  not  passed  until  1835. 
There  was  a  subscription  school  in  the  town  to  which  boys  and 
girls  of  the  neighborhood  from  far  and  near  came  for  their 
rudimentary  education.  Mrs.  Passavant  diligently  instructed 
her  children  at  home.  But  the  bright-eyed,  black-haired,  neatly- 
dressed  lad  also  attended  the  village  school  with  the  other  boys. 

Anthony  Beyer,  at  this  writing  eighty  years  old  and  still 
living  in  Zelienople,  went  to  school  with  little  William.  From 
him  a  few  of  the  reminiscences  here  recorded  have  been  ob- 
tained. Another  friend  and  schoolmate  was  G.  A.  Wenzel  who 
afterwards  attended  Jefferson  College  and  Gettysburg  Semi- 
nary with  him,  and  became  an  honored  Lutheran  minister  and 
a  lifelong  friend  and  helper.  George  Wenzel 's  first  recollection 
of  William  was  when  he  met  him  on  the  street  one  morning 
carrying  a  large  duck  under  his  arm.  ' '  Where  are  you  going  ? ' ' 
asked  George.  "Out  to  Fiedler's  to  trade  ducks,"  said  Willie. 
These  two  boys  afterward  attended  the  Bassenheim  Academy 
together.  This  was  a  private  school  on  a  part  of  the  Bassenheim 
estate,  about  three  fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  the  village.  It  was 
carried  on  under  the  auspices  of  the  Pittsburg  Presbytery  and 
combined  manual  training  with  classic  education.  Superin- 
tendent Saunders  gave  the  boys  a  chance  to  earn  their  board 
and  tuition  by  working  on  the  farm,  in  the  carpenter  shop  and 
in  the  blacksmith  shop.  The  average  attendance  at  the  Acad- 
emy was  about  sixty.     Young  Wenzel  who  used  to  plow  the 


CHILDHOOD  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT.  27 

fields  with  a  yoke  of  oxen,  often  amused  the  school  boys  and 
villagers  with  his  stentorian  calls  "Gee  Buck,"  "Haw  Berry." 
In  those  early  days,  Willie  Passavant  was  a  leader  among  the  vil- 
lage boys.  No  game  seemed  to  be  complete  without  him.  * '  Where 
is  Billy  Passavant?"  they  would  cry,  as  they  met  on  the  village 
green.  He  was  not  always  there.  His  watchful  mother  did 
not  allow  him  on  the  streets  after  dark.  She  always  knew  where 
her  boy  was.  A  leader  he  would  always  be.  His  mother  was 
once  asked  in  a  company  of  ministers  gathered  at  her  house, 
about  his  boyhood.  She  said,  "When  the  boys  play  soldier, 
Willie  always  wants  to  be  captain."  Was  this  a  premonition 
of  his  future  leadership  of  men?  Undoubtedly.  The  boy  that 
gets  into  the  lead,  if  otherwise  without  vicious,  impure  or 
treacherous  tendencies,  is  the  one  to  pick  out  for  a  minister,  who 
must  be  a  leader  of  men. 

After  Mr.  Passavant 's  death  there  was  found  among  his 
papers  a  little  book  in  his  mother's  own  hand,  containing  passages 
of  Scripture,  favorite  hymns,  prayers  of  her  own  composition, 
for  the  use  of  her  children  when  away  from  home,  whether  on 
a  visit  or  at  school. 

Several  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Passavant  stood  by  the 
grave  of  his  mother,  with  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Kribbs.  His  thoughts 
went  back  to  those  early  days  spent  under  her  watchful  and  lov- 
ing care.  He  spoke  of  her  kindness  to  the  poor,  recalled  how 
again  and  again  she  had  sent  him  as  a  lad  to  some  sick  or  poor 
family  in  the  town  or  country  with  baskets  of  preserves,  fruits, 
food,  clothes,  bedding  and  other  comforts.  There,  at  his  mother's 
grave,  Mr.  Passavant  acknowledged  that  those  early  errands  of 
mercy  had  their  influence  in  making  him  think  of  and  take  pleas- 
ure in  relieving  human  suffering  in  after  life. 

It  was  when  he  stood,  deeply  impressed,  before  a  Jewish 
Orphanage  in  London  erected  as  a  memorial  to  a  departed  wife, 
that  the  thought  came  to  him,  "Could  not  I  erect  an  Orphan's 
Home  as  a  memorial  to  my  good  mother?"  And  this  thought 
was  with  him  in  the  founding  of  those  blessed  asylums  and 
schools  for  bereft  little  ones.  He  also  ascribed  to  his  mother's 
influence  his  first  conscious  spiritual  impressions.  In  the  last 
number  of  the  Workman  before  his  death,  he  spoke  tenderly  of 
his  mother  and  of  her  influence  and  blessing  at  the  time  of  his 
confirmation. 


28  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 


CHAPTER  III. 

AT  COLLEGE. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen,  William  Passavant  was  ready  for  col- 
lege. As  there  was  no  good  Lutheran  college  west  of  the  Alle- 
gheny Mountains,  he  was  sent  to  Jefferson  College,  Canonsburg, 
Pa.  This  Presbyterian  institution  was  at  that  time  one  of  the 
best  colleges  in  the  land.  "The  students  were  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  States.  They  came  from  all  ranks,  vocations  and 
stations  of  life,  so  great  was  the  popularity  and  celebrity 
of  old  Jefferson  at  the  time.  They  were  of  all  ages,  from  fifteen 
to  fifty  years,  and  were  manly,  jovial,  practical  and  studious." 

The  college  had  had  for  presidents  such  able  scholars  and 
educators  as  Drs.  Andrew  Wylie,  Wm.  McMillan  and  Matthew 
Brown.  The  last  was  president  during  the  course  of  young 
Passavant  and  had  no  little  influence  in  molding  and  developing 
his  intellectual,  moral  and  spiritual  character. 

Other  men  who  became  prominent  in  the  Lutheran  Church 
received  their  college  training  here.  Among  them  we  mention 
Drs.  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  G.  A.  Wenzel,  Rev.  S.  K.  Brobst  and 
Rev.  J.  K.  Melhorn. 

Of  the  spirit,  influence  and  personnel  of  the  college  during 
the  years  of  Passavant 's  residence  there,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm. 
Speer  wrote  in  the  Memorial  Workman,  Nov.  22,  1894,  as  fol- 
lows: 

' '  The  college  life  of  Dr.  Passavant  gave  to  him  an  extraordi- 
ary  fervor  of  religious  character.  He  entered  it  while  there  re- 
mained in  the  more  advanced  classes  many  who  had  been  con- 
verted by  a  powerful  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Some  of 
the  members  of  these  classes  became  eminent  preachers  of  the 
Gospel,  instructors  in  literary  and  theological  institutions,  and 
others  became  foreign  missionaries.  At  the  same  boarding  house 
with  him  in  the  summer  of  his  sophomore  year,  1837-8,  were  the 
saintly  and  able  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  the  eminent  pioneer  of 
Presbyterian  missions  in  China;  Prof.  Robert  Patterson,  his 
lifelong  and  intimate  friend,  and  the  writer,  whose  life  has 
been  spent  in  foreign  missionary  labors  in  China  and  California 
and  in  home  missionary  and  educational  employments.     John 


—^^  jBBs:.-^  :2*c.-«sk.  * 


TPIE  PASSAVANT  HOMES     ';AD,  ZELIENOPL3.  PA. 


AT  COLLEGE.  29 

Lloyd  and  Hugh  A.  Brown,  also  missionaries  to  China,  and 
Wm.  L.  Richards,  son  of  the  missionary  who  was  born  in  the 
Hawaiian  Islands  and  died  after  some  years'  service  in  China, 
were  all  in  college  with  him.  Cyrus  Dickson,  the  fervent  Sec- 
retary of  the  Home  Missions  in  the  Presbyterian  Church;  John 
M.  Stevenson,  the  able  and  devoted  Secretary  of  the  American 
Tract  Society;  Frederick  A.  Muhlenberg,  the  learned  and  ear- 
nest Lutheran  preacher  and  professor  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  and  other  institutions,  and  sev- 
eral other  ministers  of  wide  and  just  reputation,  were  then  or  had 
recently  been  there.  The  savor  of  the  powerful  influence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  abode  in  many  hearts  and  lives. 

*'It  was  the  fervor,  the  consecration,  the  prayerfulness,  the 
willingness  to  go  forth  and  labor,  and  suffer,  if  needs  be,  wher- 
ever the  dear  Master  might  call  him,  which  came  with  that 
'shower  of  blessing,'  and  which  was  shared  in  such  associations, 
that  was  one  of  the  most  important  means  of  forming  the  sub- 
sequent character,  and  giving  its  extraordinary  energy  and  fruit- 
fulness  to  the  life  of  this  faithful  and  dear  servant  of  Christ. 

.  "While  in  college, Mr.  Passavant  taught  in  different  mission 
Sunday  schools,  especially  in  one  on  the  farm  of  the  Hon. 
John  H.  Ewing,  four  miles  distant,  on  the  road  to  Washington. 
His  memory  is  still  cherished  in  the  hearts  of  some  who  remem- 
ber his  loving  fidelity  and  earnest  instruction.  He  was  hearty, 
too,  in  amusements  which  were  innocent  and  healthful.  Thus 
he  maintained  the  vigor  and  elasticity  of  the  body  which  has 
served  him  so  well  in  his  laborious  and  long  life.  Our  little  com- 
pany, before  mentioned,  at  Jefferson  College,  were  mirthful  and 
affectionate,  and  never  quarreled  with  one  another.  We  took 
a  lifelong  interest  in  each  other's  course  and  success  in  our 
Master's  service." 

In  his  first  letter  from  college  to  his  mother.  May  7,  1836,  he 
speaks  of  the  journey  from  Zelienople  to  Canonsburg,  of  the 
first  impression  of  the  place,  of  his  boarding  in  the  family  of 
a  Seceder  minister's  widow,  and  of  joining  the  Franklin  Socie- 
ty,''because  it  was  the  largest,  the  best  and  the  most  respectable." 
He  tells  his  mother  that  he  "meditates  with  pleasure  on  those 
parents  who  are  surpassed  by  none  in  the  world  for  excellence 
of  piety  and  of  that  sister  whose  face  he  longs  to  see  and  of  the 
happy  home  which  he  has  left."  "Dear  mother,"  he  says,  "As 
we  cannot  see  each  other,  we  will  raise  our  voices  to  the  Al- 
mighty for  the  safety  of  each  other  and  that  God  will  protect 


30  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT.    • 

the  parents  as  well  as  the  children."  In  this  letter  he  speaks  of 
exploring  the  woods  and  finding  some  petrified  stumps  from 
which  he  loads  himself  with  relics.  In  another  letter  he  tells  of 
a  farmer  bringing  him  a  few  Indian  curiosities  and  of  asking 
a  friend  at  home  to  collect  all  the  relics  he  can  find  and  to  go 
to  "Billy  Watson's  for  a  stone  hatchet  which  he  has."  In  a 
subsequent  letter  he  says:  "It  was  very  hard  at  first  to  keep 
up  with  my  class  but  now  I  can  get  along  as  well  as  any  of  the 
others. ' ' 

In  a  letter  of  May  19,  he  speaks  of  the  wicl^dness  and  ex- 
travagance of  some  of  the  students.  "Dear  mother,"  he  says, 
"You  have  no  idea  of  the  wicked  conduct  of  some  of  the  students 
whose  confectionery  bill  is  sometimes  fiftj'  dollars  a  session.  I 
have  been  in  one  of  these  shops  once  and  have  been  invited  more 
than  twenty  times  to  drink  lemonade  and  eat  ice  cream,  but  once 
is  enough  for  me.  The  commands  of  Grod  and  my  parents  are  be- 
fore me  to  guide  me  through.  I  have  these  resolutions :  1,  Not  to 
go  to  any  shop  if  I  am  invited  or  not ;  2,  not  to  play  cards ;  3,  not 
to  read  novels  and  to  do  only  those  things  which  my  parents 
would  commend;  and  I  hope  that  I  may  succeed."  In  a  subse- 
quent letter  he  tells  his  mother  with  considerable  indignation  hoiv 
some  of  the  students  spend  more  money  for  sleigh-hire  than  would 
pay  the  tuition  for  a  term.  He  says;  "I  have  not  yet  been  out 
sleighing  and  do  not  expect  to  be,  since  it  is  more  delightful  to 
spend  my  pocket  money  in  mitigating  the  wants  of  two  old 
widows  who  live  in  a  cabin  near  our  fort,  than  to  engage  in 
those  vain  pleasures  which  gratify  but  a  moment  and  leave  a 
bitter  taste  behind. ' '  On  the  death  of  a  student 's  mother  he  writes : 
"Oh,  cannot  we  say  with  truth,  'Thy  mercies  unto  us  are  great, 
0  God,  and  Thy  ways  past  finding  out. '  '  Surely  mercy  and  good- 
ness have  followed  us  all  the  days  of  our  life  ? '  "  His  letters  show 
scrupulous  economy  in  expenditures;  he  frequently  walked  be- 
tween Pittsburg  and  Canonsburg  to  save  coach  fare.  All  through 
his  college  course  he  sent  to  his  parents  itemized  reports  of  his 
expenditures.  From  subsequent  letters,  it  is  clear  that  he  con- 
fided everything  to  his  parents  and  had  no  secrets.  His  life  was 
as  open  as  a  book.  He  wrote  home  every  week.  All  his  letters 
breathe  affectionate  devotion  and  submission. 

In  a  letter  to  his  mother,  Nov.  30,  he  tells  how  he  spends  his 
day:  "I  rise  at  five,  study  and  fix  my  room  till  seven,  take 
breakfast  and  have  prayers  at  eight,  commence  and  study  till 
one  o'clock  dinner,  at  two  go  to  recitation  and  then  do  work  in 


AT  COLLEGE.  31 

a  carpenter  shop  one  hour,  take  supper  at  six,  have  prayers  after 
supper,  read  until  ten  and  then  go  to  bed.  Have  been  working 
daily  with  a  carpenter  and  have  learned  considerable  in  the  art. 
He  offers  me  eighteen  and  one  quarter  cents  a  piece  for  the  mak- 
ing of  fifty  coal  boxes  which  I  could  do  this  winter  by  working 
one  hour  daily.  I  could  finish  one  in  two  hours  and  it  would  be 
a  source  of  much  amusement  as  well  as  good  exercise  for  me. 
As  yet,  I  have  not  made  up  my  mind,  nor  shall  I  until  I  have 
heard  your  opinion  on  the  subject." 

Before  Christmas  he  wrote  a  letter  of  confession  to  his  par- 
ents. He  says:  "My  dear  father  and  mother;  My  beloved  par- 
ents, I  hasten  again  to  beg  my  Christmas  gift  as  I  have  done  ever 
since  I  can  remember.  A  gift  not  as  I  have  formerly  asked  but 
for  one  which  will  comfort  my  soul.  For,  reviewing  my  past  life 
since  the  time  when  I  could  distinguish  right  from  wrong,  good 
from  evil  for  the  first  time,  I  weep  and  fear  the  vengeance  of  the 
just  God  as  I  remember  the  innumerable  acts  of  unkindness  and 
unthankfulness,  of  ingratitude,  of  headstrongness,  of  open  defi- 
ance to  your  commands;  or  when  my  mind  reverts  to  later  days 
I  find  the  same  long  list  of  sins  committed  against  my  par- 
ents, against  those  who  have  labored  during  their  lives  for  my 
support  and  those  who  have  passed  many  a  sleepless  night  on 
my  account :  those  who  have  watched  and  prayed  for  my  safety 
during  fifteen  long  years  of  my  life  and  have  undergone  so  many 
bodily  privations  for  me  during  my  infancy.  I  have  longed  to  fall 
on  my  knees  and  ask  your  forgiveness  for  every  pang  that  I  have 
caused  your  hearts.  Every  unkind  look  I  have  given  you,  every 
unkind  word  I  have  uttered  against  you  has  given  me  the  sin- 
cerest  sorrow.  Every  remembrance  of  ingratitude  has  awakened 
repentance  and  remorse  in  me,  and  now,  0  best  of  parents,  I  ask 
a  forgiveness  for  all  my  ingratitude  to  you,  hoping  that  when  I 
have  received  your  pardon  my  mind  will  be  at  ease  and  my  con- 
science will  be  at  rest.  I  also  thank  you  for  the  example  you 
have  given  me  and  the  instruction  in  religious  things.  Remember 
me  in  your  prayers.    Farewell,  dear  parents,  forget  not  your  son, 

W.  A.  Passavant." 

His  mother  answered:  ''As  for  the  'forgiveness'  you  ask,  do 
you  not  know,  my  beloved  child,  the  hearts  of  parents  are  such 
that  offences  are  forgotten  as  soon  as  repented  of  and  my  mem- 
ory recalls  nothing  at  the  end  of  this  year  but  proofs  of  affection 
and  obedience  from  my  o\\ti  dear  Willy."  She  also  sends  him  a 
sermon  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henkel. 


32  TEE  LIFE  OF  TF.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

It  appears  that  during  the  season  of  special  spiritual  inter- 
est in  the  college,  William  with  many  of  the  students  was  deeply- 
moved.  All  those  who  had  been  thus  awakened  were  invited  to 
commune  in  the  Presb^i:erian  Church  and  Passavant  also  took 
part  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Altar.  IMarch  25,  1837,  Dr.  Brown, 
president  of  the  college,  wrote  to  William's  father  as  follows; 
"The  students  at  college  who  give  evidence  of  piety  are  admitted 
to  commune  and  partake  of  the  Lord's  Supper  together,  with  the 
distinct  understanding  that  this  is  not  to  interfere  with  the 
church  communion  with  the  particular  denomination  to  which 
they  belong  or  may  afterwards  choose  to  be  connected."  About 
the  same  time  his  mother  had  written  him  as  follows :  ' '  Dearly 
beloved,  your  letter  which  has  just  arrived  relieved  our  minds 
from  great  uneasiness  as  we  could  explain  your  silence  only  by 
your  being  either  sick  or  too  distressed  by  religious  feelings  to 
write.  I  am  happy  to  see  that  you  are  willing  to  pursue  the  only 
way  by  which  the  Scripture  and  reason  warrant  us  to  hope  for  an 
assurance  of  pardon  'by  the  use  of  the  appointed  means' — and 
that  you  are  willing  to  show  yourself  openly  on  the  Lord's  side 
by  joining  His  church  on  earth.  The  most  suitable  opportimity 
is  offered  you  for  doing  so — in  March  when  Rev.  Schweitzerbarth 
will  hold  as  you  know  a  confirmation  here  for  which  the  chil- 
dren are  now  being  instructed  .  Anxious  that  these  lines  should 
be  sent  off  to-morrow  I  have  no  time  now  to  speak  with  him,  but 
am  certain  that  he  will  most  willingly  admit  you  with  the  rest, 
provided  you  are  able  to  answer  the  questions  in  your  Lutheran 
Catechism,  at  least  as  far  as  the  Commandments,  the  Creed  and 
the  Lord's  Prayer  which  you  have  quite  sufficient  time  to  learn 
yet.  By  this  means  you  will  belong  to  the  same  church  to  which 
your  parents,  brothers  and  sisters  belong.  If  you  should  become 
a  minister  you  would  have  a  wide  field  of  usefulness  before  you 
in  our  neglected  Zion  and  this  will  be  much  better  than  to  take 
your  Sacrament  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  then,  when  you 
must  look  on  yourself  as  an  admitted  member  there,  have  again 

to  undergo  confirmation  as  a  form  of  admittance If  you 

leave  Canonsburg  on  the  seventeenth,  spend  the  nineteenth, 
which  is  Sunday,  with  your  brother  Sidney  in  town,  you  can 
come  out  together  in  the  stage  and  we  will  all  be  able  on  Easter 
Sunday  to  take  the  Sacrament  together.  What  think  you,  dearest, 
of  this  delightful  plan  ?  Answer  me  immediately  that  I  may  ac- 
quaint your  brother  with  it  and  speak  with  ]Mr.  Schweitzerbarth. 
Meanwhile  apply  to  your  catechism  with  all  diligence,  and  con- 


AT  COLLEGE.  33 

tinue  to  pray  to  your  heavenly  Father  that  you  may  be  steadfast 
and  that  He  would  grant  you  the  Spirit  of  all  grace. ' ' 

He  came  home  as  his  mother  desired  but  after  due  consulta- 
tion, he  preferred  to  postpone  his  confirmation  until  Pentecost 
in  order  that  he  might  be  better  prepared.  This  marks  an  import- 
ant epoch  in  his  spiritual  life. 

Among  his  old  papers  we  find  this  intensely  interesting  ac- 
count of  his  religious  experience  at  college  about  this  time.  The 
paper  is  so  old  and  faded  that  it  is  scarcely  legible.  It  reads  like 
a  confession  of  Augustine,  of  Luther,  or  of  John  Bunyan.  It 
shows  that  the  young  student  did  not  rightly  understand  the  pre- 
cious doctrine  of  justification  by  faith.  Had  he  had  a  Lutheran 
spiritual  adviser,  such  as  he  himself  afterwards  became,  his 
heart-rending  struggles  and  anguish  would  have  been  spared 
him.  The  old  paper  throws  such  light  on  the  deep  sincerity  and 
earnestness  of  his  inner  spirit  and  life  at  this  early  age  that  we 
cannot  forbear  giving  it  all  just  as  he  wrote  it. 

' '  On  Saturday  afternoon  while  sitting  in  my  room  at  the  col- 
lege an  intimate  friend  and  classmate,  Hugh  A.  Bro'v^Ti,  paid  me  a 
visit.  This  faithful  servant  of  Jesus,  like  his  Master,  'went 
about  doing  good'  and  had  spoken  to  me  on  the  subject  of  relig- 
ion on  several  occasions  before.  The  previous  Saturday  he  had 
given  me  a  tract  entitled,  'Are  You  Ready,'  and  he  inquired 
about  it  immediately  after  he  entered  my  room.  I  went  to  my 
desk  and  having  found  it  returned  it  to  him  thanking  him  kindly 
for  the  loan  of  it,  while  to  speak  the  truth  I  had  never  looked  at 
it  before  and  had  forgotten  that  he  had  requested  me  to  read  it. 
He  took  a  seat  beside  me  and  with  a  solemnity  which  quite  over- 
came me,  asked:  'And  are  you  indeed  ready  for  death?'  I  an- 
swered: 'I  fear  not.'  He  then  spoke  on  this  subject  for  a  few 
moments  with  the  tenderest  affection  and  requested  permission 
to  pray  with  me  before  he  left.  We  knelt  down  together  and 
while  he  prayed  such  a  sense  of  my  sin  came  upon  me  that  I 
burst  out  in  tears  after  he  had  departed.  I  read  the  tract  with 
tears  and  strong  cries  and  so  great  was  the  sense  of  my  danger 
that  I  almost  feared  the  earth  would  open  and  swallow  me  up. 
All  my  carelessness  and  indifference  were  now  over  and  I  could 
think  of  nothing  else  but  how  I  might  secure  the  salvation  of  my 
soul.  Though  particularly  careful  to  conceal  my  anxiety  from 
others,  it  was  soon  discovered  that  something  was  the  matter 
and  some  formal  and  lukewarm  professors  of  religion  often  ques- 
tioned me  '  If  I  were  sick. ' 


34  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

' '  Of  the  nature  of  my  feelings  at  this  time  I  can  speak  cor- 
rectly when  I  say  that  it  was  only  a  general  anxiety  about  my 
salvation  and  the  sense  of  such  a  heavy  load  pressing  me  to  the 
earth.  Of  sorrow  for  individual  sin  I  knew  nothing,  and  of  the 
way  to  escape  from  wrath  to  come  still  less.  In  looking  back  I 
find  that  I  was  in  the  greatest  ignorance  and  spiritual  blindness 
of  heart  and  when  I  pass  along  my  Christian  course  I  am  led  to 
adore  the  tender  compassion  of  God  who  led  me  step  by  step  un- 
til the  way  became  plain  and  bright  to  me.  If  I  recollect  aright, 
I  remained  in  a  state  of  doubt  and  anxiety  and  darkness  for  over 
two  months.  During  this  time  my  unbelief  was  at  times  so 
great  and  so  sorely  was  I  buffeted  of  satan  that  I  even  doubted 
my  own  existence  and  so  violent  were  the  assaults  of  the  devil 
that  I  would  cast  myself  in  despair  on  the  floor  and  cry  out,  '0 
my  God,  let  me  not  be  tempted  above  w'hat  I  can  bear.'  Prayer 
was  the  only  w^ay  to  find  relief  and  often  I  would  kneel  down 
in  anguish  inexpressible.  I  would  rise  up  with  all  my  doubts 
gone.  I  greatly  needed  the  counsel  of  some  experienced  Christian 
friend  during  this  long  season  of  midnight  to  my  soul.  Though 
a  number  of  Christian  friends  spoke  with  me,  not  one  ever 
pointed  out  the  way  to  Jesus,  even  by  faith  in  Christ.  However 
much  I  prayed,  I  did  not  seem  to  come  near  the  Savior  or  to 
gain  any  knowledge  of  the  way  in  which  I  was  to  come  to  Him. 
My  anxiety  all  this  time  was  very  great  in  behalf  of  my  im- 
penitent friends.  God  alone  know^s  how  often  I  retired  to  the 
fields  to  pray  for  my  impenitent  companions.  I  could  have  em- 
braced the  whole  world  in  the  arms  of  my  love  and  warned  them 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  One  evening  I  w-ent  to  the  room 
of  a  former  companion  in  sin  in  search  of  one  for  whom  my  soul 
was  in  travail.  Here  the  brandy  bottle  was  produced  and  offered 
to  me.  I  left  the  room  in  horror  and  on  my  road  home  poured 
out  my  soul  in  behalf  of  my  sinful  and  careless  companions.  As 
I  walked  along  and  looked  about  over  the  face  of  nature  I 
thought  of  the  goodness  of  God  and  felt  a  drawing  of  my  heart 
to  the  Savior  which  made  a  calm  within.  My  load  of  sin  was 
quietly  removed  and  I  felt  it  no  more.  I  could  not  doubt  the 
change  and  ran  home  to  tell  a  Christian  brother  what  the  Lord 
had  done  for  my  soul.  We  knelt  down  together  and  returned 
thanks  to  the  Lord.  The  Bible  now  appeared  a  new  book  and 
in  a  few  weeks  I  learned  more  of  its  precious  truths  than  I  had 
during  the  fifteen  years  of  my  life." 


AT  COLLEGE,  35 

Fifty  years  later  his  classmate  the  Rev.  Dr,  H.  A.  Brown 
by  request  wrote  this  reminiscence :  ' '  JNIr.  Passavant  was  a  Frank 
and  I  a  Philo  and  our  boarding  places  were  never  close  together, 
so  that  our  intimacy  was  not  close  till  after  he  became  deeply 
interested  in  religion.  In  one  or  more  of  his  letters  he  spoke 
of  me  as  his  'Spiritual  Father,'  alluding  to  the  influence  I  had 
in  bringing  him  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  Christ.  That  happened 
in  this  way.  I  was  taking  a  walk  for  exercise  one  winter's  day 
and  called  by  the  way  at  his  room  at  Tusculum.  I  was  a  young 
Christian  then  myself,  but  was  moved  to  speak  to  him  on  the  sub- 
ject of  personal  religion  and  I  think  left  a  tract  with  him.  This 
appears  to  have  been  the  beginning  of  his  religious  life ;  although 
he  once  wrote  me,  (there  must  be  several  of  his  letters  now  mis- 
laid,) that  he  traced  the  commencment  of  his  spiritual  life  to 
his  mother's  influence." 

On  Christmas  1837,  Gottlieb  Bassler,  then  a  student  in 
Pennsylvania  College  at  Gettysburg  and  afterwards  an  intimate 
friend  and  co-worker,  wrote  him  this  letter:  "Having  had  some 
intimation  (for  I  will  speak  plainly  and  truly)  that  your  mind 
has  been  somewhat  directed  to  the  subject  of  Christian  ministry 
and  looking  abroad  upon  the  great  harvest  field  of  the  world 
and  seeing  that  even  at  this  day  we  are  constrained  to  repeat 
the  words  of  Christ,  'The  harvest  truly  is  great  but  the  laborers 
are  few, '  I  have  been  induced  to  write  a  few  lines  to  you  on  this 
all-important  subject. 

"In  addressing  you  on  this  topic  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
you  are  fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  Christian 
religion.  This  being  the  ease,  I  would  ask  you  to  view  with  me 
the  great  want  of  suitable  men  to  proclaim  this  religion  to  perish- 
ing men.  Even  in  our  own  country,  which  is  called  a  Christian 
country,  thousands  do  not  hear  the  Gospel  preached.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  of  our  southwestern  states.  But  our  country 
is  merely  a  speck  on  this  globe,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  sunk 
in  heathenish  darkness  and  idolatry. ' '  In  another  letter  Bassler 
writes:  "You  are  acquainted  that  in  Gettysburg  I  have  lived 
in  a  club  for  the  last  few  years  for  the  sake  of  economy.  During 
this  time  our  club,  which  consisted  always  of  from  four  to  eight 
persons  and  two  to  four  rooms,  always  set  apart  an  hour  on 
Tuesday  evening  to  meet  together  for  the  purpose  of  praying 

for  the  conversion  of  our  fellow  students May  none  of  us 

use  the  Christian's  weapon  with  a  weak  or  palsied  arm,  neither 
let  us  fight  'as  one  that  beateth  the  air',  but  let  us  contend  in 


36  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

the  strength  of  Him  whose  weakness  is  stronger  than  our  strength 
and  may  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  breathe  upon  these  dry  bones  in 

this  valley  of  death I  hope  and  pray  that  whatever  I  may 

do  I  may  never  neglect  the  reading  of  God's  Holy  "Word  and 
prayer  every  morning  and  evening  of  my  life,  for  I  am  convinced 
that  whatever  other  knowledge  a  minister  may  possess  his  use- 
fulness in  the  cause  of  God  will  depend  very  much  upon  the 
knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  experimental  piety.  Pray  for  me, 
my  dear  brother  in  Christ,  that  God  may  make  'a  man  after  his 
o^\^l  heart'  of  me  and  make  me  abundantly  useful  in  his  cause. 
And  my  hope  and  prayer  to  God  is  that  we  may  both  labor  in 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  and  do  something  for  his  honor  and 
glory."  From  this  it  appears  that  young  Passavant  had  not  yet 
fully  decided  on  his  life  work.  The  following  spring  Bassler 
wrote  him  again  to  urge  him  to  study  for  the  ministry. 

In  1838  he  informs  his  mother  that  he  is  attending  a  special 
class  in  German  taught  by  a  student,  G.  A.  Wenzel,whom  we  met 
as  a  boy  companion  at  Zelienople,  who  afterwards  became  pas- 
tor of  a  large  German  church  in  Pittsburg  and  Chaplain  of  the 
Pittsburg  Infirmary.  Passavant  complains  of  the  difficulty  of 
the  language.  He  has  trouble  with  the  gender  of  the  nouns  and 
with  the  article.  He  hopes  to  put  in  his  next  vacation  in  the 
study  of  German  and  is  very  eager  to  become  proficient  in  it. 
About  the  only  place  that  he  visited  socially  was  at  a  family 
named  Cummings.  Miss  Nancy  Cummings  seemed  determined 
to  show  him  special  favor,  'and  made  him  lug  home  a  bunch  of 
flowers  for  his  flower  pot,'  and  invited  him  to  go  mulberrying 
with  her.  Another  young  lady  sent  him  a  fine  hand-made 
watchguard. 

In  several  of  his  letters  he  speaks  deprecatingly  of  the 
controversies  in  the  Lutheran  Observer.  Aug.  14,  1838,  he 
tells  with  considerable  interest  of  receiving  the  first  number  of 
the  Lutheran  Kirchenzeitung.  He  says:  "Have  lately  received 
the  first  number  of  the  new  German  paper  styled  Lutherische 
Kirchenzeitung.  It  is  printed  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  by  Rev. 
F.  Schmidt  at  the  price  of  two  dollars  per  annum  and  I  rejoice 
to  tell  you  that  it  is  precisely  of  the  same  stamp  as  the  Observer. 
Do  you  not  think  it  would  be  an  advisable  thing  to  take  an 
Evangelical  paper  in  the  place  of  the  present  German  papers 
which  now  come  to  us?  It  would,  if  sent  to  me  after  being 
read  at  home,  be  of  great  assistance  in  advancing  my  progress 
in  the  German  language.     I  will  patiently  wait  to  hear  your 


AT  COLLEGE.  37 

opinion  in  your  next  letter. "  In  a  later  letter  he  speaks  of  re- 
ceiving the  paper  regularly  and  finding  great  pleasure  in  read- 
ing it,  of  handing  it  to  Prof.  Smith  and  securing  his  subscrip- 
tion. He  canvassed  the  town  of  Canonsburg  and  also  walked  to 
Washington  soliciting  subscriptions  for  the  paper.  On  one 
occasion  he  walked  all  day  and  came  back  to  college  utterly 
fatigued  after  having  obtained  five  subscriptions. 

It  was  during  these  canvassing  tours,  as  he  went  from  house 
to  house,  from  store  to  store,  and  from  shop  to  shop,  that  he 
found  two  young  German  journeymen,  the  one  a  tinker  and 
tTie  other  a  tailor.  Finding  both  of  them  intelligent  above  their 
companions,  sincerely  pious,  and  ardent  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  he  interested  himself  in  their  welfare.  Both  were  poor 
and  hungry  for  knowledge.  They  regretted  that  they  had  not 
been  able  to  get  a  better  education.  Young  Passavant  directed 
their  attention  to  the  spiritual  destitution  of  the  German  Luther- 
ans throughout  the  land.  He  awakened  in  them  a  desire  to  pre- 
pare for  the  ministry  and  arranged  for  and  aided  them  in  pre- 
paring for  the  holy  service.  One  of  these  was  S.  K.  Brobst  and 
the  other  M.  Schweigert.  Both  afterwards  became  eminently 
useful  ministers  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Both  did  important 
pioneer  mission  work.  Brobst  labored  among  the  Germans  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  Schweigert  did  the  work  of  an  evan- 
gelist in  the  neglected  settlements  of  Western  Pennsylvania. 

He  also  expresses  great  indignation  at  a  drinking  bout  among 
the  students,  is  horrified  at  their  carousing  and  profanity  for 
which  seven  were  expelled  from  college.  He  complains  that  four 
societies,  of  three  of  which  he  was  made  a  member  without  being 
consulted,  take  much  of  his  time  and  interfere  with  his  study 
and  reading.  He  was  at  this  time  reading  poetry,  biography 
and  travels.  He  also  complained  of  certain  of  the  students  who 
came  into  his  room  "to  loaf." 

In  one  of  his  letters  to  his  mother  he  is  greatly  exercised 
because  the  Franklin  Society  is  being  eclipsed  by  the  rival  Philo. 
His  mother  admonishes  that  the  Franklin  members  work  the 
harder  to  make  up  in  excellence  of  quality  what  they  lack  in  num- 
bers. She  was  in  every  way  competent  to  give  counsel  to  a  college 
student.  In  one  letter  she  speaks  of  some  useful  lessons  to  be 
learned  from  the  Life  of  Walter  Scott.  In  another  she  advises 
that  he  copy  into  his  Iliad  this  verse: 


38  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

De  PATEIA  HOMERI 

"Seven  different  towns,  fair  cities  of  the  earth, 
Heirs  for  the  fame  of  mighty  Homer's  birth; 
But  none  the  hard  contested  claim  can  prove — 
The  native  place  of  Homer  is  above." 

She  also  expresses  the  hope  that  William  will  succeed  in  his  de- 
bate with  young  Muhlenberg,  the  son  of  the  would-be  Governor 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  question  that  William  was  to  affirm  was 
"  Resolved,  That  there  is  more  profit  in  the  study  of  modern  than 
of  ancient  literature."  In  this  exciting  debate  Passavant  was 
declared  the  victor. 

In  another  letter  she  says :  * '  The  great  popularity  you  seem 
to  enjoy,  from  whatever  cause  it  may  proceed,  is  a  dangerous  en- 
joyment both  from  a  spiritual  and  an  intellectual  point  of  view. 
For  while  it  might  easily  'puff  you  up'  and  make  you  think  of 
yourself  'more  highly  than  you  ought  to  think,'  it  might  act  on 
your  mental  faculties  like  the  stimulus  of  a  hot-house  on  plants, 
causing  them  to  bud  and  expand  before  their  natural  time,  to 
the  detriment  of  the  soundness  of  the  stock.  Read  once  again 
the  extract  from  Newton  I  sent  you  to  Baltimore  on  this  subject. 
You  will  find  the  remarks  and  advice  it  contains  very  applicable 
to  your  present  situation." 

Mrs.  Passavant  frequently  gives  advice  on  historical  and 
general  reading.  Here  is  her  estimate  of  a  book  written  in  her 
later  years  when  it  was  beginning  to  attract  public  attention : 

"Mr.  Bassler  presented  his  wife  at  Christmas  with  a  book 
called  'The  Chronicles  of  the  Schoenberg-Cotta  Family.'  And 
she — kind  as  she  always  is — absolutely  insisted  that  I  should 
read  it  first.  It  is  a  romantic  narrative  but  embodies  in  a  very 
skillful  manner  all  the  circumstances  and  details  about  Luther, 
his  friends  and  his  work  with  which  history  has  acquainted  us. 
I  think  it  is  much  more  calculated  to  make  one  love  the  great 
Reformer  and  the  Lutheran  Church  than  will  ever  be  accom- 
plished by  the  angry  disputations  in  certain  religious  papers." 

William  received  many  letters  from  his  two  sisters.  Emma, 
the  older  one,  had  married  a  Presbyterian  minister  named  Jen- 
nings, a  very  amiable  and  worthy  man;  one  of  the  old  school, 
scrupulous,  scholarly,  dignified,  faithful  in  all  his  work  and  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  Emma  wrote  her  brother  many  good 
letters  breathing  affectionate  interest  and  full  of  sisterly  solici- 
tude. 


AT  COLLEGE.  39 

Virginia,  the  accomplished,  attractive  and  universally  ad- 
mired younger  sister,  also  wrote  frequently.  Her  letters  are  viva- 
cious and  full  of  tender  affection. 

His  oldest  brother,  Detmar,  had  spent  over  a  year  in 
Europe,  traveling  and  purchasing  goods  for  his  father's  store. 
His  home-coming  was  an  occasion  for  a  glad  family  reunion, 
in  the  fall  of  1837.  The  spirit  of  delightful  harmony  and 
cordial  affection  that  prevailed  in  the  Bassenheim  home  was 
indeed  remarkable  and  unusually  happy.  Parents,  brothers  and 
sisters  all  seemed  to  have  a  special  and  affectionate  interest  in 
the  college  student  and  in  all  his  affairs.  The  student  on  the 
other  hand,  amid  all  the  attractions  and  distractions  of  col- 
lege life,  never  failed  to  exibit  the  keenest  interest  and 
warmest  love  for  the  members  of  the  dear  old  home.  This  beau- 
tiful family  interest  and  devotion  lasted  through  all  his  life. 

William  was  an  unusually  bashful  boy.  On  on  occasion 
when  he  stopped  to  see  his  sister  Virginia,  who  was  attending 
Mrs.  Barlow's  Girls'  Boarding  School  in  Pittsburg,  he  was  in- 
vited to  stay  for  supper,  but  this  was  too  much  for  him.  He 
writes  to  his  mother:  "I  stayed  with  Virginia  a  shorter  time 
than  I  could  have  wished,  as  Mrs.  Barlow  went  into  the  kitchen 
to  hasten  the  supper,  which  so  frightened  me  when  I  thought 
of  all  those  girls  at  table,  that  I  hastily  bade  Virginia  adieu  and 
made  my  exit,  thinking  this  the  safest  way,  as  she  also  insisted 
that  I  stay  all  night." 

In  the  Autumn  of  1838  his  mind  was  turned  more  and  more 
toward  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  he  wrote 
to  his  friend  Bassler  for  information. 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  his  sister  Emma  in  Pittsburg, 
he  witnessed  the  burning  of  a  grist  mill.  On  learning  that  the 
owner  had  his  life's  savings  in  the  mill  and  that  he  was  now 
reduced  to  absolute  poverty,  his  sympathies  were  deeply  stirred. 
He  writes  to  his  mother:  "When  I  passed  the  smoking  ruins 
on  my  road  to  town,  and  saw  the  whole  group  of  helpless  chil- 
dren, and  one  poor  deformed  girl,  gazing  on  the  destruction  of 
their  all,  I  involuntarily  found  myself  open  my  pocketbook  in 
search  of  some  money.  But  my  old  selfish  propensity  was  fast 
gaining  on  me  when  I  cried, 'Now  or  never', and  forthwith  turned 
my  horse  to  the  house  and  deposited  a  three  dollar  note  in  the 
hands  of  the  grateful  mother,  telling  her  I  had  no  more.  I  well 
knew  that  so  small  a  sum  would  not  mend  their  misfortune  in 
any  essential  degree  but  I  felt  confident  that  the  sympathy  and 


40  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

pity  of  a  stranger  might  in  some  measure  alleviate  their  grief. 
After  leaving  the  house  which  I  did  immediately,  I  felt  as  one 
of  the  happiest  beings  in  the  world  and  have  often  thought  that 
I  would  not  have  forgone  that  hour  of  pleasure  for  a  week 
of  labor". 

In  1837  he  planned  and  partly  prepared  a  Lutheran  Alma- 
nac. He  submitted  his  plan  and  manuscript  to  a  Philadelphia 
publisher  who  refused  to  accept  it  because  there  were  already 
one  German  and  one  English  Lutheran  Almanac  in  the  field. 
"With  the  persistent  courage  which  was  one  of  his  most  marked 
characteristics  and  had  so  much  to  do  with  his  future  wonderful 
achievements,  he  prepared  a  new  manuscript  in  1839  and  sent  it 
on  to  the  same  publisher.  He  gave  explicit  directions  as  to  the 
attractive  style  in  which  he  wanted  it  published  and  that  his  name 
was  not  to  appear  in  any  way  in  connection  with  it.  To  both  of 
these  conditions  the  publishers  objected;  to  the  first,  because  it 
would  make  the  publication  too  costly,  to  insure  a  large  sale ;  to 
the  latter,  because  the  publisher  belonged  to  the  German  Re- 
formed Church  and  did  not  think  it  proper  to  appear  as  the 
author  of  a  Lutheran  Almanac.  And  so  the  second  attempt  at 
authorship  failed ;  but  as  we  shall  see,  Passavant  never  gave  up 
a  good  cause.  For  this  rejected  Almanac  he  had  written  the 
following  preface: 

"We  deem  every  apology  unnecessary  in  presenting  this 
Almanac  to  the  Lutheran  Public.  The  fact  that  the  great 
majority  of  our  members  were  unacquainted  with  the  institutions 
of  the  church,  was  a  sufficient  motive  to  induce  the  compiler  to 
the  publication  of  the  Lutheran  Almanac;  and  although  his 
means  of  obtaining  correct  information  were  but  small  and  the 
accounts  of  the  various  operations  of  the  church  deficient,  yet 
he  would  fondly  hope  that  all  who  are  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  our  Zion  will  make  their  utmost  endeavors  to  dispose  of  a 
number  of  copies.  Let  none  think  such  labor  beneath  their  notice, 
since  even  the  Almanac  exerts  a  great  influence  thus  for  weal  or 
woe  on  the  mass  of  the  community.  The  principal  part  of  the 
information  contained  in  the  Appendix  has  been  obtained  from 
the  bound  volumes  of  the  Lutheran  Intelligencer,  the  Minutes 
of  the  different  Synods  and  from  individuals;  but  principally 
from  the  files  of  the  Lutheran  Observer  since  its  commencement 
in  1831.  The  astronomical  observations  are  calculated  to  suit 
the  latitude  of  the  principal  cities  in  the  United  States.  As  the 
compiler  expects  no  pecuniary  compensation  for  his  labors  (since 


AT  COLLEGE.  41 

the  profits  are  devoted  to  the  Parent  Education  Society)  he 
hopes  that  notwithstanding  its  many  imperfections,  every  Luth- 
eran minister  will  feel  it  a  duty  to  procure  a  supply  for  those 
committed  to  his  charge.  Finally  if  his  Almanac  be  the  means 
of  diffusing  any  information  among  our  people  and  of  exciting 
their  interest  in  the  Literary  and  Benevolent  Institutions  of  our 
Church,  his  labors  in  preparing  this  Almanac  will  never  be  a 
source  of  regret  but  a  cause  of  exultation,  pleasure  and  joy.  The 
Compiler,  February  20th,  1839."  The  manuscript  contains 
carefully  prepared  statistics  of  these  thirteen  Synods:  Synod 
of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Western  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
Maryland,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina,  Synod  of  the  West, 
Eastern  District  Synod  of  Ohio,  Hartwick  Synod,  Western  Dis- 
trict Synod  of  Ohio,  English  District  Synod  of  Ohio,  Franckean 
Synod,  Sjoiod  of  Virginia.  The  statistical  summary  of  the  whole 
Lutheran  Church  in  the.  United  States  was : 

Ministers „ 268 

Congregations 711 

Communicants , 72,198 

Baptisms  for  the  year 1,222 

Confirmations 6,167 

Sunday  Schools 226 

Teachers 542 

Scholars 4,137 

Here  is  his  account  of  some  Sunday  School  work  that  he 
was  doing  in  1839:  "On  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  company  of 
three  other  students  I  attended  a  Sabbath  school  three  and  a  half 
miles  out  on  the  Washington  Road.  The  School  is  held  in  a 
little  brick  schoolhouse  on  Mr.  Ewing's  farm.  Miss  Ewing,  a 
very  fine  and  pious  young  lady,  is  one  of  our  teachers.  It 
contains  about  twenty  scholars  and  as  the  room  is  small,  the 
classes  of  boys  after  the  school  has  been  opened  go  to  a  grove 
just  near  and  sit  on  large  logs.  Singular  enough,  you  will  no 
doubt  say;  so  then,  dear  ]\Iamma,  you  may  know  that  every 
Sunday  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  I  am  hearing  a  Bible 
class  of  eight  members  on  a  big  log." 

With  some  of  the  students  young  Passavant  had  also 
started  a  praj^er-meeting  among  the  colored  people  in  Canons- 
burg  in  which  he  took  a  deep  interest  until  the  close  of  his 
college  course. 

His  interest  in  these  lowly  and  despised  children  of  Ham 
continued  through  life.       On  one  occasion  while  on  a  journey 


42  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

from  Baltimore  to  Pittsburg  on  the  Baltimore  and  Brownsville 
stage  coach  he  expected  to  take  the  steamboat  from  the  latter 
place  to  Pittsburg.  He  missed  the  boat  and  was  left  for  several 
days  in  Brownsville.  Naturally  tired  from  the  wearisome 
journey  he  might  have  rested,  but  instead  he  employed  his  time 
of  waiting  in  visiting  and  praying  with  the  colored  people  of  the 
town  and  preaching  to  them  every  evening  while  he  remained. 
On  another  occasion  at  a  synodical  meeting  in  Baltimore  he  was 
expected  to  preach  in  a  prominent  church  on  Sunday  evening. 
Finding  that  no  provision  had  been  made  for  preaching  to  the 
negroes  he  protested,  secured  a  substitute  for  the  large  white 
church,  and  went  himself  and  preached  to  the  colored  people. 
As  he  told  the  writer  years  afterward:  "We  had  a  great  shout 
in  the  camp  that  night."  He  was  a  lifelong  opponent  of  hu- 
man slavery  and  vigorously  used  his  voice  and  pen  for  emanci- 
pation. 

About  this  time  he  had  his  head  examined  by  a  visiting 
phrenologist.  He  reports  to  his  mother:  "As  everybody  had  his 
pate  felt  I  thought  I  might  see  how  much  truth  there  was  in  the 
system,  from  the  numbers  he  gave  me,  so  at  it  I  went.  He  told 
me  that  all  the  social  bumps  were  fully  developed;  that  I  had 
a  great  taste  for  poetry  and  everything  connected  with  romance, 
that  I  was  enthusiastic  in  my  affection  for  friends,  that  I  was 
an  aristocrat  by  nature,  proud  of  my  family  connections,  that 
I  would  make  a  good  preacher.  Lastly  he  told  me  that  I  re- 
sembled my  mother  more  than  my  father  which  is  undoubtedly 
true." 

In  the  autumm  of  1839  his  brother  Detmar  suddenly  died 
in  Pittsburg.  From  there  William  writes  thus  to  comfort  his 
mother:  "Ours  has  been  a  course  of  much  earthly  enjoyment 
and  now  since  the  rod  of  affliction  has  been  laid  upon  us  very 
sorely  it  is  without  doubt  to  wean  our  affections  from  earth  and 
place  them  on  objects  which  are  of  an  enduring  nature.  We 
know  that  whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chasteneth,  and  scourgeth 
every  son  whom  He  receiveth.  We  have  in  a  great  measure 
been  without  chastening  and  now  when  it  has  been  sent  us,  may 
God  in  mercy  enable  us  to  bless  the  rod  and  acknowledge  the 
hand  of  our  heavenly  Father.  Although  everything  wears 
such  a  gloomy  appearance  at  present,  yet  did  we  but  believe  it, 
'these  afflictions  which  last  but  for  a  moment  shall  work  out  for 
us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.'  We 
are  but  pilgrims  here  and  sojourners  in  this  world  and,  if  we 


AT  COLLEGE.  43 

are  to  go  through  the  furnace  of  affliction  here,  it  must  be  for 
the  purpose  of  cleansing  us  from  the  dross  and  corruption  of 
sin  so  that  we  may  come  out  refined  and  prepared  for  the  treas- 
ury of  Heaven.  0,  how  comforting  the  thought  that  'the 
Lord  reigneth,'  that  however  unfavorable  things  may  seem, 
everything  is  working  together  for  the  good  of  his  own  people. 
Let  us  look  to  that  kind  hand  which  has  supported  us  for  a  con- 
tinuation of  his  unmerited  mercies,  and  pray  that  as  we  can 
no  longer  all  meet  on  earth,  we  may  meet  and  dwell  together, 
a  beloved  family  circle  in  Heaven." 

In  the  same  letter  he  tells  her  that  he  has  been  to  the  court 
house  to  hear  the  Rev.  McCron  preach  to  the  little  flock  that  be- 
came the  First  English  Lutheran  Church  in  Pittsburg  and  of 
which  he  himself  afterward  became  pastor.  He  also  tells  her  that 
the  German  church  of  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Heyer,  who  afterwards  be- 
came the  veteran  missionary  to  India,  was  under  roof  and  would 
be  quite  a  neat  building. 

On  account  of  Detmar's  death,  William  was  kept  out  of  col- 
lege during  the  winter  of  1839 — 40.  The  letters  that  came  to 
him  from  "Old  Jeff"  show  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
pnd  the  void  caused  by  his  absence.  These  letters  also  give 
a  clear  insight  into  the  inner  life  of  the  college. 

Here  is  an  extract  from  the  Vice  President  of  the  Frank- 
lin Society.  "Sorry,  indeed,  am  I  that  we  cannot  now  as  in 
former  sessions  meet  together  at  our  daily  recitations;  but  let 
this  go — could  you  only  join  in  with  your  fellow  Franklins  on 
Friday  afternoon  all  would  be  well.  Pass,  I  miss  you  more 
than  anyone  of  the  Senior  Class;  little  did  you  think  last 
session  that  you  would  not  be  one  of  us  this  winter  and,  my  dear 
friend,  since  it  is  by  the  interposition  of  Divine  Providence  that 
you  are  not  among  us  this  winter,  I  will  not  complain;  still  I 
wish  you  would  come  on  again  in  the  spring  and  graduate  with 
the  present  Senior  Class,  with  the  members  of  which  you  are 
most  intimately  connected.    This  is  my  only  hope. '  * 

In  the  spring  of  1840,  Passavant  made  a  trip  to  Greens- 
burg  to  secure  subscriptions  for  the  "Kirchenzeitung"  and  the 
"Observer."  On  the  occasion  he  visited  the  grave  of  General 
St.  Clair  in  the  Presbyterian  graveyard.  He  expresses  his 
feelings  m  these  words:  "I  felt  the  most  singular  sensations 
when  I  stood  at  the  grave  of  this  great  man,  whose  name  had 
been  extolled  to  the  skies,  and  at  another  time  had  been  men- 


44  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

tioned  with  indignation.  Poor  man!  after  all  his  reverses  he 
died  a  miserable  drunkard  and  scarce  a  score  know  his  grave." 
Passavant  returned  to  college  at  the  beginning  of  the 
spring  term  in  1840.  He  had  studied  privately  during  the 
winter,  while  assisting  his  brother  Sidney  in  the  store  at  Pitts- 
burg, and  was  able  to  re-enter  and  go  on  with  his  class. 

During  his  Senior  year,  he  gathered  and  organized  a  Luth- 
eran Sunday  school  at  Pigeon  Creek,  fourteen  miles  from  Ca- 
nonsburg.       Starting  at  five  o'clock  on   Sunday  morning,  on 
horse  back  when  he  could  secure  a  horse,  on  foot  when  no  horse 
was  available,  he  was  at  his  place  every  Sunday  at  ten  thirty 
in  the  old  Bethlehem  Lutheran  Church.      He  wrote  to  S.  M.  G. 
Schmucker,  a  son  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker,  then  a  student  at 
Washington  College,  requesting  his  assistance.     Mr.   Schmuck- 
er replied:     "I    rejoice,    dear   brother,   that   in   this   neglected 
portion  of  God's  moral  vineyard  so  long  under  the  control  and 
influence   of   the   errors   of  Presbyterianism   and   Campbellism 
and  sundry  other  errors,  the  word  of  God  will  be  disseminated 
in  its  purity."     Mr.   Schmucker  regretted  that  he  could  not 
come  regularly,  as  he  had  but  recently  taken  up  a  class  in  the 
colored  Sunday  school  of  his  town.     He  promised,  however,  to 
come  and   help    whenever    possible.      To    his   mother,    "William 
gives  this  account  of  his  work:     "My   Sunday  school   in  the 
country  is  flourishing  as  well  as  could  be  expected.     On  the 
second  day  we  met,  our  number  was  one  more  than  twice  as 
great  as  on  the  first  Sabbath.     I  went  out  on  Saturday  after- 
noon for  the    two  last    times    and    scoured    the    country    from 
house  to  house  to  beat  up  recruits  and  was  utterly  surprised 
to  find  such  wild  and  uncouth  families  in  this  country  which 
has  been  settled  for  upwards  of  eighty  years.     At  one  house 
the  woman  seemed  about  half  savage  and  spoke  so  loud  that  it 
was  not  far  from  yelling  order.     One  of  the  little  boys  had  hair 
above  a  foot  and  a  half  long.    Never  was  I  more  convinced  that 
religion,  pure  and  undefiled,  is  the  very  best  means  of  elevating 
the  condition  of  our  fellow  men  to  the  rank  of  intelligent  be- 
ings. Such  is  the  kind  of  a  place  I  am  engaged  in  and  if  my 
weak  and  feeble  labors  will  tend  in  the  smallest  degree  to  im- 
prove the  condition  of  the  rising  generation  in  that  congrega- 
tion, they  are  entirely  welcome  to  them.  I  have  already  procured 
two  subscriptions  to  the  German  paper  and  I  expect  if  nothing 
happens  to  get  a  few  to  the  'Observer'." 

Many  years  after,  when  Dr.  Passavant 's  hair  was  silvery 


AT  COLLEGE.  45 

white,  we  heard  him  speak  with  great  interest  of  these  youth- 
ful journeys  and  labors.  He  would  recall  with  a  smile  how 
when  invited  to  dinner  at  a  stranger's  place,  his  bashfulness 
would  overcome  him  and  he  would  say,  "No,  thank  you,  I  am 
not  hungry"  and  how  he  would  try  to  appease  his  hunger  by 
eating  blackberries  along  the  way.  The  Rev.  J.  K.  Melhorn  of 
Pittsburg  writes  feelingly  of  these  labors  of  young  Passavant 
and  wonders  how  many  students  would  now  go  and  do  like- 
wise. Referring  to  his  Sunday  school  work,  his  mother  writes 
to  him:  "The  long  ride,  fatiguing  as  it  may  seem,  will  at  your 
age  and  during  the  fine  weather  be  more  of  a  pleasure  than  a* 
troable  and  prove  I  hope  conducive  to  your  health,  while  the 
consciousness  that  you  have  benefited  your  fellow  creatures 
will  be  a  lasting  enjoyment  to  your  soul.  May  the  good  seed 
which  you  are  sowing  spring  up  and  bear  fruit  a  hundred 
fold." 

Of  his  last  visit  to  the  school  he  speaks  thus  impressively 
in  a  letter  to  his  mother  dated  Sept.  3,  1840:  "You  may  well 
imagine  that  it  was  not  the  most  pleasant  thing  to  bid  farewell 
to  my  little  school  in  the  country,  especially  as  I  never  expect 
to  see  the  place  again.  During  the  summer  I  traveled  three 
hundred  miles  in  going  out  to  that  school  and  things  are  begin- 
ning to  look  a  little  brighter  than  when  it  was  commenced.  A 
prayer  meeting  has  been  established  and  is  making  no  little  stir 
in  the  neighborhood  and  the  room  where  it  is  held  is  generally 
filled.  This  is  the  first  thing  of  its  kind  ever  established  in  that 
congregation  and  I  trust  that  its  influence  may  be  felt  to  the 
salvation  of  souls."  In  the  same  letter  he  tells  his  mother  of 
his  class  examinations:  "Dear  mother,  agreeable  to  promise  I 
sit  down  to  answer  yours  of  the  fifteenth  of  last  month  and  am 
able  to  hail  you  as  a  'Bachelor  of  Arts'  from  my  headquarters 
at  Canonsburg.  Our  examination  closed  last  week  at  which 
time  I  got  off,  together  with  our  whole  class,  to  my  entire  satis- 
faction. So  then  we  are  done,  forever  done,  with  our  college 
studies!" 

His  commencement  oration  on  the  subject,  "The  Rela- 
tion of  Science  to  Religion,'*  was  enthusiastically  received  and 
occasioned  much  favorable  and  flattering  comment.  He 
wites  feelingly  of  his  taking  leave  of  his  room,  the  college,  the 
town,  the  teachers,  students  and  friends. 

His  college  days  were  over.  We  are  safe  in  saying  that  no 
student  left  behind  him,   among   professors,    students   and  citi- 


46  THE  LIFE  OF  TT.  A.  PASS  AY  AST, 

zens,  more  admirers  and  warmer,  closer  friends  than  did  "William 
Passavant. 

After  his  death,  his  classmate,  Hugh  A.  Brown,  wrote  to 
D.  L.  Pasavant: 

"In  college  your  father  showed  a  fine  literary  taste  and  an 
aptitude  for  the  natural  sciences.  In  his  Senior  year,  he  was 
made  Curator  of  the  Lyceum.  He  was  a  graceful  writer  and 
speaker,  and  a  fair  scholar  in  his  academic  studies,  giving  good 
promise  of  success  in  life.  I  look  upon  him  as  one  of  the  chief 
glories  of  our  class,  unsurpassed  and  hardly  equalled  in  in- 
fluence and  usefulness  by  any  other  member. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  X.  G.  Parke,  another  classmate,  wrote :  ' '  He 
was  youthful  in  his  appearance.  ^My  impression  is  that  he  was 
one  of  the  youngest,  if  not  the  youngest  member  of  the  class.  I 
was  not  twenty  when  we  graduated  and  he  was  younger  than  I. 
But  his  appearance  was  youthful  when  he  graduated  and  it  was 
the  same  after  he  had  been  graduated  fifty  years.  This  was 
spoken  of  at  our  college  meeting  in  1890,  when  seven  of  the 
class  met  in  Washington  to  hear  the  class  history. 

"The  dominant  feature  of  Passavant 's  life  and  character 
while  in  college  was  what  might  be  termed  the  religious  element; 
and  judging  from  the  lines  of  his  work,  and  the  results  of  his 
work,  it  so  continued  through  life.  He  was  not  a  recluse.  The 
social  element  was  not  wanting  in  his  nature.  He  was  popular 
in  his  class  and  among  the  students  of  the  college  generally,  but 
he  took  little  interest  or  part  in  the  athletic  sports  on  the  college 
campus.  His  nature  apparently  was  intensely  religious.  This 
was  manifest  not  in  a  demonstrative  way,  but  quietly.  He  had 
no  'religion  to  boast  of  but  a  spirit  of  devotion  to  his  divine 
Master  breathed  in  all  he  did.  And  now  that  we  know  the  lines 
in  which  he  elected  to  work  in  life,  we  may  infer  that  while  yet 
a  student  in  coUege  he  was  planning  for  his  life  work. 

•*In  the  president  of  the  college,  the  Rev.  Dr.  M.  Brown, 
he  found  a  congenial  spirit.  Perhaps  I  might  put  it  differently, 
Dr.  Brown  found  in  young  Passavant  a  congenial  spirit.  Dr. 
Brown  was  a  decided  Presbyterian  and  Passavant  was  just  as 
decided  a  Lutheran,  but  between  them  there  was  a  spirit  that 
united  David  and  Jonathan.  At  our  class  jubilee  in  1890,  there 
were  seven  in  the  class  living  and  at  their  work.  Now,  after 
thirteen  years,  only  two  remain.  Passavant  had  changed  since 
we  parted  in  1840,  but  he  was  the  same  unassuming,  courteous, 
earnest.  Christian  gentleman." 


AT  COLLEGE.  47 

Nov.  14,  1847,  Passavant  was  chosen  orator  of  the  Franklin 
Literarj'  Society  at  its  fiftieth  anniversary. 

The  address  is  published  in  the  History  of  Jefferson  College 

of  1857. 


48  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 


CHAPTER  IV.     ' 

IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG. 

William  Passavant  was  born  and  reared  in  a  critical  period 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Dr.  Jacobs  in  his  History  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  in  the  United  States,  (p.  353)  thus  describes  this 
period : 

''Candidates  for  the  Lutheran  Ministry  were  in  attendance 
at  the  denominational  and  other  colleg^es  that  were  coming  into 
existence.  Columbia  College,  New  York;  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania;  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle;  Jefferson  College, 
Canonsburg ;  either  had  or  were  soon  to  have  students  and  grad- 
uates in  the  Lutheran  churches  and  ministry.  The  influence  of 
Christian  scholars  of  decided  convictions  and  of  other  forms  of 
religious  life  upon  those  thus  trained  was  inevitable.  When  the 
Presbyterian  Church  established  its  theological  seminary  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  in  1812,  Lutheran  candidates  for  the  ministry 
were  soon  among  its  students,  and  found  there  students  from  the 
Episcopal  and  perhaps  other  churches,  with  whom  they  became 
intimate.  Who  would  affirm  that  the  influences  there  exerted 
were  not  to  be  preferred  to  the  neology  that  had  gained  the  up- 
per hand  at  all  centers  in  Germany  ?  When  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  Germany  could  offer  nothing  better,  it  was  only  natural  to 
look  beyond  the  Lutheran  Church  for  the  advocates  of  a  more 
positive  faith.  Nor,  under  these  circumstances,  was  it  to  be 
wondered  at  that  an  open  door  was  found  in  some  places  for 
revivalistic  methods,  which  were  becoming  prevalent  throughout 
the  country." 

On  page  356  he  writes:  "The  movements  preliminary  to 
the  Prussian  Union  of  1847  combined  with  the  feeling  caused 
by  the  common  interests  of  language  and  intermarinage  among 
the  Reformed  and  Lutherans  in  Pennsylvania  to  suggest  the 
thought  of  a  union  between  the  two  denominations.  This  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  embodied  in  any  formal  action.  The  pro- 
posed common  theological  seminary  has  already  been  mentioned. 
The  Reformed,  with  the  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians,  were 
invited  by  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  to  unite  in  the  cele- 
bration of  the  tercentenary  of  the  Reformation. '  * 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  49 

The  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  in  1818  had  resolved  that 
"in  its  judgment  it  would  be  well  if  the  different  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Synods  of  the  United  States  were  to  stand  in  some  way 
or  other  in  true  union  with  one  another".  Other  Synods  were 
corresponded  with  and  in  1818  "A  Proposed  Plan"  was  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  forty  to  eight.  This  plan  was  sent  to  other  Synods 
for  discussion  and  adoption.  A  number  of  trivial  objections 
were  urgently  and  persistently  raised  and  published;  e.  g.,  that 
it  was  a  scheme  of  the  ministers  to  tread  the  rights  of  the  people 
under  foot;  that  it  will  be  "an  aristocratic  spiritual  congress;" 
that  the  rights  of  the  Germans  will  be  given  away ;  "  as  to  the 
expenses,  who  is  to  pay  ?  We  farmers,  collections  upon  collections, 
etc."  Such  objections  came  mainly  from  country  pastors  and 
were  intended  to  frighten  their  people. 

The  principal  objection,  however,  and  the  one  that  carried 
much  weight  was  that  the  proposed  General  Synod  would  inter- 
fere with  the  plans  that  had  been  projected  for  a  closer  union 
with  the  German  Reformed  Church  and  the  establishment  of  a 
Lutheran-Reformed  Theological  Seminary. 

Only  ten  delegates  met  in  Frederick,  Md.,  Oct.  21,  1821,  rep- 
resenting the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  the  N.  Carolina,  Ma- 
ryland and  Virginia  Synods,  and  organized  the  General  Synod. 
On  account  of  the  urgent  and  persistent  objections  of  the 
country  parishes,  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  felt  itself  im- 
pelled to  withdraw  temporarily  from  the  General  Synod  in  1823, 
leaving  only  three  small  Synods  in  the  General  Body. 

The  General  Synod  naturally  partook  of  the  spirit  of  the 
age.  It  had  its  weaknesses.  It  failed  to  determine  specifically  the 
contents  of  the  Lutheran  faith.  It  was  not  ready  to  return  to 
the  foundations  laid  by  Lluhlenberg  and  his  associates.  There 
had  been  a  general  recession  from  the  foundations  for  twenty-five 
or  thirty  years  preceding.  On  the  other  hand,  Dr.  Jacobs  cor- 
rectly says:  "The  General  Synod  was  a  protest  against  the 
Socinianizing  tendencies  in  New  York,  and  the  scheme  of  a  union 
with  the  Reformed  Church  in  Pennsylvania  and  with  Episcopal- 
ians in  North  Carolina.  It  stood  for  the  independent  history  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  America  and  the  clear  and  unequivocal 
confession  of  a  positive  faith. ' ' 

At  its  third  convention,  in  1825,  the  General  Synod  resolved 
to  commence  the  establishment  of  a  theological  seminary.  This 
seminary  was  opened  in  Gettysburg  in  1826.  Its  first  professor, 
Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker,  had  received  his  college  training  in  the 


50  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

University  of  Pennsylvania  and  his  theological  training  in  the 
Presbyterian  Seminary  at  Princeton.  He  had  never  made  an 
earnest  study  of  Lutheran  theology  but  was  thoroughly  imbued 
with  the  teaching,  spirit  and  life  of  the  Reformed  Churches.  Of 
his  theological  standpoint,  Dr.  Jacobs  says,  (History  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  U.  S.,  p.  367)  : 

' '  His  theological  standpoint  can  never  be  involved  in  contro- 
versy; he  was  too  outspoken  in  confessing  it.  Beginning  with  a 
more  conservative  position,  he  soon  publicly  protested  from  the 
professor's  chair  and  in  the  press,  not  only  against  the  dis- 
tinctive Lutheran  doctrine  concerning  the  Sacraments,  but 
against  those  of  original  sin  and  the  Person  of  Christ.  In  his 
'Popular  Theology',  his  'Lutheran  Manual',  and  'American 
Lutheranism  Vindicated',  he  teaches  what  he  regards  a  modified 
Lutheranism,  which  retains  the  elements  of  truth  found,  as  he 
believed,  with  a  number  of  errors,  in  the  Lutheranism  of  the 
Augsburg  Confession.  In  the  'Definite  Synodical  Platform', 
prepared  by  him  in  1855,  he  expurgated  and  changed  the 
doctrinal  articles  of  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and,  in  a  preface, 
states  what  he  regards  the  five  errors  of  that  document. ' ' 

Such  was  the  first  professor  in  the  seminary  during  the  two 
years  of  Mr.  Passavant's  theological  course.  The  second  profes- 
sor, Dr.  H.  I.  Schmidt,  was  more  conservative  but  less  energetic 
and  influential. 

Of  the  effect  of  the  seminary's  teachings  and  spirit  on 
ministers  and  congregations  in  general.  Dr.  Jacobs  writes,  (pp. 
370  and  371)  : 

"More  harmful  than  any  positively  erroneous  teachings  pro- 
pounded from  the  professor's  chair  or  issued  from  the  press,  was 
the  lack  of  cultivation  of  any  decided  form  of  church  life.  The 
seminary  course  was  very  brief  and  the  teaching  scarcely  rose 
above,  if  it  equaled,  the  standard  of  the  better  catechetical  in- 
structions. There  was  even  a  tendency  to  depreciate  sacred  learn- 
ing, as  relatively  unimportant,  and  to  throw  all  stress  upon  de- 
votional exercises.  The  teaching  became  hortatory  instead  "of 
doctrinal,  and  no  longer  covered  the  full  extent  of  revelation. 
There  was  more  success  in  home  missionary  work  than  in  build- 
ing up  established  congregations  and  instructing  experienced 
Christians.  Young  pastors  uninstructed  in  the  modes  adopted  by 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  sincerely  earnest  in  the  endeavor  to  be 
faithful,  readily  adopted  the  methods  of  other  churches.  The 
old  ways  of  the  fathers  were  looked  upon  with  suspicion.    Where 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  51 

this  was  avoided,  in  the  uncertainty  and  wish  to  compromise,  the 
most  deplorable  inactivity  and  stagnation  resulted.  The  peril 
of  compromises  on  church  principles  lies  in  the  paralysis  of 
church  life  by  the  endeavor  of  antagonistic  parties  to  forbear  do- 
ing aught  that  might  offend  those  with  whom  they  differ,  and 
thus  doing  nothing.  Where  intense  conviction  enters,  it  bursts 
the  shackles  of  compromises,  and  it  is  fearless  in  adopting  what 
it  regards  the  most  efficient  measure  to  discharge  its  full  duty. 
A  Lutheran  church  life  can  never  be  nourished  except  in  accord- 
ance with  the  principles  of  that  church.  Methodism,  Presby- 
terianism,  or  Anglicanism  within  the  Lutheran  Church  soon 
runs  its  course.  The  Lutherans  in  America,  who  imagined  that 
the  salvation  of  their  church  was  dependent  upon  its  adoption  of 
the  peculiarities  of  its  neighbors,  were  only  temporarily  misled. 
They  were  yet  to  awaken  to  the  realization  of  the  rich  provision 
their  church  contained  for  the  full  development  of  all  their 
spiritual  capacities.  The  more  they  realized  this,  the  more  could 
they  appreciate  conceded  excellences  in  other  forms  of  Christian- 
ity when  exercised  within  their  own  peculiar  spheres.  But  how- 
ever sure  it  is  that  the  church  ultimately  regains  its  lost  vantage- 
grounds,  the  lamentable  results  of  the  losses  suffered  meanwhile 
by  inaction  remain.  Dr.  Hazelius,  e.g.,  deplored  greatly  the 
widespread  abandonment  of  family  worship,  as  one  of  the  conse- 
quences of  teaching  that  all  prayers  except  those  made  extem- 
poraneously are  formalism.  The  layman  who  found  it  difficult 
to  offer  a  free  prayer,  banished  the  prayerbook  from  his  altar,  as 
though  by  its  use  he  would  do  God  dishonor;  and  the  next  step 
was  that  prayers  in  the  household  entirely  ceased." 

Such  was  the  general  condition  of  the  church  and  the  semi- 
nary when  on  Nov.  3.  1840,  William  Passavant  started  for  the 
theological  seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  traveled  by  stage  from 
Pittsburg.  He  described  at  length  the  tedious  journey  which 
occupied  two  days  and  two  nights  without  intervening  rest.  It 
rained  incessantly  and  he  was  alone  in  the  stage.  No  wonder 
that  he  arrived  at  Gettysburg  in  a  depressed  and  exhausted  con- 
dition. 

To  his  mother  he  describes  the  city  which  then  had  two 
thousand  inhabitants,  two  Lutheran  and  two  Presbyterian 
churches,  one  Methodist  church  and  six  Catholic  chapels.  He 
tells  of  the  seminary  building  and  of  the  beautiful  and  divers- 
ified view  from  its  cupola.  About  sixteen  acres  of  ground  be- 
longed to  the  seminary  on  which  were  three  buildings.    He  tells 


52  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

her  of  his  room  and  of  his  board  which  was  good  and  cost  him 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  a  week.  Among  the  students,  five  were 
from  Union  College,  three  from  Pennsylvania  College  and  several 
without  college  training.  He  spoke  well  of  Dr.  Schmucker  as  a 
professor  and  also  as  a  man.  The  students  impressed  him  as 
less  intelligent,  less  refined  than  those  at  Jefferson  College,  a  ad 
many  had  scarcely  ever  been  beyond  the  bounds  of  their  home 
townships.  He  was  somewhat  attracted  to  Chas.  A.  Hay,  a  rela- 
tive of  Dr.  Morris  of  Baltimore.  Of  young  Chas.  Porterfield 
Krauth  he  says :  ' '  He  is  considered  very  talented,  but  the  misery 
with  him  is  that  poetry  and  the  ladies  seem  to  enter  into  his  con- 
stitution most  too  much  for  me".  He  complains  of  the  "out- 
rageous characters"  of  Hebrew  which  he  recites  to  Prof.  Chas. 
Philip  Krauth.  New  Testament  Exegesis  he  studied  under  Dr. 
Baugher.  He  read  Schiller's  Thirty  Years'  War  v/ith  Dr.  H.  I. 
Schmidt.  Altogether,  he  had  only  nine  hours  of  recitations  a 
week,  which  gave  him  much  leisure  for  private  reading  and  study. 
He  also  complained  that  there  was  no  personal  intercourse  be- 
tween professors  and  students  and  that  it  was  not  like  Jefferson 
where  the  professors'  houses  were  always  open  to  students  and 
the  most  delightful  intercourse  and  intimacy  existed  between 
them. 

Prof.  Schmidt  was  at  this  time  pastor  of  the  second  English 
Lutheran  Church,  where  the  students  and  professors  wor- 
shipped. He  was  assisted  by  the  college  and  seminary  professors 
in  turn.  Of  the  preaching,  Passavant  expresses  his  opinion  thus : 
"The  best  preacher  is  Dr.  Schmucker;  the  next  Prof.  Baugher 
and  Dr.  Krauth;  Schmidt  reads  his  sermons,  which  are  indeed 
beautifully  composed,  but  seem  to  lack  the  power  and  efficiency 
of  the  Gospel.  He  is  doubtless  an  excellent  man  but  is  not  of 
those  ministers  who  people  heaven  by  their  preaching."  He  con- 
tinues :  ' '  This  is  an  excellent  place  to  get  a  sight  of  many  of  the 
old  documents  and  speeches.  The  other  day  I  discovered  a  large 
bundle  of  printed  journals  of  Rev.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  extending 
back  to  the  year  1743  and  I  found  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and 
profit  in  reading  over  the  records  of  that  great  and  good  man." 

He  speaks  of  the  missionary  society  in  the  seminary  which 
had  four  stations  in  the  mountains  which  were  regularly  supplied 
by  the  theological  students  after  a  residence  of  one  year  in  the 
seminary.  A  congregation  had  been  recently  organized  at  one  of 
these  stations  and  placed  under  the  care  of  a  neighboring  pastor. 
He  observes  that  this  missionary  preaching  has  two  great  advan- 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  53 

tages.  First,  it  gives  the  students  practice  in  preaching  before 
all  kinds  of  people,  and  second,  it  brings  the  Gospel  to  the  spir- 
itually destitute  mountaineers. 

Feb.  16,  1841,  he  gives  his  mother  an  account  of  a  great  re- 
vival in  the  old  Lutheran  Church  at  Gettysburg.  This  account 
throws  a  significant  light  on  the  spirit  of  the  English  Lutheran 
Church  at  that  time  as  well  as  on  the  views  and  feelings  of  young 
Passavant.    He  says: 

**At  present  the  old  Lutheran  Church  is  enjoying  a  most 
powerful  revival.  There  is  no  noise  or  confusion  in  the  meetings 
and  the  awful  silence  which  pervades  the  congregation  makes  the 
place  appear  like  another  world.  In  the  evenings  after  preaching 
persons  are  invited  forward  to  be  prayed  for  and  the  young  and 
the  old,  fathers  and  mothers  and  sons  and  daughters  are  not  a- 
shamed  to  ask  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  God's  people.  Yester- 
day morning  after  a  sermon  by  Prof.  Baugher,  a  great  multitude 
knelt  down  around  the  altar  and  after  the  congregation  was  dis- 
missed it  was  found  that  all  the  men  but  two  and  several  of  the 
women  had  found  peace  and  joy  in  belief.  0,  how  like  heaven 
was  that  place !  Some  of  these  individuals  have  been  crying  for 
pardon  for  weeks  and  to  see  such  a  number  feeling  their  burdens 
removed  and  swallowed  up  in  the  love  of  Christ  was  indeed  a 
glorious  and  an  awful  sight.  Not  a  word  was  said  but  every 
heart  was  filled  with  the  peace  and  glory  of  God.  Some  of  the  old 
and  faithful  members  of  the  church,  and  some  of  the  church 
council  were  the  first  to  declare  that  they  were  strangers  to  the 
power  of  religion  and  many  of  these  went  out,  going  on  their 
way  rejoicing  with  a  new  song  of  praise  in  their  hearts. 
Nothing  of  the  kind  was  ever  before  witnessed  in  that  church, 
and  Mr.  Keller  was  violently  opposed  to  anything  which  savored 
of  New  Measures.  But  a  change  has  taken  place  in  his  views 
and  above  all  there  has  been  a  change  in  the  hearts  of  many  of 
his  people". 

In  her  answer,  his  mother  informs  him  that  his  pious  father 
did  not  at  all  believe  in  such  Methodistic  services.  He  believed 
that  they  were  contrary  to  the  teachings  of  the  Scriptures  and 
belittled  God's  means  of  grace,  showed  unclearness  as  to  the 
nature  of  true  conversion  and  if  not  productive  of  real  harm 
would  certainly  do  no  lasting  good.  He  even  thought  of  taking 
his  son  out  of  the  seminary  on  account  of  the  prevalence  of  the 
"new  measure"  spirit. 


54  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

During  the  spring  vacation  of  this  year,  Mr.  Passavant 
made  an  extended  trip  into  Maryland  and  Virginia  to  canvass 
for  the  "Observer"  and  also  for  the  first  time  to  look  in  on  the 
General  Synod  about  to  meet  in  Baltimore.  At  Frederick,  Md., 
he  met  the  Rev.  Abraham  Reck  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  who 
was  a  delegate  on  his  way  to  the  General  Synod.  Of  this  delight- 
ful meeting  he  writes  to  his  mother. 

"Here  I  became  acquainted  with  Rev.  A.  Reck,  a  delegate 
of  the  Synod  of  the  West  to  the  General  Synod,  and  never  did 
I  enjoy  such  a  treat  as  the  conversation  of  this  venerable  soldier 
of  the  cross  and  pioneer  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  West. 

"He  is  a  man  of  about  sixty  and  of  remarkably  plain  and 
simple  appearance,  but  when  in  conversation,  the  fire  of  youth 
flashes  from  his  eyes  and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  devoted  Christ- 
ian shines  from  his  serene  and  amiable  countenance.  We  were 
put  into  the  same  room  for  the  night  and  the  clock  struck  one 
before  we  closed  our  eyes  in  sleep.  You  know,  dear  mother,  I 
have  often  spoken  to  you  of  the  West  and  have  at  different 
times  said  that  in  that  valley  my  feeble  efforts,  would  be 
exerted,  if  health  is  spared,  for  the  cause  of  our  Saviour.  Ex- 
perience, however,  and  grace  have  changed  my  ideas  on  this 
subject.  I  have  endeavored  to  mark  out  no  place  for  future 
labor  but  to  place  the  entire  matter  in  the  hands  of  my  heaven- 
ly Father  and  calmly  wait  until  He  speaks  where  His  servant 
shall  go  and  work.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  I  am  willing  to 
go  any  place,  wherever  there  are  sinners  to  be  saved  and  while 
I  confess  my  feelings  and  heart  all  are  with  the  West,  I  am  en- 
deavoring to  pray,  'Lord  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  to  do?' 
There  are  a  large  number  of  delegates  and  other  ministers  at- 
tending the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  and  eight  or  ten  of 
our  students  are  likewise  present.  Rev.  Lintner,  D.D.,  of  New 
York  is  president  and  Rev.  C.  A.  Smith  is  secretary.  Some  of 
the  meetings  are  cf  great  interest  and  a  most  excellent  spirit 
prevails  in  all  delegates  of  this  body. ' ' 

He  sums  up  the  results  of  his  trip  in  these  words:  "I 
gained  six  pounds,  got  a  sunburned  face,  introduced  the  'Ob- 
server' into  thirty-nine  families,  saw  the  country,  walked  two 
hundred  miles,  made  a  multitude  of  acquaintances,  saw  con- 
siderable of  human  nature  and  of  the  triumphs  of  the  Gospel 
over  sin,  rummaged  into  old  documents,  especially  on  our 
Church,  regained  my  health  more  entirely,  walked  through  a 
pair  of  soles  and  paid  the  expenses  of  the  way. ' ' 


IN  TEE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  55 

About  this  time  he  is  much  exercised  over  the  loss  of  the 
manners  and  customs  of  refined  society.     He  writes: 

"To  be  candid,  I  am  even,  if  possible,  more  of  a  barbarian 
than  when  I  left  home  last  fall,  for  no  kind  mother  or  sister 
was  near  to  prune  off  the  growth  of  the  winter  and  in  this 
way  you  will  doubtless  find  me  in  the  fall.  I  am  getting  to 
say,  'I  can't  help  it,'  but  I  mean  something  very  much  like  this 

old  expression  of  my  childhood Situated  as  I  am  here 

in  the  seminary  and  having  no  aquaintances  in  toAvn,  I  as 
naturally  sink  into  a  state  of  indifference  to  the  rules  of  genteel 
society  as  if  shut  up  in  the  walls  of  a  monastery.  Students, 
^  you  know,  are  a  mannerless  set  all  over  the  world  and  though' 
perfectly  at  ease  among  themselves  are  exceedingly  awkward 
in  company.  When  I  think  of  this  subject,  I  often  fear  it  will 
injure  my  usefulness  in  the  world.  But  what  can  I  do  to  undo 
the  matter?  I  have  received  invitations  enough  to  visit  at  those 
places  where  most  of  our  students  resort,  but  finding  no 
pleasure  or  profit,  have  invariably  declined,  preferring  uncouth 
manners  to  the  dulness  and  tedium  of  conversation  in  which  I 
have  no  heart.  I  daily  become  more  indifferent  to  the  opinions 
and  fashions  of  the  busy  world  without;  so,  dear  mother,  if 
we  are  spared  to  meet  in  the  fall,  you  will  please  look  over  the 
blunt  ways  of  a  student  and  I  will  at  the  same  time  promise  to 
study  under  the  teaching  of  the  family  the  refinements  and 
rules  of  a  civilized  life." 

For  four  successive  years  he  had  prepared  manuscript  for 
a  Lutheran  Almanac.  At  last  he  had  succeeded  in  having  it 
published.  He  thus  expresses  his  feelings  on  reading  the  first 
printed  copy: 

"I  received  a  copy  of  the  English  Almanac  on  last  Satur- 
day.    It  looks  very  genteel  as  to  the  '  outward  man ' 

The  conclusion  of  the  whole  observation  I  have  had  in  this 
business  is  that  he  who  purchases  an  Almanac  for  six  pence 
has  the  cheapest  bargain  of  his  fellows.  I  am  indeed  glad  it 
is  'out',  after  all  my  hopes  and  fears  and  labor,  and  I  can  now 
fervently  ask  the  blessings  of  God  as  I  have  always  done  on 
this  humble  attempt  to  infuse  correct  information  of  our 
church  and  he^  institutions  among  the  dwellers  in  the  lowly 
cabins  of  the  poor  and  the  stately  mansions  of  the  rich ' '. 

He  had  distinctly  stipulated  that  his  name  was  not  in  any 
way  to  appear  as  author  and  that  he  would  accept  no  pecuniary 


56  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

profit.     All  profits  were  to  go  into  the  treasury  of  the  "Parent 
Education  Society". 

This  Lutheran  Almanac  of  the  year  of  1842  lies  before  us, 
as  also  a  German  edition  with  nearly  all  the  matter  of  the 
original  English.  The  later  has  thirty-two  pages,  it  is  pub- 
lished at  the  "Publishing  rooms"  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  at  Baltimore.  In  addition  to  the  usual  calendar  mat- 
ter, ■  this  almanac  contains :  Luther 's  Celebrated  Prayer ; 
Christ,  our  Example;  Prof.  Francke's  rules  for  our  conduct  in 
company;  A  short  history  of  Pennsylvania  College;  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg;  Columbus  Literary  and 
Theological  Institute;  Hartwick  Seminary;  Theological  Semi- 
nary of  the  Synod  oi  South  Carolina  and  adjacent  states,  at 
Lexington,  South  Carolina;  Emaus  Institute,  Middletown,  Pa.; 
"Parent  Education  Society";  Foreign  Missionary  Society; 
"The  Book  Company  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at 
Baltimore ' ' ;  Increase  of  ministers  during  the  year  1 841 ;  deaths 
of  ministers;  a  brief  history  of  the  Augsburg  Confession;  list 
of  Lutheran  periodicals;  statistics  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
the  United  States;  Statistics  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the 
world;  list  of  SjTiods;  alphabetical  list  of  ministers  and 
their  post-office  addresses.  Of  this  almanac  eighteen  thousand 
copies  were  sold.  The  Lutheran  Almanac  number  two  was 
issued  in  1843  and  like  its  predecessor  was  filled  with  useful  and 
edifying  reading.  After  this,  Mr.  Passavant  published  no 
further  almanac  and  others  took  up  and  continued  the  work 
he  had  so  auspiciously  begun.  ^ 

The  Pennsylvania  Bible  Society  had  sent  a  request  to  the 
faculty  of  the  seminary  that  the  students  canvass  Adams 
County  in  the  interest  of  its  work.  The  matter  was  laid  before 
the  students  and  volunteers  were  asked  for.  Among  the  first 
to  offer  themselves  was  Mr.  Passavant.  The  students  were 
sent  out  like  the  seventy,  two  and  two.    In  July,  1841,  William 


5  The  statement  has  been  made  and  published  that  Dr.  Passa- 
vant composed  the  first  English  Lutheran  Almanac  in  the  United 
States.  This  is  a  mistake.  There  lies  before  us  "The  Lutheran  Al- 
manac for  the  year  1836  (which  refers  to  the  issue  of  the  previous 
year)  Troy,  N.  Y.,  published  by  the  Lutheran  Revival  Tract  Society 
and  sold  by  N.  Tuttle,  printer  and  agent,  225  Eiver  St.,;  and  also  at 
the  general  depository,  Albany,  No.  70,  corner  of  Lydius  and  Green 
streets.,  price  six  and  one  quarter  cents,  four  dollars  a  hundred". 
Its  statistics  show  two  hundred  and  eighteen  ministers,  twenty-seven 
licentiates,  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  congregations  and  four 
theological   seminaries. 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  57 

Passavant  and  William  F.  Eyster  were  sent  out  on  this  in- 
teresting mission  which  required  ten  days  and  nights  in  the 
mountains.    Here  is  his  own  account  of  the  work : 

"In  the  very  hottest  week  we  were  sent  over  the  country 
and  were  engaged  in  the  distribution  of  Bibles  for  ten  days. 
The  township  assigned  to  another  student  and  myself  lay 
principally  among  the  mountains  and  the  roads  were  so  rocky 
and  narrow  that  it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  we 
drove  our  little  carriage.  Such  scenes  as  w^e  witnessed  among 
the  poor  charcoal  burners  in  the  Alleghenies !  Some  of  the 
people  had  no  idea  of  such  a  book  as  the  Bible;  others,  when 
requested  to  show  us  their  Bible,  would  bring  out  some  re- 
ligious book  which  they  said  in  all  simplicity  was  a  'kind  of  a 
Bible'.  A  few  Catholics  told  us  they  'had  no  use  for  a  Bible' 
they  had  'their  prayerbook  and  other  good  reading  ifi  the 
house'.  Some  wept  for  joy  when  we  presented  them  with  a 
copy  of  the  Scriptures,  while  others  called  us  a  set  of  specu- 
lators and  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  us  or  our  books.  We 
had  to  talk  for  our  lodgings  and  it  would  have  amused  you  to 
have  seen  me  talk  around  an  ignoramus  of  an  Albright  for  a 
night's  entertainment.  I  finally  prevailed,  but  such  a  place 
in  a  civilized  community!  Never  did  I  leave  a  place  with  less 
regret  than  this  one  in  Menallen  township.  More  when  we 
meet  face  to  face." 

His  fellow  missionary,  Dr.  Eyster,  writes  this  reminiscence 
of  that  Evangelistic  tour : 

"Among  the  incidents  connected  with  Mr.  Passavant 's 
student  life  at  the  seminary  is  the  memory  of  the  Bible  col- 
porteur work  among  the  mountains  of  Adams  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. To  each  pair  of  students  was  assigned  the  duty  of 
a  thorough  house-to-house  exploring  of  a  single  township.  And 
so  it  came  to  pass  that  the  writer  of  this  sketch  was  united 
with  his  friend  and  classmate,  Passavant,  in  this  good  work. 
To  us  was  assigned  the  most  difficult  field.  Menallen  town- 
ship lies  mostly  among  the  mountain  regions  which  stretch 
north  and  south  about  seven  or  eight  miles  from  Gettysburg. 
Its  inhabitants  for  the  most  part  wring  a  scanty  subsistence 
from  a  rugged  and  stony  soil.  Their  educational  and  religious 
opportunities  were  few  and  imperfect.  A  large  element  of  the 
population  was  Roman  Catholic.  Books  of  any  kind  were  few 
among  them  and  to  many  the  Bible  was  almost  an  unknown- 
book,  except  as  it  was  quoted  in  the  Missal  or  Prayerbook.     In 


58  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

one  instance  when  Mr.  Passavant  inquired  of  the  head  of  a 
family  whether  they  had  a  Bible  in  the  house,  he  seemed  at 
first  doubtful  and  then  brought  out  a  copy  of  Luther  on  the 
Galatians  which  some  enterprising  peddler  had  sold  him,  the 
only  Bible  he  knew  or  possessed. 

"It  was,  indeed,  what  Guthrie  would  have  called  a  'beauti- 
ful field'  in  the  sense  of  need  and  opportunity.  It  was  true, 
the  work  required  was  difficult  and  in  some  sense  self-denying. 
The  road  was  rough  and  rocky,  the  scenery  wild,  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  mountaineers  primitive,  and  certainly  they  wasted 
no  words  of  superfluous  civility  on  the  stranger  who  called  at 
their  house  with  the  strange  question,  'Have  you  a  Bible?'  If 
the  answer  was  in  most  instances  courteous  and  to  the  point,  in 
some  it  was  rude  and  repelling.  From  a  single  house,  we 
were  repelled  with  the  savage  threat  of  a  dog.  Meals  were 
irregular  in  the  absence  of  houses  of  public  entertainment,  but 
the  hospitality  extended  was  generally  kind  and  cheerful.  Our 
rooming  places  at  night  were  usually  in  some  poor  dwelling 
with  such  scanty  accommodations  as  the  circumstances  per- 
mitted. I  look  back  to  those  far-off  days  with  a  pleasant  me- 
mory of  the  cheerful  spirit  with  which  my  friend  and  fellow 
student  carried  on  this  work  of  giving  the  Bread  of  Life  to 
the  destitute.  I  can  recall  the  echoes  of  his  voice  which  often 
made  the  mountains  ring  with  merry  laughter  over  some  amus- 
ing incident  in  the  day's  experience, — or  the  graver  tones  of 
his  voice  as  he  poured  out  all  his  soul  in  deepest  compassion 
over  the  spiritually  destitute,  revealed  all  along  our  route. 
Those  ten  days  of  close  association  and  intimate  friendship  in 
a  good  and  blessed  work  revealed  to  me  more  fully  the  lovable 
Christlike  spirit  of  my  friend  than  many  days  or  years  of 
more  casual  acquaintance  could  have  done.  It  was  then  I  felt 
impressed  as  never  before  with  the  charm  of  his  winning  per- 
sonality over  other  minds.  Under  its  influence  native  rudeness 
was  often  changed  to  gentleness  and  repulse  into  welcome.  The 
memory  of  that  Bible  canvass  was  to  both  of  us  among  the 
most  pleasant  incidents  of  our  seminary  life  and  work,  and  an 
occasion  of  devout  gratitude  to  God.  In  a  letter  to  me  dated 
February  19th,  1892,  brother  Passavant  writes:  'Think  of 
your  old  fellow  traveler  on  the  mountains  of  Adams  County 
and  offer  up  a  'Vater  unser'  for  him'." 

A  little  incident  of    the    Christmas    season    of    this    year 
shows  that  Passavant  never  forgot  the  poor  among  his  friends. 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG  59 

In  Canonsburg  he  often  had  visited  and  assisted  poor  old 
Mrs.  Herron,  who,  like  many  aged  dames  of  that  day,  took  a 
good  deal  of  comfort  from  her  pipe.  So  at  Christmas  time  he 
sent  her  through  his  friend  of  college  days,  the  Rev.  R.  B. 
McAfee,  enough  money  to  buy  a  calico  dress,  a  handkerchief, 
a  cord  of  wood,  molasses  for  the  buckwheat  and  a  pound  of 
smoking  tobacco. 

As  we  have  seen,  there  was  at  this  time  a  sad  lack  of 
Lutheran  literature  in  the  English  language  and  much  un- 
Lutheran  teaching  from  the  pulpits  of  the  English  churches. 
The  preaching  was  often  lifeless,  dry  and  cold,  satisfied  with 
a  form  of  godliness  but  devoid  of  its  power,  addressing  itself 
almost  entirely  to  the  intellect  and  ignoring  the  heart.  On 
the  other  hand,  there  was,  especially  in  English  pulpits,  a  le- 
galistic, unhealthful,  morbid,  emotional  type  of  preaching, 
made  up  of  pious  platitudes  urging  to  sentimental  frames, 
physical  feelings  and  sickly  self-inspection.  The  inevitable 
result  was  that  many  devout  and  inquiring  souls  were  in  the 
dark  as  to  their  own  salvation  and  passed  their  days  under 
a  cloud,  devoid  of  peace  and  filled  with  fears  and  forebodings. 
The  question,  "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved?"  had  never  been 
clearly  answered  for  them.  They  knew  not  the  Evangelical 
way  of  salvation.  Here  is  one  of  hundreds  of  similar  cases. 
Virginia  Passavant  wrote  to  her  brother  William: 

"You  now  wish  to  know  whether  I  feel  my  sins  to  he  for- 
given —  and  here  I  scarcely  know  what  to  say.  So  much  do 
I  fear  to  deceive  you  or  still  more  myself  on  so  important  a 
subject.  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  my  state  might  be 
that  spoken  of  in  Mark  4:  28,  'First  the  Blade',  or  that  there 
might  be  a  beginning  like  *  A  grain  of  mustard  seed',  but 
then  again  I  doubt  that  such  is  the  case.  While  the  proofs  of 
love  which  I  receive  from  my  family  and  friends  warm  my 
heart  with  gratitude,  the  long  suffering  love  of  God  leaves  me 
insensible  and  cold;  and  though  I  think  I  can  say  with  sin- 
cerity that  the  greatest  wish  I  have  long  formed  for  myself 
is  for  that  peace  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take 
away  and  that  in  a  measure  I  have  sought  for,  I  cannot  be- 
lieve when  I  look  at  the  state  of  my  heart  and  examine  the 
motives  which  influence  my  thoughts  and  actions  that  I  am  a 
true  Christian.  I  know  that  the  Saviour  is  more  ready  to 
grant  forgiveness  than  we  are  to  receive  it  and  that  I  can  never 
have  sought  for  it  aright,  and  I  cling  too  much  to  self  and  to 


60  THE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

a  thousand  sins  Avhicli  prevent  me  from  giving  my  whole  heart 
to  God.  I  think  I  understand  the  plan  of  salvation  through 
Jesus  Christ  and  have  heard  and  read  too  much  on  the  subject 
to  be  ignorant  of  anything  which  is  necessary  to  be  kno^\Ti;  the 
fault  lies  in  my  own  heart. ' ' 

After  the  exchange  of  several  more  letters  with  her 
brother,  Virginia  also  found  peace  by  simply  accepting  Christ 
as  the  one  Saviour  who  had  taken  away  all  her  sins. 

Feb.  12,  1842,  Mr.  Passavant  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  B. 
Kurtz  urgently  requesting  him  to  come  about  the  first  of  June 
and  take  charge  of  the  Observer  during  his  contemplated  absence 
and  to  be  permanent  assistant  editor.  In  another  letter  Dr.  K. 
informs  Mr.  Passavant  that  he  will  also  be  expected  to  assist 
in  the  building  up  of  a  new  mission  in  the  western  part  of  the 
city  where  a  church  was  in  course  of  erection,  as  also  at  "Old- 
town"  where  Dr.  Morris  was  starting  another  mission.  For 
the  editorial  work,  a  salary  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
a  year  was  promised.  Dr.  K.  also  informs  him  that  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Morris  will  advise  and  assist  him.  Young  Passavant  had 
experienced  a  number  of  spells  of  sickness  during  his  student 
years  and  his  constitution  was  considerably  weakened.  He 
had  suffered  severely  from  a  sore  throat  during  the  late  win- 
ter. He  sometimes  feared  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  serve  the 
Master  with  his  voice  but  hoped  that  in  that  case  he  might 
serve  with  his  pen.  His  own  inclination,  therefore,  was  to  ac- 
cept Dr.  Kurtz's  offer,  but  he  was  still  such  a  dutiful  and 
affectionate  son  and  had  such  unbounded  confidence  in  the  judg- 
ment of  his  mother  that  he  could  not  believe  that  it  was  God's 
will  until  he  had  the  approval  of  his  parents.  He  therefore 
asked  his  mother's  counsel  before  he  answered  Dr.  Kurtz. 

His  mother  answered  guardedly.  She  would  prefer  that 
he  first  finish  his  seminary  course.  Only  in  case  that  the  state 
of  his  health  really  required  a  change  would  it  be  advisable 
to  leave  the  seminary.  But  even  in  the  event  of  his  acceptance 
of  the  offer,  she  hopes  that  it  will  not  prevent  him  from  ulti- 
mately becoming  a  settled  pastor  as  infinitely  preferable  to  the 
still  more  fatiguing,  laborious  and  outwearing  life  of  an  editor 
who  is  mentally  harrassed  by  a  thousand  vexations  and  dis- 
heartening attacks  from  friends  and  foes.  She  admits  that  the 
offer  has  its  advantages;  e.g.,  intercourse  with  the  world  and  a 
consequent  improvement  of  manners  and  address;  improve- 
ment in  style  of  writing;  opportunity  to  hear  great  orators  in 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  61 

the  pulpit  and  on  the  platform ;  opportunities  to  perfect  himself 
in  the  German  language.  "On  the  other  hand,  your  father  is 
much  afraid  that  coming  continually  in  contact  with  such  an 
arch-revivalist  (Dr.  K.)  will  make  you,  enthusiastic  as  you  are 
by  temperament,  still  more  Methodistical  The  con- 
clusion of  our  deliberation,  therefore,  is  that  you  may  accept 
the  offer  proposed  if  you  really  believe  that  it  will  be  bene- 
ficial to  your  health;  but  with  the  following  conditions  added 
to  those  that  you  mentioned  in  your  last  letter:  first,  that  the 
agreement  is  to  be  made  for  only  one  year.  In  that  time  you 
will  have  had  a  fair  trial  of  how  you  like  it  and  I  am  almost 
certain  that  you  will  be  disgusted  with  the  confining,  bodily 
labors  and  with  the  unavoidable  controversies,  excitements  and 
manifestations  of  bitterness  of  spirit,  of  such  a  course  of  life. 
If  your  throat  is  then  well,  you  can  perhaps  finish  your 
theological  studies  at  Princeton. 

' '  Second,  your  name  is  not  to  be  blazoned  forth  in  the  Obser- 
ver. ...  To  have  you  publicly  known  as  an  assistant  to  Dr. 
K.  would  also  create  an  unconquerable  prejudice  against  you 
in  the  minds  of  most  of  the  ministers  of  the  west  where  it 
was  always  your  intention  to  labor  in  the  future.  Pastor 
Schweitzerbarth  will  rave  when  he  finds  out  your  new  employ- 
ment. I  expect  nothing  else  but  that  he  will  pray  in  the 
pulpit  that  you  may  be  preserved  from  the  snares  of  wolves 
in  sheep's  clothing,  the  inveterate  enemies  of  the  church.  You 
may  be  sure  that  we  will  not  tell  him  of  it. " 

The  offer  was  finally  accepted  by  Mr.  Passavant.  April 
1st,  he  writes  his  last  letter  from  Gettysburg  to  his  mother. 
He  warmly  thanks  his  parents  for  all  their  kind  assistance 
during  his  college  and  seminary  course.  He  has  counted  up 
that  they  had  sent  him  in  all  more  than  eleven  hundred  dol- 
lars. He  hopes  to  show  himself  grateful  and  worthy  of  the 
favors  shown  him.  He  arranges  to  have  the  coming  seminary 
lectures  transcribed  and  sent  to  him.  Before  going  to  Balti- 
more, he  paid  his  parents  a  short  visit.  Passing  through 
Pittsburg,  he  stopped  with  his  brother  Sidney  over  Sunday 
and  preached  to  the  prisoners  in  the  penitentiary. 

The  above-named  Dr.  Wm.  F.  Eyster,  writes  this  reminis- 
cence of  seminary  days: 

"My  aquaintance  with  Mr.  Passavant  began  in  the  fall 
of  1840  in  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg.  He  came  a  stranger 
into  our  new  associations.     I  well  remember  the  pleasing  im- 


62  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASS  AY  ANT. 

pressions  of  his  face  and  manner.  He  was  then  in  the  bloom 
of  his  early  manhood.  A  spiritual  magnetism  seemed  to  draw 
out  to  him  the  confidence  and  affections  of  his  new  companions, 
productive  of  that  strange  power  of  personal  influence  which 
gained  in  strength  through  all  the  future  years  of  his  devoted 
and  philanthropic  life. 

*'0n  every  one  who  knew  and  watched  him  during  his 
student  life  in  the  seminary  he  impressed  the  conviction  that 
the  work  of  preparation  for  the  sacred  ministry  was  a  grave 
and  real  work  demanding  the  best  energies  of  his  mind  and 
soul.  The  inward  spring  of  this  sense  of  duty  was  his  fervent 
piety.  His  love  to  God  in  Christ  was  ardent  and  constraining. 
It  was  a  deep-seated  radical  principle  that  influenced  his  whole 
nature,  being  and  life. 

"He  had  a  keen  sense  of  humor  and  could  perceive  all 
that  was  grotesque  and  ludicrous.  But  I  never  knew  him  to 
be  cynical  or  to  find  pleasure  in  satirising  the  faults  and 
foibles  of  others.  His  cheerful  spirit  found  a  joy  in  life,  but 
along  with  this  was  united  a  gravity  of  soul  that  felt  deeply 
the  serious,  solemn  aspect  of  life  and  longed  for  opportunity 
to  bear  his  share  in  toiling  and  sacrificing  for  the  relief  of  the 
spiritual  and  physical  health  of  humanity. 

"It  was  thus  as  a  fellow  student  during  these  seminary  days 
that  I  learned  to  interpret  and  understand  Mr.  Passavant  and 
so  understanding  him,  admired  and  loved  him  and  was  in 
turn  loved  by  him  through  all  the  future  years  of  his  life." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Ziegler  wrote  this  reminiscence  in  the  Me- 
morial Workman  published  after  Dr.  Passavant 's  death: 

"In  the  seminary  brother  Passavant  proved  himself  to  be 
a  Christian  of  ardent  piety,  true  friendship,  and  always  active 
in  the  Master's  work.  In  illustration  of  this,  the  following 
reminiscences  are  herewith  given. 

"Six  of  us  theological  students  banded  together  to  hold 
weekly  devotional  meetings  in  our  private  rooms,  for  our 
spiritual  improvement  and  edification.  The  six  were  Walter 
Gunn,  Wm.  H.  Harrison,  Jacob  Sherer,  Gottlieb  Bassler,  W. 
A.  Passavant  and  myself.  The  intimate  friendship  of  the  six 
there  begun  and  cemented,  continued  through  life.  Four  of 
these  have  long  since  gone  home  to  receive  their  reward. 

"After  the  death  of  our  lamented  brother  Bassler,  Dr. 
Passavant  and  myself  were  the  only  two  surviving  members 
of  the  fraternity.     We  frequently  spoke  of  this  in  recognition 


7iV  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  63 

of  God's  goodness  to  us.  But  we  shall  speak  no  more  of  this 
on  earth  —  he  has  gone  to  his  reward  and  I  am  left  the  lone 
one  of  the  six  —  ,for  what  purpose  I  know  not.  Here  I  may 
use  the  words  of  David:  'Behold  how  good  and  how  pleasant 
it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity.'  To  us  it  was,  in- 
deed, good  and  pleasant  here,  and  it  will  be  more  so  in  the  long 
hereafter. 

"The  theological  students  of  the  seminary  constituted  a 
missionary  society  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  destitute 
places  around  Gettysburg  with  ministrations  of  the  Gospel. 
One  of  these  stations  was  at  Cold  Spring  (also  called  Fountain 
Dale),  twelve  to  fourteen  miles  west  of  Gettysburg,  in  the 
mountains.  In  1841  or  1842,  when  brother  Passavant  and 
myself  filled  one  of  the  appointments  there,  he  selected  for  his 
text,  Neh.  2.18,  'And  they  said,  Let  us  rise  up  and  build.  So 
they  strengthened  their  hands  for  this  good  work. ' 

"The  design  of  this  sermon  was  to  induce  the  neighbor- 
hood to  build  a  house  of  worship.  A  church  was  ere  long 
erected  and  dedicated.  For  some  cause,  however,  the  place 
was  subsequently  neglected  until  it  became  a  spiritual  wilder- 
ness. 

"Of  late  the  student's  work  has  been  resumed  there.  An- 
other church  is  being  built  and  from  henceforth  regular  service 
will  be  held  there,  where  myself  and  young  Passavant  sowed 
seed  fifty  years  ago,  some  of  which  is  still  bearing  fruit. 

"I  will  yet  add  that  brother  Passavant 's  interest  and 
zeal  in  Home  Missions,  as  manifested  during  his  seminary 
course,  was  continued  through  life  with  increased  and  un- 
abated earnestness.  It  culminated  in  the  organization  of  the 
Canada  Synod  and  the  Synod  of  Texas,  and  is  felt  in  many 
directions  in  the  far  West.  Besides,  it  has  permeated  the 
General  Council,  and  awakened  its  zeal  in  the  work  of  Home 
Missions.     It  is  diffused  also  throughout  the  General  Synod. 

"Dr.  Passavant 's  foresight,  fifty  years  ago,  concerning  the 
need  and  work  of  Home  Missions  in  the  Lutheran  Church  was 
far  in  advance  of  the  age.  May  he  have  many  worthy  suc- 
cessors. ' ' 

During  the  seminary  course,  Mr.  Passavant  kept  a  private 
journal  recording  the  inner  experiences  of  his  spiritual  life. 
It  is  the  most  remarkable  modern  spiritual  record  that 
we  have  ever  read.  Much  of  it  would  be  worthy  of  being 
published  in  separate  form  for  the  devotional  use  of  theological 


64  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

students  and  ministers.  It  shows  that  its  author  was  not  yet 
clear  on  the  great  foundation  truths  that  concern  our  sal- 
vation; that  he  had  not  fully  apprehended  in  all  its  bearings 
the  peace-bringing  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  and  the 
kindred  doctrine  of  grace  through  the  means  of  grace. 

But  while  making  due  allowance  for  this  lack  of  doctrinal 
clearness  at  this  period,  we  cannot  but  admire  and  wonder 
at  the  rare  spirit  of  humility,  devotion,  consecration,  prayer 
and  love  for  his  Saviour. 

The  journal  also  shows  what  writers  and  books  influenced 
his  inner  life  at  this  period.  Had  he  had  access  to  good  Eng- 
lish translations  of  Gerhard's  Sacred  Meditations;  Arndt's 
True  Christianity;  Starke's  Hand  Book  and  Sermons;  Scriv- 
er's  Soul  Treasury,  (Seelenschatz)  ;  Calvor's  Heavenly  Lad- 
der of  Devotion;  Starke's  Synopsis  and  other  such  works  which 
so  beautifully  combine  doctrine  and  devotion  and  in  which  the 
Lutheran  Church  is  richer  than  any  other  church,  his  mind 
would  have  been  clearer  and  his  heart  more  full  of  that  happy 
quiet,  trust,  and  peace,  so  characteristic  of  the  devout  Lutheran 
Christian. 

As  we  read  this  journal  we  begin  to  understand  the  secret 
of  that  wonderful  life  and  of  its  marvelous  achievements.  We 
also  see  clearly  what  is  the  cause  of  the  barrenness  in  so  much 
of  our  pastoral  and  church  life.  God  is  ready  to  give  grace 
and  power  and  fruit  to  us  as  He  was  to  give  them  to  Passavant. 
Wherever  the  same  spirit  of  faith  and  of  prayer,  the  same 
readiness  to  serve  and  to  sacrifice,  and  to  spend  and  be  spent, 
are  present,  there  the  same  blessings  will  be  present  also.  As 
nothing  that  we  can  say  can  give  so  clear  an  insight  into  the 
inner  spirit  and  nature  of  this  young  man  in  the  theological 
seminary,  we  present  a  few  extracts  from  his  journal. 

The  caption  is : 

' '  Do  all  to  the  glory  of  God. ' ' 

Jan.  1.,  1841.  How  swift  the  days  and  years  of  our  life 
are  passing  along.  Yesterday  evening  and  this  morning;  how 
like  the  day  of  our  birth  and  death !  May  God  so  add  grace  to 
my  weak  and  feeble  strength,  as  to  support  me  in  all  the  trials 
of  the  coming  year,  so  that  instead  of  my  doubting  heart,  my 
mountain  may  be  made  strong.  In  Thy  name.  Blessed  Jesus, 
would  I  begin  the  new  year.  In  Thy  strength  would  I  fight 
against  sm,   and  in  humble  reliance  on   Thy  blood  would  I 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  65 

pray  for  the  pardon  of  all  my  sins  and  guilt.  To  Thy  glory 
would  I  live  and  study  and  labor  and  pray.  Do  help  me  to  do 
all  things  to  Thy  praise  and  honor.  I  have  drawn  up  the 
following  resolutions  and,  with  a  firm  conviction  that  I  can  do 
all  things  through  Christ  which  strengtheneth  me,  I  set  them 
down  in  writing,  where  I  can  see  and  read  them  every  day. 

First,  that  I  will  in  addition  to  my  present  private 
duties,  daily  commit  one  verse  of  Scripture,  commencing  at 
the  Epistle  to  the  Romans. 

Second,  that  when  arguing  with  a  Brother  I  will  not 
interrupt  him,  while  speaking. 

Third,  that  whenever  I  feel  in  an  indolent  state  of  mind, 
then  I  will  cry  for  help  and  go  immediately  to  my  studies. 

Fourth,  if  possible  always  to  finish  whatever  I  have  com- 
menced before  it  lies  on  my  hands. 

Fifth,  to  endeavor  to  live  more  by  system,  especially  in 
the  time  and  hours  of  studying  particular  lessons  and  tran- 
scribing the  lectures,  etc. 

Sixth,  whenever  anyone  gives  me  an  unkind  word,  not  to 
reply  before  going  over  the  Lord's  Prayer. 

Jan.  2.  Began  the  method  of  "a  verse  a  day",  and  find  it 
an  excellent  help  to  the  proper  understanding  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  In  II.  Cor.  13  :5,  I  find  the  words,  "Know  ye  not  your 
own  selves  how  that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye  be  repro- 
bates;" after  this  can  anyone  deny  the  possibility,  yea  the  abso- 
lute necessity,  of  every  man's  knowing  whether  he  is  a  Christ- 
ian?  Retired  to  rest  at  ten. 

I  wrote  a  letter  to  a  dear  Christian  brother  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  encouraged  him  to  persevere  in  the  way  of  the  Lord.  Re- 
tired to  rest  at  eleven  after  a  precious  season  in  private 
duties. 

Jan.  4.  Notwithstanding  a  great  deal  of  interruption  the 
Lord  granted  me  much  liberty  in  prayer  and  reading  the 
Scriptures.  In  looking  over  the  hours  of  the  past  day,  how 
many  instances  of  awful  sins  committed  do  I  find.  0,  what  a 
thorn  in  the  flesh  is  my  light  disposition,  prompting  me  almost 
continually  to  mirth  and  sinful  conduct.  I  can  truly  say,  "It 
is  of  Thy  mercy  and  goodness,  0  my  God,  that  I  am  not  con- 
sumed", and  spurned  from  the  seat  of  mercy.  But  where  can 
I  go  or  whither  shall  I  fly?  Lord,  I  would  humbly  come  to 
Thee,  for  Thou  only  hast  mercy  and  pardon. 


« 


66  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"In  Thy  dear  wounds  I'll  find  relief, 
And  hide  me  when  my  troubles  rise." 

I  feel  a  deeper  work  is  necessary,  and  I  long  to  be  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  love  of  the  Saviour;  to  derive  all  my  enjoy- 
ment from  Him;  to  go  to  Him  under  every  temptation  and 
assault;  and  to  war  against  all  sin,  in  the  strength  of  my  Re- 
deemer. Lord,  Thou  knowest  this  is  the  sincere  desire  of  my 
heart.  0,  come  quickly.  Come  quickly,  and  visit  me  with 
Thy  salvation.  Wrote  to  sister  Virginia  on  the  subject  of 
enjoying  a  nearness  to  our  blessed  Master.  May  it  be  blessed 
to  her  soul. 

Jan.  11.  Was  enabled  to  begin  the  day  with  prayer  for 
the  presence  of  God,  as  soon  as  I  awoke.  I  feel  conscious  of 
repeated  instances  of  a  trifling  and  thoughtless  disposition 
during  the  past  day.  0,  when  shall  I  feel  the  presence  of  my 
Saviour  with  such  power  as  to  exclude  all  thought  of  sin  and  the 
world.  Spent  a  happy  season  in  prayer  this  evening  and  felt  it 
indeed  a  privilege  to  call  on  God  in  prayer.  Retired  to  rest 
at  ten. 

Today  my  thoughts  have  wandered  on  a  subject  which  I 
have  for  once  and  ever  forbidden  myself  while  in  the  course  of 
preparation  for  the  ministry.  May  grace  be  given  me  to  avoid 
everything  which  would  draw  away  my  soul  from  the  Saviour. 
Retired  to  rest  at  eleven. 

Today  while  reading  in  the  "Accounts  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  Pennsylvania",  published  in  Halle  in  1744,  my 
feelings  were  very  much  drawn  out  to  those  who  risked  all  to 
preach  Christ  in  the  Western  World.  Shall  I  ever  be  thought 
worthy  of  such  an  honor  as  this?  The  idea  of  proclaiming  a 
Redeemer  to  a  world  in  sin  and  misery,  is  to  me  the  most 
exciting  and  glorious  of  all  other  aims;  and  if  I  too  am  to  take 
a  part  in  the  ministry,  I  will  thank  and  praise  God  through- 
out all  eternity. 

The  Bible,  I  fear  is  not  as  precious  to  me  as  it  once  was. 
Then  the  good  book  was  my  pocket  companion,  and  whenever 
alone  its  precious  pages  were  opened  and  read  with  delight. 
Is  this  because  I  do  not  read  it  enough?  Examine  and  see  what 
is  the  reason  of  this,  O  my  soul.  Felt  some  encouragement  to 
continue  on  in  earnest  prayer  for  greater  holiness  of  heart  and 
soul.    On  this  subject  I  have  received  much  light  from  reading 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  67 

the  Memoirs  of  Carvasso,  a  brother  of  the  Methodist  connection 
in  England.    Retired  to  rest  at  ten. 

Jan.  23.  It  is  with  a  full  heart  that  I  sit  down  to  record 
the  mercy  of  God  to  my  soul  during  the  last  week.  During  the 
last  three  days  the  candle  of  the  Lord  often  shone  in  my  heart 
and  my  desires  after  holiness  of  body  and  soul  were  stronger 
than  ever.  Surely  this  is  of  the  Lord's  doings,  and  not  by 
works  of  righteousness  which  I  have  done.  At  different  times  in 
prayer,  I  had  the  assurance  that  my  sins  were  all  pardoned  for 
Jesus'  sake.  And  I  was  happy  in  believing.  0,  may  this  be 
but  the  beginning  of  good  times  to  unw^orthy  me.  But  after 
all,  a  dark  cloud  would  now  and  then  dim  my  vision  and  show 
me  the  wickedness  of  my  unsanctified  heart.  Lord,  I  would  live 
nearer  the  cross  of  my  Master,  Jesus,  and  enjoy  His  presence 
every  moment  of  this  day. 

"O,  that  I   could   forever   sit 
"With  Mary  at  the  Master's  feet! 

Be  this  my  happy  choice. 
My   only  care,   delight   and  bliss, 
^y   joy,    my    heaven    on    earth    be    this, 

To    hear    the    Bridegroom 's    voice. 
O,   that   I   could   with   favored   John, 
Recline  my  weary  head  upon 

My  dear  Redeemer's  breast! 
From  care  and  sin,  and  sorrow  free, 
Give  me,  O  Lord,  to  find  in  Thee 

My  everlasting  rest." 

Jan.  25.  After  retiring  to  rest  last  night,  a  sweet  and  de- 
lightful peace  filled  my  heart  and  I  lay  for  an  hour  pouring 
out  my  heart  in  praise  to  God  for  his  gracious  presence  to  un- 
worthy me.  Much  liberty  and  peace  was  my  portion  in  the 
private  duties  of  this  morning.  How  gladly  would  I  have 
spent  the  day  in  prayer  to  the  prayer-answering  God.  When 
I  awoke  this  morning,  my  spirit  was  perfectly  indifferent  and 
while  I  cried  for  help  to  sustain  me  through  the  day,  the 
precious  words  came  to  my  mind,  "I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  strengthening  me " .  . . .  During  the  day  the  pressure  of 
studies  was  so  great  as  almost  to  keep  my  thoughts  from  God 
and  Heaven.  But  I  longed  for  the  presence  of  Him  "Whom 
my  soul  loveth",  and  I  was  still  happy  in  Him.  How  ought  I 
to  pray*  for  the  meek  and  gentle  spirit  of  Christ !  Today 
several  times  the  angry  passions  rose  within,  and  I  was  com- 
pelled to  ask  myself,  are  not  all  the  joys  you  have  lately  ex- 


68  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

perienced  the  effect  of  natural  excitement  instead  of  the  com- 
forts of  the  Spirit?  Lord  help  me  to  examine  and  prove  myself 
in  this  matter.  Let  me  be  simple  and  humble  as  a  little  child  in 
all  my  words  and  actions.  .  Let  me  pray  for  the  meek  and 
lowly  spirit  of  Jesus. 

Feb.  1.  This  has  been  a  good  day  to  my  soul,  and  the 
mystery  of  justification  by  faith  is  opening  before  me.  I  find 
a  constant  dialogue  going  on  within,  and  the  question  often 
arises,  "Are  you  not  presuming  too  much  by  ceasing  to  trust  in 
works,  for  the  grace  of  God?"  "How  can  simple  faith  take 
away  your  sins?"  "Is  not  this  a  doctrine  of  convenience  to 
get  released  from  the  trouble  and  gall  of  repentance?"  Thank 
God  my  Bible  answers  all  these  difficulties  for  me  and  I  rejoice 
that  "God  can  be  just  and  yet  the  justifier  of  him  who  believeth 
in  Jesus"  and  that  it  is  by  faith  and  not  the  works  of  the  Law 
that  we  stand  acquitted  in  the  presence  of  God. 

Feb.  6.  Blessed  be  God  for  the  bodily  afflictions  with 
which  I  am  tried.  They  have  taught  me  to  place  all  my  de- 
pendence on  God  and  have  led  me  by  a  painful  course  to  feel 
that  nothing  but  faith  in  Christ  can  save  my  soul.  Thanks  to 
the  unspeakable  mercy  of  Him  who  maketh  all  things  to  work 
together  for  good  to  those  who  love  Him.  0,  how  greatly  have 
my  views  been  altered  since  the  beginning  of  this  year!  It 
seems  scarcely  possible  to  believe  that  I  have  professed  to  love 
the  Lord  for  so  long  a  time,  and  never  knew  what  was  meant 
by  justifying  faith.  Long  have  I  prayed  and  sought  for  this 
great  blessing,  but  no  one  directed  me  and  I  endeavored  to  ob- 
tain it  by  the  works  of  the  Law.  -Thanks  to  the  unspeakable 
mercy  of  God  that  I  was  sho^ATi  that  nothing  but  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ  could  give  relief.  My  peace  has  flowed  out  like  a 
river  since  then  and  I  cannot  doubt  of  my  acceptance  with  my 
heavenly  Friend!  Glory  to  God  for  this  change.  If  it  is  a  de- 
lusion, how  precious  is  the  delusion !  Read  considerable  in  the 
Memoirs  of  Whitefield,  by  Phillips.  There  are  many  new  and 
interesting   facts   related   of   this   blessed   "Gospel   man".      O, 

may  I  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ Wrote  a  letter 

to  Mr.  Schweigert,  the  young  man  who  is  studying  at  Canons- 
burg.     Retired  to  rest  at  eleven. 

Feb.  10.  Rev.  Cares  and  Reynolds  preached  this  evening. 
As  I  listened  to  the  latter  addressing  an  audience  of  anxious 
enquiring  souls,  as  if  in  a  lecture  room,  an  awful  horror 
chilled   my   very   soul.      May    God   enable   me    (if    spared    to 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  69 

labor  in  the  cause)  to  be  earnest  and  importunate  in  urging 
sinners  to  repentance  and  in  warning  them  to  flee  the  wrath 
to  come.  How  can  anyone  speak  in  a  cold  and  formal  manner 
on  such  an  occasion?  Methinks  the  plain  truths  of  God's  good 
book  must  make  the  minister  earnest  and  all  on  fire.  Perhaps 
this  sermon  was  permitted,  to  make  us  feel  that  all  the  power 
is  of  God  and  that  vain  is  the  help  of  man ! 

Hope  often  sinks  within  me  and  the  prospect  of  being 
prevented  from  entering  the  ministry  fills  me  with  dismay. 
The  swelling  in  my  throat  does  not  seem  to  grow  less  and  when 
I  think  of  the  probable  consequences  of  such  a  disease  my  heart 
sickens  and  I  am  ready  to  faint  from  absolute  despair.  But 
why  this  murmuring  and  repining?  Surely  the  God  of  heaven 
will  do  right!  Lord,  Thou  knowest  the  desire  which  is  upper- 
most in  my  heart.  But  Thy  will  not  mine  be  done.  Here  am 
I,  ready  at  Thy  command  to  go  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  and  preach  Christ  crucified.  Speak  but  the  word  and  Thy 
servant  shall  be  made  every  whit  whole. 

Feb.  13.  Employed  this  afternoon  in  reading  Tholuck's 
sermons.  Blessed  be  God  that  there  are  not  wanting  faithful 
witnesses  for  His  cause  in  Germany.  Surely  true  religion  is  the 
same  in  every  clime  and  in  every  age,  and  when  I  read  the 
writings  of  such  a  one,  an  ApoUos  in  very  deed,  mighty  in 
the  Scriptures,  and  find  that  faith  in  Christ  is  held  up  as  the 
condition  of  our  acceptance  with  God,  I  am  more  and  more 
confirmed  in  the  conviction  that  God  in  His  infinite  mercy  has 
brought  me  to  know  how  He  can  be  just  and  still  the  justifier 
of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus. 

Feb.  14.  Have  determined  by  the  help  of  God  to  have  an 
English  congregation  established  in  the  city  .  of  Cincinnati. 
The  plan  is,  to  collect  two  hundred  dollars  and  with  this  sum 
assist  a  single  man  during  the  first  year  of  his  labor.  At  present 
I  employ  my  leisure  hours  in  writing  a  series  of  articles  in  the 
Observer  on  this  subject.  In  the  first  number  which  will  ap- 
pear tomorrow,  I  started  a  subscription  to  this  effect  with 
twenty-five  dollars.  Some  I  expect  to  receive  from  my  Alma- 
nac. May  the  blessings  of  God  rest  upon  this  humble  attempt 
to  do  good  work. 

Feb.  21.  Enjoyed  a  delightful  season  in  reading  the 
Scriptures  and  prayer,  but  did  not  possess  a  calm  and  meek 
spirit  during  the  past  day.  Was  greatly  troubled  by  visitors 
whose  conversation  was  not  of  such  kind  as  to  help  on  the  soul 


70  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

in  the  divine  life.  Made  considerable  progress  in  the  German 
studies  and  worked  a  couple  of  hours  at  the  hymn  book  which 
I  am  now  preparing  for  the  press.  Have  concluded  to  call  it 
the  "Cottage  Hymns".  Blessed  be  God  for  the  privilege  of 
thus  laboring  in  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer. 

Lord's  day,  25.  My  time  during  the  past  has  been  taken 
up  in  attending  to  the  duties  of  the  seminary  and  working  at 
the  "Cottage  Hymns".  I  have  read  nothing  but  the  Bible 
during  this  time  and  have  reason  to  bless  God  for  much  com- 
fort and  instruction.  This  shall  be  my  man  of  counsel  and  my 
system  of  theology.  May  I  read  and  study  it  with  childlike 
simplicity  and  receive  the  word  in  the  love  of  it.  As  long  as 
I  know  so  little  of  the  Bible  I  shall  study  nothing  in  the  shape 
of  systems  of  divinity,  they  are  mere  dross  in  comparison  with 
the  pure  gold  of  the  Word. 

The  blessed  Lord  has  opened  the  hearts  of  His  servants  to 
the  wants  of  our  brethren  in  Cincinnati.  Two  hundred  and 
fifty-five  dollars  are  pledged,  though  only  two  hundred  dollars 
were  proposed.  Sent  off  the  fourth  number  on  this  subject  to 
the  Observer  this  evening.  My  poor  little  essays  are  awakening 
an  interest  ill  this  cause  and  I  humbly  trust  the  enterprise  will 
be  carried  through  this  fall.  To  God  be  all  the  glory.  Oh,  for 
a  heart  to  thank  Him  for  this  privilege  of  doing  a  little  service 
in  the  Master's  cause.    Amen. 

Read  considerable  in  the  life  of  Joseph  Alleine,  the  author 
of  the  "Alarm".  Truly  he  was  a  burning  and  shining  light  in 
the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  perverse  generation.  As  he  re- 
sembled Christ,  may  I  imitate  him.  Took  a  walk  of  several 
miles  with  brother  Gunn.  We  spoke  of  our  spiritual  state,  and 
retired  to  a  wood  to  spend  a  season  in  prayer.  It  was  good  to 
be  there. 

Oct.  29.  Returned  from  home  the  day  before  yesterday  in 
good  health  and  circumstances  of  mercy.  Had  a  delightful 
Christian  company  in  the  stage,  and  the  road  from  Pittsburg 
to  this  place  was  spent  in  speaking  of  the  things  of  God  and 
singing  the  sweet  hymns  of  Zion.  Blessed  be  God  for  the  com- 
munion of  saints  in  this  lower  world. 

Determined  to  begin  this  session  by  fasting  and  prayer 
and  was  thus  engaged  when  one  of  our  old  students  paid  us  a 
visit.  I  was  so  engaged  in  conversation  that  my  thoughts 
wandered  entirely  off  and  I  nevermore  thought  of  fasting  till 
I  found  myself  by  the  dinner  table.     Shame  on  me!     I  did  not 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  71 

resume  these  duties  after  dinner,  my  resolution  was  broken 
and  I  spent  the  day  to  very  little  purpose.  Endeavored  to 
cast  myself  in  the  arms  of  my  heavenly  Father,  and  think  I 
felt  that  the  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin.  When  I 
compare  the  views  and  feelings  of  last  session  to  those  I  now 
have,  I  fear  I  have  made  little  progress  during  the  vacation, 
perhaps  none  at  all!  If  I  know  my  own  heart  I  do  desire  to 
serve  and  love  God,  but  there  is  such  an  indifference  and  want 
of  spirituality  in  all  my  attempts  and  prayers,  that  I  almost 
despair  of  getting  free  from  this  miserable  state.    Come  quickly, 

0  Lord,  and  bring  deliverance.  Gave  five  dollars  to  a  poor  stu- 
dent and  five  dollars  more  to  assist  the  mission  in  P I 

have  been  greatly  encouraged  since  my  return  by  hearing  that 
several  persons  have  been  moved  by  my  humble  essays  in  the 
Observer  to  go  to  Cincinnati.  It  is  not  known  who  wrote  them. 
Let  not  this  enterprise  fall  through,  merciful  God,  but  prosper 
it  for  Thine  own  glory.  Amen.  Good  Father  Reck  has  an  idea 
of  going  there  as  a  missionary,  Hope  and  pray  he  may  not 
give  it  up. 

6th.  Went  to  the  mission  station  in  Fountain  Dale  in 
company  with  brother  Gunn.  Had  an  interesting  though  a 
cold  ride.  Slept  with  Mr.  B.  and  was  very  kindly  treated. 
After  supper  paid  a  visit  to  a  family  a  quarter  mile  off,  where 
there  was  a  young  boy  who  greatly  desires  to  obtain  an  edu- 
cation. Gave  him  such  advice  as  we  thought  appropriate. 
Before  leaving  asked  permission  to  have  family  worship  which 
was  granted  with  all  readiness.  Brother  Gunn  made  some 
feeling  remarks,  and  I  closed  with  prayer.  As  a  matter  of 
course  we  recommended  the  Lutheran  Observer  to  him,  and 
he  willingly  subscribed. 

Preaching  this  morning  by  Dr.  Krauth  from  the  words 
"Blessed  is  the  man  who  trusteth  in  Thee".     Feel  sorry  that 

1  expressed  myself  so  freely  on  the  character  of  his  preaching. 
On  account  of  the  absence  of  brother  B.  I  superintended  the 
colored  Sunday  school.  Eighty  scholars  were  present,  and 
everything  was  done  decently  and  in  order.  A  poor  drunken 
man  came  in  and  remained  quietly  seated  during  the  whole  time. 
Took  him  out  in  the  passage  and  spoke  with  him  on  the  danger 
he  was  in  of  losing  his  soul  in  hell,  by  indulging  in  this  vice. 
He  hearkened  as  a  poor  drunkard  usually  does.  Said  he  knew 
all  these  things.  I  then  repeated  to  him  that  he  who  knew  his 
Master's  wiU  and  did  it  not,  would  be  punished  with  many 


72  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

stripes.  He  returned  with  me  to  the  school  and  behaved  very- 
well.  God  have  pity  on  this  poor  man,  and  use  me  as  an  instru- 
ment to  bring  him  to  Thee.  Made  an  address  to  the  school. 
Considerable  liberty  in  speakincr,  though  not  without  tempta- 
tions to  be  spiritually  proud.  Saw  some  tears  flow,  they  were 
as  fire  in  my  bones  and  aroused  me  to  great  earnestness  in 
urging  repentance  and  faith  in  Christ. 

The  brethren  who  were  at  Fountain  Dale  brought  the 
the  news  that  a  mighty  work  is  going  on  in  Lanesboro.  Glory 
to  God  in  the  Highest!  Let  it  spread  most  gloriously  over  the 
whole  country.  Amen  and  amen.  Gray-headed  sinners  are 
among  the  converts  and  young  men  and  women.  To  God  be 
all  the  praise. 

As  there  was  no  conference  this  morning  on  account  of 
Dr.  Schmueker's  absence,  spent  the  time  in  reading  the 
Scriptures  and  Fletcher's  Life.  Am  surprised  and  rejoiced  to 
find  my  experience  on  the  subject  of  justifying  faith  so  like 
his  own.  And  I  bless  God  that  my  views  were  not  gained  from 
books  or  treatises  but  in  the  bitter  yet  blessed  school  of  exper- 
ience. Preaching  or  rather  reading  in  church  this  morning  by 
Prof.  Reynolds.  What  a  pitiable  substitute  for  the  preached  Gos- 
pel are  these  modern  discourses !  Went  to  see  a  German  family 
in  the  afternoon  to  lend  them  some  tracts  but  no  one  was  home, 
so  I  went  to  a  second  house  and  left  one  with  a  prayer  for  its 
success.  Had  a  conversation  this  evening  with  one  of  the  col- 
lege students,  pleaded  and  prayed  with  him  to  bestir  himself  and 
labor  for  the  conversion  of  his  companions.  Endeavored  to 
show  him  that  now  was  the  time  to  be  useful,  and  urged  him 
not  to  put  off  making  efforts  until  he  should  enter  the  ministry. 
Hope  my  efforts  were  not  in  vain.  Wrote  a  letter  to  Miss  M. 
in  Canonsburg  enclosing  three  dollars  for  my  poor  old  widow 
there,  and  also  a  second  letter  to  them  beseeching  them  to  make 
their  peace  with  God  ere  they  are  no  more.  Retired  to  rest 
with  a  calm  and  peaceful  mmd  and  with  many  prayers  for 
blessings  on  the  labors  of  the  past  day. 

Yesterday  evening  brother  S.,  the  young  man  whom  I 
brought  from  Canonsburg,  gave  me  the  history  of  his  conver- 
sion. How  was  I  humbled  when  he  mentioned  me  as  the  in- 
strument of  arousing  him  from  the  security  of  his  natural 
life!  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest  for  this  amazing  honor.  Let 
me  not  become  puffed  up  with  self  on  account  of  it  but  be 
made  more  humble  and  little  in  my  own  sight. 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  73 

Several  of  the  little  girls  and  boys  of  our  steward  came 
to  my  room  and  recited  the  hymns  I  had  given  them.  We  sang 
several  of  them  together.  I  then  gave  them  some  appropriate 
tracts  to  read  and  bade  them  come  again.  Query,  are  they 
not  old  enough  to  become  the  disciples  of  Jesus,  and  can  I  not 
strive  to  make  them  such? 

Sabbath  day,  Dec.  5.  Have  had  a  slight  attack  of  fever 
for  several  days  past.  During  this  time  I  have  been  in  great 
darkness,  resulting  from  omission  of  known  and  important 
duties. 

Instead  of  becoming  meeker  under  the  rod  of  affliction,  I 
made  an  excuse  for  my  indisposition,  and  did  not  give  the 
allotted  time  to  prayer  and  the  word.  Shame  on  me !  Was  not 
careful  to  conceal  the  faults  of  a  brother,  on  the  contrary,  spoke 
of  them  where  I  should  not.  My  iniquities  have  risen  above 
me  and  my  sins  are  more  than  the  hairs  of  my  head. 

On  Thursday  evening  the  Lutheran  Observer  came  to  hand 
informing  me  that  one  of  the  Ohio  Synods  and  the  Synod  of 
the  West  had  pledged  themselves  to  raise  four  hundred  dollars 
for  the  support  of  the  missionary  at  Cincinnati.  The  venerable 
Father  Reck  has  been  sent  there  and  the  mission  has  com- 
menced !  Ten  thousand  praises  to  the  glorious  name  of  the 
Lord.  I  am  overwhelmed  with  gratitude  and  joy  at  this  happy 
result  of  my  poor  labors.  Blessed  be  His  name  that  the  weak 
things  of  this  world  are  taken  to  confound  the  things  that  are 
mighty.  Surely  it  was  God  who  put  it  into  my  heart  to  write 
these  articles  and  it  was  the  same  Almighty  power  who  dis- 
posed the  hearts  of  the  brethren  to  lend  a  helping  hand.  On 
reading  this  intelligence  I  closed  the  door  and  bowed  my 
knees  in  prayer  and  praise  to  Him  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all 
men  in  His  hands.  Oh,  may  I  be  kept  humble  and  lowly  under 
all  this  honor  which  God  has  put  upon  me. 

While  on  a  visit  at  the  H.  I  heard  a  sermon  which  I  pray 
I  may  never  forget.  In  the  course  of  the  conversation  I  used 
a  coarse  word  which  was  both  undignified  and  vulgar.  The 
little  boy  who  was  sitting  at  the  table  and  hearing  it  com- 
menced laughing  most  boisterously  so  that  his  mother  had  to 
reprove  him.  The  reproof  came  from  an  unexpected  quarter 
and  went  like  lightning  to  my  inmost  soul.  Friends  pass  over 
our  faults  out  of  respect  to  our  feelings  and  in  this  way  we  ob- 
serve them  not,  but  when  children    and    domestics    make    an 


74  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

error  on  our  account  it  is  time  to  watch  out  and  guard  against 
them. 

Lord's  day,  Dec.  19.  Sent  a  communication  on  the  subject 
of  the  mission  to  C.  to  the  Observer,  enclosing  thirty  dollars 
to  this  object.  Five  dollars  of  this  I  begged  and  the  other 
twenty-five  are  from  my  "poor  purse."  Blessed  be  God,  I 
have  been  able  to  give  away  forty-two  dollars  during  the  last 
twelve  months  to  different  benevolent  objects.  I  have  at- 
tained this  amount  by  making  no  unnecessary  expenses,  by 
wearing  plain  clothes  and  by  taking  care  of  them  and  by  the 
proceeds  of  my  Almanac.  It  is  well  for  me  that  I  have  no 
worldly  posessions,  for  I  fear  I  could  not  keep  them,  the  cry 
for  spiritual  bread  is  so  great!  However,  my  pocket  has  never 
been  empty  during  all  this  time,  a  thing  that  is  quite  unac- 
countable to  me. 

Saturday  evening  paid  a  visit  to  the  reformed  drunkard 
who  accompanied  me  to  Rock  Creek  Chapel.  Spoke  with  him  re- 
specting his  soul,  and  he  seemed  somewhat  moved.  He  in- 
formed me  that  he  had  not  been  to  church  till  lately  for  nine 
years.    May  God  have  mercy  on  him.    Amen. 

Am  a  little  cast  down  in  spirit  on  account  of  the  continued 
soreness  of  my  throat.  But  my  times  are  in  Thy  hands,  Lord 
of  hosts.    I  can  trust  Thee  for  a  sound  throat 

Fountain  Dale,  Pennsylvania,  Jan.  4.,  1842.  Brother 
Brown  and  I  went  out  this  morning  up  the  mountain  and  con- 
tinued until  evening  visiting  from  house  to  house.  In  all 
fifteen  families  were  visited,  with  all  of  whom  we  read  the 
Scriptures,  prayed,  and  warned  everyone  separately  as  God 
gave  us  grace.  In  almost  every. house  we  found  some  slain  by 
the  Spirit,  both  old  and  young,  moralists  and  drunkards,  Je- 
rusalem sinners,  and  Gospel-hardened. 

A  number  of  families  have  commenced  family  worship 
and  have  resolved  that,  let  others  do  as  they  will,  as  for  them 
and  their  houses,  they  will  serve  the  Lord. 

6th.  Visited  a  family  of  the  Methodist  Church  several 
miles  from  this  place,  who  are  engaged  in  the  whiskey  busi- 
ness, and  endeavored  to  show  them  the  sinfulness  of  their  con- 
duct. The  son  was  not  at  home  but  the  cause  found  an  advo- 
cate in  the  old  lady.  She  spoke  at  great  length  of  "The  wit- 
ness of  the  spirit,"  and  "The  fruits  of  good  living,"  but  could 
not  see  any  sin  in  giving  poison  to  her  fellow  men.     Gave  her 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTYSBURG.  75 

John  Wesley's  rule  "Never  to  engage  in  anything  on  which 
we  could  not  ask  the  blessing  of  God." 

Lord's  day,  9th.  This  evening  was  our  last  meeting  and 
as  I  felt  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  those  who  had  made  a 
commencement  in  the  new  life,  I  preached  from  these  words, 
"And  Ruth  said.  Entreat  me  not  to  leave  thee  or  return  from 
following  after  thee ;  for  whither  thou  goest  I  will  go ;  and  where 
thou  lodgest  I  will  lodge;  thy  people  shall  be  my  people  and 
thy  God  my  God."  Every  space  was  crowded  to  excess  and 
some  out  in  the  cold ;  though  I  was  weak,  God  so  mightily  stood 
by  and  strengthened  me  that  I  spoke  with  ease  and  great  en- 
largement for  the  space  of  an  hour.  I  endeavored  to  show  the 
character,  manners,  duties,  etc.  of  God's  people  in  such  a  way 
that  those  who  had  been  lately  justified  might  be  benefited,  and 
what  was  meant  by  taking  God  as  our  God.  The  conclusion 
was  awfully  solemn  and  tears  fell  like  the  rain.  After  I  con- 
cluded brother  Leffler  bade  them  in  like  manner  farewell.     We 

then  sang  a  parting  hymn We  then  united  in  prayer 

and  were  dismissed.  After  this  we  shook  hands  and  amid  many 
kind  wishes  and  much  weeping  bade  them  adieu. 

Oh  how  delightfully  has  the  last  week  passed  away!  The 
sweet  hours  spent  in  visiting  from  house  to  house  and  pointing 
souls  to  Jesus,  will  not.  soon  be  forgotton.  Neither  Will  we 
soon  forget  the  scenes  of  God's  power  which  were  witnessed  in 
the  Schoolhouse  in  Fountain  Dale.  We  may  well  say,  "What 
hath  God  wrought!"  Upwards  of  thirty  persons  of  different 
ages  and  both  sexes,  have,  we  trust,  been  justified  by  faith  in 
Jesus  Christ.  Probably  a  score  or  more  are  still  seeking  de- 
liverance from  their  sins.  That  these  precious  souls  might  not 
be  turned  to  the  world,  we  organized  a  prayer  meeting  to  be 
held  every  Sabbath  evening,  and  thirteen  persons  have  signified 
their  willingness  to  unite  in  prayer.  God  help  them  all  to  con- 
tinue unto  the  end.  Two  problems  have  been  solved  in  my 
mind  by  these  means.  First,  that  I  am  so  far  recovered  from 
sore  throat  that  I  may  yet  become  useful  in  the  Master's  ser- 
vice. Secondly,  that  I  shall  not  be  under  the  necessity  of  writing 
out  my  sermons,  but  can  speak  with  freedom  after  faithfully 
studying  the  subject. 

13th.  No  diary  since  Monday.  I  feel  every  day  the  need 
of  a  deeper  work  within.  I  want  more  love,  more  meekness, 
more  charity,  more  faith  and  confidence  in  the  promises  of  God. 
Believing  that  fasting  will  prove  of  the  greatest  benefit  to  my 


76  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

growth  in  the  love  of  Christ,  I  hereby  resolve  in  the  strength 
of  God:  to  abstain  from  animal  food  on  Wednesdays  and  Fri- 
days and  so  arrange  my  studies  that  I  will  be  able  to  devote 
much  of  this  time  to  meditation  and  prayer.  In  looking  over 
the  past  day,  I  am  clearly  convinced  of  the  following  sins :  One, 
desire  for  praise;  two,  waste  of  time;  three,  ingratitude  to 
God  for  mercies;  four,  want  of  meekness  and  heavenly  mind- 
edness;  five,  eating  more  than  a  sufficiency  of  food.  May  God 
give  me  grace  to  shun  them  for  time  to  come. 

Had  a  long  walk  and  conversation  with  brother  Ziegler. 
The  question  was,  "How  can  we  make  ourselves  more  useful 
than  heretofore?"  The  answer  agreed  upon  was,  first,  by 
praying  more  fervently  for  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  our 
midst.  Second,  by  walking  more  constantly  before  God  and 
our  fellow  men.  Third,  by  embracing  every  opportunity  of 
speaking  to  brethren  of  the  college  and  urging  them  to  more 
direct  effort  for  the  conversion  of  their  fellow  students.  May 
we  have  grace  from  on  high  to  do  our  duty  in  these  things. 

Visited  Prof.  Baugher  this  evening  but  not  finding  him 
home  walked  down  to  the  "poor  house"  where  I  found  a  poor, 
sick  man  with  whom  I  conversed  and  prayed. 

18th.  and  19th.  Received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Morris,  on  the 
reception  of  which  I  commenced  writing  a  preface  to  Luther's 
Preface  to  the  Romans,  and  continued  writing  till  twelve  in 
the  night.  Today  I  finished.  May  souls  be  saved  by  this  little 
treatise ....  Took  a  walk  and  met  with  a  poor  German  break- 
ing stones  on  the  turnpike.  We  conversed  together  for  an 
hour  on  the  subject  of  religion.  I  think  I  could  see  something 
like  spirituality  in  his  conversation.  Perhaps  he  may  be  one 
of  God's  dear  children!    Promised  to  pay  him  a  visit  out  in 

the  country Read  considerably  in  the  journal  of  John 

Wesley.     What  a  saint!    How    beautifully    the    fruits    of    the 
Spirit  were  manifested  in  his  walk  and  conversation. 

Jan.  30.  Spent  the  greater  part  of  the  afternoon  in  read- 
ing Wesley's  journal. 

Feb.  1.  Have  spent  a  most  heartless  day.  The  reason  is 
plain:  I  was  not  diligent  in  business  and  consequently  not 
fervent  in  spirit.  These  two  things  always  go  hand  in  hand 
with  me.    Lord,  make  me  more  careful  to  improve  and  redeem 

the  time In  reviewing  the  past  days  of  my  life,  I  am 

clearly  convinced:    one,  that  half  of  my  time  has  been  lost  by 
the  want  of  system,  two,  that  if  I  wish  to  become  useful  in  the 


IN  THE  SEMINARY  AT  GETTY SBVRG,.  11 

church  I  must  study  more  and  that  more  thoroughly.  In  order 
to  remedy  the  first  and  carry  out  the  second,  I  hereby  lay 
down  for  my  direction  the  following  rules:  First,  before  re- 
tiring at  night  I  will  make  a  system  of  action  for  the  coming 
day. 

Second,  before  going  into  the  room  of  a  brother,  I  will  ask 
myself,  "Is  it  absolutely  necessary? " 

Third,  When  I  visit  the  room  of  anyone  I  will  attend  to 
my  message  and  go  away. 

Fourth,  That  I  will  study  more  critically,  frequently  asking 
myself,  "Do  I  comprehend  the  author 's  meaning, ' '  and  after 
having  gone  over  the  lesson,  ask,  **Can  you  give  the  arguments 
and  facts  as  they  occur  ? " 

Oh  may  God  help  me  to  observe  these  simple  directions! 
Then  can  I  live  twice  where  before  I  scarcely  lived  once. 


78  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 


CHAPTER  V. 

^  FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE. 

As  we  have  seen  from  Mr.  Passavant's  journal,  before  he 
left  Gettysburg,  he  had  undertaken  to  raise  money  for  an  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  Church  in  Cincinnati.  In  this  he  had  succeeded 
•  and  at  his  suggestion  the  Rev.  A.  Reck  was  sent  there.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  English  Lutheran  work  in  Cincinnati. 

On  his  way  from  Zelienople,  where  he  had  taken  a  short 
rest,  to  Baltimore,  he  stopped  at  Wheeling,  preached  English 
in  the  German  church  and  was  deeply  impressed  wth  the  need 
of  an  English  mission  there.  He  tried  to  interest  some  others, 
but  they  were  not  so  sanguine  and  the  work  was  delayed  for 
a  time.  During  the  same  summer  he  began  to  agitate  for  an 
English  church,  in  Louisville,  Ky.  To  this  end  he  corresponded 
with  the  Rev.  M.  R.  McChesney,  personally  interested  leading 
men  in  the  east  and  advocated  the  project  in  the  Observer. 
This  resulted  in  the  beginning  of  the  English  work  in  that  city. 

Arriving  at  Baltimore,  young  Passavant  found  himself  in 
the  office  of  "The  Book  Company  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church  in  the  United  States"  as  nominally  assistant  editor  of 
the  Observer  but  really,  as  far  as  the  work  was  concerned,  prin- 
cipal editor  Dr.  Kurtz  told  him  on  his  return  from  his  jour- 
ney that  "all  things  had  been  conducted  according  to  his 
mind  in  his  absence  which  had  never  before  been  the  ease". 
Mr.  Passavant  writes  his  mother:  "The  difficulties  of  the  times 
have  given  Dr.  Kurtz  a  considerable  degree  of  sourness  in  all  his 
dealings  with  others  but  towards  me  he  has  hitherto  manifested 
a  kind  spirit  and  I  cannot  complain  of  anything  wrong  in  this 
quarter". 

His  former  fellow  student,  the  youthful  Charles  Porter- 
field  Krauth,  was  laboring  in  a  suburb  of  Baltimore  as  a 
licentiate  of  the  Maryland  Synod.  His  field  had  been  selected 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  G.  Morris.  The  mission  was  called  "The 
Congregational  Church  in  Canton  adjoining  Baltimore".  The 
field  is  thus  described  by  Mr.  Krauth  in  his  journal: 

"A  large  portion  of  the  inhabitants  are,  however,  from 
the  very  dregs  of  the  city.     The  number  of  inhabitants  within 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.        79 

a  distance  presenting  no  reasonable  obstacle  to  their  attendance 
on  my  preaching,  is  perhaps  two  hundred,  yet  even  of  this 
comparatively  small  number  only  a  small  minority  are  atten- 
dants on  divine  worship,  and  of  the  twenty  or  twenty-five  who 
attended  chapel  but  one  man  makes  a  profession  of  religion. 
He  together  with  two  or  three  pious  ladies  and  myself,  are  the 
forces  with  which  the  Lord  has  seen  proper  to  take  field  against 
satan  in  this  place.  'Not  by  might,  not  by  power,  but  by 
my  Spirit,'  is  the  greatest  declaration  that  He  has  made  of 
His  mode  of  operation.  In  Him  then  we  will  trust;  may  He, 
as  He  has  often  done,  conquer  the  mighty  by  the  weak,  and  by 
the  little  leaven  impenetrate  and  modify  the  whole  lump. 

"The  Sunday  school  numbers  about  twenty-five  today, 
having  nearly  doubled  its  number  since  the  Sabbath  I  came. 
There  are  now  three  female  and  three  male  teachers  including 
myself. ' ' 

After  laboring  there  for  nine  months,  Mr.  Krauth  writes: 

"My  congregation  at  Canton  does  not  increase  rapidly, 
nor  indeed  is  there  the  material  here  for  a  congregation.  There 
are  perhaps  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  from  whom 
the  church  is  at  a  convenient  distance,  including  all  men, 
women,  children  and  infants.  Of  these  some  attend  on  the 
Point,  some  cannot  be  persuaded  to  attend  anywhere,  some  are 
drunken  and  worthless  creatures,  so  that  after  having  gathered 
in  all  the  material  that  can  be  worked  upon,  there  are  not  a 
dozen  families  to  whom  we  can  reasonably  look  for  support. 
The  project  is  untenable,  in  this  present  form  almost  foolish, 
and  I  entertain  no  doubt  whatever,  that  in  another  sphere  I 
might  be  incalculably  more  useful.  If  the  representations 
made  to  me  by  some  in  regard  to  the  unhealthfulness  of  the 
place  should  be  at  all  realized,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  stay;  but 
I  think  they  are  exaggerated.  It  is  undoubtedly  fever-and- 
ague-ish". 

To  show  something  of  the  character  of  the  mission  work 
to  be  done  there,  we  give  this  characteristic  account  by  Mr.  K. 
of  one  of  his  pastoral  visits: 

"I  devote  every  afternoon  to  visiting.  I  go  to  a  house  at 
which  I  have  never  been.  Tap,  tap,  tap.  Enter,  a  dirty  woman, 
a  litter  of  puppies,  three  dirty  children,  like  the  king  and  the 
two  fiddlers  in  the  play.  'What  do  you  want?'  'I  am 
the  preacher,  ma'm,  I  preach  in  the  little  white  church  over 
here.'    'Yes,  sir.'    'I  guess,  ma'm,  I'll  walk  in  and  take  a  seat.' 


80  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

'Well,  I  guess  you  can.     Run,  Tommy,  empty  the  wash  water 
out  of  the  big  tub,  and  turn  it  up  ior  the  gentleman  to  sit  on, 
and  put  a  bone  on  the  fire  and  blow  it  up  clare. '    'Ain't  no 
bone,  mammy,  pup  run  off  with  it ;  hoop 's  off  the  big  tub.     The 
gentleman  will  get  spilled  if  he  sits  on  it.' 

' '  By  this  time  I  have  made  my  way  into  the  room  that  com- 
bines within  itself  the  various  characters  of  the  dining  room, 
drawing  room,  kitchen,  woodhouse,  ash  hole,  dirt  box,  sleeping 
room,  nursery,  parlor.  A  bedstead  without  a  bed,  a  hearth  with- 
out a  single  coal,  the  half  of  a  woodcut  once  occupying  the  head 
of  a  circus  placard  pasted  over  the  mantel  piece,  a  handful  of 
the  leaves  of  a  worm-eaten  and  dust-covered  Bible — a  table  with 
two  whole  legs,  with  one  broken  one,  and  with  another  one  not 
there,  a  triangular  piece  of  looking  glass  fixed  over  it  with  two 
tacks  and  a  piece  of  shoemaker's  wax,  the  bowl  and  part  of  the 
stem  of  a  common  tobacco  pipe,  and  one  solitary  skillet,  with 
the  same  number  of  feet  as  Ionic  verse,  constituted  the  furni- 
ture. 

"As  the  foreground  to  this  picture  let  me  present  to  your 
notice  the  aforesaid  mother,  children,  puppies,  and  the  pulices 
irritantes  (which  last  animated  little  being,  however,  no  living 
author  but  Combe  could  properlj^  develop  or  bring  into  full 
view).  Then  in  the  farthest  corner  with  the  brow  as  dark 
metaphorically,  as  dirt  had  rendered  it  literally,  stood  the  oldest 
daughter  over  that  very  tub,  whose  contents  the  representa- 
tions of  Tommy  in  regard  to  the  unsoundness  of  the  vessel  had 
for  a  time  spared.  The  chair  on  which  it  stood  had  three  legs, 
and  the  place  of  the  fourth  was  supplied  by  the  knee  of  the 
young  lady,  to  whom,  if  I  mistake  not,  the  mother  applied  the 
romantic  title  of  Pumkin-blossom,  or  some  other  of  about  the 
same  length  and  equally  euphonious.  Her  red  arms,  bare  to  the 
shoulder,  gave  support  and  motion  to  a  tremendous  pair  of 
hands  which  with  firm  grasp  had  seized  on  the  lower  extremity 
of  a  solitary  little  shirt,  which  floated  'alone  along  upon  the 
wide,  wide  sea'  of  soapsuds.  Before  I  had  completed  the  rapid 
survey  Avhich  I  have  detailed,  one  of  the  children  had  crawled 
under  the  bed  and  now,  giving  a  loud  yell  of  triumph,  next 
moment  came  forth  in  clouds  of  feathers  and  fine  dust,  holding 
vigorously  to  the  hinder  leg  of  that  animal  so  hated  by  Jews, 
so  cherished  by  the  sons  of  green  Erin.  Oh  what  a  scene  then 
took  place !  '  Ye  de\'il  's  brats,  ye !  Lit  go  of  Tony ',  screamed  the 
mother.   'Bate  him,  Billy — pull  him  Billy  boy — give  it  to  him — 


F1E8T  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      81 

twitch  his  little  tail,'  roared  the  young  ones,  who  fairly  kicked 
in  ecstatic  delight  as  Tony  ran  here  and  there  dragging  the 
boy  after  him,  squealing  such  agonizing  notes,  tearing  every 
nerve.  Glad  to  escape  from  this  scene,  and  satisfied  for  the 
present  that  I  could  do  nothing,  I  made  a  hasty  retreat." 

In  less  than  a  year  after  he  had  taken  charge,  Mr.  K.  re- 
signed and  recommended  his  friend  Mr.  Passavant  as  his  suc- 
cessor. The  people  therefore  invited  Mr.  Passavant  to  preach 
for  them.  He  consented  on  this  condition,  that  they  would  per- 
mit him  to  organize  a  Lutheran  Church.  To  this  they  readily 
agreed  and  so  he  took  temporary  charge  of  Canton  as  his  first 
pastorate  and  organized  'The  First  English  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church  of  Canton'.  The  little  flock  was  made  up  of  mixed 
and  heterogeneous  material.  They  offered  him  a  small  salary. 
"But,"  he  says,  "as  I  was  only  laboring  for  them  on  Sundays 
and  my  labors  were  very  poor  for  want  of  due  preparation,  I 
refused  to  receive  anything".  On  account  of  his  labors  on  the 
Observer,  he  did  not  intend  to  be  permanent  pastor  but  hoped 
that  the  church  of  Canton  would  be  placed  under  the  care  of 
another.  He  was  pressed,  however,  by  Dr.  Morris  to  accept  a 
regular  call  to  Canton  and  also  to  another  church  at  Oldtown 
on  Monument  St.,  called  Luther  Chapel.  The  call  to  these  two 
missions  is  as  follows: 

"Baltimore,  August  29,  1842. 
To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Passavant, 
Dear  Sir: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  council  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation at  Canton  and  at  Luther  Chapel,  Monument  St.,  the 
following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 

'Resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Passavant  be  invited  to 
take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  two  congregations  for  six  months 
and  that  a  compensation  or  salary  of  ^150  be  offered  him  for 
that  time'. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolution  we,  in  behalf 
of  the  congregations  which  we  represent,  respectfully  solicit 
you  to  occupy  our  pulpits  for  the  time  mentioned  and  in  the 
event  of  your  acceptance  of  our  invitation  sincerely  hope  that 
God  will  abundantly  bless  your  labors  amongst  us. 

^  •  ■  Yours   very   respectfully 

■■:  ^ii^  '<-  Nathan  Bowen 

>u^:i  'I'  William   Lusley 

Wm.  Tensfield 
Wm.  A.  Wesong 
Henry  Mowry 
Thomas  H.   Coulson." 


82  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

At  Luther  Chapel  the  outlook  was  better  than  at  Canton. 
Mr.  Passavant  writes  his  mother: 

"Luther  Chapel  was  erected  by  Dr.  Morris's  members  as 
a  house  for  a  new  Sunday  School  which  they  had  established 
in  this  part  of  the  city  and  as  a  temporary  church.  It  will  hold 
between  three  and  four  hundred  people.  Here  I  have  not  yet 
organized  a  congregation.  Last  Sunday  morning,  I  preached 
at  this  place  for  the  first  time.  About  ninety  or  one  hundred 
persons  were  present,  almost  all  of  whom  are  of  Lutheran 
parentage,  and  expect  to  attend  regularly.  This  chapel  is  lo- 
cated most  favorably  for  us,  and  I  have  not  a  doubt,  but  that 
I  shall  be  able  to  organize  a  congregation  of  from  fifteen  to 
thirty  members  by  the  first  of  January,  1843.  Our  Sunday 
school  numbers  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  scholars  and  in- 
creases every  day.  The  best  of  all  is,  that  we  are  almost  out  of 
debt,  only  five  hundred  dollars  remaining  against  us.  This 
shall  be  paid  by  spring,  and  then  we  will  owe  no  man  anything 
but  love.  I  mention  these  things  in  order  to  give  you  some 
idea  of  this  immense  field,  which  covers  the  whole  of  Oldtown, 
and  to  correct  the  wrong  idea  you  are  under  that  I  will  have 
but  a  few  families  to  visit.  On  the  contrary  I  must  visit  from 
house  to  house  and  have  much  more  of  this  kind  of  duty  than 
Mr.  Morris  or  Krauth." 

Mr.  Passavant  was  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod  in 
Frederick,  Md.,  on  the  evening  of  Oct.  17.,  1842.  Mr.  Krauth 
was  ordained  by  the  same  Synod  on  the  next  evening. 

Mr.  Passavant  gives  his  mother  this  account  of  his  licen- 
sure and  of  the  emotions  that  accompanied  the  solemn  act : 

"Having  made  application  for  membership,  the  president 
appointed  an  examining  committee,  Drs.  Morris,  Kurtz  and 
Prof.  Baugher,  to  examine  me  before  the  whole  Synod.  This 
they  did  for  the  space  of  one  and  one  half  hours,  'to  their 
entire  satisfaction';  at  the  end  of  which  time,  they  informed 
the  Synod  that  they  regarded  the  whole  as  a  mere  matter  of 
formality  in  my  case,  being  prepared  to  vote  for  me  without  an 
examination  at  all.  Consequently  the  examination  ceased  at 
this  stage,  though  the  committee  had  not  questioned  me  on  half 
the  subjects  laid  down  in  the  Constitution.  After  the  sermon 
in  the  evening,  I  was  publicly  licensed  to  perform  all  the  duties 
of  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  Dr.  Kurtz  then  made  a  long  and 
most  fervent  address  to  me,  charging  me  to  know  nothing  else' 
and  to  preach  nothing  else  but  Jesus  and  Him  crucified.    I  trust, 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      83 

dearest  mother,  that  I  may  be  able  to  do  that  while  I  live.  I 
took  the  world  by  the  hand  and  gave  it  a  farewell  grasp.  Now 
I  am  the  Lord 's,  fully,  wholly,  and  unreservedly !  I  am  will- 
ing to  do,  be  and  suffer,  anything  and  everything  which  He 
may  command.  I  am  perfectly  happy  in  my  choice.  I  could 
not  possibly  do  anything  else  than  preach  the  Gospel,  either 
with  my  living  voice  or  the  pen.  This  is  the  consummation  of 
all  my  hopes  for  the  last  five  years,  and  now  that  I  enlisted  in 
the  service,  'God  being  my  helper',  I  will  die  fighting.  Do  pray 
for  me,  that  I  may  be  a  fearless  and  successful  preacher  of  the 
New  Testament.  But  I  may  not  say  more  on  this  subject,  for 
my  paper  will  not  contain  all  I  should  like  to  write. ' ' 

He  returned  to  Baltimore  and  took  up  his  work  more  ear- 
nestly than  ever.  He  was  at  this  time  thoroughly  imbued  with 
the  New  Measure  spirit  and  it  was  his  constant  effort  to  bring 
about  a  revival.  In  his  private  journal  he  shows  how  he  prayed 
and  preached  and  exhorted  night  after  night,  urging  mourners 
to  come  forward  for  prayer  that  they  might  be  immediately 
converted.  These  high  pressure  methods  called  New  Measures 
were  brought  to  bear  after  every  evening  sermon.  Sometimes 
the  meetings  were  "protracted"  until  after  midnight.  Among 
the  mourners  or  seekers  and  exhorters  there  was  a  confused 
mingling  of  tears,  groans,  cries  and  occasional  loud  shoutings. 
Praying,  singing  and  exhorting  often  went  on  at  the  same 
time.  The  journal  records  cases  of  persons  falling  to  the  floor 
and  becoming  as  stiff  as  if  dead. 

It  seems  strange  to  read  of  such  things  being  done  in  a 
Lutheran  Church.  But  it  was  the  spirit  of  the  age.  Emotional 
revivalism  was  in  the  air  and  nearly  all  the  Reformed  churches 
were  affected  by  it.  The  English  Lutheran  Church,  as  we  have 
seen,  had  in  many  cases  followed  the  churches  around  her.  The 
so-called  New  Measures  were  encouraged  and  practiced  by  the 
professors  of  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg.  Here  is  a  description 
of  a  revival  in  one  of  the  congregations  of  Rev.  A.  Reck  who 
was  the  pioneer  of  the  English  Lutheran  work  in  Indianapolis 
and  the  region  round  about  and  in  Cincinnati.  He  tells  his 
story  thus : 

*'It  is  now  about  twenty-six  years  ago  that  I  left  Win- 
chester, Virginia,  one  Sunday  morning  to  preach  in  the  town 
of  Strasburg.  As  I  rode  along,  I  endeavored  to  think  of  a  text 
from  which  to  preach,  but  could  find  none  to  suit  me.  When 
I  came  to  the  church  I  had  not  yet  determined  on  any  particu- 


84  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

lar  one  and  did  not  know  what  I  should  do.     Neither  could  I 
imagine  why  my  tastes  were  so  hard  to  please,  as  I  had  never 
before  experienced  any  difficulty  in  making  a  selection.  Before 
giving  out  a  hymn  I  turned  over  the  leaves  of  my  Bible,  but 
all  in  vain;  nothing  would  suit,   and   in  the  dilemma  I  still 
remained  while  the  hymn  was  sung.     What  was  to  be  done,  I* 
knew  not,  but  I  thought  I  would  ask  God  in  prayer,     A  short 
time  after  I  had  commenced  praying,  the  windows  of  heaven 
were  opened  and  more  than  one  half  the  audience  were  on  a 
sudden  prostrated  to   the   ground,   crying  out  with  the  most 
dreadful  shrieks  'What  must  we  do  to  be  saved?'  I  continued 
on  praying  with  great  fervency  and  when  the  prayer  was  con- 
eluded,  I  was  lost  in  amazement  at  the  singular  sight  the  con- 
gregation presented.    As  I  could  not  find  a  subject  on  which  to 
preach  I  changed  the  meeting  into  a  meeting  of  prayer  and 
in  this  way  we  spent  the  usual  time  appointed  for  public  wor- 
ship.    From  this  moment  I  was  marked  out  as  a  victim  of  the 
most  violent  persecution.     I  then  appointed  a  prayer  meeting 
in  a  private  house  at  early  candle  lighting  and  particularly  in- 
vited all  who  were  convinced  of  sin  to  be  present.     We  locked 
the  doors  and  windows  to  prevent  interruption  from  without 
and  endeavored  to  seek  the  Lord  by  diligent  and  persevering 
prayer.     The  God  of  praytr  was  truly  in  our  midst  and  the 
whole  assembly  were  at  work  in  mighty  wrestlings  with  Jeho- 
vah.    No  disposition  was  manifested  to  give  over  and  we  con- 
tinued till  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  in  this  awfully  solemn 
and  delightful  employment.     As  the  room  we  were  in  was  not 
large,  we  placed  all  those  in  the  next  room  who  had  found  peace 
in  believing,  and  as  soon  as  one  was  converted  the  door  was 
opened  and  he  would  be  welcomed  in  by  those  who  were  al- 
ready there.     Never  did  I  see  such  rejoicing,  such  exceeding 
great  joy  as  in  that  room.     They  sang  praises  to  God  for  de- 
liverance, they  embraced  each  other  and  strove  with  Jacob's 
God  for  the  blessing  on  those  who  were  yet  groaning  under  the 
weight  of  sin.     I  can  almost  hear  the   glad  sound  of  praise 
again  though  twenty-five  years  have  sadly  dealt  with  my  re- 
collection.    When  husbands  and  wives  met  in  the  same  room 
their  rejoicing  would    go    beyond    any    idea    which    could    be 
formed  of  such  a  scene.    .Oh !  the  memory  of  that  night  is  pre- 
cious.   It  fills  my  soul  with  gladness  even  at  this  distant  period. 
If  I   recollect  right,   brother  Wm.   Keil,   now   in   Senecaville, 
Ohio,  was  among  the  last,  if  not  the  very  last  whose  heart  the 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      85 

Lord  opened  that  night.  He  was  then  a  carpenter  in  Stras- 
burg  and  had  sixteen  months  of  his  time  to  serve  with  his 
master.  As  his  call  to  preach  was  so  evidently  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  I  bought  out  his  time  at  the  rate  of  eighteen  dollars  per 
month  and  being  unmarried  I  took  him  to  myself.  He  remained 
several  years,  boarding  with  me,  preaching  the  Gospel  not  only 
with  zeal  and  faithfulness  but  also  with  fruit.  He  then  la- 
bored in  Virginia  for  a  number  of  years  and  finally  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  he  has  been  honored  of  the  Master  in  the  conversion 
of  a  vast  multitude  of  souls.  After  this  heavenly  shower  of 
grace,  my  life  was  threatened  if  I  were  ever  to  return  to 
Strasburg. ' ' 

The  excesses  of  these  New  Measures  occasioned  much  earnest 
thought  and  study  in  the  minds  of  intelligent  Lutherans.  In 
other  churches,  also,  earnest  voices  were  raised  against  them. 
Rev.  Dr.  Alfred  Nevin,  professor  in  the  theological  seminary  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church  in  Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania, 
published  a  ringing  pamphlet  called  "The  Anxious  Bench", 
which  produced  a  marked  effect.  Earnest  protests  were  raised 
against  the  Gettysburg  Seminary  and  the  Lutheran  Observer 
for  advocating  these  measures.  The  ]\Iinisterium  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1842  passed  a  resolution  recalling  the  recommendation 
which  it  had  given  to  the  Lutheran  Observer  at  its  former  meet- 
ing, but  recommended  the  Kirchenzeitung  as  highly  desirable 
inasmuch  as  it  "promises  to  exercise  a  happy  influence  in  the 
preservation  of  pure  doctrine  and  cheerful,  active  Christian- 
ity in  the  Church."  The  same  convention  accused  licentiate 
W.  Laitzel  of  introducing  the  New  Measures  into  his  church 
and  refused  to  renew  his  license  "As  long  as  he  shall  not  have 
changed  his  views  in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  this 
Synod."  At  the  same  convention  the  theological  seminary  at 
Columbus  was  recommended  "as  an  institution  worthy  of  our 
support",  and  a  committee  of  two  members  was  appointed  to 
correspond  with  that  institution  as  to  the  manner  and  to  what 
extent  this  body  might  enter  into  connection  with  it. 

The  Synod  of  the  Eastern  district  of  Ohio  also  passed 
resolutions  against  the  New  Measures.  The  Synod  of  Indiana 
resolved  to  appoint  a  committee  "to  write  an  expose  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  '  Generalists '  and  show  up  their  attempt  to  subvert 
the  Lutheran  doctrine  and  discipline".  The  Tennessee  Synod 
also  severely  denounced  the  General  Synod  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  ' '  draw  up  resolutions  against  it. ' ' 


86  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

During  the  Summer  Mr.  Passavant  visited  and  preached 
at  Fountain  Dale,  near  Gettysburg,  where  he  had  gathered  and 
organized  a  congregation  during  the  previous  winter.  The 
congregation  was  now  building  a  church  and  he  was  invited 
to  preach  at  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone.  He  remained  for 
some  days  "visiting  from  house  to  house,  preaching,  praying, 
reading  the  Scriptures  and  speaking  to  all,  old  and  young." 

From  Fountain  Dale,  he  went  to  the  seminarj^  and  con- 
sulted his  former  professors  about  giving  up  his  connection 
with  the  Observer,  as  he  had  never  agreed  to  engage  himself 
for  a  stipulated  time.  "Everyone  urged  me"  he  says  "to  re- 
main in  Baltimore  and  gave  as  a  reason  that  Dr.  Kurtz's  un- 
popularity in  the  church  was  so  great  that  he  would  feel  the 
necessity  of  retiring  from  his  present  seat  in  order  to  keep  the 
Observer  afloat  and  that  I  would  certainly  have  to  become  his 
successor."  "Our  minister  in  York  also  spoke  to  me  in  the 
same  way  and  I  have  received  letters  from  all  parts  of  the 
church  expressive  of  their  pleasure  in  the  pacific  course  which 
has  been  observed  in  conducting  the  Observer.  Even  Mr.  Kurtz 
has  told  me  that  he  would  retire  before  long  and  that  I  would 
be  offered  the  position  of  editor  by  the  General  Synod." 

His  mother  on  being  informed  of  this  state  of  affairs  gave 
him  this  sound  advice : 

"First,  let  me  premise  that  the  idea  of  your  supplanting 
Mr.  K.  in  the  editorship  of  the  Observer  (flattering  though  it 
may  be)  is  a  very  painful  one  to  me  because  I  know  full  well 
that  if  they  have  saddled  you  with  it,  it  is  a  charge  you  will  not 
easily  be  able  to  shake  off.  You  may  find  it  'delightful'  to 
write  occasional  editorials,  but  for  years  to  come,  sick  or  well, 
you  have  the  whole  responsibility  on  your  shoulders,  to  gain 
the  ill  will  of  opponents,  to  get  often  unavoidably  involved  in 
theological  discussions  for  which  your  unfinished  studies  do  not 
qualify  you,  is  too  much  for  a  youngman  of  your  age  and  delicate 
constitution  and  sufficient  to  sour  your  temper  and  make  you 
prematurely  old.  If  the  loss  of  your  voice  precluded  any  other 
sphere  of  usefulness,  it  would  be  a  different  thing,  but  that 
being  mercifully  restored,  it  would  certainly  be  more  pleasant 
to  become  the  beloved  pastor  of  a  church !  In  case  you  should 
be  offered  the  sole  editorship  on  Mr.  K. 's  retiring  you  could 
with  great  propriety  decline  it  on  account  of  your  youth  and 
'your  not  feeling  yourself  competent  to  assume  so  weighty  a 
responsibility'.     Our  church  surely  cannot  be  in  such  a  low 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      87 

intellectual  state  but  that  an  equally  well  qualified  person 
might  be  found  to  take  charge  of  it,  and  while  you  would  gafn 
credit  for  your  modesty,  you  would  retire  with  honor  from 
a  place  where  a  longer  occupancy  would  probably  betray  your 
deficiencies. ' ' 

On  receipt  of  this  letter,  Mr.  Passavant  positively  refused 
to  listen  to  any  further  propositions  to  become  editor-in-chief. 
Under  the  pressure  that  was  brought  to  bear,  however,  he  re- 
lunctantly  consented  to  remain  for  the  present  as  assistant 
editor. 

During  the  short  time  between  June  and  October,  1842, 
he  wrote  editorials  on  Street  Preaching,  Temperance  and  Re- 
ligion, Pulpit  Eloquence,  Revivals.  There  is  also  a  draft  of  a 
proposed  Historical  Society.  In  this  he  took  a  deep  and  active 
interest.  He  did  more  than  any  other  one  man  for  its  found- 
ing and  its  promotion.  He  gives  us  this  picture  of  his  editorial 
work: 

"Well,  beloved  mother,  I  have  now  had  a  trial  of  editorial 
life  and  a  hard  one  it  has  been.  Since  the  departure  of  Mr.  K. 
every  moment  of  my  time  has  been  occupied  in  selecting,  cor- 
recting, reading  proof,  writing  or  trying  to  write  editorials, 
selling  books,  answering  letters,  etc.,  etc.  and  all,  too,  amid  the 
clatter  and  rattle  of  drays,  negroes,  our  large  power  press,  and 
'printer's  devils'." 

Amid  all  his  various  and  exacting  duties  he  was  still  the 
same  loving  son  and  his  thoughts  returned  again  and  again  to 
the  quiet,  congenial  home  on  the  beautiful  Connoquenessing. 

Feb.  6,  1842,  he  writes  this: 

"I  cannot  tell  you  how  grateful  your  letters,  dearest 
mother,  are  to  me  in  my  solitary  hours.  I  read  them  over 
and  over  again,  and  often  when  all  is  heavy  and  dark  within 

do  they  give  me  light  and  comfort I  thank  God  for 

parents,  for  brothers  and  sisters,  for  that  dear  circle  which 
composes  our  family.  As  every  member  makes  up  a  part  of 
that  circle,  I  rejoice,  though  separated  by  time  and  distance,  to 
occupy  my  appropriate  chair." 

In  the  same  letter  he  speaks  thus  of  his  work:  "In  fact  I 
am  the  servant  of  all  men — black  as  well  as  white.  Catholic 
and  Protestant.  I  have  introduced  a  separate  clause  in  the 
service  when  I  baptize  the  children  of  negroes.  I  make  them 
take  a  solemn  promise  that  they  will  teach  them  to  read  and 
write  as  soon  as  they  are  capable  of  learning. ' ' 


88  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

In  his  journal,  Nov.  26.,  he  gives  this  account  of  a  visit 
to  hear  a  man  who  was  very  famous  in  his  day : 

"I  went  to  Mr.  Hammer's  church  in  Hanover  St.,  this 
evening,  to  hear  Elihu  Burrit,  the  'learned  blacksmith,'  lecture. 
His  subject  was  Roman  Patriotism  and  he  treated  it  in  a  style 
truly  masterly.  He  forges  the  nervous  thoughts  and  words 
with  all  the  ease  of  play.  He  is  without  doubt  one  of  the  most 
astonishing  men  of  the  age.  Though  but  a  common  blacksmith, 
working  eight  hours  every  day,  yet  has  he  acquired  sixty  lang- 
uages during  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life.  And  all  this,  too, 
without  the  aid  of  an  instructor.  What  will  not  labor  and  per- 
severance accomplish ! ' ' 

Nov.  28.,  he  adds:  ''In  the  evening  went  to  hear  the 
learned  blacksmith.  His  subject  was  'Genius'  and  the  object 
of  his  remarks  was  to  prove  that  eminence  in  knowledge  de- 
pends not  on  'natural  gifts',  'natural  talents'  or  'genius'  but 
on  laborious  and  persevering  study.  'What  man  can  do  I  can 
do'  was  a  favorite  expression.  I  came  away  fully  determined 
by  the  help  of  God  to  aim  at  greater  usefulness  than  any  man 
has  yet  accomplished." 

For  lack  of  Lutheran  Literature  he  distributed  in  his 
pastoral  work  the  publications  of  the  "American  Tract  So- 
ciety". Besides  smaller  tracts,  he  used  such  books  as  The 
Dairyman's  Daughter,  Harlan  Page,  Baxter's  Call,  Baxter's 
Saint 's  Rest,  Doddridge 's  Rise  and  Progress,  Pilgrim 's  Progress, 
Pike's  Guide  to  Young  Disciples,  James'  Anxious  Inquirer 
and  other  books  of  that  nature.  He  tells  us  how  he  himself 
studies  Charles  Wesley:  "During  the  interval  of  yesterday 
and  today,  I  carefully  read  Jackson's  life  of  Charles  Wesley. 
There  is  much  interesting  matter  on  the  early  history  of 
primitive  Christianity  set  forth  in  this  volume,  which  is  not  to 
be  found  in  the  lives  of  Whitefield  and  J.  Wesley.  The  manner 
in  which  these  young  men  were  led  to  the  simple  truth  in  Jesus 
and  raised  up  of  God  for  His  own  work  is  truly' past  won- 
derful'." 

In  another  place  he  says:  "Read  through  a  German 
pamphlet  on  the  'New  Birth'.  Intend  to  read  some  German 
every  day  to  become  able  to  preach  in  this  language  to  the 
thousands  of  Germans  who  daily  flock  to  our  shores." 

In  his  pastoral  visits  he  took  special  pains  to  hunt  up  the 
sick,  the  poor  and  the  colored  people  who  were  without  any 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      89 

church  connection  and  won  many  of  them  for  Christ  and  His 
church. 

He  was  at  this  time  easily  carried  away  by  his  feelings. 
After  going  to  hear  the  then  famous  Alexander  Campbell,  he 
says:  "Went  to  the  Disciples  Church  to  hear  this  celebrated 
man  of  Bethany,  Virginia,  deliver  a  most  glorious  sermon  on 
the  person,  character  and  office  of  Christ.  His  opponents  have 
represented  him  as  Unitarian  in  his  sentiments.  But  never  was 
anyone  more  unjustly  misrepresented." 

On  Thanksgiving  day,  1842,  he  thus  reviewed  the  year. 
"To  me  this  has  been  a  year  of  mercy.  My  throat  is  perfectly 
restored.  I  can  now,  blessed  be  God,  lift  up  my  voice  like  a 
trumpet.  God  has  owned  the  exertion  of  His  unworthy  ser- 
vant in  a  wonderful  manner.  I  can  well  say:  'What  hath  God 
wrought ! '  I  have  through  His  help  collected  and  organized 
two  new  congregations:  one  at  Canton  and  the  other  at  Foun- 
tain Dale,  Pa.,  have  collected  another  at  Luther  Chapel  in  this 
city  and  am  beginning  a  fourth  at  Fell's  Point.  I  have  also 
succeded  in  persuading  a  brother  to  begin  a  mission  in  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  by  the  articles  in  the  Observer  on  Western 
Missions  have  raised  him  a  support.  During  the  past  year,  I 
issued  from  the  press  the  Lutheran  Almanac  in  English  and 
German,  the  preface  of  Luther  to  the  Romans,  besides  editing 
the  Observer  for  a  period  of  four  months.  Lord,  what  have 
I  done  that  Thou  shouldst  lay  this  honor  on  me !  But  the  best 
of  all  is  that  many  scores  of  sinners  have  been  converted  to 
God  and  now  show  forth  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness. 
I  have  enjoyed  one  continuous  revival  in  the  district  since  I 
was  received  into  the  ministry  two  months  ago.  Lord  humble 
me  and  lay  me  in  the  dust !  It  is  too  much,  it  is  too  much !  Let 
me  feel  that  I  am  a  worm  but  Thou,  Almighty  God,  dost  take 
the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  those  that  are  mighty ! 
Hallelujah,  praise  the  Lord!" 

On  New  Year's  day,  1843,  he  writes:  "And  now  another 
year  has  commenced.  Am  I  certain  that  it  will  not  be  my 
last?  Let  me  then  do  the  work  of  Him  that  sent  me  while  it  is 
day  before  the  night  cometh  when  no  man  can  work. ' ' 

Jan.  9.,  he  gives  his  mother  this  account  of  his  work: 

"As  I  know  you  to  be  interested  in  my  humble  affairs  in 
this  city,  I  must  tell  you  something  more  of  my  Oldto'WTi 
diocese.     On  the  last  Thursday  in  the  old  year,"  I  organized  a 


90  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

congregation  at  Luther  Chapel  in  Monument  Street.  Our  num- 
ber of  members  is  between  thirty  and  forty.  Several  of  these 
belonged  to  Dr.  Morris'  church  but,  on  account  of  the  distance, 
and  of  his  request,  united  with  the  chapel.  The  others  were 
from  the  world,  some  of  whom  were  drunkards  and  Sabbath- 
breakers  who  have  been  caught  in  the  net  of  the  gospel,  since 
the  chapel  has  been  erected.  Our  congregations  have  of  late 
increased  in  a  very  encouraging  manner.  On  Sunday  nights 
the  house  is  crowded  from  end  to  end  by  persons  of  all  denomi- 
nations; among  these  are  many  who  scarcely  ever  attend  the 
house  of  God,  and  it  is  among  this  class  particularly  that  we 
hope  to  be  useful.  I  cannot  be  sufficiently  grateful  to  Him 
who  has  given  me  favor  among  these  people.  I  have  not  had 
time  to  write  a  sermon  since  the  first  one  I  preached,  and  since 
am  compelled  to  preach  with  or  without  notes  just  as  it 
happens.  This  to  one  without  much  practice  is  no  easy  task 
and  I  sometimes  feel  so  humbled  after  preaching  that  I  wonder 
how  anyone  will  have  the  patience  to  listen  to  my  efforts.  This 
is  not  vain  talk.  I  have  often  wished  myself  a  thousand  miles 
away,  not  because  I  am  tired  of  my  Master's  work,  but  because 
I  feel  deeply  conscious  of  my  own  imperfections.  -  I  endeavor 
to  do  the  best  I  am  able  but  Oh,  how  feeble  my  attempts,  and 
yet  God  has  set  His  seal  upon  the  work  of  my  hands !  To  him 
be  all  the  honor.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  good 
report  of  our  little  flock  in  Canton.  So  far  they  have  all  con- 
tinued faithful  'in  the  apostles 'doctrine,  and  in  prayer  and  in 
breaking  of  bread'.  My  rejoicing  is  not  weak  when  I  go  there. 
Such  a  simple,  loving  people  I  have  never  seen.  I  expect  to 
confirm  several  more  at  our  next  sacrament.  The  church  there 
has  lately  erected  a  belfry  on  the  chapel  and  a  bell  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pounds  now  calls  the  worshippers  together." 
His  mother  gives  him  this  sound  homiletical  advice:  "The 
idea  of  preaching  so  often,  not  only  without  written  sermons, 
but  even  without  notes,  seems  perfectly  frightful  to  me  and  al- 
most presumptuous  and  irreverent;  as  if  subjects  so  high  and 
exalted  did  not  demand  at  our  hands  all  the  preparation  we 
could  make." 

Jan.  20.,  he  writes  in  his  journal.  ''In  the  morning  visited 
from  house  to  house,  praying  and  counseling  all  as  grace  was 
given  me.  Spoke  to  some  of  the  brethren  on  the  necessity  of 
building  a  new  chapel,  as  the  one  in  which  we  worship  will  no 
longer  hold  the  congregation.    Blessed  be  God,  the  house  which 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      91 

a  few  months  ago  would  hold  five  times  the  people  we  could 
then  muster  has  now  become  too  strait  for  us. 
Feb.  1.,  he  records  his  pastoral  experiences: 

"This  is  the  first  day  of  the  second  month.  During  the  past 
month,  I  have  preached  about  twenty  times,  and  done  much  in 
the  way  of  exhortations.  Oh,  for  a  grateful  heart  that  I  have 
been  enabled  to  accomplish  something  for  Him  who  has  re- 
deemed me  by  his  own  precious  blood.  Visited  a  large  number 
of  families  this  morning.  Called  on  Mrs.  K.  who  has  a  diffi- 
culty with  one  of  her  sisters,  who  has  already  asked  her  pardon 
time  and  again.  After  spending  an  hour's  talk  and  praying 
with  her  she  flatly  refused  to  forgive  her.  I  told  her  the  conse- 
quences, and  besought  her  to  save  her  soul,  but  it  was  vain  talk. 
She  said,  'Mr.  Passavant,  I  cannot,'  Well  my  hands  are 
washed  in  innocency.  I  have  delivered  my  soul.  This  woman 
was  a  backslider  once  before.  A  few  weeks  ago  she  raised  the 
whole  neighborhood  by  her  shouts  of  'glory'.  Now  she  cannot 
forgive  the  smallest  offence;  Oh  what  a  Christianity!  From 
this  moonshine  religion,  good  Lord  deliver  us  for  Jesus  sake." 

In  March  we  find  this  entry:  "Walked  up  from  Canton 
this  morning,  visited  several  schoolrooms  on  the  Point,  to  select 
one  for  a  Sunday  School  which  I  design  establishing  among  the 
Germans  on  the  Point.  Hired  the  lecture  room  of  Trinity 
Church  for  eighteen  dollars  per  annum  and  expect  to  commence 
on  Sunday.  Oh,  may  God's  blessing  rest  on  this  infant  enter- 
prise! Finished  the  rules  for  Lay  helpers  and  sent  them  to 
brother  Kurtz  for  revisal.  Wrote  to  brother  B.  at  G.  concerning 
the  church  in  Canton.  Lord,  send  deliverance  out  of  Zion. 
Send  it  speedily.  Began  the  Constitution  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference. ' ' 

A  week  later  this:  "Lord's  day.  After  breakfeast  I 
walked  down  to  our  new  Sunday  School  in  Trinity.  It  already 
numbers  forty  scholars,  though  this  was  only  the  second  mor- 
ning on  which  it  was  held.  I  was  much  gratified  with  the  sight 
of  so  many  happy  children,  so  quiet  and  orderly.  I  confidently 
believe  that  this  school  will  yet  become  the  nucleus  of  a 
church. " 

He  was  still  setting  great  store  by  the  Wesleys  and  was 
beyond  doubt  much  influenced  by  them.  It  would  have  been 
better  for  him  if  he  had  given  the  same  earnest  study  to  Luther, 
Gerhard  and  Arndt. 


92  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

Here  is  an  extract  from  his  journal  of  April  30. : 

''Remained  at  home  this  evening  and  read  over  some  of 
Wesley's  journal.  They  are  the  best  works  on  pastoral  theology 
I  have  ever  found.  For  in  them  we  have  theory  put  into  prac- 
tice. "While  reading  over  Wesley's  experience,  the  thought  oc- 
curred to  me  that  I  might  be  an  instrument  in  the  spread  of 
'Scripture  holiness'  by  writing  a  small  treatise  on  justification 
and  publishing  it  in  connection  with  Wesley's  experience,  or 
rather  publish  the  narrative  of  his  justification,  with  a  preface 
and  notes  of  my  own.  My  time  is  now  so  fully  occupied  in  the 
duties  of  my  charge  that  I  could  not  find  time  to  carry  the 
idea  to  maturity.  Meanwhile  I  will  give  myself  to  prayer  and 
reflection  thereon.    Perhaps  good  may  result  from  the  thought." 

We  select  also  this  characteristic  specimen  from  his  joui-nal, 
to  show  the  legalistic  state  of  his  mind  at  this  time.  When  he 
was  so  sick  and  weak  that  he  could  scarcely  be  on  his  feet  he 
made  this  entry,  May  2.. 

"Overslept  myself  this  morning  and  thereby  lost  an  hour! 
Forgive  me  this  also,  Oh  God.  Spent  the  morning  in  study. 
In  the  afternoon  visited  six  or  seven  families.  Neglected  to 
pray  at  several  places  where  I  should  not  have  omitted  this 
duty." 

Here  is  a  heart-to-heart  letter  in  which  he  recounts  his  own 
deep  inner  experience  and  incidentally  his  pastoral  methods 
written  a  short  time  before  his  death  for  the  instruction  and  the 
encouragement  of  a  young  minister,  who  wrote  for  advice. 

"My  dear  friend  M. 

Grace  and  Peace!  I  need  not  assure  you  that  your  letter 
was  a  source  of  unusual  consolation  to  my  heart.  It  carried 
me  back  upwards  of  half  a  century  when  the  Lord  was  pleased 
to  reveal  his  Son  to  me,  not  only  as  the  Saviour,  which  I  had 
known  from  childhood,  but  as  the  blessed  One  who  loved  me 
and  died  for  me.  Few  could  have  been  more  conscientious  than 
John  Wesley,  who,  with  a  little  band  of  devout  young  men  at 
Oxford,  had  braved  the  ridicule  of  the  collegians  and  lived  a  life 
of  self-denial  and  compassion  to  the  poor  and  imprisoned,  and 
yet  this  man,  in  1742,  had  to  learn  from  the  pious  Lutheran 
Salzburgers  and  a  little  band  of  Moravians  on  the  vessel  which 
carried  him  to  Savannah,  Georgia,  that  he  had  only  the  faith 
of  a  servant  and  not  the  child !  Going  back  to  England,  crushed 
and  miserable,  without  any  true  rest  for  his  soul,  he  wrote  as 
you  do,  that  he  had  'never  before  been  converted',  and  sought 
peace  with  God  diligently  and  with  fear  for  a  whole  winter 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      93 

among  the  Moravians  in  Hernhut,  Germany,  but  at  las"'  was 
enabled  to  believe  with  the  living  and  personal  faith  that  Christ 
Jesus  had  died  for  him  and  that  he,  even  he,  was  forgiven  for 
Christ's  sake!  Then  when  like  Luther,  through  the  hearing  of 
one  of  his  tracts  (his  Preface  to  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans)  he 
attained  to  this  personal  knowledge  of  the  Savior  and  was 
justified  by  faith — he  began  to  preach  to  others  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  Christ.    You  speak  kindly  of  a  conversation  with 

me  on  the  porch  of ,  but  it  was  this  incident  in  the  life  of 

Wesley,  which,  in  a  very  providential  way  came  into  my  hands, 
that  revealed  to  me  the  great  want  of  my  soul.  I  was  about  to 
go  to  the  seminary  at  Gettysburg  and  to  preach  Christ  to  others, 
and  yet  I  could  only  say  'I  know  He  is  the  Savior  of  all  men', 
but  I  could  not  say,  'He  is  my  Savior,  who  hath  redeemed  me 
a  lost  and  condemned  creature,  not  with  silver  and  gold  but 
with  His  holy  and  precious  blood  and  with  His  innocent  suffer- 
ings and  death'  (see  second  article  in  Catechism).  Oh,  the 
bitterness  of  those  months  of  uncertainty  and  wretchedness! 
And  yet,  when,  after  tears  and  strong  cryings  unto  God,  I  was 
reduced  to  the  confession,  that  I  was  a  poor  and  helpless  sinner 
who  could  do  nothing  towards  meriting  salvation,  it  pleased 
God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  work  in  me  the  saving 
trust  in  Christ.  I,  too,  thought  I  had  never  been  converted,  but 
this  was  a  mistake  in  my  case,  as  in  that  of  Wesley  and  count- 
less others.  There  is  the  faith  of  the  servant  full  of  carefulness 
and  the  fear  of  offending  God,  and  when  yve  believe  with  all  the 
heart  that  Christ  has  died  for  our  sins,  and  risen  for  our  justi- 
fication, love  takes  the  place  of  fear  and  God  gives  us  the  faith 
not  of  a  servant  but  of  a  child,  which  cries  '  Abba  father ' ! 

"This  consciousness  of  personal  salvation  is  the  greatest 
of  all  consolations,  especially  to  a  minister  of  the  Word.  It 
brings  us  into  a  new  world  of  life  and  love.  It  enables  us 
rightly  to  divide  the  Word  of  truth,  preaching  the  law  of  a 
holy  God  and  thus  slaying  all  earthly  hope,  and  then  to  come 
with  the  blessed  Gospel  to  heal,  the  broken-hearted  and  'bring 
them  under  Jesus'. 

"In  all  the  trying  experience,  through  which  we  poor 
ministers  must  pass,  nothing  is  more  helpful  to  us  than  this 
experience  of  a  soul  struggle  with  the  light  and  love  of  God. 
It  is  the  one  great  proposition  without  which  we  may  indeed 
be  useful  in  holding  the  lamp  at  the  door  for  others  to  enter 
in  and  be  saved,  while  we  remain  without  in  the  dreariness  and 
trembling  of  a  chill  servitude,  but  this  alone   can  make   our 


94  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

ministry   a   tMng  of  unspeakable   gladness   and   enlarged  use- 
fulness. 

"Now,  dear  M.,  now  that  God  has  done  great  things  for 
you  'whereof  you  are  glad,'  'give  all  diligence  to  make  your 
calling  and  election  sure'.  Sacredly  devote  an  hour  after  break- 
fast in  the  morning  and  one  hour  between  nine  and  ten  in  the 
evening  to  the  devotional  reading  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  and 
(memorizing  certain  passages)  with  self  examination  and 
prayer,  praying  over  a  list  of  all  the  catechumens,  members  and 
occasional  hearers  as  well  as  special  objects,  not  so  much  kneel- 
ing as  walking  up  and  down  the  room  to  keep  awake  and  in 
this  way  find  a  wonderful  opening  of  the  truth.  A  chapter  in 
the  old  Testament  in  the  morning,  read  over,  prayed  over  and 
studied,  often  on  my  knees,  and  in  the  evening  one  in  the  new 
Testament,  in  the  same  spirit,  did  wonders  for  me.  Of  course, 
I  read  regularly,  until  the  whole  bible  was  studied,  and  I  was 
amazed  at  both  my  simple  ignorance  of  the  Word  and  my  ad- 
vance in  knowledge  ■  by  thus  comparing  spiritual  things  with 
spiritual  in  the  Old  and  the  New.  I  was  especially  inspired  and 
quickened  to  find  a  personal  faith  in  Christ,  the  Lamb  of  God, 
like  a  great  meridian  line  stretched  over  the  four  thousand  years 
of  the  history  of  the  Old  Testament  into  the  New  and  that  thus 
Christ  became  all  in  all  to  those  who  believe  in  Him  and  are 
saved.  May  I  recommend  this  method  to  you,  dear  brother, 
very  earnestly.  Silence  and  solitude  are  the  home  of  the  mighty. 
Be  much  with  God  that  you  may  do  much  for  men.  Make  the 
new  year  a  new  life,  by  adopting  new  life  rules,  'stick  unto 
God's  testimonies'  while  life  and  breath  remain.  Judging  from 
my  own  sorrowful  experience  in  the  first  years  of  my  ministry, 
let  me  again  suggest  taking  your  texts  from  the  Gospels  and 
Epistles,  and  study  them  on  your  knees,  if  necessary,  to  get  at 
the  heart  of  them.  They  are  full  of  Christ  and  their  richness 
will  wonderfully  strengthen,  comfort  and  establish  you  in  the 
knowledge  and  love  of  God.    Peace  be  with  you. 

"When  I  came  to  Pittsburg,  I  made  a  list  of  members, 
with  their  streets  in  certain  parts  of  the  city,  so  that  I  might 
drop  in  and  see  as  many  as  possible  when  in  that  part  of  the 
city.  Then  I  had  another  list  of  young  persons,  not  yet  identi- 
fied with  the  Church,  and  also  of  adults,  and  I  prayed  for  four 
or  five  of  these  daily  and  always  before  calling  at  the  place 
where  they  were.  In  this  way,  among  others,  your  dear  father 
was  drawn  to  the  Church,  and  many  others.  I  hereby  send 
you  a  little  book  which  you  can  carry  in  your  pocket  and  over 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      95 

the  certain  parts,  ask  God's  blessing  upon  it  daily. — A  word 
from  Luther:  'You  have  entered  the  ship  with  Christ  and  what 
do  you  expect?  Fair  weather  and  pleasant  sailing?  Nay,  but 
storms  and  tempest  and  at  times  Christ  Himself  will  seem  to 
sleep.  But  how  blessed  the  awakening,  when  He  will  say: 
'peace,  be  still' !  And  there  will  be  a  great  calm  !'  " 

Here  is  a  characteristic  sample  of  his  work : 

"At  three  in  the  afternoon  I  preached  to  the  colored  people 
in  Fifth  Street.  The  house  was  crowded  to  overflowing.  About 
sixteen  hundred  persons  were  present.  The  singing  was  glorious 
but  the  incessant  shouting  of  these  people  was  anything  but 
pleasant  to  me.  I  had  scarcely  become  warmed  up  by  my  subject 
before  they  commenced  shouting  so  lustily  that  I  was  obliged  to 
stop  and  beg  them  for  my  sake  to  be  a  little  more  moderate. 
This  reproof  lasted  for  some  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  when 
one  old  negro  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  lungs  'INIassa,  I  must 
respond',  and  with  this  the  whole  mass  gave  vent  to  their  feel- 
ings with  the  most  extravagant  expressions  of  joy.  I  then  told 
them  I  supposed  I  should  have  to  let  them  worship  God  as 
they  were  accustomed  and  continued  my  remarks  in  tolerable 
quiet  to  the  close.  I  think  I  never  spoke  plainer  in  my  life. 
May  God  in  mercy  bless  the  truth  to  the  praise  of  His  glory. ' ' 

In  April  the  six  months  for  which  he  had  accepted  the  call 
to  the  two  congregations  were  ended.  A  letter  to  his  mother 
shows  the  restless  state  of  his  mind.    He  writes : 

*  *  Then  the  idea  of  sitting  down  in  one  spot  and  becoming  as 
other  ministers,  having  the  same  round  of  duties  from  week  to 
week  and  year  to  year,  is  to  me  now  as  it  has  always  been  very 
melancholy.  You  may  think  me  foolish  on  these  subjects,  and 
perhaps  I  am,  but  my  feelings  are  unchanged  on  these  matters. 
I  always  longed  to  be  a  gospel  ranger,  to  go  from  place  to  place 
assisting  my  companions  in  labor,  or  laying  a  foundation  on 
which  others  might  build.  Had  I  kno^^^l  the  result  of  this 
winter's  siege — ^^that  I  should  have  to  remain  here  after  my  six 
months  were  over,  I  should  never  have  consented  to  stay.  I 
would  now  be  free  to  accede  to  the  wishes  of  different  brethren 
of  our  Synod,  to  '  come  over  into  Macedonia '  and  help  them.  As 
it  is,  I  am  bound  hand  and  foot  and  must  stay  at  home  if  I 
would  not  have  the  congregation  dispersed." 

In  the  same  letter  he  says :  * '  Our  new  Sunday-school  is  now 
fairly  under  way.  "We  are  only  a  few  weeks  old  and  yet  the 
number  of  scholars  amounts  to  seventy-five.  I  have  given  it  the 
name  of  Muhlenburg   Sunday   School   and   confidently  believe 


96  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

that  before  many  years  we  will  have  a  Muhlenburg  Chapel  in 
that  section  of  the  city. 

"I  preached  a  sermon  on  Palm  Sunday  to  the  children  of 
our  Sunday-school  in  the  Chapel.  My  text  was  one  of  my  old 
proverbs  'I  love  them  that  love  me  and  those  that  seek  me  early 
shall  find  me'.  Our  school  here  is  very  large,  numbering  two 
hundred  and  thirty  scholars,  and  the  Chapel  was  crowded  by 
many  of  the  children  of  other  schools.  After  the  sermon,  the 
children  came  up  to  the  altar  which  was  tastefully  decorated 
with  pines  and  flowers  and  deposited  their  little  earnings  and 
savings  in  the  missionary  treasury.  It  was  a  lovely  sight,  and 
I  almost  wept  for  joy.  Some  of  the  children  were  so  small  that 
they  had  to  be  lifted  up  by  their  teachers.  The  collection 
amounted  to  eight  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  which  we  re- 
solved to  give  to  the  Louisville  Mission.  Need  I  tell  you  that 
I  gave  the  reason  why  I  selected  the  text  from  Proverbs?  I 
told  them  of  the  little  book  with  the  brown  cover,  repeated  some 
of  the  proverbs,  spoke  of  my  dear  absent  mother  and  other 
things.  On  the  subject  of  instruction  in  the  catechism,  I  would 
only  remark  that  I  keep  a  class  from  week  to  week  and  the 
catechumens  still  attend  after  they  are  confirmed.  I  find  this 
plan  a  good  one,  and  as  we  have  communion  every  second 
month,  I  always  confirm  any  who  are  prepared  on  these 
occasions. ' ' 

For  several  weeks  he  had  been  busy  preparing  a  lecture 
on  "Natural  Science  as  it  confirms  Revelation",  which  he  de- 
livered in  Luther  Chapel  for  the  benefit  of  the  new  Sunday- 
school.  The  lecture  netted  forty  dollars  which  was  devoted  to 
the  purchase  of  a  Sunday-school  library. 

Upon  the  subject  of  his  restlessness  in  his  work,  his  mother 
advises : 

"From  the  prospect  of  building  at  Canton  and  the  interest- 
ing state  of  your  two  congregations  I  take  for  granted  that  you 
have  no  idea  of  leaving  them  at  the  end  of  the  six  months  you 
at  first  engaged  yourself  for.  It  would  appear,  at  least  in  our 
eyes,  like  folly  to  quit  a  field  of  usefulness  where  your  labors 
seem  so  blessed  for  the  sake  of  seeking  others  at  a  distance, 
where  success  is  still  uncertain  and  accompanied  with  many 
privations  and  still  greater  dangers  to  your  health  from  ex- 
posure and  climate.  Inform  us,  dear  son,  what  are  your 
definite  plans  on  this  subject." 

Mr.  Passavant  was  naturally  deeply  interested  in  the  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  work  in  his  home  county,  and  especially  in  the 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      97 

English  congregation  which  had  recently  been  organized  in 
Zelienople.  His  sister  Virginia  writes  him  this  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  home  church : 

"Yesterday  our  school  commenced,  of  which  Sidney  can 
tell  you  all  particulars.  The  Sunday  before,  the  English  con- 
gregation had  its  first  communion,  upon  which  occasion  Bassler 
certainly  preached  the  best  sermon  I  have  ever  heard  from  him. 
It  could  not  fail  of  doing  much  good.  Yesterday  I  was  at  our 
German  school,  and  if  'coming  events  cast  their  shadows  be- 
fore', coming  events  will  be  of  painful  nature  to  poor  Mr. 
Bassler  and  his  little  flock.  The  'Bishop'  again  denounced  with 
great  severity  the  Gettysburg  institution  as  unorthodox,  anti- 
Lutheran,  etc.  Spoke  of  its  students  and  ministers  as  mischief- 
makers  aiid  a  source  of  discord  in  the  church,  and  animadverted 
bitterly  upon  a  prayer  which  he  had  heard  poor  Mr.  Muntz 
make.  (Without  mentioning  his  name  he  described  him  so 
plainly  that  the  most  stupid  could  not  be  at  fault).  I  must  say 
that  I  sincerely  wish  that  what  are  generally  called  'New 
Measures'  had  never  been  introduced  in  our  church.  They 
appear  to  me  as  those  things  to  which  St.  Paul's  words  might 
be  applied,  'All  things  are  lawful  for  me,  but  all  things  aro 
not  expedient.  All  things  are  lawful  for  me  but  all  things 
edify  not'!  If  he  was  willing  to  eat  no  flesh  while  the  world 
stood  lest  he  should  make  his  brother  to  offend,  I  think  Christ- 
ians of  the  present  day  might  refrain  from  sitting  or  kneeling 
at  particular  benches,  etc,  when  their  doing  so  causes  pain  and 
uneasiness  to  so  many  truly  sincere  and  conscientious  Christ- 
ians. I  do  not  speak  with  reference  to  the  bishop,  for  he  would 
be  quite  miserable  if  he  had  nothing  to  contend  against,  and  if 
that  were  removed,  would  have  abundant  other  equally  im- 
portant and  exciting  subjects  to  fight  for.  Indeed,  his  great 
trouble  at  present  is  that  the  'New  Measure  men'  have  anti- 
scriptural  views  about  the  Lord's  Supper  and  baptism.  Mr. 
Bassler,  to  succeed  in  his  present  situation,  truly  needs  to  be 
wise  as  a  serpent  and  harmless  as  a  dove.  The  bishop's  un- 
generous, not  to  say  unchristian  persecution  of  poor  Mr.  Muntz, 
distresses  me  very  much.  His  faults  are  of  such  a  kind  that 
they  render  him  more  unpopular  than  his  crimes  would;  but 
who  that  knows  him  well,  can  doubt  that  he  is  a  sincere  and 
conscientious  Christian,  anxious  for  the  good  of  others;  yet 
doubtless  in  a  great  measure  owing  to  Mr.  Schweitzerbarth 's  in- 
fluence, he  is  generally  considered  far  and  wide  as  a  hypocrite. 
You  would  be  shocked  and  astonished  to  hear  what  an  opinion 


98  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

many  of  the  country  people  have  of  his  character.  Of  course 
his  usefulness  is  thereby  diminished  and  whatever  good  work 
he  is  active  in,  is  looked  upon  by  many  with  suspicion.  All 
this  is  distressing  but  we  know  that  everything  can  be  made  to 
work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  God.  Our  poor  bishop 
is  most  to  be  pitied." 

June,  18.,  he  wrote  this  account  of  his  resignation  at  Canton : 
' '  Preached  my  farewell  sermon  to  the  Canton  church  this  morn- 
ing from  the  words:  'Finally,  brethren,  farewell,  be  perfect,  be 
of  good  comfort,  be  of  the  same  mind,  live  in  peace,  and  the 
God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you'.  We  had  a  weeping 
and  sorrowful  time.  The  house  was  very  well  filled  and  it  al- 
most broke  my  heart  to  say  adieu  to  my  children  in  Jesus 
Christ.  I  have  now  been  preaching  in  Canton  almost  a  year. 
During  my  connection  with  the  Book  Concern  I  went  down  on 
Wednesday  evenings,  and  regularly  preached  there  on  Sunday 
mornings.  While  thus  engaged  these  hands  administered  to  my 
wants.  Since  the  sixteenth  of  October  last,  I  have  been  the 
pastor  over  the  little  church  I  organized  there.  During  this 
time,  I  have  received  by  certificate,  baptism  and  confirmation, 
about  forty  persons  into  the  church.  A  few  have  proven  that 
they  never  had  the  root  of  the  matter  in  them,  and  several  have 
removed  from  Canton.  At  present  we  have  thirty  or  more 
members  who  are  united  in  love  and  good  fellowship,  the  one 
with  the  other,  and  walk  as  becometh  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 

"As  I  found  that  my  duties  at  the  chapel  would  not  suffer 
me  to  do  justice  to  these  people,  I  have  resigned  their  charge. 
At  my'recommendation,  the  church  has  elected  brother  Weddell 
of  Frederick  County  as  their  pastor.  He  .will  be  in  the  city  on 
tomorrow  morning. 

"At  two  and  a  half,  I  went  to  the  Sunday  School  and  en- 
deavored to  bid  adieu  to  the  children  but  I  was  prevented  from 
saying  much  by  a  flood  of  tears.  The  children  rose  up  and  sang 
a  parting  hymn  after  which  I  retired. 

' '  Jesus  Christ,  Thou  head  of  the  church,  bless,  sanctify,  and 
keep  this  little  flock !  It  is  the  purchase  of  Thy  blood.  Never 
leave  or  forsake  it.  May  our  brother  who  has  the  oversight  of 
it  in  the  Lord,  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  and  be 
abundantly  more  useful  than  I  have  been,  for  Jesus'  sake, 
amen. " 

The  Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  Weddell,  who  became  his  successor 
at  Canton,  writes  this  reminiscence  in  the  Memorial  Workman. 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.      99 

"Mr.  Passavant  was  then  in  the  bloom  and  vigor  of  young 
manhood  united  to  womanly  beauty.  His  preaching  was  full 
of  fire  and  earnestness.  Summerfield  was  his  model  as  a  man 
and  a  preacher.  In  taking  charge  of  Canton  Chapel,  he  found 
that  the  common  order  of  the  Lutheran  service  made  but  little 
impression  upon  the  people  that  resided  in  Canton,  and  in  order 
to  move  and  attract  them  to  the  Chapel  he  introduced  what  was 
then  called  the  'New  Measure'  system,  which  had  been  adopted 
by  most  of  our  Maryland  churches.  He  carried  it  to  the  ex- 
treme, and  through  it  added  a  number  to  the  small  congregation. 
The  Rev.  Passavant  was  a  most  active  worker.  He  went  from 
house  to  house  preaching  the  gospel,  praying  in  every  family, 
and  inviting  them  to  attend  the  services  in  the  Chapel.  In  most 
cases  he  met  with  a  kind  reception.  But  in  one  family,  whose 
head  had  been  converted  from  a  low  and  drunken  life  to  be  a 
humble  and  earnest  Christian,  he  was  met  by  the  wife,  who  was  a 
bad  Roman  Catholic,  with  the  vilest  abuse,  and  driven  from  the 
house  with  curses  and  threats  of  bodily  violence. 

"After  having  been  pastor  for.  some  time  he  commenced 
a  protracted  meeting  which  feontinued  for  a  number  of  weeks. 
These  meetings  were  kept  up  to  a  late  hour  at  night,  and  the 
noise  could  be  heard  all  over .  Canton.  Nearly  all  those  who 
professed  conversion  led  in  public  prayer,  men  and  women. 
With  these  he  established  experience  meetings —  the  men  under 
Elder  Rice  and  the  women  under  the  pastor. 

"After  resigning  Canton  Rev.  Passavant  continued  to  serve 
the  mission  on  Monument  Street  where  a  small  building  called 
Luther  Chapel  had  been  erected.  This  grew  into  the  First 
Church,  and  the  small  band  gathered  by  him  has  since  become 
a  large  and  flourishing  congregation.  But  his  interest  in  the 
Canton  people  did  not  cease.  When  I  became  pastor  he  came 
down  almost  every  week,  aiding  me  in  my  work  and  encourag- 
ing me  to  faith  and  perseverance  in  the  almost  barren,  fruitless 
field  in  which  I  had  been  placed. ' ' 

Mr.  Passavant  was  still  longing  to  do  a  wider  work  in  the 
West.  He  writes  again :  "I  confess  the  disappointment  of 
which  I  spoke  in  my  last  is  not  a  trifling  matter.  But  perhaps 
it  is  all  for  the  best  at  present.  I  shall  thus  have  more  time  to 
prepare  for  the  peculiar  work  to  which  I  think  I  am  better 
fitted — viz.,  to  collect  and  organize."  Was  this  a  premonition  of 
that  broad  and  varied  work  which  was  before  him  but  was  yet 
hid  from  his  eyes  ? 


100  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

With  that  childlike  and  submissive  spirit  which  character- 
ized his  whole  life  work,  he  made  the  best  of  the  situation  and 
labored  on  as  if  he  were  to  stay  there  for  life:  Always  fond  of 
children,  he  took  great  delight  in  his  Sunday-schools.  To  his 
mother  he  confides :  "  As  I  have  no  ladies  to  visit,  I  sometimes 
spend  the  evenings  among  the  Sunday  School  children  and  feel 
as  happy  as  a  king.  It  would  make  you  smile  to  see  me  at 
such  a  time.  You  would  set  me  down  as  a  complete  '  Gross- 
papa'. " 

Of  the  General  Synod  M^hich  met  in  Baltimore  in  May  of 
this  year,  he  says: 

"Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  extravagances  of  some  'New 
Measure'  men,  the  representatives  of  this  Synod  are  a  noble 
body  of  self-denying  and  laborious  workmen  in  the  vineyard 
of  the  Lord.  Among  the  delegates  was  Dr.  Bachman  of  Charles- 
ton, S.  Carolina,  who  is  becoming  venerable  with  age  and  whose 
countenance  is  the  mirror  of  kindness  and  affection.  He  is  one 
of  the  most  celebrated  naturalists  not  only  in  this  country  but 
in  the  world.  The  great  work  of  Audubon  on  the  Birds  of ' 
America  is  indebted  to  him  for  one  half  its  information  and 
many  of  the  paintings  were  done  by  his  daughters  who  are 
married  to  the  sons  of  Audubon.  He  is  at  present  engaged  in 
the  preparation  of  a  new  work  on  the  Beasts  of  America  in 
connection  with  Mr.  A.  It  will  be  sold  at  the  enormous  price 
of  three  hundred  dollars." 

In  the  same  letter  he  thus  refers  to  some  idle  gossip  of  a 
supposed  engagement  that  had  reached  Zelienople :  "I  could 
not  help  smiling  when  I  read  the  'sisterly  advice'  in  your 
second  letter.  How  could  you  for  a  moment  suppose  that  such 
a  thing  was  going  on  without  my  having  made  known  the  whole 
matter  to  our  parents?  I  should  certainly  find  out  the  views  of 
papa  and  mamma  before  going  one  step  towards  such  an  affair. 
However,  this  has  done  me  some  good.  I  will  be  more  careful 
in  the  future  to  avoid  anything  which  would  give  rise  to  such 
reports. ' ' 

Of  a  puffed-up  and  popular  preacher  he  thus  expresses 
himself : 

"At  present  there  is  a  Methodist  preacher  from  Missis- 
sippi preaching  every  night  in  one  of  our  churches.  He  is  puffed 
in  the  papers  as  one  of  the  great  ones,  but  when  I  heard  him  I 
could  observe  no  particular  qualities  which  appeared  striking. 
But  the  system  of  puffing  is  carried  on  among  some  of  these 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.     101 

good  people  to  such  an  extent  that  it  becomes  absolutely  dis- 
gusting, for  truth,  reason  and  Scripture  are  all  made  to  give 
way  before  the  popular  applause.  When  I  hear  such  men  who 
may  well  pray  to  be  delivered  from  their  friends,  I  think  of 
Cowper's  description  of  a  gospel  minister." 

Of  the  part  he  had  in  putting  up  the  infant  Sunday-school 
room,  after  collecting  all  the  money  for  it,  he  says : 

"On  Monday  morning  a  week  ago,  Mr.  Murry  and  I  com- 
menced to  work  with  shovels  and  mattocks  and  by  evening  suc- 
ceeded in  digging  out  the  foundation.  On  the  following  Thurs- 
day evening  at  four  o'clock  we  laid  the  corner  stone  amid  great 
rejoicing. ' ' 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod 
then  in  session  in  .Philadelphia  he  called  on  Dr.  Demme  of  old 
Zion's  German  Church,  Dr.  Mayer  of  old  St.  John's  English 
Church,  Philadelphia,  and  on  Pastor  Vogelbach.  He  gives  this 
account  of  his  visit : 

"During  my  stay  in  Philadelphia,  I  called  on  Dr.  Demme 
and  as  I  had  no  one  to  introduce  me,  I  introduced  myself.  As 
soon  as  he  heard  my  name,  and  found  out  my  residence,  it  was 
all  right,  and  he  was  as  kind  as  I  could  have  asked  from  this 
orthodox  champion  of  old  Lutheranism.  He  asked  very  kindly 
about  papa,  and  from  his  minute  inquiry  I  thought  all  came 
from  a  sincere  heart.  In  about  twenty  minutes  I  was  among 
the  documents,  and  as  Dr.  Demme  is  as  great  an  admirer  of 
these  things  as  I,  we  spent  a  pleasant  hour  together.  He 
showed  me  some  large  blank  books  in  the  hand-writing  of  Muh- 
lenburg  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  and  poring  over 
the  history  of  some  of  our  early  churches  from  the  pen  of  this 
good  and  great  man.  On  leaving,  he  thanked  me  for  calling, 
gave  m-e  his  printed  works  for  the  Historical  Society,  and 
begged  to  be  remembered  affectionately  to  papa.  Prof.  Rey- 
nolds at  my  request  took  me  to  see  Dr.  Mayer  who  was  equally 
if  not  more  friendly.  My  heart  still  cleaves  to  the  old  man  for 
the  manner  in  which  he  spoke  of  papa  and  as  I  felt  his  love 
I  could  scarcely  refrain  from  tears  of  gratitude  to  my  Heavenly 
Father  for  the  gift  of  such  a  parent.  I  am  not  proud,  but  I 
am  thankful,  that  I  am  the  son  of  one,  everywhere  loved,  re- 
spected and  honored!  Although  Dr.  M.  probed  me  sharply  on 
the  subject  of  what  is  commonly  called  'New  Measures'  and 
drew  me  out  entirely,  he  notwithstanding  invited  me  to  preach 
in  the  evening.  I  begged  off  but  it  was  of  no  use.  He  would 
take  no  denial,  so  in  the  evening  I  preached  in  his  lecture  room  to 


102  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

a  good  congregation,  much  to  my  own  satisfaction,  and  1  trust 
to  the  edification  of  the  people.  After  sermon  I  walked  home 
with  the  doctor's  family  and  spent  an  hour  in  the  society  of  one 
of  the  most  charming  circles  I  have  ever  seen.  There  are  some 
four  or  five  single  daughters  in  the  family,  and  they  seem  so 
united  in  heart  and  in  mind  that  it  reminded  me  in  a  striking 
manner  of  our  own.  In  bidding  the  doctor  adieu,  he  thanked 
me  for  the  sermon  and  invited  me  to  his  pulpit  if  I  again  re- 
turned to  the  city.  When  I  went  home  and  it  became  known 
among  the  brethren  of  Synod  that  I  had  preached  for  Dr.  M. 
they  crowded  around  me  with  a  thousand  inquiries.  As  the 
doctor  had  not  made  his  appearance  at  the  Synod  and  had 
stood  aloof  from  any  connection  with  that  body,  it  was  a  matter 
of  no  little  surprise  how  I  got  into  his  good  graces.  One  said 
'How  came  you  who  are  as  great  a  heretic  as  any  to  be  the 
favored  one?'  Another,  'Pass,  what  did  the  Doctor  say  of  the 
Synod?'  I  honestly  told  them  that  I  went  in  under  the  shadow 
of  my  father,  but  as  no  one  had  been  asked  to  fill  his  pulpit  on 
Sunday,  they  all  seemed  greatly  astonished  at  this  move.  On 
second  thought,  I  looked  on  the  whole  as  providential,  for  when 
we  build  the  Chapel,  I  shall  go  straightway  to  Philadelphia,  and 
doubt  not  that  something  considerable  will  be  done  in  that  large 
and  wealthy  congregation. 

' '  As  my  stay  in  the  city  was  limited  by  engagements  here  to 
Thursday  morning,  I  did  not  get  time  to  see  much  of  the  place 
and  its  many  attractions.  On  Wednesday  morning,  however,  I 
walked  to  Girard  College — that  splendid  monument  of  human 
pride  and  folly ! 

''Good  Mr.  Vogelbach  did  not  wait  for  an  introduction,  but 
came  up  with  his  broad  German  face  and  shook  me  heartily  by 
the  hand.  As  soon  as  he  said  'Bruder'  I  knew  whence  he  came, 
for  his  speech  betrays  his  Swabian  birth." 

In  the  same  letter  he  discloses  his  sentiments  towards  the 
fair  sex: 

"I  was  quartered  at  a  very  pleasant  home,  the  more  so,  as 
there  was  a  handsome  young  lady  in  the  family.  I  also  drove 
out  several  times  and  made  some  pleasant  acquaintances  among 
the  'sex'  of  whom  there  is  apparently  any  number  in  brother 
Stork's  church.  You  need  not  become  alarmed  by  this  reference 
to  the  ladies.  I  am  beginning  to  be  of  the  opinion  that  I  have 
no  soul  or  heart  or  that  I  am  not  like  other  young  men.  How- 
ever, I  suppose  the  reason  is  'The  time  is  not  yet'." 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.     103 

In  another  letter  he  speaks  of  a  certain  young  lady's  mar- 
riage, expresses  his  congratulations  and  confesses  that  she  had 
been  'his  first  and  only  flame.' 

He  has  this  to  say  of  the  Sunday  School  Hymn  Book  on 
which  he  had  been  working  for  some  time:  "Yesterday  night 
at  half  past  eleven  o'clock  I  finished  making  out  the  index  for 
the  Sunday  School  Hymn  Book.  This  letter  was  commenced 
on  Monday  morning,  but  the  printers  sent  me  the  printed  proofs 
in  all  haste  and  all  my  leisure  time  has  been  taken  up  with 
that  disagreeable  and  tedious  business  until  this  morning.  As 
this  is  the  first  book  which  my  poor  efforts  have  yet  brought 
into  existence,  I  am  anxious  to  see  what  an  appearance  it  Avill 
make.  Solomon  has  said  that  'Of  the  making  of  many  books 
there  is  no  end'.  I  should  be  sorry  if  this  were  to  be  fulfilled 
in  my  case,  for  this  book-making  business  to  me,  is  of  all  others 
the  most  troublesome." 

Of  the  Lutheran  Standard  he  says.  "The  Lutheran  Stan- 
dard which  you  have  had  the  kindness  to  send  to  me,  comes 
duly  to  hand.  I  am  truly  thankful,  dear  mother,  for  the  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  this  paper.  As  it  contains  church  intelligence 
which  the  Observer  does  not,  it  fills  up  an  important  vacuum 
in  my  knowledge  of  the  state  of  the  Church  in  Ohio.  As  to  the 
selections  in  the  Observer  or  Standard  or  any  of  our  German 
papers,  I  find  very  little  time  to  read  them.  Its  weekly  visits 
continually  remind  me  of  a  mother's  affectionate  regard.  As 
to  those  good  men  in  Ohio,  I  bear  no  prejudice  against  them. 
Only  I  think  they  are  not  pursuing  that  course  which  would 
bring  the  greatest  good  to  the  souls  of  men.  I  never  questioned 
the  sincerity  of  such  men  as  Greenwald,  Schaeffer  and  others, 
but  yet  I  believe  they  might  be  abundantly  more  useful  were 
they  to  hold  different  views,  and  adopt  a  different  policy." 

He  kept  up  a  most  happy  correspondence  with  his  Jefferson 
classmate,  Robert  Patterson.  He  had  hoped  to  secure  him  as  a 
teacher  in  his  projected  academy  and  had  written  him  a  formal 
request  to  come,  which  was  firmly  but  lovingly  declined. 

Here  is  his  account  of  a  Christmas  visit  to  Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania : 

"Calling  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Baker  and  showing  my  letter 
of  introduction  I  was  kindly  received  and  invited  to  occupy  his 
pulpit  at  night.  At  seven  I  preached  to  a  large  congregation 
in  the  very  large  Lutheran  Church  from  the  words  of  the 
prophet,  'Thus  saith  the  High  and  Holy  one,  etc'  Shall  any 
seed  sown  his  evening  take  root?   On  my  return  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 


104  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

Baker's,  I  had  a  visit  from  Mrs.  Baugher  of  Fountain  Dale,  Pa. 
She  informed  me  that  the  little  seed  had  grown  up  and  become 
a  great  tree.  The  handful  of  members  whom  I  joined  together 
while  a  student  in  the  seminary,  have  increased  to  nearly  one 
hundred.  They  have  a  handsome  and  commodious  church  and 
are  now  in  the  Taneytown  and  Emmetsburg  charge.  I  re- 
mained in  Lancaster  Tuesday  and  part  of  Wednesday.  Renewed 
my  acquaintance  with  my  old  friend  F.  A.  Muhlenburg  of 
Jefferson  College,  who  is  still  teaching  in  the  Academy.  At  the 
house  of  his  father,  I  saw  the  object  of  my  visit  to  that  place, 
some  of  the  journals,  and  other  manuscript  writings  of  the 
venerable  Muhlenburg,  the  pioneer  Lutheran  missionary  in  this 
country.  I  endeavored  to  get  them  as  a  donation  for  the 
Historical  Society  but  did  not  succeed.  They  may  perhaps  be 
secured  on  deposit.  Without  them  a  biography  of  Muhlenburg 
or  a  history  of  his  life  and  times  could  not  be  written.  Dr. 
Baker  gave  some  valuable  donations  of  books,  pamphlets,  etc. 
to  the  Society  and  expressed  himself  highly  gratified  with  the 
Society  and  the  object  it  proposes.  I  must  not  omit  to  note 
down  a  few  particulars  of  the  remarkable  work  of  God  which 
has  been  wrought  during  the  last  year  in  this  city. 

"The  general  interest  on  the  subject  of  religion  which  pre- 
vailed everywhere  last  winter  was  felt  in  Lancaster  in  several 
of  the  Evangelical  churches.  Dr.  Baker  had  for  a  long  time 
opposed  what  are  commonly  called  'New  Measures'  among  us, 
but  at  the  same  time  he  preached  experimental  religion  with  all 
his  might.  The  result  was  here  as  everywhere  else  under  such 
preaching.  The  people  of  their  own  accord  and  with  his  con- 
sent met  together  in  private  houses  and  edified  each  other  by 
singing,  prayer  and  reading  the  Scriptures.  These  meetings 
were  held  almost  every  night  during  the  week,  and  r^ome  were 
awakened  and  justified  almost  every  evening.  The  wealthier 
members  of  the  congregation  stood  aloof,  as  in  former  times — 
the  nobles  put  not  their  shoulder  to  the  Avork.  But  the  common 
people  met  together  gladly,  and  they  with  the  Doctor  on  their 
side  prevailed.  Several  hundred  persons  of  both  sexes  were 
converted  during  the  course  of  the  winter  and  the  whole  cha- 
racter of  the  congregation  has,  since  then  been  changed.  The 
good  Doctor  is  now  one  of  the  most  decided  revivalists  in  the 
church.  He  says,  'These  measures  will  either  drive  ministers 
into  their  use  or  they  will  drive  men  out'." 

In  a  letter  to  his  mother  he  gives  this  account  of  Dr. 
Baker : 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.     105 

"After  spending  the  evening  very  pleasantly  till  ten  o'clock, 
Dr.  Baker  kept  me  till  one  talking  at  a  prodigious  rate  about 
church  affairs.  He  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  men  I  have  ever 
met,  full  of  kindness  and  love  to  the  whole  world,  and  at  the 
same  time  so  full  of  energy  and  activity  that  his  whole  body, 
hands  and  feet,  face  and  all,  are  at  work  when  he  speaks.  He  is 
greatly  beloved,  I  might  say  almost  worshipped,  by  his  congre- 
gation. When  they  speak  of  him  it  is  with  real  enthusiasm; 
indeed  he  is  a  father  among  his  people.  All  denominations  of 
Christians  love  and  respect  him,  and  he  is  at  the  head  of  all  the 
societies,  and  schools,  both  classical  and  primary,  in  the  city. 
His  engagements  are  frightful  to  think  of.  He  preaches  three 
times  on  Sunday,  besides  attending  and  superintending  the 
Sunday-school,  and  has  a  meeting  either  in  English  or  German 
of  some  kind  on  every  night  in  the  week  but  Saturday.  He 
says  he  is  killing  himself,  and  yet  he  continues  from  year  to 
year  as  before.  I  thought  he  would  never  grow  weary  of  tell- 
ing me  the  beneficial  effect  'new  measures'  so-called  have  had 
upon  his  congregation.  Until  the  last  year,  he  was  always  op- 
posed to  these  things,  and  was  generally  the  spokesman  for  the 
Germans  in  the  East  Pennsylvania  Synod.  But  his  people 
finally  commenced  prayer-meetings  in  their  own  houses  and 
when  he  saw,  after  a  few  months,  the  happy  effect  which  was 
produced,  he  threw  up  his  prejudices  at  once,  attended  and  led 
the  meetings,  and  now  has  two  very  large  prayer-meetings  in 
English  and  German  every  week  in  his  lecture  room,  besides 
several  which  are  held  in  private  houses.  He  says  that  since 
these  meetings  have  been  held,  his  communion  members  have 
more  than  doubled.  In  his  earnest  emphatic  manner,  he  would 
repeat  this  again  and  again,  and  then  as  if  speaking  to  some 
opposing  brother  at  S>mod  would  say.  'No,  gentlemen,  I  must 
ridicule  these  things  no  more,  indeed  I  cannot,  my  people  are 
now  like  a  family  of  children  together;  they  love  each  other, 
they  pray  for  each  other,  etc.  No,  while  I  live  I  shall  let  my 
people  know  that  I  approve  of  these  things ! ' 

' '  It  must  be  confessed  that  the  whole  congregation  does  not 
go  with  him  on  that  point.  Some  of  the  most  influential  of  his 
members  did  all  they  could  to  put  them  down,  but  it  would 
not  do.  These  persons  still  stand  aloof  from  all  part  or  lot  in 
these  meetings,  though  as  firmly  attached  to  the  church  as  ever, 
and  as  constant  in  their  attendance. 

"I  have  been  thus  particular  in  my  account  of  Dr.  Baker 
because  he  is  one  of  the  first  ministers  in  the  church,  both  as 


106  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

respects  the  sphere  in  which  he  moves  and  as  regards  his  talents 
as  a  preacher.  This  change  in  his  views  and  feelings,  on  this 
exciting  question,  is  remarkable  in  more  than  one  aspect.  At 
his  age  in  life  men  seldom  change  their  opinions  and  anyone 
who  knew  him  before  and  nov.'  must  admit  that  nothing  but  a 
candid  investigation  of  the  truth  could  have  brought  him  over 
to  the  position  he  now  occupies." 

On  his  way  home  he  stopped  at  York,  visited  his  former 
fellow  student  Rev.  Charles  Hay  and  Pastor  Lochman.  Here 
he  collected  a  number  of  records  for  the  Historical  Society. 
Here  is  his  account  of  his  delightful  visit: 

"So  between  turkey  dinners  and  turkey  suppers  and  talk- 
ing half  the  night  with  Charles  and  preaching  twice  at  York,  I 
rather  recruited  backwards  instead  of  forwards.  After  I  had 
indoctrinated  Hay  about  the  Historical  Society,  he  was  in- 
defatigable in  hunting  the  documents.  We  ransacked  some  ten 
or  fifteen  libraries  and  garrets  in  York  and  secured  some  val- 
uable prizes,  among  which  was  a  beautiful  portrait  of  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Goering,  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  church,  who  preached 
the  Gospel  and  had  revivals  in  the  darkest  period  of  her  history. 
It  was  really  gratifying  to  see  how  willingly  these  things  were 
donated  to  the  Society.  Everyone  with  whom  we  conversed 
was  favorably  impressed  with  the  design  of  its  formation." 

During  this  visit  he  received  several  flattering  and  tempt- 
ing offers  to  locate  and  labor  in  this  Mecca  of  Lutheranism. 
To  these  propositions  he  gave  no  serious  thought  on  account  of 
'the  pressing  need  and  poverty  of  his  Baltimore  people.' 

Here  is  his  estimate  of  his  dear  friend  Krauth:  "Charles 
Krauth  is  now  in  Philadelphia  on  a  visit.  His  church  is  crowded 
to  excess  on  Sunday  afternoons  by  the  most  gay  and  fashionable 
young  people  in  the  city.  But  unfortunately  the  church  does 
not  increase  in  strength  as  might  be  expected  from  such  good 
congregations.  He  is  a  delightful  speaker,  gifted  in  thought 
and  address,  but  in  the  opinion  of  those  who  love  him  most 
and  know  him  best,  he  is  not  sufficiently  practical  to  be 
eminently  useful." 

He  gives  this  little  sketch  of  a  very  remarkable  character  in 
the  Lutheran  Church  of  that  day: 

"Brother  Lemenowsky  of  the  Synod  of  the  West  preached 
in  the  Chapel  to  a  large  and  interested  congregation.  This 
brother  was  for  twenty-three  years  in  the  army  of  Napoleon 
Bonaparte,  and  after  a  most  eventful  life  on  the  continent  came 
to   this   country  some   twenty-seven  years   ago,   escaping  from 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORE  IN  BALTIMORE.     107 

prison  in  Paris  where  he  was  condemned  to  be  shot  for  aiding 
in  bringing  Napoleon  to  Paris.  He  embarked  on  board  a  vessel 
and  reached  New  York  not  only  penniless  but  in  debt  sixty 
dollars  for  his  passage,  without  hat,  without  shoes,  stockings, 
cravat,  and  nothing  in  the  world  but  a  woolen  shirt  and  a  pair 
of  linsey  pantaloons.  At  first  he  supported  himself  in  Phila- 
delphia and  in  different  parts  of  the  United  States  by  giving 
lessons  in  sword  exercises.  At  length  he  got  a  situation  in  one 
of  the  offices  of  the  general  government  in  Washington  City 
where  he  attached  himself  to  a  German  Church  which  was  or- 
ganized some  twelve  years  ago  in  that  city.  He  was  there  and 
then  elected  one  of  the  elders  and  as  such  came  to  Baltimore  at 
a  meeting  of  the  General  Synod.  "^ 

Here  is  his  account  of  an  important  meeting  which  he  at- 
tended Jan.  19. : 

"At  seven  in  the  evening  attended  a  union  meeting  in  Dr. 
Morris'  lecture  room,  composed  of  the  members  of  the  different 
Lutheran  churches  in  the  city.  Dr.  Morris  made  a  short  address, 
after  which  I  spoke  for  some  time  urging  the  brethren  to  be  up 
and  doing  for  the  salvation  of  the  German  brethren  after  the 
flesh  in  the  city.  At  the  close  of  my  remarks,  I  proposed  that 
we  raise  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  support  of 
a  new  Lutheran  preacher  on  The  Point  and  in  Canton.  After 
singing  a  hymn,  Dr.  Kurtz  made  an  appropriate  address  and 
then  a  general  invitation  was  given  to  any  who  were  disposed 
to  speak.  The  excitement  of  the  occasion  was  very  great  and 
some  half  dozen  of  the  brethren  rose  and  expressed  themselves 
on  the  necessity  of  doing  something  for  this  work  on  the  spot. 
At  their  own  desire,  papers  were  circulated  and  in  a  short  time, 
the  handsome  sum  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  was 
raised  for  the  support  of  the  missionary  and  between  three  and 
four  hundred  dollars  for  the  new  chapel  which  it  was  proposed 
to  build.  This  was  all  freely  given.  The  whole  was  as  grate- 
ful to  my  feelings  as  it  was  unexpected.  After  prayer  by 
brother  B.  Kurtz,  we  separated,  praising  God  for  His  mercy 
and  kindness  toward  us. ' ' 

Feb.  18.,  Rev.  Wm.  Smith,  pastor  of  the  First  English 
Lutheran  Church  of  Pittsburg  visited  him.  Mr.  Smith  was 
about  to  resign  from  his  church  on  account  of  his  health,  and 
the  object  of  his  visit  to  Baltimore  was  to  secure  Mr.  Passa- 


°  The  romantic  story  of  this  man  is  told  in  "Under  Two  Captains" 
by  Eev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Sadtler,  General  Council  Publication  House,  Philadel- 
phia. 


108  THE  LIFE  OF  IT.  A.  PAS  SAY  ANT. 

vant's  consent  to  go  to  Pittsburg,  "as  he  would  certainly  be 
called".  He  records  his  reflections  in  these  words: 

"When  I  went  to  rest  last  night  it  was  to  think  but  not 
to  sleep,  and  even  during  sleep  my  mind  was  actively  engaged 
in  thinking  over  the  subject  of  brother  Smith's  visit.  Oh,  that 
I  could  be  at  rest  on  this  and  kindred  matters  which  are  pre- 
sented to  my  mind  and  on  which  I  must  decide.  With  regard 
to  the  call  from  York  last  week,  I  had  no  difficulty,  whatever, 
in  seeing  that  under  existing  circumstances  it  was  not  my  duty 
to  leave  this  place.  But  my  mind  is  painfully  harrassed  on 
this  subject.  During  the  past  day  I  have  had  several  conver- 
sations with  brother  Smith,  and  Drs.  Morris  and  Kurtz,  with 
reference  to  this  matter.  Oh  God !  Let  me  not  mistake  the  path 
of  duty.  Thou  hast  hitherto  led  me  by  Thine  own  hand.  Oh, 
let  me  not  in  this  my  extremity  wander  from  the  path  in  which 
Thou  wouldst  have  me  go.  I  am  Thine:  then  use  me  as  it 
seemeth  good  in  Thy  sight  to  the  praise  of  Thy  great  name 
through  the  Beloved." 

^larch  the  7th,  he  received  the  following  letter  from  Pitts- 
burg. When  it  was  handed  to  him  he  says,  "I  trembled,  while 
I  read  it,  to  such  a  degree  that  I  had  to  lay  it  aside  for  some 
moments. ' ' 

"I  write  you  in  haste  to  inform  you  that  my  resignation 
was  accepted  last  evening  by  the  Council  of  our  church  and 
you  are  unanimously  elected  as  my  successor.  I  recommended 
you  on  the  ground  that  you  would  come  on  immediately,  say- 
ing three  days  or  at  most  seven,  and  that  you  would  make  a 
zealous  and  faithful,  and  I  hope  a  successful  pastor.  If  you 
can  come  immediately,  do  so,  and  I  will  instantly  repair  to 
Baltimore  to  fill  your  place  until  better  supplied.  The  Council 
offers  vou  five  hundred  dollars  salary-  and  I  think  vou  will  be 
pleasantly  and  happily  located  here.  My  health  requires  that  I 
should  leave  immediately.  Do  come  on  without  delay  and  oblige 
your  sincere  brother,  William  H.  Smith." 

He  thus  reports  his  deep  emotions  after  reeei\'ing  this 
letter : 

"Before  this  came  on,  I  thought  my  mind  was  made  up 
to  accept  the  call  should  one  come,  but  I  am  at  a  stand.  I  know 
not  what  to  do.  ^ly  own  will  draws  me  now  here,  now  there. 
Oh  God,  my  God,  into  Thy  arms  I  throw  myself.  In  this  most 
important  transaction  of  my  life,  let  me  not  be  guided  by  any 
other  than  Thv  merciful  hand.  Oh,  Thou  guide  of  mv  vouth, 
lead  me  in  the  way  I  should  go.    Let  me  hear  Thy  voice  sajdng 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.     109 

'This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it'.  I  fear  my  own  will  or  wish  may 
bias  my  mind  in  this  matter,  though  I  do  not  even  know  what  my 
preferences  are.  Lord,  let  me  not  deceive  myself.  Make  me 
willing  to  do  Thy  will  and  let  me  know  what  Thy  will  concern- 
ing me  is.    For  Jesus  the  Redeemer's  sake,  Amen." 

Besides  the  calls  to  York  and  to  Pittsburg,  the  young 
minister  had  other  serious  matters  engaging  his  attention  at 
this  time.  His  friend  Krauth  was  boarding  in  the  hospitable 
home  of  Z.  G.  Hewes  where  Mr.  Passavant  frequently  visited 
him.  He  was  always  welcomed  in  this  family  and  frequently 
remained  to  tea.  A  niece  of  Mr.  Hewes,  Miss  Eliza  "Walter,  was 
at  this  time  making  her  home  there,  and  Mr.  Passavant  natur- 
ally became  well  acquainted  with  her.  He  often  received 
complimentary  tickets  to  various  entertainments  for  "himself 
and  lady".  On  one  occasion  he  made  bold  to  ask  Miss  "Walter 
to  accompany  him  to  hear  a  famous  lecturer.  This  at  once 
started  the  gossips  and  he  soon  heard  that  he  was  engaged  to 
Miss  Walter  and  was  asked  when  he  was  going  to  be  married. 
Dr.  Morris  had  always  -counselled  him  to  be  very  cautious  in 
these  matters  and  to  keep  away  from  the  young  ladies.  Great 
was  Passavant 's  surprise,  therefore,  when  the  good  doctor 
called  him  aside  and  informed  him  that  he  had  heard  of  his 
attentions  to  Miss  "Walter,  congratulated  him  on  his  good  taste 
and  good  fortune,  commended  the  young  lady  most  highly  and 
advised  him  to  "hold  on".  As  Mr.  Passavant  had  paid  no 
special  attention  to  the  young  woman  beyond  the  one  occasion 
referred  to  and  really  had  no  serious  intentions,  he  was  greatly 
disturbed  by  all  this.  As  usual,  he  gave  a  full  account  of  this 
embarassing  situation  to  his  sister  "\"irginia  and  to  his  mother. 
He  tells  them  frankly  of  the  good  qualities  of  the  modest  and 
pious  young  woman  and  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  she  was 
held  bv  all  who  knew  her.  As  his  income  was  barelv  sufficient 
to  support  himself,  he  had  no  intention  of  being  married  and 
sincerely  deprecated  even  the  possibility  of  raising  false  hopes 
in  the  young  woman.  He  therefore  craves  the  advice  of  his 
sister  and  mother. 

Virginia  answered  him  in  her  own  frank  manner,  gently 
chided  him  for  being  wrought  up  over  so  small  a  matter,  and 
ad\4sed  him  to  pay  no  attention  to  gossip,  to  keep  cool,  take  his 
time  and  get  advice  when  there  would  be  something  to  give  ad- 
vice on. 

His  mother  took  it  more  seriously,  told  him  that  he  was 
too  young  to  think  of  being  married,  that  he  ought  not  to  give 


110  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

it  a  thought  until  he  should  be  able  to  support  a  wife  properly. 
She  was  not  a  little  vexed  at  Dr.  Morris  for  his  "match  making" 
and  his  ill-timed  advice  on  the  subject. 

On  the  reception  of  this  double  advice,  young  Passavant 
made  up  his  mind  to  make  haste  slowly  and  to  do  "no  courting" 
for  the  present,  and  yet  he  could  not  help  but  occasionally  visit 
his  friend  Krauth  and  so  meet  Miss  Walter.  In  this  manner, 
even  though  unconsciously,  the  tender  passion  was  gently 
rooting. 

As  we  shall  see,  Miss  Walter  in  due  time  became  Mrs. 
Passavant.  At  the  ripe  age  of  eighty,  on  being  earnestly  re- 
quested, she  wrote  out  some  of  the  memories  of  that  happy 
period.     She  says : 

"Rev.  Passavant  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  Rev.  Krauth. 
On  one  of  these  visits  he  was  invited  to  take  tea  at  which  time 
Miss  Walter,  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Hewes,  was  introduced  to  Rev. 
Passavant.  This  gentleman's  visits  became  frequent.  A  sincere 
friendship  existed  between  these  young  people.  There 
was  something  about  this  young  preacher  that  was  very  in- 
teresting, all  absence  of  self  assertion,  and  a  humble  trust  in 
divine  help  as  to  success  of  his  labor.  There  was  marked 
difference  between  these  two  young  men.  Rev.  Krauth  was  won- 
derfully gifted  intellectually  for  one  so  young  and  brought  to 
his  church  crowds  to  listen  to  his  wonderful  sermons;  the  Rev. 
Passavant  began  his  labors  among  a  poor  middle  class  of  people 
in  a  very  humble  church.  The  difficulties  that  had  to  be  fought 
and  surmounted  to  one  less  in  earnest  in  the  Master's  work 
would  have  made  him  give  up  in  despair.  But  his  success  was 
grand;  he  built  a  new  church,  was  loved  and  respected  by  all 
where  he  labored,  until  in  1844  when  he  was  called  to  the  First 
Church  of  Pittsburg.  After  a  friendly  correspondence.  Rev. 
Passavant  came  to  Baltimore  to  see  his  old  friend.  After  a 
few  days  Miss  Eliza  Walter  and  he  were  engaged,  but  they 
were  not  to  be  married  until  he  had  been  one  year  in  Pitts- 
burg. ' ' 

The  call  to  Pittsburg  was  a  matter  of  the  most  intense  per- 
plexity to  Mr.  Passavant.  His  inclinations  were  all  in  favor 
of  accepting  the  call.  In  his  view  the  drawbacks  in  Balti- 
more were: 

First,  The  low  ceiling  of  the  Luther  Chapel  made  preaching 
exceedingly  difficult  for  one  who  spoke  with  his  animation  and 
force.  He  says:  "I  am  always  exhausted  in  one  service  and 
must  lie  down  for  several  hours  before  I  am  able  to  hold  the 


ELIZA  WALTER  PASSAVANT. 


FIRST  CHARGE  AND  WORK  IN  BALTIMORE.     Ill 

>/ 

evening  service.  When  I  preach  in  Dr.  Morris',"  brother 
Krauth's,  or  any  other  large  city  church,  I  feel  nothing  of  this 
exhaustion."  He  felt  that  if  he  could  see  any  prospect  for  a 
new  church,  he  would  be  willing  to  remain. 

Second,  The  location  of  the  Chapel  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
city  was  unfavorable  for  the  gathering  of  a  large  congregation. 
In  coming  to  his  services,  the  people  had  to  pass  many  churches 
that  were  much  larger,  more  comfortable  and  inviting. 

Third,  To  his  mind  Pittsburg  offered  a  more  extensive 
field  for  usefulness,  besides  it  was  the  gateway  to  that  great 
promising,  expanding  West  to  which  his  heart  and  mind  had 
been  so  forcibly  drawn. 

Fourth,  In  Pittsburg,  he  would  be  nearer  to  his  home  and 
its  loved  ones. 

Fifth,  Mr.  Krauth  told  him  that  it  was  foolish  to  hesitate; 
as  for  him,  he  would  in  a  like  situation,  accept  such  a  call  " 
at  once. 

On  the  other  hand,  his  mother  gave  some  weighty  reasons 
against  his  going  to  Pittsburg.  Though  her  heart  yearned  to 
have  him  near  home,  her  good  judgment  and  common  sense 
saw  the  difficulties  in  the  way.  As  to  hard  work,  it  would  cer- 
tainly be  no  less  so  in  Pittsburg.  There  were  the  heavy  debt  and 
the  disheartened  people.  In  Baltimore  he  had  trained  up  his 
own  people  and  they  were  harmonious,  affectionate  and  ready 
to  follow  his  leading.  Again  the  Pittsburg  congregation  was 
spread  over  two  cities  and  the  country  round  about.  It  would 
take  much  more  time  for  visiting  and  there  would  be  less  time 
for  study  and  self -improvement.  As  for  health,  there  was  the 
sulphurous  smoke  which  might  be  worse  than  a  low-ceiled 
church.  The  fact  that  neither  the  Rev.  Mr.  McCron  nor  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Smith  had  been  able  to  remain  long  was  proof  posi- 
tive of  the  difficulty  of  the  field.  As  to  being  nearer  home, 
while  that  had  its  pleasant  side,  there  was  also  another  con- 
sideration. His  father  and  Bishop  Schweizerbarth  were  both 
strongly  opposed  to  all  "New  Measures".  They  would  cer- 
tainly watch  him  and  would  take  offence  at  such  revival  meet- 
ings, with  anxious  bench  and  mourners,  as  he  had  in  Balti- 
more. Schweitzerbarth  would  certainly  make  it  very  unpleas- 
ant for  him. 

The  perplexed  young  pastor  went  first  of  all  to  God  for 
counsel.  Then  he  consulted  his  parents  and  lastly  his  church 
council  and  brethren  of  the  ministry.  After  due  deliberation 
and  prayer,  he  wrote  his  acceptance  of  the  call  and  carried  it 


112  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

to  the  post-office,  when,  immediately  on  his  return,  he  was  met 
by  the  members  of  his  church  council.  They  informed  him 
that  by  an  almost  desperate  effort  they  had  secured  subscrip- 
tions to  the  amount  of  three  thousand  dollars  within  the  con- 
gregation for  the  building  of  a  new  church;  that  leading 
members  of  Dr.  Morris'  church  had  informed  them  that  their 
members  would  doubtless  easily  make  up  the  other  three  thous- 
and that  would  be  needed,  if  Mr.  Passavant  would  remain  in 
Baltimore.  This  spirit  of  devotion  and  sacrifice  so  touched 
him  that  he  hastened  to  the  post-office  and  took  his  letter  out 
again  just  before  the  mail  was  taken  away.  He  writes:  "As 
the  poor  people  have  exerted  themselves  day  and  night  and  the 
congregation  is  so  inexperienced  that  I  fear  to  leave  them,  I 
have  at  last  resolved  to  stay.  I  trust  that  this  is  Gpd's  will, 
I  am  sure  that  it  is  not  my  own.  Poor  dear  people;  may  God 
'  bless  and  reward  them  for  their  kindness." 

And  so  when  he  had  declined  the  call  he  went  to  work 
anew  to  build  up  this  congregation,  to  erect  their  new  church, 
to  strengthen  Muhlenburg  Sunday-school,  and  to  labor  for  a 
congregation  there.  But  he  was  still  kept  in  an  unsettled  state 
of  mind.  Letters  came  from  leading  men  of  the  Pittsburg 
church  and  from  brethren  in  the  ministry,  telling  him  of  the 
critical  period  that  was  upon  that  congregation,  how  much  was 
at  stake  for  the  Lutheran  cause  in  the  West  and  urging  him 
to  reconsider  his  refusal.  April,  22.,  a  second  unanimous  and 
most  urgent  call  came  from  the  First  English  Lutheran 
Church  of  Pittsburg. 

This  time,  after  again  laying  the  matter  before  God  with 
strong  cries  and  pleadings,  he  finally  felt  that  it  was  the  Lord's 
will  that  he  should  go.  Notwithstanding  the  affectionate  and 
pathetic  grief  of  his  people,  he  saw  that  he  dared  no  longer 
follow  his  feelings.  Duty  called  and'he  must  go.  The  congre- 
gation, the  Sunday  School  and  Library  Association  of  Luther 
Chapel,  all  passed  and  presented  appreciative  and  suitable  re- 
solutions. Numberless  presents  and  tokens  of  affection  came 
in.  The  scenes  of  the  last  days  in  Baltimore  were  both  distress- 
ing and  exciting.  He  visited  from  house  to  house,  explained 
his  motive  and  tried  to  have  them  reconciled  to  his  leaving. 
And  so  they  finally  parted  as  the  best  of  friends  and  he  was 
not  conscious  of  leaving  a  single  enemy  among  them.  It  was 
hardest  to  leave  his  six  ,  hundred  Sunday-school  pupils.  For 
a  long  time  afterwards,  the  tears  would  flow  every  time  he 
spoke  of  his  leave-taking. 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  113 


CHAPTER  VI. 

BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG. 

Mr.  Passavant  spent  several  delightful  weeks  in  the  old 
home,  before  going  to  Pittsburg.  His  mother  writes  Virginia 
who  was  away  from  home:  "As  for  Willy  student-like,  he  has 
lost  his  former  love  for  manual  labor  and  looks  so  frail  and  thin 
that  I  do  not  like  to  see  him  fatigue  himself."  He  preached  to 
the  gratification  and  edification  of  all  in  Zelienople,  Harmony, 
Prospect  and  Butler.  His  mother  says:  "He  might  just  as  well 
be  in  Pittsburg,  attending  to  his  own  congregation  as  to  be  en- 
gaged in  these  self-imposed  services." 

Of  the  condition  of  the  church  in  Pittsburg  and  of  the  be- 
ginning of  Mr.  Passavant 's  work  there,  Mr.  Thomas  H.  Lane, 
a  life-long  member,  worker  and  pillar  of  the  church,  wrote  this 
interesting  sketch  for  the  Memorial  Workman,  as  also,  by  re- 
quest, another  reminiscence  for  this  work.    We  quote  from  both : 

"Rev.  Passavant  took  charge  of  the  feeble  organization 
known  as  the  'First  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in 
Pittsburg,'  in  the  Spring  of  1844. 

"The  organization  had  been  formed  by  Father  Heyer,  Jan. 
15,  1837.  After  serving  it  for  a  brief  period,  he  resigned  to 
organize  a  German  congregation,  now  known  as  Trinity  German 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Congregation,  w^hdse  church  is  located  on 
High  Street.  Rev.  Emanuel  Frey  succeeded  him  for  the  brief 
period  of  a  few  months,  when  he  was  forced  to  abandon  the  un- 
dertaking by  failure  of  health,  which  permanently  disabled  him 
for  performing  the  duties  of  a  minister.  In  1839,  Dr.  John 
McCron,  freshly  graduated  from  the  Theological  seminary  at 
Gettysburg,  assumed  charge  as  'resident  missionary,'  commis- 
sioned therefor  by  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod.  In  1840  the 
church  on  Seventh  Avenue  was  built,  and  was  dedicated  during 
the  session  of  the  West  Pennsylvania  Synod,  which  met  in  con- 
vention that  fall  in  the  new  edifice. 

"Dr.  McCron  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W.  H.  Smith,  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  April,  1843.  After  one  year's 
service,  he  resigned.  Mar.  4,  1844.  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  then 
in  Baltimore,  Md.,  had  a  call  extended  to  him  to  become  pastor, 


114  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

which  he  declined  to  accept.  Apr.  22,  1844,  the  call  was  re- 
peated and  to  the  great  joy  of  the  feeble  and  disheartened  flock, 
who  tremblingly  awaited  its  results,  he  communicated  his  ac- 
ceptance  

"His  flock  were  a  feeble  folk,  regarded  either  numerically 
or  in  relation  to  their  social  standing  or  to  their  financial  re- 
sources. They  were  oppressed  under  a  debt  of  fourteen  thoas- 
and  dollars,  incurred  in  the  purchase  of  the  property  and  the 
erection  on  it  of  their  church  building.  They  were  unable  to 
meet  the  interest  on  their  obligations,  and  had  actually  been  in 
the  clutches  of  the  sherifi^  from  which  they  were  barely  released 
by  the  exertions  of  one  member,  George  Weyman,  who  then  pos- 
sessed the  requisite  means,  but  who  staggered  under  the  weight 
of  almost  the  entire  cost  of  the  enterprise.  Confronted  by  such 
obstacles,  a  young  man,  not  far  advanced  beyond  his  twentieth 
year,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  set  up  his  banner.  He  aroused 
the  fainting  courage  of  his  people,  he  counselled  them  and  en- 
couraged them  by  his  stalwart  faith.  He  added  greatly  to  their 
numbers,  and  developed  to  the  utmost  their  growing  strength. 

"Providence  had  gifted  Mr.  Passavant  with  an  attractive 
appearance  and  a  prepossessing  manner  and  address.  He  had  a 
musical  voice  and  other  natural  gifts  of  oratory  which  had  been 
trained  and  cultured  during  a  thorough  course  of  collegiate  and 
seminary  instruction.  His  personal  intercourse  was  polite  and 
dignified.  His  disposition  genial  and  cheerful  and  his  sympa- 
thies cordial  and  sincere.  He  at  once  won  the  admiration  and 
pride  of  his  people,  and  rapidly  became  a  favorite  among  all 
classes  and  denominations  in  our  city.  These  personal  char- 
acteristics widened  and  deepened  with  the  experience  of  his 
future  years,  and  up  until  the  close  of  life.  In  occurrences  of 
sickness  or  death  in  families  or  the  community  outside  of  his 
own  denomination,  during  the  absence  or  lack  of  a  regular  pas- 
tor, his  ministrations  were  sought  with  surprising  frequency. 

"His  influence  upon  the  young  was  wonderful.  He  stim- 
ulated them  to  effort  in  all  directions.  The  Sunday  School 
grew  surprisingly,  animated  by  his  constant  exertions  and  his 
hearty  co-operations.  Systematic  efforts  were  directed  by  'Mite 
Societies, '  and  other  means  to  increase  the  revenue  of  the  church. 
The  catechetical  instruction  was  systematically  maintained. 
The  sick  and  indigent  were  conscientiously  cared  for,  and  an 
esprit  de  corps  aroused,  which  banished  despondency  with  its 
attendant  supineness.     His  personal  intercourse  with  the  young 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  115 

men  of  his  charge  induced  not  a  few  to  resolve  to  devote  their 
lives  to  the  ministry  and  in  repeated  instances  these  were  aided 
in  their  efforts  to  obtain  suitable  education,  directly  by  his  own 
aid,  or  that  procured  through  him  from  others.  His  cheerful, 
happy  temper  relieved  the  niinds  of  the  young  from  that  repres- 
sive influence  which  in  the  lives  of  so  many  good  people  tends  to 
appall  the  young. 

"After  the  exercises  of  his  catechetical  class  held  on  Satur- 
day afternoon,  he  would  occasionally  accompany  them  in  a 
stroll  over  the  adjacant  hills. 

"There  was  but  little  distinctive  Lutheranism  either  in  cus- 
tom or  teaching;  the  emphasis  indeed  was  laid  upon  the  dis- 
proval  of  our  difference  from  the  orthodox  denominations.  It 
was  esteemed  a  favor  to  have  a  minister  of  a  different  denom- 
ination to  fill  the  pulpit.  This  would  naturally  imply  that  there 
was  not  much  acquaintance  with  Lutheran  doctrine.  The  Augs- 
burg Confession  was  probably  neither  known  nor  possessed  by  a 
single  member  of  the  congregation.  There  had  been  a  bitter 
controversy  pervading  the  church  about  this  time,  over  the  'new 
measure'  system.  The  appearance  and  discussion  of  Dr.  Nevin's 
'AnxioiLs  Bench,'  emanating  from  Mercersburg,  whilst  Profes- 
sor in  the  Reformed  Seminary  there,  and  similar  publications 
in  both  churches,  involved  both  Reformed,  and  Lutheran 
Churches  in  a  very  bitter  controversy.  Dr.  Kurtz,  through  the 
columns  of  the  Observer,  which  he  edited,  wrote  the  most  in- 
flammatory editorials,  and  filled  his  columns  with  contributions 
from  correspondents  and  reports  of  the  refreshing  out-pouring 
of  the  Spirit,  which  was  attending  the  most  extravagantly  con- 
ducted meetings  held  all  over  the  church.  Those  who  opposed 
such  proceedings  were  denounced  as  Puseyites,  formalists,  and 
by  any  epithet  which  would  imply  the  destitution  of  the  genuine 
spirituality." 

The  Rev.  A.  H.  Waters  who  became  the  lifelong  friend  and 
co-worker  of  Dr.  Passavant  was  at  this  time  a  worshiper  in  the 
First  church  and  a  member  of  the  Young  People's  Society.  By 
request  he  also  began  to  write  a  reminiscence  of  Passavant 's 
entry  upon  the  work  in  Pittsburg.  The  writing  of  this  reminis- 
cence was  broken  off  by  his  sudden  death.  We  give  the  unfin- 
ished notes : 

"For  several  years  the  First  church  of  Pittsburg  had  been 
struggling  under  great  difficulties,  and  was  heavily  in  debt.  It 
had  been  under  the  care  of  able  men  but  seemed  to  make  no 


116  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

progress.  The  Lutheran  Church  was  scarcely  recognized  aniong 
others  and  seemed  a  forlorn  hope.  The  call  of  Dr.  Passavant 
was  a  most  opportune  event  in  the  history  of  the  struggling  con- 
gregation. A  young  man  with  little  experience,  he  entered  upon 
this  mission,  which  had  been  served  by  older  and  brilliant  men 
and  left  after  brief  service. 

"The  writer  of  this  reminiscence  can  well  remember  the 
interesting  colloquium  held  in  his  presence,  between  him  and  two 
of  the  officers  of  the  church  after  his  first  visit  and  services.  The 
subject  of  conversation  was  his  call  and  the  compensation. 

"Five  hundred  dollars  was  all  the  congregation  felt  able  to 
give,  and  it  was  thought  that  that  was  sufficient  to  support  a 
single  or  unmarried  man.  Mr.  Passavant  suggested  that  besides 
mere  living  something  was  needed  for  books.  But  the  call  was 
accepted,  and  the  writer  recalls  the  interesting  fact  that  he  was 
made  the  messenger  of  his  first  quarter's  salary  which  was 
handed  to  him  with  not  a  little  self-importance  at  the  close  of 
catechetical  instruction. 

"The  young  pastor  at  once  took  a  prominent  place  among 
the  pastors  of  the  city  and  the  church  was  filled  with  delighted 
hearers.  His  personal  appearance,  which  was  exceedingly  at- 
tractive in  his  youth,  as  it  was  in  later  years,  his  sweet  melodi- 
ous voice  and  his  eloquence  all  combined  to  draw  to  his  preach- 
ing admiring  crowds  and  to  rapidly  swell  the  struggling  con- 
gregation with  devout  worshippers.  Mr.  Passavant  became  very 
popular  in  the  city  and  beloved  by  the  other  ministers,  and  es- 
pecially was  drawn  with  remarkable  fellowship  and  endearment 
to  Rev.  Dr.  Herron,  the  venerable  and  able  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church. 

' '  But  while  he  was  led  to  Pittsburg  to  perform  a  great  work 
in  the  lifting  up  of  the  struggling  church,  a  greater  work  was 
before  him.  In  his  coming  to  Pittsburg  there  was  a  remarkable 
coincidence.  About  the  same  time  the  Rev.G.  Bassler,  of  blessed 
memory,  came  to  Zelienople  and  entered  upon  the  laborious  and 
self-denying  work  of  preaching  the  gospel  in  that  somewhat 
sparsely  settled  region. 

"Their  disposition,  their  bent  of  mind,  and  their  manner 
of  work  were  as  different  as  they  could  possibly  be,  and  yet 
there  was  a  magic  power  exercised  by  each  over  the  other,  so 
that  in  their  great  diversity  there  was  a  wonderful  unity.  The 
one  seemed  necessary  to  balance  the  other.  The  divine  mind 
was  directing  these  two  men  in  the  accomplishment  of  a  great 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  117 

work  for  the  church  and  for  suffering  humanity.  It  was  soon 
apparent  that  the  work  of  Dr.  Passavant  reached  beyond  the 
narrow  limits  of  a  single  congregation.  His  heart  went  out  to 
the  regions  beyond.  There  loomed  up  before  his  mind  the  vast 
multitude  of  the  Church  of  the  Reformation  that  must  be 
looked  after." 

Mr.  Passavant  took  hold  of  the  work  in  the  Pittsburg  church 
with  the  same  aggressive  zeal  which  he  had  shown  in  Baltimore. 
After  securing  a  list  of  the  members  and  as  far  as  he  could  of 
the  attendants  of  his  church,  he  started  out  on  a  tour  of  visita- 
tion. The  congregation  was  scattered  over  Pittsburg,  Allegheny, 
Birmingham  and  a  half  dozen  suburbs.  There  were  neither 
railroads  nor  street  cars.  Only  in  the  center  of  the  city  were 
there  pavements  or  board  walks.  Mud  roads  led  to  Riceville, 
Bayardstown,  Soho,  East  Liberty,  Temperanceville,  Manchester 
and  Sharpsburg. 

Along  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  across  its  hills  and 
vallies,  through  rain  and  mud,  heat  and  dust,  trudged  the  young 
pastor.  At  home  alike  in  the  elegant  mansion,  in  the  lowly  cot- 
tage and  in  the  wretched  hovel,  knocking  at  front  doors  and  at 
back  doors,  stopping  in  at  the  workshop,  the  factory  or  the  store, 
or  walking  out  into  field  or  forest  to  find  a  man,  he  was  every- 
where seeking  for  souls.  With  that  gentle  and  kindly  tact  which 
was  part  of  his  nature,  he  knew  how  to  approach  all  classes  and 
conditions  of  men,  women  and  children,  and  how  to  make  all 
feel  at  ease  in  his  presence.  The  servants  and  strangers  were  not 
forgotten.  To  the  Germans  he  became  a  German ;  to  the  French 
he  could  say  a  few  kind  words  in  their  tongue,  while  for  the 
negroes  he  always  had  a  word  of  that  simple  good-natured  patois 
which  found  its  way  to  the  heart.  But  these  calls  and  conver- 
sations were  not  merely  social  visits.  They  were  pastoral  calls. 
He  left  behind  him  some  word  or  truth  of  God,  the  impression 
that  a  man  of  God  had  been  in  the  house.  Where  convenient, 
he  read  the  Word  and  offered  prayer  for  the  household.  In 
this  manner  he  spent  a  large  part  of  the  first  summer,  preach- 
ing from  house  to  house,  getting  acquainted  with  the  members 
of  his  flock,  gaining  their  confidence,  drawing  them  to  the  church 
and  her  ordinances  and  enlisting  all  he  could  in  some  good  ser- 
vice for  the  souls  and  bodies  of  their  fellow  men. 

But  his  mission  was  not  only  to  the  members  of  his  church. 
Like  a  good  under-shepherd,  he  was  always  seeking  the  lost. 
Wherever  he  could  find  an  unchurched,  an  unsaved  soul,  there 


118  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

he  believed  that  he  had  a  mission.     All  such  were  admonished, 
counseled  and  invited  to  the  house  of  God. 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  work  in  hLs  congregation,  he  began 
to  hold  regular  services  in  the  city  jail.  Of  this  work  his 
mother  writes : 

"I  express  to-day  my  delight  at  the  good  work  you  have 
been  commencing  by  your  visits  to  the  jail.  Oh  how  glad  I  am 
that  you  have  been  thinking  of  those  poor  wretched  prisoners 
and  perhaps  may  be  the  blessed  means  of  leading  them  to  a  sin- 
cere repentance,  either  to  submit  with  a  resigned  heart,  if  punish- 
ment should  be  awarded,  or  to  begin  a  new  life  if  the  law  pro- 
nounces them  free.  In  their  forlorn  situation,  shut  out  from  all 
external  influences,  it  seems  as  if  the  gospel  must  have  more  ef- 
fect than  when  preached  to  sinful  men  out  of  jail  where  the 
good  seed  is  straightway  carried  off  by  the  birds  of  the  air — 
the  cares  and  follies  of  the  world.  If  the  are  any  tracts  or 
books  that  you  know  of  calculated  to  be  useful  to  these  men,  buy 
them  on  my  account.  I  shall  be  too  happy  to  contribute  in  the 
remotest  degree  to  so  good  a  work." 

During  his  canvassing,  his  alert  eye  and  his  missionary 
mind  were  busy  planning  and  projecting  Lutheran  missions  in 
the  different  quarters  of  the  city  and  in  the  outlying  districts. 
During  the  years  of  his  Pittsburg  pastorate,  he  secured  build- 
ing lots  in  Allegheny,  Birmingham  and  in  nearly  every  suburb 
of  the  city,  which  he  held  for  future  churches.  A  number  of 
these  became  the  starting  points  for  English  Lutheran  churches. 
If  all  his  missionary  plans  were  not  carried  out,  it  was  because 
he  became  absorbed  in  another  line  of  work  and  also  because 
he  could  not  enlist  the  co-operation  of  those  on  whom  he  had 
counted.  Great  men  are  always  sanguine,  hopeful,  optimistic. 
If  their  projects  do  not  all  mature,  many  do;  and  even  those 
that  fail,  point  the  way  and  stir  up  others  to  work. 

To  the  second  meeting  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod  Mr.  Passa- 
vant  could  report:  "This  congregation  has  connected  with  it  six 
Sunday-schools  numbering  over  five  hundred  scholars.  Three 
are  in  the  bounds  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  one  in  Allegheny  and 
two  in  the  country." 

This  large  canvassing  and  personal  work  of  the  new  pastor 
soon  made  itself  felt.  People  flocked  to  hear  him  preach.  This 
in  turn  stirred  him  up  to  diligence  in  study  and  preparation. 
As  the  numbers  of  hearers  increased,  the  preacher  increased  in 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  119 

unction  and  in  power.  Of  his  preaching  in  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Lane 
writes : 

"During  his  pastorate  in  the  Pittsburg  church,  he  was  un- 
doubtedly one  of  the  most  popular  of  our  pulpit  orators.  And 
up  to  that  day,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  of  our  city  clergymen  had 
attracted  larger  numbers  outside  of  his  own  congregations,  than 
those  who  statedly  attended  his  preaching.  This  was  especially 
the  case  at  night  service,  when  sitting  accommodations  could 
scarcely  be  secured  by  many  of  those  who  thronged  to  hear  him. 
The  style  of  his  speaking  and  of  his  writing  was  pure  and  liquid 
in  its  flow,  and  whilst  at  times  he  was  most  earnest  and  forcible 
in  his  appeals,  he  was  never  either  coarse  or  satirical  in  his 
expressions.  When  most  absorbed  in  a  congenial  theme,  his 
treatment  was  winning  and  persuasive,  and  abounded  in  pathos. 
He  then  especially  preached  with  unction,  in  the  intrinsic  sense 
of  that  much  misused  term.  Had  not  the  exacting  demands  of 
his  institutions  of  mercy  deprived  him  of  nece&sary  periods  of 
study  and  preparation  for  the  stated  demands  of  preaching,  his 
people  would  never  have  assented, to  his  resignation  of  his  con- 
gregation when  he  finally  and  peremptorily  did  it,  to  give  un- 
fettered devotion  to  the  former. ' ' 

Mr.  Andrew  W.  McCollough,  a  leading  citizen  of  Butler, 
Pa.,  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  writes  this  interesting 
reminiscence  of  Mr.  Passavant  when  thirty-three  years  old.  It 
was  on  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  first 
building  of  the  Orphans'  Farm  School,  July  4,  1854,  that  the 
country  boy,  'Andy'  McCollough,  first  saw  and  heard  of  Mr. 
Passavant.  Here  is  his  impression  of  the  personal  appearance 
of  the  young  preacher : 

* '  It  was  the  first  time  that  I  had  seen  and  heard  the  beloved 
Passavant.  I  thought  then  he  was  the  handsomest  man  that  I 
had  ever  seen  and  I  think  so  still.  From  that  day  to  this,  he 
has  been  my  ideal  minister  of  Christ.  His  shapely  head,  his 
lofty  brow,  his  classic  features  aglow  with  benevolence,  his  spirit- 
illumined  face  that  shone  in  his  fervid  prayer  with  the  very 
light  of  heaven — so  strangely  luminous  was  it — his  black  hair 
falling  in  long  silky  tresses  about  his  shoulders,  and  the  sur- 
passing tenderness  of  his  soft  sweet  voice;  all  combined  to  in- 
vest him  with  something  akin  to  the  supernatural  as  he  stood 
with  outstretched  arms  and  streaming  eyes  pleading  for  the 
fatherlass  and  friendless.  His  was  a  most  marvelous  person- 
ality.    He  was  magnetically  eloquent,  as  he  was  fascinating  in 


120  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

beauty  of  countenance  and  in  polish  of  manner.  He  lived  so 
close  to  the  Redeemer  of  men  that  he  grew  into  His  likeness 
here  below  ere  he  passed  into  the  heavens. 

"Bishop  Whitehead,  in  speaking  to  me  in  my  home  of  Dr. 
Passavant  a  short  time  after  his  death,  said:  'He  was  the  most 
attractive  man  that  I  ever  saw.'  In  this  remark,  the  venerable 
Bi.shop  but  voiced  the  universal  testimony  of  all  who  knew  him. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Swift  of  Allegheny  City  once  told  me  that  Dr. 
Passavant  could  have  become  one  of  America's  foremost  pulpit 
orators — a  veritable  Henry  Ward  Beecher — if  he  had  not  chosen 
instead  to  be  America's  greatest  philanthropist. 

"At  one  time  near  the  close  of  his  college  career,  Mr.  Passa- 
vant was  invited  to  deliver  an  address  on  temperance  at  a  con- 
vention in  Evans  City  during  the  Washingtonian  Temperance 
Movement.  I  think  it  was  during  the  delivery  of  one  of  his  elo- 
quent periods  that  Mr.  George  A.  Kirkpatrick  of  Prospect,  Pa., 
was  carried  off  his  feet  by  the  force  and  fervor  of  oratory  so  that 
he  shouted  'Hallelujah'  with  genuine  Methodistic  vehemence.  This 
started  such  a  peal  of  enthusiastic  cheering  that  it  was  some- 
time before  the  speaker  could  proceed." 

Not  many  weeks  after  entering  upon  his  arduous  labors  in 
his  new  field,  the  young  pastor  was  called  upon  to  pass  through 
another  great  sorrow.  His  affectionate,  attractive  and  gifted 
sister  Virginia,  after  a  brief  illness,  died  in  the  twenty-fifth 
year  of  her  age.  From  one  of  the  many  appreciative  obituary 
notices,  we  quote: 

"Died  at  Zelienople,  Pennsylvania,  on  Friday,  June  19th, 
Miss  Virginia  C.  S.  Passavant,  second  daughter  of  P.  L.  Passa- 
vant, Esquire.  To  those  who  were  intimately  acquainted  with 
the  deceased,  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  anything  of  her  true,  love- 
ly character.  They  will  ever  remember  her  as  the  tried  friend, 
the  engaging  companion,  the  humble,  yet  decided  follower  of 
Jesus  Christ;  and  though  time  may  wear  away  the  freshnass 
of  that  remembrance  the  fragrance  of  her  memory  will  remain 
like  the  scent  of  the  rose  when  its  bloom  is  gone.  It  will  be  a 
source  of  melancholy  pleasure  to  them  to  know  that  she  died  as 
she  lived— in  the  Lord.  Even  in  the  wildness  of  her  delirium, 
the  streams  of  her  life,  'in  whose  calm  depths  the  beautiful  and 
true  were  mirrored,'  flowed  on  as  pure  and  beautifully  as  ever, 
and  so  natural  was  the  flow  of  the  stream  into  the  ocean  of 
eternity  that  it  could  scarcely  be  perceived  when  mortality  was 
swallowed  up  in  life.    But  the  vacancy  in  the  hearts  and  home 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  121 

of  her  afflicted  family  tells  in  language  of  dreadful  certainty 
that  she  is  not  here,  she  is  gone  to  a  better  country,  even  an 
heavenly,  where  there  is  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  cry- 
ing and  where  her  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 

*  *  Sweet  spirit,  farewell.  Though  our  hearts  bleed  and  nature 
sinks  under  the  stroke  of  the  heavenly  chastisement,  we  would 
not  call  thee  back;  we  shall  come  to  thee  but  thou  shalt  not  re- 
turn to  us." 

After  Virginia's  death,  her  share  of  the  estate  was  equally 
divided  among  the  other  heirs.  Mr.  Passavant  set  apart  his  en- 
tire share  of  her  estate  for  a  special  use.  From  the  proceeds 
of  this,  he  helped  poor  students,  needy  ministers  and  special 
cases  requiring  succor.  The  principal  of  that  fund  has  been 
sacredly  kept,  and  he  never  used  a  cent  for  himself. 

During  his  first  year  in  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Passavant  felt  the 
need  of  a  Synod  with  that  city  as  a  center.  A  visit  home  to  at- 
tend the  consecration  of  the  English  Lutheran  church  gave  oc- 
casion for  the  first  consultation  on  the  subject.  From  the  Work- 
man of  Jan.  17,  1884,  we  clip  this  interesting  account : 

"In  Sept.  1844,  he  preached  at  the  consecration  of  a  modest 
brick  church  which  had  been  erected  by  the  English  congrega- 
tion at  Zelienople.  The  lot  was  donated  and  the  cost  of  the 
building  amounting  to  one  thousand  dollars  was  provided  for 
by  the  subscriptions  of  the  members,  and  the  donations  of  a 
few  friends  from  abroad.  This  was  the  second  English  Luther- 
an church  in  the  whole  territory  now  occupied  by  the  Pittsburg 
Synod,  and  its  erection  was  an  event  so  full  of  inspiration  that 
it  led  to  the  idea  of  the  formation  of  a  Synod  in  the  western 
counties  of  the  State. 

*'0n  the  Monday  after  the  consecration,  in  a  walk  along  the 
Connoquenessing,  the  necessity  of  such  an  organization  was  first 
broached.  Rev.  Mr.  Bassler,  who  afterwards  became  the  first 
president  of  the  General  Council,  at  once  received  it  with  favor, 
but  the  most  intelligent  laymen  in  the  church  thought  the  idea 
chimerical.  He,  however,  made  the  remark,  'that  while  the  for- 
mation of  a  Synod  could  not  be  expected  in  our  time,  it  might 
yet  be  possible  to  organize  some  kind  of  an  association  or  con- 
ference so  that  at  corner-stone  layings  and  dedications  and  the 
installation  of  pastors,  two  or  three  ministers  might  be  present 
to  aid  the  churches.'  This  memorable  walk,  with  the  subject 
then  discussed,  is  here  referred  to  in  order  to  indicate  the  feeble 


122  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

beginnings  forty  years  ago,  and  the  sacred  duty  'not  to  despise 
the  day  of  small  things. '  ' ' 

The  next  step  was  taken  in  Butler  during  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year.  In  the  Workman  of  Mar.  24,  1887,  we  have  this 
account : 

"There  was  a  conference  of  a  few  Lutheran  ministers  resid- 
ing in  western  Pennsylvania,  Aug.  27,  1844,  who  met  in  this 
front  room.  The  number  with  Rev,  Mr.  Bassler  was  but  five  or 
six  and  the  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  consult  in  what  way 
the  best  interests  of  the  church  could  be  advanced,  either  by 
uniting  with  some  existing  Synod  or  organizing  a  new  one.  Much 
of  the  time  was  spent  in  prayer  to  God  for  the  guidance  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  and  as  a  result  the  conviction  was  strengthened 
that  for  effective  church  work  a  Synod  was  indispensably  neces- 
sary. ' ' 

At  this  meeting  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  prelimin- 
ary steps  should  be  taken  to  organize  a  new  Synod  in  the  inter- 
ests of  our  scattered  Lutheran  people  in  western  Pennsylvania. 
The  territory  in  as  far  as  it  had  been  looked  after  at  all  was 
claimed  by  both  the  Ohio,  the  West  Pennsylvania,  and  other 
Synods.  These  Synods  were  not  in  harmony  with  each  other 
and  much  time  and  energy  were  often  spent  in  both  trying  to 
occupy  the  same  locality.  The  territory  had  been  settled 
mostly  by  the  sturdy  Scotch-Irish.  But  there  were  also  many 
settlements  of  Germans  and  their  Americanized  descendants 
scattered  from  the  Allegheny  Mountains  to  the  western  prairies. 
It  was  mainly  fco  secure  harmonious  effort  and  co-operation  in 
looking  after  these  children  of  the  Lutheran  Diaspora  that  the 
zealous  young  pastor  of  the  First  church  of  Pittsburg  wanted 
a  new  Synod.  It  was  he  who  had  called  together  the  five  pastors 
in  Bassler's  study  in  Butler.  After  this  preliminary  confer- 
ence, it  was  he  who  traveled,  visited,  urged  and  corresponded 
with  the  brethren  in  these  regions  and  tried  to  stir  up  their  in- 
terest in  this  new  movement. 

Here  is  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Steck  of  Greensburg, 
who  became  the  first  president  of  the  new  Synod : 

"Yours  of  the  4th  inst.  came  duly  to  hand.  I  should  have 
written  sooner  but  I  could  hardly  come  to  the  conclusion  what 
to  do  in  the  organization  of  a  Synod  in  the  western  part  of  this 
State.  But  inasmuch  as  you  desire  it,  I  will  frankly  state  my 
opinion  on  the  subject.  I  have  thought  and  prayed,  since  your 
visit  to  me  and  especially  since  your  letter  of  the  fourth,  most 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  123 

sincerely  that  God  might  direct  me  to  that  which  would  be  most 
conducive  to  the  welfare  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  especially 
to  the  Western  part  of  this  State;  and  I  cannot  help  telling  you 
that  I  am  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  we  could  labor  to  far  greater 
advantage,  and  do  far  more  good  to  this  section  of  the  country 
in  preaching  Christ  and  Him  crucified  to  the  world,  if  we  had 
a  Synod  of  our  own. 

''One  thing  I  know,  that  I  have  no  more  satisfaction  at  our 
Synodical  meetings.  Until  about  eight  or  ten  years  ago  I  re- 
joiced when  the  time  drew  near  when  I  should  meet  my  breth- 
ren in  the  Synod,  but  now  it  has  become  a  burden  to  me,  in  our 
eastern  district  especially;  and  what  prospects  can  we  have  for 
the  better,  if  such  men  as  B.  are  put  at  the  helm?  Yet  it  is 
very  painful  for  me  to  separate  myself  from  the  western  breth- 
ren, whom  I  love  as  the  apple  of  my  eye,  and  with  whom  I  have 
been  united  in  the  same  Synod  for  nearly  thirty  years.  I  can 
hardly  think  of  it— yet  I  know  it  is  my  duty  to  love  the  Church 
more  than  the  brethren.  Dr.  ]\Iechling  thinks  and  feels  as  I  do. 
I  had  a  long  conversation  with  him  on  this  subject,  and  I  think 
he  will  go  in  for  it  if  I  do.  Yet  I  am  free  to  confess  that  I  can- 
not unite  with  the  brethren  in  a  Synod  Avhere  New  Measures  are 
carried  to  that  extent  to  which  they  are  carried  in  some  places. 
If  I  do  unite  with  you,  and  such  things  should  take  place,  I 
would  be  imder  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  withdrawing  from 
the  Synod. 

"What  shall  be  the  result  in  the  event  of  our  uniting  in  a 
Synod?  Shall  we  have  to  join  the  General  Synod?  Will  this 
Synod  be  bound  to  support  the  Gettysburg  Seminary?  or  will 
each  brother  be  allowed  to  support  such  a  seminary  as  he  thinks 
proper?  To  the  first  my  objections  are  not  very  strong,  but  if 
I  should  be  compelled  to  support  the  eastern  seminary,  when 
I  would  feel  it  my  duty  to  support  that  of  Columbus,  this  would 
be  hard.     I  do  not  know  whether  I  could." 

A  number  of  those  on  whom  Mr.  Passavant  counted  hesi- 
tated. They  thought  that  there  were  Synods  enough,  that  it 
tvould  stir  up  needless  opposition  to  organize  another,  that  those 
who  would  go  into  it  were  so  few  and  so  widely  scattered  that 
they  would  not  be  able  to  accomplish  anything  and  that  they 
would  not  agree  with  each  other  as  to  doctrine  and  measures.  It 
was  tlie  same  spirit  of  timidity  and  apathy  with  which  Mr.  Pas- 
savant had  to  contend  during  his  whole  life.  This  spirit  cost 
him  more  grief  and  anxiety  than  all  his  hard  labors. 


124  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

It  was  not  his  nature,  however,  to  give  up.  He  felt  that 
the  new  Synod  was  needed  in  the  Lutheran  Church  and  for  the 
Kingdom  of  God  and  so  he  finally  succeeded  in  bringing  to- 
gether eight  ministers  and  six  lay  delegates  in  his  church  in 
Pittsburg,  Jan.  15,  1845. 

It  meant  something  in  those  days  to  go  to  Synod.  The  only 
one  living  at  this  writing  who  was  present  at  that  convention, 
the  Rev.  David  Earhart,^  writes  this  reminiscence : 

"In  December  I  received  an  invitation  from  Rev.  W.  A. 
Passavant  to  meet  other  pastors  in  convention  at  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
with  a  view  to  form  a  Synod  for  the  western  counties  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  convention  was  to  meet  in  the  early  part  of  Jan- 
uary, 1845.  At  that  time  the  Pennsylvania  Canal  was  closed 
and  the  only  means  of  transportation  was  by  private  convey- 
ance. I  borrowed  a  horse,  and,  with  others,  rode  the  thirty-five 
miles  from  Leechburg  to  Pittsburg  in  midwinter.  Wliilst  two 
or  more  accompanied  me,  I  remember  only  the  name  of  Rev.  G. 
F.  Ehrenfeldt.  At  that  time  the  subject  of  'old  and  new  meas- 
ures' was  the  burning  question  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 

"Brother  Ehrenfeldt  was  intensely  'new  measure,'  and  at 
once  after  our  first  acquaintance  put  the  question  to  me  as  to 
which  side  I  belonged.  I  felt  a  little  shy,  being  a  stranger  in 
the  charge,  and  I  tried  to  evade  a  direct  answer;  but  he  would 
have  no  evasion  and  pressed  me  for  an  answer.  I  then  answered 
'old  measure.'  Brother  E.  then  connected  the  word  'old'  with 
the  name  Adam,  and  said  he  did  not  like  the  'old  Adam.'  I 
tod  him  I  connected  the  word  'old'  to  Adam  before  his  fall, 
if  the  word  'old'  was  to  be  associated  with  Adam,  and  there- 
fore the  word  'old  Adam'  suited  me  right  well  if  it  applied 
to  him  before  his  fall. 

"But  I  paid  pretty  dearly  for  my  position.  "When  we 
reached  Pittsburg,  and  entered  the  church  I  soon  learned  that 
a  new  measure  revival  was  in  progress,  and  brother  Ehrenfeldt 
was  invited  to  the  inner  circle,  and  I  was  left  out." 

After  devotional  exercisas,  the  meeting  was  organized  by 
electing  Rev.  Michael  J.  Steck,  president  and  Rev.  Gottlieb 
Bassler,  secretary. 

The  pastors  prasent  were :  Rev.  Michael  J.  Steck,  of  Greens- 
burg,  representing  seven  congregations;  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant, 
of  Pittsburg,  one  congregation ;  Rev.  Gottlieb  Bassler  of  Zelien- 


•    Died  August,  14,  1903. 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  125 

ople,  five  congregations;  Rev:  G.  F.  Ehrenfeldt  of  Clarion,  two 
congregations ;  Rev.  Abram  Weils,  of  Ginger  Hill,  two  congrega- 
tions; Rev.  Elihu  Rathbun  of  Mercer,  three  congregations; 
Rev.  Samuel  De  Witt,  of  Shippenville,  two  congregations; 
Rev.  David  Earhart,  of  Leechburg,  four  congregations. 

The  six  lay  delegates,  representing  the  principal  parishes 
were :  Jacob  S.  Steck,  of  Greensburg ;  George  Weyman,  of  Pitts- 
burg; C.  S.  Passavant,  of  Zelienople;  James  Griggin,  of  Mercer; 
Frederick  Carsten,  of  Scenery  Hill;  and  Joseph  Shoop,  of  Free- 
port. 

To  this  little  gathering  of  chosen  spirits,  fraught  with  so 
much  interest  for  the  future  of  the  Lutheran  Zion,  Mr.  Passa- 
vant in  his  own  eloquent  way  said : 

"Our  people  are  widely  scattered  through  this  portion  of 
the  State,  and  many  of  them  are  poor.  One-fourth  of  the  estab- 
lished congregation  are  without  pastors,  while  the  Lutherans 
living  in  the  towns  and  outlying  districts  could  not  be  gathered, 
because  the  laborers  were  so  few  and  no  organized  efforts  had 
been  made  to  reach  them.  Deprived  of  the  privileges  of  their 
church,  they  and  their  children  were  fast  becoming  a  prey  to 
surrounding  denominations,  furnishing  material  for  building  up 
their  congregations." 

*     After  due  deliberation  and  much  earnest  prayer  this  little 
convention  resolved: 

First,  "That  it  is  the  deliberate  and  unanimous  opinion 
that  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  the  western  counties 
of  Pennsylvania  loudly  calls  for  the  formation  of  a  new  Synod." 

Second,  "That  a  committee  of  three  ministers  and  two  lay- 
men be  appointed  to  propose  to  this  convention  a  plan  of  union 
on  which  we  may  unite  to  form  a  Synod  according  to  the  pre- 
vious resolution." 

Revs.  Steck,  Passavant  and  Ehrenfeldt,  and  lay  delegates 
Carston,  and  Griffin  were  appointed  on  this  committee.  They 
subsequently  presented  the  following  report,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted : 

"We,  the  undersigned  ministers  and  delegates  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Churches  of  western  Pennsylvania,  being  pain- 
fully sensible  of  the  great  destitution  of  the  preached  Word  and 
ordinances  of  the  gospel  in  our  midst,  and  fully  persuaded  of 
the  necessity  of  uniting  our  efforts  for  their  supply,  hereby 
form  ourselves  into  a  Synodical  body,with  the  express  under- 
standing that  each  minister  and  church  shall  be  at  perfect  liber- 


126  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

ty  to  support  such  literary,  theological  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions as  may  best  accord  with  his  own  view  of  duty;  and,  also, 
that  as  a  Synodical  body  we  recognize  no  such  distinctions  as 
'old'  and  'new'  measures,  and  that  this  Synod  is  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  'The  Pittsburg  Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church.'  " 

The  new  Synod  acted  upon  the  principle  that  wherever 
there  were  those  uncared  for,  the  Synod  had  the  right  to  enter, 
when  the  proper  call  came.  The  Synod  was  composed  largely 
of  young  men  and  its  missionary  operations  were  guided  chiefly 
by  the  unwearied  activity  of  Mr.  Passavant.  The  great  exten- 
sion of  the  missionary  operation  of  the  Synod  required  the  most 
thorough  organization  of  its  resources.  A  missionary  President 
had  the  immediate  care  of  the  missions.  The  system  of  Synodi- 
cal apportionments,  now  widely  used,  was  first  introduced  by 
the  Pittsburg  Synod. 

The  purposes  which  under  God  the  new  Synod  expected 
to  accomplish,  were : 

First,  "To  unite  the  hitherto  separated  congregations  of 
our  Church  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  in  one  body. 

Second,  ' '  To  provide  these  churches  with  an  able  and  holy 
ministry. 

Third,  "To  carry  the  gospel  of  the  blessed  God  and  the 
ordinances  of  religion  to  the  scattered  members  and  destitute 
settlements  of  our  Zion  within  the  bounds  of  our  own  Synod. 
And, 

Fourth,  "To  send  the  news  of  salvation  to  other  destitute 
places  in  our  own  and  other  lands,  and  aid  in  filling  the  com- 
mand of  our  Saviour  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth." 

A  fervent  missionary  zeal  characterized  the  life  of  the 
Synod  from  the  beginning.  At  the  June  Meeting,  held  in  Ship- 
penville,  1845,  five  months  after  her  organization,  a  traveling  mis- 
sionary, in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  H.  Ziegler,  was  chosen  for  the 
northwestern  counties. 

North,  South,  East  and  West,  the  work  of  exploration  for 
missions  was  carried  forward.  Within  six  years  twenty-six 
churches  were  built  by  these  indefatigable  missionaries. 

The  Synod  also  engaged  in  educational  work  from  the  be- 
ginning. At  its  second  convention  a  proposition  was  made  to 
establish  a  Synodical  Academy.    The  Rev.  G.  Bassler  was  elected 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  127 

principal  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars.  He  carried  on  the 
school  successfully  for  three  years  in  Zelienople.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  1848,  it  was  removed  to  Greensburg  and  continued  in 
operation  till  the  fall  of  1850  when  on  account  of  the  death  of 
some  of  its  main  supporters  and  the  financial  embarrassment  of 
the  Synod,  it  was  closed.  The  Rev.  Mr,  Bassler  was  then  pre- 
vailed upon  to  reopen  the  Connoquenessing  Academy  at  Zelien- 
ople. This  effort  was  more  successful  than  any  of  the  foi*mer 
ones.  Here  Prof.  Titzel  began  his  long  career  as  a  teacher. 
Many  of  the  future  ministers  of  the  Synod  received  their  pre- 
paratory training  here.     Prof.    McKee  had  started  a  private 

school  at  Leechburg  which  grew  into  an  Academy.  This  insti- 
*  tution  was  largely  patronized  and  gave  to  many  ministers  of  the 
next  generation  their  preparatory  training. 

The  first  constitution  of  the  Synod  was  drawn  up  in  the 
main  by  Mr.  Passavant.  It  was  submitted  and  discussed  at 
several  conventions  and  was  not  finally  adopted  until  at  the 
Leechburg  convention  in  1847.  Among  other  provisions  it  af- 
firms that  the  minister  "shall  be  known  by  the  title  of  Bishop;" 
that  "its  members  shall  not  go  to  law  with  each  other  under 
ordinary  circumstances;"  "shall  not  engage  in  the  sale  of  in- 
toxicating liquors  as  a  beverage  or  become  partakers  of  the  sins 
of  others  by  renting  houses  for  this  purpose."  The  Augsburg 
Confession  was  not  mentioned  in  the  first  draft  of  the  constitu- 
tion but  was  formally  adopted  about  a  year  later. 

The  Rev.  Michael  J.  Steck,  the  first  president  was  a  remark- 
able character.  His  father,  the  Rev.  John  Michael  Steck,  was 
ihe  second  settled  Lutheran  minister  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  settled  in  1792.  A  true  missionary,  he  sought  out  Ger- 
man settlements,  all  over  Westmoreland  and  adjoining  counties, 
preached  in  groves,  barns,  school-houses,  private  housas  and 
wherever  he  could  get  a  hearing.  He  was  the  patriarch  of  Luth- 
eranism  in  Western  Pennsylvania,  where  he  labored  amid  the 
privations  of  a  pioneer  preacher  for  thirty-eight  years. 

His  son,  Michael  J.  Steck,  was  trained  under  his  father 
and  licensed  to  preach  in  1816.  His  first  parish  was  in  Lan- 
caster, Ohio.  When  his  father  died,  he  took  up  the  vast  work 
in  Westmoreland  count3^  His  missionary  parish  extended  over 
a  circuit  of  thirty  miles  from  home.  In  this  region,  traversed 
by  primitive  trails,  he  did  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  preached 
from  three  to  five  times  a  Sunday  and  as  often  during  the  week. 
He  understood  the  signs  of  the  times,  catechised  and  preached 


128  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

in  English  and  organized  the  first  English  Lutheran  church 
in  Greensburg,  where  he  lived  and  reared  his  interesting  family. 

The  young  Mr.  Passavant  appreciated  the  character  and 
organizing  ability  of  Mr.  Steck.  The  two  became  fast  friends 
and  had  many  earnest  interviews  on  the  organization  of  the  new 
Synod,  of  which  Mr.  Steck  became  the  first  president.  The 
earnestness  of  Mr.  Steck  is  illustrated  by  the  following  inci- 
dent: 

Shortly  before  the  day  set  for  confirmation,  a  number  of  his 
catechumens  attended  an  old-time  shooting  match,  a  place  where 
gambling  and  drinking  were  the  order  of  the  day.  Father  Steck 
felt  that  such  an  offence  deserved  public  rebuke.  In  the  Brash 
Creek  church  he  preached  with  such  earnestness  and  energy 
that  he  took  off  his  coat  and  in  his  shirt  sleeves  reproved,  re- 
buked and  exhorted,  until  there  was  scarcely  a  dry  eye  in  the 
audience.  The  young  men,  several  of  whom  are  still  living,  came 
forward,  publicly  confessed  their  sin,  and  tearfully  craved  for- 
giveness. 

Amid  the  multiplied  cares  and  labors  incident  to  the  launch- 
ing of  the  new  Synod,  Mr.  Passavant  did  not  abate  his  labor  in 
his  congregation.  During  a  protracted  effort  in  which  he  was 
engaged  in  connection  with  a  pastor  of  the  neighboring  Cum- 
berland Prebyterian  Church,  his  mother  gently  chided  him  for 
his  overwork.    She  says : 

"You  lose  your  precious  health,  shorten,  perhaps,  your  life, 
to  carry  out  your  favorite  'new  measure  system.'  I  will  not  now 
take  up  that  apple  of  discord  in  the  church,  nor  discuss  whether 
the  same  amount  of  good  might  not  be  done  by  faithful  catechi- 
zation  and  the  preaching  of  the  Word.     You  fully  know  our 

opinion  on  this  subject All  I  will  insist  on  is  the  effect 

such  mental  excitement  and  nightly  exercise  will  have  on  your 
constitution To  a  frail  reed  like  you,  it  is  actually  sui- 
cidal." 

That  he  made  his  labors  tell,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he 
added  seventy-nine  communicants  to  his  church  during  the  first 
nine  months  of  his  pastorate. 

Mr.  Passavant  was  at  this  time  one  of  the  most  prominent 
champions  of  union  with  other  Protestant  bodies.  With  this 
end  in  view,  he  enlisted  his  neighbor,  the  Kev.  Mr.  Bryan  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  and  had  him  attend  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  and  advocate  a  union  between  his  body  and  the 
Lutherans.     Just  before  the  convention,  Passavant  had  written 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  129 

a  strong  article  in  the  Observer,  urging  this  project  on  the  Gen- 
eral Synod.  At  the  same  time,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  Baltimore 
friend,  the  Rev.  J.  Gess,  who  replied : 

**I  think  the  matter  worthy  of  consideration.  It  is  quite 
interesting  and  may  turn  out  to  mutual  advantage.  I  do  not 
know  whether  you  propose  any  definite  plan ;  but  if  the  General 
Synod  does  not  feel  itself  authorized  to  commence  a  corres- 
pondence, could  not  some  of  our  local  Synods  do  so  ?  I  have  no 
doubt  that  we  could  harmonize  very  well,  unless  they  are  too 
rigid  sticklers  for  the  '  divine  right  of  Presbyterianism. '  If  they 
regard  it  as  a  matter  of  opinion  merely  and  not  of  conscience, 
and  are  liberal,  live  Christians  in  their  views  of  church  govern- 
ment, what  is  to  hinder  a  more  close  alliance  or  at  least,  a 
fraternization?  Our  natural  relatives,  the  German  Reformed, 
are  withdrawing  farther  and  farther  from  us  every  year,  the 
new  English  Congregationalists  are  too  starched  and  too  distant, 
the  Methodist  Protestant  as  a  body  are  yet  too  Wesley  an  and 
bigoted  (I  allude  to  the  people,  not  to  ministers),  and  where 
then  may  we  look  for  a  people  more  nearly  assimilated  to  us 
than  to  the  Cumberlanders  ?  When  I  see  your  article,  I  may 
add  a  word  the  week  later,  unless  it  be  thought  best  not  to  agi- 
tate the  subject  publicly  as  yet.  I  know  your  ardent  tempera- 
ment may  lead  you  a  little  too  far.  You  are  aware  that  many 
good  things  can  be  done  more  effectually  when  very  few  are  in 
the  secret." 

How  deeply  Mr.  Passavant  was  concerned  in  the  scattered 
sheep  and  the  waste  places  is  shown  by  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  M. 
J.  Steck,  president  of  the  young  Synod: 

* '  What  a  field  is  before  us !  Our  fourteen  counties  are  full 
of  materials  upon  which  to  operate,  but  alas !  how  poor  and 
feeble  are  the  efforts  we  are  making  for  their  relief!  When  I 
see  the  thousands  upon  thousands  of  Germans  in  this  city  and 
Allegheny  and  remember  that  Dr.  Jenson  is  the  only  man  of  our 
church,  who  with  power  and  effect,  preaches  the  gospel,  I  find  it 
almost  impossible  to  keep  quiet,  to  fold  my  arms  and  say: 
'Nothing  can  be  done  for  them.'  Oh  God,  come  to  our  help! 
Bring  deliverance  out  of  Thy  holy  hill!  Dear  and  respected 
brother  and  father  in  the  ministry,  let  us  aim  at  doing  much  for 
Christ,  not  only  in  our  own  charges,  which  (mine  at  least)  are 
far,  very  far,  from  being  'A  glorious  church  without  spot  or 
wrinkle  or  any  such  thing,'  but  also  in  the  waste  places  of  Zion 
all  around." 


130  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASS AV ANT. 

Mr.  Passavant  had  been  a  fellow  student  of  Walter  Gunn 
who  followed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Heyer  to  Guntur,  India.  The  two 
kept  up  a  most  cordial  correspondence  and  the  former  mani- 
fested the  deepest  interest  in  the  India  Mission.  With  all  his 
absorption  in  home  and  inner  mission  work  as  well  as  in  educa- 
tion, he  remained  all  through  life  an  ardent  advocate  and  liberal 
supporter  of  the  church's  foreign  mission  work. 

He  was  also  an  intimate  friend  of  missionary  Heyer.  He 
had  helped  him  vigorously  in  his  city  missionary  work  in  Pitts- 
burg and  afterwards  in  the  regions  beyond.  In  The  Missionary 
which  he  began  to  publish  in  Pittsburg  in  1848,  there  is  scarce- 
ly a  number  that  does  not  contain  long  letters  from  Heyer  and 
Gunn,  as  well  as  earnest  editorials  and  extracts  of  other  writ- 
ings commending  the  foreign  mission  work  and  pleading  for  a 
deeper  interest  and  greater  liberality.  It  might  be  hard  to  find 
a  church  paper,  outside  of  those  devoted  exclusively  to  those  in- 
terests, that  had  more  of  the  missionary  tone  than  had  Rev.  Pas- 
savant's  little  monthly.  To  it  belongs  the  credit,  more  than 
to  any  other  single  agency,  of  arousing  interest  and  giving  to 
our  church  the  impetus  that  has  made  her  do  what  she  has  done 
in  the  work  among  the  heathen. 

Apr.  10,  1845,  came  the  dreadful  fire  which  swept  the  busi- 
ness portion  of  Pittsburg.  Many  of  the  members  of  Mr.  Passa- 
vant's  church  lost  their  homes  and  were  reduced  to  absolute 
penury.  The  merchants  of  the  church  also  lost  heavily  and  some 
of  them  became  bankrupt.  What  this  meant  to  a  congregation 
burdened  with  debt  as  this  one  was,  and  which  had  just  begun 
to  take  heart  and  hope,  may  easily  be  imagined.  But  what  it 
meant  to  a  pastor  who  was  fully  persuaded  that  a  congregation 
dare  no  more  allow  any  of  its  members  to  suffer  than  a  Chris- 
tian family  could  see  one  of  its  members  in  sore  distress,  we  can 
scarcely  conceive. 

The  first  of  May  had  been  set  for  his  marriage  with  Miss 
Eliza  Walter.  But  now  amid  the  general  distress  even  this  had 
to  be  put  out  of  mind.  For  several  weeks  he  might  have  been 
seen  by  day  and  by  night  among  the  sufferers,  relieving  their 
immediate  wants,  and  among  those  who  had  escaped  the  calam- 
ity, soliciting  funds,  furniture,  food  and  raiment  for  the  desti- 
tute. The  members  of  that  church  were  made  to  realize  that 
their  congregation  was  indeed  a  household  of  faith,  a  family  of 
the  redeemed. 

Worn  out  and  weary,  the  bridegroom  started  for  his  bride. 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  131 

He  was  glad  to  rest  even  in  the  cabin  of  the  primitive  steam 
boat  and  in  the  cramped  quarters  of  the  rattling  stage  coach. 

We  shall  let  the  bride,  at  this  writing  eighty  years  old,  tell 
the  story  of  the  marriage,  the  wedding  trip,  the  honeymoon  and 
the  beginnings  of  married  life: 

*'Rev.  Passavant  came,  accompanied  by  his  brother  Sidney. 
His  changed  appearance  was  immediately  noticed  by  all.  He 
was  thin  and  tired  but  said  he  was  well.  The  wedding  was  a 
quiet  home  affair  with  a  few  friends  of  the  family.  Rev.  B. 
Kurtz,  Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth  and  wife  who  had  been  married  six 
months  before,  and  several  other  friends  of  the  bridegroom  made 
up  the  wedding  party.  The  beloved  Dr.  Morris  was  the  officiat- 
ing minister.  There  were  the  necessary  orange  blossoms  and 
lilies  of  the  valley  held  in  the  hand  and  the  bride  was  kissed 
by  all  the  company,  Dr.  Morris  setting  the  example.  The  bridal 
trip  was  by  rail  to  Philadelphia,  the  General  Synod  being  in 
session  in  St.  Matthew's  church,  New  Street.  "Who  the  pastor 
was  at  that  time  is  not  now  remembered.  The  bride  had  a  very 
intimate  friend,  who  had  come  on  to  the  wedding,  living  op- 
posite the  church.  At  this  friend's  house  we  spent  a  very  de- 
lightful time.  The  poor  bride  who  had  lived  quite  a  retired 
life  had  a  trying  time  in  being  introduced  to  so  many  Reverend 
friends. 

*  *  The  young  people  returned  to  Baltimore  to  bid  farewell  to 
'Dear  relatives'  and  friends.  In  those  days,  going  to  Pittsburg 
was  looked  upon  as  going  to  the  far  west  is,  in  these  days.  The 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railway  ran  to  Cumberland.  From  there 
the  stage,  whose  four  horses  were  changed  every  ten  miles,  went 
over  the  Allegheny  Mountains  to  Brownsville.  From  thence 
steam-boats  ran  to  Pittsburg.  This  trip  when  taken  for  the  first 
time  can  never  be  forgotten.  The  scenery  from  Baltimore  to 
Cumberland  was  beautiful,  and  as  the  ride  over  the  mountains 
took  place  at  night,  their  magnificence  was  lost  to  the  passen- 
gers of  the  crowded  stage.  Mr.  Hewes  left  the  young  people 
at  Cumberland,  hoping  they  would  have  some  comfort  as  there 
was  but  one  lady  and  one  gentleman  passenger  beside  ourselves. 
The  gentleman  was  the  beloved  friend  of  Rev.  Passavant,  Dr. 
Brown,  president  of  Jefferson  College,  from  which  institution 
Rev.  Passavant  had  graduated  a  few  years  before.  There  was 
mutual  joy  at  this  meeting.  On  being  introduced  to  the  young 
wife  this  venerable  gentleman  was  very  kind  and  friendly.  Much 
good  advice  was  given  as  to  our  future  life.     He  spoke  of  his 


132  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  a.  PASSAVANT. 

great  love  and  respect  for  Rev.  Passavant,  having  had  him  many 
years  under  his  care.  In  order  to  pass  the  weary  hours,  he  sang 
with  a  sweet  touching  voice  several  hymns.  One  was,  'We  sin- 
ners saved  by  grace.'  We  arrived  in  Uniontown  early  in  the 
morning,  at  Brownsville  at  noon,  and  boarding  the  boat  arrived 
at  Pittsburg  about  six  o'clock.  In  many  of  the  large  warehouses 
in  which  grain  had  been  stored  the  ruins  were  still  smoking  and 
of  course  sent  out  a  sickening  smell. 

' '  Mr.  Passavant  being  single  during  the  first  year  in  Pittsburg 
was  a  favorite  with  the  young  people  and  was  frequently  in- 
vited to  make  one  of  a  pleasant  evening  company.  Another 
cause  of  his  popularity  was  that  his  family  was  well  known  by 
all  the  best  people  in  the  city,  having  lived  since  1807  at  Zelien- 
ople,  Butler  Co.,  about  thirty  miles  from  Pittsburg.  The  time 
came  for  the  young  couple  to  get  a  home  of  their  own.  This  was 
in  a  house  next  to  the  one  in  which  they  had  boarded.  Now  the 
pleasant  business  was  to  furnish  a  hou.se.  This  can  be  done  with 
little  trouble  when  the  purse  is  long  and  well  filled,  but  this  was 
not  the  case  here.  Paying  rent  out  of  a  salary  of  nine  hundred 
dollars  would  not  afford  luxurious  living.  The  furnishing  of 
the  house  was  done  by  the  parents.  Many  beautiful,  valuable 
and  useful  gifts  came  from  the  congregation  which  were  re- 
ceived as  loving  tokens  of  appreciation.  Then  came  to  this  de- 
voted couple  a  lovely  gift  as  from  heaven,  a  child  so  perfect 
in  face  and  form  that  all  who  saw  him  would  exclaim.  Oh, 
what  a  beautiful  child!  This  filled  the  heart  of  parents  with 
joy  unspeakable.  But  the  loving  mother  had  her  troubles  with 
the  smell  and  dirt  of  Pittsburg,  and  her  difficulty  with  servant 
girls.  Of  this  trouble  little  was  known  in  Baltimore,  where  we 
were  accastomed  to  colored  servants.  The  deep  interest  of  sev- 
eral ladies  of  the  congregation  in  the  well-being  of  their  pastor's 
family  was  developed  about  this  time.  Their  loving  and  lasting 
care  in  doing  the  kindest  and  most  beautiful  things  for  their 
happiness,  can  never  be  forgotten  while  life  lasts.  Many  have 
gone  to  their  rich  reward  where  no  doubt  the  beloved  pastor 
has  communion  with  them  in  the  Father's  house  above. 

"Mr.  Passavant  had  many  burdens  upon  his  shoulders.  Aside 
from  his  regular  services,  he  had  many  extra  meetings  some- 
times of  weeks'  duration  and  while  he  had  other  ministers  to 
preach  and  assist,  it  was  still  a  great  drain  on  his  strength. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  Presbyterian  ministers.  Dr. 
Herron  of  the  First  Church  was  very  fond  of  him.     Our  eve- 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  133 

ning  service  was  attended  by  crowds  of  the  young  people. 
A  large  number  of  students  of  the  Presbyterian  Seminary  in 
Allegheny  were  regular  attendants." 

We  return  to  his  labor  in  the  Pittsburg  church.  Of  this 
the  Rev.  J.  K.  Melhorn/  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College,  at  this 
writing  over  seventy-five  years  old,  and  a  warm  friend  and 
fellow- worker  with  Passavant  from  college  days,  writes: 

"When  he  was  pastor  in  Pittsburg  and  some  special  oc- 
casion presented  itself,  in  which  the  different  denominations 
were  interested,  they  frequently  picked  on  him  to  be  the  speaker. 
A  friend  of  mine  told  me  that  he  went  on  one  such  an  occasion 
to  hear  him,  saying  that  he  put  (I  think)  fifty  cents  in  his 
pocket,  thinking  that  was  all  he  would  be  willing  to  put  in  the 
collection  box.  But,  said  he,  before  he  closed  his  sermon,  I  had 
borrowed  five  dollars  to  put  in  the  basket  or  box.  It  had  been 
said  that  he  had  a  peculiar  tact  to  loose  the  purse  strings.  He 
evidently  was  a  power  for  good  in  private  intercourse  and  in 
public  address,  especially  on  objects  of  mercy  and  Chris- 
tian beneficence.  In  the  Christian  home  and  in  the  social 
circle,  he  was  like  a  summer  morning  enlivened  with  the  sing- 
ing of  birds.  In  the  sick  room  and  by  the  bedside  of  the  dying, 
he  was  an  angel  of  mercy.  I  need  not  tell  you  how  the  father- 
less ones  gathered  around  him,  and  how  the  sick  were  comforted 
by  his  counsels  and  prayers.  You  know  right  well  how  intense- 
ly earnest  he  was  for  the  defense  of  the  pure  faith  as  held  by 
our  dear  old  Church." 

How  he  trained  his  church  to  look  after  the  poor  is  seen 
from  the  article  on  "The  Duty  of  the  Church  toward  Her 
Indigent  Memjpers,"  which  he  afterwards  published  in  The 
Missionary : 

"We  had  long  since  designed  to  call  attention  to  this  sub- 
ject. Its  importance  cannot  be  over-estimated.  It  may  be  re- 
garded as  the  duty  affecting  not  merely  the  health,  but  the  very 
life  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mournful  is  the  fact,  that  in 
many  churches  there  is  no  system,  arrangement  or  provision 
for  this  class  of  members.  If  some  benevolent  persons  chance  to 
discover  their  wants,  they  are  relieved,  but  this  is  more  fre- 
quently done  by  individual  members  than  by  the  Church  in  her 
churchly  capacity.  There  is  no  want  of  interest  or  sympathy 
among  our  people  for  the  poor  and  unfortunate,  but  the  want 


^     Departed  this  life  October  20,  1904. 


134  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

of  a  system  which  should  meet  all  wants  of  the  case,  is  sorely 
felt,  and  often  leaves  the  greatest  destitution  unsupplied. 

"In  the  church  over  which,  in  the  providence  of  God,  we  are 
placed  as  pastor,  the  following  plan  has  been  adopted,  and  is   ' 
found  to  work  to  the  greatest  satisfaction  of  the  members.     At 
the  January  meeting  of  the  Church  Council,  two  committees 
are  appointed,  to  whom  the  matter  is  committed.     These  are, 

First,  A  committee  to  ascertain  the  need  of  the  members. 

Second,  A  committee  to  supply  that  need. 

These  committees  are  composed  of  the  deacons  of  the 
church.  The  pastor  is  chairman  of  the  first  committee,  and 
when  a  case  of  suffering  occurs,  he  calls  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee, to  examine  its  claims,  and,  if  approved,  a  statement  is 
made  to  the  second  committee  which  immediately  supplies  the 
need.  In  order  to  furnish  the  deacons  with  funds  for  this  dis- 
tribution, six  collections  are  annually  made  for  the  poor — one 
at  each  communion  season — and  if  these  are  not  sufficient,  the 
committee  raises  the  necessary  means  by  private  assessment. 
The  regular  collections  furnish  a  certain  sum  in  advance,  so 
that,  unless  there  are  unusual  claims,  there  is  always  on^  collec- 
tion on  hand.  In  this  way,  the  poor  and  distressed  are  relieved, 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  church.  Their  names  are  known 
only  to  the  proper  officers,  and  their  feelings  are  respected  and 
spared. ' ' 

From  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Passavant  had 
been  deeply  concerned  and  perplexed  about  the  orphaned,  the 
homeless  and  destitute  sick.  That  it  was  the  duty  of  the  Church 
to  care  for  and  minister  to  these,  was  his  firm  conviction.  He 
fully  realized  that  the  gospel  is  to  bring  relief  ^to  the  ills  and 
sufferings  of  the  body  as  well  as  to  the  wants  of  the  soul.  But 
he  did  not  as  yet  see  how  this  was  to  be  done.  To  the  shame  of 
the  whole  Church,  there  was  not  yet  a  single  Protestant  hospital 
in  the  United  States.  What  was  the  sympathetic  young  pastor 
to  do !  He  could  only  study,  plan  and  pray.  The  light  was  to 
come  from  abroad. 

Meantime  he  was  busy  not  only  in  his  own  congregation  but 
in  the  regions  beyond.  Sunday  schools,  prayer-meetings  and 
periodic  preaching  services  were  held  in  Allegheny,  Birming- 
ham, Lawreneeville,  Lacyville  and  at  other  points.  Among  his 
own  people  he  had  trained  all  who  had  the  proper  gifts  for 
service.  Colporteurs  were  sent  out  to  canvass,  distribute  liter- 
ature and  gather  Sunday  schools  in  the  outlying  districts.  From 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  135 

the  First  church  there  went  out  Sunday  after  Sunday  indi- 
viduals and  groups  to  these  various  Sunday  schools.  Had  this 
early  activity  been  kept  up  by  the  church  in  its  after  history, 
the  English  Lutheran  Church  would  at  this  day  be  one  of  the 
leading  forces  in  Pittsburg,  Allegheny  and  the  suburbs.  If  the 
central  churches  in  all  our  large  cities  had  pastors  with  the 
spirit  of  young  Passavant,  the  English  Lutheran  Church  would 
outstrip  all  others  in  most  of  our  large  cities.  "When  Mr.  Passa- 
vant and  his  people  were  doing  all  this,  there  was  as  yet  no 
Church  Extension  Fund  from  which  to  draw,  except  the  one 
which  he  organized  in  his  debt-burdened  church  for  local  work. 
There  was  no  Home  Mission  Board  to  which  he  could  look,  ex- 
cept the  immature  and  weak  one  which  he  had  projected  in  the 
infant  Synod,  whose  mission  superintendent  he  was  during  a 
large  part  of  its  early,  history.  Amid  the  multiplied  labors  in 
the  city,  he  had  on  his  heart  "the  care  of  all  the  churches"  in 
the  Synod.  His  counsel  and  personal  aid  were  demanded  on 
every  side.  He  was  in  labors  abundant,  in  journeys  oft,  and 
in  perils  from  the  exposure  of  his  frail  frame.  Here  is  a  sample 
of  one  of  the  numberless  missionary  tours  taken  sometime 
later  for  Zion's  sake  and  for  the  encouragement  and  strengthen- 
ing of  the  weak  places : 

"Woe  is  me  if  I  evangelize  not!  And  so,  yielding  to  the 
solicitation  of  friends,  we  set  out  on  the  ninth  of  February  for 
Buffalo  Furnace,  Armstrong  Co.,  Pa.  Everything  was  frozen — 
the  Allegheny,  the  Canal,  the  roads— and  before  we  arrived 
there,  after  a  two  days'  ride  in  spite  of  cloaks,  comforts,  and 
two  pairs  of  almost  everything  else,  we  too  were  well-nigh  froz- 
en. While  riding  over  the  jagged  roads  at  a  solemn  walk,  alone 
amid  a  tremendous  snow  storm,  how  did  we  philosophize  about 
railroads  and  steamboats 

"The  place  of  the  meeting  deserves  a  passing  remark.  It 
is  about  forty  miles  from  Pittsburg,  six  miles  from  Kittanning, 
and  lies  on  the  turnpike  to  Butler.  It  is  one  of  the  many  es- 
tablishments for  the  smelting  of  iron  ore,  vhich  are  so  numer- 
ous in  Western  Pennsylvania.  The  furnace  is  on  a  small  stream 
called  the  Buffalo,  and  the  little  village,  composed  of  shops  and 
dwellings,  flouring  mills,  store,  chapel,  and  school-house,  is  pleas- 
antly situated  on  its  banks.  Of  this  place,  a  beloved  brother 
from  the  English  Lutheran  church  in  Pittsburg,  became  one 
of  the  proprietors  four  years  ago,  and  removed  there  with  his 
family,  to  the  regret  of  the  church  and  its  pastor.     For  more 


136  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

than  two  years,  these  dear  brethren  retained  their  connection 
with  the  Pittsburg  church,  and  though  a  chapel  has  been  erected 
through  their  efforts,  for  religious  meetings  and  preaching  re- 
cured  once  a  month,  by  a  neighboring  brother,  and  a  Sunday 
school  had  commenced  its  noiseless  but  efficient  agency,  they 
were  the  only  Lutherans  known  in  the  vicinity,  and  with  no 
human  prospect  that  a  church  would  be  organized,  they  often 
'wept  when  they  remembered  Zion.' 

''In  a  short  time  however,  things  began  to  wear  a  changed 
aspect.  The  influence  of  Christian  example  and  Christian 
teaching  gradually  made  itself  felt.  Drunkenness  and  open 
profanity,  before  so  common,  found  no  countenance.  To  some, 
the  place  became  too  dull  and  to  others  too  hot,  and  they  gladly 
escaped  to  other  furnaces  where  there  was  'no  religion  to  trouble 
them.'  Others,  however,  took  their  places,  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  workmen  became  reformed,  and  not  a  few  were  hope- 
fully converted  to  God,  and  thus  a  little  company  was  gathered 
out  of  the  world,  who  requested  to  be  formed  into  a  church. 
Accordingly,  an  organization  was  made  by  Brother  G.  F.  Ehren- 
feldt,  the  pastor,  about  eighteen  months  ago,  and  the  present 
meeting  was  on  the  occasion  of  administering  the  Lord's  Supper 
to  this  little  flock. 

"Arriving  on  Saturday  afternoon,  we  found  the  services  pre- 
paratory to  the  communion  already  over,  having  been  conducted 
in  German  by  the  pastor,  and  in  English  by  his  brother,  C.  A. 
Ehrenfeldt.  A  sermon  in  the  evening  closed  the  exercises  for 
the  week.  The  people  came  together  from  far  and  near,  and 
the  chapel  was  entirely  too  small  for  the  con«:regation.  Some 
fifteen  persons,  from  the  hoary  head  to  the  blooming  youth, 
were  added  to  the  church  by  baptism  and  confirmation,  and 
after  a  sermon  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  the  Eng- 
lish portion  of  the  little  flock  and  the  brethren  from  other 
places.  In  the  afternoon  after  a  sermon  by  the  pastor,  the 
Lord's  Supper  was  administered  to  the  German  members,  to 
the  number  of  thirty.  The  deepest  solemnity  pervaded  the  con- 
gregation during  the  day,  and  to  many,  we  are  assured,  it  was 
indeed  a  feast  of  love.  In  the  evening,  and  on  Monday  night, 
the  Word  was  again  preached  to  a  large  and  deeply  affected 
congregation.  In  the  mornings  at  ten  o'clock  a  meeting  for 
prayer  and  religious'  conversation  was  held,  at  which  a  goodly 
number  attended,  and  here  personal  instruction  was  given  to 
those  who  were  inquiring  the  way  to  Zion.     We  could  not  but 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  137 

feel,  as  in  quietness  and  solemnity  we  waited  on  God,  how 
vastly  preferable  were  such  meetings  for  imparting  instruction 
to  the  inquiring  or  penitent,  to  inviting  them  out  after  sermon 
in  the  crowded  and  heated  church,  at  a  late  hour  of  night  and 
when  amid  the  singing  of  the  congregation  the  minister  must 
often  speak  at  the  top  of  his  voice  to  be  heard  at  all,  by  those 
who  so  much  need  instruction.  At  the  close  of  the  services,  a 
class  of  catechumens  was  formed,  including  some  ten  or  twelve 
individuals  who  had  been  brought  during  the  meeting  to  a 
solemn  consideration  of  their  ways.  They  will  be  faithfully 
instructed  in  the  truths  of  God's  Word  and  we  cannot  but  hope 
they  will  become  enlightened,  fervent,  and  active  Christians. 
Holy  Father,  bless,  sanctify,  and  keep  these  lambs  of  Thy 
flock 

"When  it  is  recollected,  that  this  congregation  now  number- 
ing above  eighty  communicants,  with  its  Sunday  schools,  prayer- 
meetings,  arrangements  for  a  minister  to  reside  among  them,  a 
church  in  view,  and  the  fair  prospect  for  an  increase,  is  little 
more  than  a  year  old,  that  it  has  been  gathered  out  of  a  com- 
munity who  knew  nothing  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  were 
educated  under  other  influences,  well  may  we  say,  'what  hath* 
God  wrought.'  They  who  have  been  the  instruments  under 
God,  in  this  happy  result,  are  filled  with  gratitude,  wonder, 

and  delight,  and  so  far  from  taking  to  themselves  any  of  the 
credit  or  of  the  praise,  desire  with  those  who  have  been  saved 
through  them,  to  ascribe  to  the  Redeemer  all  honor  and  glory, 
dominion  and  power,  forever." 

From  this  account  of  the  meeting  at  the  Furnace  we  see 
that  Mr.  Passavant  had  changed  his  liiind  and  method  in  regard 
to  his  former  favorite  measures.  In  speaking  of  this  same  ser- 
vice many  years  later,  he  told  the  writer  how,  after  the  evening 
sermon,  the  pastor  had  begged  him  to  call  the  mourners  forward 
or  to  allow  himself  to  do  so,  but  that  he  firmly  refused.  He  had 
had  enough  of  the  un-Lutheran  method  and  had  seen  the  error 
of  his  ways.  He  requested  the  pastor  to  let  him  show  him  a 
more  excellent  way.  So  he  announced  to  the  crowded  and  deep- 
ly affected  congregation  that  the  pastor  and  he  would  be  glad 
to  meet  anyone,  who  was  concerned  for  his  soul's  salvation  and 
desired  counsel  and  prayer,  at  the  parsonage  on  Monday  at  ten 
o'clock  or  at  a  special  service  at  the  church  in  the  afternoon. 
The  pastor  lamented  the  loss  of  so  glorious  an  opportunity  at 
the  close  of  the  evening  service  and  said  he  might  have  had 


138  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

twenty  mourners.  Passavant  said,  "If  the  impressions  made 
are  of  the  spirit  of  God,  they  will  keep  until  Monday.  If  it  is 
the  mere  contagion  of  feeling,  it  will  do  no  good  to  call  them  for- 
ward." 

On  Monday  morning  while  at  the  breakfast  table  at  the 
parsonage,  a  man  came  in  deeply  agitated  and  evidently  under 
conviction  of  sin.  As  Mr.  Passavant  expressed  it  to  the  writer, 
"He  was  like  a  bull  in  a  net."  He  was  given  such  counsel  and 
admonition  as  was  needed,  was  prayed  with  and  was  sent  home 
to  meditate  and  pray  alone.  Others  came  later  and  still  others 
to  the  special  service  in  the  church.  Twenty-five  years  later, 
Mr.  Passavant  was  accosted  by  a  stranger  on  the  street  in  Pitts- 
burg who  said,  "Dr.  Passavant,  don't  you  know  me?  Don't 
you  remember  the  meeting  at  the  Furnace?  It  was  your  ser- 
mons there  that  awakened  me  and  brought  me  to  repentance  and 
to  peace.  I  shall  never  forget  that  meeting  and  those  sermons 
of  yours." 

Mr.  Passavant  was  called  upon  and  urged  to  make  many 
similar  hard  trips  to  distant  places,  through  all  kinds  of  weather 
and  over  all  kinds  of  roads.  His  missions  were  not  always  so 
agreeable  as  was  the  one  to  the  furnace.  Oft-times  there  was 
trouble  between  pastor  and  people  or  there  was  strife  in  the 
congregation,  or  there  was  disorder  and  threatened  defection  on 
account  of  the  intrusion  of  false  prophets.  For  the  peace  of 
Jerusalem,  he  was  always  ready  to  go,  heedless  of  the  hardship 
or  exposure. 

In  addition  to  his  large  and  increasing  personal  work  for 
the  Synod  and  its  missions  and  churches  an  immense  correspon- 
dence grew  on  his  hands.  He  was  appealed  to  for  advice  in  the 
most  delicate  and  difficult  matters.  Assistance  was  needed  and 
unobtrusively  given  to  hundreds  of  cases  of  distress  and  desti- 
tution. Apostolic  epistles  of  encouragement  and  comfort  were 
sent  to  pastors  and  churches  and  often  proved  the  turning  point 
for  a  better  day. 

What  wonder,  therefore,  that  about  a  year  after  his  marriage 
he  was  so  exhausted  that  his  family  and  his  friends  were  deeply 
concerned  for  his  health  and  that  the  good  people  of  his  church 
saw  that  he  was  failing  and  must  have  a  rest  ?  The  church  coun- 
cil urged  upon  him  that  he  owed  it  to  them  as  well  as  to  him- 
self to  recuperate  his  waning  strength.  They  insisted  that  he 
must  take  a  long  rest.  His  mother  had  been  uneasy  for  some 
time  and  had  likewise  begged  of  him  to  take  a  rest.    He  finally 


BEGINNINGS  IN  PITTSBURG.  139 

consented  on  condition  that  his  pulpit  be  regularly  filled  and 
that  the  mission  points  be  kept  going.  There  was  no  Lutheran 
available  for  the  pulpit.  The  unionistic  spirit  that  prevailed  in 
the  English  churches  of  the  day  saw  no  objection  whatever  to 
getting  pulpit  supplies  from  other  denominations.  A  theologi- 
cal student  of  the  Presbyterian  Seminary  of  Allegheny,  Mr. 
J.  Swift,  who  was  a  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Passavant,  was  en- 
gaged to  fill  the  pulpit  every  Sunday  morning.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  secure  supplies  for  the  evening  services.  And 
so  the  weary  pastor  was  to  have  his  first  vacation. 

His  wise  and  resourceful  mother  saw  that  the  only  real  rest 
would  be  a  trip  abroad  and  together  with  her  husband  she  ar- 
ranged to  furnish  the  ^eans. 

The  first  general  conference  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance 
was  to  meet  in  London  during  the  summer.  Drs.  Kurtz, 
Schmucker  and  other  leading  lights  in  the  General  Synod  had 
written  enthusiastic  articles  in  favor  of  this  new  attempt  to 
bring  about  an  affiliation  of  Protestant  Christendom. 

When  the  zealous  young  pastor  of  Pittsburg  found  that  a 
dream  of  his  life  was  about  to  be  realized  in  spending  a  summer 
abroad,  his  plans  naturally  took  in  a  visit  to  the  Alliance.  When 
the  Pittsburg  Synod  met  in  June  and  resolved  to  send  him  as 
its  official  delegate,  his  joy  knew  no  bounds.  The  Synod  adopted 
the  following  paper  which  was  to  be  his  official  credential : 

"The  Pittsburg  Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
of  Pennsylvania,  U.  S.  A.,  through  their  delegate,  the  Rev.  W. 
A.  Passavant,  A.  M.,  to  the  Christian  Alliance  to  be  assembled 
in  London,  August,  1846. 

Dear  brethren;  As  a  Synod,  we  look  upon  the  selfishness, 
cold-heartedness,  and  sectarian  spirit,  which  have  so  long  existed 
between  different  denominations,  as  calculated  very  much  to  in- 
jure the  spirituality  and  cripple  the  energies  of  the  Church  of 
Jesus  Christ.  We  long  for  the  time  when  ministers,  not  only 
of  the  same,  but  of  all  denominations  which  hold  the  funda- 
mental doctrines  of  the  Bible,  shall  see  'eye  to  eye,'  and  unite 
their  individual  labors  to  make  known  the  blessed  plan  of  salva- 
tion through  the  Redeemer  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  We  rejoice 
that  efforts  have  been  and  are  still  being  made,  not  only  in  our 
own  country  but  also  in  Europe,  to  accomplish  such  a  desirable 
end.  We  rejoice  especially  in  the  near  approach  of  the  'World's 
Convention'  to  promote  Christian  union.  To  encourage  this  en- 
terprise, we  send  the  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Passavant,  A.  M.,  of  Pitts- 


140  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  FASSAVANT. 

burg  to  represent  our  Synod  at  said  convention.  Finally,  we 
unite  our  prayers  that  the  great  objects  for  which  you  assemble 
may  be  accomplished;  that  brotherly  love,  peace  and  union  may 
run  through  all  your  deliberations;  that  when  you  return  to 
*your  respective  spheres  of  action,  this  same  spirit  may  accom- 
pany you;  that  then  by  God's  blessing,  you  may  breathe  it  into 
all  your  churches,  and  that  thus  an  influence  may  go  forth  in- 
creasing and  widening  until  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall 
have  become  the  Kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  His  Christ. 
Signed  in  behalf  of  Synod, 

G.  F.  Ehrenfeldt, 
June  3d,  1846.  Secretary  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod." 


ABROAD.  141 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ABROAD. 

The  friends  in  Pittsburg  showed  Mr.  Passavant  every 
kindness  before  his  departure.  Many  were  the  substantial  pre- 
sents and  tokens  of  affection  that  were  sent  in.  A  passport  was 
secured  for  him  by  Mr.  Eichbaum.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Greer  wrote 
him  a  flattering  letter  of  introduction  to  the  celebrated  Dr. 
Tholuck,  professor  in  the  University  of  Halle. 

The  little  home  in  Pittsburg  was  to  be  temporarily  broken 
up.  Mrs.  Passavant  and  the  baby  boy  were  to  go  to  Baltimore 
to  spend  some  time  with  her  relatives.  The  wearisome  journey 
back  to  Baltimore  was  taken  by  the  little  family  without  any 
mishap  and  all  arrived  there  in  good  health.  Of  the  leave- 
taking  in  Pittsburg  and  Baltimore,  Mr.  Passavant  writes  to  his 
parents : 

"While  speaking  of  Pittsburg,  I  ought  to  mention  that  the 
council  paid  me  off  to  the  uttermost  farthing  which  enabled 
me  to  pay  all  dues  and  at  the  same  time  leave  a  handsome  sum 
in  the  hands  of  my  wife  in  case  of  need.  The  friends  were 
exceedingly  kind,  in  accompanying  us  to  the  boat,  and  aiding 
us  in  getting  things  arranged  for  starting.  Their  weeping  and 
affectionate  adieus  on  Sunday  night  quite  overpowered  me, 
and  the  excitement  of  the  day  together  with  the  labor  of  Mon- 
day in  packing,  etc.  left  me  very  much  exhausted.  The  com- 
munion was  larger  than  ever  before  seen  in  the  church;  among 
the  communicants  were  about  thirty  or  forty  of  other  denomi- 
nations, and  the  pleasing  evidence  of  increasing  interest  in  the 
church  was  the  accession  of  five  interesting  members,  of  whom 
one  was  a  member  and  three  descendants  of  other  religious 
societies.  This  was  an  evidence  to  my  mind  and  to  Mr.  J. 's 
who  was  present,  that  no  idea  of  failure  or  depression  exists 
in  the  congregation  on  account  of  my  temporary  absence 

"When  I  think  of  so  soon  leaving  my  wife  and  child  and 
that  too  for  so  long  a  season,  my  heart  dies  within  me.  To 
stay  in  Pittsburg  with  my  present  health  would  be  certain 
suicide,  for  my  constitution  is  much  more  weakened  than 
I  supposed  at  first.    To  travel  here  without  object   is   ennui 


142  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

in  the  extreme,  and  to  lie  about  in  Baltimore  or  some  watering 
place,  doing  nothing  is  insupportable;  I  must,  therefore,  do 
something  else  and  travel  abroad  will  do  for  me,  I  hope,  what 
nothing  else  will." 

July,  16.,  at  2  p.m.,  he  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  steamer 
Britannia.  The  vessel  was  chartered  to  stop  at  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia.  On  the  treacherous  coast  of  Newfoundland,  they  struck 
several  rocks  and  the  ship  was  injured  to  such  an  extent  that 
they  were  obliged  to  stop  at  Halifax  for  two  days  for  repairs. 
From  here  several  Methodist  ministers  were  afraid  to  go  on  in 
the  vessel  and  returned  to  Boston.  Mr.  Passavant  spent  the 
two  days  in  becoming  acquainted  with  the  city.  The  quaint 
old  town  with  its  ancient  buildings  interested  him  deeply.  His 
natural  bent  drove  him  to  take  even  a  deeper  interest  in  every- 
thing that  pertained  to  his  church.  Of  this  he  says  in  a  frag- 
ment of  his  journal  which  is  all  that  is  left: 

"In  addition  to  a  number  of  Episcopalian,  Catholic,  Pres- 
byterian, Baptist  and  Wesleyan  Churches  concerning  all  of 
which  I  made  inquiries,  I  heard  from  an  old  gentleman  that 
many  years  ago  a  Lutheran  Church  had  existed  in  this  place. 
My  next  effort  was  to  discover  the  old  building  where  the  Ger- 
man colonists  formerly  worshipped.  This  was  not  a  difficult 
matter,  as  even  the  children  in  the  street  knew  where  the' Dutch 
Church',  was,  and  pointed  it  out  in  answer  to  my  inquiries. 
It  stands  in  one  end  of  the  town,  on  the  corner  of  a  large 
burying  ground,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  substantial  stone 
wall.  The  church  itself  is  a  small  one  story  edifice  of  frame, 
with  an  old-fashioned  cupola  or  belfry  surmounted  by  a  large 
weathercock  of  tin.  At  one  end  is  a  plain  board  with  the 
following  inscription : 


St.  George's  Church 
1761 


"The  sexton  of  the  Episcopal  church  of  St.  George'  parish 
kindly  showed  me  this  venerable  pile  and  the  burial  ground. 
The  gravestones  in  the  latter  mostly  bear  German  names, 
though  the  inscriptions  are  in  English  characters.  Among 
these  was  that  of  Mrs.  Hausihl,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hausihl, 
the  last  pastor  of  the  congregation,  who  is  buried  in  the  church 


ABROAD.  143 

under  the  place  where  the  pulpit  formerly  stood.  The  church 
has  been  cleared  of  all  the  pews  and  interior  arrangement,  and 
a  day  and  Sunday  school  for  girls  is  kept  in  it.  The  sexton 
informs  me  that  the  burial  ground  was  granted  to  the  congre- 
gation either  by  the  British  Government  or  the  city  authorities 
in  1749  or  '50,  though  the  church  itself  was  not  erected  until 
1761.  So  far  for  the  history  of  the  congregation.  A  more 
detailed  account  of  it  I  am  informed  may  be  found  in  Judge 
Haliburton's  History  of  Nova  Scotia,  which  work  I  have  taken 
measures  to  secure. 

"Dr.  Hoffman,  a  German  whose  aquaintance  I  made  in 
Halifax,  gave  me  some  valuable  information  concerning  a  large 
colony  of  German  settlers  at  Lunenburg,  Nova  Scotia,  some 
sixty  or  eighty  miles  from  that  place.  As,  however,  I  did  not 
rely  with  absolute  certainty  on  the  accounts  I  received,  I  defer 
making  any  entry  in  my  journal  until  I  can  obtain  a  copy  of 
Judge  Haliburton's  work  on  Nova  Scotia.  In  Dr.  Schmucker's 
portraiture  of  Lutheranism  and  other  works  published  by  our 
American  clergymen,  no  mention  whatever  is  made  of  Luth- 
eran settlements  at  Halifax  and  Lunenburg,  from  which  cir- 
cumstance it  may  be  safely  inferred  that  nothing  whatever  is 
known  concerning  these  colonies.  It  is  said  by  persons  in  Halifax 
with  whom  I  conversed  that  a  German  Lutheran  minister  still 
resides  in  Lunenburg.  If  this  be  so,  a  correct  history  may  yet 
be  obtained  concerning  these  colonies,  and  possibly  an  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  may  be  reared  up  from  the  ruins  of 
the  old  congregation." 

On  his  return  from  Europe,  Mr.  Passavant  secured  the 
above-named  work  of  Judge  Haliburton  which  put  him  on  the 
track  of  some  ancient  records  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Nova 
Scotia.  He  discovered  that  a  Rev.  Carl  Ernest  Cossman  had 
been  at  work  in  Lunenburg  County  since  1835.  He  entered 
into  correspondence  with  him  and  did  much  for  the  Nova  Scotia 
Lutherans.  This  finally  eventuated  in  the  missionary  trip  of 
the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth  to  these  Lutherans  of  the  Diaspora. 
As  a  result  of  this  trip  several  young  ministers  of  the  Pittsburg 
Synod  were  called  who  recaptured  one  church  after  another 
from  the  Episcopalians,  formed  themselves  into  the  Nova 
Scotia  Conference  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod,  and  are  now  The 
Nova  Scotia  Synod  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church. 

After  leaving  Halifax  the  only  diversion  on  the  ocean 
voyage  was  the  sight  of  several  schools  of  porpoises  and  of 
several  whales.     The  company  on  board  was  a  mixed  one,  Ger- 


144  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

■ 

mans,  Scots,  French,  Spaniards,  Americans,  English,  Irish,  and 
Canadians.  As  is  usual,  the  passengers  soon  divided  into  two 
groups.  The  one  spent  its  time  drinking,  dancing,  playing 
cards  and  in  other  congenial  pastimes.  The  other  group,  among 
whom  were  several  ministers,  took  sweet  counsel  together  con- 
oerning  the  things  of  God.  They  held  their  own  devotional 
meetings.  Mr.  Passavant  conducted  several  services  in  the 
main  cabin  of  the  boat.  His  room-mate  was  a  scholarly  Ger- 
man, Mr.  Obermeyer,  from  Augsburg,  who  had  been  traveling 
in  the  United  States  for  several  years  studying  the  institutions 
of  the  country.  He  had  made  such  a  favorable  impression  on 
President  Polk  that  he  was  appointed  American  Consul  to 
Bavaria.  With  him  Mr.  Passavant  studied  German  and  mapped 
out  a  tour  through  Germany.  And  so  after  a  pleasant  voyage 
of  fifteen  days,  without  even  a  touch  of  sea-sickness,  he  reached 
Liverpool.     From  here  he  hastened  without  delay  to  London. 

In  a  letter  to  his  wife  he  speaks  of  the  organizing  of  the 
Alliance,  of  the  long,  heavy  and  often  dull  speeches,  of  the  great 
crowds  in  Exeter  and  Freemason's  Halls,  of  the  difficulties  of 
agreeing  on  the  basic  principles,  of  the  injudicious  injection  of 
the  slavery  question  and  of  the  final  colorless  and  compro- 
mising generalities  adopted. 

He  tells  her  how  he  visited  the  tombs  of  the  Wesleys,  of 
Fletcher,  Adam  Clarke,  Richard  Watson,  Dr.  Coke,  John 
Bunyan,  Isaac  Watts,  Philip  Doddridge,  Richard  Baxter  and 
many  other  departed  worthies.  He  mentions  his  meeting  and 
his  interviews  with  Chevalier  Bunsen,  Dr.  Tholuck,  Rev.  Stein- 
kopf,  a  German  Lutheran  Pastor  in  London;  Pastor  Barth,  a 
celebrated  writer  of  books  for  children;  The  Rev.  Mr.  Herchel, 
a  missionary  to  the  Jews;  and  Lizerski,  a  converted  Jew  who 
assisted  him  and  whose  work  among  his  own  people  Mr.  Passa- 
vant praises  very  highly. 

He  describes  a  visit  to  Hyde  Park,  its  great  beauties,  its 
fine  equipages,  its  display  of  wealth  and  of  the  nobility  which 
disgusted  him  and  moved  him  to  much  moralizing  on  the  dan- 
gers and  sin  of  the  idle  rich.  He  speaks  of  his  visits  to  the 
various  hospitals  and  other  charitable  institutions,  of  the 
lessons  learned  there  and  tells  his  wife  how  they  would  put 
these  lessons  into  practice  when  they  would  start  their  new 
hospital  in  Pittsburg 

He  copies  this  epitaph  of  Mrs.  Bunting,  wife  of  Dr.  Jabez 
Bunting. 


ABROAD.  145 

"Here  rests  Sarah, 
The  dear  and  beloved  wife  of  Jabez  Bunting,  who,  after 
a  life  of  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,  having  brought  up  children, 
lodged  strangers,  delivered  the  afflicted  and  diligently  followed 
every  good  work,  fell  asleep  September,  29.,  1835,  aged  53". 
He  then  paid  this  beautiful  tribute  to  his  wife: 

"I  bless  God  that  in  all  these  most  essential  duties  and 
virtues  of  a  Christian  pastor's  wife,  thou  art  not  wanting.  May 
the  Grace  of  Christ  make  thee  perfect  and  strengthen  thee  in 
every  good  work  yet  more  abundantly." 

In  another  letter  to  her  he  speaks  briefly  and  enthusiastic- 
ally of  a  hasty  trip  to  Rouen,  Paris,  Versailles,  Fontainbleau, 
Brussels,  Antwerp,  Cologne  and  Bonn.  In  all  these  interesting 
cities  he  gave  special  attention  to  the  churches,  institutions  of 
charity  and  seats  of  learning.  His  description  of  the  ascent  of 
the  storied  castle  and  cathedral-crowned  Rhine  is  full  of  poetic 
and  dramatic  interest.  How  his  imagination  reveled  in  the 
passing  panorama  and  how  his  mind  absorbed  the  historic  and 
hallowed  associations  and  how  his  heart  was  filled  and  thrilled 
with  prayer  and  praise  he  could  not  all  express,  yet  could  much 
less  conceal.  Into  these  memorable  days  were  crowded  gene- 
rations of  life  and  of  Providence.  Space  forbids  the  giving  of 
these  interesting  personal  letters  as  a  whole.  For  his  parents,Mr. 
Passavant  wrote  daily  observations,  which  he  sent  to  them  from 
time  to  time.  In  these  letters  he  fully  describes  his  movements 
to  places,  the  persons  he  met  and  the  impressions  made. 
Thus  he  gives  them  a  fuller  description  of  his  itinerary  from 
London  to  Frankfurt  than  he  had  given  to  his  wife : 

"Again  I  am  on  the  mystic  Rhine  at  Kaiserswerth,  an  ob- 
scure village  of  two  thousand  inhabitants  but  celebrated  all 
over  Europe  for  the  interesting  institution  of  Protestant  deacon- 
esses which  Pastor  Fliedner,  an  unobtrusive  Lutheran  minister, 
has  established  there.  As  I  had  letters  from  Bremen  and  from  the 
Sisters  in  the  hospital  in  Frankfurt  and  London,  Fliedner  at 
once  made  me  welcome  and  we  were  soon  seated  around  a 
frugal  but  comfortable  repast  to  which  my  long  walk  enabled 
me  to  do  ample  justice.  During  the  afternoon,  we  went  over 
the  whole  institution  which,  from  nothing  but  a  believing  heart, 
has  gradually  increased  to  an  ample  establishment,  consisting 
of  a  hospital,  an  orphan  home,  an  infant  school,  a  day  school, 
an  asylum  for  released  female  prisoners,  an  institute  for  the 
training  of  Evangelical  teachers,  and  a  mother  house  for  dea- 


146  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

conesses!  Building  after  building  goes  up  and,  with  nothing 
but  faith  for  a  capital,  the  necessary  means  are  always  at  hand. 
Though  the  institution  is  only  a  few  years  old,  it  has  already 
sent  forth  two  hundred  and  sixty  female  teachers  and  a  large 
number  of  nursing  sisters  who  are  scattered  over  Europe  in 
hospitals,  from  St.  Petersburg  to  Rome!  It  is  interesting  to 
see  how  the  good  and  great  from  all  lands  make  their  pilgim- 
ages  to  this  obscure  spot.  Kings,  queens,  nobles,  philanthro- 
pists, and  others  from  all  parts  of  Europe  have  seen,  examined 
and  approved  of  this  institution;  but  I  must  not  enlarge. 
Fliedner  gave  me  all  the  reports,  documents,  etc.,  and  these, 
I  am  sure,  you  will  be  delighted  to  read.  At  four  o'clock,  we 
drank  coffee  with  the  deaconesses  and  teachers  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  institution  who  were  specially  called  together  on 
this  occasion.  I  had  expected  to  speak  in  English,  but  Mr. 
Fliedner  could  not  translate,  so  I  endeavored  to  make  a  German 
address  and  succeeded  by  his  occasionally  putting  in  a  word 
to  express  what  I  desired.  Among  the  deaconesses  were  several 
ladies  of  the  nobility,  one  of  whom  came  from  Sweden  with  the 
purpose  of  remaining  a  year  and  then  founding  a  similar  insti- 
tution in  her  own  land 

"From  Kaiserswerth,  we  went  to  Diisseldorf  and  thence  to 
the  beautiful  Wupperthal.  This  is  a  small  valley  a  few  miles 
in  length  and  owes  its  prosperity  to  two  causes.  First  to  a 
Protestant  population  and  secondly  to  a  small  stream  which 
flows  through  its  entire  extent.  The  waters  of  this  stream  are 
so  admirably  adapted  for  dyeing  wool  and  cotton  that  two 
cities  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand  each  have  sprung  up  in 
the  valley.  These  consist  of  an  endless  succession  of  factories 
with  the  dwellings  for  the  laborers  and  the  whole  valley  seems  to 
be  more  or  less  concerned  in  some  one  or  other  of  these  estabish- 
ments.  Elberfeld  and  Barmen  are  about  half  a  mile  apart  and 
between  them,  on  a  lovely  spot  of  ground,  is  the  Barmen 
Mission  House.  This  valley  is  at  once  the  center  and  source 
of  a  missionary  influence  which  is  felt  from  the  Western  settle- 
ment of  America  to  central  Africa  and  Borneo  and  already  it 
numbers  a  large  Christian  population  among  the  heathen  who 
have  been  Christianized  and  civilized  by  the  labors  of  two  de- 
voted missionaries.  Fortunately  the  Executive  Committee  was 
in  session  when  a  friend  took  me  to  the  Mission  House  and 
though  we  were  together  in  session  for  five  hours,  by  eight  in 
the  evening  I  was  on  my  way  back  to  Diisseldorf.  By  a  similar 
combination  of  circumstances,  I  was  taken  to  the  house  of  a 


ABROAD.  147 

German  merchant  on  my  way  to  Elberfeld  who  was  just  the 
man  I  wanted  to  show  me  everything  of  a  religious  character 
in  the  town.  He  received  me  with  Christian  kindness,  invited 
me  to  his  house,  introduced  me  to  the  committee,  of  which  he  is 
a  member,  and  in  many  ways  greatly  facilitated  the  object  of 
my  journey.  The  Bremen  Missionary  Society  were  pleased  to 
make  a  donation  of  missionary  books  to  the  Academy  at  Zelien- 
ople  and  this  holy  Christian  master  of  the  poor  school  added 
a  present  of  several  volumes  additional  to  fill  up  the  box,  for- 
warding it  to  Bremen,  and  packed  in  it  some  beautiful  pictures 
of  Luther  and  his  family  for  my  parlor.  I  found  that  he  w^as 
a  friend  of  Chas.  Hay,  who  stayed  at  his  house  in  Elberfeld, 
and  the  partner  of  Mr.  Pestalozzi  of  Zurich  of  whom  I  have  al- 
ready said  so  much.  The  celebrated  Elberfeld  preacher.  Dr. 
F.  W.  Krummacher,  on  whom  I  called,  was  unfortunately  ab- 
sent from  home.  He  is  about  to  remove  to  Potsdam  where  he 
has  been  called  as  Hofprediger. 

Here  is  a  summary,  in  his  own  characteristic  style,  ad- 
dressed to  his  congregation  in  Pittsburg: 

"London,  Oct.  18th.,  1846,  Sunday  morning. 
Dear  brethren  and  sisters, — 

The  rain  is  coming  down  in  torrents  so  as  effectually  to 
prevent  me  from  going  to  church  this  morning.  In  the  hope 
that  I  may  yet  have  an  opportunity  this  evening,  I  shall  re- 
main at  home  and  devote  these  hours  to  my  beloved  congre- 
gation. 

"By  the  kindness  of  God,  I  have  been  permitted  safely  to 
return  thus  far  on  my  homeward  journey.  We  arrived  here, 
after  a  stormy  and  most  disagreeable  passage  of  several  days, 
on  Thursday  night,  and  since  then  my  time  has  been  con- 
stantly occupied  with  writing  and  transacting  business  in  time 
for  the  steamer  of  tomorrow — Oct.  19th.  Though  it  was  not 
my  intention  to  write  until  the  thirty-first  of  this  month,  the 
fear  that  there  may  be  unnecessary  anxiety  on  account  of  my 
delay,  induces  me  to  send  a  few  lines  by  tomorrow's  steamer. 
Hurried  and  uninteresting  as  they  necessarily  must  be,  I  feel 
assured  they  will  yet  be  welcome.  They  will  at  least  show  that 
in  all  my  wanderings  in  foreign  lands,  my  heart  turns  towards 
the  church  which  God  has  placed  under  my  care  as  the  lode- 
Btone  turns  to  the  pole. 

"Let  me  see  where  I  was  when  I- last  wrote.  I  believe  it 
was  in  London,   in   the   anxiety   and   uncertainty   which   had 


148  THE  LIFE  OF  IV.  A.  PASSAYAST. 

gathered  around  the  Evangelical  Alliance.  You  have  doubt- 
less heard  the  happy  issue  of  this  difficulty  in  the  papers  of 
the  day.  I  need  not,  therefore,  occupy  time  with  this  subject. 
In  company  with  Drs,  Peck,  Emory,  and  a  number  of  other 
clergj-men  of  the  American  Methodist  Church,  I  sailed  for 
Dieppe  in  France,  the  day  after  I  wrote.  From  Dieppe  we 
went  directly  to  Paris,  stopping  only  a  few  hours  in  the  ancient 
city  of  Rouen,  to  see  the  fine  old  churches  and  crumbling  ruins. 
We  remained  upward  of  a  week  in  Paris,  and  likewise  took  ex- 
cursions to  Fontainebleau,  and  Versailles,  at  each  of  which  we 
stayed  a  day.  During  this  time  with  the  exception  of  Sunday, 
we  were  constantly  engaged  in  looking  at  the  many  interesting 
sights  which  the  metropolis  contains,  so  that  the  very  eye  it- 
self became  pained  with  seeing  and  desire  and  curiosity  were 
more  than  satisfied.  If  you  would  have  a  description  of  Paris, 
you  must  look  for  it  elsewhere  than  in  my  letter.  I  can  not 
describe  its  gay  pleasure-lo^dng  population  and  therefore  will 
not  make  the  attempt. 

"To  all  human  appearances  it  has  no  Sabbath,  no  sacred 
day.  "Warehouses,  stores,  shops,  etc.,  etc.  were  open  as  before- 
and  only  here  and  there  could  I  find  one  with  shutters  closed. 
And  yet  this  great  and  wicked  city,  with  nearly  two  millions 
of  people,  contains  many  of  God's  dearest  children.  The  com- 
paratively small  handful  of  Protestants  of  the  Presb^i:erian 
and  Lutheran  confession  are  all  alive  to  the  work  of  their 
Master  and  though  greatly  hampered  in  their  operations  by  the 
indifference  of  the  unbelieving  on  one  side,  and  the  intolerance 
of  the  Roman  Church  on  the  other,  they  accomplish  a  vast 
amount  of  good.  We  have  some  three  or  four  French  and  Ger- 
man Lutheran  congregations  in  Paris  but  I  did  not  succeed  in 
finding  any  of  them,  so  I  attended  the  French  Reformed  Church 
in  the  'Church  of  the  Oratory',  'Rue  St.  Honore'.  This  large 
church  was  well  filled  with  a  solemn  and  attentive  congregation 
and  the  whole  services  were  conducted  with  a  propriety  and 
order  which  made  me  feel  it  was  God's  house.  Would  that  we 
had  the  admirable  custom,  which  prevails  in  England  and  every- 
where on  the  continent,  for  the  congregation  to  remain  a 
moment  in  silent  prayer  after  the  benediction,  instead  of  rush- 
ing to  the  door  as  if  in  haste  to  escape  from  the  house  of  God ! 
I  also  observed  here  with  great  pleasure,  what  I  have  noticed 
in  all  churches  in  England  and  on  the  continent,  that  each  of 
the  Christian  worshippers  engaged  in  silent  prayer  on  entering 
the  church!  May  the  example  of  others  impress  your  minds. 


ABROAD.  149 

dear  brethren,  with  the  propriety  of  this  duty  which  I  have  so 
often  endeavored  to  set  before  you  while  in  your  midst.  These 
may  seem  to  be  small  matters,  but  they  are  not  so;  mere  forms 
they  may  be  but  as  expressions  of  a  praying  and  reverential 
spirit,  they  are  most  important.  A  strange  and  unaccountable 
feeling  of  horror  came  over  me  on  leaving  this  sacred  chapel 
and  going  into  the  street.  Crowds  of  people  were  passing 
along  in  their  laboring  clothes;  the  shops  were  still  open,  the 
market  people  were  before  the  walls  of  a  sanctuary!  Highly 
favored  people  are  we,  who  live  in  the  land  of  Sabbath,  where 
the  very  stillness  and  quiet  of  the  day  seem  to  say,  there  is  a 
God,  there  is  a  Savior,  there  is  an  eternity,  where  its  regularly 
recurring  hours  afford  a  blessed  opportunity  of  meeting  in 
God's  house,  parents  and  children  together,  and  of  instructing 
our  families  around  our  o^vn  firesides  in  the  truths  of  the 
Word !  Not  unto  us,  Oh  Lord,  but  unto  Thy  name  be  the  glory 
and  the  praise  for  these  unspeakable  mercies! 

"Leaving  Paris,  we  bent  our  course  for  Germany  and  the 
Rhine,  stopping  in  Belgium  only  long  enough  to  visit  Brussels 
and  the  quaint  old  city  of  Antwerp.  Poor  unhappy  Belgium, 
with  its  multitudes  of  priests,  eating  up  the  fat  of  the  land  and 
grinding  the  faces  of  the  poor  until  endurance  can  scarcely 
hold  out  longer!  Never  was  I  anywhere,  where  there  seemed  to 
be  such  a  swarm  of  ecclesiastics.  At  every  place  where  the  cars 
stopped,  a  number  would  enter,  and  it  was  painful  to  see  in 
how  many  instances  these  men  looked  sensual,  bloated,  and  in- 
dolent. There  were  exceptions,  as  there  are  everywhere,  many 
honorable  exceptions,  but  the  general  impression  made  upon 
us  by  the  Belgium  priests  was  that  of  a  bigoted,  idle,  and  sensual 
class,  who  hang  like  an  incubus  upon  the  people,  hindering  their 
advancement,  sinking  them  deeper  in  superstition  and  form- 
ality. A  little  incident  I  must  not  forget  to  mention.  While 
passing  through  the  streets  of  Brussels,  one  day,  a  carriage 
stopped,  and  several  of  our  London  delegates  from  Ireland  ran 
over  the  way  to  greet  us  in  this  dark  land.  They  had  incidentally 
heard  of  an  awakening  among  the  Roman  Catholics  in  one  of 
the  most  priest-ridden  districts  of  the  land  and,  the  evening 
before  we  met,  had  the  pleasure  of  addressing  (through  an 
interpreter)  a  congregation  of  over  two  hundred  awakening 
and  enquiring  people.  They  were  on  their  way  to  the  city  of 
Liege,  where  a  similar  movement  was  going  on  and  where  they 
expected  to  have  a  similar  pleasure !  '  How  strangely  and  won- 
derfully is  the  Lord  carrying  on  His  work  in  the  dark  places 


150  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

of  the  earth' !  The  simple  story  of  the  cross,  and  the  distribution 
of  bibles  and  tracts  by  plain  and  uneducated  colporteurs,  was 
the  instrumentality  here  employed  by  'One  who  takes  the  weak 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  mighty'.  We  met  one  of 
these  men,  selling  his  bibles  and  tracts  in  the  streets  of  Brussels. 
He  was  dressed  in  a  linen  '  blouse '  and  like  our  '  razor  strop  man ' 
had  a  crowd  of  men,  women  and  children  around  him  listening 
to  his  story.  There  was  a  mildness  and  a  sweet  composure  in 
his  countenance  which  strangely  touched  my  heart  and  while 
he  sold  one  and  another  to  the  gaping  crowd,  who  seemed 
scarcely  to  know  what  they  were  buying,  I  involuntarily  offered 
up  the  prayer  that  God  would  follow  with  His  blessing  these 
silent  messengers  of  mercy,  to  the  opening  of  their  eyes  and  the 
saving  of  their  souls.  At  Cologne  we  struck  the  Rhine,  and 
here  for  the  first  time  had  a  view  of  this  majestic  river.  Taking 
the  steam  boat,  we  ascended  it  as  high  as  Mayence,  where  I 
was  reluctantly  compelled  to  bid  adieu  to  our  company.  The 
scenery  of  the  Rhine  is  inexpressibly  glorious.     It  is  literally 

A  blending  of  all  beauties,  streams  and  dells. 
Fruit,  foliage,  crag,  wood,  cornfield,  mountain  vine, 
And  chiefless  castles  breathing  stern  farewells, 
From  gray  but  leafy  walls,  where  ruin  greenly  dwells. 

''For  many  hundred  miles  it  makes  its  way  through  a  moun- 
tainous country  and  in  the  Rheingau  its  passage  seems  to  be 
a  gorge  between  a  ridge  of  lofty  mountains.  Many  of  these 
are  terraced  to  the  very  top  at  an  immense  expense  and  labor, 
in  order  to  cultivate  the  grapevine,  which  here  grows  in  all  its 
excellence.  The  old  Gothic  castles,  nearly  all  in  ruins,  crown 
these  vine-clad  hills  and  the  quaint  old  towns  at  their  base 
make  up  a  scene  of  strange  but  wondrous  beauty.  Never  did 
I  more  regret  the  shortness  of  my  time  than  while  on  the 
Rhine.  It  was  just  in  the  vintage  and  everywhere  on  the 
hills  and  crags  might  be  seen  the  peasants  gathering  in  the 
rich  clusters  of  grapes  in  a  kind  of  hood  which  seems  to  be 
fastened  to  their  backs.  These  grapes  are  of  small  size  but 
exceedingly  sweet  and  agreeable,  and  yield  a  large  quantity  of 
wine.  I  had  here  an  opportunity  of  tasting  pure  Rhine  wine, 
and  could  scarcely  repress  my  indignation  at  the  abominable 
mixtures  which  are  palmed  off  in  America,  as  the  pure  juice 
of  the  grape.  Fortunately  my  wish  to  obtain  a  couple  of  dozen 
of  bottles  for  the  use  of  sick  persons  in  our  congregation  was 
gratified  in  a  way  I  never  thought  of.     I  incidentally  made  the 


ABROAD.  151 

acquaintance  of  a  gentleman,  who  owned  a  large  vineyard  and 
supplies    Mr.    Rapp    at    Economy,  with    the    pure    article    for 
private  use.     With  him,  I  have  made  an  arrangement  to  obtain 
a  basket  or  two  of  an  excellent  wine  for  persons  recovering 
from  sickness.     These  will  be  sent  to  a  friend  in  Philadelphia 
and  when   once  in  Pittsburg,    I   shall  be   happy  to   have  the 
brethren  furnish  it  for  their  families  in  sickness  at  a  trifling 
cost,  while  to  the  poor  it  will  be  a  sincere  pleasure  for  me  to 
provide  it  gratuitously.      Could    you    have    seen    me    on    the 
steamer,  while  ascending  the  Rhine,  dressed  in  a  'blouse',  the 
universal  peasant's   garb    of    this    country,    you    would    have 
scarcely  recognized  your  old  pastor.     But  thus  we  travel,  ful- 
filling in  this  respect  at  least,  the  old  adage  'We  must  do  in 
Rome  as  the  Romans'.  Blouse  or  no  blouse,  this  journey  up  the 
Rhine  was  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  my  life,  and  its  novel 
and  delightful  recollections  will  never  be  erased,  from  my  mind. 
"Truly  happy  would  I  be,  could  I  but  compress  in  a  few 
lines  that  which  might  be  interesting  to  you  in  my  three  weeks' 
stay  in  Frankfurt,  the  native  city  of  my  excellent  parents  and 
the  residejice  of  most  of  my  relatives.     Though  much  occupied 
with  the  business  of   Synod,   and  obliged   to  shut  myself  up 
daily  to  attend  to  it,  I  yet  found  much  leisure  time  for  the 
offices    of    friendship,    and    spent    the    remainder    among    my 
friends.     In  Frankfurt,  I  found  not  a  few  amiable  and  lovely 
Christians  in  the  higher  walks  of  life,  and  their  simplicity,  and 
godly  sincerity  was  most  affecting.     Many  of  these  are  in  fami- 
lies entirely  composed  of  worldly  people,  where  spiritual  Christ- 
ianity is  regarded  as  'melancholy',  and  termed  'pietism';  under 
these  circumstances,  their  light  is  almost  hid,  until  you,  perhaps 
by  accident,  discover  that  you  are  speaking  with  a  disciple.    On 
several  occasions  a  single   expression  or  word  told  the  whole 
story.     In  the  country  where  church  and  state  are  unfortun- 
ately united,  and  many  ministers  are  either  rationalists  or  at 
least  unrenewed  men,  it  is  by  no  means  taken  for  granted  that 
a  man  is  a  Christian  because  he  is  a  clergyman.     Those  who 
are  Christians  are  therefore  on  the  lookout  to  judge  the  charac- 
ter of  a  stranger.     After  an  evening's  conversation,  you  may 
receive  a  warm  press  of  the  hand  from  some  silent  and  suffering 
disciple,  who  recognized  you  as  a  brother  from   a  sentiment 
uttered  or  a  word  spoken  in  the  course  of  your  remarks.     A 
stranger  mentioned  the  name  of  Jesus  with  peculiar  solemnity 
and  feeling  in  a  promiscuous  assembly.     On  returning  home,  a 
gentleman  came  to  his  residence  and  looking  steadfastly  in  his 


152  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

face,  while  the  tears  flowed  down  his  cheeks,  asked  him,  'And 
is  He  your  Savior,  too?'  There  is  much  of  this  kind  of  silent 
Christianity  in  Germany  at  the  present  time. Things  are  however 
coming  to  a  crisis.  Light  and  darkness  can  not  exist  together 
much  longer.  Ministers  find  they  must  take  sides,  as  all  those 
who  are  believers  are  known  and  loved  as  such  by  their 
brethren,  while  the  unbelieving  stand  off  from  them  and  cater 
for  the  popular  taste  to  support  their  sinking  cause.  On  all 
sides  in  Germany  we  see  the  evidence  of  some  mighty  revo- 
lution in  the  religious  world.  At  present  there  is  a  wonderful 
chaos  in  spiritual  things,  the  good  and  bad,  the  unbelieving  and 
believing,  are  all  together  in  the  established  church  and  go 
through  the  same  forms;  but  soon  God  will  bring  order  out  of 
this  confusion,  discern  between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked. 
To  write  intelligently  of  the  state  of  things  in  Germany,  would 
require  more  tiiije  than  I  can  command  and  in  a  letter  like  this 
all  such  narrative  would  be  out  of  place.  I  can  only  say  in  a 
word  that,  while  outward  things  look  gloomy,  the  good  and 
pious  in  Germany  believe  that  God  will  soon  put  a  stop  to  this 
mingling  of  Christ  and  Mammon  and  redeem  and  vindicate  His 
own  cause.  There  is  much  prayer  and  faith  among  the  Christ- 
ians of  the  continent,  and  but  little  reliance  on  any  human 
instrumentalities  or  schemes  of  reform.  They  believe,  as  they 
are  unable  to  take  matters  in  their  own  hands,  that  God  will 
have  mercy  on  His  people  and  save  His  Church  by  the  strong 

arm  of  His  power 

"While  in  Frankfurt,  I  took  a  trip  to  Basel  on  the  bvisiness 
of  our  Synod.  While  in  London,  by  conversing  with  the 
ministers  from  Berlin,  Prussia,  I  learned  that  there  was  but  a 
poor  prospect  there  to  obtain  the  kind  of  missionaries  needed 
by  Synod  for  our  German  Emigrant  missions.  Instead  of 
going  to  Berlin,!  was  induced  by  the  representations  of  Chevalier 
Bunsen,  the  Prussian  embassador  in  London,  to  visit  in  Basel 
in  Switzerland.  This  was  manifestly  providential,  and  I  am 
happy  to  say  that  the  mission  committee  of  the  mission  houses 
there,  at  once  espoused  our  cause  and  determined  to  send  us 
six  ministers  by  next  May.  Should  nothing  unforeseen  occur, 
they  will  be  in  Pittsburg  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  Synod 
in  the  spring,  where  they  will  be  examined  and  at  once  sent 
forth  to  their  respective  fields  of  labor.  Great  indeed  was  my 
gratification  in  being  permitted  to  see  the  Basel  Missionary 
Seminary.  There  are  generally  sixty  or  more  young  men  in 
attendance,  and  every  year  a  number  are  sent  to  China,  Asia, 


ABROAD.  153 

Africa,  and  North  and  South  America,  where  many  alas  fall 
victims  to  the  climate  and  to  this  great  trial. 

"They  are  wholly  supported  by  voluntary  contributions  both 
while  in  the  seminary  and  when  they  go  to  heathen  lands. 
Those,  however,  who  are  sent  to  America  are  expected  to  be 
supported  by  their  congregations  or  by  missionary  societies 
there.  In  reviewing  the  circumstances  which  led  me  to  change 
my  route  from  Prussia  to  Switzerland,  I  clearly  see  the  hand 
of  God  in  every  circumstance  and  rejoice  that  deliverance  has 
come  for  our  poor  and  scattered  Germans  from  a  quarter  we 
thought  not  of.  The  Basel  Missionaries  are  tried  men,  and  are 
preferred  above  all  others  in  Europe  and  even  in  England. 
The  English  Church  Missionary  Society  has  employed  more 
than  seventy  of  them  in  their  East  India  Missions  and  a  num- 
ber more  expect  to  sail  for  India  in  spring  under  the  patronage 
of  this  Society. 

"Returning  to  Strassburg  in  France  from  Basel,  I  remained 
several  days  among  some  very  dear  Christian  friends  and  spent 
the  Sunday  in  a  little  village  a  few  hours'  dr^.ve  from  the  city. 
After  the  bustle  and  hurry  of  the  week  before,  in  which  I  had 
been  traveling  day  and  night,  the  quiet  of  this  retired  spot, 
and  the  sweet  society  of  Christians,  was  most  grateful.  Often, 
when  listening  to  the  wonderful  way  in  which  some  of  these 
dear  relatives  and  friends  were  led  to  Christ,  and  following 
them  through  their  struggles  and  early  trials,  I  wept  and  could 
only  say  'how  wonderful  are  Thy  ways,  Oh  God,  and  Thy 
thoughts  are  past  finding  out'.  The  awakened  and  Christian 
people  in  Strassburg  are  earnestly  engaged  in  spreading  the 
gospel  in  the  neighboring  cities  and  villages  of  the  'Department 
De  Bas  Rhine',  and  the  Vosges  Mountains,  among  which  the 
great  and  good  Oberlin  once  lived  and  labored.  It  is  a  sad 
thought,  that,  out  of  nearly  three  hundred  Protestant  ministers 
in  this  part  of  France,  scarcely  forty  are  believers  or  Christian 
men.  The  rest  are  unbelievers  or  rationalists,  as  they  are 
pleased  to  term  themselves!  Nevertheless,  even  in  this  dark 
quarter  light  is  springing  up.  At  the  head  of  the  Evangelical 
party  is  the  Rev.  Pastor  Herter,  a  plain  but  mighty  man  of 
God,  who,  although  hated,  despised  and  ridiculed  by  the  world, 
goes  on,  meekly  bearing  all  and  only  'doubling'  his  exertions 
in  the  good  cause.  In  connection  with  a  few  pious  friends  he 
has  established  a  'house  for  Deaconesses,'  a  new  or  rather  old 
apostolic  office  revived,  and  these  excellent  women  have  luider 
their  care  a  large  hospital  with  seventy  beds  as  well  as  a  school 


154  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

for  poor  children,  which  already  contains  upwards  of  two  hun- 
dred scholars.  '  Five  years  ago,  this  excellent  man  had  nothing 
but  faith  in  God  for  his  capital  and  now  'behold  what  hath 
God  wrought'!  Already  have  several  hospitals  been  supplied 
with  'nursing  sisters',  from  the  parent  institution,  and  the 
poor  Protestants  of  this  part  of  France  are  beginning  to  feel 
the  blessed  results  of  this  sacred  institution. 

"Having  visited  Kaiserswerth  on  the  Rhine,  where  the  first 
Protestant  institution  of  this  kind  was  commenced  from  which 
all  the  others  are  copied,  both  in  Germany,  Holland,  France 
and  Prussia,  I  shall  on  my  return  give  myself  the  pleasure  of 
giving  the  brethren  an  opportunity  of  learning  more  of  this 
wonderful  institution  which  is  spreading  its  blessings  so 
rapidly  over  the  whole  of  Europe.  In  my  whole  course  of  obser- 
vation, I  saw  nothing  anywhere  which  so  commends  itself  to 
the  better  feeling  of  the  heart  as  the  order  just  referred  to. 
The  King  of  Prussia  has  erected  a  large  hospital  and  of  his  own 
funds  in  Berlin,  which  is  to  be  a  l^ind  of  training  school  for 
a  large  'central  motherhouse'  for  all  the  Prussian  dominions. 
In  Frankfurt  and  many  of  the  principal  towns  I  visited,  I 
found  that  the  Protestant  hospitals  and  charitable  institutions 
of  a  similar  nature  were  wholly  given  over  to  the  care  of  these 
sisters  and  so  great  and  happy  had  been  the  change  for  the 
better  under  their  management  that  the  city  authorities  could 
find  no  language  sufficiently  expressive  of  their  approbation. 
When  once  fully  admitted  and  set  apart  by  prayer  for  this 
holy  work,  they  enter  upon  it  with  a  self-sacrifice  truly  aston- 
ishing and  many  of  them  never  leave  the  hospitals  till  removed 
by  death !  They  make  no  vows  for  life,  but  can  return  to  their 
friends  if  so  disposed.  And  yet  very  few  ever  use  this  privilege, 
but  live  and  die  in  the  service.  Why  cannot  we  find  among  us 
a  devotion  and  self-sacrifice  similar  to  that  manifested  by  our 
Lutheran  sisters  in  France  and  Germany?  Surely  there  is  a 
need  equally  as  great  in  America  for  something  of  this  kind  as 
in  Europe  where  so  many  hospitals  and  other  such  institutions 
exist.  Especially  in  our  city,  where  no  friendly  asylum  opens 
its  mercy  doors  for  the  stranger  and  the  indigent  sick,  is  such 
an  order  necessary.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  trust  the  de- 
votion of  our  sisters  in  the  faith  on  the  continent  will  provoke 
us  to  emulation,  and  cause  some  in  our  congregation  to  enquire 
whether  God  has  not  a  work  for  them  to  do  among  the  needy, 
the  sick,  and  the  unfortunate  of  our  fellow  men. 

"But  I  must  hasten  to  a  close.    Time  will  not  allow  me  to 


ABROAD.  155 

describe  my  journey  down  the  Rhine  or  to  make  even  brief 
notices  of  the  short  visits  I  made  in  Coblenz,  Cologne,  Diissel- 
dorf,  Kaiserswerth,  Elberfeld,  with  its  interesting  mission  in- 
stitution similar  to  the  one  in  Basel,  and  Rotterdam  in  Holland. 
Everywhere  it  was  my  privilege  to  meet  with  dear  Christian 
brethren,  whose  kindness  I  can  never  forget  and  whose  holy 
and  heavenly  conversation  refreshed  my  heart  and  enabled  me 
to  'go  on  my  way  rejoicing'.  For  the  'loving  favor'  in  which 
Christians  have  everywhere  received  me,  and  the  preserving 
care  and  providence  of  God  with  the  unspeakable  blessing  of 
health,  I  desire  to  be  most  grateful  and  beg  you  with  me  to 
glorify  our  Kindest  Friend  for  these  things.  In  all  the  mercy 
received,  I  see  the  answer  of  your  prayers  which  I  have  felt 
were  following  me  in  foreign  lands,  and  by  the  help  of  which 
I  have  been  safely  brought  thus  far  on  my  journey  home. 

"May  I  not,  therefore,  once  more,  beseech  you,  'to  strive 
with  me  in  your  prayers  to  God  for  me'  and  do  this  the  rather, 
that  i  may  have  a  prosperous  journey  and  soon  be  returned  to 
you  again. 

"I  regret  exceedingly  that  my  passage  across  the  Atlantic 
will  very  probably  be  a  long  one.  As  the  berths  in  the  steam- 
ships were  all  taken  a  month  ago,  I  could  of  course  not  get  a 
passage  and  other  circumstances  made  it  necessary  to  go  by  a 
sailing  packet.  The  ship  in  which  I  embark  tomorrow  is  the 
'St.  James'  (Capt.  Meyer  of  New  York)  and  is  one  of  the  re- 
gular liners  between  that  port  and  London.  The  homeward 
trip  takes  much  longer  than  in  coming  over  and  the  average 
time  is  five  weeks.  If  however,  we  are  longer  detained,  do  not 
be  uneasy  for  my  welfare. 

'He  who  led  me  hitherto 

Will  guide  me  all  my  journey  through'. 

"And  He  who  has  so  graciously  restored  me  to  health  will 
if  it  be  His  heavenly  pleasure,  give  me  many  opportunities  of 
manifesting  my  gratitude  by  diligently  laboring  in  His  service. 
"If  our  good  brother  Swift  has  found  it  out  of  his  power  to 
remain  with  the  congregation  as  long  as  they  desired  it  and  as 
I  was  anxious  he  should,  I  trust  it  will  not  have  any  injurious 
influence  upon  youi*  welfare  if  for  a  few  weeks  longer  you  will 
have  various  brethren  to  officiate  in  the  pulpit.  "Wonderfully 
has  God  arranged  everything  for  your  edification  during  my  ab- 
sence and  if  you  but  possess  an  humble,  teachable  spirit,  all  His 
faithful  servants  will  be  acceptable. 


156  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

"In  conclusion,  let  me  exhort  you,  as  the  season  of  more 
leisure  and  when  the  evenings  are  longer  is  beginning  to  ap- 
proach, let  me  exhort  you  to  redouble  your  diligence  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord.  This  is  the  most  fitting  time  to  set  every- 
thing in  order  for  the  coming  winter.  The  prayer-meetings  in 
the  different  districts,  and  the  teachers'  meetings  should  now 
be  reorganized  without  delay.  The  faithful  few  who  hitherto 
have  collected  together  the  widow's  mite,  and  the  willing  dona- 
tion of  all  in  their  society  should  now  receive  the  encourage- 
ment and  support  of  every  member  and  friend  to  the  cause.  It 
is  only  by  cooperating  with  one  accord  that  the  praiseworthy 
object  of  the  'Mite  Society'  can  be  carried  into  execution.  Above 
all,  dear  brethren,  live  in  peace  and  love  among  yourselves. 
This  will  give  a  loveliness  and  a  heavenly  simplicity  to  your 
Christian  fellowship  which  will  attract  and  subdue  the  world 
and  constrain  it  to  acknowledge  that  the  Lord  is  with  you. 

"Till  we  meet  again  as  pastor  and  people,  either  in  the  sacred 
enclosures  of  our  earthly  temple  or  before  our  Savior  and  Judge 
at  His  appearing,  I  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell.  The  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God  and  the  communion 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  all.     Amen.     Yours  truly 

W.  A.  Passavant. " 

Among  the  notables  whom  he  met  in  Basel,  was  the  famous 
educator  and  philanthropist,  Pestalozzi,  who  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  his  cousin  Henrietta  Passavant  whom  he  also  met 
there.  Here  are  a  few  extracts  of  a  letter  she  wrote  him  after 
he  arrived  home : 

"Dear  cousin.  The  amiable  note  Mr.  Pestalozzi  handed  me 
from  you  has  given  me  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and  I  have  to 
beg  your  pardon  for  not  having  thanked  you  for  it  sooner.  Its 
contents  and  the  particulars  Mr.  Pestalozzi  has  communicated 
to  us  about  your  labors  in  the  new  world  have  deeply  interested 
us,  and  given  us  still  more  regrets  to  have  seen  so  little  of  you 
while  in  Europe,  the  more  as  we  have  understood  that  you  gave 
up  your  journey  to  Berlin,  and  spent  in  Strassburg  and  Frank- 
furt the  time  you  had  destined  for  your  tour  in  the  north  of 
Germany 

"Mr.  Pestalozzi  has  communicated  to  us  the  pamphlet  you 
gave  him  relating  to  the  affairs  of  your  church  and  your  religious 
meetings.  All  this  has  greatly  interested  us,  and  we  ardently 
desire  to  contribute  something  to  the  prosperity  of  your  congre- 
gation.  I  send  you  for  that  object  two  hundred  francs  which  the 


ABROAD.  157 

brother  of  my  brother-in-law,  Mr.  John  Iselin,  established  in 
New  York,  will  forward  to  you  at  the  same  time  with  this  letter. 
This  sum  is  very  small  and  will  be  of  but  little  assistance  to 
you,  but  for  the  present  we  are  hardly  able  to  do  more.  You 
doubtless  know  in  what  a  critical  situation  Switzerland  just 
now  is  placed;  distracted  as  she  is  by  revolutions  and  great 
dearth,  not  to  say  famine,  the  misery  is  excessive  and  the  purse 
of  the  rich  is  scarcely  sufficient  to  relieve  the  pressing  wants  of 
the  poor.  I  hope  that  after  a  while  we  shall  be  able  to  do 
something  more  for  our  brethren  in  Pittsburg.  Meanwhile  please 
to  accept  this  slight  offering  as  a  proof  of  the  interest  and  the 
sympathy  which  the  cause  to  which  you  have  devoted  yourself 
has  inspired  in  us 

"Speak  of  us  to  your  parents,  your  brother  and  sister  and 
your  wife !  Let  them  know  that  in  this  little  corner  of  the  world 
you  have  relations  who  are  sincerely  attached  to  them  and  who 
would  think  themselves  happy  to  prove  it  some  day  by  more 
than  mere  words. ' ' 

With  many  of  the  eminent  men  whom  he  had  met  he  dined 
and  afterwards  corresponded.  Here  are  a  few  of  the  many  in- 
vitations : 

"I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  are  unwell  and  regret  that  I  shall 
not  be  able  today  to  call  on  you.  In  the  meantime,  I  send  you  a 
copy  I  happen  to  have  renewed,  of  my  ' Andaclitshuch' ,  adapted 
for  the  use  of  German  congregations  in  America.  I  shall  be  glad, 
if  its  meets  with  your  approbation  and  shall  have  great  pleasure 
in  having  conversation  with  you  on  the  subject.  If  you  are  well 
enough,  will  you  come  and  dine  with  us  tomorrow,  Wednesday, . 
at  seven  o'clock,  in  a  friendly  little  family  party?  My  son 
intends  to  call  on  you  as  soon  as  he  returns  from  the  country. 

Yours  sincerely 

Bunsen ' '. 

"But  recollect  it  is  not  any  more  than  three  days  before 
I  shall  (D.  V.)  get  married  and  you  have  no  idea  how  I  am 
overwhelmed  with  business  of  every  description ....  Do  come 
here  as  soon  as  the  state  of  your  health  will  allow  you;  if  you 
can,  come  tomorrow  or  Friday  to  breakfast  at  eight  o'clock.  This 
is  the  only  time  I  can  with  certainty  fix  to  meet  you.  Do  come, 
if  you  can.  I  must  see  you  before  I  leave.  Write  how  you  are. 
Much  as  I  rejoice  that  the  Lord  has  graciously  brought  me 
so  far,  yet  I  am  sorry  you  should  just  have  come  in  this  time, 
when  we  can  have  so  little  of  each  other.     Howeyer,  I  trust  we 


158  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 

shall  find  more  time  after  your  and  my  return  to  London;  the 
latter  is  fixed  for  the  twenty-second  of  October,  if  not  before 

this 

"I  hope  you  have  received  my  note  of  introduction  to 
Chevalier  Bunsen  and  send  you  enclosed  some  names  to  whom 
you  may  apply.  My  dear  friend,  once  more,  come  if  you  can 
tomorrow  or  Friday  for  a  parting  hour.  The  Lord  be  with  you 
and  restore  you  speedily  to  health  and  strength.  My  sister 
unites  in  kindest  regards  and  I  am 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

Louis  Cappel. " 

"I  have  just  heard  from  L 'Ashley  that  you  are  here  and 
therefore  lose  no  moment  to  enclose  you  the  letter  sent  to  me 
the  other  day  for  you.  Pray  come  and  breakfast  with  us  on 
Thursday  next,  twenty-second,  at  ten.  We  go  to  Fulham  on 
that  day. 

Ever  yours  faithfully, 

Bunsen." 

**Sir,  Though  it  will  not,  I  fear,  be  in  my  power  to  render 
you  any  assistance,  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  see  you  on  Saturday 
next  at  half  past  eleven. 

Yours  sincerely 

Stanley." 
"In  the  absence  of  my  father  I  opened  your  note  and  exceed- 
ingly regret  that  the  unfortunate  misunderstanding  should  have 
taken  place.  We  have  not  received  any  letter  from  your  good  self 
and  no  doubt  you  will  get  your  letters  back  on  application  at 
the  dead  letter  office.  My  father  will  not  be  here  all  this  week 
nor  probably  before  Thursday  next.  However,  I  shall  be  most 
happy  to  see  you  here  on  Friday  or  Saturday  or  any  day  after. 
I  shall  not  be  here  on  Thursday  or  tomorrow,  being  compelled 
to  go  out  of  town  on  urgent  business.  I  shall  be  glad  to  show  you 
anything  worth  while  seeing  here  and  in  Leeds  or  the  neighbor- 
hood. Request  that  you  will  drop  me  a  line  saying  when  I  may 
expect  the  pleasure  of  your  company. 

Yours  truly, 
Philip  Passavant." 
What  impressions  and  what  profitable  lessons  Mr.  Passavant 
carried  away  from  the  Alliance,  we  cannot  now  tell,  as  there 
are  no  letters  at  hand.  But  we  do  know  that  during  those  two 
momentous  weeks  he  was  himself  going  through  an  unconscious 
transformation.    He  had  a  special  gift  for  studying  and  under- 


ABROAD.  159 

standing  men  and  movements.  How  his  alert  and  practical  mind 
must  have  scrutinized  those  men !  There  he  came  in  contact 
with  the  leaders  of  Protestantism  in  its  various  forms.  There 
he  saw  and  heard  and  conversed  with  such  great  teachers,  organ- 
izers and  workers  as  Tholuck,  Pestalozzi,  F.  W.  Krummacher, 
Baron  Bunsen,  C.  Cappel,  C.  Koch  of  Germany;  Monod  of 
France;  Buchanan  of  Scotland;  and  Bickersteth,  Wardlaw,  A. 
P.  Stanley  and  John  Angel  James  of  England  and  many  others. 
Such  men  could  not  but  greatly  enlarge  the  horizon,  sharpen 
the  judgment  and  quicken  the  enthusiasm  of  a  young  man  not 
yet  twenty-five  years  old  and  hungry  for  knowledge  and  di- 
rection. Here  he  saw  the  difficulties  that  are  a  part  of  an 
indefinite  and  inconsistent  faith.  He  saw  the  danger  of 
liberalism.  He  saw  the  struggle  after  a  foundation  on  which  all 
could  stand.  He  saw  that  at  best  such  a  foundation  must  have 
its  gaps,  its  weak  places  and  its  danger  points.  Here  is  an  ex- 
tract from  a  characteristic  letter  that  his  mother  wrote  to  him 
in  London : 

"The  great  London  excitement  is  now  over  and  you  are 
able  to  judge  whether  the  much  talked  of  Convention  was  really 
worth  drawing  so  many  hundreds  of  men  from  the  endearments 
of  home  and  their  allotted  spheres  of  usefulness.  "Whether  after 
all  these  fine  speeches  in  Exeter  Hall   (which  the  half  of  the 
audience  probably  could  not  hear)  the  world  will  go  on  more 
lovingly  than  before?  I  expect  that  the  public  papers,  both  re- 
ligious and  secular,  will  give  us  quite  a  sufficiency  of  reports 
on  the  subject,  so  that  you  need  not  fill  your  letters  with  the 
'resolutions'  or  'speeches'  of  even  the  most  eloquent.     To  hear 
about  your  health  and  whatever  concerns  you  personally  will 
be  infinitely  more  satisfactory  to  us.     One  good  effect,  I  hope, 
that  vast  assemblage  of  distinguished  and  learned  men  will  have 
produced  on  your  mind.     It  has  been  your  lot  of  late  years, 
dear  "William,  to  be  placed  in  situations  peculiarly  calculated  to 
increase  your  self-importance.    Flattered  by  men  who  happened 
to  need  your  services;  successful  in  a  congregation  more  able  to 
appreciate   kindness  of   heart   and  zeal  than   learning,   finally 
called  to  Pittsburg  where  your  youth  and  the  standing  of  your 
family  certainly  had  a  share  in  the  very  outset  in  interesting 
the  public  for  you,  it  were  no  wonder  if  your  popularity  had  at 
times  made  you  think  'more  highly  of  yourself  than  you  ought 
to   think,   particularly   when   you   compare   yourself   with   the 
members  of  your  own  Synod.    But  in  London  there  were  stand- 
ards of  comparison  to  recall  humility.   They  must  have  made 


160  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

you  feel  your  inferiority  in  knowledge,  in  application,  in  nat- 
ural gifts,  whatever  faith  and  zeal  you  might  have  in  common. 
Cherish  these  impressions,  dear  son,  they  will  be  equally  useful 
to  your  own  soul,  and  to  the  favor  you  are  to  obtain  in  a  country 
where  modesty  is  considered  one  of  the  greatest  charms  of 
youth,  and  the  sure  companion  of  merit.  Let  all  you  have  done 
so  far  in  your  ministerial  career  be  in  a  manner  forgotten  in 
your  conversation  and  improve  your  present  opportunities  in 
seizing  the  various  kinds  of  knowledge  that  will  be  present  on 
all  sides.  Open  your  eyes  wide  to  the  new  scenes  you  will  be- 
hold and  cull  all  the  rational  enjoyment  which  will  doubtless 
have  an  exhilarating  influence  on  your  health  and  be  a  source 
of  delightful  retrospect." 

This  meeting  of  the  Evangelical  Alliance  adopted  and  re- 
commended the  program  for  the  Week  of  Prayer.  It  also 
arranged  for  branch  alliances  in  the  various  countries  of  the 
continent  as  well  as  the  United  States.  Great  hopes  were 
entertained  for  this  union  movement  against  Puseyism  and 
Romanism.  The  young,  sanguine  and  optimistic  Mr.  Passavant 
had  also  entertained  the  brightest  anticipations.  But  before 
it  was  all  over,  he  saw  some  of  the  difficulties  and  before  he 
left  Europe  he  had  his  serious  doubts  about  the  feasibility  of 
the  whole  movement.  Before  many  years,  he  saw  that  it  was 
only  one  more  6t  the  many  futile  attempts  that  had  been  made 
to  bring  about  outward  harmony  where  there  are  serious  differ- 
ences of  conviction  on  the  question  ' '  What  is  truth  ? ' ' 

At  this  distance,  we  can  safely  say  that  the  Evangelical 
Alliance  movement  has  been  a  disappointment  to  its  best  friends 
and  its  most  ardent  promoters. 

Of  a  meeting  held  in  Berlin  a  few  years  after  the  London 
convention,  Mr.  Kurtz,  the  church  historian,  says: 

'The  Alliance  presented  an  address  to  King  Frederick 
William  IV.  in  which  it  was  said  that  they  aimed  a  blow  not 
only  against  the  Sadduceeism,  but  also  against  the  Pharisaism 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Church.  The  confessional  Lutherans 
who  had  opposed  the  Alliance  regarded  this  letter  as  directed 

against  them Though  many  distinguished  conf essionalists 

were  members  of  the  Alliance  none  of  them  put  in  an  appear- 
ance. On  the  other  hand,  numerous  representatives  of  pietism, 
unionism,  Melanchthonianism,  as  well  as  Baptists,  Methodists 
and  Moravians  crowded  in  from  all  parts  and  were  supported 
by  the  leading  liberals  of  the  church  and  state.  While  there 
was  still  talk  about  the  oneness  amid  the  differences  of  the 


ABROAD.  161 

children  of  God,  about  the  superiority  of  this  Alliance  over  the 
ecumenical  councils  in  the  ancient  church,  about  the  want  of 
the  spiritual  life  in  the  church  even  where  the  theology  of  the 
confessions  was  professed;  with  denunciations  of  half-Catholic 
Lutheranism  and  its  sacramentarianism  and  officialism  and  with 
many  a  true  and  admirable  statement  of  what  the  church  needs, 
Merle  d'Aubigne  introduced  discord  by  the  hearty  welcome 
which  he  accorded  his  friend  Bunsen,  which  was  intensified  by 
the  passionate  manner  in  which  Krummacher  reported  upon  it. 
The  gracious  royal  reception  of  the  members  of  the  Alliance 
which  Krummacher  expressed  with  his  excitable  feelings  in  the 
words  'Your  Majesty,  we  would  all  fall  not  at  your  feet  but 
on  your  neck'  was  described  by  his  brother  Dr.  F.  W.  Krum- 
macher as  a  tangible  prelude  to  the  solemn  scenes  of  the  last 
judgment.  Sir  Culling  Yardley  declared  'There  is  no  more 
North  Sea'.  Lord  Shaftesbury  said  that  with  the  Berlin 
Assembly  a  new  era  had  begun  in  the  world's  history.  Others 
extolled  it  as  second  Pentecost." 


162  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 


CHAFER  VIII. 

HOME    AGAIN,    CONTKOVERSY    AND    BEGINNING    OF 

CHARITY  WORK. 

After  a  tedious  journey  on  a  sail  ship  which  encountered 
much  stormy  weather,  the  impatient  traveler  landed  at  last  on 
his  native  shore.  No  time  was  lost  in  getting  to  Pittsburg.  Never 
was  a  returning  one  more  eagerly  awaited  or  more  warmly 
welcomed.  He  came  with  renewed  vigor,  life  and  enthusiasm. 
Public  receptions  were  held  by  citizens,  by  neighboring  churches 
and  by  his  own  people.  Addresses  of  welcome  were  made  by  men 
prominent  on  the  platform,  at  the  bar  and  in  the  pulpit.  At 
the  reception  given  by  his  own  people,  the  following  hymn, 
composed  for  the  occasion  by  one  of  his  members,  was  sung : 

"Glad  we  are  again  to   meet  thee; 
Shepherd,  Pastor,   thou  art  come; 
And  with  joyful  hearts  we  greet  thee, 
With  a  happy  welcome  home. 
Days  of  absence  ne'er  can  sever 
Friendship's  ties  of  purity; 
Warm  affections  strong  as  ever 
Still  unite  us  all  to  thee. 

God   hath  kept  thee  when  in  dangers, 
Crossing  o'er  the  mighty  sea; 
Traveling  in   a  land   of  strangers, 
His  strong  arm  protected  thee. 
When  we  heard  of  vessels  driven 
By  the  sea 's  tempestuous  wave, 
Then  our  prayers  went  tip  to  heaven. 
That  our  pastor,  God  would  save. 

Father,  may  Thy  richest  blessing 

Still  upon  Thy  servant  rest; 

While  on  earth  Thy  love  possessing, 

May  his  labors  still  be  blessed. 

When  at  length  his  days  be  ended, 

May   his  happy   spirit   rise, 

Where  the  saints  have  now  ascended. 

To  their  mansions  in  the  skies. 


HOME   AGAIN.  163 

May   Thy   care   and   kind   protection 

Make  us  truly  grateful,  Lord; 

And  may  all  in  sweet  subjection, 

Bow  submissive  at  Thy  word. 

Thus  when  each  his  course  hath  finished, 

May  we  reach  that  blissful  shore; 

There  with  pleasure  undiminished, 

We  shall  meet  to  part  no  more. ' ' 

Of  the  new  beginning  of  the  home  life,  we  shall  let  Mrs. 
Passavant  speak. 

"The  traveler  was  at  last  again  in  the  midst  of  his  beloved 
family  and  people.  Great  was  the  joy  at  his  improved  health. 
With  renewed  vigor  the  work  of  the  church  was  taken  up.  Being 
of  an  observant  mind,  much  rich  knowledge  had  been  gained 
on  various  subjects  by  his  trip,  which  was  used  in  the  future 
years  of  Tiis  life  in  many  situations  in  which  Providence  placed 
him 

"An  unlooked-for  shadow  came  over  our  bright  home  and 
in  five  never-to-be  forgotten  days,  the  sun  was  darkened  towards 
the  parents  and  our  baby  was  taken.  The  bud  had  unfolded 
in  all  its  perfect  beauty  and  purity  in  the  garden  of  our  Lord. 
Who  can  tell  the  anguish  of  that  father  and  mother?  Only 
those  who  have  felt  the  same  sorrow  can  know  its  depths.  It 
was  God's  will  and  so  all  these  servants  of  the  Master  could  do 
was  to  listen  to  that  sweet  voice  which  said  'It  is  I,  be  not 
afraid.  I  loaned  him  to  you  eighteen  months.  Now  he  is  my 
child' 

"In  1847  another  child  was  given  to  his  home,  a  healthy 
babe.  This  in  a  measure  made  up  the  loss  and  was  the  cause 
of  great  joy. 

"Some  time  after  this  event,  the  pastor  moved  his  family 
from  the  center  of  the  city,  quite  out  into  the  suburbs.  The 
streets  were  not  paved  nor  were  here  any  paved  side-walks,  it 
was  very  much  like  living  in  the  country.  In  this  neighborhood 
in  several  houses  within  sight  of  each  othei,  our  family  lived 
for  fifty  years.  In  one  of  these  houses,  two  children,  a  daughter 
and  a  son  were  born." 

And  so  the  work  in  his  congregation,  in  the  various  missions 
and  in  his  Synod  was  taken  up  again  with  renewed  zeal  and 
energy. 

Though  his  brave  people  had  done  their  best  to  keep  the 
church  together  and  to  keep  the  missions  going,  without  his 


164  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

able  and  inspiring  leadership,  much  had  gone  wrong.  The 
finances  of  the  church  were  in  bad  condition.  Well-meaning 
and  zealous  women  had  resorted  to  means  and  methods  of  rais- 
ing money  of  which  he  did  not  approve.  With  delicate  tact 
and  great  personal  effort  he  went  about  to  restore  order,  con- 
fidence and  hope.  Weak  and  careless  members  had  drifted 
away  and  needed  to  be  admonished,  drawn  and  reclaimed.  The 
always  dangerous  expedient  of  having  teachers  of  different 
faiths  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  Sunday  school  had  born  its 
natural  fruit.  Those  who  were  not  intelligently  established  in 
the  faith  of  their  own  church  were  easily  persuaded  that  one 
church  is  as  good  as  another  and  became  an  easy  prey  to  the 
blandishments  of  the  nearest  congregation.  As  we  have  seen, 
the  pastor's  conviction  of  the  scripturalness  of  the  faith  and 
practice  of  the  Lutheran  church  had  been  clarified  and  strength- 
ened. He  saw  more  and  more  clearly  the  weakness  and  danger 
of  the  laxity  and  liberality  that  prevailed  in  so  large  a  part  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  done  with  anxious- 
bench-revivals.  He  had  to  see  and  reap  the  fruits  of  his  own 
mixed  sowing. 

The  condition  in  the  various  missions  was  even  worse  than 
in  the  mother  church.  Largely  depending  for  service  and  Sun- 
day school  workers  on  the  good  people  of  other  denominations, 
the  work  had  been  spasmodic  and  changeable.  Several  of  the 
missions  he  found  closed  up  and  for  the  time  abandoned.  He 
was  needed  in  a  score  of  places  every  day.  With  his  renewed 
strength,  he  was  at  it  early  and  late,  in  his  own  church,  in  the 
missions,  on  the  streets  and  among  people  wherever  he  could 
find  them.  It  was  a  heavy,  laborious  campaign  of  regathering, 
restoring,  reorganizing  and  reviving  the  workers  and  the  work. 

All  this  city  missionary  work  would  have  been  enough  to 
discourage  any  ordinary  man.  But  this  was  by  no  means  all. 
In  the  Synod  also  much  had  gone  wrong.  In  those  difficult 
days,  theological  training  was  weak  and  diversified.  Some 
came  from  under  the  loose  and  indefinite  teaching  of  Dr. 
Schmucker;  others  from  semi-rationalistic  schools  of  Germany, 
and  still  others  from  such  non-confessional  schools  as  Crischona 
and  Basel.  Mr.  Passavant  had  himself  advocated  the  latter  as 
a  fitting  institution  from  which  to  draw  the  needed  German 
ministers. 

There  were  not  wanting  still  other  varieties  of  ministers. 
There  were  some  of  positively  immoral  character  and  others 


HOME   AGAIN.  165 

who  were  merely  adventurers.  Most  of  these  had  come  to  the 
end  of  their  line  in  Germany  and  sought  places  to  preach  in 
a  free  church  in  a  free  land.  "Put  me  in  the  priest's  office  that 
I  may  have  a  piece  of  bread,"  was  their  plea.  Because  of  the 
scarcity  of  ministers  the  doors  of  the  Synod  and  of  the  church 
were  not  so  carefully  guarded  as  they  should  have  been.  The 
natural  fruits  were  division,  defection,  and  disruption. 

To  Passavant  came  the  cries  and  wails  of  the  poor  people 
and  of  the  pastors  whose  righteous  souls  were  vexed  with  the 
disturbers  of  Zion.  The  correspondence  became  more  and  more 
voluminous  and  difficult,  the  journeyings  more  oft,  the  perils 
from  exposure  and  bitter  opposition  greater. 

The  whole  Lutheran  Church  was  at  this  time  in  an  un- 
settled and  agitated  condition.  At  Gettysburg,  Dr.  Schmucker 
was  not  only  indefinite  in  his  doctrinal  teachings  but  was  be- 
coming more  and  more  hostile  to  positive  Lutheranism.  The 
Observer  was  on  the  same  platform.  It  was  constantly  advo- 
cating a  union  of  the  Lutherans  with  other  Protestant  denom- 
inations. Its  columns  were  filled  with  reports  and  laudations 
of  the  wildest  revivals.  The  specific  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran 
confessions  were  boldly  attacked  and  openly  repudiated. 

A  few  years  previous  to  this,  the  Rev.  F.  C.  D.  Wyneken, 
then  a  member  of  the  General  Synod,  had  taken  a  trip  to  Ger- 
many and  had  there  disseminated  a  description  of  the  real  con- 
dition of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States.  For  this 
he  was  called  to  account  by  the  General  Synod  and  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  prepare  aif  address  to  the  various  ecclesiastical 
bodies  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Europe  which  was  to  set 
forth  the  condition  of  the  church  in  the  United  States  and  was 
intended  to  remove  the  impressions  that  Mr.  Wyneken  had  made 
abroad.  When  this  committee  was  appointed,  Mr.  Wyneken 
offered  this  resolution : 

"Resolved,  that  the  writings  of  Rev.  Drs.  Schmucker  and 
B.  Kurtz  as  well  as  a  volume  of  the  Lutheran  Observer  and  of 
the  Hirtenstimme  and  other  books  and  papers  in  which  the 
doctrine  and  practice  of  the  General  Synod  are  set  forth,  be  sent 
to  Dr.  Rudelbach,  Prof.  Harless  and  other  editors  of  promin- 
ent Lutheran  journals  for  examination,  so  that  the  orthodoxy 
of  the  General  Synod  may  be  demonstrated  to  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  Germany." 

This  resolution  was  promptly  laid  on  the  table  but  Mr. 
Wyneken  immediately  offered  the  following: 


166  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

"Resolved  that  the  General  Synod  hereby  disavow  and 
reject  the  afore-mentioned  writings  of  Drs.  Schmucker  and 
Kurtz,  as  well  as  the  Lutheran  Observer  and  Hirtenstimme  as 
heretical  and  as  departing  from  the  saving  faith."  This  reso- 
lution was  not  entertained  and  therefore  not  acted  on. 

The  afore-named  address  was  prepared  and  sent  to  Ger- 
many. Its  effect,  however,  was  contrary  to  what  was  expected. 
It  plainly  expressed  anti-Lutheran  sentiments.  Even  those  in 
Germany  who  were  not  Lutherans  could  not  understand  how 
men  professing  the  sentiments  expressed  in  the  address  could 
call  themselves  by  that  name.  And  of  course  the  confessional 
Lutherans  would  not  for  a  moment  allow  that  the  sentiments 
of  the  address  were  orthodox. 

Dr.  W.  M.  Reynolds,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College  and 
professor  in  Pennsylvania  college  at  Gettysburg,  was  at  this  time 
the  recognized  leader  of  the  conservative  Lutherans  in  the 
General  Synod.     Of  the  Observer  he  writes  to  Passavant : 

"I  have  for  a  long  time  written  in  its  columns  because  I 
did  not  want  to  lose  my  rights  and  also  to  indicate  that  there 
really  was  a  feeling  in  the  church  which  the  Observer  did  not 
represent.     I  also  still  hoped  against  hope  that  there  would  be 

a  change  for  the  better.     But  now  I  have  lost  all  hope 

I  do  not  know  whether  you  require  any  additional  information 
as  to  the  state  of  feeling  among  our  intelligent  church  members 
in  regard  to  the  Observer,  but  here  is  one  that  surprised  me  last 
night  as  coming  from  Chambersburg,  where  Dr.  Kurtz  has  en- 
joyed the  highest  popularity,  and  nvhere  'new  rafeasures'  have 
been  supposed  to  have  attained  their  perfection.  I  know  the 
writer,  Dr.  Lane,®  only  by  reputation.  He  says:  'I  have  long 
desired  to  see  some  able  and  dignified  exponent  of  the  doctrines 
of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  am  much  gratified  to  see  you  thus 
employed.     The  Observer,  I  am  sorry  to  say  comes  far  short  of 

either  ability  or  dignity This  'anxious  bench'  system 

has  in  my  humble  opinion,  done  more  to  retard  the  progress  of 
vital  piety,  and  to  lower  the  dignity  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
than  anything  that  could  have  been  contrived." 

On  the  same  subject  the  young  Charles  P.  Krauth  writes  to 
B.  M.  Schmucker: 

"Is  not  the  Observer  of  this  week  infamous?  I  do  declare 
before  God  that  were  I  satisfied  that  such  sentiments  and  such 


*     This   Dr.   Lane    was    a   brother  of  Thomas  H.  Lane,  the  intelligent 
and  well-knovATi  layman  in  the  Pittsburg  Church,  quoted  above. 


HOME   AGAIN.  167 

a  spirit  did  characterize  our  American  Lutheran  Church  and 
were  continuing  to  be  the  prevailing  tone  in  it,  I  would  repudi- 
ate it;  I  would  hold  to  our  Germanic  brethren  or  abandon  the 
ministry.  It  is  not  so  much  the  mere  opinion  involved,  how- 
ever erroneous,  as  the  diabolical,  sneaking,  lying  spirit  shown 
in  the  attack  on  truth,  and  there  is  no  opening  to  defend  the 
truth." 

This  B.  M.  Schmucker  was  a  son  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker. 
He  was  a  neighbor  and  a  warm  friend  of  young  Krauth. 
Joseph  Seiss  was  of  about  the  same  age  and  an  intimate  friend 
of  both.  This  gifted  and  promising  trio  of  young  Lutherans 
frequently  came  together  and  also  carried  on  familiar  corres- 
pondence. Krauth  was  the  leader.  He  had  conceived  quite  an 
interest  in  the  Lutheran  confessions  and  in  the  old  dogmati- 
cians.  Through  his  father  he  secured  copies  of  Chemnitz,  Ger- 
hard, Calovius  and  Schmidt.  These  were  circulated  and  dis- 
cussed among  the  three.  The  more  these  young  ministers 
studied  these  writings,  the  more  firmly  were  they  convinced 
that  the  old  Lutheran  faith  is  the  faith  taught  in  the  Scriptures ; 
and  that  the  theology  of  Gettysburg  and  of  the  Observer  was 
without  either  scriptural  or  confessional  foundation. 

Mr.  Passavant  who  was  about  the  same  age  and  on  familiar 
terms  with  these  three,  but  especially  with  Krauth,  was  also 
becoming  more  and  more  dissatisfied  with  his  own  former  un- 
clear position,  and  with  the  indefinite  and  wavering  tone  that 
prevailed  so  largely  among  the  English  Lutherans.  He  was 
slowly  coming  out  of  his  former  uncertainty  and  was  gaining 
a  footing  for  himself.  His  contact  with  positive  Lutherans  in 
Germany  and  their  repudiation  of  the  loose  Lutheranism  in 
our  land  had  made  him  think  and  investigate.  His  parents, 
but  especially  his  mother,  had  also  a  decided  influence  in  this 
direction.  After  his  return  to  Pittsburg,  he  corresponded  with 
Drs.  Spielman  and  Lehman  of  Columbus  who  kindly  helped 
him  to  become  more  and  more  clear.  His  old  friend,  Dr.  Morris, 
as  well  as  Prof.  Reynolds,  also  aided  him.  But  the  impressions 
and  influences  of  former  years  could  not  be  overcome  in  a  day. 
In  later  years,  it  was  a  frequent  remark  that  it  is  much  harder 
to  unlearn  than  to  learn,  and  a  constant  lament  that  he  had 
been  started  in  the  wrong  direction.  That  he  did  not  progress 
rapidly  enough  to  suit  some  of  the  conservatives  is  evident  from 
a  letter  from  Prof.  Reynolds,  who  writes: 

'*You  and  brother  Bassler  speak  too  much  in  the  tone  of 


168  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

men  who  are  under  the  weather.  What  does  it  matter  if  you 
are  'old  Lutherans'  as  Luther  was?  Do  you  think  that  that  can 
be  made  a  crime  in  our  church  in  this  country?  Far  from  it. 
The  very  principles  of  latitudinarianism  that  are  in  vo^e  must 
shield  you.  If  others  have  a  right  to  reject  Luther's  views  or 
those  of  the  Symbolical  Books,  you  have  the  same  right  to  re- 
ceive them,  and  who  dare  gainsay  it?  It  may  be  a  nine  days' 
wonder  and  some  may  talk  of  heresy,  but  that  cannot  last." 

During  his  seminary  course,  when  a  revival  was  in  progress, 
he  had  spoken  slightingly  of  Prof.  Reynolds,  "who  spoke  to 
the  mourners  as  if  he  were  instructing  a  class  in  college ; ' '  but 
now  he  was  glad  to  get  the  professor's  counsels  and  assistance. 
The  Pittsburg  Synod  had  not  yet  united  with  the  General  Synod 
and  there  were  some  who  were  constantly  urging  the  union.  Mr. 
Passavant  was  not  satisfied  that  this  would  be .  for  the  best. 
He  wrote  to  Prof.  Reynolds  for  advice,  who  replied : 

"As  to  the  union  of  your  Synod  with  the  General  Synod, 
I  am  pleased  with  your  determination  to  do  the  work  deliberate- 
ly and  intelligently.  It  may  alsQ  be  well  to  'define  your  posi- 
tion.' But  I  know  of  nothing  in  the  doings  of  the  General 
Synod  that  should  prevent  you  from  joining  it.  The  constitu- 
tion is  the  great  point.  There  you  can  find  nothing  anti-Luth- 
eran, however  un-Lutheran  it  may  be.  Its  sins  are  not  those 
of  commission  but  of  omission,  but  there  is  nothing  in  it  to 
prevent  the  Synods  connected  with  it  from  being  as  strongly 
Lutheran  as  they  please.  And  this  I  think  was  not  only  neces- 
sary in  the  first  instance  but  it  is  well  even  now.  We  want  a 
little  more  pliability  in  our  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country 
than  there  is  in  the  Formula  of  Concord.  Undoubtedly,  how- 
ever, this  matter  has  been  pushed  rather  too  far.  Drs.  Schmuck- 
er  and  Kurtz  have  made  out  a  Lutheranism  that  is  almost  any- 
thing and  everything.  Still  there  is  more  of  a  Lutheran  Church 
left  among  us  than  there  is  in  most  parts  of  Germany  and  the 
corrective  may  not  be  so  difficult.  A  different  public  opinion 
and  system  of  theology  from  that  hitherto  presented  must  be 
called  forth  and  presented  to  our  church.  One  very  obvious 
step  in  this  way  will  be  that  which  you  suggest  for  your  Synod. 
Let  it  adopt  the  Constitution  of  the  General  Synod  and  send  its 
delegates,  but  at  the  same  time  declare  that  it  does  not  by  this 
approve  of  all  the  public  acts  of  that  body,  of  the  system  of 
theology  drawn  up  by  Dr.  Schmucker  at  its  request  and  taught 
in  its  seminary,  nor  of  the  spirit,  policy,  or  theology  of  its 


HOME   AGAIN.  169 

professed  organ,  the  Lutheran  Observer,  wherein  thase  depart 
from  the  great  and  well-established  principles  of  Lutheranism 
and  from  the  general  views  and  practice  of  the  great  mass  of 
our  church  in  this  country.  Such  a  declaration  as  this  would 
tell;  at  the  same  time,  however,  you  must  be  careful  not  to  go 
too  far  on  the  other  side.  Let  us  here  occupy  Melanchthonian 
ground.  Let  us  not  put  upon  ourselves  a  yoke  which  we  may 
■not  be  able  to  bear,  as  our  fathers  before  us  were  not.  Let  us 
allow  a  certain  latitude  upon  certain  subjects.  Let  us  pay  great 
respect  to  our  symbolical  system,  but  let  us  not  insist  upon  the 
reception  of  every  jot  and  tittle  of  it.  Even  if  it  were  wise  to 
act  otherwise,  we  could  not  now  do  it,  so  far  at  least  as  our 
English  churches  are  concerned.  They  scarcely  know  of  any 
other  system  of  Lutheran  doctrine  and  practice  than  that  which 
Drs.  Schmucker  and  Kurtz  have  given  them.  They  must  first 
know  what  it  is  that  they  are  to  receive  before  it  is  forced  upon 
them.  For  this  purpose,  I  consider  your  publication  of  Sar- 
torius  just  in  point.  But  it  must  be  followed  by  a  new  body 
of  English  Lutheran  theology  which  I  have  no  doubt  the  wants 
of  the  church  will  gradually  call  forth.  !■  have  much  to  say  on 
this  topic  but  have  not  room  for  it  here." 

In  another  letter  he  writes : 

''My  own  views  and  feelings  are  against  agitating  the 
church  just  now  with  the  doctrinal  defection  of  Drs.  Schmucker 
and  Kurtz.  We  can  gain  much  more  by  keeping  quiet  and  dis- 
cussing these  things  in  private.  I  have  even  hopes  that  Dr. 
Kurtz  may  be  won  over  to  correct  views  and  Dr.  Schmucker 
will  always  go  with  the  majority.  But  to  bring  these  topics 
before  the  section  of  the  church  now  would  be  premature.  It  is 
not  at  all  prepared  for  it,  has  no  light  upon  the  subject  and 
cannot  have  it  for  some  time  to  come.  Wait  until  your  edition 
of  Sartorius  has  been  published  and  has  had  time  to  operate. 
That  I  hope  to  see  followed  up  by  Schmid's  Dogmatik,  in  the 
translation  of  which  Drs.  Morris,  Krauth,  Prof.  Baugher,  Chas. 
Krauth,  Jr.  and  myself  are  now  busily  engaged  (but  this  is  a 
profound  secret  about  which  you  must  not  breathe  a  syllable, 
even  to  the  gentlemen  mentioned).  This  work  is  the  most  scien- 
tific and  the  latesc  exhibition  of  the  original  and  unadulterated 
doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Wait  until  these  and  other 
things  of  a  similar  kind  bear  fruit,  and  then  we  may  venture 
into  the  field  of  public  discussion  with  some  hope  of  success. ' ' 

Dr.  Morris  writes:  "I  hope  your  Synod  will  continue  to 


170  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

pursue  its  course  of  energy  and  zeal  in  the  missionary  cause. 
That  is  the  great  business  of  the  day.  There  is  another  matter : 
I  hope  that  you  will  let  the  church  see  that  though  you  have 
become  more  orthodox  and  *  Lutheranish, '  yet  that  you  will  not 
abate  your  activity  in  every  good  work.  Some  of  these  men 
are  absolutely  insane  or  unpardonably  ignorant.  They  think 
that  in  proportion  as  a  man  approximates  nearer  the  old  stand- 
ards, the  more  he  deflects  from  Evangelical  spiritualism.  Do 
these  men  know  the  history  of  Francke  and  Spener  and  the 
other  men  of  Issachar?  Oh  that  such  revivals  were  now  preva- 
lent as  favored  the  church  in  those  days  of  church  orthodoxy. 
You  and  your  confreres  must  show  the  daughters  of  Mrs. 
Grundy  that  the  true  spirit  of  true  revivalism  must  go  with  the 
true  spirit  of  true  Bibleism. " 

Some  German  Reformed  visitor  had  attended  the  session  of 
the  Pittsburg  Synod  at  which  union  with  the  General  Synod  was 
discussed.  He  wrote  a  distorted  account  to  the  Reformed 
■Church  Messenger,  which  represented  Mr,  Pas.savant  and  Mr. 
Bassler  as  bitter  and  unfair  opponents  of  the  General  Synod. 
He  signed  himself  "Anglo-German."  This  article  raised  a 
storm  against  Mr.  Passavant  and  he  was  deluged  with  letters, 
some  of  which  were  full  of  invective  and  abuse.  When  he  saw 
the  article  in  the  Messenger,  he  wrote  a  correction  which  set 
forth  the  true  status  of  the  affair  as  well  as  his  own  position 
in  the  burning  questions.  This  correction  had  a  pacifying  effect 
on  the  agitated  brethren. 

Here  is  a  characteristic  letter  from  Rev.  Reuben  Weiser, 
who  also  changed  his  views  in  after  years  and  became  a  con- 
servative Lutheran.  It  gives  us  a  lively  picture  of  the  unsettled 
and  disturbed  condition  of  the  church  at  the  time. 

"Selins  Grove,  Pa.,  January  17,  1848. 
To  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Passavant.  My  dear  and  beloved  brother  in 
Christ:— 
*'I  have  just  received  the  German  Reformed  Messenger  and 
read  your  remarks  on  'Anglo-German'  and  to  tell  you  that  an 
Sce-berg  has  been  removed  from  my  heart  is  only  giving  you  a 
faint  idea  of  the  sensations  it  produced  in  my  mind.  When 
I  read  Anglo-German's  account  of  your  Synod,  and  saw  the 
language  (as  I  then  supposed)  of  yourself  and  Br.  Bassler,  I 
was  surprised,  astonished,  yea  amazed  and  even  astounded.  I 
feel  a  deep  interest,  perhaps  as  much  as  any  other  man,  in  the 
spiritual  prosperity  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  I  have  labored 


HOME   AGAIN.  171 

hard  to  promote  her  welfare,  and  I  have  looked  upon  you  as 
one  of  her  spiritual  champions  and  as  one  who  was  assisting  us 
in  faithfully  laboring  for  her  good ;  and  when  I  read  that  sland- 
erous production,  my  heart  sank  within  me,  yea  it  became  as 
water.    What,  thinks  I,  has  brother  Passavant  also  gone  over  to 
the  enemy?    But  your  remarks  have  relieved  my  anxiety.    You 
are  where  you  always  were,  and  where  every  true  friend  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America,  and  everyone  who  fully  under- 
stands our  true  position  is.    Your  remarks  are  admirable,  just  as 
they  ought  to  be,  and  will  endear  you  more  than  ever  to  your 
Lutheran  brethren.     We  always  loved  you,  but  now  since  your 
supposed  defection,  like  an  erring  child  from  doting  parents, 
and  return,  we  will  love  you  more.     The  object  of  this  letter  is 
not  to  flatter  you,  for  I  don't  do  such  foolish  and  wicked  things, 
but  my  object  is  merely  to  do  you  an  act  of  common  justice,  and 
to  ask  your  pardon  for  any  bad  thought  I  may  have  entertained 
about  you  and  your  Synod,  and  also  for  any  unworthy  and  dis- 
respectful remarks  I  may  have  made  about  you  and  your  sup- 
posed to  me  then  certain  apostasy.     As  you  may  well  imagine, 
your  opposition  at  this  critical  time  to  Gettysburg,  the  General 
Synod  and  to  Drs.  Kurtz  and  Schmucker  produced  quite  a  sen- 
sation among  your  brethren.    In  writing  to  each  other,  of  course 
your  case  occupied  a  prominent  part  of  our  fraternal  letters. 
Well,  of  course  I  did  not  say  anything  bad  about  you,  because, 
thank  God  I  knew  nothing  bad  about  you.    But  perhaps  I  better 
itell  what  I  did  say  about  you :    To  Dr.  Keller  I  said,  so  far  as 
I  now  recollect,  'Well,  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  Passavant's 
strange  conduct;  he  has  left  us  and  gone  over  soul  and  body  to 
the  Dutch.    Well,  let  him  go,  we  niust  try  and  do  without  him. 
I  pity  those  young  brethren  in  the  Pittsburg  Synod  whose  pros- 
pects for  usefulness  are  blasted  forever.'     And  to  Dr.  Morris  I 
said,  'Well  it  seems  as  if  Pass,  has  wheeled  about  and  turned 
about  and  jumped  jim  crow.    If  this  is  to  be  the  result  of  visit- 
ing Germany,  our  young  sprigs  of  theology  better  stay  at  home. ' 
To.  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker  I  said,  'I  had  a  notion  to  go  and  visit 
the  young  brethren  of  your  Synod  and  raise  up  an  opposition 
and  thus  save  those  churches  from  your  Mercersburg  influence. ' 
And  I  had  such  a  notion.    I  wrote  to  Br.  Witt  for  correct  infor- 
mation.   I  have  not  yet  heard  from  him.    Now  for  all  this  and 
anything  else  I  may  have  said  or  written  about  you,  I  ask  your 
pardon  and  I  hope  you  will  write  to  me  and  assure  me  of  it. 
A  few  other  remarks:  I  think  Br.  Stroble's  remarks  are  alto- 


172  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 

gether  uncalled  for  at  this  time,  I  mean  his  remarks  on  Baptism ; 
although  I  do  not  believe  what  is  called  the  old  Lutheran  view; 
yet  I  think  if  any  brother  can  believe  in  baptismal  regeneration, 
in  the  name  of  God  let  him  believe  it.  So  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
Let  brethren  believe  what  they  will  on  that  subject.  I  hope  you 
will  resume  your  editorial  department.  This  will  be  the  best 
way  to  do  good.  Your  location  is  important  by  way  of  getting 
home  missionary  intelligence.  Your  department  was  always  in- 
teresting to  me.     Do,  brother,  resume  your  labors  there." 

In  the  after  years  Mr.  Passavant  thus  refers  to  the  change 
in  the  views  that  had  taken  place  in  many  men  who  had  become 
eminent  in  the  Church.  He  does  not  mention  himself  but  be- 
tween the  lines  we  can  plainly  see  that  he  is  telling  his  own 
experience  also: 

**How  is  it  that  one  and  another  of  our  most  thoughtful 
men,  after  years  of  doubt,  conflict,  and  the  painstaking  study 
of  the  Divine  Word,  are  being  brought  more  and  more  fully 
into  a  perfect  accord  with  our  Evangelical  faith  1  ]\Ien  like  Drs. 
Krauth,  Schmucker,  Jacobs,  and  others  in  former  years,  and  of 
late,  a  great  company  of  devout  and  able  men  in  the  General 
Synod  like  Drs.  Sprecher,  Conrad,  Ziegler,  and  a  score  of  others 
who  regarded  the  divine  testimonies  above  their  chief  joy,  have 
passed  through  the  same  great  mental  struggles,  have  broken 
with  prejudices  and  instructions  of  early  education,  and  are  now 
the  joyful  confessors  of  a  faith  which  they  once  regarded  with 
disfavor,  and  deemed  it  a  sacred  duty  to  reject.  There  was  no 
pressure  from  without  upon  them.  Their  former  position  was 
the  one  of  popularity.  Their  new  position  could  bring  them  only 
suspicion,  the  loss  of  confidence,  and  the  reproaches  of  former 
friends.  In  some  cases  they  were  regarded  as  objects  of  pity, 
as  though  they  had  fallen  into  coldness,  and  formality,  and 
doors  of  honorable  usefulness  in  some  instances  were  closed 
against  them.  But  notwithstanding  all,  the  study  of  the  Divine 
Word  and  of  the  confessions  of  the  church,  drawn  from  and 
based  upon  that  Word,  is  doing  its  silent  and  blessed  work. ' ' 

With  the  church  controversies  referred  to  above,  the  mis- 
representations and  criticisms  heaped  upon  him  from  both  the 
radical  and  the  extreme  confessional  sides,  what  wonder  that 
Passavant 's  heart  sometimes  failed  him.  Just  at  this  critical 
time,  he  had  a  call  from  St.  James'  English  Lutheran  Church, 
New  York  City,  and  in  his  depressed  state  of  mind,  it  seemed  to 
him  like  a  release  from  his  present  burdens.    Like  a  tired  child 


HOME  AGAIN,  173 

he  poured  out  his  heart  to  his  mother.     She  chided  him  gently 
and  gave  him  the  following  advice : 

"I  was  not  a  little  frightened  when  I  heard  of  your  call  to 
New  York.  I  thought  you  had  too  much  practical  sense  to  think 
of  exchanging  your  useful  and  comfortable  situation  for  one 
of  new  and  untried  troubles.  In  fact  Mr.  M.  does  not  hold 
out  a  single  inducement  of  any  weight.  As  for  'influence'  and 
*a  larger  sphere  of  influence',  you  possess  already  one  larger 
than  your  physical  strength  is  able  to  do  justice  to.  The  salary 
of  one  thousand  dollars  in  New  York  is  much  less  than  eight 
hundred  in  Pittsburg.  I  have  no  doubt  also  that  here  like 
there  when  the  debt  is  once  paid  off,  the  minister's  salary  w411 
be  increased,  so  that  besides  all  those  considerations  of  nativity, 
family  and  early  attachments,  which  constitute  so  great  a  part 
of  the  enjoyments  of  our  transitory  life,  all  the  advantages  are 
on  the  side  of  remaining  where  you  are.  I  hope  you  will  give 
Mr.  M.  at  once  a  very  decided  refusal." 

But  he  never  forgot  that  he  was  the  bond  servant  of  Christ. 
We  have  seen  that  from  the  beginning  of  his  Pittsburg  min- 
istry, his  mind  has  been  exercised  as  to  the  church's  duty  to  the 
destitute  and  suffering.  But  he  did  not  yet  have  a  clear  and 
definite  plan  as  to  relief.  One  lesson  that  he  learned  in  London 
was  worth  more  to  him  than  all  the  addresses  and  discussions 
of  the  ^reat  men  gathered  in  Exeter  Hall.  In  his  most  interest- 
ing and  touching  manner,  he  tells  his  own  story : 

"Broken  down  in  health  and  seeking  rest  abroad,  we  had 
spent  weeks  in  visiting  the  great  charities  of  London,  not  with- 
out the  hope  that  such  knowledge  would  be  helpful  in  the 
cherished  plans  for  the  future.  In  the  strange  providence  of 
God,  by  which  the  blind  are  led  by  a  way  they  know  not,  we 
found  ourselves  in  a  part  of  the  city  unknown  before,  and  in 
a  sudden  shower  sought  a  place  of  shelter.  Looking  in  vain 
for  one,  we  came  to  a  modest  building,  with  the  inscription  on 
the  shutter:  'Jewish  Orphan  Asylum'.  To  escape  the  rain,  we 
sought  admission,  and  learned  from  the  venerable  servant  of  the 
house  that  the  children  had  been  sent  to  the  country,  and  that  in 
a  few  days  the  front  building  would  be  torn  down  to  make  a 
suitable  frontage  for  the  new  edifice.  Taking  us  into  the  yard, 
there  stood  a  beautiful  edifice  of  stone,  which  was  to  be  the 
future  house  of  the  orphan.  On  a  shield  in  front  of  the  stately 
building  were  these  words: 


174  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

'JEWISH  ORPHAN  ASYLUM 
Erected  By  Abraham  M.  Lyon,  to  Commemorate  the  Virtues 
Of  His  Deceased  Wife,  Abigail  Lyon. 
'Within  the  Orphan  shall  find  Compassion'.' 

"We  could  not,  if  we  would,  describe  the  emotions  of  that 
hour.  It  was  as  if  the  world  were  passing  like  a  cloud  beneath 
our  feet.  Dreams  of  earth  dissolved  as  the  mists  of  the  morn- 
ing. How  poor  did  all  else  appear  but  truth  and  purity  and 
mercy  in  man.  How  sacred  did  affection  seem,  when  recognized 
and  embalmed  in  loving  thoughts  for  the  fatherless.  How  did 
the  humblest  act  of  helpfulness  to  others,  grow  great  in  the 
clear  vision  of  that  memorable  hour.  The  soul  conflict  which 
followed  cannot  here  be  recorded.  But  out  of  it  came  a  holy 
purpose  to  begin  some  humble  service  for  Christ  in  the  person 
of  his  suffering  ones.  The  sacred  name  of  mother  connected 
itself  with  this  work.  It  should  be  a  memorial  to  her,  who  ever 
went  before,  pressing  down  the  briers  and  the  thorns,  that 
others  might  safely  walk  through  the  desolate  places  of  life. 

"How  to  begin,  sight  did  not  behold  nor  sense  grasp. 
Money  and  influence  there  was  none.  But  a  walk,  instead  of  a 
ride  to  our  distant  lodging  saved  a  shilling,  and  to  that  wa? 
added,  the  next  day,  the  savings  by  a  plainer  meal.  And  so 
the  work  went  on,  until  the  accumulations  of  months  became 
a  purse  of  gold,  and  the  purpose  developed  into  a  plan,  and  out 
of  it  there  came  a  little  hospital  with  beds  for  a  few  sick 
persons.  And  out  of  this,  in  turn,  there  grew  a  home  for  the 
fatherless,  with  hospitals  and  homes  in  other  places,  until,  each 
new  year  beholds  similar  institutions  springing  up  and  shed- 
ding the  fragrance  of  their  charity  over  the  land.  Compared 
with  the  princely  foundations  of  some  of  these,  the  first  be- 
ginnings hardly  deserve  a  mention,  but  they  have  done  what 
they  could,  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  their  unobtrusive 
work  may  have  provoked  others  to  do  much  greater  things  in 
Christ's  name.  We  allude  to  them,  only  to  trace  back  the 
spring  to  their  origin  in  illustrating  the  influence  of  such 
memorials  to  the  departed  and  and  in  awakening  thought  and 
leading  to  higher  aims  of  life." 

From  London,  as  we  have  seen,  Mr.  Passavant  had  traveled 
over  Switzerland  and  Germany.  The  one  place  that  attracted 
him  above  all  others  was  the  little  town  of  Kaiserswerth  on  the 
Rhine.  There  he  had  met  that  saintly  man,  Theodore  Fliedner, 
and  studied  his  wonderful  work. 


HOME  AGAIN.  175 

Of  that  memorable  visit  Dr.  Jacobs  says:  "To  him  the  ob- 
jects of  attraction  were  not  those  upon  which  tourists  ordinarily 
linger,  and  which  abide  in  their  memory  for  life;  but  the  chief 
interest  to  him  was  an  investigation  of  the  Christian  life,  as 
it  expresses  itself  in  works  of  mercy  and  in  conferences  for 
edification  among  his  brethren  of  the  faith  in  Germany.  In 
this  humble  village  in  Rhenish  Prussia,  he  visited  the  birth- 
place of  the  Protestant  Deaconess  work,  at  the  time  but  ten 
years  old.  With  him,  we  may  for  a  moment  take  our  station, 
as,  within  that  house,  he  enters  with  youthful  zeal  into  the 
history  of  this  important  movement  as  it  is  unfolded  by  its 
♦founder,  Pastor  Theodore  Fliedner.  We  look  backward  to  the 
establishment  of  the  Female  Diaconate  in  the  Apostolic  Church, 
and  the  references  to  it  in  the  New  Testament;  to  its  extended 
usefulness  in  the  early  centuries,  particularly  in  the  East;  to 
its  gradual  disappearance  as  the  Church  receded  from  its 
Apostolic  simplicity  and  fervor  and  the  hierarchy  grew;  to 
the  perpetuation  of  the  thought  through  a  line  of  witnesses 
in  the  centuries  in  which  it  was  suppressed;  to  the  suggestions 
concerning  its  reestablishment  made  at  the  Reformation;  to 
the  vague  foreshadowing  of  its  reappearance  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  Order  of  Sisters  of  Charity,  founded  by  Vincent  de 
Paul  and  in  the  parish  Deaconesses  among  the  Mennonites  in 
Holland ;  to  the  impulse  afforded  by  the  necessities  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  in  Germany  during  the  Napoleonic  wars, 
and  the  gradual  awakening  of  the  German  mind  to  the  fact 
that  central  and  most  important  as  family  life  is  for  the  act- 
ivities of  Christian  women,  there  are  crises  when  her  services 
are  demanded  also  in  other  spheres;  to  the  appeals  of  Baron 
von  Stein  for  the  establishment  of  an  institution  of  Protestant 
Sisters  of  Mercy;  to  the  zeal  and  example  of  Amelia  Sieveking, 
in  a  cholera  epidemic  at  Hamburg,  and  the  Woman's  Relief 
Association  which  she  founded;  to  the  labors  of  Elizabeth  Fry, 
of  England,  in  her  visits  to  the  prisons  and  to  the  personal 
contact  with  her  work  into  which  Fliedner  had  come  during 
a  visit  to  England  in  behalf  of  his  impoverished  congregation; 
to  the  regular  visitations  to  the  Diisseldorf  prison  which  he 
had  undertaken  m  emulation  of  the  work  of  Miss  Fry;  to  the 
Rhenish  Westphalian  Prison  Association  that  had  sprung  up; 
the  Magdalen  Asylum  opened  in  a  small  building  in  his  garden, 
for  discharged  female  convicts  whom  no  one  else  would  harbor; 
the    school    which    followed    for    neglected    children    and    the 


176  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

demand  for  devoted  women  as  teachers;  th6  expansion  of  pas- 
toral activity  and  the  need  of  woman 's  help  in  hospitals  and  the 
care  of  the  sick  at  home;  and  to  the  practical  application  of 
the  theoretical  principles  of  the  Female  Diaconate,  that 
scholars  had  been  recalling  to  the  action  of  the  church.  All 
these  streams  had  met  at  Kaiserswerth,  to  proceed  thence  as 
a  vast  river  of  blessing  throughout  the  world.  Pastor  Fliedner 
was  rejoicing  that,  from  this  feeble  beginning,  the  work  had 
grown  within  ten  years  to  such  proportion  that  in  his  own  insti- 
tutions, and  similar  institutions  in  Germany  and  England, 
there  were  at  the  time  nearly  one  hundred  deaconesses.  Neither 
he  nor  the  young  man  who  was  to  be  the  agent  to  plant  it  in  , 
another  hemisphere  could  have  anticipated  that  before  the 
century  would  close,  over  thirteen  thousand  would  be  enrolled 
in  its  ranks." 

Here  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  the  daughter  of 
Theodore  Fliedner  written  to  W.  A.  Passavant,  Jr.  on  receiving 
notice  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Passavant : 

"Your  sainted  father  still  appears  before  me  as  in  my 
early  youth  I  saw  him  here  in  Kaiserswerth,  talking  with  eager 
enthusiasm  about  America,  my  father  acting  as  interpreter, 
and  upon  his  knees  praying  with  the  sisterhood.  I  was  im- 
pressed with  the  way  he  proposed  to  establish  the  Deaconess 
work  there,  and  when  my  father  had  taken  him  sisters  from 
here  to  America  he  was  quite  carried  away  by  your  father's 
untiring  activities  in  the  work  of  charity." 

As  Mr.  Passavant  was  destined  to  become  the  American 
Fliedner  and  was  to  introduce  the  order  of  deaconesses  into 
America,  we  give  here  his  own  account  of  the  restoration  of 
the  office  of  deaconess  and  of  the  work  of  the  sisters  as  we 
find  it  in  the  missionary  of  April,  1848 : 

"We  cannot  better  describe  the  restoration  of  this  office 
to  the  Christian  church  in  modern  times  than  by  quoting  the 
language  of  the  Chevalier  Bunsen,  Prussian  Embassador  to 
the  Court  of  St.  James,  at  the  first  public  meeting  of  a  German 
hospital  in  London,  The  resolution  before  the  meeting  was, 
that  the  necessary  steps  be  taken  to  procure  the  services  of 
several  deaconesses  from  the  training  institution  in  Prussia,  in 
the  capacity  of  matron  and  nurses  for  the  new  hospital.  In 
proposing  this  resolution,  Mr.  Bunsen  observed,  'That  there 
had  existed  since  the  year  of  1836,  at  Kaiserswerth,  near 
Diisseldorf,  on  the  Rhine,  an  institution,  which,  as  it  seemed, 


J 


HOME  AGAIN.  177 

has  given  to  the  Protestant  churches  the  blessing  of  one  of 
the  most  useful  foundations  in  Christendom.  It  was  in  the 
year  above  named,  that  Pastor  Fliedner,  renewed  the  ancient 
and  apostolic  institution  of  deaconesses.  He  found  such  dea- 
conesses existing  in  the  ancient  Christian  congregations  for 
relieving  the  poor  and  sick.  There  were  (he  thought)  poor 
and  sick  brethren  and  sisters  in  the  Christian  community  now, 
and  why  should  there  not  be  Christian  nurses  for  them,  acting 
in  the  same  spirit  as  the  deaconesses  of  old  ?  And  why,  if  they 
are  to  be  found,  should  they  not  be  called  deaconesses  as  in 
the  time  of  the  apostles?  The  deaconesses  of  old  made  no  vows. 
Why  should  ours?  Is  not  (thought  pastor  Fliedner)  our  church 
built  upon  the  principles  of  inward  faith,  and  should  that 
principle  not  be  able  to  produce  the  works  of  self-sacrifice  and 
charity,  without  external  means,  calculated  to  be  binding  upon 
the  mind,  to  compel  acts  which  can  only  be  acceptable  to  God 
as  a  free  will  offering?  These  were  his  thoughts,  but  in  the 
spirit  of  the  apostles,  he  did  not  stop  there.  He  resolved  to 
act,  to  carry  out  in  faith  his  thought  of  faith.  He  and  his 
excellent  wife  (since  gone  to  her  rest)  assisted  by  voluntary 
contributions,  founded  an  Infirmary  (Krankenhaus)  annex  to 
their  own  modest  dwelling  house,  and  invited  such  Christian 
women,  who  were  unmarried  and  widows,  as  should  feel  dis- 
posed to  assist  him,  to  be  trained  as  nurses  in  and  for  that 
establishment. 

* '  The  principle  he  laid  down  was,  that  the  deaconesses  must 
be  willing  to  be  servants  of  Christ  alone,  to  devote  their  time 
and  faculties  entirely  and  exclusively  to  Him,  and  not  to  look 
to  pecuniary  emoluments  or  any  other  comfort  the  world 
can  give,  but  to  do  the  work  of  charity  and  self-denial  out  of 
gratitude  to  Him  who  came  down  to  serve  them,  before  they 
knew  Him,  even  to  death. 

"The  rules  of  the  establishment  at  Kaiserswerth  are  the 
following:  The  candidates  must  not  be  under  eighteen  years 
of  age  and  serve  from  six  months  to  a  year  on  probation.  After 
this  probationary  time,  those  among  them  who  have  been 
found  fit  individuals  for  the  work  of  Christ,  receive,  during 
divine  service,  a  solemn  Christian  blessing,  and  then  enter  upon 
their  duties  as  deaconesses  at  the  Infirmary,  which  contains 
from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  ten  beds.  They  engage 
to  serve  at  least  five  years,  after  which  time  they  are  allowed 
to  leave,  or  renew  their  engagement.     It  is  understood,  how- 


178  TEE  LIFE  OF  W  .A.  PASSAVANT. 

ever,  that  if  nearer,  personal,  or  family  duties,  should  make 
them  wish  for  a  change  of  situation  during  that  period,  every 
reasonable  facility  shall  be  granted  to  them  for  that  purpose 
by  the  direction,  vested  in  a  committee.  They  receive  no 
salary:  a  very  moderate  annual  sum  is  paid  by  the  institution 
or  family  they  serve  to  the  institution  at  Kaiserswerth,  which 
defrays  their  personal  wants,  enables  them  to  keep  themselves 
decent  and  respectable,  and  entirely  provides  for  those  whose 
health  has  suffered  in  consequence  of  hard  service. 

' '  Such  was  the  fervor  of  the  young  Christian  women  in  that 
part  of  Prussia,  that  many  of  them  followed  this  call  of  pastor 
Fliedner-.  A  great  union  was  soon  afterwards  formed  by 
Christian  friends  in  the  two  Prussian  provinces  of  Rhineland 
and  Westphalia,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Protestant 
Provincial  Synod,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  care  of  the  poor 
Rnd  sick  of  these  territories.  Many  ladies,  who  could  not 
devote  themselves  personally  to  this  office,  formed  auxiliary 
societies.  The  success  with  which  the  establishment  at  Kaisers- 
werth has  met,  has  been  very  great;  for  according  to  the  ninth 
report,  1846.  above  one  hundred  deaconesses  are  now  at  work 
in  different  parts  of  Germany.  Sixty  are  occupied  in  seventeen 
hospitals  and  orphan  houses  at  Berlin,  Dresden,  Frankfurt, 
Worms,  Cologne,  Elberfeld,  etc.  Several  labor  in  large  congre- 
gations, which  have  no  hospital,  and  about  twenty  are  sent  out 
to  private  families. 

"The  hospital  at  Kaiserswerth  has  received  in  these  ten 
years  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  patients  of  all  diseases, 
of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  religious  persuasions,  the  largest 
number  of  them  gratuitously. 

"The  deaconesses  are  not  of  the  lower  and  middle  classes 
only,  but  several  are  of  the  higher  and  the  highest  ranks  of 
life.  One  young  Baroness  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Mecklen- 
burg has  just  been  educated  at  Kaiserswerth,  and  is  now  the 
matron  of  the  large  new  model  hospital  at  Berlin,  lately 
established  by  the  King  of  Prussia,  in  which,  at  least,  thirty 
deaconesses  will  find  work,  and  which  is  to  become  a  great 
nursery  for  training  deaconesses  to  serve  in  the  different  parts 
of  that  kingdom.  Two  other  ladies  of  high  rank  are  at  present 
at  Kaiserswerth,  devoting  themselves  to  the  same  offices.  Some 
nurses  have  also  been  educated  at  Kaiserswerth  for  Switzer- 
land, for  France,  and  for  Holland,  and  the  calls  from  many 
parts  of  the  continent  for  deaconesses  from  Kaiserswerth  are 


HOME   AGAIN.  179 

so  numerous  that  this  establishment  cannot  satisfy  them  all. 
It  appears  from  the  testimonies  of  the  administration  and  the 
medical  officers  of  those  public  institutions,  and  is  a  fact  of 
general  notoriety,  that  wherever  those  deaconesses  have  been 
intrusted  with  the  care  of  a  hospital  or  a  branch  of  the  same, 
a  visible  change  for  the  better  takes  place  in  all  departments, 
and  the  satisfaction,  the  gratitude  and  the  blessings  of  the 
patienfs  follow  those  self-devoted  nurses  everywhere, 

"It  is  not  merely  by  making  provision  for  the  sick  and 
suffering  that  this  institution  is  exerting  its  sanctifying  in- 
fluence over  many  countries  of  Europe.  In  its  practical  work- 
ing, many  of  the  deaconesses  were  found  to  have  greater 
natural  capacities  for  imparting  instruction,  than  nursing  the 
sick.  This  gave  rise,  shortly  after  its  commencement,  to  the 
establishment  of  a  seminary  to  educate  young  female  teachers 
for  Infant  Schools  and  Female  Day  Schools,  in  the  villages 
and  Protestant  parishes  in  the  country.  The  success  of  this 
institution  has  been  so  great,  that  nearly  four  hundred  female 
teachers  have  been  educated  under  the  tuition  of  the  deacon- 
esses at  Kaiserswerth.  Upwards  of  fifteen  thousand  children 
in  different  parts  of  Prussia,  principally  of  the  poorer  and 
more  neglected  classes,  have  been  gathered  in  the  schools  and 
receive  from  these  teachers  the  elements  of  a  good  Christian 
education,  and  are  taught  knitting,  sewing,  and  other  useful 
employments.  Through  this  simple  yet  effective  instrumentality 
thousands  of  poor  children  have  been  brought  from  ignorance 
and  misery,  and  led  to  their  heavenly  Friend. 

"Another  branch  institution,  which  Jhe  Parent  Establish- 
ment contains,  is  devoted  to  the  education  of  deaconesses  for 
the  care  and  improvement  of  female  prisoners  and  penitents. 
With  it,  is  connected  a  Retreat  for  released  female  prisoners, 
and  those,  who  by  God's  grace,  have  been  rescued  from  a  life 
of  shame.  During  the  twelve  years  which  this  institution  has 
existed,  it  has  received  into  its  peaceful  walls  more  than  one 
hundred  and  fifty  poor  and  deeply  fallen  persons,  many  of 
whom,  by  Christian  instruction  and  example,  have  been  con- 
firmed in  the  better  course  of  life,  and  are  now  good  servants 
and  respectable  members  of  society, 

"The  helpless  situation  in  which  many  children  are  left  by 
the  death  of  their  parents  gave  rise  to  an  Orphan  House  in 
connection  with  this  Institution.  In  this  porch  of  mercy,  a 
large  number  of  these  poor  unfortunates  find  a  second  home, 


180  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

under  the  kind  tuition  of  the  deaconesses,  and  are  trained  to 
habits  of  piety  and  usefulness. 

"Indeed,  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty  has  rested  so  abund- 
antly upon  the  Parent  Institution  at  Kaiserswerth,  that  al- 
though it  has  sent  forth  its  devoted  servants  of  the  Church  over 
France,  Switzerland,  Prussia,  Holland,  Germany,  Sweden  and 
Denmark,  it  now  presents  the  aspect  of  a  little  village,  whole 
streets  being  occupied  by  the  buildings  appropriated  to  the 
different  Institutions  under  its  fostering  care.  All  these  have 
been  erected  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of  Christians  in 
different  parts  of  Europe,  and  now  stand  as  monuments  of  the 
faith  and  piety  of  their  honored  yet  humble  founder.  His 
sole  capital  was  faith  in  God.  More  than  this  was  not  needed. 
It  was  sufficient,  richly  to  supply  all  his  wants,  through  Jesus 
Christ." 

After  giving  this  account  of  the  deaconesses  and  their 
work,  Mr.  Passavant  tells  how  he  expected  to  obtain  and  utilize 
some  of  them  in  Pittsburg.  He  had  left  a  sum  of  money  with 
Pastor  Fliedner  for  their  further  preparation  and  for  the 
expenses  of  their  trip  to  America.  He  makes  an  eloquent  plea 
for  American  candidates  for  this  new  ministry  of  mercy. 

"It  was,  after  having  studied  the  practical  working  of  this 
office  of  the  Hospitals,  Insane,  Orphan,  and  other  Asylums  of 
Prussia,  France  and  Germany  and  everywhere,  seeing  the 
humanizing  and  Christianizing  influence  of  these  Christian 
women  in  the  different  fields  of  human  suffering,  that  arrange- 
ments were  entered  into  with  the  Direction  of  the  Parent 
Institution  of  Kaiserswerth,  for  the  establishing  of  a  Branch 
in  the  United  States.  For  various  reasons,  Pittsburg  was  se- 
lected as  the  best  location  for  the  American  Institution,  and 
should  no  intervening  Providence  delay  their  coming,  four 
deaconesses  are  expected  to  arrive  in  New  York  in  the  month 
of  June.  They  will  work  by  the  rules  of  the  Parent  House  in 
Prussia,  and  for  the  present  will  remain  in  connection  with  it. 
Should  the  way  be  opened  in  the  future,  it  is  understood  that 
every  encouragement  will  be  given  by  the  Parent  Establish- 
ment to  the  organization  of  an  Institution,  entirely  independent 
of  foreign  connection.  In  the  meantime,  however,  ladies  of 
suitable  character  and  qualifications,  who  wish  to  devote  them- 
selves to  the  work  of  mercy  and  charity,  will  be  received  as 
inmates  of  the  Institution,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Parent 
House. 


HOME   AGAIN.  181 

''Finally,  we  bespeak  in  behalf  of  this  Institution,  the 
sympathies,  prayers  and  contributions  of  the  humane  and 
merciful.  "Who,  after  considering  the  facts  already  mentioned 
of  its  usefulness  and  efficiency,  can  yet  doubt  that  this  highly 
interesting  institution,  this  Bethesda  for  bodies  and  souls, 
which  provides  with  the  water  of  life  the  five  fields  of  human 
infirmity  and  misery,  the  field  of  the  sick,  of  the  poor,  of  the 
ignorant,  of  parentless  children,  and  of  the  guilty,  should  have 
refreshed  and  brought  from  death  to  life  many  perishing 
souls?  Who  will  not  hope,  that  the  humble  commencement 
about  to  be  made  in  this  country,  may  be  the  beginning  of  a 
new  era  in  the  development  of  Evangelical  life  and  Protestant 
charity?  And  especially,  after  the  great  number  of  interesting 
cases  related  in  the  annual  reports  of  this  Institution,  where 
these  deaconesses  have  been  the  instruments  of  seeking  that 
which  was  lost,  of  bringing  back  that  which  was  driven  away, 
of  binding  up  that  which  was  broken,  of  strengthening  that 
which  was  sick,  who  can  doubt  that  it  will,  in  particular,  open 
a  comparatively  new  field  of  usefulness  and  blessed  occupation 
to  female  Christians  in  America? 

"Father  in  heaven!   The  only  infinite  Source 

Of  common  good!    The  common  Heart  is  Thine, 

The   Common  Mind,   the   Common  Voice,   Hand,  Wealth! 

If  then  Thou   dost  approve  this  cherished   plan, 

As  honest,  righteous,  bounteous,  needful,  wise. 

Let  Thy  best  blessing  fill  that  Heart  and  Mind, 

With  truth   and  love,   consenting;   prompt   that  Voice 

To  utterance  warm  and  brotherly;  move  that  hand; 

Unhoard  that   wealth;   and  so   succeed  the   hope 

Of   comfort,  wisdom,   holiness   and  joy — 

And  Thine   shall  be  the   Revenue    of    Praise: 

Thine,  by  the  Spirit;    through  the  Son;  Amen." 

Forty  years  later  on  the  occasion  of  the  semi-centennial  of 
the  Institution  in  Kaiserswerth,  Doctor  Passavant  was  invited 
to  be  present  as  one  of  the  Jubilee  speakers.  He  could  not  go, 
but  wrote  an  appreciative  two-column  editorial  from  which  we 
clip  the  following: 

"In  all  this  there  was  an  unfolding  of  the  divine  purpose, 
and  the  successive  steps  of  the  Institution  were  clearly  ordered 
of  the  Lord.  From  many  lands,  holy  women  came  to  Kaisers- 
werth to  study,  to  learn,  and  to  do  likewise.  Some  remained, 
like  Florence  Nightingale  of  England  and  the  Baroness  of 
Cedarschaeld,  of  Sweden,  whom  we  saw  there  in  1846  and  who 


182  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

in  the  painful  school  of  probation  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
eminent  usefulness  to  which  they  afterwards  attained.  The 
work  found  a  congenial  soil,  especially  in  the  Lutheran 
churches  of  the  continent  and  the  handful  of  corn  on  the  top 
of  the  mountain  already  shakes  like  Lebanon.  Scores  of  the 
motherhouses  are  found  over  Protestant  Europe  and  it  is 
estimated  that  six  thousand  deaconesses  are  associated  together 
in  these  various  institutions  for  the  work  of  the  Lord.  The 
Holy  Land  has  long  enjoyed  the  blessed  influence  of  their 
labors,  and  the  noble  establishment  of  the  Kaiserswerth  sisters 
in  Jerusalem  for  the  sick,  and  the  education  of  Arabic  children, 
are  objects  of  special  delight  to  all  travelers.  The  hospitals 
in  Alexandria,  Cairo  and  Constantinople  are  Bethesdas  for  the 
bodies  and  souls  of  men.  The  young  ladies'  seminaries  at 
Beyrut,  Syria,  and  Florence  in  Italy  have  no  superiors  in  the 
Orient.  Even  America  has  long  enjoyed  the  fruits  of  their 
providential  work  and  we  write  this  from  a  hospital  in  the 
great  city  of  the  West  which  owes  its  existence  to  the  labors 
of  Christian  women  whose  hands  smooth  the  pillows  of  the 
dying  and  by  gentle  ministries  do  much  to  heal  the  dreadful 
maladies  of  the  fallen.  Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  restoration 
of  this  office  to  the  Christian  Church!  May  it  soon  find  intro- 
duction everywhere,  and  become  still  .more  powerful  for  good. 
We  thankfully  acknowledge  the  invitation  so  kindly  sent  us 
from  Kaiserswerth  to  this  joyful  celebration.  Were  it  only  in 
our  power,  we  would  be  most  happy  to  participate  in  the  de- 
lightful reunion.  What  a  meeting  and  greeting  will  there  not 
be  of  the  representatives  of  the  motherhouse  from  all  lands! 
The  program  is  a  most  interesting  one.  Amid  the  ringing  of 
the  bells,  the  mighty  procession,  with  the  hymns  of  thanks- 
giving to  God,  will  first  of  all  march  to  the  little  Garden  House, 
the  cradle  of  all  the  institutions;  where  the  court  chaplain 
Bayer,  of  Berlin,  will  make  the  opening  address.  We  cannot 
mention  all  the  exercises  which  will  follow  on  this  memorable 
occasion.  The  whole  is  eminently  worthy  of  the  Institution 
and  the  cause.  May  it  redound  to  the  glory  of  the  Redeemer 
and  give  a  mighty  impulse  to  this  blessed  cause  in  all  lands." 

Here   is   an   extract  of  the   first  sermon  preached   to   his 
people  after  his  return: 

"My  brethren,   in   returning   again   to   labor   among  you,' 
after  a  journey  of  thousands  of  miles,  and  in  seven  different 
countries  of  Europe,  if  one  thought  has  impressed  itself  upon 


HOME  AGAIN.  183 

my  mind  more  deeply  than  all  others,  it  is  the  conviction,  that 
much  of  the  religion  of  the  present  day  is  lamentably  deficient 
in  a  merciful  spirit,  one  of  the  essential  elements  of  all  pure 
and  undefiled  religion  as  defined  by  the  Gospel,  and  THE  ONE 
which  gives  ^o  Christianity,  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  its  high 
preeminence  and  visibly  demonstrates  that  it  is  peace  on  earth 
and  good  will  to  men.  Blessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall 
obtain  mercy.  With  a  profound  conviction  of  the  truth  of 
this,  I  have  endeavored  to  improve  the  opportunities  of  travel 
by  making  myself  acquainted  with  the  humane  and  benevolent 
institutions  of  other  lands,  in  order  more  effectually  to  learn 
the  divine  method  of  showing  that  mercv  to  others,  which  we 
all  so  greatly  need  from  God. 

"During  the  last  few  months,  it  has  been  my  privilege 
to  visit  and  learn  the  working  of  some  of  the  principal  benevo- 
lent institutions  of  the  Old  World;  and  in  returning  home  with 
enlarged  views  of  duty  on  this  important  branch  of  practical 
religion,  I  desire  to  lay  myself  upon  the  altar  for  the  services 
of  our  common  humanity.  And  may  I  not,  in  time  to  come, 
as  in  time  past,  look  to  you  for  sympathy,  your  prayers  and 
your  friendly  aid  in  the  labors  of  love  in  which  we  may  here- 
after be  engaged?  Yea,  I  have  confidence  in  you  in  all  things, 
and  am  happy  in  the  assurance  that,  though  the  indifference 
of  some  and  the  opposition  of  others  may  try  our  faith,  it  can- 
not divert  our  mind  from  its  firm  purpose  or  deter  us  from 
accomplishing  our  appointed  mission  of  mercy  to  our  suff- 
ering fellowmen." 

In  the  Spring  of  1848,  he  rented  a  house  in  Allegheny  at 
the  foot  of  Montgomery's  Hill  for  his  Deaconess  Hospital. 
True,  the  deaconesses  had  not  yet  arrived,  but  his  heart  was  so 
full  of  the  new  project  that  he  could  not  wait.  It  was  his 
nature  to  be  impetuous.  He  sometimes  rushed  into  undertak- 
ings before  due  preparation  had  been  made,  when  he  should 
have  waited  until  all  things  were  ready.  It  was  easier  for  him 
to  learn  to  labor  than  to  learn  to  wait. 

His  judicious  mother  again  chidcd  him  for  his  undue 
haste  in  renting  a  house,  soliciting  fine  furniture  for  the  re- 
ception room  and  making  all  the  arrangements  before  the 
experienced  deaconesses  had  come.  In  her  judgment,  the 
sisters  would  know  more  about  what  was  needed  and  how  to 
make  the  arrangements.  He  should  possess  his  soul  in  patience 
until  they  were  on  the  ground  to  oversee  the  arrangements  for 


184  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

the  new  institution.  At  the  same  time  the  mother  sent  a  large 
bed  for  the  new  hospital.  But  some  of  her  cautions  came  too 
late.  The  zealous  son  had  already  partly  furnished  and  fitted 
up  the  house  for  a  hospital,  had  published  that  it  would  be 
opened  before  long  and  had  invited  public  subscriptions.  All 
this  before  he  had  either  a  nurse  or  a  patient. 

In  1850,  he  himself  reports:  "In  consequence  of  many 
and  unforeseen  difficulties  the  house  was  not  opened  for  patients 
until  January,  1849.  At  that  time  there  was  not  a  dollar  in 
the  treasury  and  the  prospects  were  gloomy  in  the  extreme. 
Many  doubted  the  propriety,  and  more  the  practicability,  of 
such  an  undertaking.  The  general  public  knew  next  to  nothing 
of  its  existence  at  first;  no  one  applied  for  admission,  and  a 
whole  month  elapsed  before  a  single  patient  was  admitted." 

The  story  of  the  real  beginning  of  the  work  of  the  hospital 
is  intensely  interesting  and  dramatic.  It  brings  out  the  most 
beautifully  the  benevolent  heart  and  character  of  its  founder. 
The  Mexican  War  had  just  come  to  an  end.  A  boat  load  of 
discharged  soldiers  was  brought  up .  the  river  and  landed  in 
Pittsburg.  The  whole  city  had  been  stirred  up  and  great 
preparations  had  been  made  for  their  reception.  The  city  was 
gaily  decorated;  brass  bands  and  distinguished  officials  and 
committees  awaited  the  returning  heroes.  Amid  the  music 
and  the  cheering  and  the  jubilations  of  the  citizens,  the  civic 
and  military  organizations  paraded  the  town  in  honor  of  the 
veterans  who  were  the  center  of  attraction  in  the  great 
procession. 

Mr.  Passavant  of  course  knew  of  their  coming.  He 
thought  that  probably  there  would  be  some  sick  or  wounded 
soldiers  left  on  the  boat,  unable  to  have  a  part  in  the  joys  of 
their  comrades.  Taking  with  him  his  young  friend  and  helper, 
student  Asa  Waters,  he  went  down  and  searched  the  bunks 
of  the  boat.  He  found  two  poor,  neglected,  sick  soldiers,  suf- 
fering from  ship-fever.  A  carriage  was  procured  to  convey 
them  to  the  empty  hospital.  But  the  building  was  not  yet 
ready  for  patients.  The  reception  room  was  furnished  and 
ready.  The  kitchen  had  a  cook  stove  and  a  table.  One  nurse's 
room  had  been  fitted  up.  The  sick  rooms  had  one  bed  and 
several  chairs.  Several  cots  and  bedding  were  hastily  ordered 
from  the  store,  and  so  the  patients,  the  embryo  outfit  and  the 
two  men,  started  for  the  empty  house  on  the  other  side  of  the 
two  cities. 


HOME   AGAIN.  185 

The  sick  soldiers,  after  their  long  journey  in  the  crowded 
and  stuffy  boat,  were  badly  in  need  of  a  bath.  But  the  only 
nurses  present  were  Mr.  Passavant  and  Mr.  Waters.  Each  of 
these  inexperienced  hands  took  a  dirty  soldier,  washed  him 
from  head  to  foot,  put  on  a  clean  bed  robe  and  put  him  into 
a  clean  bed.  The  poor  sick  men  gratefully  recognized  the  work 
done  for  them  and  in  a  few  weeks  were  discharged  well  and 
happy. 

As  Mr.  Waters  writes:  "This  was  the  singular  and 
remarkable  beginning  of  the  Protestant  Deaconess  Institution. 
It  was  the  day  of  small  things  but  clearly  of  the  Lord  and 
hence  not  to  be  despised.  It  was  the  work  of  faith  and  love. 
It  was  the  opening  of  the  first  Protestant  hospital  in  America. 
From  it  what  has  God  wrought!  The  work  grew  to  unthought- 
of  proportions,  fully  beyond  the  conception  of  him  who  con- 
ceived it  and  consecrated  his  life  and  energies  to  its  accomplish- 
ment. ' ' 

Mr.  Passavant  continues  the  further  story  of  the  beginn- 
ings of  that  work  of  mercy: 

"What  greatly  added  to  the  difficulties  of  the  beginnings 
was  the  fact  that  the  institution  was  unknown  to  the  public 
and  at  first  was  situated  in  a  remote  and  out-of-the-way  place 
in  a  neighboring  city  where  it  attracted  but  little  attention. 
It  was  too  far  remote  from  the  center  of  the  population,  and 
as  the  building  could  only  be  rented  by  the  year,  the  continu- 
ance of  the  work  there  was  regarded  from  the  first  as  only 
temporary. ' ' 

"As  it  became  known,  however,  the  number  of  sick  gradu- 
ally increased  and  a  case  of  ship  fever,  another  of  erysipelas, 
several  of  consumption  and  a  family  of  five  motherless  children 
with  the  measles  were  received.  In  a  short  time  new  patients 
were  admitted  almost  daily,  and  the  number  in  the  house  soon 
averaged  from  ten  to  twelve.  But  with  the  increase  of  patients, 
new  difficulties  arose.  The  want  of  reliable  nurses  was  most 
severely  felt.  Had  not  God  interposed  at  different  times  in 
the  most  unexpected  manner,  the  enterprise  would  have  been 
abandoned.  Every  week  was  a  succession  of  new  trials,  and 
it  would  be  ungrateful  not  to  add,  of  new  and  singular  mercies. 
Its  daily  history  brought  to  light  so  much  to  encourage  the 
faith,  and  to  add  to  the  experience  of  those  who  were  engaged 
in  it,  and  withal,  so  strengthened  the  conviction  of  the  divine 
Providence  cooperating  with  their  humble  efforts  in  the  relief 


186  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

of  the  suffering,  that  doubt  gradually  gave  place  to  hope,  and 
fear  to  confidence  in  its  ultimate  success. 

"The  first  year  of  its  existence  was  a  time  of  great  pecuni- 
ary difficulty.  The  institution  was  commenced  in  humble  de- 
pendence upon  God,  without  influence,  friends  or  funds,  and 
struggled  into  life  from  the  womb  of  insignificance  and 
poverty.  An  English  shilling  was  the  first  donation  received; 
and  several  of  the  next  were  even  smaller  in  amount.  Two 
beds,  a  table,  a  cook  stove  and  a  few  chairs  composed  the 
furniture  when  the  first  patient  was  received,  all  the  bedding 
and  furniture  for  the  wards  and  rooms  had  to  be  begged  or 
bought,  qualified  and  trusty  nurses  to  be  procured  at  a  con- 
siderable expense,  and  means  to  be  raised  for  the  support  of  the 
increasing  number  of  sick. 

"The  occasion  which  led  to  its  early  removal  to  the  present 
location  was  the  following:  In  the  Summer  of  that  year,  the 
cholera  suddenly  made  its  appearance  at  different  points  on  the 
river,  and  the  boats  from  below  brought  with  them  a  number 
of  cases  to  our  city ;  these  were  admitted  to  the  new  hospital.  On 
one  occasion  when  a  cholera  patient  was  brought  in,  the  prin- 
cipal male  nurse  precipitately  fled  from  the  house,  leaving  the 
unhappy  sufferer  struggling  in  the  agonies  of  death.  So  great 
was  the  panic  occasioned  thereby  in  the  minds  of  the  citizens 
residing  in  the  vicinity,  that  the  house  was  stoned  and  the 
director  was  waited  upon  by  the  mayor  and  a  committee  from 
the  city  council,  and  notified  that  in  case  others  were  received 
and  the  building  destroyed,  the  city  would  not  be  accountable 
for  damages." 

The  house  had  to  be  closed  at  once,  A  new  location  had 
to  be  found  before  night.  What  was  to  be  done?  First  of  all, 
as  was  the  wont  of  Mr.  Passavant,  he  told  his  troubles  to  God. 
Most  earnestly  did  he  cry  for  light  and  guidance.  The  conval- 
escents who  were  able  to  leave,  were  sadly  dismissed  with  a 
prayer  from  their  refuge  and  asylum.  There  were  several  who 
were  unable  to  leave  their  beds.  These  were  loaded  into  a 
wagon  in  their  beds  and  the  driver  was  started  for  he  knew 
not  where.  Mr.  Passavant  had  often  looked  upon  the  hills  of 
Lacyville  as  a  desirable  place  for  a  hospital.  Thither  the  wagon 
was  directed  with  its  precious  load.  Mr.  Passavant  walked 
ahead,  praying  as  he  went.  The  Lacyville  road  led  over  a 
high  hill  on  which  stood  a  spacious  building  occupied  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Lacy  and  his  female  seminary.     The  building  stood  alone 


HOME   AGAIN.  187 

with  no  other  house  near  it.  Mr.  Passavant  had  previously 
negotiated  for  the  purchase  of  this  property.  He  had  tried 
to  interest  others  in  it,  but  up  to  this  time,  his  success  had  been 
small.  He  had  not  concluded  the  purchase.  The  building 
was  empty  just  now,  as  it  was  the  time  of  the  summer  vacation, 
except  that  Dr.  Lacy  occupied  a  room  in  one  corner.  Mr. 
Passavant  went  in,  obtained  an  option  on  it  and  got  per- 
mission to  unload  his  patients.  Mr.  Waters  took  charge  of 
them  and  so  the  hospital  had  a  local  habitation  and  a  name 
in  Pittsburg,  across  the  street  from  where  it  now  stands. 

Mr.  Passavant  now  succeeded  in  interesting  some  of  his 
liberal  friends,  and  the  seminary  together  with  its  fine  garden 
was  purchased  for  five  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Of  this 
providential  purchase,  Mr.  Passavant  says  in  the  report  al- 
ready quoted: 

"An  immediate  possession  was  indispensable,  owing  to 
the  above  mentioned  cause;  the  lease  of  Prof.  Stevens,  which 
had  several  years  to  run,  was  bought  out,  and  the  hospital 
removed  in  the  month  of  June  to  its  present  location.  The 
buildings  had  been  suffered  to  go  to  decay  and  were  much  out 
of  repair;  but  during  the  summer  the  whole  was  painted  with- 
in and  without;  new  floors  laid  in  the  kitchen,  dining  room 
and  wash  house;  the  chimneys  carefully  repaired  and  built 
higher,  to  guard  against  fire;  a  considerable  portion  of  the  roof 
renewed;  most  of  the  rooms  and  wards  papered,  and  one  room 
neatly  fitted  up  for  the  purposes  of  a  chapel.  A  new  board  fence 
was  also  built  on  one  side  of  the  garden,  and  the  yard  in  front 
of  the  house  enclosed  with  a  substantial  iron  railing.  Various 
alterations  were  also  made  to  adapt  the  premises  to  their 
present  use.  Considerable  expense  was  thus  incurred,  but  the 
additional  comfort,  convenience  and  space,  which  were  thereby 
gained,  fully  justify  all  the  outlay. 

* '  The  location  of  the  Institution  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
and  commanding  within  the  city  limits,  and  overlooks  the 
greater  part  of  Pittsburg,  with  portions  of  Allegheny,  Man- 
chester, Birmingham  and  the  surrounding  hills.  From  the 
garden,  the  course  of  the  beautiful  Ohio  may  be  traced  for 
many  miles,  while  the  Monongahela,  with  its  broad  breast  of 
waters,  seems  like  a  tranquil  lake  sleeping  in  the  valley  below. 
In  respect  also  to  convenience,  health  and  freedom  from  the 
noise  and  smoke,  the  situation  is  unequaled.  The  grounds  be- 
longing to  this  property   consist  of  a  front  of  one  hundred 


188  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

and  twenty  feet,  running  back  two  hundred  and  forty  feet 
to  another  street,  and  are  laid  out  as  a  kitchen  garden,  afford- 
ing also  pleasant  and  suitable  walks  for  convalescent  patients. 
May  it  long  remain  a  refuge  for  the  sorrowful  and  sick,  a 
porch  of  mercy  for  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men." 

Of  the  arrival  of  Fliedner  and  the  consecration  of  the  four 
deaconesses,  he  reports: 

"The  arrival  of  Rev.  Theodore  Fliedner  from  Prussia,  on 
the  fourteenth  of  July,  accompanied  by  four  deaconesses  from 
the  Parent  Institution  in  Kaiserswerth  on  the  Rhine,  seemed 
to  indicate  Sunday  the  seventeenth,  as  the  most  suitable  time 
for  consecrating  it  to  the  service  of  God,  and  to  the  merciful 
purpose  for  which  it  was  designed.  Accordingly  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  at  four  o'clock,  a  large  concourse  of  people  having 
assembled,  the  services  of  the  solemn  occasion  were  commenced 
by  singing  a  hymn,  'Before  Jehovah's  Awful  Throne,'  in  which 
the  assembled  multitude,  sitting  and  standing  around  the 
edifice,  heartily  united,  to  the  immortal  tune  of  Old  Hundred. 
An  appropriate  prayer  was  offered  to  Almighty  God  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Cooke,  Pastor  of  the  Liberty  Street  M.  E.  Church;  after 
which  the  Rev.  Fliedner  addressed  the  congregation  in  German, 
explaining  the  design  of  the  Institution  as  an  Infirmary  for 
the  sick,  and  a  Mother-house  for  the  training  of  Christian 
Deaconesses  for  hospitals,  asylums  and  congregations  in  other 
parts  of  the  United  States.  The  remarks  of  this  eminent 
philanthropist,  the  restorer  under  God  of  this  office  of  the 
Christian  Church,  were  listened  to  with  deep  interest,  and  his 
earnest  appeal  to  Christian  females  to  consecrate  themselves 
to  this  holy  work  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

"The  venerable  Dr.  Herron,  Pastor  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church,  followed  in  an  English  address,  in  which  he 
commented  on  that  article  in  the  Statutes  of  the  Infirmary, 
which  requires  that  'In  the  admission  of  patients  and  treat- 
ment of  the  sick,  no  preference  shall  be  tolerated  in  favor  of 
one  creed,  country  or  color  over  another;'  assuring  the  public 
that  though  the  director  of  the  Institution  was  connected  with 
a  particular  denomination,  he  had  made  provision  by  express 
statute  in  law,  that  the  Infirmary  should  be  a  refuge  for  the 
worthy  sick  of  every  religion,  color  or  clime;  that  proselytism 
was  thus  excluded,  and  that  all  who  aided  in  this  benevolent 
work  had  the  most  ample  assurance  that  their  donations  would 
be  sacredly  applied.     The  Rev.  Dr.  Herron  in  concluding  his 


HOME  AGAIN.  189 

remarks,  warmly  commended  the  Institution  to  the  support  of 
the  public,  gave  it  unqualified  approbation,  and  prayed  that  it 
might  long  continue  to  be  a  Bethesda  for  the  bodies  and  souls 
of  men.  The  German  portion  of  the  congregation  then  united 
in  singing  Luther's  celebrated  hymn, 

'Ein'  Feste  Burg  ist  unser  Gott,' 

after  which  an  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Passa- 
vant,  and  the  building  was  consecrated  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost.  A  similar  address  in 
German  followed  and  a  consecration  prayer  was  offered  by  the 
Rev.  J.  Vogelbach,  pastor  of  the  First  German  Lutheran 
Church.  An  English  and  German  hymn  succeeded,  after  which 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Cooke  made  a  most  interesting  address  on  the 
office  of  Deaconess  in  the  primitive  church.  The  speaker  dwelt 
on  the  importance  to  the  Christian  Church  of  availing  herself 
of  the  gifts  of  the  female  sex,  for  the  instruction  of  the  ignor- 
ant, and  the  alleviation  of  human  suffering  in  all  its  compli- 
cated forms.  Dr.  Cooke  was  followed  in  his  remarks  by  the 
Rev.  R.  Kaehler,  in  an  appropriate  German  address,  after 
which  the  audience  was  dismissed  by  the  Doxology  and  a 
benediction  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roe." 

The  same  report  gives  this  interesting  summary  of  the 
work  of  the  first  two  years,  thus  affording  a  clear  idea  of  the 
character  and  scope  of  the  work  carried  on  ever  since: 

''The  number  of  patients  received  into  the  Infirmary  un- 
til it  was  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Deaconesses,  in  August, 
1849,  was  eighty-two.  Since  then,  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  have  been  admitted,  making  a  total  of  four  hundred  and 
seventy,  in  the  one  year  and  eleven  months  which  have  elapsed 
since  the  first  patient  was  received.  This  number  would  have 
been  more  than  doubled,  were  it  not  that  the  principles  of  the 
Institution  admit  chronic  diseases,  and  other  cases  of  long 
standing  and  almost  hopeless  cure,  when  their  sufferings  may 
be  mitigated  and  a  possibility  remains  of  restoring  them  to 
partial  or  permanent  health.  In  consequence  of  this,  a  bed  is 
often  occupied  for  several  months  by  a  single  patient,  and  the 
aggregate  of  patients  received  during  the  year  is  lessened  in 
proportion  to  the  number  of  sick  patients,  though  the  average 
number  in  the  hospital  from  day  to  day,  may  remain  the  same. 
Of  this  class  of  sufferers,  many  have  been  on  the  funds  of  the 
charity  for  three  months,  while  not  a  few  have  been  permitted 


190  THE  LIFE  OF  TT.  A.  PASSAT AXT. 

to  remain  four,  six  and  even  eight  and  ten  montlis,  as  their 
necessity  seemed  to  require. 

"'It  has  been  a  source  of  sincere  pleasure  and  heart-felt 
gratitude  to  God,  that  a  considerable  number  of  the  most  hope- 
less of  this  class  have  been  so  far  relieved,  as  no  longer  to  be 
a  burden  to  themselves  and  to  society,  ^-hile  several  cases  of 
many  years'  standing  and  most  obsinate  character,  have  finally 
yielded  to  medical  skill  and  good  nursing. 

"There  are  a  number  of  persons  in  this  vicinity,  who  after 
years  of  suffering  and  wretchedness,  are  now  restored  to 
health,  and  gain  an  honest  livelihood  by  the  labor  of  their  own 
hands.  As  regards  moral  and  spiritual  results,  likewise,  this 
class  of  sufferers  have  been  the  most  interesting  and  hopeful; 
and  the  exemplary  conduct  of  not  a  few  who  left  the  Institution 
restored  to  health,  affords  the  pleasing  evidence  that  the  in- 
fluence of  Christian  kindness  and  Christian  instruction  has  not 
been  in  vain. 

"Of  the  above  number,  upwards  of  one  hundred  were  cases 
of  contagious  or  infectious  diseases,  and  fifty  per  cent  of  all 
the  deaths  in  the  Infirmary'  have  been  among  the  cholera  and 
small-pox  patients  of  this  class.  Many  of  these,  owing  to  prev- 
ious neglect  and  exposure,  were  in  a  d^'ing  condition  when 
brought  to  the  house,  and  already  beyond  the  reach  of  medical 
skill  Wlien  the  condition  in  which  numerous  cases  of  ship- 
fever  and  small  pox  were  received,  is  taken  into  the  account, 
the  mortality  is  unexpectedly  small.  No  language  can  describe 
the  wan  and  spectral  forms  of  some  of  these,  covered  with 
filth  and  livid  with  disease.  Yet  not  a  few  such  live,  to  thank 
the  public  for  a  refuge  in  their  awful  visitation,  and  to  bless 
God  who  brought  them  back  from  the  valley  and  shadow  of 
death. 

"Of  the  moral  results,  which  have  been  brought  about 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Institution,  it  does  not  be- 
come us  to  speak  in  any  other  but  general  terms.  The  light  of 
eternity  alone  will  reveal  all  the  impressions  for  good,  which 

have  been  made  upon  the  patients In  an  encouraging 

number  of  instances,  however,  the  signal  blessing  of  the  Al- 
mighty has  attended  the  labors  of  his  servants.  Not  a  few 
wanderers  have  been  reclaimed,  and  of  more  than  one  it  may 
be  said,  'they  were  bom  there'.  The  faith  of  the  dying  saint, 
sorely  tried  by  poverty  and  neglect,  has  been  strengthened, 
and  death  itself  made  welcome  bv  the  consolation  of  the  Gospel. 


HOME   AGAIN.  191 

The  influence  of  Christian  kindness  and  example  on  the  part 
of  the  nurses,  has  invariably  secured  for  the  offices  of  religion 
the  respect  of  the  most  reckless,  and  stout-hearted  and  wicked 
men  have  wept  under  the  silent  teaching  of  this  practical 
exhibition  of  religion.  A  weekly  service  is  held  in  the  chapel 
of  the  Infirmary,  which  is  attended  by  those  convalescent 
patients  who  desire  it;  and  the  sick  are  visited  in  the  wards 
several  times  a  week,  by  the  Director  and  other  clerg\Tnen, 
who  attend  in  rotation.  In  addition  to  these  opportunities  of 
religious  instruction,  and  the  daily  worship  of  the  house,  there 
is  a  respectable  library  of  English,  German,  French  and  Welsh 
books,  which  we  are  happy  to  say  is  highly  appreciated  by  those 
who  are  sufficiently  recovered  to  read. 

"It  is  with  very  great  pleasure  that  I  refer  to  another 
evidence  of  interest  manifested  by  our  citizens  in  the  per- 
manent success  of  the  Institution.  At  the  suggestion  of  the 
Hon.  Thos.  M.  Howe,  the  field  adjoining  the  Infirmary  and 
containing  upwards  of  four  acres,  was  purchased  from  A.  B. 
Curling.  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  twelve  thousand  dollars." 

After  he  had  organized  the  Institution  of  Protestant 
Deaconesses  of  the  County  of  Allegheny,  Pa.,  the  following 
Principles  and  Eegulations  were  adopted. 

GENERAL    PRINCIPLES. 

1.  The  association  of  Christian  females  is  purely  volun- 
tary". The  members  unite  without  persuasion,  remain  without 
vows,   and  retire  without  restraint. 

2.  It  is  not  an  order,  but  the  restoration  of  an  office,  that 
of  'Servant'  or  Deaconess  in  the  primitive  church. 

3.  Its  members  heartily  confess  the  faith,  engage  in  the 
worship  and  observe  the  discipline  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church. 

4.  Its  object  is  habitually  to  engage  in  works  of  mercy 
among  the  sick  and  poor,  the  ignorant  and  fatherless,  and 
other  suffering  members  of  our  Lord's  body.  In  the  better 
attainment  of  this  object,  the  association  is  incorporated  and 
fully  empowered  to  establish  and  conduct  the  necessary  char- 
itable institutions. 

5.  Not  earthly  reward  and  honor  but  the  desire  for  an 
opportunity  to  manifest  their  gratitude  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the 
way  revealed  in  His  word,  has  influenced  the  members  to 
associate  themselves  as  servants  of  Christ  and  of  His  church- 


192  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

REGULATIONS. 

1.  The  members  of  the  Institution  shall  consist  of  the 
deaconesses  proper  and  the  probationers,  both  of  whom  shall 
be  received  into  the  association  in  the  manner  hereinafter 
provided. 

2.  They  shall  alike  be  subject  to  the  Director  and  the 
Directing  Sister  in  regard  to  the  designation  of  their  field  of 
labor  and  the  manner  of  its  performance  and  shall  conscien- 
tiously observe  both  the  letter  and  spirit  of  its  principles  and 
regulations. 

3.  They  shall  reside  in  the  Parent  House,  unless  ap- 
pointed to  labor  elsewhere  by  the  Board  of  Managers,  in 
which  case  they  shall  still  retain  their  connection  with  the 
parent  association,  continuing  subject  to  its  rules,  reporting 
statedly  to  its  Director  and  Directing  Sister,  and  holding  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  be  recalled  or  to  be  transferred  else- 
where whenever  deemed  necessary  or  proper  by  those  in 
authority. 

4.  The  internal  government  and  regulation  of  the  asso- 
ciation shall  be  vested  in  the  Director  and  the  Directing  Sister, 
both  of  whom  are  elected  by  the  joint  suffrages  of  the  Sisters 
and  the  Board  of  Directors  according  to  the  mode  described 
in  the  charter.  The  relation  of  the  Directing  Sister  towards 
the  other  members  is,  as  far  as  possible,  that  of  a  mother  or  an 
elder  sister,  while  that  of  the  Director  is,  as  far  as  possible, 
that  of  the  Head  of  the  Family  and  the  spiritual  guide. 

5.  The  sisters  shall  wear  a  plain,  economical  habit,  as 
much  as  possible  conforming  in  style,  expense  and  color,  which 
shall  be  black  or  gray  or  blue  on  week  days  as  they  may  prefer. 
In  regard  to  the  other  articles  of  dress,  the  counsel  of  the 
Director  is  first  to  be  sought  before  being  purchased.  The 
wearing  of  the  sister's  habit  is  voluntary  to  the  probationers 
during  the  probationary  year  but  all  display  or  ornament  is  to 
be  avoided. 

Sept.  10.,  1848,  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Steck,  president  of  the 
Synod  and  the  warm  friend  of  Mr.  Passavant,  died.  The 
latter  went  to  Greensburg  to  conduct  the  funeral.  Coming  home, 
he  rode  from  nine  o'clock  at  night  until  three  in  the  morning 
on  the  stage  box  with  the  driver.  To  his  mother  he  gives  this 
account  of  the  trip: 

"On  Saturday  at  one  o'clock,  Mr.  Jon.  Graff  kindly  called 
for  me  with  a  buggy  and  drove  me  to  Greensburg.     Having 


SISTER  C.    LOUISA    MARTHENS— FIRST  DEACONESS^  CONSECRATED  IN  AMERICA. 


HOME   AGAIN.  193 

been  closely  confined  to  my  room  nearly  all  week,  I  found  it 
most  soothing  and  delightful  to  ride  through  the  lovely 
scenery  on  the  road  to  G.  and  was  quite  sorry  when  we  reached 
the  place  of  our  destination.  The  beautiful  and  variegated 
forests,  the  falling  of  the  leaves,  the  wild  influence  of  the 
autumnal  skj^,  gave  to  this  little  tour  a  peculiar  charm,  and 
richly  did  I  enjoy  it  all.  On  reaching  G.  the  family  received 
me  most  kindly, .  and  after  spending  a  short  time  with  them, 
I  returned  to  my  lodgings  at  Mr.  Kuhn's.  On  Sunday  morn- 
ing at  eleven  o'clock,  the  services  commenced  in  the  church. 
The  immense  multitude  of  people,  filling  the  church,  aisles, 
stairs,  galleries,  as  well  as  the  yard,  were  gathered  together, 
and  listened  with  solemn  attention  to  the  close  of  the  services. 
As  these  were  long  and  required  loud  preaching  so  as  to  be 
heard  outside  of  the  church,  I  was  very  much  exhausted  at 
their  close.  In  the  evening  service  was  appointed  for  me  at 
the  Episcopal  Church  (where  the  English  Lutheran  congre- 
gation worship)  but  the  house  would  not  hold  half  of  the 
people,  and  we  adjourned  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  which 
was  likewise  filled.  I  endeavored  to  preach  with  as  much 
spirit  as  I  could,  but  felt  the  pressure  of  the  morning  service 
very  much,  while  I  spoke  from  the  words,  'There  is  joy  in  the 
.presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repeuteth.' 
This  was  the  last  subject  of  our  faithful  brother  Steck....I 
can  only  say  now  that  his  family  and  our  poor  Synod — of  the 
praises  of  which  I  am  both  ashamed  and  heartily  sick — have 
been  greatly  afflicted.  More,  when  we  meet  in  a  few  weeks  in 
Zelienople. ' ' 


194  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WORK  FOR  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS. 

As  we  have  seen,  there  was  much  dissatisfaction  with  the 
character  and  conduct  of  the  Lutheran  Observer.  This  dissatis- 
faction led  to  the  establishment  of  the  Evangelical  Review,  a 
quarterly,  in  magazine  form.  Prof.  Reynolds  was  its  first  edi- 
tor. From  the  very  first,  it  favored  a  conservative  and  con- 
sistent Lutheranism.  Its  principal  contributers  in  addition  to 
the  editor  were  Drs.  Morris,  the  Elder  Krauth,  the  Schaefi^ers, 
B.  M.  Schmucker,  J.  A.  Seiss,  and  the  younger  Krauth,  who 
contributed  an  article  to  the  second  number  on  "The  Relation 
of  our  Confessions  to  the  Reformation  and  the  Importance  of 
their  Study,  with  an  Outline  of  the  Early  History  of  the  Augs- 
burg Confession."  The  new  periodical  and  especially  this  ar- 
ticle of  Krauth 's  roused  the  ire  of  Dr.  Kurtz  and  the  Observer. 
In  his  opinion,  published  in  the  Observer,  the  second  number 
of  the  Review  "killed  it  dead  by  its  old  Lutheranism."  He 
regarded  it  after  this  as  "the  most  sectarian  periodical  he  ever 
read."  Of  Krauth 's  article  he  wrote,  "How  many  such  articles 
would  it  take  to  convert  a  soul?  Poor  Charlie!  What  a  prosti- 
tution of  talent ! ' ' 

Dissatisfaction  with  the  tone  and  trend  of  the  Observer 
made  Mr,  Passavant  plan  for  a  paper  of  his  own.  He  was 
averse  to  controversy.  He  felt  that  polemical  articles  and  bit- 
ter personal  attacks  are  not  conducive  to  the  edifying  of  the 
church.  It  was  his  conviction  that  the  church's  life,  activity 
and  progress  are  hindered  instead  of  helped  by  such  a  course. 
He  realized  as  probably  no  other  man  in  the  church  did  that  the 
church  of  his  love  has  a  great  mission  in  this  land.  He  felt  the 
need  of  a  church  paper  for  the  people,  free  from  the  objections 
referred  to,  popular  in  tone,  calculated  to  inspire  a  hopeful  and 
aggressive  activity  in  all  the  interests  of  the  church  and  moder- 
ate in  price.  He  felt  that  the  church's  institutions  were  too 
little  known  and  therefore  poorly  supported  by  the  people.  The 
people  were  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge.  The  need  of  a 
broader,  better  and  more  aggressive  missionary  policy,  at  home 
and  abroad  needed  to  be  impressed  upon  the  people  in  such  a 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        195 

way  as  to  make  the  masses  feel  that  it  was  their  privilege  as 
well  as  their  responsibility  to  carry  on  and  enlarge  the  work. 
He  felt  that  there  were  other  far-reaching  activities  of  the 
greatest  possible  importance  to  the  full  life  and  existence  of  the 
church  that  had  not  even  been  thought  of,  much  less  entered 
upon. 

From  these  and  similar  convictions  in  his  mind,  The  Mis- 
sionary finally  emerged.  This  little  monthly  was  something 
new  in  fhe  church.  It  brought  Mr.  Passavant  before  the  church 
in  a  new  light.  By  many  he  had  been  looked  upon  as  an  over- 
sanguine,  visionary,  restless,  unpractical  spirit.  His  paper  was 
a  surprise  to  all  such.  It  showed  to  the  church  for  the  first 
time  that  here  was  a  young  man  with  superior  gifts  as  an  editor 
and  with  practical  and  far-reaching  plans  for  organization  and 
system  in  church  work. 

The  first  number  of  The  Missionary  appeared  in  January, 
1848.  It  sets  before  its  readers  its  purposes,  aims  and  hopes 
in  the  following  prospectus: 

"This  paper,  as  indicated  by  its  name,  will  be  missionary 
in  its  character.  It  will  not,  therefore,  interfere  with  existing 
periodicals  devoted  to  general  interests.  It  occupies  a  field 
peculiarly  its  own,  and  as  it  aims  to  be  helpful  to  all,  it  hopes 
to  be  helped  by  all  in  return. 

The  plan  we  propose  is  briefly  this :  the  field  is  the  world. 
That  portion  of  it  occupied  by  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  those 
parts  unoccupied  by  other  Christian  Churches,  will  constitute 
the  field  of  our  especial  observation.  The  whole  will  be  regarded 
as  a  vast  mission  field,  and  the  numerous  and  diversified  in- 
terests of  the  church  and  the  world  therein,  will  be  considered 
under  the  general  heads  of  inner,  home,  and  foreign  mission;^. 
A  few  remarks  on  each  of  these  will  further  explain  its  char- 
acter : 

Inner  Missions. — These  are  missions  within  the  church, 
such  as  Scriptural  revivals  of  religion;  the  instruction  of  the 
children  of  the  church,  comprehending  Sunday-schools,  infant 
schools,  catechetical  classes,  Bible  classes,  etc.,  etc. ;  the'  educa- 
tion of  our  people,  comprehending  Church  schools,  academies, 
colleges,  theological  seminaries,  and  education  societies;  the  re- 
lief of  the  temporal  need  of  the  members,  including  the  Insti- 
tution of  Protestant  Deaconessas,  together  with  the  various 
funds,  societies,  and  institutions  for  the  indigent,  the  aged  and 
infirm,  for  disabled  ministers,  for  the  widows  and  orphans  of 


196  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

clergj-men,  etc.,  etc.;  the  improvement  of  church  architecture, 
of  congregational  singing,  of  the  liturgical  service,  of  the  better 
observance  of  the  order  and  worshjp  of  God 's  house.  In  a  word, 
we  shall  labor  for  the  purity  of  the  church  in  faith,  govern- 
ment, discipline  and  religious  life,  to  develop  the  resources,  en- 
ergies and  elements  of  good  which  are  in  the  church,  to  make 
them  available  and  cause  them  to  act  and  react  upon  herself, 
thus  enabling  the  church  to  fulfill  her  mission  and  destiny  in  the 
world,  this  will  be  the  constant  aim  of  the  editor  and  his  corre- 
spondents. In  doing  this,  we  shall  seek  out,  propose  and  recom- 
mend, the  more  excellent  Bil)le  means,  agencies  and  appliances 
for  the  accomplishment  of  the  ends  in  view;  and  their  practical 
w^orking  will,  from  time  to  time,  be  spread  upon  our  pages. 

Home  Missions.— Under  this  head,  we  will  give  a  monthly 
review  of  the  work  of  evangelization  of  the  different  synods 
and  societies  of  the  church  in  America  and  Europe,  among  the 
spiritually  d&stitute  in  our  land.  The  various  missions  among 
the  American,  German,  Swedish,  Danish,  Norwegian,  and 
French  population,  as  well  as  among  the  North  American  In- 
dians and  our  colored  population,  will  be  reviewed  in  every 
number.  In  order  to  make  this  department  interesting,  we 
made  arrangements  while  in  Europe  to  procure  the  different 
papers  and  reports  published  by  the  numerous  societies  and 
mission  institutes  which  educate  and  send  forth  laborers  for 
our  emigrant  population. 

Foreign  Missions.— In  addition  to  a  variety  of  items,  and 
a  monthly  survey  of  general  Christian  missions,  the  official  re- 
ports of  the  Lutheran  missionaries  in  India  to  the  'Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,'  to- 
gether with  acknowledgements  of  moneys  by  that  Society,  will 
appear  from  time  to  time.  The  reports  of  the  German  Lutheran 
missionaries  who  are  laboring  among  the  Telugus,  with  Brothers 
Heyer  and  Gunn,  to  their  society  in  Germany,  will  also  be 
translated  for  this  paper. 

In  a  word,  to  create,  increase  and  develop  the  spirit  of  mis- 
sions in  our  American  church,  is  the  great  object  of  the  pro- 
posed periodical. 

Our  plan  comprehends  all  the  synods,  and  all  shall  receive 
the  same  impartial  consideration.  "We  wish  this  understood. 
The  Missionary  is  the  organ  of  no  one  synod,  party,  or  society. 
By  diffusing  information  concerning  all,  it  hopes  to  contribute 
its  share  in  making  a  divided  church  one. 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        197 

God  has  given  us  two  instruments  wherewith  to  promote 
his  cause.  One  is  the  pen :  the  other,  the  tongue.  To  these,  we 
are  endeavoring  to  confirm  the  addition  of  the  press.  If  we 
succeed,  well;  if  not,  still  well.  The  pen  and  tongue  may  toil 
on,  if  the  press  stop ;  for  the  pen  costs  but  little,  and  the  tongue, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  nothing." 

Most  nobly  did  the  little  paper  carry  out  this  promising 
program.  In  looking  over  the  early  volumes,  we  find  a  series 
of  articles  on  the  following  subjects:  Jesus  as  a  Missionary; 
Christian  Education;  Against  Church  Fairs  and  Festivals;  Best 
Means  of  Raising  Church  Funds;  Disciplining  Members  for 
Selling  Liquor;  Luther's  Pastoral  Theology;  Discriptions  of 
Missouri,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  of 
other  Western  States  as  Missionary  Fields;  Letters  from  India 
and  other  Foreign  Fields;  Hospitals  and  Orphan  Homes;  pleas 
for  boxes  for  Home  Missionaries;  a  plea  for  the  support  of  a 
recently  opened  Colored  Orphan  Asylum ;  Missions  among  the 
American  Indians.  We  find  editorials  on  Catechizing;  on  the 
Need  of  more  Ministers,  and  against  Union  Churches.  There 
are  also  editorials  on  the  pressing  need  of  English  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Churches  in  Chicago,  Omaha,  St.  Paul,  San  Fran- 
cisco and  other  large  cities,  and  on  how  the  congregation  should 
look  after  its  own  poor. 

Much  editorial  space  is  given  to  the  Academies  at  Zelie- 
nople,  Leechburg  and  Greensburg,  which  Mr.  Passavant  was  so 
largely  instrumental  in  founding. 

We  find  in  the  first  volume  commendatory  notice  of  Muh- 
lenberg College,  in  Jefferson,  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  in  which 
such  good  advice  is  given  that,  had  it  been  heeded  by  the  Joint 
Synod  of  Ohio,  the  Institution,  so  auspiciously  begun  with  a 
fine  property,  would  not  have  been  so  short-lived.  There  is  also 
like  notice  of  Wittenberg  College,  Springfield,  Ohio ;  German 
Lutheran  Seminary,  Columbus,  Ohio;  German  Theological  Sem- 
inary, Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  Mission  Institute,  Washtenaw 
County,  Michigan,  a  training  school  for  missionaries  to  labor 
among  the  Chippewa  Indians  at  Saginaw  Bay,  Michigan,  re- 
ceived warm  words  of  encouragement  and  hope  from  the  editor. 

For  Hillsboro,  Illinois,  College  and  Seminary,  in  the  then 
"far  West,"  he  solicited  and  offered  to  receive  books  and  sub- 
scriptions. 

For  the  College  and  Seminary  at  Altenburg,  Perry  County, 


198  THE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 

Missouri,  the  pioneer  college  of  the  Missouri  Synod,  he  also  has 
words  of  encouragement  and  counsel. 

There  were  urgent  editorials  on  the  duty  of  sending  mis- 
sionaries to  search  out  and  arrange  for  the  ingathering  of  the 
Germans  in  Canada  and  Texas.  These  early  missionary  efforts 
became  the  starting  points  that  finally  led  to  the  organization 
of  the  Synods  of  Texas  and  Canada.  The  same  is  true  of  the 
Minnesota  and  the  Wisconsin  Synods,  whose  field  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Heyer  explored  after  his  first  return  from  India.  Nearly  every 
number  of  The  Missionary  has  a  column  or  more  on  the  Ger- 
mans and  Scandinavians  of  the  West  and  on  the  Church's  duty 
to  minister  to  their  spiritual  wants. 

This  gives  us  a  general  idea  of  the  contents  and  aims  of  the 
paper.  Its  tone  throughout  is  serious,  sober,  earnest,  hopeful 
and  devout.  A  deep  and  loving  spirituality  pervades  it  all. 
Every  number  shows  the  editor  living  in  close  communion  with 
that  Saviour  whom  he  so  ardently  loved.  There  is  a  remarkable 
absence  of  that  petty,  personal  strife,  jealousy  and  un-Christian 
controversy  that  disfigures  so  much  of  the  church's  periodical 
literature.  The  tone  is  irenic,  the  striving  is  for  the  thin^  that 
make  for  peace.    It  desires  not  to  pull  down  but  to  build  up. 

The  Missionary  was  -not  received  kindly  by  all.  Mr.  Bass- 
ler  writes  that  some  of  his  people  wished  to  have  it  discontinued 
because  it  strongly  condemned  the  custom  of  having  the  liquor 
bottle  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Weddell  writes:  "The  design  of  your  paper  as  ex- 
pressed in  your  prospectus  pleases  me,  but  yet  on  account  of  the 
unsettled  nature  of  our  theological  language,  I  have  so  far  been 
unable  to  come  to  a  perfect  discernment  of  the  definite  'stand- 
point' you  intend  to  occupy.  There  seems  to  be  a  variance  be- 
tween the  Eastern  and  Western  sense  of  the  technical  language 
of  our  church.  I  trust,  therefore,  you  will  excuse  from  a  friend 
a  few  special  inquiries.  In  your  letter  to  the  German  Reformed 
Messenger  you  profess  to  be  a  friend  to  revivals.  By  this,  are 
we  to  understand  revivals  produced  by  the  instrumentality  of 
long-protracted  efforts  and  conducted  on  what  may  technically 
be  called  the  'anxious  or  mourner's  bench'  system  or  those  pro- 
duced by  the  faithful  continued  pastoral  labors  and  catechisa- 
tion?  By  'defending  the  ancient  usages  of  the  church'  are  we 
to  understand  a  denial  of  the  right  or  propriety  of  the  laity 
leading  in  prayer  in  social  meetings  for  that  purpose,  or  the 
contrary  ? 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        199 

"Finally,  will  the  Missionary  be  devoted  to  the  Augsburg 
Confession  entire  as  the  symbol  of  our  Faith  or  only  as  teaching 
the  '  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  word  of  God  in  a  manner  sub- 
stantially correct '  ?  I  must  again  ask  your  pardon  for  the  liberty 
I  have  taken  in  proposing"  these  inquiries,  which  nothing  but 
former  friendship,  anxiety  for  the  welfare  of  the  Church  and 
a  desire  to  know  something  of  the  grounds  taken  by  the  'Minor- 
ity' of  your  Synod  has  induced  me  to  do.  Our  Church  in  Ohio 
is  full  of  schisms  and  seemingly  'all  sorts  of  doctrines  preached 
by  all  sorts  of  men.' 

"Unless  God  with  sovereign  power  interpose  I  have  little 
faith  in  the  stability  of  our  Zion.  I  feel  that  some  definite  po- 
sition must  be  taken,  the  hay,  wood  and  stubble  must  be  con- 
sumed and  conflicting  parties  be  reconciled  without  the  sacrifice 
of  principle,  or  our  identity  as  a  church  here  will  be  lost.  But 
as  I  have  extended  this  letter  to  an  undue  length,  I  will  con- 
clude expressing  my  deep  anxiety  for  an  early  answer  or  if  not 
an  answer  at  least  a  letter  from  you  on  the  subjects  referred  to. 
I  think  I  may  be  able  to  raise  twenty  or  thirty  subscribers  for 
you  here.     Accept  my  best  wishes  for  your  prosperity." 

But  there  were  not  wanting  also  kindly  commendations,  en- 
couragements and  offers  of  assistance  and  support.  Here  is  a 
letter  from  his  young  friend  Krauth  which  is  interesting  not 
only  to  show  his  estimate  of  the  paper  to  which  he  afterwards 
became  a  regular  contributor,  but  also  to  show  the  feeling  of 
cordiality  that  existed  between  these  two  young  men  working  in 
different  spheres,  representing  the  two  sides  of  the  Church's  in- 
terests and  destined  to  become  so  important  in  the  Church's  life 
and  pro.sperity. 

"I  send  you  eleven  additional  names  for  your  paper  in 
whose  success  I  feel  a  strong  interest  and  in  whose  contents  I 
have  found  much  satisfaction  .  .  .  The  field  which  it  pro- 
poses to  occupy  is  so  large  that  it  will  require  great  care,  skill 
and  economy  of  space  to  cover  the  whole  ground.  .  .  .  You 
have  spoken,  my  dear  brother,  of  coldness  which  has  risen  in  our 
past  intercourse.  Let  me  asvsure  you  that  there  has  been  no 
time  since  I  have  known  you  in  which  I  have  not  felt  a  warm 
and  affectionate  interest  in  you.  I  believe  that  there  was  no  one 
who  loved  you  more  sincerely  than  myself,  but  Dr.  M.  had  so 
many  remarkable  plans,  astounding  projects,  and  aerial  castles 
which  he  told  me  were  of  your  building  that  a  very  false  im- 
pression was  made  on  my  mind  in  regard  to  your  character 


200  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

which  I  now  know  to  be  in  the  highest  degree  practical.  "We 
were  both  ministers,  just  starting,  differing,  in  some  respects, 
in  temperament  and  in  views.  You  highly  sanguine,  I  rather 
disposed  to  scepticism.  You  full  of  the  Lutheranism  of  the 
youngest  generation,  I  with  some  little  tint  (I  thank  God  it  is 
now  stronger)  of  our  older  life;  'you  disposed  to  be  always  in 
the  field,  I  too  fond  of  the  retirement  of  the  study ;  then  things 
which  should  have  bound  us  more  closely  together  that  our 
joint  stores  might  be  a  common  treasure  perhaps  separated  us. 
We  have  both  experienced,  since,  the  ripening  effects  of  time, 
trial  and  deep  affliction.  I  hope  that  we  will  henceforth  and 
forever  be  so  near  in  heart  that  no  alienating  voice  will  ever 
be  able  to  separate  us." 

Prof.  Reynolds  writes:  "We  are  very  much  pleased  with 
your  paper  in  this  region,  that  is  to  say,  Dr.  Krauth,  Prof. 
Baugher,  brother  Keller  and  myself.  Mr.  Keller  has  recom- 
mended it  from  his  pulpit  and  Prof.  Baugher  will  recommend 
it  to  his  people,  so  that  you  may  expect  a  considerable  number 
of  subscriptions  from  this  barren  region,  that  is,  provided  young 
Hirst  goes  around  to  the  people  as  he  says  he  will.  The  Luth- 
eran Observer  will  be  jealous  and  do  all  that  it  can  to  throw 
cold  water  upon  your  enterprise,  but  I  hope  you  will  succeed; 
not  that  I  wish  the  Observer  any  ill,  but  that  I  wish  it  to  be 
made  better,  to  stand  more  fully  upon  Lutheran  ground.  And 
this  I  think  will  be  one  incidental  though  important  result  of 
your  paper.  I  have  done  all  I  could  to  give  the  Observer  the 
character  which  I  think  it  should  bear,  by  doing  my  full  part 
to  furnish  it  with  matter;  but  as  that  does  not  answer,  I  shall 
now  stop  that,  for  a  while  at  least,  and  see  whether  the  idea  that 
other  papers  can  be  got  to  answer  our  views,  if  it  will  not,  will 
have  some  effect  upon  the  policy  of  the  Observer.  Your  paper, 
it  is  true,  proposes  to  avoid  all  interference  with  the  Observer 
and  to  occupy  a  field  of  its  own;  but  I  hope  it  will  set  the  Ob- 
server a  good  example  and  prove  that  a  worthy  popularity  can 
be  secured  in  other  ways  besides  flattering  Tom,  Dick  and 
Harry.  If  the  Observer  will  fairly  represent  the  Church  and 
maintain  a  dignified,  or  at  least  a  decent  character,  I  shall  do 
all  I  can  to  assist  in  sustaining  it,  otherwise  not.  Let  me  know 
what  the  prospect  is  for  establishing  'The  Missionary'  upon 
a  permanent  basis.  Could  you  not  get  a  good  agent  to  visit  cer- 
tain points  where  you  might  perhaps  obtain  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  subscribers?" 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        201 

Here  is  Dr.  Jacob's  recent  estimate  of  The  Missionary  and 
its  editor:  "Through  the  small  monthly,  The  Missionary,  in 
his  youth  he  enlisted  a  wide  sympathy  in  all  the  enterprises 
started  through  his  agency.  Never  has  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  America  had  an  editor  who  entered  into  such  close  relations 
with  his  readers,  and  could  move  them  so  thoroughly.  His  pen 
glowed  with  the  interest  with  which  his  work  held  him.  He 
wrote  as  one  po.ssessed  of  trutlis  which  he  had  to  express.  His 
knowledge  of  persons  and  things  was  so  extensive,  the  facts  pre- 
sented w^ere  so  numerous  and  diversified,  the  horizon  covered 
was  so  wide,  the  language  was  so  plain,  so  forcible,  so  diversi- 
fied, so  full  of  unction,  so  directed  to  one  point,  the  judgments 
concerning  man  and  events  and  movements  were  so  pertinent, 
so  positive,  so  decided,  while  calm  and  discriminating,  and  so 
completely  was  the  bond  of  sympathy  with  his  readers  main- 
tained, that  the  arrival  of  the  paper  was  awaited  almost  with 
impatience  in  hundreds  of  Christian  homes." 

Even  the  Observer  yields  gracefully  and  says:  "Brother 
Passavant's  zeal,  and  his  peculiar  competency  for  such  a  work 
as  he  has  embarked  in,  are  too  well  known  in  the  Church  to 
require  any  commendation  at  oiu*  hands,  and  we  hope  he  will  not 
regard  it  as  a  '  matter  of  course, '  or  as  a  mere  compliment,  when 
we  say  that  we  wish  him  a  hearty  'God  speed.'  If  he  can  find 
time  and  has  sufficient  strength  to  add  to  his  numerous  labors 
those  arising  from  the  management  of  a  periodical,  there  can 
be  no  doubt  of  his  ability  to  render  The  Missionary  both  use- 
ful and  interesting." 

The  Lutheran  Standard  gives  it  this  hearty  welcome:  "We 
hail  with  pleasure  this  spirited  missionary  journal,  and  we  in- 
dulge in  the  hope  that  all  our  ministers  and  members,  who  are 
familiar  with  the  English  language,  will  unite  in  its  support. 
A  paper  of  this  kind,  to  arouse  and  bring  into  activity  a  spirit 
of  missions  throughout  our  Church,  was  long  since  needed,  and 
we  are  glad  that  brother  Pa.ssavant  has  undertaken  the  task. 
We  feel  confident  in  our  opinion,  that,  under  his  direction,  the 
'Missionary'  will  not  only  bring  the  joyful  news  of  the  triumph 
of  the  Gospel  at  home  and  abroad,  and  point  out  the  destitu- 
tions and  wants  of  our  Zion  and  the  means  to  supply  them,  but 
also  advocate  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  our  Church  as 
laid  down  in  her  Confession." 

Here  is  Mr.  Passavant's  own  estimate  of  editorial  life,  writ- 
ten one  year  before  he  died: 


202  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

''Fifty  years  of  editorial  life!  Few  who  are  unacquainted 
with  such  a  life  have  any  conception  of  what  it  means.  It  is  not 
only  a  knighthood  of  anxious  thought,  plodding  toil,  and  finan- 
cial struggle,  but  an  incessant  conflict  with  the  world,  the  flesh 
and  the  devil  and,  worst  of  all,  with  the  whole  trinity  of  evil 
in  the  Church  of  the  living  God.  It  is  an  unceasing  teaching, 
reproving,  exhorting,  encouraging  and  lifting  up  of  the  dispir- 
ited forces  of  the  Church,  and  inciting  them  to  come  up  to  the 
exalted  mission  committed  to  her  of  the  Lord  .  .  .  But  for 
the  unwearied  labor  and  indomitable  rasistance  to  unscriptural 
doctrines,  tendencies  and  usages,  by  our  church  papers,  what 
would  have  been  the  condition  of  the  Church  and  its  constitu- 
tions in  the  dark  days  of  the  past,  when  faith  was  weak  and 
principle  was  weaker,  and  the  ark  of  the  Lord  seemed  to  be 
removed  from  the  sanctuary?" 

To  show  the  wide  and  far-reaching  influence  that  the  young 
editor  exerted  on  the  Lutheran  Church  throughout  the  land  by 
means  of  the  Missionary,  it  is  only  necessary  to  glean  from  its 
pages  what  he  advocated,  planned  and  did  for  the  scattered 
Lutherans  of  various  nationalities  who  were  at  that  time  just 
beginning  to  settle  in  and  make  themselves  felt  throughout  the 
best  parts  of  the  new  West.  It  is  not  too  much  to  claim  that 
no  other  single  man  did  as  much  to  arouse  the  whole  church 
to  see  the  importance  of  the  we.stern  Lutheran  Diaspora  and  to 
realize  her  responsibility  toward  them.  No  other  man  under- 
stood the  West  and  the  value  of  its  Lutheran  settlers  as  well 
as  he.  None  other  did  as  much  to  investigate,  direct  and  assist 
the  western  work. 

Mr.  Passavant  was  as  free  from  narrow  nativism  as  he  was 
from  party  spirit.  As  he  was  concerned  for  the  welfare  of  all 
the  inhabitants  of  his  land,  whether  white,  black  or  red,  so  he 
was  concerned  for  all  the  children  of  his  church,  whether  Amer- 
ican, German  or  Scandinavian.  We  have  already  noticed  his 
interest  in  the  thrifty  and  pious  Germans  from  whose  sturdy 
stock  his  parents  had  come.  He  was  constantly  looking  up  and 
finding-  out  their  settlements  in  the  country  and  their  quarters 
in  the  city.  He  kept  his  Synod  on  the  lookout  and  on  the  hunt 
for  them  throughout  its  bounds.  It  might  be  hard  to  find  a 
German  Lutheran  Church  in  western  Pennsylvania  or  eastern 
Ohio  and  Virginia  in  whose  starting  he  did  not  have  a  hand. 
He,  more  than  any  other  man,  was  instrumental  in  the  begin- 
nings in  Pittsburg,  in  Allegheny,  in  Wheeling,  in  Erie  and  in 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        203 

nearly  every  town  reached  by  his  Synod.  He  had  his  eagle  eye 
on  every  large  city  in  the  land  and  had  a  most  remarkable  facul- 
ty for  finding  out  where  there  was  material  for  a  German 
Church.  To  these  places  he  called  the  attention  of  the  German 
ministers  ■  and  German  Synods.  He  willingly  lent  his  services 
in  procuring  the  men  and  the  means  for  these  beginnings.  As 
is  noted  above,  it  was  he  who  prevailed  upon  his  Synod  to  send 
Mr.  Bassler  and  Mr.  Diehl  on  a  tour  of  investigation  to  Canada 
to  gather  and  organize  the  scattered  Lutherans  in  those  regions. 
He  was  instrumental  in  sending  the  first  missionary  to  Texas, 
and  Mr.  Heyer  to  Minnesota.  What  he  did  for  the  German 
immigrants  we  shall  see  later  on.  The  German  Lutherans  owe 
more  to  him  than  they  are  willing  to  acknowledge. 

But  he  was  not  less  interested  in  the  warm.-Tiearted,  devout 
and  open-hearted  Scandinavians.  What  he  did  for  them  in  the 
early  days  of  their  weakness  and  helplessness,  is  well  worthy  of 
a  chapter. 

The  first  settlements  of  the  SVedes  on  the  Delaware  had 
proven  disastrous,  as  far  as  the  church  of  their  fathers  was  con- 
cerned. It  is  indeed  incomprehensible  to  us  that  a  people,  whose^ 
ancestry  and  traditions  all  favor  a  thorough  education  of  head 
and  heart  in  every  child  among  them,  should  have  so  sadly  and 
so  sinfully  neglected  the  planting  of  church  schools.  Settled 
among  English-speaking  people,  these  early  Swedes  were  satis- 
fied to  let  their  bright  children  get  all  their  education  in  the 
English  day  and  Sunday-schools  around  them.  The  Episco- 
palians were  not  slow  to  recognize  the  sterling  worth  of  these 
youths,  flattered  them  and  their  parents,  and  successfully  car- 
ried out  the  baseless  and  false  pretense  that  the  English  Episco- 
pal Church  is  the  same  as  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Sweden. 
They  captured  the  third  generation  of  those  early  pioneers,  un- 
able longer  to  worship  intelligently  in  the  language  of  the 
fatherland.  They  ,got  possession  of  the  churches  which  the 
Lutheran  fathers  had  built  at  so  much  sacrifice  and  consecrated 
with  so  many  prayers  and  tears.  They  own  today  some  of 
those  venerable  churches,  their  burying  grounds  and  the  very 
bones  of  the  dead.  A  few  years  ago  a  descendent  of  the  early 
Swedes  requested  before  his  death  that  he  be  buried  with  his 
fathers  in  the  grounds  of  the  Old  Swede  Church  in  Wilming- 
ton Deleware,  where  the  moss-covered  stones  still  bear  the  names 
of  Lutheran  pioneers.  But  because  he  had  not  been  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  his  body  was  refused  a  resting  place 


204  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A  .PASSAVANT. 

in  the  chiirch-yard  which  his  fathers  had  paid  for  and  where 
they  are  sleeping  their  last  sleep. 

There  came  a  later  migration  of  Scandinavians  to  our 
shores.  One  of  the  first  of  their  colonies  was  that  of  some  Nor- 
wegians from  Stavanger  who  settled  near  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in 
1825.  In  about  ten  years  thCy  removed  to  La  Salle  County, 
III.  About  this  time  Clem  Pedersen  explored  the  then  Territory 
of  Wisconsin  and  made  his  countrymen  acquainted  with  that 
region.  This  gave  the  first  impulse  to  that  great  migration  to 
the  Northwest  which  is  still  going  on  and  is  possessing  the  best 
part  of  the  land,  from  the  lakes  to  where  the  western  shore  is 
washed  by  the  Pacific.  In  1850,  when  ]\Ir.  Pa.ssavant  first  vis- 
ited the  West,  there  were  supposed  to  be  thirty  thousand  Scan- 
dinavians in  Iowa,  Illinois,  and  Wisconsin.  July  9,  1844,  the 
Rev.  G.  A.  C.  Diedrichsen,  who  had  been  ordained  in  Chris- 
tiania  as  a  missionary  to  his  countrymen  in  America,  arrived  in 
New  York.  At  this  time  there  was  lying  in  New  York  harbor  a 
ship  belonging  to  Captain  N^ssen,  who  belonged  to  an  associa- 
tion of  pious  Swedish  ship  captains  who  had  made  an  agree- 
ment to  hold  religious  services  on  all  their  vessels  on  every 
Lord's  day.  The  Archbishop  of  Sweden  had  consecrated  the 
Bethel  flag,  the  raising  of  which  was  the  signal  for  divine  ser- 
vice. On  Captain  Nyssen's  ship,  Mr.  Diedrichsen  held  regular 
services  while  in  New  York.  He  also  hunted  up  the  Norweg- 
ians, Swedes  and  Danes  in  .the  city  and  preached  to  them  every 
Sunday  in  St.  Matthew's  German  Lutheran  Church. 

From  New  York,  he  went  by  way  of  Albany,  Buffalo  and 
the  Great  Lakes  to  Milwaukee.  He  visited  all  the  Scandinavian 
settlements  that  he  could  hear  of  in  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and 
Iowa,  To  his  surprise  he  found  a  Rev.  C.  L.  Clausen  laboring 
among  the  Norwegians  of  Muskeego,  Avhich  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  first  Norwegian  settlement  in  Wisconsin.  This  Mr. 
Clausen  was  a  Dane.  He  had  intended  to  become  a  foreign  mis- 
sionary, but  the  pious  pastor  Schreuder  of  Christiania  had  per- 
suaded him  to  go  and  labor  as  a  school-master  among  the  desti- 
tute Norwegians  in  IMuskeego.  Arriving  in  1843,  he  found  them 
without  a  minister,  church,  sermons  or  sacraments.  They  im- 
plored him  to  become  their  pastor.  This  he  was  unwilling  to  do 
without  being  regularly  examined  and  ordained.  He  therefore 
applied  to  the  German  Lutheran  pastor,  L.  F.  E.  Krause,  who 
was  laboring  among  the  Germans  near  Milwaukee.  This  brother 
carefully  examined  and  then  ordained  him,  and  so  he  became 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        205 

the  first  Norwegian  Lutheran  minister  in  Wisconsin.  There 
were  those,  probably  instigated  by  the  Episcopalians,  who  had 
their  doubts  about  the  validity  of  his  ordination.  To  satisfy 
these  doubters,  Mr.  Clausen  wrote  to  the  Theological  faculty  of 
Christiania  and  laid  his  case  before  them.  The  faculty  returned 
this  answer:  "That  the  services  of  an  ordination  to  the  priest- 
hood (ministry)  by  a  priest  and  not  by  a  bishop  cannot  in  and 
of  itself  overthrow  the  validitj^  of  an  ordination  to  the  minis- 
try." This  has  always  been  the  position  of  the  Church  in  Nor- 
way, Sweden  and  Denmark.  Do  the  Episcopalians  not  know 
this  or  are  they  wilful  deceivers  and  acting  as  if  they  do  not 
know  it? 

During  the  first  year  of  his  labors,  Mr.  Diedrichsen  organ- 
ized churches  at  Koshkonong  Prairie.  Rock  River,  Hamilton 
Diggings,  Rock  Prairie,  Shoponong  and  Milwaukee  in  Wisconsin. 
Also  at  Rock  Ground,  Long  Prairie  and  Chicago  in  Illinois.  He 
then  returned  to  Norway  to  induce  other  ministers  to  come  to 
labor  among  their  destitute  countrymen.  Failing  in  this,  he  re- 
turned alone  and  began  again  to  labor  as  an  apostolic  mission- 
ary. He  kept  on  pleading,  however,  to  the  church  at  home  to 
send  shepherds  among  their  scattered  sheep.  In  the  year  1850, 
in  response  to  his  earnest  entreaties,  the  Revs.  A.  C.  Preuss  and 
H.  A.  Stub  came  to  his  assistance.  The  difficulties  of  Mr.  Died- 
richsen and  his  three  colaborers  were  greatly  enhanced  by  the 
disorderly  and  fanatical,  even  if  well  meaning,  efforts  of  a  cer- 
tain Elling  Eilsen  and  a  small  coterie  of  congeners  who  went 
into  the  congregations  and  cast  suspicion  on  the  piety  of  the 
three  educated  and  self-sacrificing  ministers  who  were  endeav- 
oring to  inculcate  the  orthodox  Lutheran  faith  and  churchly 
practices  among  their  people.  The  Methodists  and  Baptists 
were  also  busy  with  their  nefarious  proselytizing -efforts.  The 
Episcopalians  had  a  theological  seminary  at  Nashota  and  did 
all  they  could  to  entice  Scandinavian  students  into  their  insti- 
tution, convert  them  into  Episcopalians  and  then  send  them 
out  to  persuade  their  countrymen  to  aspostatize  from  the 
church  and  faith  of  their  fathers.  They  succeeded  in  winning  a 
Swede  named  Unonius,  and  Bishop  Kemper  ordained  him  in 
1844.    We  shall  hear  of  this  renegade  again. 

We  have  thought  it  well  to  give  this  sketch  of  Scandinavian 
church  history  because  of  the  deep  and  abiding  interest  which 
Mr.  Passavant  took  in  these  Lutherans  from  the  Northland.  He 
had  made  himself  thoroughly   acquainted  with  the   character, 


206  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

condition  and  history  of  these  people.  This  is  abundantly  proved 
by  leafing  through  the  files  of  The  Missionary.  He  realized 
from  the  beginning  that  these  people  were  destined  to  become 
a  mighty  power  all  over  the  West.  He  understood  and  appre- 
ciated their  sterling  character,  their  trustworthiness,  their  un- 
ostentatious and  intelligent  piety,  as  well  as  their  thrift  and 
prospective  prosperity.  He  had  a  prophet's  vision  and  saw 
what  all  this  must  mean  to  the  Church  of  the  Reformation.  He 
knew  the  danger  to  which  they  were  exposed  amid  their  new 
and  strange  surroundings.  He  understood  the  schemes  and  de- 
ceptions of  the  sweet-mouthed  proselyters.  His  great  heart 
went  out  to  these  children  of  the  Diaspora.  He  knew  that  in 
their  influx  God  was  giving  to  His  dear  Church  a  second  great 
opportunity.  He  felt  that  an  immense  responsibility  was  laid 
upon  the  whole  Lutheran  Church. 

The  venerable  and  apostolic  Dr.  Norelius,  at  this  writing 
the  president  of  the  Swedish  Augustana  Synod,  says : 

"In  the  Lutheran  Church  of  America,  no  name  is  perhaps 
as  well  known  as  that  of  Passavant.  No  one  who  did  not  be- 
long to  our  nationality  was  as  w^ell  known  among  Swedish  Luth- 
erans as  he.     He  had  early  come  in  contact  with  us  and  had 

become  intimate  with  us  and  with  our  work 

"We  can  safely  say  that  his  special  mission,  in  the  Kingdom 
of  God  and  within  the  Lutheran  Church  of  America,  was  to 
become  a  leader  in  the  Home  Mission  field  in  its  widest  sense. 

"Early  in  life  his  attention  was  directed  to  the  great  neces- 
sity of  extending  the  work  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  his  coun- 
try. He  not  only  placed  himself  in  active  communication  with 
ministers  of  different  nationalities,  but  made  long  and  expensive 
trips  to  different  parts  of  the  country  in  order  that  he  might 
assure  himself  personally  of  the  various  needs  and  then  adopt 
ways  and  means  to  meet  them.  In  this  manner  he  came  in  con- 
tact with  the  Swedes  at  an  early  day.  He  often  appeared  at 
the  meetings  of  the  Augustana  Synod  and  made  our  hearts 
warm  through  his  devout  and  ardent  sermons  and  addresses." 

Our  space  forbids  the  quoting  of  all  the  good  things  that 
The  Missionary  says  of  these  children  of  the  Vikings;  or  of 
the  plans  he  suggested,  the  counsels  he  gives  and  the  aid  he  ne- 
cures  and  extends  to  them.  AYe  must,  however,  bring  before  the 
reader  a  few  facts  that  make  his  desires  and  deeds  in  this  di- 
rection stand  out  in  a  clear  light. 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        207 

In  1850,  he  learned  from  the  "Herald  of  the  Prairies," 
published  in  Chicago,  that  the  Rev.  Lars  Paul  Esbjorn  had 
made  a  request,  for  aid  in  his  labors  among  the  Swedes  in  Illi- 
nois, to  the  "Central  Association  of  the  Congregational  Churches 
in  Illinois."  This  moved  him  to  write  in  The  Missionary  in 
January,  1850 : 

"While  we  cannot  but  recognize  with  the  deepest  gratitude 
the  fraternal  course  of  our  Congregational  brethren  towards  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Esbjorn,  in  lending  him  their  countenance  and  aid, 
without  requiring  him  to  change  his  ecclesiastical  relations,  we 
are  deeply  pained,  that,  from  the  want  of  a  Synod  of  our  own, 
composed  of  Norwegian  and  Swedish  ministers,  such  a  course 
would  seem  to  be  necessary.  Had  we  not  been  assured  by  the 
officers  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  that  it  was  their  design 
to  do  something  for  the  Norwegians  and  Swedes  of  the  West, 
the  mission  committee  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod  would  have  sent 
a  deputation  to  our  Scandinavian  brethren,  two  years  ago,  and 
labored  to  bring  about  a  Synodical  organization  in  Wisconsin 
and  northern  Illinois.  This  mission  dare  not  longer  be  delayed. 
The  immigration  of  Swedes  and  Norwegians  is  increasing  from 
year  to  year  and  if  we  neglect  this  great  interest  now,  the  voice 
of  our  lamentation  will  be  taken  up  when  it  is  too  late.  We 
speak  advisedly  when  we  say  that  something  efficient  must  be 
done,  and  that  quickly,  if  the  interests  of  Zion  and  her  King 
are  not  to  suffer  an  irreparable  injury." 

Of  the  efforts  of  the  very  liberalisttc  F'ranekean  Synod 
among  the  Scandinavians  he  says  in  the  April  number  of  the 
same  year: 

"From  information  in  our  possession,  we  know  that  there 
are  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  Norwegian  Lutheran  churches, 
and  some  of  them  very  large,  in  Wisconsin  alone,  in  addition 
to  the  churches  which  have  been  formed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  An- 
drewson  of  the  Franckean  Synod.  Several  of  these  are  sup- 
plied by  worthy  pastors,  while  others  are  imposed  upon  by 
wretched  men,  who  'have  stolen  the  livery  of  heaven  to  serve 
the  devil  in.'  That  these  churches,  or  the  people  to  any  great 
extent  will  throw  away  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and  substi- 
tute in  its  place  the  Articles  of  Faith,  drawn  up  by  J.  D.  Law- 
yer, (now  erased  from  the  role  of  the  Franckean  Synod),  w^e 
have  no  idea  whatever.  Here  and  there,  existing  churches  may 
be  broken  up,  and  feeble  congregations  may  be  organized  upon 
the  doctrinal  basis  of  the  Franckean  Synod ;  but  the  mass  of  the 


208  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

Lutheran  population  can  never  be  evangelized  after  this  fashion. 
They  cling  with  wondrous  .tenacity  to  the  faith  of  their  fathers 
and  will  not,  without  a  struggle,  cast  away  even  the  form  of 
sound  words.  If  they  are  to  be  influenced  to  any  extent,  it 
must  be  from  other  quarters  than  the  Franckean  Synod.  The 
operations  of  the  'Old  Lutherans'  among  them  will  be  equally 
abortive,  though  for  quite  opposite  reasons.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, we  would  again  urge  upon  the  Church,  the  import- 
ance of  doing  all  in  their  power  to  effect  the  organization  of  a 
Scandinavian  Synod,  based  upon  our  acknowledged  Confession. 
In  this  way  alone  can  the  thousands  of  Norwegians  and  Swedes 
be  effectually  provided  with  the  gospel,  and  its  Institutions,  and 
the  people  be  led  into  green  pastures  and  by  the  quiet  waters  of 
salvation." 

Here  are  some  extracts  from  a  letter  from  Mr.  Esbjorn, 
published  in  the  July  number: 

"In  appearing  before  the  Central  Congregational  Associa- 
tion, in  Galesburg,  (narrated  in  number  one  of  your  paper),  I 
related  the  points  of  doctrine  of  our  Lutheran  Church,  and  some 
of  the  members  tried  to  persuade  me  that  our  doctrine  was  not 
right  in  all  points,  as  for  instance  that  of  baptism  and  the  Holy 
Supper,  the  possibility  of  a  regenerated  man's  falling  from  the 
state  of  grace  and  others.  But  I  openly  confessed  that  I  know 
and  believe  that  our  doctrine  is  founded  on  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
I  have,  since  my  conversion,  upwards  of  ten  years  ago,  diligently 
examined  our  doctrine,  and  found  it  in  accordance  with  the 
Word  of  God.  Other  Christians  may  find  it  otherwise,  for  we 
know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part  in  this  world,  but  I 
would  not  say  that  a  Christian  brother  of  another  denomination, 
for  that  reason,  is  only  half  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  or 
'Sees  men  as  trees  walking.' 

"Just  now  I  received  number  four  of  The  Missionary.  The 
article  on  page  twenty-seven,  concerning  a  Scandinavian  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Synod,  gives  me  a  opportunity  to  declare  that 
I  have  not  yet  united  with  any  Synod,  for  I  want  time  to  ex- 
amine the  religious  matters  in  this  country.  I  have  the  hope 
that  a  Lutheran  Synod  may  be  opened  in  Illinois,  and  I  would 
be  pleased  to  unite  with  the  same,  unless  it  'throws  away  the 
Augsburg  Confession.'  I  openly  confess  that  I  never  can  unite 
with  a  Synod  which  does  so,  and  the  meaning  of  our  organization 
is  not  that. 

"We  believe  that  said  Confession  is  in  accordance  with  the 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        209 

Word  of  God,  and  have  not  buried  any  trick  under  the  words, 
'that  we  adopt  the  resolutions  of  synods  and  the  symbola,  only 
as  far  as  they  accord  with  the  Word  of  God. ' 

"May  God  out  of  His  great  mercy  bless  you,  and  all  them 
who  love  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  We  desire  a 
remembrance  in  your  prayers." 

On  this  letter  Mr.  Passavant  remarks: 

"From  this  communication  it  will  be  seen,  that  God,  in 
His  providence,  has  raised  up  a  truly  spiritual  shepherd  for 
these  scattered  sheep,  and  that  amid  poverty  and  many  diffi- 
culties, he  is  seeking  to  lead  them  into  green  pastures  by  the 
quiet  waters. 

' '  We  cannot  but  believe  that  God 's  hand  is  in  this  whole  mat- 
ter, and  that  now  a  commencement  will  be  made  for  the  evangel- 
ization of  our  Swedish  population  which  will  be  steadily  kept  up 
with  the  increase  of  these  interesting  strangers  among  us  from 
year  to  year.  For  the  present,  we  could  only  add  that  a  dele- 
gation of  our  ministers,  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 
Swedish  and  Norwegian  population  in  the  Northwest,  propose 
(D.v.)to  visit  Wisconsin  and  Illinois  this  summer,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  what  measures  should  be  adopted  for  the 
supply  of  their  spiritual  need.  The  result  of  his  visit,  we  hope, 
ere  long,  to  lay  before  our  readers. 

"A  friend  at  our  elbow  has  kindly  furnished  the  means  for 
the  purchase  of  several  dozen  English  catechisms.  The  bibles 
will  be  attended  to  as  soon  as  possible.  The  suggestion  of 
brother  Esbjorn,  concerning  a  tract  for  distribution  among  the 
Swedish  immigrants  on  their  arrival  in  New  York,  is  a  good  one, 
and  as  twenty  or  thirty  dollars  will  print  a  large  edition  of  a 
four  page  tract,  such  as  he  speaks  of,  we  hope  some  benevolent 
person  will  furnish  us  this  amount. 

"Will  not  some  of  our  brethren  send  us  donations  for  the 
completion  of  the  Swedish  Church  referred  to  by  brother 
Esbjorn  ?  Christian  reader !  how  much  owest  thou  thy  Lord ! 
Then  sit  down  quickly,  take  thy  pen,  and  write  a  check  for 
five,  twenty,  or  fifty  dollars  for  these  poor  brethren  in  Christ." 

In  the  year  1850,  Mr.  Passavant  made  his  first  missionary 
journey  to  the  Scandinavians  of  the  west.  Such  a  journey 
meant  something  in  those  days  when  there  were  no  railroads 
west  of  Pittsburg.  The  great  lakes,  rivers,  the  stage-coach,  the 
primitive  wagon,  the  saddle  and  apostolic  feet  were  the  means 
of  conveyance. 


210  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

From  Pittsburg,  Mr.  Passavant  went  to  Springfield,  Ohio, 
to  visit  the  young  Wittenberg  College,  the  only  English  Luth- 
eran college  west  of  Gettysburg.  Thence  he  traveled  to  the 
German  Lutheran  Seminary  at  Columbus,  Ohio.  From  there  he 
pushed  on  to  Chicago  and  as  far  as  Milwaukee.  Here  his  trip 
was  cut  short  by  a  dispatch  announcing  the  breaking  out  of 
cholera  in  Pittsburg  and  serious  sickness  in  his  hospital  family. 

His  mother  had  objected  to  his  taking  this  trip  .because  of 
his  already  abundant  labors  and  also  because  there  were  still 
sporadic  cases  of  cholera  in  Pittsburg,  which  in  her  opinion 
were  dangerous  to  his  family  and  hospital  work.  The  good 
mother  did  not  understand  the  importance  of  the  West  and  of 
its  Scandinavian  pioneers  to  the  future  of  the  Church.  In 
this  case,  the  son  believed  that  it  was  his  sacred  duty  to  go  and 
so  he  obeyed  God  rather  than  man.  On  his  return  he  wrote  his 
•mother  a  letter  from  which  we  quote : 

"Prof.  Reynolds  accompanied  me  from  Columbus,  and  his 
presence  and  valuable  aid  was  the  life  of  the  expedition.  In 
Chicago  we  made  a  good  beginning  in  the  Norwegian  Church 
and  gained  much  valuable  information  concerning  the  state  of 
things  at  the  different  settlements  of  these  people  in  Wisconsin 
and  Illinois From  Chicago  we  went  per  steamer  to  Mil- 
waukee, the  most  beautiful  city  I  have  ever  seen,  and  having 
made  the  acquaintance  of  Judge  Miller,  one  of  the  principal 
citizens  in  the  state,  we  spent  a  day  with  him  in  procuring  addi- 
tional information  concerning  the  interior.  Our  plans  were  all 
finished  and  we  were  to  have  left  the  next  morning  for  Madison 
and  the  Fox  River  country  where  the  majority  of  these  people 
reside.  But  the  dispatch  came  and  I  was  under  the  necessity 
of  bidding  adieu  to  Prof.  Reynolds,  who  continued  on  alone 
with  as  sad  a  heart  as  mine. 

"Now  that  I  am  once  more  safely  at  home,  I  can  look  back 
and  see  that  all  things  have  been  arranged  wisely  and  well. 
Had  I  not  left  Pittsburg  when  I  did,  Reynolds  would  certainly 
not  have  visited  these  regions  and  the  attention  of  the  church 
in  the  United  States  would  not  have  been  directed  to  these 
interesting  people..  It  was  high  time  to  do  something  for  them 
and  a  little  longer  delay  would  have  been  most  ruinous  to  all 
our  efforts  in  their  behalf  as  our  reports  will  show.  Though  my 
journey  was  cut  off  so  suddenly,  it  was  still  an  exceedingly  in- 
teresting and  pleasant  tour,  and  I  have  returned  home  greatly 
renewed  in  health  and  spirits.     Though  I  have  seen  so  little  of 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        211 

the  West,  I  trust  this  little  will  enable  me  to  labor  in  the 
Missionary  with  new  life  and  energy  in  its  behalf  and  stir  up 
the  sluggish  current  of  our  Zion  in  the  East  to  a  proper  sense 
of  the  importance  of  action  and  prayer  for  the  West." 

He  writes  a  full  account  of  this  memorable  and  apostolic 
journey  in  the  Missionary.  He  describes  most  accurately  the 
,  Norwegian  and  Swedish  settlements  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin 
with  his  own  estimate  of  the  men  who  labored  there.  He  seems 
to  grasp  the  situation  intuitively,  and  in  many  instances  under- 
stands the  field  and  the  material  better  than  the  Scandinavians 
themselves  did.  We  could  fill  pages  from  this  interesting  story. 
Lack  of  space  forbids.  We  select  only  the  account  of  Chicago 
and  the  dangers  and  difficulties  of  its  early  Lutherans. 

Chicago —  "Here,    the    Scandinavian    population    is    esti- 
mated at  about  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand,  two  hundred  of 
whom  may  be  Swedes.     The  Rev.  P.  Anderson,  a  member  of 
the  Franckean  Synod,  is  pastor  of  the  interesting  Norwegian 
congregation  in  this  place.     They  own  a  neat  and  comfortable 
frame  church,   and  are  evidently  walking  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  and  the  comfort  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     It  is  enough  for  us 
to  know,  and  to  state  for  the  information  of  the  church  and  of 
the  public,  that  brother  Anderson  firmly  holds  the  doctrines  of 
the  church  set  forth  in  the  Augsburg  Confession;  and  that  he 
instructs  his  people  in  the  Vf ord  of  God  as  thus  explained ;  like- 
wise using  Luther's  Small  Catechism  and  Pontoppidan's  Ex- 
position, for  the  instruction  of  the  youth  and  others  seeking  ad- 
mission into  his  church.     We  could  have  wished  that  more  of 
the  usages  of  the  Norwegian  Church  had  been  retained  in  their 
worship,  but  rejoice  that  we  found  so  m.uch  to  commend  in  their 
religious  services.     That  he  is  laboring  faithfully  and  success- 
fully and  with  the  most  cheering  evidences  of  divine  presence 
and  blessing,  we  are  well  assured.     His  church  is  filled  with  an 
attentive   audience,  many  of  whom  testify  by  their  purity  of 
life  to  the  soundness  of  their  faith.     The  church  now  numbers 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy  communicants,  with  a  congre- 
gation of  about  three  hundred  persons;  and  gentlemen  of  in- 
telligence not  connected  with  it  have  assured  us  that  the  in- 
fluence exerted  by  ]\Ir.   Anderson   over  the  Norwegian   popu- 
lation, generally,  is  of  the  most  salutary  character.     In  fact, 
the  most  superficial   observer   cannot  but   be  struck  with  the 
manifest  improvement  and  progress  of  the  members  of  this  con- 
gregation, in  the  outward  decencies  and  comforts  of  life,  which 


212  TEE  LIFE  OF  Tf.  A.  PASSAT  ANT. 

we  take  to  be  an  incidental  result,  if  not  a  jirimary  desigm,  in 
the  promulgation  of  the  gospel.  'The  tree  is  known  by  its 
fruits.'  The  influence  of  this  church  upon  the  Scandinavian 
population  cannot  but  be  great.  It  stands  at  the  door  by  which 
the  great  body  of  those  taking  up  their  residence  in  Illinois, 
enter  the  country.  It  at  once  extends  to  them  the  hand  of 
brotherly  love  and  Christian  kindness;  it  gathers  them  in  from 
the  vessels  by  which  they  arrive;  turns  away  their  feet  from 
the  places  of  temptation  to  the  house  of  God;  and  serves  as  a 
bond  of  connection  between  this  place  and  the  new  home  wher- 
ever they  may  be  settled.  Its  labors  cannot  but  tell  powerfully 
upon  the  religious  interest  of  a  large  part  of  our  Norwegian 
immigrants.  For  these  reasons,  it  is  obviously  of  the  highest 
importance  that  this  church  should  be  efficiently  sustained,  and 
that  it  should  attain  such  a  high  standard  of  Christian  character 
and  activity,  that  the  whole  Scandinavian  population  should 
unite  in  it. 

"In  addition  to  this,  there  is  another  Scandinavian  church 
under  the  care  of  a  Rev.  Mr.  Unonius.  This  is  a  very  neat  edifice 
not  quite  finished,  and  capable  of  containing  perhaps  three 
hundred  people,  though  there  were  not  half  that  number  pres- 
ent. Mr.  Unonius  is  a  Swede  but  the  services  were  in  Norwegian 
or  Danish.  The  liturgj',  especially  the  baptismal  service,  which 
is  used  for  the  baptism  of  an  infant,  seemed  to  be  a  mixture 
of  the  Danish  Liturgy  and  that  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  parents  are  required  at  the  close  to  'Bring  this  child,  when 
of  a  suitable  age,  to  the  Bishop  to  be  confirmed,'  a  thing  un- 
kno'mi  in  our  Lutheran  churches,  where  the  rite  of  confirmation 
is  performed  by  the  pastor  and  not  by  the  bishop.  It  was  in- 
teresting and  delightful  to  one  accustomed  to  the  glorious  Ininns 
of  the  German  Lutheran  church,  to  find  these  in  a  very  fair 
Danish  translation,  and  to  hear  them  sung  to  their  original  and 
appropriate  melodies.  We  were  also  informed  by  the  pastor, 
that  he  used  Luther's  Small  Catechism,  and  the  excellent  Ex- 
position of  it  prepared  by  Pontoppidan,  in  the  instruction  of 
the  children  of  the  congregation.  This  and  the  ceremonies  gen- 
erally, are  sufficiently  Lutheran,  and  had  Ave  looked  no  further, 
and  known  no  more,  we  might  have  thought  ourselves  among 
genuine  Lutherans.  But  several  hours'  conversation  with  ]Mr. 
Unonius,  and  a  printed  sheet  which  he  had  published  in  the 
name  of  his  congregation,  presents  the  subject  in  a  very  differ- 
ent Light,  and  makes  his  position  and  that  of  his  people  quite 


AMOXG  SCAXDIXAVIAXS  AXD  GERMANS.        213 

unique.  ]\Ir.  Unonius  is  not  a  Lutheran  but  an  Episcopalian, 
never  having  been  a  elero:;s'man  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  or- 
dained by  an  Episcopal  bishop  in  this  countfy,  and  regularly 
enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  diocese  of  Illinois.  Nor  is  his 
church  in  connection  with  any  Lutheran  body  in  this  or  any 
other  country.  Of  course,  Mr.  Unonius  having  subscribed  to 
the  Thirty-nine  Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  re- 
ceived the  Canons  and  Constitutions  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States,  thus  rejects  the  Augsburg  Confession  and 
other  symbolical  books  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  can  in  no 
way  be  regarded  as  a  Lutheran.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  he 
thus  expresses  himself  in  an  address,  '  (Negle  Ord  til  de  Scandi- 
na\'ianske  Udvandue  i  Chigago),'  which  was  some  time  since  in- 
dustriously circulated  among  the  Scandinavians  in  Chicago : 

'Among  all  the  numerous  religious  associations,  which  here 
surround  us  upon  all  sides,  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
is  the  only  one  that  answers  to  the  church  in  our  native  land. 
Both  these  churches  are  real  (living)  branches  upon  the  holy 
catholic,  which  is  'built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  Apostles  and 
prophets,  Jesus  Christ  being  the  chief  corner  stone : '  they  ori- 
ginate not  from  any  human  authority  or  right,  but  from  God 
himself.  . .  .  !  In  one  word,  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  America,  although  bearing  a  different  name  from  the  Church 
in  our  native  land,  we  still  believe  that  we  find  the  character, 
doctrine  and  faith  of  the  former, — ^the  Lutheran  church.  It  is 
not  so  with  any  other  Church  in  this  country,  by  what  name 
soever  it  may  be  called.' 

"In  reference  to  this  exposition  of  the  principles  of  'St. 
Ansgarius  Church, '  as  the  society  over  which  Rev.  Unonius  pre- 
sides is  called,  we  scarcely  know  whether  to  be  more  filled  with 
pity  and  compassion  at  the  ignorance  that  it  displays  or  aston- 
ished at  the  boldness  and  recklessness  of  its  charges  against  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America.  We  consequently  felt  it  to  be 
our  duty,  both  in  a  public  meeting  of  Scandinavians  in  Rev. 
Anderson's  church,  and  in  a  communication  over  our  signatures 
in  the  'Prairie  Herald,'  to  expose  the  flimsy  sophistry  of  these 
assertions,  and  to  place  such  a  method  of  procedure  in  its  true 
light  before  our  brethren.  "While  St.  Ansgarius  congregation 
is  bv  its  constitution,  an  'Evangelical  Lutheran'  church,  using 
the  Lutheran  h^nnn  book  and  Liturgj-  of  their  native  land,  ad- 
hering to  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and  their  children  are  in- 
structed in  'Luther's  Small  Catechism,'  it  is  in  law,  an  Epis- 


214  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

copal  church  and  is  so  represented  in  the  conventions  of  the 
diocese  of  Illinois.  A  Lutheran  clergyman  could  never  become 
the  pastor  of  this  Lutheran  church !  "We  cannot  believe  that  the 
Episcopal  church  in  this  country,  will,  when  it  understands  it, 
approve  of  the  course  pursued  by  Mr.  Unonius,  who  is  in  fact 
establishing  an  Episcopal  church  among  our  Norwegian 
brethren,  under  the  baseless  pretense  of  its  identity  with  the 
Lutheran  church  of  Norway  and  Sweden.  Leaving  orthodoxy 
out  of  the  question,  we  ask  whether  any  honest  or  honorable 
man,  who  is  not  self-deceived,  can  approve  of  such  a  course 
or  procedure?  We  do  not  for  a  moment  question  the  right  of 
our  Episcopalian  brethren  to  exert  themselves  in  m.aking  pros- 
elytes out  of  the  members  of  our  Norwegian  or  Swedish,  or 
any  other  of  our  churches,  but  we  cannot  bring  ourselves  to  be- 
lieve that  they  can  approve  of  this  mcde  of  effecting  the  work. 
"A  most  important  inquiry  now  addresses  itself  to  our  Ame- 
rican Church,  in  view  of  this  large  and  increasing  population  of 
Scandinavians,  who  are  making  their  home  in  this  New  World. 
It  is  the  interesting  question,  what  is  our  duty  to  these,  our 
brethren  in  the  common  faith?  Here  are  vast  interests,  physical, 
intellectual,  and  spiritual,  which  dare  not  longer  be  neglected. 
The  church  should  recognize  her  responsibility,  and  joyfully 
and  earnestly  labor  for  their  welfare.  We  may  thus  briefly 
designate  the  work  that  ought  to  be  done,  — 

1.  The  Church  should  extend  her  sympathies  and  prayers 
to  these  brethren.  In  this  holy  cause,  all  can  bear  a  part.  Our 
editors  and  pastors  especially,  can  contribute  much  to  this  end, 
by  the  dissemination  of  the  information  concerning  the  wants 
of  these  interesting  strangers.  The  whole  church  should  remem- 
ber them  in  her  social  and  public  prayers. 

2.  A  few  tracts  in  Norwegian  and  Swedish,  suited  to  the 
circumstances  and  wants  of  these  immigrants,  to  be  circulated 
among  them  at  New  York  and  other  sea, ports,  on  their  arrival 
in  this  country  are  needed. 

3.  A  missionary  chaplain  conversant  with  both  these 
languages,  should  be  stationed  at  New  York  city,  to  labor  among 
these  immigrants  and  the  Scandinavian  seamen,  Avho,  in  great 
numbers,  frequent  that  port.  We  earnestly  commend  this  sub- 
ject to  the  attention  of  our  different  missionary  societies  as  one 
of  primary  importance. 

4.  Our  educational  societies  and  colleges  should  encourage 
the  education  of  young  men  who  can  preach  the  Gospel  in  Eng- 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND  GERMANS.        215 

lish,  as  well  as  in  their  native  languages.  As  a  means  to  this 
end,  the  importance  of  endowing  a  professorship  of  Scandinav- 
ian literature,  in  some  of  our  institutions,  cannot  be  over- 
estimated. 

If  at  all  practicable,  all  our  Norwegian  and  Swedish  min- 
isters and  churches  should  unite  in  the  organization  of  a  Scan- 
dinavian Synod.  The  interests  of  these  people  imperatively 
demand  the  existence  of  such  a  Synod.  It  would  be  a  center  of 
unity,  effort  and  influence  to  this  entire  population,  and  under 
God,  could  not  fail  of  producing  the  most  happy  results. 

5.  The  importance  of  this  field  of  labor  to  our  American 
Zion  is  immense.  These  immigrants  occupy  a  vast  body  of  the 
most  fertile  and  beautiful  land  in  the  United  States.  With  our 
German  brethren  they  will  form  the  great  mass  of  the  popu- 
lation in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  Now  is  the  time  to  lay  deep 
and  broad  the  foundation  of  the  churches  in  the  northwest." 

Mr.  Esbjorn  was  highly  gratified  with  this  report  in  the 
Missionary.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  to  Mr.  Passa- 
vant  shows  not  only  his  own  gratitude  but  it  shows  incidentally 
also  how  the  crafty  Episcopalians  had  deceived  and  inveigled 
the  great  and  guileless  Lutheran  singer,  Jennie  Lind: 

"Your  'report'  in  the  Missionary  has  given  me  much  pleas- 
ure and  much  information.  I  intend  to  send  that  number  to 
the  Swedish  Missionary  Society  at  Stockholm,  Sweden,  and  will 
thus  lose  my  own  copy.  I  therefore  beg  you  to  do  me  the  great 
favor  to  send  me  another  copy  of  number  ten  for  my  own  use. 
I  feel  also  very  anxious  that  Miss  Jennie  Lind  should  very  soon 
have  a  copy  of  the  same  number  ten.  I  dare,  therefore,  to  beg 
you  too,  to  send  a  copy  by  mail  to  Rev.  Dr.  Robert  Baird,  New 
York,  (to  whom  I  write  today  about  it)  unless  you  think  you 
may  directly  send  it  to  Miss  Lind.  But  she  will  rather  read  it, 
if  she  gets  it  from  his  hand.  I  sent  a  letter  of  request  to  her 
through  him  before  she  arrived  in  New  York,  but  it  looks  as  if 
she  had  not  given  it  much  attention.  Mr.  Unonius  came  per- 
sonally and  got  one  thousand  dollars  for  his  amphibious  church. 
Now  another  letter  is  forwarded  to  her  in  which  the  above  men- 
tioned report  is  quoted.  At  present,  I  am  busy  in  writing  to  the 
Norwegian  ministers  of  all  colors  about  forming  a  Scandinavian 
Lutheran  Synod.  May  God  in  His  grace  enable  us  to  build  up 
His  Kingdom  and  destroy  the  power  of  the  devil  among  our 
countrymen ! ' ' 


216  THE  LIFE  OF  IF.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

The  above  reference  of  Mr.  Passavant  to  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Unonius  brinfjs  to  light  an  important  movement  and  crisis  in 
the  Scandinavian  Lutheran  Church  of  Chicago.  The  smooth 
and  bland  Episcopalians  had  succeeded  in  gaining  over  Unonius 
a  Swede,  and  also  a  Norwegian  student,  and  had  Episeopally 
ordained  them.  These  young  men  had  thus  become  full-fledged 
Episcopal  rectors  and  were  enrolled  among  the  clergy  as  mem- 
bers of  the  diocese  of  Illinois.  It  w^as  the  intention  to  use  these 
renegade  Lutherans  to  entice  other  Lutherans  into  the  Episcopal 
fold. 

The  Chicago  Lutherans  had  been  unfortunate  in  having  a 
disreputable  character,  named  Schmidt,  as  their  first  minister. 
His  career  was  short,  but  long  enough  to  divide  the  Lutherans 
into  two  hostile  factions.  One  became  embittered  against  Schmidt 
and,  as  is  so  often  the  case,  vented  its  hatred  not  only  against 
him  but  against  the  Lutheran  Church.  Of  this  misfortune  and 
disaffection,  the  Episcopalians  took  advantage  and  sent  Unonius 
to  Chicago  to  missionate  among  the  dissatisfied  ones.  He  gath- 
ered a  little  congregation  mainly  out  of  this  element,  called  it 
St.  Ansgar's  Evangelicjil  Lutheran  Church,  palmed  himself  off 
for  a  Lutheran  and  made  his  deluded  followers  believe  that  they 
alone  were  the  genuine  and  true  Lutherans. 

The  visit  of  Mr.  Passavant  and  Reynolds  was  very  oppor- 
tune. They  exposed  the  whole  situation.  Through  the 
papers  and  hy  public  and  private  announcemt-nts,  they 
invited  all  who  were  interested  to  come  and  hear  the 
whole  matter  openly  discussed  in  Mr.  Anderson's  church. 
For  three  days  there  was  a  public  discussion  in  the  church  in 
which  a  number  of  Episcopalians  besides  Unonius  took  part.  It 
is  needless  to  say  that  the  Scandinavians  of  the  city  had  their 
eyes  opened.  The  schemes  of  the  Episcopalians  were  laid  bare 
and  brought  to  naught  and  many  of  those  who  had  been  be- 
guiled came  back  from  the  fold  of  Unonius  into  the  Lutheran 
church. 

Prof.  Reynolds  showed  himself  especially  able  in  this  dis- 
cussion. "With  his  large  historical  learning,  he  exposed  and  dis- 
proved the  fallacies  and  baseless  assertions  of  the  Episcopalians. 
The  history  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Chicago  might  have  been 
much  sadder  than  it  is,  had  not  Passavant  and  Reynolds  come 
to  its  rescue.  St.  Ansgarius  church  still  exists  as  the  lone  repre- 
sentative of  Scandinavian  Episcopalianism.     It  has  led  a  pre- 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND   GERMANS.      217 

carious  life,  while  there  are  a  half  hundred  strong  Scandinavian 
Lutheran  Churches  in  the  city  and  suburbs. 

On  this  matter  of  proselytism,  Mr.  Esbjorn  writes  to  Mr. 
Passavant : 

"It  is  a  sad  spectacle  to  see  several  denominations  in  this 
country  run  a  race  to  get  the  'simple-hearted  Scandinavians' 
into  their  societies,  rather  for  the  purpose  of  giving  numerical 
strength  to  themselves  than  of  laboring  for  conversion  and  true 
life  in  God.  If  they  get  one  Swede  or  Norwegian  into  their 
communion,  they  seem  not  to  care  that  a  hundred  will  perish 
by  the  distraction  and  the  hesitation  that  sach  a  course  undoubt- 
edly will  create.  A  Christian  minister  of  high  standing  of  the 
Congregational  Calvinistic  Church  who  formerly  resided  in 
Chicago,  once  said  to  me:  'I  would  not  wish  that  the  Swedes 
should  be  turned  over  to  any  other  denomination,  not  even  to 
my  own ;  because  it  is  certain  that  if  a  true  Christian  Lutheran 
Church  be  organized  among  them,  that  will  operate  most  effect- 
ually upon  all  Swedes  to  come,  yea,  it  will,  also,  in  a  salutary 
way,  react  upon  the  Church  in  ^our  home ;  but  if  they  turn  over 
to  other  denominations,  such  a  course  will  produce  prejudices 
on  the  whole  and  do  but  little-  good. '  Oh !  that  such  sentiments 
might  prevail  among  the  foreign  denominations  that  are  now  so 
busy  to  separate  the  Swedes  and  the  Norwegians.  Oh !  that  they 
were  as  anxious  for  building  up  the  Kingdom  of  God  among 
them,  as  for  forming  them  in  accordance  with  new  '  Constitutions 
and  Canons!  Oh!  that  these  persons  that  undertake  to  form 
churches  had  better  motives  than  that  'the  temporal  happiness 
and  freedom,  cannot  be  obtained,  secured  and  really  enjoyed' 
without  religion  ! ' ' 

In  1851,  two  Norwegian  church  papers  were  started  in 
Chicago,  one  by  the  Pastors  Preuss,  Stub  and  Clausen  and  the 
other  by  Pastor  Hatlestad.  Mr.  Passavant  gave  both  papers  a 
hearty  welcome  and  offered  that  if  any  one  would  send  him 
fifty  subscribers  for  the  Missio7iary,  he  would  send  the  twenty- 
five  dollars  to  the  two  Norwegian  editors  to  be  used  for  the  free 
distribution  of  their  papers  among  those  who  were  too  poor  to 
pay  for  them.  In  the  same  year  he  arranged  a  collecting  tour 
for  Pastor  Esbjorn  in  the  East  and  assisted  him  through  the 
Missionary,  by  letters,  and  by  personal  efforts.  He  also  made  an 
earnest  and  eloquent  plea  on  the  duties  of  the  whole  church  to 
the  scattered  Germans. 

The  Observer  had  published  this  statement : 


218  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

"A  respectable  writer,  who  knows  as  much  about  the  state 
of  Europe  as  any  man  living,  says  there  are  twenty  thousand 
Lutheran  ministers  in  Germany,  of  whom,  in  the  judgment  of 
charity,  there  are  not  two  thousand  who  even  profess  to  have 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus !  The  Congregational  Journal  asks.  Are 
these  the  men  to  teach  our  ministers  and  theological  students 
the  interpretation  of  the  Scriptures  and  Christian  doctrine?" 

This  roused  Mr.  Passavant's  righteous  indignation  and  he 
devoted  a  column  to  chiding  the  Observer,  defending  the  Ger- 
mans, and  lamenting  the  evil  influences  of  the  State  over  the 
Church  in  every  land  where  these  were  united.  He  ends  up 
with  these  glowing  words : 

"No  Church  ever  did,  or  ever  could,  preserve  its  purity 
in  connection  with  the  State.  The  alliance  of  the  Church  with 
a  worldly  power,  is  like  the  embrace  of  a  living  man  with  a 
corpse :  foot  to  foot,  arm  to  arm,  face  to  face,  corruption  to  life, 
would  not  be  more  terrible  and  fatal  than  such  a  union.  Who 
shall  deliver  the  church  from  the  body  of  this  death?  Christ 
has  not  forsaken  His  Church.  There  is  yet  hope,  'I  thank  God, 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord'." 

When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hasselquist  arrived,  Mr.  Passavant 
warmly  welcomed  him,  introduced  him  to  the  Rev.  Paul  Ander- 
son of  Chicago,  and  advised  their  co-operation.  These  two 
brethren  together  organized  the  First  Swedish  Lutheran  Church' 
in  Chicago,  in  1852.  For  this  and  for  the  Swedish  Church  in 
Andover  and  Moline,  Mr.  Passavant  again  made  a  most  earnest 
plea.  He  took  up  the  first  collection  in  his  church  in  Pittsburg 
for  the  church  in  Andover.  At  the  same  time  he  rejoiced  in 
the  holding  of  the  first  Swedish  conference  meeting  in  the 
United  States,  held  in  Moline,  Jan.  6-9,  1853.  He  also  reported 
how  Ole  Bull,  the  famous  Norwegian  violinist,  who  was  a  Luth- 
eran, had  contributed  towards  the  building  of  Paul  Anderson's 
church. 

Speaking  of  some  hypocritical  proselyters,  Mr.  Passavant 
shows  his  righteous  indignation  and  incidentally  brings  in  Ole 
Bull  again: 

"It  requires  a  large  share  of  grace,  and  more  than  an 
ordinary  stock  of  good  nature,  to  keep  one's  peace,  when  read- 
ing in  our  exchanges  all  that  is  said  about  the  poor,  cold,  dead 
Lutheran  church  of  Europe  and  the  LTnited  States.  Run-away- 
students,  men  of  doubtful  character  and  persons  who  have  been 
refused  admission  to  our  synods  because  of  their  stupidity  and 


AMONG  SCANDINAVIANS  AND   GERMANS.      219 

unfitness,  suddenly  turn  up  in  sister  churches  as  evangelists  and 
missionaries,  and  American  audiences  hang  in  ecstasy  upon 
their  lips,  while  in  broken  English  they  rehearse  their  pompous 
stories  of  the  conversion  of  hundreds  among  their  'poor  be- 
nighted Lutheran  countrymen'!  These  gentlemen  of  immaculate 
holiness,  could  not  remain  in  their  own  church  because  of  its 
coldness  and  formality  and  therefore,  (pious  souls)  left  it  lest 
their  garments  might  be  soiled.  They  find  it  much  easier  to 
play  the  game  of  deception,  and  live  on  the  handsome  salaries 
they  receive  from  the  great  missionary  societies  in  New  York, 
than  to  be  the  obscure  men  they  would  be  in  their  own  com- 
mamion.  And  thus  the  old  song  is  sung  over  again  until  at 
length  even  the  unsuspecting  committees,  begin  to  suspect  that 
all  is  not  right,  and  that  in  reality,  they  have  been  shamefully 
■  humbugged  all  the  time. 

"We  are  not  a  little  amused  at  the  account  given  us  by  Ole 
Bull,  of  a  visit  which  one  of  these  gentlemen  paid  to  him  when 
in  Cincinnati  a  few  years  ago.  The  preacher  had  come  all  the 
way  from  Wisconsin,  to  see  his  distinguished  countryman,  and 
to  procure  from  him  a  large  donation  for  a  church  which  he 
had  commenced  for  his  converts,  but  on  which  the  sheriff  was 
casting  an  evil  eye.  Although  well  dressed,  and  duly  supplied 
with  letters,  his  appearance  was  unfortunately  against  him.  But 
Ole  Bull  heard  him  through,  as  he  told  his  story,  describing  the 
dead  and  corrupt  condition  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  warmly 
setting  forth  the  necessity  of  doing  something  for  true  spirit- 
uality by  paying  the  debt  of  the  church  which  he  had  built  for 
his  converts !  Then  came  a  lesson  and  a  reproof  from  his  patient 
listener,  which  took  the  sectarian  all  aback  and  made  him  seek 
for  the  door  with  much  more  celerity  than  he  had  entered  it. 
The  thing  which  excited  Ole  so  much  was,  as  he  explained  it, 
the  idea  that  such  a  man,  'so  gross  (fleshy)  a  man,'  should  thus 
prate  about  spirituality,  while  he  bore  upon  his  very  countenance 
the  unmistakable  marks  of  grossness  and  sensualism. 

"  As  a  specimen  of  the  spirit  and  style,  in  which  the  Lutheran 
Church  is  spoken  of  by  not  a  few  persons,  take  the  following 
beautiful  morsel,  which  appears  in  the  German  paper  published 
by  the  so-called,  'United  Brethren  in  Christ,'  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 
It  is  an  extract  from  the  report  of  a  certain  'Reverend'  Bright, 
the  Missionary  Secretary  of  their  Mission  Board.  This  indi- 
vidual writes  among  other  things,  as  follows :  '  The  American 
people,  in  general,  are  provided  with  a  living  ministry  and  the 


220  TEE  LIFE  OF  TT.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

pure  Gospel.  But  this  is  not  the  case  with  the  Germans.  The 
great  mass  of  these  are  Roman  Catholics,  Old  Lutherans,  and 
sceptics.  They  know  nothing  of  a  religion,  based  upon  ex- 
perience; their  ministers  are  dumb  dogs,  blind  leaders  of  the 
blind,  and  if  not  delivered  from  their  deceptions,  ministers  and 
people  will  stumble  and  fall  into  the  bottomless  pit.' 

"This  is  the  old  song,  and  the  old  bitter  spirit  of  sectar- 
ianism. But  we  will  not  return  railing  for  railing.  INIay  God 
forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 

The  Missionary  also  rejoiced  in  the  resolutions  of  the 
Northern  Illinois  Synod,  to  which  Paul  Anderson  and  the 
Swedes  at  that  time  belonged,  to  establish  a  Scandinavian  pro- 
fessorship in  the  college  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  commended 
the  project  of  sending  Pastor  Esbjorn  to  Norway  and  Sweden 
to  collect  money  to  endow  such  a  chair. 

We  might  go  on  filling  page  after  page  showing  not  only 
the  warm  interest  and  sympathy  but  also  the  practical  help  that 
Mr.  Passavant  extended  to  the  Germans  and  the  Scandinavians. 
This  was  a  trait  of  his  character  throughout  life.  He  realized 
from  the  beginning  that  the  Lutheran  church  is  greater  than 
any  tongue  or  nationality  and  that  the  Lutheran  faith  is  more 
important  and  precious  than  any  synod  or  organization. 


ORPHAN  WORK,  221 


CHAPTER  X. 

ORPHAN  WORK. 

While  Mr.  Passavant  was  extending  help  to  the  scattered 
Lutherans  of  the  different  nationalities  in  the  west,  his  various 
enterprises  at  home  were  not  laid  aside.  For  many  years  he  was 
Missionary  Superintendent  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod.  He  traveled 
over  the  widely  scattered  regions,  visited  the  churches  and 
missions,  advised,  encouraged  and  aided  everywhere.  The  al- 
most impassable  roads  and  the  poor  accomodations  of  the  pio- 
neers, he  endured,  without  complaint.  He  was  flooded  with 
letters  and  complaints  and  appeals  of  every  kind.  Preachers 
and  people  had  found  him  a  helper  in  need  and  appealed  to  him 
for  aid,  whether  in  feigned  or  real  distress.  Hundreds  of  such 
letters  lie  before  us.  Many  of  them  are  the  basest  frauds ;  others 
are  what  the  Germans  call  "unverschaemt,"  and  still  others  are 
pitiful  cases  of  real  want.  No  one  except  the  good  Lord  and 
himself  ever  knew  how  many  of  these  were  quietly  helped  and 
how  many  were  carried  in  his  benevolent  hand  and  heart  for 
years.  Not  only  did  he  do  his  own  full  share,  but  he  also  knew 
how  to  interest  others  in  these  private  charities.  By  the  simple 
telling  of  a  story  of  want,  as  he  alone  could  tell  it ;  by  the  writ- 
ing of  a  letter,  as  only  he  could  write ;  by  a  few  lines  in  the 
Missionary,  as  he  knew  how  to  put  it;  he  touched  hearts  and 
opened  hands  on  every  side.  To  this  day,  in  the  regions  of  the 
Pittsburg  Synod,  in  different  parts  of  the  west  and  south,  from 
Canada  and  from  Texas,  aged  pastors  or  their  widows  or  their 
children  tell  touching  stories  of  missionary  boxes  and  personal 
aid  sent  by  good  Mr.  Passavant  in  the  years  long  gone. 

His  congregation,  its  mission  branches,  the  Infirmary  and 
the  Missionary,  still  demanded  his  time,  labors  and  prayers. 
Had  he  enough  to  do  ?  Yes,  more  than  enough.  His  mother  could 
not  help  warning  him  against  taking  upon  himself  more  than 
he  could  bear.  And  yet  he  did  take  more  and  kept  on  taking 
more  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  long  and  wonderful  life  stands 
before  us  as  a  living  verification  of  the  promise  "As  thy  day  so 
shall  thy  strength  be. ' '  With  added  labors,  he  found  added 
helpers.    And  here  we  meet  another  marked  characteristic  of  the 


222  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

man — one  that  is  generally  found  in  every  great  leader.  He  had  a 
remarkable  knowledge  of  human  nature.  He  understood  men 
and  women  better  than  they  understood  themselves.  He  knew 
how  to  select  his  aids.  He  put  the  right  helpers  in  the  right 
places.  Sometimes  he  missed  it.  He  was  not  infallible.  He 
could  be  deceived.  But  on  the  whole,  he  was  wonderfully  suc- 
cessful. 

We  have  seen  how  his  tender  heart  was  touched  at  sight  of 
the  Jewish  Orphanage  in  London.  The  impressions  of  that  hour 
never  left  him.  They  moved  him  to  the  starting  of  the  Infir- 
mary. Hospital  work  almost  necessarily  demands  orphan  work. 
Fathers  and  mothers  who  are  homeless  die  in  the  hospital.  The 
orphans  are  left  without  homes  or  protectors.  What  is  to  be- 
come of  them  ?  The  Pittsburg  Infirmary  had  not  long  been  open 
before  it  had  orphans  on  hand.  IMr.  Passavant  was  not  the 
man  to  send  them  adrift  or  to  throw  them  on  doubtful  charity. 

Over  and  over  again  he  thought  of  that  hour  in  London. 
He  alludes  to  his  perplexities  and  doubts  in  these  words :  ' '  The 
mind  may  have  been  filled  for  years  with  painful  doubts  and 
earnest  inquiries.  Some  circumstance,  seemingly  trivial,  may 
decide  the  question  and  decide  it  forever.  The  thought  of  faith 
becomes  the  work  of  faith  and  the  labor  of  love.  This  is  strik- 
ingly illustrated  in  the  history  of  the  Home  and  Farm  School." 
He  repeats  the  story  of  that  hour  in  London  and  continues : 

"How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  God  in  His  dealings  with 
men !  What  we  call  accidents  are  but  His  wise  arrangements. 
Apparent  trifles  are  the  important  links  in  the  great  chain  of 
causes  which  work  out  His  will,  and  fulfill  His  word.  Unto 
Him  then,  be  all  the  glory  by  His  church  throughout  all  ages." 

The  story  of  the  feeble  beginning  of  his  first  Orphanage,  of 
the  trials  and  triumphs  of  faith,  as  well  as  the  statement  of  the 
principles  on  which  it  was  founded  and  carried  on,  together 
with  a  portraj'al  of  the  inner  life  of  the  Institution,  Mr.  Passa- 
vant has  himself  written.  This  report  was  read  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  directors  in  1860.  We  give  extracts  from  what 
he  wrote,  read  and  published: 

' '  The  first  donation  for  the  Home,  was  a  dollar,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances which  suggested  it,  the  following.  In  July,  184:9, 
the  Rev.  Th.  Fliedner,  of  the  Deaconess  Institute  at  Kaisers- 
werth,  then  on  a  visit  to  Pittsburg,  was  spending  an  evening  with  • 
a  few  friends,  and  warmly  urged  upon  them  the  duty  of  mercy 
to   the   orphan.      A   German   colporteur  calling   at   the  house, 


ORPHAN  WORK.  223 

listened  attentively  to  his  remarks,  and  on  retiring  handed  a 
dollar  to  one  of  the  ministers  present,  with  this  remark,  'Here 
you  have  a  commencement  for  an  Orphan  House.'  Fully 
occupied  at  the  time  with  the  care  of  a  church  and  the  In- 
firmary, we  looked  to  others  to  begin  this  work  and  three  years 
elapsed  before  other  contributions  were  received. "''.,.... 

The  announcement  of  the  purpose  to  establish  an  Orphan 
House,  was  first  made  in  the  Missionary  of  September,  1851.  As 
a  part  of  the  history  of  the  Institution,  and  an  expression  of 
the  aims  and  views  of  its  founders  at  that  time,  it  is  given  almost 
entire : 

"A  few  friends  in  this  vicinity,  moved  by  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  sad  lot  of  the  orphan,  propose  to  establish  a 
Home  for  these  bereaved  children.  It  is  designed  to  be  a  Church 
Institution.  AVhile  none  will  be  excluded,  the  orphans  of  the 
ministers,  teachers  and  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  will 
have  the  preference  in  the  way  of  admission.  The  faith  of  the 
Church,  as  taught  in  her  Catechism,  will  be  the  basis  of  the  re- 
ligious instruction  imparted;  and  the  chief  aim  of  those  who 
have  charge  of  the  Institution,  will  be  to  bring  these  little  ones 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  Redeemer.  Daily  instruction,  daily 
prayer,  and  the  watchful  oversight  of  a  Christian  pastor,  will 
be  employed  with  a  reference  to  this  great  end.  In  this  way, 
it  is  hoped  that  many  neglected  orphans  will  be  trained  up  in 
the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  qualified  to  fill 
positions  of  usefulness  and  respectability. 

' '  The  friends  who  have  undertaken  this  work,  depend  wholly 
on  God  for  the  means  to  erect  the  necessary  buildings  and  to 
support  the  children.  They  will  commence,  as  soon  as  possible, 
on  a  small  scale,  and  extend  and  enlarge  their  operations  as  the 
need  may  require.  All  display  and  useless  expenditure  will  be 
conscientiously  avoided,  and  the  contributions  of  Christian 
friends  will  go  directly  for  the  sacred  purposes  for  which  they 
may  be  designated. 

"Words  need  not  be  multiplied  to  commend  such  an  Insti- 
tution to  the  sympathy  of  the  Church.  The  simple  fact,  that 
the  Lutheran  church  in  America,  with  more  than  one  million  of 
population,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  immigrants  from  the 
Old  World,  has  not  a  single  asylum  for  her  poor  orphan  chil- 
dren, is  all  that  need  be  told.     In  the  almshouses  of  our  cities 


9  That  minister  was  himself. 


224  THE  LIFE  OF  T7.  A,  PASSAVANT. 

t 

and  sea-ports,  multitudes  of  forlorn  orphans  may  be  numbered 
who  are  growing  up  amid  the  society  of  paupers  and  wretched 
women  and  men;  and  among  these  how  many  of  'those  of  our 
own  household'  are  found,  whom  the  Church  has  hitherto  over- 
looked with  a  most  unnatural  and  cruel  neglect. " 

"As  early  as  1850,  two  orphans  were  received,  the  sons  of  a 
clergyman  from  Germany  who  died  on  his  arrival  in  this  city. 
As  the  Home  was  not  yet  in  operation,  they  lived  in  the  Infir- 
mary upwards  of  two  years,  making  themselves  useful  in  various 
ways  and  attending  the  public  schools. 

"Two  others  were  admitted  shortly  after,  the  sons  of  a 
teacher  in  Switzerland,  who  remained  for  a  shorter  time.  Suit- 
able places  were  procured  for  them,  and  they  have  since  acquired 
usefvil  trades,  with  credit  to  themselves  and  Ifonor  to  their  em- 
ployers. The  Home  was  organized  as  a  separate  Institution  in 
April,  1852,  by  the  appointment  of  Sister  Louisa  Marthens  to 
the  charge  of  the  children.  On  the  15th.  of  that  month,  the 
first  orphans  were  received,  two  Norwegian  boys  and  one  girl, 
brothers  and  sister,  from  Chicago,  Ills.  They  were  accompanied 
by  the  Rev.  P.  Anderson,  who  gave  them  over  to  the  Institution 
with  a  pastor's  fervent  blessing.  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month, 
two  German  children  of  a  very  tender  age,  were  admitted.  To 
these,  two  of  the  above-mentioned  boys  were  added,  making  the 
orphan  family  seven  in  number.  The  withdrawal  of  the  two 
youngest  children  in  a  few  weeks,  and  the  going  to  a  trade  of 
the  two  larger  boys,  soon  reduced  the  family  to  its  original  num- 
ber. By  September  of  the  same  year,  however,  five  other  chil- 
dren had  been  received.  One  of  these  was  committed  to  the 
Institution  with  many  tears,  by  a  father  who  died  in  the  In- 
firmary. Another  was  brought  to  it  by  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
in  consequence  of  the  dying  charge  of  her  father,  who  left  his 
child  with  his  little  all,  to  the  Home. ' ' 

Many  years  after  the  foregoing  report  was  read  the  writer 
of  this  heard  Mr.  Passavant  tell  these  interesting  stories  of 
those  early  beginnings : 

One  of  the  early  consignments  of  children  was  sent  from 
Philadelphia.  Mr.  Passavant  went  to  the  station  expecting  to 
meet  a  group  of  bright,  clean  and  happy  children.  Instead  of 
this  he  found  them  begrimed  with  dust  of  travel  and  bestained 
with  tears.  When  he  told  them  who  he  was,  one  of  the  larger 
girls  ran  up  to  him,  threw  her  arms  about  his  neck  and  sobbed : 


THE  ORPHANS'  FARM  SCHOOL,  ZELIENOPLE.  PA. 

1854. 


ORPHAN   WORK.  225 

"So  you  are  Mr.  Passavant,  and  you  will  be  our  father."  Then 
and  there,  he  told  us,  he  received  a  new  and  needed  lesson  on 
what  it  means  to  be  director  of  an  Orphanage.  Then  he  knew 
that  he  must  be  a  father  and  love  these  desolate  little  ones  into 
goodness  and  happiness.  But  the  romance  and  the  visions  that 
his  fervid  imagination  had  pictured  were  gone.  Orphan  work, 
and  all  mercy  work  henceforth  meant  to  him  the  giving  of  life 
and  love. 

When  the  cholera  was  raging  in  Chicago  Mr  Passavant 
on  a  hasty  trip  to  that  city  found  a  Swedish  Pastor  making 
coffins,  with  his  own  hands,  for  the  poor  among  his  people  who 
had  been  cut  down  by  the  pestilence. — If  we  recall  correctly 
this  was  the  Rev.  Father  Carlson,  the  devoted  pioneer  mission- 
ary among  the  Swedes  of  Chicago.  Wringing  his  hands  he  said 
to  Passavant,  "What  shall  I  do  with  their  orphaned  children?" 
"Send  twelve  of  them  to  my  orphan's  home  in  Pittsburg,"  was 
the  ready  reply.  The  twelve  were  sent  in  charge  of  the  Nor- 
wegian Pastor,  Paul  Anderson.  Mr.  Passavant  met  them  at  the 
station  and  they  were  soon  made  comfortable  and  happy.  Some 
of  these  became  men  and  women  of  mark  and  all  became  useful 
citizens. 

"When  the  Home  was  commenced  in  Pittsburg,  one  insti- 
tution was  thought  to  be  all-sufficient.  The  experience  of  the 
first  six  months,  however,  revealed  the  necessity  of  a  special 
Institution  for  the  larger  boys.  The  want  of  out-door  employ- 
ment, and  many  other  reasons,  pointed  to  the  country  as  the 
most  suitable  place  for  this  branch  of  the  Institution..  Accord- 
ingly, after  an  examination  of  different  localities,  a  small  farm 
joining  the  village  of  Zelienople,  Butler  County,  Pa.,  was  selected 
as  the  site  of  the  proposed  Farm  School..  The  land  was  purch- 
ased in  September,  1852,  from  Joseph  Ziegler,  at  sixty  dollars 
per  acre,  and  possession  was  obtained  the  following  April. 
Among  the  reasons  which  led  to  the  selection  of  this  land,  were 
its  fresh  .and  mineral  springs,  its  grove  of  noble  forest  trees  ad- 
joining the  site  of  the  proposed  building,  the  fertility  of  the 
soil,  the  beauty  of  the  situation,  and  its  seclusion  from  the  busy 
scenes  of  men.  The  location  is  much  admired  for  its  quiet  beauty 
and  the  romantic  scenery  by  which  it  is  surrounded.  It  is  alike 
accessible  from  the  east  and  west  and  from  the  north  and  south, 
being  but  28  miles  from  Pittsburg  and  ten  from  Rochester  Sta- 
tion on  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  and  the  Pittsburg 


226  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

and  Cleveland   railroads,  which  connect  with  leading  western 
and  southern  roads.  ^'^ 

It  also  combines  the  advantages  of  all  the  other  places  pro- 
posed, such  as  general  healthfulness,  good  water,  cheapness  of 
living,  access  to  a  large  city,  and  a  surrounding  community,  in- 
dustrious and  virtuous. 

The  necessity  of  a  suitable  dwelling  for  the  director  of  the 
proposed  school,  led  to  the  erection  of  a  neat  and  substantial 
Gothic  cottage  in  the  summer  of  1853.  During  the  year,  other 
improvements  were  made,  such  as  the  digging  of  a  well,  the 
building  of  a  stable,  out-houses,  and  fences.  In  April,  1854, 
the  Rev.  G.  Bassler  of  Middle  Lancaster,  Butler  County,  having 
been  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the  Farm  School,  removed  into 
the  Director's  house.  The  advantage  of  his  presence  was  soon 
apparent,  not  only  in  the  preparations  for  the  erection  of  the 
main  building,  but  in  the  improvement  of  the  grounds,  and  in  his 
valuable  co-operation  in  everything  relating  to  the  interests  of 
the  Institution. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  two  years  after  the  first  orphans 
were  admitted,  the  Home  in  the  city  was  already  crowded,  and 
new  applications  were  constantly  received.  It  was  therefore 
determined  to  make  a  commencement  at  the  Farm  School  with- 
out delay.  Accordingly,  some  rooms  were  rented  for  this  pur- 
pose, in  the  building  in  Zelienople  now  occupied  by  the  Aca- 
demy, and  in  May,  1854,  eight  of  the  larger  boys  from  the  Home 
were  organized  as  the  first  family  of  the  proposed  Institution. 
The  services  of  a  worthy  woman  were  fortunately  secured;  the 
most  necessary  furniture  was  procured  for  housekeeping,  and 
with  a  student  as  an  elder  brother,  the  Institution  went  into 
operation.  The  mornings  were  occupied  in  various  kinds  of 
labor  on  the  farm,  and  the  afternoons  in  the  exercises  of  the 
school  room,  under  the  Rev.  A.  H.  Waters,  who  had  re-com- 
menced the  Academy  in  the  village.  In  looking  back  to  the  first 
year  in  the  country,  the  remembrance  of  many  trying  and  un- 
looked-for difficulties  recurs  to  the  mind.  The  whole  was  an  ex- 
periment. The  experience  of  others  was  not  at  hand  to  guide 
us.  The  inconveniences  attendant  on  the  first  trial,  were  un- 
usually great.  The  rooms  occupied  by  the  Institution  were  so 
small,  that  the  boys  had  to  sleep  in  the  garret  both  during  the 
summer  and  winter.    And  the  entire  failure  of  the  gardens  and 


10  The  B.  &  O.  E.  K.  now  passes  through  the  town. 


ORPHAN  WORK.  227 

crops  by  the  excessive  drought,  not  only  made  their  labor  in 
vain,  but  rendered  it  necessary  to  bring  most  of  the  provisions 
and  flour  from  a  distance  and  at  a  great  expense.  Some  of  the 
experiences  of  this  period  were  as  amusing  as  they  were  try- 
ing, but  all  the  difficulties  incident  to  the  new  undertaking  were 
met  by  a  cheerful  faith,  which  turned  the  gloomy  shadows  into 
sunshine,  and  looked  forward  to  a  better  day. 

The  erection  of  the  principal  building  at  the  Farm  School 
was  the  great  event  in  its  history.  It  was  originally  designed 
to  build  a  number  of  cottages  for  orphan-families  of  from  ten 
to  twelve  children,  but  on  mature  reflection,  and  for  reasons 
which  need  not  here  be  detailed,  it  was  finally  decided  first  to 
erect  the  main  building,  which  would  contain  the  necessary 
offices,  school,  work  and  dining  rooms,  with  kitchen  for  the 
whole  Institution,  and  sleeping  apartments  for  sixty  or  eighty 
children.  Accordingly,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  the  ground  was 
broken,  and  preparations  made  for  the  new  edifice.  By  July 
the  foundation  had  been  finished,  with  the  exception  of  the 
range  work,  which  was  rapidly  approaching  completion 

The  work  was  vigorously  prosecuted.  At  an  early  hour 
every  day,  between  thirty  and  forty  men,  before  going  forth  to 
their  toil,  met  in  the  woodshed,  and  united  with  the  Director 
in  prayer  to  God,  that  He  would  bless  the  labor  of  their  hands 
and  give  the  Institution  its  daily  bread.  Seldom,  perhaps,  was 
there  more  unity  of  purpose  and  heartiness  of  will  among  work- 
men. Though  none  could  be  poorer  than  the  Institution,  the 
men  were  paid  with  a  promptitude  to  which  most  had  been 
strangers.  It  was  a  frequent  remark  among  many,  that  they  had 
never  before  received  their  wages  with  so  much  regularity.  Not 
only  were  friends  raised  up  to  contribute  out  of  their  abundance 
and  their  poverty  to  the  advancing  work,  but  others  kindly 
brought  money  and  loaned  it  to  us  without  security.  Others, 
who  had  furnished  materials  and  labor,  allowed  their  account 
to  stand  until  it  became  convenient  to  pay.  Notwithstanding 
the  heavy  outlay,  there  was  no  interruption,  and  by  the  end  of 
November  the  building  was  roofed  and  enclosed  Avithout  injury 
or  accident.  The  year  1854  was  thus  happily  closed  and  the 
following  entry  made  in  the  journal  of  the  Institution: 

'Hitherto  Hath  The  Lord  Helped  Us.' 

With  this  utterance  of  gratitude  we  desire  to   close  the 
year.     It  would  be  deeply  sinful  not  to  bless  the  name  of  God, 


228  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

who  hath  done  ■wonderful  things  for  us  and  crowned  the  year 
with  His  goodness.  "With  a  leeord  of  hourly  mercies  and  daily 
deliverance  have  not  the  two  Institutions  experienced !  The 
officers,  teachers,  children,  spared  in  the  midst  of  contagion  and 
death,  their  daily  bread  supplied  in  the  midst  of  general  want, 
the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  the  Highest  bestowed  in  our  ig- 
norance and  inexperience,  the  necessary  means  furnished  by 
gifts  and  loans,  in  every  time  of  need,  preservation  from  loss 
of  life  and  limb  to  those  engaged  on  the  building,  and  to  the 
edifice  itself  protection  from  fire  and  lightning  and  storm. 
Again  and  again  have  we  been  taught  the  lesson,  that  'except 
the  Lord  build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  who  build  it.'  And 
now,  in  the  review  of  the  trials  and  deliverances  of  the  past 
year,  we  desire,  not  with  words  merely,  but  from  the  heart  to 
say:  'Not  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  Thy  name,  Oh  Lord, 
give  glory  and  praise.' 

During  the  two  preceding  years,  the  labors  connected  with 
the  orphan  work,  w^ere,  to  a  great  extent,  free  from  pecuniary 
anxiety.  The  number  of  children  in  both  Institutions  had  in- 
deed increased  to  twenty-four  by  the  beginning  of  1855,  but  the 
means  for  their  support  were  generously  supplied  by  a  sym- 
pathizing Church.  Through  the  accumulation  of  previous  years 
and  a  few  special  efiPorts,  the  cost  of  the  Farm,  the  Director's 
house  and  other  improvements,  was  met  without  difficulty, 
and  on  the  first  of  April,  185-1,  the  last  obligation  was  paid. 

It  is  indeed  true,  that  only  75  cents  remained  in  the  treasury 
after  this  was  done.  To  stand  still,  however,  seemed  impossible. 
The  call  to  go  forward  appeared  as  from  heaven.  The  con- 
tracts were  therefore  made  for  the  main  building,  nothing 
doubting  that  the  Lord  would  provide.  Looking  back,  in  cold 
blood,  upon  this  step,  we  acknowledge  that  our  course  seems 
presumptuous  and  indefensible.  But,  then,  we  could  not  so 
regard  it.  The  duty  of  large  and  immediate  action  appeared 
clear  as  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  The  ability  of  the  Church  for 
such  a  work,  and  the  power  of  God  to  move  the  heart,  unhoard 
the  wealth,  and  prompt  to  generous  charity,  could  not  be 
doubted.  The  concurrence  of  many  favoring  circumstances, 
and  the  voluntary  offerings  of  the  benevolent,  together  with 
the  painful  and  increasing  want  of  a  suitable  dwelling  for  the 
orphans,  made  the  call  to  go  forward  irresistible 

Scarcely  had  the   corner-stone   of  the   Farm   School  been 
laid,    when    the    springing    crops    withered    away    before    the 


ORPHAN  WORK.  229 

drought.  What  the  heat  did  not  destroy,  clouds  of  grasshoppers 
consumed.  In  many  places,  the  cattle  perished  in  the  fields. 
Flour  rose  from  five  dollars  a  barrel  to  twelve.  Labor,  build- 
ing materials  and  food  of  -every  kind,  advanced  in  proportion. 
But  the  work  could  not  stop  with  unfinished  walls.  At  any 
price,  the  building  must  be  inclosed. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  the  cholera  broke  out  in  Pitts- 
burg with  awful  virulence.  In  a  fortnight,  nearly  a  thousand 
persons  were  numbered  with  the  dead.  The  wards  of  the  In- 
firmary were  crowded  with  the  sick.  Among  the  victims  of 
the  plague,  were  many  helpless  orphans,  whole  families  of 
whom  were  received  into  the  Home  and  Farm  School.  By  this 
visitation,  the  expenses  were  greatly  increased  at  the  time  of 
painful  embarrassment. 

A  few  months  later  came  the  financial  crisis.  Men's  hearts 
failed  them  with  fear.  Strong  houses  were  crushed  by  the  storm. 
Others  shook  to  their  foundations.  Among  these,  were  generous 
friends  of  the  orphan  enterprise.  Some  of  the  largest  subscrip- 
tions were  thus  lost,  but  the  obligations  which  had  been  assumed 
in  reliance  on  them,  remained,  and  only  after  years  of  anxiety 
and  trial,  could  they  be  finally  paid. 

These  were  but  the  beginnings  of  sorrows.  The  embarrass- 
ments of  the  country  were  passing  away,  when  the  financial 
crisis  of  1857  caused  a  panic  and  revulsion  throughout  the 
world.  The  voluntary  loans  which  had  been  made  to  the  In- 
stitution in  prosperous  times,  were  now  called  in.  Some  of 
them  were  from  widows,  and  others  from  business  men,  and 
could  not  be  withheld,  and  yet,  w^hile  the  orphan  family  was 
rapidly  increasing,  the  contributions,  in  consequence  of  the 
panic,  fell  off  by  one  half.  All  the  banks  were  closed.  Confi- 
dence between  man  and  man  was  almost  gone.  There  was  re- 
lief nowhere  but  with  God.  The  struggles  and  pleadings  of 
that  dark  year  are  known  only  to  Him.  But  here  was  'The 
anchor  of  the  soul  both  sure  and  steadfast,  and  which  entereth 
into  that  within  the  veil. ' 

At  its  commencement  the  Home  was  without  Constitution 
or  Eules.  Perfect  freedom,  in  the  way  of  providential  develop- 
ment, was  felt  to  be  a  necessity.  Its  plan  was  based  upon  the 
idea  of  a  Christian  home;  but  to  develop  that  idea  in  an 
orphan  institution,  is  a  work  of  time  and  difficulty.  The  absence 
of  the  home  feature,  in  many  existing  orphan  asylums,  was 
painfully  apparent  in  the  very  looks  of  the  children  and  in  all 


230  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

the  internal  arrangements;  but  to  supply  this  want  and  give 
the  Institution,  as  far  as  possible,  the  character  of  that  divine 
society,  where  God  has  set  the  solitary  into  families,  has  been 
the  cause  of  continued  thought,  anxiety  and  effort.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  and  in  immediate  connection  with  it,  other  issues 
were  from  time  to  time  presented,  which  could  be  met  only 
after  a  patient  examination  of  all  the  circumstances  in  the  case, 
and  the  application  to  them  of  the  teachings  of  Christ.  While 
perfection  has  not  been  attained,  nor  even  the  full  measure  of 
truth  in  its  relation  to  these  and  to  the  general  principles  of 
the  Institution,  they  are  given  as  the  results  of  our  experience, 
after  eight  years  of  patient  trial,  and  earnest  prayer  for  the 
divine  guidance. 

Children   Received,   w^ithout   Reference   to   the   Religious 

Faith  of  Their  Parents. 

In  the  appeal  first  sent  forth,  it  was  stated  that  while  none 
would  be  excluded,  the  orphans  of  the  pastors,  teachers  and 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  would  have  the 
precedence  in  the  way  of  admission.  The  institution  having 
been  at  first  designed  mainly  for  the  orphans  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  such  a  precedence  was  thought  to  be  necessary  and 
proper.  The  teachings  of  Christ  and  of  experience,  however, 
have  swept  away  this  slight  restriction.  It  was  early  seen  that 
Christian  mercy  is  infinitely  above  all  denominational  distinc- 
tions. It  is  based  on  the  fact  that  Christ  comes  to  us  in  the  per- 
son of  the  orphan,  and  that  whoso  receiveth  one  such  little 
child,  in  His  name,  receiveth  Him.  This  principle  settled,  the 
Institution  was  at  once  placed  on  a  purely  Christian  founda- 
tion. The  children  were  received  "in  His  name,"  and  all  lower 
motives  were  discarded.  From  that  moment,  they  were  loved 
and  cared  for  because  they  were  His.  All  doubt,  too,  in  regard 
to  their  support,  instantly  ceased.  God  became  the  father  of 
the  fatherless.  Our  children  ceased  to  be  ours,  and  became  vir- 
tually His;  and  the  resources  of  the  universe  were  all  pledged 
for  their  maintenance. 

Entire  Orphans  Alone  Received. 

In  no  respect  has  the  plan  of  the  Institution  been  so  ma- 
terially modified,  as  on  this  point.  The  first  children  were, 
with  few  exceptions,  half-orphans,  and  had  the  rules  then  been 
framed,  provision  would  have  been  made  for  their  continued 


ORPHAN  WORK.  231 

reception.  It  was  sincerely  desired  to  be  helpful  to  many 
struggling  widows  in  the  support  of  their  needy  little  ones.  Ac- 
cordingly, children  of  this  class  were  freely  admitted  for  several 
years,  and  only  after  an  experience  the  most  painful  and  dis- 
couraging, was  this  reluctantly  discontinued.  The  chief  diffi- 
culty arose  from  the  plan  of  the  Institution  as  a  Home.  The 
heart  of  the  home,  is  the  parental  relation.  In  the  case  of  most 
half-orphans,  the  Institution  could  not  take  the  parent's  place. 
There  were  virtually  two  parents,  the  one  without  and  the  other 
within.  Our  efforts  to  exercise  proper  discipline  over  the  children 
failed.  In  several  instances,  this  led  to  a  conflict  of  authority, 
and  between  the  two,  obedience  was  broken  down.  To  the 
natural  love  of  the  mother,  was  often  added  an  undue  tender- 
ness because  of  orphanage,  which  made  the  government  of  the 
children  and  the  correction  of  evil  habits  well-nigh  impossible. 

Other  serious  difficulties  gradually  manifested  themselves. 
The  changing  circumstances  of  the  surviving  parent,  often 
made  the  children  comers  and  goers.  Instead  of  a  home,  the 
Institution  became  a  house-of-call.  Nothing  permanent  could 
be  done,  in  the  way  of  Christian  nurture  and  education.  The 
very  objects  of  the  Institution  were  in  danger  of  being  defeated, 
in  the  effort  to  attain  them.  There  was  reason  to  fear  that,  not- 
withstanding the  precautions  taken,  it  would  be  largely  used  for 
convenience,  rather  than  charity,  and  that  the  thriftless  and 
undeserving  would  impose  their  offspring  upon  it,  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  those  who  were  orphans  indeed.  The  trial  made  was 
sufficiently  discouraging.  In  several  other  cases,  the  interference 
of  the  parent  was  so  constant  and  annoying,  that  the  children 
could  not  be  retained. 

The  final  result,  was  the  adoption  of  a  rule  admitting 
none  but  full  orphans.  Ordinarily,  they  are  the  most  destitute. 
The  Institution  becomes  their  home.  Its  officers  sustain  to  them 
the  relation  of  parents,  and  they  stand  to  them  more  in  the  po- 
sition of  children.  There  is  no  conflict  of  authority  or  of  control 
in  their  case.  They  are  more  easily  governed  and  taught  in 
.'  the  way  they  should  go. '  There  is  a  greater  measure  of  charity 
in  their  reception,  and  a  larger  promise  of  future  good  to  the 
orphan. 

The  Children  to  Be  Legally  Indentured  to  the  Institution, 

The  necessity  for  such  a  provision  was  early  apparent.  In 
its  absence,  their  stay  was  dependent  on  the  whims  of  child- 


232  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVAXT. 

hood  or  the  caprice  of  officious  friends.  To  do  the  children 
justice,  it  was  soon  felt  that  their  entire  control  was  indispensable. 
In  this  respect,  the  Institution  must  stand  to  them  fully  in  the 
place  of  their  parents.  It  is  true,  the  carrying  out  of  this 
arrangement  imposes  very  responsible  legal  obligations  on  the 
officers,  but  in  no  other  way  could  the  necessary  control  be  se- 
cured. If  it  is  thought  that  such  an  authority  over  the  children 
ought  not  to  be  required,  we  reply,  that  this  arrangement  is 
universal  in  all  other  Orphan  Houses,  and  that  in  one  organized 
on  the  plan  of  our  Home,  it  is  indispensable  to  its  very  existence. 
In  all  cases,  then,  where  orphans  are  received  they  must  be 
legally  indentured  by  their  friends,  the  Court,  or  the  Guardians 
of  the  Poor.  In  this  way  alone  can  they  be  adopted  into  its 
family,  enjoy  its  support,  protection  and  counsel,  and  receive 
the  legal  pledge  of  a  proper  training  in  such  branches  of  reli- 
gious, secular  and  mechanical  knowledge  as  will  qualify  them  for 
usefulness  and  respectability  in  after  life. 

The  Children  to  Remain  until  of  Age. 

It  is  this  feature  which  presents  the  greatest  attractions 
and  the  most  repulsions  to  different  minds.  This,  likewise, 
distinguishes  the  plan  of  the  Home  from  that  of  other  Orphan 
Asylums.  A  brief  explanation  of  the  reasons  which  led  to  its 
adoption,  therefore,  will  not  be  without  interest. 

In  calling  the  Institution  "The  Home,"  it  was  earnestly 
desired  to  make  it  a  home,  in  the  best  sense  of  that  word.  It 
was  felt,  that  the  Church  owed  a  home  to  her  destitute  orphans, 
and  that  any  provision  for  their  welfare  short  of  this,  would  not 
meet  their  wants,  nor  yet  fulfill  her  duty  to  the  fatherless.  It 
only  remained  to  comprehend  the  nature  of  the  home,  and  to 
give  to  the  Institution,  as  much  as  possible,  such  a  character. 
A  temporary  asylum  or  retreat,  would  not  be  home.  The  idea 
of  permanence,  as  well  as  of  parentage,  is  inseparable  from  it. 
All  feel  the  sacredness  of  the  spot  men  call  their  home,  the  cradle 
of  their  childhood,  the  scene  of  joyous  youth,  and  the  cherished 
abode,  toAvard  which  the  thoughts  wander  back  in  after  life. 
To  provide  such  a  home  for  his  offspring,  is  the  aim  of  eveiy 
right-minded  man.  He  would  gather  around  it  the  adornments 
of  taste,  and  dignify  it  with  the  supports  of  knowledge,  virtue 
and  religion.  Under  its  benign  influences,  he  fondly  hopes  to 
rear  his  children,  and  not  until  they  are  prepared  for  the  change, 
are  they  sent  forth  from  the  parental  roof,  to  struggle  with  the 


ORPHAN  WORK.  233 

realities  of  life.  Even  then,  a  father's  blessing  and  a  mother's 
love  follow  them,  and  the  sacred  endearments  of  home  become 
a  guidance  and  defense,  amid  the  duties  and  temptations  of 
life.  Such  a  home  the  Church  should  give  to  her  orphan  mem- 
bers. She  must  be  a  father  to  the  fatherless,  and  in  the  erections 
of  her  charity,  the  Christian  Home,  where  their  infancy  and 
youth  may  be  guarded  and  sanctified  by  the  word  and  by 
prayer,  must  not  be  forgotten.  Around  it  should  taste  gather 
its  attractions,  and  purity  and  love  make  all  beauteous  with- 
in. Though  not  their  first  dear  home,  it  must  yet  be  the  home 
of  holy  affection  and  tender  solicitude  and  watchful  oversight; 
and  when  the  appointed  hour  of  departure  comes,  with  the  bless- 
ing of  her  pastors  and  teachers,  will  these  youthful  ones  go  forth, 
prepared  for  the  appointed  duties  of  life.  From  thence,  as  from 
a  home,  must  go  out  the  directing  influence  to  govern  their 
course;  and  to  it,  as  to  a  home,  should  the  heart  of  the  orphan 
turn,  as  to  the  one  loved  spot  around  which  are  clustered  the 
holiest  remembrances  of  life. 

With,  such  a  view  of  the  Church's  duty  to  the  fatherless, 
it  will  be  understood  why  the  children  are  retained  in  the  In- 
stitution, instead  of  being  bound  out  in  early  years.  While  it  is 
conceded,  that  no  Institution  is  to  be  compared  to  a  well-regu- 
lated Christian  family  as  a  home  for  the  orphan,  experience  has 
fully  proved  that  those  who  are  least  qualified  to  assume  the 
responsibilities  of  -  foster-parents,  are  often  the  most  ready  to 
do  so.  The  result  is  painfully  manifest  in  the  history  of  many 
orphan  children.  Notwithstanding  the  carefulness  of  Managers 
and  friends,  scarcely  one  in  five,  thus  put  out,  finds  a  suitable 
and  really  Christian  Home.  We  know  this  from  the  testimony 
of  others  and  from  personal  observation.  Not  a  few  of  the 
children  in  the  Home,  had  already  been  in  from  two  to  five 
families.  In  several  instances  there  was  gross  and  shocking 
abuse.  In  most  cases,  the  children  had  been  received  not  from 
principle  but  for  convenience,  and  when  inherent  sins  and  neg- 
lected habits  made  them  repulsive,  they  were  coldly  thrust 
away.  In  contemplating  the  case  of  such,  we  could  not  but  un- 
derstand the  language  of  a  poor  lad,  who,  when  asked  where  he 
had  been  since  his  father  died,  three  years  before,  feelingly 
answered,  that  he  'had  been  knocked  about  since,'  while  the 
scars  and  seams  on  his  frail  person  confirmed  the  truth  of  his 
reply ! 

This  provision,  therefore,  which  gives  to  the  orphan  a  per- 


234  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

manent  home,  in  which  the  Church  has  placed  her  pastors  and 
teachers  and  around  which  her  sympathies  and  prayers  cluster, 
is  the  purest  mercy  to  the  fatherless.  Their  nurture,  education 
and  development  are  in  her  hands,  and  go  on  under  her  eye. 
Every  noble  trait  is  fostered,  every  talent  carefully  marked  and 
improved,  every  evil  tendency  perseveringiy  resisted,  and  all  the 
habits  of  order,  industry  and  piety  diligently  cultivated  from 
day  to  day.  The  child  has  been  adopted  by  the  Institution  'for 
better  or  for  worse'  and  the  motives  of  the  Gospel-  and  the 
obligations  of  the  law  alike  bind  its  officers  to  a  conscientious 
fulfillment  of  assumed  duty.  How  great,  in  some  cases,  such 
a  trial  of  faith  and  patience  becomes,  every  parent  will  com- 
prehend; but  how  necessary,  that  when  death  robs  the  child  of 
its  natural  protector  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  should  stand 
in  his  place  and  fulfill  to  him  the  offices  of  a  faithful  and  self- 
denying  devotion ! 

The  Children  to  Be  Carefully  Instructed  in  Religion. 

To  guard  against  all  uncertainty  on  this  vital  point,  and 
to  secure  for  the  children  the  benefits  of  a  pure  and  positive 
faith,  whatever  may  be  the  fluctuations  of  human  opinion,  or 
the  decline  of  truth,  hereafter,  special  legal  provision  is  made 
that  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  Luther's  Smaller  Catechism  shall 
be  daily  taught  in  their  integrity  by  all  who  are  employed  as 
directors  or  teachers  in  these  Institutions.  The  Church  owes  it 
to  her  orphan  members  to  guard  them  against  the  perils  of 
error  and  to  instruct  them  thoroughly  in  the  doctrine  and 
duties  of  her  Evangelical  faith.  Such  instruction,  is  the  richest 
blessing  she  can  confer  upon  them,  and  time  and  experience 
alone  will  fully  demonstrate  the  wisdom  and  mercy  of  this  pro- 
vision. In  the  spirit  of  the  principle  involved  in  this  arrange- 
ment, the  children,  with  their  teachers,  attend  the  regular  ser- 
vices of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  As  one  of  the  re- 
sults of  this  familiarity  with  the  Word  of  God,  we  record  with 
gratitude  the  interesting  fact,  that  the  majority  of  the  boys  now 
at  their  trades,  have  of  their  own  accord  "witnessed  the  good 
confession,"  and  are  consistent  members  of  the  Church. 

Children  Not  Admitted  above  a  Certain  Age,  Nor  Those 

OF  Vicious  Habits. 

It  has  been  fully  demonstrated  by  the  experience  of  both 
Institutions,  that  children  who  are  more  than  ten  years  of  age 
cannot  be  received  with  advantage  to  the  other  inmates,  unless 


ORPHAN  WORK.  235 

in  very  special  cases.  In  most  instances,  the  habits  have  be- 
come so  fixed  and  the  characters  so  developed  under  unfavorable 
circumstances,  that  it  is  a  work  of  the  greatest  difficulty  to  cre- 
ate in  them  the  spirit  of  true  obedience,  or  impart  to  them 
that  home-feeling,  without  which  they  become  restive  and  im- 
patient of  restraint.  The  earlier,  therefore,  children  are  placed  in 
the  Institution,  the  more  certain  are  they  to  grow  up  in  all 
the  habits  of  obedience,  industry  and  virtue. 

Nor  are  orphans  of  vicious  character  and  corrupt  habits 
received  into  the  Institutions.  A  fair  trial  has  been  made  with 
such  unfortunates,  but  the  injury  inflicted  upon  the  other  chil- 
dren more  than  counterbalanced  the  good  done  to  them.  The 
influence  for  evil  which  one  depraved  child  may  exert  upon  a 
whole  family,  no  tongue  of  man  can  utter  and  the  officers  are 
unwilling  to  imperil  the  principles  and  morals  of  the  children 
by  the  admission  of  those  who  are  proper  subjects  for  a  house 
of  correction.  The  demands  of  some  persons  in  behalf  of  such 
children  are  in  the  highest  degree  unjust  and  unreasonable.  The 
Institution  is  not  a  prison  for  old  offenders,  nor  a  house  of 
correction  for  youthful  criminals.  The  same  principle  which 
separates  them  from  the  family,  excludes  them  from  the  Home. 

For  the  same  reason,  those  orphans  are  not  admitted  who 
are  suffering  from  diseases,  which  would  injuriously  affect  the 
health  of  the  other  children.  Sympathy  for  their  wretchedness 
must  not  inflict  their  misery  upon  the  rest.  Other  modes  and 
places  of  living  must  be  sought,  where  they  may  be  taken  in 
without  peril  to  others. 

Such  are  some  of  the  leading  results  to  which  the  Insti- 
tutions have  been  brought  by  the  practical  working  of  the 
past  eight  years.  They  differ  materially  from  the  details  of 
the  original  plan,  and  have  been  gradually  reached  over  pre- 
viously formed  opinions  and  efforts,  to  bring  about  a  different 
result.  On  this  account  they  are  more  reliable,  as  they  are  not 
theories  but  the  teachings  of  experience,  gained  in  the  difficult 
school  of  trial  and  tested  by  the  operation  of  years 

In  seeking  to  restore  to  our  orphans  a  home,  the  idea  of 
the  family  relation  is  constantly  kept  in  view.  At  the  home  in 
the  city,  owing  to  the  peculiar  character  of  the  building  occu- 
pied and  for  other  causes,  the  children  are  not  divided  but  con- 
stitute a  single  family,  under  the  supervision  of  two  of  the 
Deaconesses.  At  the  Farm  School  however,  there  is  an  approxi- 
mation at  least  toward  a  'family  system'  of  the  Rough  House 


236  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

near  Hamburg.  The  boys  are  classified  into  families  of  from 
ten  to  fifteen  each  and  are  placed  under  the  special  care  of 
young  men  of  approved  Christian  character  to  sustain  to  them 
the  relation  of  elder  brothers. 

Music  and  good  singing  we  consider,  next  to  the  Word  of 
God,  one  of  the  best  means  of  touching  the  heart  of  the  child. 
We  therefore,  teach  our  boys  to  sing,  and  if  they  do  not  yet 
sing  beautifully,  they  do  their  best,  and  hope  to  improve  by 
and  by.  English  and  German  hymns  and  songs  from  different 
sources  among  which  I  mention  the  beautiful  collection  of  Ger- 
man songs  used  in  the  'Rauhe  Haus'  of  Dr.  Wichern,  called 
'Unsere  Lieder. '  We  are  endeavoring  to  make  some  of  these 
our  own,  and  hope  the  day  is  not  far  distant  when  a  volume 
of  'Our  Songs,'  printed  by  our  boys,  will  be  in  the  hands  of 
many  of  our  friends 

A  lively  sense  of  obligation  to  those  with  whom  it  has 
been  our  happiness  to  be  more  immediately  associated  in  the 
orphan  work,  will  not  suffer  us  to  close  this  report  without  a 
few  remarks.  The  hand  of  Providence  has  been  as  plainly 
manifest,  in  qualifying  and  bringing  together  the  required  la- 
borers, as  in  providing  the  means  necessary  for  the  support  of 
the  Institutions. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  Home,  several  of  the 
sisters  of  the  Deaconess  Institution  have  devoted  themselves 
wholly  or  in  part  to  the  care  of  the  children,  a  service  of  toil 
and  anxiety  which  can  be  appreciated  only  by  those  acquainted 
with  the  previous  surroundings  of  neglected  orphanage.  In 
the  day  when  that  which  is  done  in  secret  shall  be  rewarded 
openly,  their  labor  of  love  and  patience  of  hope  will  find  a 
glorious  reward,  in  the  salvation  of  many  a  rescued  child,  and 
the  eternal  benediction  of  Christ  himself:  'Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  Me.' 

From  the  organization  of  the  Farm  School,  in  1854,  to 
the  present  time,  the  Rev.  G.  Bassler  has  sustained  to  it  the 
responsible  relation  of  Director  and  has  resided  in  the  Di- 
rector's house,  adjoining  the  main  building.  To  his  fidelity, 
practical  tact,  and  self-sacrifice,  the  Institution  is  largely  in- 
debted, not  only  for  its  economical  management  but  likewise 
for  the  good  behavior  and  general  improvement  of  the  pupils. 
Mr.  Bassler  is  at  the  same  time  pastor  of  the  English  Lutheran 


ORPHAN  WORK.  237 

congregation  in  the  village,  the  Siinday-school  and  church  of 
which  the  children  regularly  attend. 

During  the  first  year  and  a  half,  the  duties  of  teacher  at 
the  Farm  School  were  discharged  by  different  persons  who  ap- 
peared to  have  been  sent  in  the  very  hour  of  need.  In  No- 
vember, 1855,  however,  the  Institution  was  so  fortunate  as  to 
secure  the  services  of  J\Ir.  G.  C.  Holls,  then  principal  of  the 
academy  in  Pomeroy,  Ohio,  as  Head  Master  and  House  Father 
to  the  boys.  Having  spent  several  years  in  the  celebrated 
'Rauhe  Haus'  of  Rev.  Dr.  Wichern,  and  since  then  greatly 
enlarged  his  experience  by  teaching,  study  and  travel,  he 
brought  with  him  to  his  new  position  qualifications  as  rare  as 
they  are  valuable.  Entering  into  the  orphan  work  from  prin- 
ciple, he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  welfare  of  the  children 
with  great  assiduity  and  rendered  the  most  important  services 
in  developing  the  inward  life  of  the  Institution. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  anxieties  and  labors  of  our 
position,  in  the  general  superintendence  of  the  Institutions, 
they  have  assuredly  not  been  more  perplexing  than  the  daily 
duties  and  cares  of  these,  our  beloved  associates.  Without  their 
valuable  aid,  little  could  have  been  accomplished.  The  material 
structure  might  indeed  have  arisen,  and  the  outward  organiza- 
tion have  been  made,  but  the  true  home-life  within  would  have 
been  wanting.  To  these  our  fellow  laborers  is  largely  owing 
the  measure  of  success  which  has  been  attained,  and  with  pro- 
found gratitude  to  God  we  record  their  capacity,  fidelity  and 
self-sacrifice  in  this  holy  work,  as  among  the  greatest  blessings 
which  have  been  conferred  upon  the  Institutions. 

Our  sincerest  acknowledgements  are  likewise  due  to  Mrs. 
Rev.  Bassler,  Mrs.  Holls,  and  Mrs.  Gottlieb,  the  matron,  for  the 
many  and  valuable  services  which  they  have  so  cheerfully  ren- 
dered to  the  inmates  of  the  Farm  School,  and  for  their  kind 
attention  to  the  numerous  strangers,  visitors,  and  relatives  of 
the  orphans. 

We  would  be  doing  violence  to  our  feelings,  did  we  not, 
in  conclusion,  express  our  great  indebtedness  to  theRev.H.Reck, 
of  Pittsburg,  for  his  generous  sacrifices  of  time,  labor  and 
position  in  behalf  of  the  Institutions.  Though  prevented  until 
lately  by  pastoral  duties,  from  an  official  connection  with  them, 
he  has  nevertheless,  for  the  past  six  years,  shared  largely  with 
us  in  the  unavoidable  toil  and  drudgery  of  this  work.  Recently, 
he  has  even  resigned  his  church,  that  he  might  devote  himself 


238  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A  .PAS SAVANT. 

more  fully  to  the  relief  of  the  suffering  and  the  fatherless.  The 
assistance,  thus  rendered,  which  money  could  scarcely  have 
procured,  was  given  as  cheerfully  as  it  was  bestowed  gra- 
tuitously. 

"We  have  referred  thus  publicly  to  our  associates  in  the 
Home  and  Farm  School,  not  for  vain  compliment,  nor  yet 
merely  in  the  way  of  deserved  acknowledgement,  but  mainly  to 
remove  the  impression  that  these  Institutions  are  the  result  of 
individual  exertion.  All  who  have  been  engaged  in  their  estab- 
lishment and  care,  have  alike  given  their  pains  and  prayers  and 
toils  to  the  common  end. 

The  Home  and  Farm  School  M^ere  commenced  under  the 
clear  conviction  that  the  cause  of  the  fatherless  is  "the  cause  of 
God.  Our  sole  reliance  was  on  Him,  who  had  graciously  promised 
to  supply  all  our  need  through  Jesus  Christ.  The  ordinary 
modes  of  paid  agency  were  therefore  discarded.  "Begging" 
sermons  and  appeals  were  persistently  refused.  Only  where  it 
w^as  requested,  was  a  simple  statement  of  the  objects  and  plans 
of  the  Institutions  made  at  the  close  of  the  service  or  in  the 
Sunday-school.  Collections  were  seldom  taken,  and  offerings 
were  privately  handed  in,  or  wei'e  sent  to  the  Treasurer.  Every 
thing  was  avoided  which  would  mar  the  purity  of  Christian 
faith,  or  weaken  the  fervor  of  that  Divine  charity,  which  flows 
without  constraint  from  love  to  God. 

Going  thus  forth  without  purse  or  scrip,  to  receive  every 
indigent  orphan  child  of  the  requisite  age  and  character,  the 
question  may  be  asked,  "Lacked  ye  anything?"  After  an  ex- 
perience of  eight  years,  Ave  must  joyfully  answer,  "Nothing." 
Every  worthy  application  has  been  cordially  welcomed.  And 
yet,  God  has  given  our  children  bread  and  flesh  every  day,  and 
water  from  the  brook.  He  has  provided  them  a  house  to  dwell 
in,  such  as  his  ow^n  dear  Son  had  not.  Every  real  want  has 
been  supplied.  In  the  midst  of  scarcity  and  embarrassment, 
the  Institutions  could  say  with  the  apostle,  'as  sorrowful,  yet 
always  rejoicing;  as  poor,  yet  making  many  rich;  as  having 
nothing  and  yet  possessing  all  things.'  What  seemed  to  our 
impatience,  withheld  or  bestowed  only  in  measure,  is  now 
clearly  seen  to  have  been  for  the  highest  good.  It  h&s  taught 
the  difficult  lesson  of  dependence  upon  God.  It  has  led  to  a 
simpler  faith,  and  to  strong  crying  to  the  Lord.  It  has  rendered 
indispensable  the  strictest  system  and  economy  in  the  admini- 


ORPHAN  WORK.  239 

stration  of  affairs.  It  has  prevented  indulgence,  softness  and 
ease  among  the  children.  It  has  resulted  in  a  training,  frugal, 
earnest  and  manly.  Poverty,  struggle  and  embarrassment  have 
been  a  school  whose,  teachings  have  been  above  price 

The  New  Home  in  Germantown,  Pa. 

Though  not  connected  with  the  Home  or  Farm  School,  by 
any  outward  organization,  the  Home  at  Germantown,  in  some 
sense  at  least,  may  be  regarded  as  an  offshoot  of  these  Insti- 
tutions. From  their  commencement,  a  lively  interest  was  mani- 
fested in  their  welfare,  by  the  pastor  and  congregation  of  St. 
Michael's  Lutheran  Church  in  Germantown,  and  a  zealous  band 
of  ladies  were  associated  in  laboring  for  the  support  of  the 
fatherless.  The  bread  thus  cast  upon  the  waters  was  found 
again  after  many  days.  The  relief  of  parentless  children 
abroad  awakened  attention  to  the  same  class  nearer  home.  The 
desire  was  repeatedly  expressed  by  the  pastor's  wife,  to  be  more 
directly  engaged  in  the  same  blessed  work,  and  eight  years 
ago,  a  dollar  was  placed  in  her  hands,  as  the  first  donation 
toward  this  object.  Seven  years  passed  away,  during  which 
she  greatly  desired  'to  carry  out  in  faith  the  thought  of  faith, 
which  God  had  put  into  her  heart.  But  sickness  and  other 
causes  hindered  the  realization  of  this  desire.  At  length  God's 
time  came,  and  every  obstacle  disappeared.  A  small  house 
was  rented  "in  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  the  necessary  furniture 
procured,  and  in  the  early  part  of  March,  1859,  Sister  Louisa 
Marthens,  with  four  orphans  from  the  Home  in  this  city,  ar- 
rived in  Germantown,  and  entered  into  the  humble  dwelling 
which  had  been  selected  as  the  cradle  of  the  Eastern  Home.  In 
the  short  space  of  eight  weeks,  seven  new  orphans  were  re- 
ceived, and  the  services  of  a  Matron  having  been  secured, 
our  sister  and  her  little  charge  returned  to  Pittsburg.  Since 
then,  the  progress  of  the  new  Institution  has  been  as  rapid 
as  it  is  gratifying.  The  principles  of  the  Home  and  Farm 
School  have  been  adopted,  and  have  been  found,  on  trial,  to 
meet  every  want.  A  Board  of  Managers,  consisting  of  two 
ladies  from  each  Lutheran  Church  in  Philadelphia,  with  a  Di- 
rectress, superintend  its  affairs.  Thirteen  orphans  now  com- 
pose the  family,  and  a  fourteenth  has  been  sent  to  the  Farm 
School  at  Zelienople.  A  small  rented  house  has  given  place  to 
a  larger  one  of  their  own,  which,  with  its  extensive  grounds 
has  been  purchased  at  a  cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars  and  of 


240  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

4 

which  nearly  two-thirds  have  already  been  paid.  While  we  pen 
these  lines,  the  orphans  are  removing  into  their  new  home. 

The  Orphan  House  in  Germantown,  though  not  under  the 
same  management  as  the  Parent  Institution,  is  one  with  them 
in  principles,  aims  and  plans.  No  emulation  exists  between 
them,  but  to  excel  in  being  helpful  to  each  other  and  to  the 
fatherless.  The  boys  of  the  new  home,  for  the  present,  are  sent 
to  the  Farm  School,  on  arriving  at  the  required  age,  just  as  they 
are  transfered  to  it  from  the  Home  in  Pittsburg.  Its  future 
history  is  with  God,  who  hath  called  it  into  life,  and  whose  shall 
be  all  the  glory  for  its  success." 

The  Treasurer's  report,  read  at  the  same  time,  closes  with 
these  words:  "The  report  is  earnestly  submitted  with  the 
single  remark  that  the  important  and  laborious  services  of  the 
Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant  have,  from  the  commencement,  been 
given  to  both  Institutions  without  charge.  He  has  from  the  be- 
ginning refused  a  compensation  and  has  thus,  in  addition  to 
his  generous  personal  donations  saved  the  Institution  many 
thousands  of  dollars  in  salary." 

In  the  above  interesting  and  full  report,  Mr.  Passavant  has 
not  recounted  all  his  trials.  Doubtless  among  the  sorest  of  these 
was  the  fact  that  many  of  those  on  whom  he  had  counted  for 
encouragement  and  support  not  only  wavered  and  discouraged 
but  positively  opposed  him.  So,  when  about  to  purchase  the 
first  thirty  acres  for  the  Farm  School,  a  warm  and  valued 
friend  remonstrated:  "Why  Mr.  Passavant,  do  not  do  it.  Just 
think!  flour  is  eleven  dollars  a  barrel  and  potatoes  a  dollar 
and  a  half  a  barrel."  "Yes,  I  know  it,"  he  quietly  answered, 
"but  God  wants  me  to  begin  or  He  would  not  have  sent  me 
these  poor  children  to  care  for.     The  Lord  will  provide." 

Probably  nothing  hurt  him  so  much  as  the  decided  oppo- 
sition of  his  good  mother.    To  this  we  shall  refer  later. 

Certainly,  one  of  the  most  highly  prized  donations  for  the 
orphan  work  in  those  early  days  was  a  gift  of  twenty-five  dol- 
lars sent,  at  the  request  of  young  Mr.  Krauth's  wife  on  her 
dying  bed,  by  the  broken-hearted  husband. 

Nov.  8,  1861,  a  fire  broke  out  in  the  building  used  as  the 
Girl's  Orphan  Home  in  Pittsburg.  While  the  building  itself 
was  saved,  the  contents  were  almost  entirely  ruined.  This 
meant  new  anxieties  and  labors  for  Dr.  Passavant.  The  event, 
however,  served  also  to  bring  out  anew  the  sympathies  and 
charities  of  many  friends. 


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ORPHAN  WORK,  241 

At  the  opening  of  the  new  year,  Mr.  Bassler  took  upon  him- 
self a  considerable  part  of  the  duties  which  Dr.  Passavant  had 
hitherto  performed.  Mr.  Eeck,  at  the  same  time,  was  made 
Director  of  the  Home  in  the  city.  This  took  another  load  from 
the  shoulders  of  Dr.  Passavant.  He  still  remained  Director  of 
the  Deaconess  Institution  and  of  the  Infirmary.  He  still  had 
the  responsibility  of  raising  the  supplies  for  all  three  Insti- 
tutions. 

In  December  of  the  same  year  a  worse  calamity  than  the 
one  in  Pittsburg  befell  the  Farm  School  at  Zelienople.  Of  this 
Mr.  Passavant  writes  in  the  Christmas  number  of  the  paper: 

"  'Our  holy  and  beautiful  house'  for  the  fatherless,  the  ob- 
ject of  years  of  anxiety,  toil  and  sacrifice  and  the  cherished 
'home'  of  our  orphan  boys,  'is  burned  with  fire.'  The  destruc- 
tion is  complete.  Already  on  the  evening  of  the  sixth  the  entire 
north  wall,  notwithstanding  its  great  thickness,  fell  carrying 
with  it  most  of  the  interior  walls,  while  those  that  remain  are  so 
much  injured  that  they  cannot  stand.  So  intense  was  the  heat, 
that  the  stone  foundation  in  certain  places  is  burnt  and  broken 
up  as  if  a  battery  had  played  upon  it  for  hours. 

"Of  the  origin  of  the  fire,  nothing  certain  is  known.  The 
most  probable  supposition  is  that  it  was  caused  either  by  a  de- 
fective flue  or  by  too  close  proximity  of  some  timber  to  the 
chimney  through  the  carelessness  of  the  masons.  When  first  dis- 
covered at  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth,  smoke  and 
flame  were  breaking  forth  from  the  eaves  of  the  entire  roof. 
In  a  few  moments  more  the  cupola  was  in  a  blaze,  and  shortly 
after,  the  bell  came  dowTi  with  a  fearful  crash.  The  children 
were  at  the  time  in  their  family  rooms,  practicing  singing  under 
the  direction  of  the  'Brothers, 'and  were  at  once  removed  to  a 
place  of  safety.  As  the  wind  blew  a  perfect  gale,  all  hope  of 
extinguishing  the  flre  was  abandoned  and  every  effort  directed 
to  save  the  furniture,  clothing,  etc.  on  the  lower  stories.  In 
this  good  work,  the  teachers  were  most  nobly  assisted  by  the 
people  who  came  from  the  village  and  vicinity.  Some  of  these 
even  risked  their  lives  in  saving  property,  and  ceased  their 
exertions  only  when  their  retreat  was  cut  off  through  the  doors 
and  they  were  obliged  to  escape  from  the  burning  pile  through 
the  windows.  Their  reward  was  the  consciousness  that  by  their 
united  exertions  more  than  half  the  furniture,  books,  clothing 
and  bedding  were  safely  brought  out  and  that  although  most 
of  the   winter   provisions   and   stores   were   unfortunately   eon- 


242  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

sumed,  yet  that  not  a  few  valuable  articles  were  rescued  even 
at  the  last  moment  which  are  of  essential  service  in  this  our  time 
of  need. 

"When  all  was  over,  the  sight  which  was  witnessed  around 
the  Director's  house,  drew  tears  from  many  eyes  unused  to  weep. 
In  the  foreground  were  the  blackened  walls  and  smoking  ruins 
of  the  once  beautiful  Farm  School.  The  gardens  and  play 
grounds  were  covered  with  furniture,  boxes,  bedding,  books  and 
clothing.  The  Director  and  House  father  w4th  their  households, 
the  brothers  and  their  families  of  fifty-five  orphans,  and  the 
various  helpers  in  the  work,  looked  sadly  on  the  scene  and 
seemed  for  the  first  time  to  realize  their  loss.  The  poor  children 
appeared  to  feel  it  most  deeply.  Once  before  in  their  young  life 
had  they  been  bereaved  in  the  loss  of  both  parents  and  a  home 
and  now  for  the  second  time  their  'home'  was  gone!  Whither 
w^ere  they  now  to  go?What  were  they  to  do  under  this  new  and 
appalling  calamity?  Many  wept  as  if  their  hearts  would  break. 
Others  brushed  away  their  tears  and  addressed  themselves  to 
the  duties  of  the  hour.  In  a  short  time,  wagons  were  sent  by 
the  villagers  and  all  were  engaged  in  removing  the  scattered  fur- 
niture and  clothing  to  the  neighboring  barns  and  houses.  So 
general  was  the  sympathy  felt  for  the  children  that  they  were 
taken  into  the  families  of  the  citizens  and  treated  with  great 
kindness.  On  Sunday  morning  at  8 :30  o  'clock  they  reported  at 
the  Director's  house  and  in  their  weekday  clothes  went  as  usual 
two  by  two,  to  the  village  Sunday-school.  That  Sunday  was 
a  sorrowful  one  and  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  young 
friends. 

"Immediately  after  the  fire,  a  messenger  was  sent  to  us  at 
Rochester,  twelve  miles  distant,  and  after  church  on  Sunday 
morning  we  at  once  went  to  Zelienople.  We  found  the  friends 
weary  and  downcast,  but  after  the  rest  of  the  night  calm  and 
hopeful.  Though  their  'flight  was  in  winter,'  and  difficulties 
seemed  to  thicken  around  their  path,  we  rejoiced  one  with 
another  because  of  our  remaining  mercies.  The  preservation  of 
life  was  a  cause  of  special  thanksgiving.  The  merciful  exemption 
from  all  accidents  was  another.  For  the  first  time,  we  realized 
that  '  the  life  is  more  than  meat  and  the  body  than  raiment.' 
But  a  cause  of  the  most  devout  gratitude  to  God  was  that  no 
moral  calamity  has  befallen  the  Institution,  no  breaking  down 
of  principle,  no  denial  of  faith,  no  dying  out  of  love  to  Christ 
and  to  those  '  little  ones  who  believe  in  Him. '   If  we  wept  together, 


ORPHAN  WORK.  243 

it  was  not  tears  of  earthly  sorrows  because  of  the  destruction  of 
property  or  the  discomforts  and  embarrassments  of  our  altered 
circumstances,  but  tears  of  thankful  joy  that  we  have  been  to- 
gether kept  by  the  power  of  God  from  the  great  moral  calami- 
ties which,  but  for  His  preserving  grace,  might  have  long  since 

overwhelmed  both  us  and  the  work  of  our  hands 

"The  amount  of  our  pecuniary  loss  by  the  fire,  without 
counting  the  cost  of  temporary  shelter  and  the  increased  ex- 
penses of  living,  may  be  set  down  at  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. On  this  there  is  an  insurance  of  ten  thousand  dollars, 
which  it  is  expected  will  be  paid  after  sixty  days.  It  is  very 
desirable  that  this  sum  should  at  once  be  increased  to  twenty-five 
thousand  dollars  so  that  preparations  for  enlarged  accommo- 
dations may  be  commenced  without  unnecessary  delay.  We 
are  deeply  grateful  for  the  sympathy  which  has  already  been 
manifested  from  various  quarters  and  believe  that  with  the 
divine   blessing  this   amount   can  be   obtained 

"In  reply  to  the  inquiries, where  are  the  children  and  what  are 
they  doing?  we  would  state  that  a  number  of  them  are  yet  very 
kindly  entertained  by  the  friends  in  the  village  of  Zelienople, 
while  the  remainder  are  living  for  the  time  at  the  Academy  in 
the  family  of  Prof.  Titzel  and  at  the  Director's  house  with  the 
family  of  Rev.  G.  Bassler.  The  number  of  inmates  at  present, 
in  the  dwelling  of  the  latter  alone,  is  twenty-seven,  and  three 
several  times  must  the  table  be  spread  at  each  meal  in  order  to 
accommodate  them !  We  deeply  sympathize  with  all  concerned,  in 
the  discomforts  and  inconveniences  of  their  station,  but  rejoice 
that  they  bear  up  nobly  under  this  trial.  The  erection  of  the 
plank  'Barracks'  goes  on  slowly  owing  to  the  great  difficulty  of 
getting  workmen.  The  hauling  of  lumber  twelve  miles  over  the 
winter  roads  is  also  a  difficult  undertaking.  So  far  as  employ- 
ment for  our  boys  is  concerned,  there  Avill  evidently  be  no  lack. 
The  cleaning  away  of  the  rubbish,  and  especially  of  between 
seven  and  eight  hundred  thousand  brick  from  the  walls  of  the 
old  building,  will  require  much  time  and  toil.  A  commencement 
has  been  already  made  at  this  time,  but  after  a  week's  work, 
it  seems  scarcely  commenced.  It  is  hoped  that  in  a  few  days 
more  several  of  the  temporary  houses  will  be  up  and  that  when 
the  scattered  children  are  once  more  arranged  in  their  ac- 
customed family  order  the  embarrassment  will  gradually  cease 
to  be  so  painfully  felt.  For  the  present,  it  is  evident  that  no 
additional  orphan  boys  can  be  received,  the  friends  at  Zelienople 


244  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

having  their  hands  full  of  difficulties  both  from  without  and 
from  within.  They  deserve  the  sympathy  and  co-operation  of  all 
good  men,  for  the  loss  is  most  inconveniently  felt  in  the  do- 
mestic affairs  of  the  Institution." 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  Steubenville,  Ohio,  Dr.  Passa- 
vant  was  invited  to  address  the  students  of  the  Young  Ladies 
Seminary  of  that  place.  At  the  close  of  his  address,  the  prin- 
cipal. Rev.  Mr.  A.  ]\I.  Reed  requested  him  to  say  something 
to  the  young  ladies  of  his  work  for  the  orphans,  which  he 
did  in  his  usual,  happy  way.  A  week  later,  he  received  this 
letter : 

''Please  find  enclosed  my  check  for  twenty-five  dollars,  the 
amount  of  a-  collection  the  young  ladies  have  made  for  the  or- 
phans under  your  care.  It  is  their  own  free-will  offering.  What 
was  said  has  evidently  reached  their  hearts,  and  they  begged  me 
to  let  them  do  something  to  help  along  this  noble  cause.  This  I  am 
most  happy  to  do,  and  now  send  the  result.  May  God  abund- 
antly bless  you,  in  your  efforts  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of 
the  poor  and  afflicted.     In  the  best  of  bonds." 

Of  the  cost  of  keeping  the  Home  and  Farm  School,  he 
writes : 

"Some  may  be  disposed  to  ask,  have  not  the  expenses  of 
the  Institution  been  met  during  the  past  year?  "We  answer 
frankly,  '  Not  by  one  half. '  If  anyone  is  curious  to  know  what 
it  costs  to  keep  up  two  institutions,  with  some  eighty  or  more 
orphans,  let  him  take  a  pencil  and  figure  it  out.  For  example, 
look  at  one  item  of  food.  There  are  on  an  average,  at  least 
three  barrels  of  flour  consumed  every  week,  making  in  the  course 
of  a  year, say, one  hundred  and  fifty  barrels!  If  flour  costs  but  six 
dollars  per  barrel,  and  it  is  often  much  more,  lo!  here  is  the 
flour  of  nine  hundred  dollars !  Now,  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that 
man  'does  not. live  by  bread  alone,'  and  anyone  can  estimate 
the  cost  of  clothing,  shoes,  feeding  and  schooling  of  such  a  troop 
of  youngsters  who  have  good  appetites,  are  growing  finely  and, 
like  all  active  children,  are  'hard  on  clothes'!  If  anyone  is 
fond  of  figures  he  can  count  up  the  donations  of  the  past  few 
weeks  and  he  will  see  what  proportion  of  the  whole  is  gone  to 
pay  the  flour  bill  alone !  We  hope  no  one  will  be  frightened  and 
give  up  in  despair.  It  is  but  a  little  thing  for  God,  who  careth 
for  all,  to  provide  for  his  fatherless  ones.  Let  us  rejoice  that 
we  are  permitted  to  bear  our  part  in  this  blessed  work,  and 


ORPHAN  WORK.  245 

may  the  bread  we  thus  cast  upon  the  waters  be  found  again 
after  many  daj^s!" 

Dr.  Passavant  was  generally  averse  to  soliciting  State  aid 
for  his  institutions.  He  wanted  them  supported  by  gifts 
prompted  by  love,  and  felt  that  State  aid  would  dry  up  the 
fountains  of  true  benevolence.  In  1864,  however,  some  of  his 
friends  secured  a  grant  of  ^5000  for  the  Orphans'  Farm  School. 
Of  this  he  writes  to  Bassler: 

"You  have  seen  by  the  papers  that  the  Legislature  agreed 
to  give  us  ^5000  for  the  Farm  School.  This  was  wholly  without 
any  effort  on  our  part  and  we  have  submitted  to  it  as  from  the 
Lord.  It  has,  however,  completely  stopped  my  subscriptions 
here.  For  six  weeks  I  have  not  been  able  to  ask  for  a  dollar. 
My  suggestion  to  you  is  that  we  appropriate  this  sum  for  the 
purchase  of  additional  land." 

The  Doctor  had  many  encouraging  and  comforting  compen- 
sations for  his  unselfish  labors.  Incidents  like  the  following 
were  always  appreciated.  They  were  more  highly  prized  than 
riches  or  worldly  honors.  They  brought  what  gold  could  never 
bring.  Outside  of  the  consciousness  of  God's  approval  and 
blessing,  these  evidences  of  appreciation  and  accomplishd  good 
were  the  joys  of  his  life.  He  was  human  enough  to  appreciate 
appreciation.     We  submit  these  incidents  which  show: 

What  Becomes  op  Our  Orphan  Boys. 

"In  looking  over  a  bundle  of  letters  from  some  of  our  dear 
children,  the  thought  occurred  to  me  that  if  some  of  our  kind 
friends  could  read  short  extracts  from  a  few  of  them,  it  would 
be  of  interest.  Frequently  the  question  is  asked,  'Do  you  ever 
hear  anything  of  the  boys  after  they  go  away?'  'Do  they  ever 
write?'  'Do  you  know  what  they  are  doing,  or  where  they  are?' 

"How  comforting  to  us  and  satisfactory  to  benefactors  to 
read:  'Ten  years  ago  I  left  your  institution,  and  look  back  on 
the  days  spent  there  with  pleasant  memories.  I  would  like  to 
hear  again  from  my  home :  this  is  my  purpose  in  writing.  My 
race  being  in  a  crude  state  of  civilization  and  needing  the 
teachings  of  Christianity,  I  speak  in  behalf  of  them.  Bordering 
the  county,  in  which  I  live,  my  people  live  in  a  wide  territory 
reserved  for  them  by  the  United  States.  Missionaries  are  work- 
ing among  us,  but  I  speak  for  more  help.  In  knowing  the  Luth- 
eran church  and  what  it  is  composed  of  and  having  been  taught 
its  tenets,  I  could  lend  aid  to  the  work  among  my  people,  and 


246  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  T  ASSAY  ANT. 

fruitful  ends  might  be  attained.'     This  is  from  an  Indian  boy 
who  is  now  studying  in  a  lawyer's  office  in  Nebraska. 

"Another  writes  from  Ohio,  who  is  a  photographer  and 
copies  pictures  in  colors:  *It  has  been  a  little  over  five  years 
since  I  left  the  Home.  Although  but  a  short  time,  many  changes 
have  been  wrought,  and  things  are  not  what  they  seem  to  be; 
'old  things  have  passed  away,  and  all  things  have  become  new.' 
My  wild,  rambling  notions  enticed  me  to  wander  into  the  world 
tc  seek  its  pleasures,  but  worldly  pleasures  would  not  suffice. 
Something  whispered  to  me  that  my  mission  was  to  be  more 
than  a  sailor,  and  often  when  ridiculed  by  my  companions  for 
not  joining  them  in  their  wrongs,  and  when  far  from  friends 
and  home,  and  among  those  who  scoffed  at  religion,  even  then 
the  good  Spirit  followed  me  and  kept  knocking  at  the  door  of 
n.y  heart,  and  I  have  found  that  God  is  more  willing  to  forgive 
than  we  are  to  be  forgiven.  The  world  I  found  to  be  cold  and 
friendless,  so  different  from  what  I  expected,  but  each  conflict 
and  trial  has  brought  back  more  vividly  the  good  advice  of  my 
kind  superiors  which  w^as  so  often  dirsregarded  and  unappre- 
ciated at  the  time.  The  parental  care  and  training  which  I 
received  can  never  be  forgotten,  and  when  I  look  around  and 
see  the  condition  of  so  many  who  have  been  brought  up  care- 
lessly, I  feel  grateful  to  my  Heavenly  Father  that  He  took  me 
and  placed  me  among  Christian  friends  to  receive  Christian 
training,  which  is  worth  more  to  me  than  anything  the  world 
could  give.' 

"Another  who  is  working  on  a  farm  in  western  Pennsylvania 
expresses  his  regrets  that  he  was  not  more  studious  while  in 
Bchool.  'I  miss  it  now.  I  think  it  so  strange,  something  always 
seems  to  restrain  me ;  I  mean  in  this  way :  One  evening  I  went 
down  to  the  store,  and  some  of  the  boys  bought  beer,  and  they 
tried  hard  to  get  me  to  drink,  but  I  would  not  touch  it.  I 
never  will  drink  a  drop.  Something  always  keeps  me  back,  some 
Scripture  text  comes  into  my  mind,  and  I  don't  forget  them 
easily. ' 

"Another  dear  child,  under  date  of  January  13,  1889,  now 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Kansas,  writes  thus:  'There  is 
no  church  here,  and  the  first  week  I  taught  here  the  children 
coaxed  me  to  start  a  Sunday-school.  I  tried  to  discourage 
them,  but  they  insisted,  and  brought  me  money  to  send  off  for 


ORPHAN  WORE.  247 

needed  material,  and  when  we  met  the  first  Sunday  the  school- 
house  was  full  of  children,  and  not  an  adult  beside  myself.     I 
felt  quite  nervous,  but  I  asked  God  to  guide  me  what  to  do, 
so  we  sang  several  hymns,  read  the  Scriptures,  had  a  prayer, 
and  then  I  told  them  to  come  again  next  Sunday  and  to  be 
sure  and  bring  their  parents  along,  which  some  few  did.    Every 
Sunday  we  have  from  thirty  to  forty-five  scholars  in  attend- 
ance.    I  am  fond  of  the  work,  I  love  Jesus  better  than  my  life 
and  will  work  for  Him,  for  it  is  my  chief  pleasure.    The  people 
here  are  from  the  New  England  States,  and  are  not  churchly. ' 
"And  here  is  another:  During  the  absence  of  the  Editor 
at  the  Wartburg  Home,  near  New  York,   a  gentleman  called 
at  his  house  and  introduced  himself  as  a  brother  of  a  family 
of  four  Swedish  orphans  who  had  been  received  into  the  Home 
in  this  city  in  the  first  year  of  its  history,  and  who  remained 
here  until  they  grew  up  and  went  forth  to  positions  of  useful- 
ness and  respectability  in  the  West.     Disappointed  as  he  was 
at  not  meeting  us,  he  yet  remained  in  pleasant  converse  with  our 
family  and  expressed  his  unaffected  gratitude  to  God  at  the 
loving  Providence  which  had  watched  over  the  younger  children 
who  were  cared  for  in  Pittsburg,  and  the  elder  ones  who  con- 
tinued on  their  way  with  a  company  of  Swedish   emigrants. 
These,  on  being  discovered  to  be  in  the  greatest  want,  were  pro- 
vided with  food  and  the  needed  means  to  take  them  to  Chicago, 
and  a  Swede  who  spoke  English  was  sent  with  them  to  protect 
them  from  a  worse  fate  than  that  which  threatened  them  here.    No 
one  could  be  more  grateful  than  this  worthy  man.     He  had 
been  to  the  Outer  Depot  in  the  Fifth  Ward  to  find  the  old 
shed,   where    in    absolute   poverty    a    company    of    forty   poor 
Swedish  emigrants  had  waited  and  prayed  to  God  for  deliver- 
ance.    Then  a  boy  of  twelve  years  of  age,  he  remembered  the 
dreadful  fast  of  thirty-six  hours,  the  despairing  cries  of  hungry 
parents  and  starving  children  for  bread,  and  the  scenes  which 
followed  the  arrival  of  one  with  an  interpreter,  and  the  ample 
supply  of  food,   the  separation  which  quickly   followed   from 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  the  taking  of  the  Chicago  train  and 
their  arrival  there.     He  supposed  that  we  had  done  it  all,  and 
he  looked  upon  us  almost  as  an  earthly  savior.     But  he  was 
mistaken  in  the  person  who  really  did  it.     This  was  only  one 
of  the  many  merciful  acts  of  the  late  George  Weyman,   Sr.. 
whose  services  and  sacrifices,  under  God,  bore  so  important  a 


248  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

part  in  the  establishment  of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  of 
this  city.  When  the  children  were  brought  to  us,  all  the 
necessary  arrangements  had  been  made  for  the  comfort  and 
removal  of  these  helpless  immigrants,  and  the  poor  people  soon 
went  on  their  way  west  rejoicing.  In  this  and  numberless 
other  acts  of  mercy  'the  work'  of  this  unobtrusive  but  really 
great  and  good  man  'follow  him,'  and  though  he  rests  from  his 
labors,  he  yet  lives  and  labors  mightily  for  God. 

"The  Swedish  gentleman  in  question  is  now  at  the  head  of 
a  large  manufacturing  company  in  a  western  city.  He  is  also 
an  officer  in  a  leading  Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  of  the 
Augustana  Synod,  which  on  next  Sunday  will  dedicate  to  the 
service  of  Christ  the  largest  and  most  costly  Swedish  Lutheran 
church  in  America.  What  an  illustration  this  of  the  im- 
portance of  caring  for  the  poor,  the  fatherless  and  the  stranger 
within  our  gates!  Alas!  that  through  our  neglect  of  Christ 
in  the  persons  of  His  suffering  ones  we  not  only  lose  the  riches 
of  faith  and  the  vast  capabilities  of  good  which  are  found  in 
men,  but  that  we  lose  the  presence  and  felloAvship  of  Christ 
who  said,  'Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  my  disciples, 
ye  did  it  unto  me.'  " 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  249 


CHAPTER  XL 

LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG. 

We  return  to  the  life  and  work  in  Pittsburg.  Mr.  Passa- 
vant  was  still  pastor  of  the  now  large  and  widely  scattered 
English  Lutheran  church.  That  church  had  become  a  fruitful 
mother. 

In  Birmingham  a  large  corner  lot  had  been  secured  on 
Carson  Street.  A  neat  brick  chapel  had  been  built,  called 
Grace  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  The  Rev.  H. 
Reck  became  the  first  settled  pastor.  He  made  his  home  with 
Mr.  Passavant  and,  in  addition  to  his  pastoral  labors,  assisted 
on  the  Missionary  and  as  chaplain  of  the  Infirmary.  Mr.  Passa- 
vant in  turn  assisted  in  raising  funds  for  the  building  of 
Grace  church. 

In  Allegheny  a  frame  chapel  was  built  on  Liberty  Street 
where  Mr.  Passavant,  with  the  assistance  of  his  members, 
gathered  a  Sunday-school  and  organized  a  congregation  called 
Trinity  English  Lutheran  church.  Of  this  church  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gottman  became  the  first  settled  pastor. 

In  Manchester  a  Sunday-school  and  congregation  had  been 
gathered  by  Mr.  Passavant  and  his  peopele.  A  lot  had  been 
secured  and  a  chapel  was  in  process  of  building  in  1850.  When 
it  was  under  roof  and  paid  for  as  far  as  finished,  a  hurricane 
blew  it  down.  It  was  never  rebuilt  but  after  many  years 
Emanuel  English  Lutheran  church  took  its  place. 

In  East  Liberty  a  lot  was  secured,  a  Sunday-school  and 
congregation  gathered,  and  the  Rev.  J.  K.  Plitt  became  th3 
first  pastor.  Christ  and  Bethany  English  Lutheran  churches 
are  there  to-day  as  a  fruit  of  these  early  efforts.  Out  of  Christ 
church  has  grown  an  English  Lutheran  church  at  Wilkins- 
burg. 

In  1853  several  acres  of  ground  were  secured  near  the 
mouth  of  Chartier's  Creek,  and  Mt.  Calvary  church  was  erected 
on  it.  This  church  in  after  years  became  the  basis  from  which 
a  young  pastor  operated  on  the  Allegheny  side,  built  Mt.  Zion 
church  and  congregation,  started  the  work  of  Memorial  church, 


250  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

regathered  and  reorganized  the  remnants  of  the  abandoned  St. 
John's  church  out  on  the  Perrysville  Road. 

Under  Mr.  Passavant  a  Sunday-school  was  also  carried  on 
in  Bayardstown  and  another  in  Lawrenceville.  For  want  of 
proper  support  these  were  afterwards  abandoned. 

In  that  old  Seventh  Street  church  the  Pittsburg  Synod 
was  organized,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  its  young  pastor, 
in  1845.  In  it  the  first  collection  was  taken  for  the  first 
Protestant  hospital  in  the  United  States.  In  1850  the  first 
American  deaconess  was  solemnly  set  apart  for  the  ministry 
of  mercy  within  its  walls.  Her  name  was  Catharine  Louisa 
IMarthens.  She  had  been  catechized  and  confirmed  by  Mr. 
Passavant.  From  his  lips  she  had  heard  the  story  of  the 
blessed  work  of  the  Kaiserswerth  deaconesses.  She  was  present 
when  the  four  sisters  from  Kaiserswerth  were  consecrated  by 
Pastor  Fliedner,  When  the  hospital  was  opened  in  Allegheny 
and  no  means  were  at  hand  she  heard  how  her  pastor  and 
student  Waters  had  washed  and  nursed  the  first  patients.  Her 
heart,  warm  in  its  first  love  to  the  Saviour,  moved  her  to  offer 
her  services,  and  she  became  the  first  regular  nurse.  She 
helped  to  nurse  the  first  cholera  patients.  She  was  present 
when  the  house  was  mobbed  and  stoned  as  a  "pest  house." 
She  stood  by  her  post,  moved  with  the  patients  to  Lacyville, 
and  became  the  first  nurse  of  the  Pittsburg  Infirmary.  She 
became  the  first  matron  of  the  Pittsburg  Orphan  Home.  She 
took  the  four  orphans  from  the  Pittsburg  Home  to  the  new 
orphanage  in  Germantown,  and  helped  to  set  that  institution 
of  mercy  going.  She  afterwards  became  the  Matron  of  the 
Girls'  Orphan  Home  in  Rochester,  Pa.,  and  in  later  years  was 
the  Matron  and  guiding  spirit  of  the  Passavant  Hospital  in 
Jacksonville,    111. 

We  return  from  this  tempting  digression  to  the  First 
church.  Within  its  walls  the  Pittsburg  orphans  and  the  dea- 
conesses worshipped.  The  first  missionary  to  Texas,  through 
whom  the  Texas  Synod  was  afterwards  organized,  was  com- 
missioned in  this  church.  The  same  is  true  of  the  first  mis- 
sionary to  Canada,  out  of  whose  initial  labors  the  Canada 
Synod  grew.  The  German  congregation,  of  which  Rev.  Wm. 
Berkeraeier  became  pastor,  was  organized  in  the  lecture  room 
of  this  church.     Here  the  first  subscriptions  were  gathered  for 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  251 

the  erection  of  the  first  Swedish  churches  of  the  West.  Here, 
also,  several  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  to  send  Pastor 
Hasselquist  to  Sweden  and  to  pay  the  passage  of  students  and 
missionaries  secured  by  him  from  Sweden  to  America  to  labor 
among  their  scattered  countrymen  in  the  West. 

What  a  history!  What  a  fruitful  church  in  the  years 
when  that  consecrated  man  was  its  pastor!  And  all  this  while 
he  was  carrying  the  many  burdens  of  Synod,  of  struggling 
missions,  of  poor  and  discouraged  pastors,  of  debt-laden  acad- 
emies and  institutions  of  mercy.  How  could  he  do  it?  We 
know  not,  except  that,  like  Luther,  he  always  joined  prayer 
with  his  labors  and  prayed  most  when  he  had  most  to  do. 

In  1851  he  informs  his  mother  how  he  divides  his  time. 
He  spends  his  forenoons  at  home  in  private  devotion,  corre- 
spondence and  study.  At  one  o'clock  he  goes  down  to  the  city, 
gets  his  mail  from  the  post-office,  goes  into  the  office  of  Mr. 
Weyman  and  remains  there  for  an  hour  or  two  to  receive 
persons  who  desire  to  see  him.  While  waiting  there  he  looks 
over  his  mail.  The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  he  spends  in 
makin,g  short  calls,  first  of  all  on  the  sick,  then  on  the  careless 
and  on  those  who  need  special  counsel  and  encouragement.  If 
there  are  evening  meetings  or  services,  of  which  he  had  a  large 
number,  he  takes  his  supper  in  the  city  and  does  not  go  home 
until  after  these  services. 

Of  his  home  life  during  these  busy  years  we  shall  again 
let  the  eighty-year-old  Mrs.  Passavant  tell  the  story  in  her  own 
artless  way: 

"We  were  now  living  in  Lacyville,  which  was  then  in  the 
country.  There  we  occupied  in  turn  three  houses  in  sight  of 
each  other.  In  one  of  these  houses  the  first  two  children,  a 
daughter  and  a  son  were  born.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Reck  was  living 
with  us  and  assisted  Mr.  Passavant.  The  Infirmary  had  now 
been  opened  near  our  home.  How  well  do  I  remember  the 
coming  of  Pastor  Fliedner  and  the  deaconesses.  Their  stay  at 
our  house  was  an  event  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  was  much 
enjoyed  by  the  family  and  the  many  visitors  who  there  called 
on  Mr.  Fliedner.  Our  house  was  a  stopping  place  for  ministers 
of  all  kinds,  Germans,  Swedish,  Norwegians  and  others.  In 
fact,  all  kinds  of  people  found  out  where  the  English  Lutheran 
minister  lived,  he  being  at  that  time  the  only  one  in  the  city. 


252  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

All  were  made  welcome  with  true  Christian  hospitality.  In  our 
second  house  in  Laeyville  another  daughter  and  our  lovely  twin 
boys  were  born.  What  a  joy  came  with  this  precious  gift. 
They  were  solemnly  dedicated  to  God  in  baptism,  as  were, 
indeed,  all  our  beloved  children.  This  was  a  busy  family.  The 
father  had  the  care  of  the  many  outside  interests  connected  with 
the  institutions  and  the  missions.  The  mother  had  the  large 
family  to  look  after,  with  the  care  of  the  home  and  its  many 
guests.  Our  love  was  unselfishly  bestowed  on  all,  especially 
on  these  precious  children  committed  to  our  care.  In  all  our 
labors  we  found  the  blessing  of  God  resting  upon  us  and  upon 
our  interests,  to  the  glory  of  His  grace. 

"Time  moved  along  and  brought  increasing  cares  and 
responsibilities.  We  moved  to  another  more  beautiful  place  in 
sight  of  the  one  we  had  occupied,  which  had  large  grounds, 
fruits  and  flowers  and  a  stream  of  water  to  add  to  its  charms. 
Here  the  family  was  visited  with  scarlet  fever;  every  member 
had  it  except  the  parents.  The  lovely  eldest  daughter,  ten 
years  of  age,  was  taken  to  her  heavenly  home.  Truly  a  saint 
fit  to  enter  the  blood-washed  throng.  She  had  longed  to  depart 
and  to  be  with  Christ.  This  was  the  consolation  of  the  heart- 
broken parents.  The  anxious  solicitude  as  to  the  life  of  two 
others,  a  son  and  a  daughter,  whose  lives  were  hanging  in  the 
balance,  drove  the  parents  to  cling  more  and  more  to  their 
heavenly  Father.  They  had  to  learn  to  say  in  broken  words, 
'Thy  will  be  done.'  All  the  sick  were  restored  to  health.  By 
and  by  another  son  was  born,  and  many  happy  days  came  again 
to  this  sweet  secluded  home. 

"When  Mr.  Krauth  became  pastor  of  the  church  he  lived 
quite  near  us  and  was  a  frequent  guest  in  our  home.  He  was 
very  much  beloved  by  the  children.  The  departed  daughter 
had  been  a  special  favorite  of  his." 

Mr.  Passavant  always  made  much  of  Christmas,  He  fully 
appreciated  the  true  Christmas  spirit  which  had  ever  been 
manifested  and  implanted  in  his  parental  home.  At  this  blessed 
season  he  had  a  special  thought  and  care  for  the  sick,  the 
sorrowing  and  the  suffering  of  every  class.  The  lonely  and  sick 
patients  in  the  hospital  wards  were  made  glad  with  true  Christ- 
mas cheer.  A  tree  was  set  up  in  each  ward,  filled  with  presents 
and  candles.    On  Christmas  Eve  the  tree  was  lighted.    A  short 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  253 

and  sympathetic  service  was  held  in  which  the  symbolism  of 
lights  and  presents  was  made  to  set  forth  God's  unspeakable 
gift  to  poor  and  suffering  humanity.  Then  the  presents  were 
distributed  amid  the  smiles  and  the  tears  that  suffused  the  pale 
and  wan  faces  on  the  couches  of  pain.  These  Christmas  Eves  in 
Passavant's  hospital  wards  were  never  forgotten.  To  many  a 
careless,  hardened,  homeless  one  they  brought  back  memories 
of  purer  and  better  days  and  became  the  turning  points  toward 
a  better  life. 

Of  a  Christmas  in  his  own  home  and  in  the  church  he 
writes  his  mother: 

"After  I  came  home  from  the  Infirmary  service  we  had 
our  own  tree.  It  would  have  made  you  weep  for  joy  to  see  the 
delight  of  the  children  as  they  capered  with  Mary  over  the 
room,  Jinny,  with  her  doll,  etc.,  and  the  professor  (one  of  the 
boys)  running  away  from  his  top,  which  he  said  was  a  'hum- 
mmg  bird  trying  to  catch  him.'  I  believe  all  enjoyed  them- 
selves most  heartily,  from  Mr.  Muntz  down  to  the  youngest  of 
the  family. 

"At  ten  o'clock  on  Christmas  morning  we  had  service  in 
the  church,  Mr.  Plitt  preaching  for  me,  after  which  I  examined 
my  class  of  eighty  children  before  the  congregation,  sang  several 
hymns  and  then  presented  each  one  with  a  little  book  containing 
a  text  and  verse  for  every  day  in  the  year.  Mr.  Plitt  and  Mr. 
Rodell  (the  new  missionary  of  the  Birmingham  mission)  took 
dinner  with  us,  and  we  enjoyed  ourselves  greatly  in  each  other's 
society.  A  visit  to  a  poor  unfortunate  German  in  jail  and 
services  with  the  patients  in  the  evening  closed  the  day.  It  was 
a  pleasant  and,  I  trust,  not  unprofitable  Christmas." 

Mr.  Passavant  was  loved  most  sincerely  by  his  people. 
They  showed  their  love  especially  at  Christmas  time.  But  at  all 
times,  indeed,  he  was  the  recipient  of  gifts  of  love;  many  of 
them  quite  costly  and  all  highly  prized  for  the  sentiments  that 
prompted  them.  He  keeps  his  mother  informed  of  these  tokens 
of  love. 

Of  the  early  trials  and  deliverances  of  the  Infirmary  Mr. 
Passavant  wrote   his  mother: 

"I  am  almost  afraid  to  say  anything  about  the  Infirmary, 
for  one  day  we  are  exalted  and  then  God  shows  us  who  and 
what  we  are.    I  could,  however,  fill  this  sheet  with  pleasing  and 


254  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

encouraging  instances  since  I  last  wrote.  On  Friday  evening 
last,  as  I  had  just  returned  from  the  Infirmary  and  was  asking 
Eliza  to  lend  us  a  few  comforts  till  we  could  get  some  more 
made,  a  dray  stopped  at  the  door  with  a  package,  and  on  open- 
ing it,  how  was  I  rejoiced  to  find  ten  most  beautiful  blankets, 
a  present  from  Father  Rapp,  of  the  Harmony  Community." 

He  was  always  averse  to  the  publishing  of  these  wonderful 
deliverances.  Had  he  published  them  all,  we  should  have  a 
record  no  less  remarkable  than  that  of  George  MuUer,  of  Bristol. 
He  experienced  the  most  signal  answers  to  prayers.  He  has 
left  us  the  accounts  of  only  a  few,  and  even  of  thes^  he  speaks 
apologizingly,  as  it  was  against  his  nature  to  parade  himself 
before  the  public.  In  the  Missionary  for  January,  1851,  he 
gives  this  account : 

"  'The  Lord  will  provide.'  This  sweet  truth  is  every  day 
made  good  in  the  history  of  the  Infirmary.  Humanly  speaking,  , 
the  support  of  a  family  of  more  than  thirty  persons  without 
any  vested  funds  is  a  serious  business ;  but  so  wondrous  are  the 
resources  of  God  that,  like  the  disciples  whom  Jesus  sent  forth 
without  scrip  or  purse,  it  has  never  lacked.  The  promise  of  the 
Lord  has  been  daily  realized,  and  their  bread  and  water  have 
been  made  sure.  In  so  many  ways,  the  most  unlooked-for  and 
remarkable,  does  God  provide,  that  unbelief  is  rebuked,  and 
distrust  would  seem  to  be  the  most  unnatural  of  sins. 

"Here  are  a  few  instances,  out  of  many  similar  ones,  of 
the  way  in  which  God  provides.  The  cellar  is  empty,  the 
treasury  exhausted,  twenty-five  patients  in  the  house,  and  other 
sufferers  are  seeking  admission.  Coming  home  in  the  evening 
we  find  the  passage  filled  with  ba,gs,  potatoes,  apples,  flour — two 
dray  loads  in  all.  The  next  day  a  canoe  load  of  potatoes  comes 
from  Neville  Island,  nine  miles  below  the  city.  It  is  the  close  of 
the  year.  The  first  of  January  is  approaching,  the  time  for 
settling  accounts;  bills  are  sent  in  for  bread,  medicine,  coal, 
and  other  necessaries  of  life,  and  these  must  be  paid;  but  the 
Lord  knoweth  that  we  have  need  of  all  these  things,  and  He 
provides.  One  day  a  gentleman  in  passing  presses  a  five-dollar 
note  into  our  hand.  Coming  home,  a  letter  with  ten  dollars  is 
on  our  table.  Calling  at  a  store  on  business,  a  merchant, 
unasked,  makes  a  donation  of  one  hundred  dollars.  Going  to 
church  on  Christmas  morning,  two  ten-dollar  gold  pieces  are 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  255 

handed  us  from  the  boarders  at  one  of  the  hotels.  A  gentleman, 
almost  a  stranger,  obtained  a  number  of  annual  subscriptions 
and  calls  to  communicate  the  names. 

"Nor  may  we  overlook  another  remarkable  instance  of  the 
same  kind.  The  Institution  is  three  thousands  dollars  in  debt 
on  the  Infirmary  building,  and  a  payment  of  one  thousand 
dollars  is  just  due.  But  for  this,  also,  the  Lord  provides.  A 
society  of  ladies  brought  one  hundred  dollars  as  the  proceeds 
of  their  labor  during  six  months,  and  on  last  week  gave  a 
festival  which  realized  four  hundred  dollars  more.  So  kindly 
did  the  public  smile  upon  this  effort  that  multitudes  could  not 
obtain  admittance  into  the  hall;  and  at  the  urgent  request  of 
many  of  the  citizens  it  will  shortly  be  repeated,  and  an  attempt 
will  be  made  to  wipe  away  the  whole  remaining  debt 

"The  want  among  us,  in  carrying  forward  the  cause  of 
mercy  and  religion,  is  neither  means  nor  men,'  but  faith  in  God. 
Oh,  that  we  believed  our  Father's  word:  'AH  things  are  possible 
to  him  that  believes.'  " 

In  the  beginning  of  1852,  to  the  great  joy  of  Mr.  Passavant 
and  the  small  force  of  sisters,  a  new  deaconess  arrived  from 
Kaiserswerth.  She  had  been  an  orphan  in  an  asylum  in  Frank- 
furt where  she  had  been  maintained  by  one  of  the  Passavants 
still  living  there.  He  had  sent  her  to  Kaiserswerth  and  had  also 
influenced  her  to  come  to  the  Pittsburg  Institution. 

During  his  whole  eventful  and  eminently  useful  life  Mr. 
Passavant  often  said  that  he  wished  that  he  might  have  ten 
lives  instead  of  one,  when  he  saw  the  amount  of  suffering  and 
need  around  him.  The  hill  above  Pittsburg,  on  which  the 
Infirmary  was  located,  was  being  settled  more  and  more  with 
colored  people.  He  was  often  moved  with  compassion  for  them 
v;hen  he  saw  their  poverty-stricken  homes,  shiftless,  thriftless 
lives,  their  easy  virtue  and  how  readily  they  became  a  prey  to 
the  sins  of  the  flesh.  Could  not  something  be  done  for  them? 
Could  he  not  do  something?  He  never  could  carry  out  all  his 
benevolent  intentions,  but  it  is  interesting  to  note  them  as  they 
throw  an  additional  light  into  his  wonderful  nature.  To  his 
young  Baltimore  friend.  Miss  Carolina  Super,  he  writes  in  a 
letter  in  which  he  expresses  the  hope  that  she  may  yet  see  her 
v/ay  clear  to  give  herself  to  the  holy  calling  of  the  ministry  of 
mercy,  which  letter  had  a  decisive  influence  in  winning  her 
finally  for  the  cause: 


256  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A,  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"The  Deaconess  interest  is  gradually  extending  itself  more 
and  more.  By  spring  we  design  to  open  a  school  of  an  indus- 
trial character  to  educate  some  of  the  many  poor  colored  giris 
who  live  in  the  neighborhood.  IMany  of  these  poor  unfortunates 
grow  up  to  a  life  of  infamy  for  want  of  an  honest  way  of 
making  a  livelihood,  and  we  hope  to  be  able  to  do  much  good  to 
this  unfortunate  class." 

In  1850  Mr.  Passavant  sent  twenty-two  dollars  to  Pastor 
Esbjorn  to  help  send  a  Swedish  student  to  Capital  University, 
Columbus,  Ohio.  The  student  was  young  Norelius,  who  is,  at 
this  writing,  the  venerable  president  of  the  Augustana  Synod. 

In  the  spring  of  1852  Mr.  Passavant  visited  the  Ministe- 
rium  of  Pennsylvania  and  made  a  strong  plea  for  assistance  in 
the  work  in  Canada  and  Texas.  This  plea  brought  in  about 
four  hundred  dollars  in  cash  and  permanently  interested  the 
Ministerium  in  these  missions.  This  trip  also  won  many  friend^: 
for  his  Infirmary  and  Orphan  Home. 

Here  is  his  own  account  of  an  interesting  trip  to  Gettys- 
burg in  the  spring  of  1853: 

"My  trip  to  Gettysburg  was  a  very  agreeable  one,  espe- 
cially as  I  met  Rev.  Dr.  Schaff  on  the  way,  with  whom  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  traveling  to  Chambersburg,  where  his  family 
was  staying  during  the  vacation.  In  Chambersburg  I  went  ai 
once  to  the  Lanes,  where  I  found  one  of  my  members,  Thos.  H. 
Ijane,  of  this  city,  and  received  such  a  welcome  as  made  me 
quite  at  home.  As  the  services  at  Gettysburg  were  to  be  at  three 
o'clock  on  "Wednesday  afternoon,  and  the  stage  did  not  run  in 
time,  one  of  the  friends  made  up  a  party  and  drove  me  along 
with  them  in  a  carriage,  so  that  we  got  there  in  good  time,  to 
the  great  relief  of  Asa  Waters  and  many  others  who  had  given 
me  up  for  lost,  thinking  that  I  would  come  by  New  York  and 
Hanover.  The  exercises  went  off  'as  well  as  could  be  expected,' 
and  although  I  was  not  satisfied  with  the  performances,  there 
seemed  to  be  a  grand  satisfaction  on  the  part  of  professors, 
visitors  and  students,  so  that  I  feel  more  comfortable  than  T 
had  hoped.  The  commencement  took  place  on  Thursday  and 
was  truly  an  interesting  occasion.  The  young  men,  and  espe- 
cially Asa,  acquitted  themselves  well,  and  the  Institution  ap- 
pears to  be  in  a  flourishing  condition.  After  so  many  years  of 
absence  my  intercourse  with   the  professors,   and  particularly 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  257 

witli  Prof.  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  of  Lancaster,  (who  was  a  student 
at  Cannonsburg  when  I  first  came  there),  was  very  agreeable. 
I  was  to  stop  with  my  old  friend,  Aunt  Polly  Geiger,  who 
formerly  lived  at  Fountaindale,  and  has  eVer  been  a  true  friend 
to  me,  amid  all  the  changes  of  time.  There  were  quite  a  number 
of  old  acquaintances  at  Gettysburg  whom  I  had  not  met  for 
many  years,  so  that  on  the  whole,  although  I  was  there  but  a 
short  time,  I  had  many  opportunities  of  social  and  familiar 
intercourse  with  old  friends. 

''On  Saturday  I  took  the  stage  for  Hanover,  thence  by  the 
New  York  Railroad  for  BaJtimore,  where  I  arrived;  quite 
unwell,  by  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  It  seemed  that  I  had 
taken  a  severe  cold,  and  on  Sunday  morning  I  was  so  ill  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  I  got  up  and  went  over  to  the  chapel; 
but  the  surprise  and  excitement  occasioned  by  seeing  such  an 
elegant  and  costly  church,  together  with  all  the  associations  of 
the  past,  broke  the  fever,  and  I  was  able  to  preach  in  the 
afternoon.  The  services  were  quite  interesting  and  instructive, 
and  it  was  a  day  long  to  be  remembered  by  all  present.  It  is 
truly  wonderful  how  those  poor  people  have  risen  out  of 
obscurity,  and  that  mainly  by  the  labors  of  one  man,  my  dear 
friend  Wysong,  who  is  still  as  faithful  and  persevering  in  the 
school  and  church  as  when  I  was  yet  there.  It  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  I  could  tear  myself  away  from  the  old  friends 
whose  affection  is  still  touching  in  the  extreme.  Fearing  the 
night  air.  Uncle  John  drove  me  out  to  his  home  immediately 
after  the  afternoon  services.  In  the  evening  Dr.  Morris  again 
preached  to  a  crowded  house.  Monday  and  Tuesday  we  devoted 
to  visiting  old  friends  both  at  the  chapel  and  at  Oldtown,  so 
t"hat  there  w^s  no  time  lost.  In  the  intervals  I  labored  some 
for  the  Pittsburg  Orphan  Home  and  was  tolerably  successful. 
Owing  to  the  rain  and  George  Walters  not  coming  in  on 
Monday,  I  did  not  go  to  his  place  in  the  country  but  drove  out 
again  with  Mr.  Hewes  on  Tuesday  night,  taking  supper  at 
Margaret  Downing 's  and  spending  the  evening.  I  also  baptized 
their  youngest  child,  a  solemn  and  deeply  affective  occasion,  in 
view  of  their  second  affliction  and  the  death  of  their  little  boy 
a  short  time  before. 

"The  friends  were  very  cordial,  indeed,  and  I  enjoyed 
myself  much  among  them.     On  leaving,  one  and  another  un- 


258  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAT  ANT. 

solicited  gave  me  donations  for  the  Home.  And  this  reminds 
me  that  I  ought  to  mention  that  there  is  but  one  feeling  on  this 
subject  among  all  our  people  in  the  East.  They  seem  to  feel 
that  they  are  alike  interested  in  its  prosperity  and  are  disposed 
to  do  everything  in  their  power  for  its  establishment.  Even 
those  men  who  have  hitherto  stood  aloof  are  gradually  coming 
over  and  take  collections  for  its  support.  Unto  God  be  the 
praise." 

Mr.  Passavant  had  two  great  sorrows  in  the  year  1853. 
His  father,  Philip  Louis  Passavant,  who  for  years  had  been  the 
most  influential  citizen  of  Zelienople,  died  in  Christ  and  in 
peace,  April  15,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age.  He  had  come  to 
Zelienople  in  1807  and  had  established  the  first  store  in  the 
town,  which  he  had  carried  on  until  1848,  when  he  sold  it  to 
his  son  Sidney.  ^^  During  his  long  life  in  Zelienople  he  had  been 
an  unobtrusive  and  quiet  helper  of  the  saints.  Again  and  again 
he  had  come  to  the  relief  of  the  churches,  missions  and  institu- 
tions of  his  son.  He  had  also  been  a  succorer  of  many  of  the 
poor  of  the  community,  who  were  among  the  sincere  mourners 
at  his  funeral.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Passavant  lot  in  the 
beautiful  churchyard,  the  grounds  for  which  he  had  presented 
to  the  Lutheran  Church.  A  modest  marble  monument  with 
suitable  inscription  marks  his  resting  place. 

Burdened  as  the  young  Mr.  Passavant  was  with  the  cares, 
sorrows  and  sufferings  of  others,  with  debts  and  financial  bur- 
dens, he  felt  the  loss  of  his  father  all  the  more.  But  he  knew 
where  and  how  to  find  comfort  and  strength,  and  sorrowed  not 
as  others  who  have  no  hope.  After  the  funeral  he  plunged 
again  into  his  work  and  buried  his  own  grief  in  his  efforts  to 
relieve  the  woes  of  -others. 

During  the  same  year  two  of  his  Kaiserswerth  deaconesses 
were  married,  and  he  lost  their  sorely  needed  services.  What 
wonder  that  in  his  sore  straits  he  felt  deeply  disappointed? 
In  his  distress  he  wrote  a  letter  of  grievance  to  Pastor  Fliedner. 
This  large-hearted  man  replied  in  a  kindly  letter,  endeavoring 


"  This  Sidney  was  at  this  time  working  in  a  store  in  Pittsburg.  He 
remained  in  mercantile  business  all  his  life.  He  was  a  founder  and  a  pil- 
lar of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  at  Zelienople.  He  was  known  far  and 
wide  for  his  business  integrity  and  liberality.  All  through  his  long  and 
prosperous  life  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  and  liberally  assisted  in  all  the 
charitable  work  of  his  brother  William. 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  -     259 

to  comfort  and  reconcile  his  young  friend.  He  assured  him 
that  such  cases  occur  and  will  occur  among  deaconesses,  that 
they  have  them  in  Kaiserswerth,  also,  and  that  when  a  sister 
becomes  enamored  (heiraihslustig) ,  it  is  best  to  let  her  go  with 
a  benediction.  The  number  of  deaconesses  was  thus  reduced 
to   four. 

Of  the  work  of  the  deaconesses  in  the  Infirmary  and  else- 
where  we   find   this   account   in   the   Missionary,   June,    1853: 

"Hitherto  the  principal  labor  of  the  Sisters  has  been  the 
care  and  relief  of  the  sick.  For  this  purpose  a  hospital  has  been 
established,  grounds  purchased  and  the  building  erected,  which 
offer  every  accommodation,  comfort  and  facility  in  the  treat- 
ment of  the  suffering.  There  are  forty  beds  in  the  Infirmary, 
though  the  number  of  sick  is  generally  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty.  During  the  past  year  the  number  of  patients  received 
was  one  hundred  and  eighty-five,  making  a  total  of  nine  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  in  the  four  years  since  the  Institution 
was  commenced.  In  this  large  number  almost  every  form  of 
suffering  finds  its  representative,  and  some  of  the  combinations 
of  disease,  wretchedness  and  want  could  not  be  described  in 
human  words.  In  the  language  of  the  last  report:  'To  those 
reared  amid  the  comforts  of  home,  and  unacquainted  with  the 
trials  which  sickness  and  poverty  bring  in  their  train,  it  is 
difficult  to  convey  a  proper  estimate  of  the  usefulness  of  such 
institutions  which  provide  shelter  and  healing  for  the  shattered 
body  and  seek  by  the  offices  of  mercy  to  shed  upon  the  chafed 
and  wearied  spirit,  the  peaceful  light  of  the  religion  of  Jesus. 
II  is  not  merely,  nor  even  mainly,  by  the  number  of  patients 
cured  or  relieved  that  their  importance  is  to  be  estimated.  The 
moral  and  spiritual  results  are  the  true  tests,  and  instances  are 
constantly  occurring  which  more  than  reward  all  the  toils  and 
pains  which  have  been  endured  for  the  many,  who,  though 
restored  to  bodily  health,  go  away  apparently  without  one 
thought  of  Him  who  healeth  all  their  diseases  and  crowneth 
their  lives  with  His  goodness. 

"In  addition  to  the  above  about  forty  have  been  nursed 
by  the  Sisters  in  their  own  homes  in  this  vicinity  and  other 
places,  principally  in  the  cases  of  cholera  or  other  contagious 
and  dangerous  diseases.  The  greatest  gratitude  has  been  man- 
ifested by  those  relieved  under  such  circumstances;    for  in  not 


260  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

a  few  instances  had  the  nurses  fled,  and  neither  love  nor  money 
could  procure  the  necessary  assistance. 

"A  second  field  of  labor  has  been  among  the  female  pris- 
oners in  the  Western  Penitentiary,  located  in  Allegheny  City. 
Owing  to  the  pressure  of  duties  among  the  sick,  these  visits 
have  frequently  been  interrupted,  but  they  were  always  thank- 
fully received  by  the  wretched  inmates,  and,  it  is  hoped,  have 
not  been  entirely  in  vain. 

"A  third  field  of  labor  has  been  among  the  orphans. 
Within  the  last  twelve  months  several  of  the  Sisters  have  been 
wholly  employed  in  this  department,  and  quite  a  family  of 
orphan  children  have  been  gathered  together  under  their  care. 
A  small  farm  has  been  purchased,  and  buildings  are  being 
erected  to  which  the  larger  boys  will  be  removed,  while  the  girls 
and  smaller  boys  will  remain  here  under  their  entire  control 
and  instruction.  The  number  of  the  children  is  constantly  in- 
creasing, so  that  more  laborers  are  needed  for  this  department. 

"A  fourth  class,  for  whose  relief  something  has  been  done, 
are  aged  and  friendless  females.  Two  such  aged  people,  one 
in  her  ninety-second  year,  have  been  received  during  the  past 
year,  but  owing  to  other  duties  all  other  applications  have  to 
be  refused.  Until  more  laborers  are  raised  up  it  is  clear  that 
nothing  further  can  be  done  in  this  respect. 

"All  this  has  been  accomplished  under  God  by  a  mere 
handful  of  Christian  women  associated  with  their  pastor  in 
endeavoring  to  carry  out  the  merciful  precepts  of  the  Gospel. 
If  our  small  number  were  doubled  or  trebled,  how  much  more 
might  be  done !  What  is  requisite  to  such  a  service  is  not 
brilliant  talent  or  romantic  zeal,  but,  first  of  all,  devoted  love 
to  Jesus  Christ ;  secondly,  good  common-sense ;  thirdly,  vigor- 
ous health  of  b.ody  and  mind,  and,  fourthly,  a  mind  for  the 
work.  Not  a  few  persons  have  come  recommended  by  their 
pastors  who  were  totally  deficient  in  several  of  these  respects, 
and  after  a  short  trial  had  to  be  refused.  The  Institution  is  a 
simple  society,  all  living  in  community  and  working  by  the 
same  rule.  No  vows  are  made,  and  no  binding  force  requires 
the  members  to  continue  longer  than  they  feel  it  to  be  their 
duty.  But  a  field  of  usefulness  is  here  open  to  Christian  females 
who  have  a  mind  for  the  work  of  the  Lord,  and  who,  like  Phoebe 
of  old,  would  be  *  succorers  of  many. '    To  such  we  give  a  cordial 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.     .  261 

invitation  to  enter  this  service.  We  invite  them  to  visit  the 
Institution  and  to  make  themselves  familiar  with  its  character; 
the  probationary  period  will  give  them  an  opportunity  to  prove 
their  own  feelings  and  enable  the  Institution  to  judge  of  their 
fitness  for  this  service.  We  ask  our  pastors  to  second  our  feeble 
efforts  and  help  these  women  who  labor  with  us  in  the  Gospel. 
We  trust  that  parents,  instead  of  dissuading  their  daughters 
from  entering  such  service,  will  lend  their  approval  and  counsel. 
Truly  the  harvest  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are  few.  In  believ- 
ing obedience  to  the  command  of  Jesus,  we  will  pray  that  He 
would  send  forth  more  laborers  into  the  harvest." 

In  July,  Mr.  Passavant  made  a  missionary  trip  to  Canada 
and  helped  to  organize  the  first  Lutheran  conference  there.  We 
present  tw^o  short  extracts  from  his  report: 

"I  can  only  refer  to  one  or  two  subjects  which  occupied  a 
large  share  of  the  attention  of  the  conference.  One  of  these  was, 
of  course,  the  cause  of  missions  and  the  connected  work  of 
education.  The  large  number  of  immigrant  Germans  who  are 
rapidly  filling  up  the  western  districts  bordering  on  Lakes 
Huron  and  Erie  demand  the  immediate  and  most  earnest  at- 
tention of  the  Church,  both  in  Canada  and  in  the  United  States. 
With  the  exception  of  some  eight  ministers  who  are  connected 
with  different  Synods,  the  remaining  persons  who  officiate 
among  them  are  wretched  imposters.  These  miserable  men  have 
hitherto  wasted  and  despoiled  the  heritage  of  God  without  let 
or  hindrance,  until  the  Church,  in  several  important  places,  is 
almost  totally  and  hopelessly,  ruined.  Still  there  are  many 
inviting  fields  where  the  prospects  for  usefulness  are  encourag- 
ing, and  only  laborers  of  zeal,  prudence  and  faith  are  needed, 
to  make  the  wilderness  blossom  as  the  rose.  It  is  a  wonder  of 
mercy  that  the  cause  is  not  more  hopeless  than  it  really  is,  and 
this,  in  connection  with  other  considerations,  encourages  the 
belief  that  by  prompt  and  effective  action  our  Church  in  Canada 
may  yet  become  a  glorious  Church  without  spot  or  wrinkle  or 
any  such  thing. 

"The  Conference  adjourned  on  Saturday,  to  meet  again  in 
Waterloo,  C.  W.,  in  the  month  of  October,  and  the  Lord's  day 
closed  the  religious  services  of  the  occasion.  After  the  ordina- 
tion of  Brother  Wurster  and  sermons  in  German  and  English, 
the  Communion  was  administered  to  a  large  number  of  com- 
municants.    It  was  deeply  affecting  to  see  so  many  aged  men 


262  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

approach  the  altar,  and  to  think  that  after  almost  half  a 
century  of  conflict,  neglect  and  destitution,  the  day  of  Zion's 
glory  has  at  length  dawned." 

In  February,  1854,  he  makes  a  plea  for  more  institutions 
of  mercy:  "The  Lutheran  Church  has  not  a  single  Hospital 
or  Retreat  for  her  suffering  immigrant  population  in  any 
Eastern,  Northern,  Southern  or  far  Western  city.  Such  insti- 
tutions are  imperatively  needed  in  New  York,  Philadelphia 
Baltimore,  New  Orleans,  Galveston,  St.  Louis,  Cincinnati,  Chi- 
cago, ]\Iilwaukee,  Detroit,  Cleveland  and  Buffalo.  And  thou- 
sands die  annually  by  fever,  destitution,  neglect  and  sin,  and 
are  eternally  lost  through  the  culpable  and  awful  neglect  of  the 
Church  to  her  own  flesh.  With  our  thousands  upon  thousands 
of  destitute  and  orphan  children,  what  provision  have  we  made 
for  them?  Twenty  or  thirty  asylums,  retreats,  homes  and 
houses  of  recovery  and  refuge?  No!  To  our  shame  be  it  con- 
fessed, we  have  one  small  and  struggling  home,  with  twenty-two 
orphans  and  a  few  half  orphans  of  ministers,  who  draw  an 
annuity  from  its  funds.  Tes!  This  is  all,  and  in  a  country, 
too,  which  contains  upwards  of  three  millions  of  Germans  and 
nearly  one  million  of  population  under  the  care  of  the  Lutheran 
Church ! 

"If  it  be  said  that  there  are  city  hospitals,  'fever  sheds' 
and  asylums  for  children  in  most  of  our  seaports  and  cities,  we 
answer  that  we  know  there  are,  such  as  they  are,  but  what  has 
this  to  do  with  the  real  issue?  'Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead.' 
State  and  city  provision  for  their  own  is  well  enough,  but  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  cannot  kneel  down  before  them  to  ask 
alms  for  her  own,  and  a  pauper's  portion  is  not  the  provision 
either  bodily  or  spiritually  which  the  Church  should  make  for 
the  suffering." 

On  a  business  trip  to  New  York  he  made  some  effort  to 
gather  funds  for  his  orphans  and  reported: 

"Having  some  acquaintances  among  the  German  importers, 
Monday  and  Tuesday  mornings  were  employed  in  making  an 
effort  among  a  few  of  them,  which  resulted  in  the  collection  of 
two  hundred  and  ten  dollars,  with  the  prospect  of  more  here- 
after. From  the  interest  which  was  manifested  in  this  cause  by 
these  gentlemen  we  are  persuaded  that  if  our  brethren  m  New 
York  would  make  a  vigorous  effort  to  establish  a  similar  institu- 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG  263 

tion  for  fatherless  emigrant  children  near  the  city,  they  would 
find  many  large-hearted  and  liberal  supporters  among  this  class 
of  their  citizens. 

"Returning  home  by  way  of  Philadelphia  we  had  the 
pleasure  of  receiving  the  "wluntary  contributions  of  several 
friends.  A  member  of  a  sister  church  whom  we  had  frequently 
met  in  Pittsburg  in  former  years  came  up  to  us  and  remarked  r 
'See  here;  are  you  not  establishing  an  Orphans'  Home?'  On 
answering  m  the  affirmative  he  replied :  '  Come  into  my  store 
a  minute,  for  I  must  have  a  brick  in  that  institution.'  On 
going  out  and  examining  'the  brick'  it  proved  to  be  a  ten- 
dollar  note.  A  member  of  Dr.  Barnes'  church,  whose  acquaint- 
ance we  had  the  pleasure  of  making  while  visiting  one  of  the 
missions,  kindly  volunteered  to  'buy  a  few  bricks'  for  the  new 
building,  and  his  bricks  likewise  turned  out  to  be  ten  dollars. 
So  easily  can  God  raise  up  friends  and  means  for  His  fatherless 
children. 

"After  an  eight  days'  absence  we  returned  home,  if  not  a 
wiser,  a  more  humble  man.  We  could  not  but  wonder  at  our 
unbelieving  heart,  so  prone  to  doubt  and  so  slow  to  trust  the 
promises  of  the  eternal  God.  We  felt  grateful,  deeply  grateful 
to  the  Giver  of  all  good  for  the  many  tokens  of  His  favor 
received  during  this  short  journey,  but  we  see  more  than  ever 
the  sinfulness  of  being  unduly  solicitous  for  the  support  of 
those  of  whom  God  hath  said,  'I  will  be  a  Father  to  the  father- 
less. '  The  mighty  and  merciful  God  is  the  Father  of  the  orphan. 
Will  not  He  provide  for  His  own  children?  Let  us  then  no 
longer  doubt." 

Here  is  one  of  scores  of  cases  of  mercy  to  the  orphans: 
"A  family  from  Norwaj^  consisting  of  father,  mother  and 
four  children,  through  the  aid  of  benevolent  persons  at  home, 
had  obtained  the  means  to  emigrate  to  this  country.  They 
tared  well  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  a  little  farther  than 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  the  father,  by  accident,  was  caught  under 
the  wheels  of  a  car  which  passed  over  his  body  and  cut  off  his 
legs  above  the  knees.  The  cars  passed  on  at  their  usual  rate, 
leaving  the  poor  man  to  his  fate  on  the  track.  The  widowed 
mother  came  on  West  to  the  Norwegian  settlement  at  Lisbon, 
111.,  and  died  of  cholera  the  next  day,  leaving  the  four  children 
without  relatives  or  anyone  to  provide  for  them.    The  man  with 


264  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"whoin  these  children  now  live  has  himself  a  large  family  and  is 
in  limited  circumstances.  When  I  last  preached  in  that  neigh- 
borhood he  spoke  to  me  of  the  necessity  of  making  some  ar- 
rangement for  their  care,  and  I  advised  that  some  of  the  mem- 
bers divide  them  amongst  their  families  until  I  could  write 
whether  there  was  still  a  place  in  the  Home.  The  common 
practice  out  here  has  been  to  bind  such  children  out,  regardless 
of  the  character  of  those  to  whom  they  are  given,  or,  in  other 
words,  to  enslave  them  up  to  a  certain  age,  a  system  which  I  hate 
from  my  very  soul.  We  need  scarcely  add  that  we  immediately 
wrote  'to  send  the  children  on. '  " 

Of  the  w^ork  of  the  Infirmary  during  the  frightful  visitation 
of  cholera  in  Pittsburg  during  the  summer  of  1854  he  gives  this 
account : 

"At  the  request  of  several  friends  at  a  distance  and  in  the 
hope  of  directing  attention  to  the  importance  of  the  Church 
engaging  in  works  of  mercy  among  the  poor  and  suffering, 
we  will  be  permitted  to  say  a  few  words  concerning  the  In- 
firmary during  the  late  awful  visitation  of  cholera.  It  is 
generally  known  that  a  number  of  Christian  women,  members 
of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  of  Pittsburg,  are  associated 
together  with  their  pastor  for  the  exercise  of  mercy.  One  of 
the  Institutions  under  their  care  is  the  Pittsburg  Infirmary, 
which,  by  its  character,  is  open  to  persons  of  every  creed,  color 
and  country,  and  sincerely  seeks  to  do  good  to  all,  without 
partiality  and  without  hypocrisy.  The  number  of  beds  for  the 
sick  is  thirty-five  and  the  average  number  of  patients  about 
thirty.  For  the  support  of  this  large  family  our  sole  reliance 
is  on  voluntary  contributions,  and  though  often  reduced  to 
the  greatest  straits,  we  can  say,  to  the  praise  of  the  divine 
goodness,  that  none  have  ever  gone  away  from  its  doors  hungry 
or  unrelieved.  The  Institution  was  pursuing  its  unobtrusive 
course  of  usefulness  when  the  cholera  suddenly  broke  out  in 
our  city  on  Thursday,  Sept.  14,  with  unexampled  virulence. 
On  Friday  morning  46  deaths  were  reported  in  the  papers,  and 
mortality  increased  daily  to  a  most  alarming  degree,  so  that  in 
a  fortnight  nearly  a  thousand  persons  were  numbered  among 
the  dead.  Words  are  incapable  of  describing  the  scenes  which 
were  witnessed  in  our  city  during  this  time.  The  streets  were 
filled   with    funeral   processions,    many    of   the    factories    and 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  265 

workshops  were  shut,  men  were  hurrying  to  and  fro,  or  were 
collected  in  anxious  groups  to  hear  the  latest  intelligence  of 
the  disease.  After  the  first  panic  scenes  of  suffering  and  neglect 
were  brought  to  light  among  the  poor  and  in  families  where  the 
plague  had  done  its  worst,  which  were  heart-rending.  A  How- 
ard Association  was  formed  to  seek  out  and  relieve  such  cases, 
and  then  only  was  fully  seen  the  advantage  of  hospitals,  whither 
the  suffering  who  were  without  a  home  or  proper  attendance 
might  be  removed.  Both  the  Roman  Catholic  Hospital  and 
the  Infirmary,  under  the  care  of  our  Deaconesses,  were  filled 
to  their  utmost  capacity,  and  at  the  latter  the  physician's  rooms 
and  the  parlor  were  turned  into  wards  for  the  sick.  In  addition 
to  the  patients  already  in  the  house,  sixty  cholera  patients  were 
received  into  the  Infirmary,  nearly  two-thirds  of  whom  were 
happily  restored.  Our  dear  sist.ers  were  indefatigable  in  their 
labors  of  love,  and  although  at  times  almost  prostrated  by  the 
exertions  and  watchings  of  this  time,  they  were  yet  wonderfully 
sustained  by  the  grace  of  God  and  the  blessing  of  those  who 
vrere  ready  to  perish.  In  the  language  of  one  of  the  city  papers : 
'They  labored  night  and  day,  when  hired  nurses  could  not  be 
obtained,  and  performed  the  most  disgusting  offices  for  the 
poor  sick  under  their  charge  with  the  greatest  readiness  and 
cheerful  pleasure. '  Our  heart  swells  with  gratitude  to  God  who 
strengthened  them  in  this  trying  time  and  mercifully  spared 
their  lives  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  The  physicians 
of  the  Institution  were  likewise  unremitting  in  their  attentions 
to  the  sick,  and  one  of  them,  Dr.  J.  H.  Nelson,  died  during  the 
first  week  of  the  disease. 

"The  kindness  of  a  humane  public  and  the  encouraging 
words  of  Christian  friends  sustained  the  hearts  and  upheld  the 
hands  of  all  engaged  in  the  severe  duties  of  the  hospital.  We 
had  no  time  for  appeals  to  the  public  for  aid,  neither  did  we 
think  of  the  fact  that  the  Institution  had  been  almost  wholly 
without  funds  for  months  before.  But  He  who  knew  our  need 
supplied  it  without  efforts  on  our  part." 

From  the  fourth  annual  reports  of  the  Infirmary  we  clip 
this  paragraph: 

"The  question  has  been  repeatedly  asked  by  persons  both 
here  and  abroad,  'How  is  this  Institution  supported  without 
an  endowment  or  any  visible  means  of  support  ? '     Neither  is 


266  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT, 

the  difficulty  removed  when  we  answer,  'Solely  by  the  free-will 
offerings  of  the  humane.'  'But  have  you  not  considerable 
funds  on  hand  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  sick  ? '  '  No,  often  less 
than  three  penny's  worth  of  bread  and  a  few  small  fishes.' 
'But  what  do  you  do  then?  Do  you  not  refuse  further  admis- 
sions?' 'Certainly  not;  we  continue  as  before  to  receive  any 
worthy  applicant  until  all  the  beds  are  occupied.'  'But  does 
not  the  Institution  become  hopelessly  involved  by  such  a 
course?'  No.  the  very  reverse  is  the  case.  Experience  has  fully 
proven  that  it  is  only  when  the  Institution  opens  wide  its  doors 
to  the  suffering  without  reference  to  the  state  of  its  own  re- 
sources that  its  wants  are  more  readily  supplied.  From  its 
commencement  the  Infirmary  has  been  conducted  on  the  prin- 
ciple that  we  have  but  one  care,  viz.,  to  see  that  none  but 
objects  of  real  suffering  were  received,  and  that  all  means 
entrusted  to  us  for  their  support  were  conscientiously  and 
economically  expended.  The  experience  of  every  new  day  has 
confirmed  the  correctness  of  this  position.  Athough  greatly 
straitened  at  times  for  want  of  funds,  no  sooner  was  this  known 
than  our  wants  were  supplied.  Instead  of  abandonment  and 
ruin  the  unavoidable  debts  incurred  by  the  erection  of  the 
hospital  building  were  diminished  every  year  until  they  finally 
disappeared,  while  for  a  period  of  six  years  the  wards  of  the 
Institution  have  been  filled  to  the  utmost  capacity  by  the 
hundreds  of  patients  who  have  sought  relief  within  its  walls. 
To  the  praise  of  the  divine  goodness  we  can  say  with  deep 
gratitude  that  during  all  this  time  no  one  of  these  ever  wanted 
for  the  necessary  care  or  food  or  raiment  which  their  circum- 
stances required.  Distribution  was  made  unto  all  as  every  one 
had   need." 

While  the  editor,  solicitor,  traveling  missionary  and  pastor 
was  busy  in  his  office  where  he  spent  about  two  days  a  week ;  on 
the  street  soliciting  funds  for  churches  and  institutions  in  all 
parts  of  the  land;  on  the  train,  in  the  boat  or  in  the  buggj' 
going  by  day  and  by  night,  preaching  in  his  "gravel  church" 
in  Rochester,  Pa.,  or  visiting  from  house  to  house  in  the  town, 
he  was  still  director  and  provider  of  the  Infirmary  and  the  two 
Orphan  Houses.  Night  after  night,  also  when  others  were 
comfortably  sleeping,  he  was  on  his  knees  in  his  closet,  telling 
his  needs  and  the  needs  of  the  Church,  the  sick,  the  fatherless, 
to  his  Heavenly  Father,  casting  all  his  cares  on  Him  who  careth 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  267 

for  His  own.  Of  the  work  and  influence  of  the  Infirmary  he 
speaks  in  his  ninth  annual  report  from  which  we  cull  a  few 
extracts : 

"During  the  period  occupied  by  this  Report  an  unusually 
large  number  of  chronic  and  other  cases  of  long  standing  have 
been  under  treatment.  Owing  to  the  time  which  is  necessarily 
required  for  their  relief,  and  the  expense  of  their  maint<?nance, 
this  class  of  sufferers  are  excluded  from  most  hospitals.  Other 
hospitals  are  confined  principally  to  acute  surgical  cases.  Ex- 
perience, however,  has  fully  confirmed  us  in  the  opinion  that 
scarcely  any  one  class  of  the  suffering  appeals  more  rightfully 
to  Christian  mercies  than  do  these  unfortunates.  Through  long 
sickness  and  consequent  poverty  their  situation  is  most  distress- 
ing, and  so  long  as  a  probability  remains  of  a  permanent  or  even 
partial  recovery  it  appears  to  be  a  plain  duty  to  'take  them  in.* 
In  obedience  to  this  many  patients  of  this  class  have  been  on 
the  funds  of  this  charity  for  three  or  four  months,  while  not  a 
few  have  been  permitted  to  remain  from  six  to  ten  months,  as 
the  treatment  of  their  case  required.  The  results  of  this  course 
have  fully  justified  all  the  expense  and  toil.  In  many 
instances  diseases  of  long  standing  were  so  far  relieved 
that  the  sick  ceased  to  be  a  burden  to  themselves  and  to  society, 
while  in  numerous  other  cases  the  most  obstinate  chronic  dis- 
eases finally  yielded  to  medical  skill,  suitable  diet  and  careful 
nursing.  Many  such  are  found  in  our  community,  the  dark 
shadow  of  whose  former  life  has  turned  to  brightness,  and  from 
their  peaceful  homes  and  happy  firesides  benedictions  are  con- 
tinually invoked  upon  the  Institution  which  gave  them  shelter, 
food,  healing  and  spiritual  rest  when  the  poorhouse  or  the  grave 
seemed  their  only  refuge. 

"Notwithstanding  the  general  good  health  and  the  absence 
of  cholera,  no  less  than  fifty-one  cases  of  contagious  and  infec- 
tious diseases  are  reported.  These  were  principally  of  smallpox 
and  a  malignant  form  of  typhus  fever,  of  the  former  of  which 
no  less  than  twenty  were  under  treatment  at  one  time.  For 
nearly  two  months,  in  addition  to  the  large  number  of  sick  in  the 
Infirmary  proper,  the  building  appropriated  to  such  cases  was 
filled  with  the  victims  of  this  loathsome  disease,  while  the  wants 
of  these  unhappy  sufferers,  many  of  them  in  the  wildness  of 
delirium,  required  the  unwearied  care  of  the  nurses  by  night 
and  by  day.     With  three  exceptions  all  recovered,  a  sufficient 


268  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

reward  for  the  nights  of  watching  and  days  of  weariness  devoted 
to  them. 

"As  heretofore,  we  prefer  to  allude  briefly  to  the  spiritual 
side  of  these  labors  among  the  suffering.  Many  incidents  might 
be  given  from  the  journal  of  the  Director,  where  the  ministry 
of  mercy  was  made  effectual  to  the  recovery  of  those  who  had 
condemned  the  living  ministry;  where  the  long-lost  prodigal 
was  restored  to  purity  and  peace  by  the  power  of  kindness; 
where  doubt  departed  before  the  daily  illustrations  of  true 
religion  and  death  itself  was  made  easy,  and  at  timeis  triumph- 
ant by  the  consolations  of  the  Gospel.     . 

"By  a  reference  to  the  donations,  their  interesting  and 
diversified  character  will  at  once  be  perceived.  As  heretofore, 
the  mite  of  the  poor  and  the  bounty  of  the  rich  stand  side  by 
side.  Churches,  associations  and  societies  of  various  kinds  have 
sent  in  their  voluntary  offerings.  The  husbandman,  the  mer- 
chant, the  mechanic  and  the  capitalist  have  each  aided  the 
Institution  in  his  own  peculiar  way,  while  the  sweet  piety  of 
childhood  has  breathed  forth  its  prayers  and  cast  its  alms  into 
the  treasury.  Nor  may  we  forget  the  obligation  of  gratitude 
to  those  excellent  women,  who  in  the  summer's  heat  and  winter's 
cold  have  labored  so  unwearyingly  at  the  annual  and  special 
festivals  which  were  given  for  the  Infirmary.     ... 

"We  cannot  conclude  this  imperfect  review  of  the  past 
history  and  present  condition  of  the  Institution  without  a 
public  acknowledgment  of  the  invaluable  services  of  those 
excellent  Christian  'women  who  labor  with  us  in  the  Gospel'. 
To  them  are  committed  the  management  of  its  domestic  affairs 
and  the  care  and  nursing  of  the  sick.  Were  it  not  for  their  labor 
of  love,  their  calm  endurance  and  their  unwearied  attention 
to  the  patients,  its  doors  would  probably  have  been  closed. 
The  Infirmary  is  a  standing  monument  to  the  power  of  faith 
and  love  in  the  breast  of  Christian  woman.  Only  they  who 
know  their  daily  duties  can  appreciate  their  labors  and  under- 
stand their  value  to  such  an  Institution.  In  seeking  not  their 
own  but  the  things  which  are  Christ's  they  give  to  the  Institu- 
tion at  once  the  enei'gies  of  a  free  and  loving  heart  and  the 
largest  sacrifices  of  time  and  strength." 

At  the  next  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  of  the  Infirm-- 
ary,  Mr.  Passavant  could  report  that  for  the  first  time  in  its 
history  the  Institution  began  the  new  year  without  a  debt. 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  269 

It  might  not  be  amiss  to  mention  here,  also,  that  for  the 
former  year's  work  as  editor  of  the  Missionary,  Mr.  Passavant 
had  received  two  hundred  dollars.  This  was  his  first  remunera- 
tion for  this  work. 

Of  a  morning  among  the  sick  in  the  Infirmary  he  gives  this 
interesting  sketch: 

"In  the  female  ward  several  new  beds  are  occupied,  while 
two  patients  have  been  discharged  cured.  One  of  the  new  cases 
is  a  German  servant  girl  from  the  Fifth  Ward  with  violent 
fever  and  in  great  bodily  pain.  Spoke  a  few  words  of  encour- 
agement to  her,  but  she  looked  wildly  around  and  seemed  not 
to  understand  their  meaning.  Another,  an  aged  disciple,  with 
paralysis,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  for  whose  care 
a  few  friends  had  agreed  to  make  up  something,  as  no  family 
was  willing  to  take  the  trouble  of  such  a  charge.  She  expressed 
herself  free  from  suffering  and  as  'very  comfortable.'  An- 
other was  a  little  German  girl,  perhaps  three  years  of  age. 
The  mother  is  a  poor  washwoman  with  four  children,  who  is 
obliged  to  go  out  and  wash,  and  by  permission  brings  her  little 
imbecile  on  those  days  to  the  Infirmary.  The  joy  of  this  poor 
sufferer,  on  being  told  that  she  would  be  carried  out  under  the 
apple  trees  where  the  men  were  making  hay,  was  quite  affecting. 
Her  sad  countenance  became  radiant  with  joy  and  she  clapped 
her  thin,  bony  hands  with  an  expression  of  the  greatest  delight. 
(Oh,  my  God,  let  me  learn  from  this  suffering  child  to  thank 
Thee  for  help,  and  that  I  may  walk  forth  into  this  beautiful 
world!)  Mrs.  B.,  the  consumptive,  still  lives,  but  is  very  weak. 
Her  mind  appears  more  at  rest  since  we  consented  to  receive 
her  little  boy  into  the  Home  after  her  death.  Poor,  sad  heart! 
In  a  little  while  weakness  will  give  place  to  strength,  and  then 

'Unkindness  shall  be  felt  no  more 
And  all  life  's  bitterness  be  o  'er. ' 

"The  young  woman  who  suffered  so  inconceivably  with 
what  was  supposed  to  be  cancer  in  the  mouth  is  pronounced 
convalescent  by  the  physicians  and  will  soon  be  discharged. 
She  appears  to  be  deeply  thankful  to  God  and  man,  and  ex- 
presses her  gratitude  that  she  found  a  retreat  in  the  Infirmary 
during  the  long  months  of  her  awful  suffering. 

"The  first  male  ward  likewise  contained  a  number  of  new 
patients.     Most  of  the  former  ones  had  been  discharged  cured. 


270  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

Among  the  new  ones  is  a  young  German  who  reminded  me 
painfully  of  Bunyan's  'Man  in  Despair.'  He  is  almost  reduced 
to  skin  and  bone,  and  his  sorrowful  look  is  enough  to  move 
one  to  tears.  Sitting  down  by  his  bedside,  I  sought  to  find 
out  the  cause  of  that  heart  sorrow  which  was  evidently  hurrying 
him  to  the  grave.  He  insisted  that  he  had  committed  some 
dreadful  wrong  against  his  fellow-men,  but  nothing  could  extort 
from  him  the  nature  of  his  crime.  I  tried  in  vain  to  pacify 
his  mind  by  telling  him  of  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  to  all  who 
confessed  and  forsook  their  evil  ways  and  humbly  came  to 
Christ  for  pardon.  A  few  wandering  words  of  reply  told 
his  sad  fate.  Reason  was  dethroned,  and  I  was  talking  to  a 
maniac !  On  going  to  bed  Number  10,  I  found  a  young  man 
who  works  in  a  foundry  in  this  city,  in  the  first  stages  of 
consumption.  He  is  from  Ireland,  and  his  parents  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  or  Covenanter  Church,  but 
since  they  came  to  America  'they  attend  no  church  in  particu- 
lar.' He  was  reading  the  Psalms,  and  as  I  talked  with  him  he 
listened  with  attention,  but  without  any  apparent  interest, 
until  the  mention  of  Jesus  opened  the  fountains  of  feeling,  and 
he  wept  like  a  child.  Thanking  me  for  the  visit  and  solemnly 
promising  to  seek  that  Saviour  whom  he  had  neglected  and  for- 
gotten in  health,  he  begged  me  with  tears  to  come  soon  again. 
Poor  W.  still  lies  in  his  corner.  His  hands  and  feet  were  so 
badly  frozen  in  January  that  his  fingers  and  toes  dropped  off. 
The  process  of  healing  goes  on  very  slowly,  but  patience  must 
have  her  perfect  work.  What  a  time  for  reflection  on  his 
previous  life!  He  was  thoughtfully  reading  God's  Word,  and 
may  we  not  hope  that  although  he  may  leave  the  Institution 
a  cripple  for  life,  yet  that  his  heart  may  be  made  every  whit 
vrhole  ? 

"In  the  second  male  ward  there  were  no  new  faces.  The 
patients  are  rapidly  recovering  and  some  were  making  hay  in 
the  Infirmary  grounds,  while  others  were  walking  and  sitting 
under  the  trees  in  the  orishard.  It  is  a  real  blessing  that  the 
Institution  has  such  a  breathing  place  where  our  poor  fellows 
may  stretch  their  weary  limbs  after  the  long  confinement  of 
the  sick  room. 

"The  room  above  the  balcony  has  two  patients  to-day,  the 
one  a  colored  girl  who  has  occupied  another  room  for  some  time 
past,  and  an  old  colored  woman,  so  old  that  'indeed,  young 


LIFE  AND  WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  271 

master,  I  don't  know  how  old  I  is.'  Mary  is  very  much  worse, 
for  the  fatal  rattle  in  her  throat  tells  but  too  truly  that  death 
is  at  the  door.  'What  is  your  hope,  Mary,'  I  said,  'in  view  of 
your  departure?'  Raising  herself  up  in  her  bed  and  gasping 
for  breath,  she  calmly  replied,  'The  merits  of  Jesus  Christ.' 
To  various  other  questions  her  answers  were  even  more  satis- 
factory, and  these,  taken  in  connection  with  her  previous  life 
as  a  consistent  member  of  a  Christian  church,  awakened  the 
conviction  that  in  ministering  to  this  poor  and  neglected  daugh- 
ter of  Africa  the  Institution  was  ministering  to  Christ  Himself 
in  the  person  of  one  of  His  disciples.  After  prayer,  in  which 
I  endeavored  to  commend  her  spirit  to  the  mercy  of  God,  I 
engaged  in  conversation  with  the  old  colored  woman.  She  is 
a  member  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  her 
friends  are  all  dead,  and  for  many  years  she  has  lived  with 
different  people,  'doing  little  turns  and  nursin'  the  baby,  honey, 
till  I  couldn't  stand  on  my  sore  leg  any  longer.  De  bredren 
and  sistering  war  very  kind,  but  you  know,  my  child,  dat  it 
ain't  home  to  a  body  no  more  when  they  can't  do  nothin'.'  So 
she,  too,  had  sought  a  refuge  in  the  Infirmary  'till  her  leg  got 
strong  agin,'  and  her  heart  was  full  'that  the  swellin'  war  goin' 
away.'  And  yet,  notwithstanding  the  sorrows  of  old  age  and 
poverty,  she  is  cheerful  and  even  happy.  'It^s  all  well,  honey; 
dat  is,  I  takes  it  all  for  well,  bekase  de  Lord  gives  me  grace  to 
believe  dat  what  He  do  is  all  for  de  best.'  Here  is  the  patience 
of  the  saints,  and  the  wise  and  the  philosophic  may  learn  from 
this  poor  and  illiterate  African  the  true  wisdom  and  the  only 
real  philosophy  which  will  meet  the  wants  of  the  human  hearts 
amid  the  sufferings  of  life." 

In  March,  1855,  he  made  this  noble  defence  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  against  a  Presbyterian  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
Evangelist,  who  had  written:  "The  Reformed  churches  have, 
from  the  beginning,  laid  great  stress  upon  Moral  Reforms 
and  Practical  Christianity,  while  Lutheranism  is  theoretic  and 
contemplative,  and  prefers  the  enjoyment  and  profession  of 
faith  to  its  practical  manifestation  and  actual  life": 

"It  is  the  peculiar  glory  of  Lutheranism  that  she  ever  has 
made  herself  most  powerfully  felt  by  'the  practical  manifesta- 
tion of  Christianity  in  actual  life.'  Notwithstanding  her  un- 
happy union  with  the  State  in  most  countries,  by  which  she 
has  been  greatly  shorn  of  her  strength,  there  have  perpetually 


272  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  F  ASS  AY  ANT. 

appeared  in  her  communion  men  of  simple  apostolic  faith  and 
character  who  have  been  the  lights  of  the  world  and  the  bene- 
factors of  the  race. 

''Hans  Egede,  the  first  Protestant  missionary,  went  forth 
from  her  bosom.  Schwartz  and  his  companions  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  Christianity  in  India,  when  Episcopalian  and  Pres- 
byterian missions  were  not  thought  of,  and  the  name  of  Father 
Schwartz  is  to  this  day  associated  in  India  with  everything  holy 
and  pure.  Francke  built  the  first  Protestant  orphan  house  in 
Halle  and  electrified  both  hemispheres  by  his  labors  of  faith 
and  love  at  the  time  when  'pure  and  undefiled  religion'  was 
habitually  neglected.  Oberlin  civilized  and  Christianized  his 
degraded  parishioners  of  the  Vosges  when  most  men  thought 
a  pastor's  duty  was  performed  by  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
from  the  pulpit  of  his  charge.  When  Mrs.  Fry  commenced  her 
work  of  prison  reform  she  found  Pastor  Fliedner  in  a  prison 
of  Diisseldorf,  where  he  had  been  carrying  out  his  reforms  for 
years.  To  the  same  remarkable  man  are  we  indebted,  under 
God,  for  the  restoration  of  the  House  for  Christian  nurses, 
which  extends  from  Jerusalem  to  Stockholm,  from  Paris  to 
Pittsburg.  The  gigantic  labors  of  Dr.  Wichern,  described  in 
this  correspondence,  furnished  a  striking  refutation  of  the 
opinion  above  expressed,  and  the  ragged  schools  of  England 
and  the  industrial  schools  of  America  are  but  imperfect  imita- 
tions of  the  great  principle  illustrated  by  Wichern  in  his  '  Rauhe 
Haus,'  that  love  is  stronger  than  force,  and  a  home  of  affection 
a  truer  school  for  reforming  vice  than  stone  walls  and  houses 
of  correction.  The  Moravians,  who  are  Lutherans  in  their  faith, 
have  given  to  the  world  the  most  sublime  examples  of  missionary 
enterprise  and  success  among  the  most  hopeless  of  the  race,  and 
the  Lutheran  Church  of  Wurtemberg  has  furnished  more  mis- 
sionaries for  the  heathen  world  than  all  the  Protestant  churches 
in  the  United  States.  So,  too,  in  this  connection,  we  might 
mention  the  interesting  fact  that  the  devoted  Miss  Nightingale, 
the  head  of  the  noble  women  of  England,  who  are  nursing  the 
sick  in  the  hospitals  of  Scutari,  although  an  English  lady  by 
birth,  united  with  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Germany,  where  her 
heart  was  charmed  away  from  earth,  and  her  very  being  con- 
secrated to  Christ.  In  fact,  the  practical  character  of  Lutheran- 
ism  is  everywhere  on  the  continent  making  proof  of  its  power 
to  grapple  with  the  great  social  needs  of  society,  and  what  it 


LIFE   AND    WORK   IN  PITTSBURG.  273 

may  and  probably  does  lack  in  administrative  talent  it  more 
than  makes  up  by  the  patience  of  hope  and  the  perseverance 
01  never- failing  love." 

In  June,  1854,  Mr.  Passavant  preached  his  tenth  anniver- 
sary sermon.  The  main  part  of  it  is  published  in  the  Missionary 
for  September  and  October.  It  makes  intensely  interesting 
reading.  The  first  half  is  mainly  historical.  As  all  facts  there 
mentioned  have  been  brought  out  before,  we  need  not  repeat 
them  here.  The  preacher  also  warmly  defended  himself  against 
the  criticisms  of  those  who  blamed  him  for  taking  upon  himself 
too  much  work  outside  of  the  congregation.  From  this  it  ap- 
pears that  there  were  those  in  his  church  who  were  opposed 
to  his  work  of  mercy  in  founding  and  carrying  on  his  institu- 
tions. He  was  also  blamed  by  some  for  giving  so  much  of  his 
time  to  mission  work  in  the  city,  the  Synod,  the  West  and  the 
South.  In  view  of  these  criticisms  we  may  well  ask  where  would 
be  the  Passavant  institutions  of  mercy  which  have  done  so  much 
for  sinning  and  suffering  humanity,  and  which  are  among  the 
crown  jewels  of  our  Church,  had  he  followed  the  advice  of  these 
church  members?     In  his  defence  against  his  critics  he  says: 

"Seven  years  of  observation  have  not  changed  the  convic- 
tion then  expressed  or  weakened  the  purpose  then  declared  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  ministry  to  engage  personally 
in  all  those  labors  of  mercy  which  adorn  the  life  of  our  blessed 
Lord.  If  other  interests  may  have  appeared  to  be  secondary, 
the  reason  has  not  been  an  unwillingness  to  attend  to  them,  but 
a  deep  and  ever-present  conviction  that  religion  was  dishonored, 
misunderstood  and  neglected  by  too  exclusive  attention  to  so- 
called  spiritual  duties,  while  the  exercise  of  mercy  to  the  suffer- 
ing was  in  a  great  part  overlooked  by  the  Church  of  our  day. 
And  here  permit  me  to  add,  that  while  there  have  been  occa- 
sional notes  of  dissatisfaction,  that  a  part  of  the  pastor's  time 
and  strength  was  given  to  those  who  seemed  to  have  no  claim 
upon  him,  at  least  no  claim  over  those  who  thought  they  had 
a  right  to  look  upon  the  whole  as  belonging  to  themselves,  the 
church  members,  with  very  few  exceptions,  have  nobly  stood  by 
their  pastor  in  every  effort  to  relieve  the  suffering  and  provide 
a  home  for  the  fatherless.  And  now,  what,  I  ask,  has  been  the 
effect  of  this  course  upon  the  congregation?  Have  their  souls 
prospered  less  than  if  they  had  received  five  visits  from  their 


274  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

pastor  where  they  perhaps  received  but  one?  Have  they  a 
fainter  resemblance  of  character  to  Jesus  Christ  for  having 
forgotten  their  own  comfort,  convenience  and  advantage?  Are 
they  poorer  for  having  made  many  rich?  Has  the  Church 
suffered  or  has  it  prospered  in  comparison  with  the  other 
churches  of  our  city  by  its  intimate  connection  with  the  exer- 
cises of  mercy  to  the  afflicted?  Comparisons  are  said  to  be 
odious;  but  where  a  great  principle  is  involved  it  cannot  be 
amiss  to  state  that  of  eight  churches  in  our  city,  which  were 
established  a  few  years  before  this,  and  all  of  which,  ten  years 
ago,  were  stronger  and  more  flourishing  than  it,  but  two  have 
now  an  equal  number  of  members,  and  none  of  the  whole 
number  can  be  said  to  be  in  a  more  prosperous  condition. 
Indeed,  five  are  weaker  than  they  were  ten  years  ago,  and 
several  are  maintaining  merely  a  sickly  existence. 

"I  allude  to  these  facts,  not  for  display  or  from  party 
spirit,  but  to  show  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  standeth  sure. 
Jesus  Christ  hath  said :  The  merciful  shall  obtain  mercy.  Seek- 
ing our  own,  we  lose  even  our  own.  Sacrificing  our  own 
advantage,  comfort  and  self-interest  for  the  good  of  others  we 
gain  an  hundredfold,  even  in  this  life,  of  all  that  we  seem  to 
have  lost.  I  speak  of  these  things  thus  publicly  because  of  the 
frequent  prediction  of  the  decay  and  ruin  of  the  church  because 
of  the  union  of  other  labors  with  what  was  conceived  to  be 
the  sole  duties  of  the  ministry.  And  I  desire  here  to  record  the 
prosperity  of  to-day  as  a  sufficient  answer  to  all  that  may  be 
said  against  the  course  which  has  been  pursued.  Instead  of  one 
feeble  church  of  sixty  members  with  a  debt  (in  principal  and 
interest)  amounting  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  we  have  become 
several  bands,  and  the  present  debt  of  the  parent  church  is 
secured  by  good  subscriptions." 

He  then  tells  of  mission  churches  and  Sunday-schools  al- 
ready established  and  of  lots  secured  for  others.  This  second 
half  of  the  published  sermon  we  give  entire: 

"In  this  connection  we  would  divert  to  a  few  of  the  princi- 
pal difficulties  which  have  operated  to  the  injury  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  have  made  our  progress  slow  in  comparison  with 
what  it  might  have  been  had  these  hindrances  not  existed. 

**  First.  Prominent  among  these  may  be  mentioned  the 
fluctuating  character  of  our  population.     Situated,  as  Pittsburg 


LIFE   AND    WORK  IN  PITTSBURG.  275 

is,  between  the  East  and  the  West,  it  may  be  said  to  be  *  A  house 
of  call'  for  all  points  of  the  country.  Persons  who  have  not 
given  this  subject  their  attention  have  not  the  least  idea  of  the 
migratory  character  of  our  American  people.  In  the  towns  and 
cities  of  the  West  (more,  perhaps,  than  elsewhere)  they  are 
constantly  coming  and  going,  here  to-day,  and  to-morrow  a 
thousand  miles  off.  It  may  be  safely  said  that  not  more  than 
one-fifth  of  all  those  who  reside  here  for  a  season  make  it  their 
permanent  home.  Many  who  come  from  the  East  to  better  their 
condition,  or  for  the  sake  of  their  children,  find  the  cost  of 
living  so  expensive,  the  avenues  of  business  so  thronged  and 
competition  so  great  that  they  either  return  after  a  brief  stay 
or  go  farther  west.  It  is  this  peculiarity  of  our  population 
which  gives  to  our  congregation  its  fluctuating  character  and 
greatly  increases  the  labors  of  the  pastor.  As  strangers  they  are 
to  be  visited  and  added  to  the  church,  and,  if  possible,  made 
acquainted  with  the  members  in  their  vicinity;  but  scarcely 
do  they  become  interested  in  the  church  and  Sunday-school  than 
they  frequently  remove  from  the  city  and  seek  another  home. 
It  is  thus  that  the  membership  is  perpetually  changing,  so  that 
while  additions  are  made  at  every  communion,  this  exhausting 
process  is  constantly  going  on,  and  the  actual  increase  of  the 
church  is  scarcely  perceptible.  During  the  past  ten  years  no 
less  than  135  persons  have  received  their  dismissal  from  the 
congregation  on  removing  from  the  city,  while  the  whole  number 
received  by  certificate  from  other  churches  here  and  elsewhere 
was  but  205 ;  and  after  deducting  twenty-five  of  this  number 
who  were  dropped  from  the  records  only  forty-five  remain  in 
the  communion  of  the  church  of  all  who  were  thus  received.  It 
will  be  seen  from  these  statistics  how  much  of  a  city  pastor's 
labors  are  scattered  over  the  land,  even  though  they  cannot  be 
said  to  be  entirely  lost.  His  principal  duties  are  among  the 
comers  and  goers  of  his  flock,  and  for  their  spiritual  welfare  he 
must  be  content  to  labor  without  the  hope  of  seeing  much  of  the 
fruit  of  his  toil.  It  is  among  the  poorer  portion  of  this  class, 
a^so,  that  his  largest  number  of  pastoral  visits  are  made;  for 
affliction,  poverty  and  death  often  come  upon  them  like  an 
armed  man;  without  friends  and  means,  and  strangers  in  a 
strange  land,  they  especially  need  the  consolations  of  religion 
and  the  merciful  offices  of  the  Church.  We  complain  not  of 
this  large  expenditure  of  time  and  strength,  for  the  peculiar 


276  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

province  of  the  ministry  of  the  Word  is  to  this  very  class.  We 
refer  to  these  facts  only  to  show  that  the  fluctuating  character 
cf  our  population  has  ever  been  a  serious  obstacle  in  the 
establishment  of  our  church.  Other  congregations  have  been 
increased  by  those  who  were  here  gathered  out  of  the  world,  and 
it  is  a  source  of  unspeakable  consolation  to  know  that  many  of 
those  who  here  witnessed  the  good  confession  are  pillars  else- 
where. But  the  parent  church  has  been  sadly  weakened  by  this 
constant  drain  upon  her  membership,  and  years  of  patient  toil 
have  been  necessary  again  to  fill  up  the  ranks  and  strengthen 
the  things  that  remained  and  were  ready  to  die.  On  the  other 
hand  it  is  also  true  that  many  valuable  accessions  have  been 
received  by  occupying  the  position  which  we  do.  We  dismissed 
almost  as  many  as  we  received  from  sister  churches,  and  on 
several  occasions  the  congregation  was  weakened  by  the  loss 
of  its  most  efficient  members  who  were  here  brought  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  church. 

"Second.  Another  obstacle  in  the  growth  of  the  church  is 
found  in  the  fact  that  this  was  the  only  English  Lutheran 
congregation  in  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  •  Other  denominations 
were  well  supplied  with  pastors  and  churches,  not  only  in 
the  different  parts  of  the  city,  but  even  in  the  suburbs  and 
surrounding  villages.  By  their  local  position  they  were  enabled 
to  cultivate  their  respective  fields  with  what  Dr.  Chalmers  calls 
'the  thick-set  husbandry.'  They  could  explore  every  foot  of 
their  territory,  penetrate  into  every  alley  and  street,  and  ascer- 
tain the  spiritual  destitution  of  their  inhabitants,  and  by  the 
machinery  of  Sunday-schools  and  benevolent  societies  could 
gather  in  the  neglected  youth  and  the  outcasts  from  society  and 
from  God.  In  our  case,  however,  this  kind  of  thorough  work 
was  an  impossibility.  The  most  that  could  be  done  was  to 
superficialize  over  a  large  surface  and  be  satisfied  with  the 
results.  The  membership  of  the  church  were  scattered  over 
a  large  area  of  nearly  ten  miles  in  boundary.  They  reside  not 
only  in  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,  but  also  in  East  Liberty, 
Oakland,  Minersville,  Lawrenceville,  South  Pittsburg,  Sligo,  Mt. 
Washington,  Temperanceville,  Chartier's  Creek,  IManchester, 
Troy  Hill  and  Sharpsburg.  After  the  increase  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  their  dispersion  over  so  large  a  territory  the  most  that 
could  be  accomplished  by  the  pastor  was  to  visit  the  sick  and 
afflicted  in  all  cases  which  came  to  his  knowledge,  and  con- 


LIFE   AND    WORK  IN   PITTSBURG.  277 

scientiously  to  improve  the  remaining  time  in  such  pastoral 
visitations  as  appeared  most  needful  and  were  within  his 
power.  During  the  principal  part  of  the  past  ten  years  he  has 
felt  that,  to  be  permanently  useful,  much  of  his  work  must  be 
missionary  in  its  character.  While  his  first  care  was  to  build 
up  the  church  committed  to  his  charge  and  relieve  it  from  its 
embarrassment,  the  secondary  object  was  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  organization  of  other  churches  in  his  field.  And  if  these 
efforts  have  not  been  so  successful  as  was  hoped,  the  regret  of 
no  one  was  greater  than  his  own  when  he  saw  that  the  same 
condition  of  things  must  still  continue,  and  that  the  day  of 
relief  was  still  as  far  distant  as  before.  In  attempting  to 
cultivate  so  large  a  territory  he  does  not  claim  to  have  done 
what  other  minsters  ought  to  do,  and  many  have  done,  to  the 
people  in  their  charge.  He  is,  however,  conscious  that  he  has 
endeavored  to  do  what  he  could  under  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  case.  That  he  has  failed  to  satisfy  himself  and,  perhaps, 
others,  he  is  painfully  sensible;  but  he  is  persuaded  that  no 
man  can  satisfy  his  own  conscience  nor  the  people  of  his  charge 
in  so  extended  a  field.  Until  additional  laborers  are  procure<l 
and  other  congregations  are  established,  the  time,  energy  and 
strength  of  a  pastor  must  be  to  a  great  extent  occupied  in  keeping 
in  repair  the  enclosures  of  the  field  entrusted  to  his  care  instead 
of  cultivating  the  ground. 

"A  third  difficulty  in  our  establishment  as  a  church  has 
been  the  pressure  of  the  debt  which  remained  after  our  house 
of  worship  was  consecrated.  The  existence  of  such  a  debt  will 
not  be  thought  surprising  when  the  fact  is  remembered  that  in 
October,  1840,  when  the  church  was  consecrated,  only  thirty- 
nine  communicants  were  reported  as  belonging  to  the  congrega- 
tion. The  cost  of  the  lots  on  which  the  church  and  sexton's 
house  stand  was  eight  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  of 
the  building  probably  nine  thousand  dollars  more,  making  the 
whole  cost  nearly  eighteen  thousand  dollars.  Of  this  amount 
about  three  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  were  collected  by 
arduous  exertions  at  home,  principally  from  the  few  members, 
and  perhaps  a  thousand  dollars  abroad  by  the  Rev.  J.  M'Cron, 
the  pastor,  thus  leaving  a  debt  of  thirteen  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  From  the  beginning  this  has  been  a  source  of  great 
affliction.  But  for  this  hindrance  the  church  might  have  es- 
tablished a  number  of  mission  churches  in  the  new  wards  and 


278  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT.. 

at  the  same  time  greatly  increased  her  own  efficiency  and 
strength.  Its  apology  for  contracting  such  a  debt  is  that, 
though  poor  and  weak  and  unsupported  by  denominational 
connections  in  this  community,  it  was  urged  into  its  contracts 
by  the  most  flattering  public  and  private  encouragements. 
These  contracts  ultimately  involved  a  much  greater  expense 
than  was  anticipated;  the  sudden  revulsion  in  business  affairs 
augmented  and  multiplied  difficulties,  and  when  by  the  unex- 
pected and  most  generous  kindness  of  one  of  the  members  in 
the  hour  of  greatest  need,  the  money  was  advanced  to  pay  for 
the  lots  and  the  contractors'  bills,  and  the  church  was  thus 
saved  from  the  sheriff's  hands;  it  became  impossible,  at  that 
time,  to  free  it  from  embarrassment.  This  unwavering  friend 
of  the  church,  though  wonderfully  sustained,  has  been  at  times 
greatly  embarrassed,  while  the  pastor  and  council,  most  anxious 
to  see  that  everything  possible  should  be  done  for  his  relief  and 
the  redemption  of  the  church,  have  been  often  distressed  almost 
beyond   measure. 

"It  is  not  necessary  that  I  should  recount  the  different 
efforts  which  were  made  to  bring  about  this  result  during  the 
past  ten  years.  With  a  unanimity  and  liberality  which  was 
delightful  to  contemplate  this  great  undertaking  was  com- 
menced and  prosecuted  with  spirit.  Notwithstanding  these 
repeated  efforts  a  debt  of  some  six  thousand  dollars  still  re- 
mained. It  will  be  gratifying  to  the  congregation  to  learn  that 
this  sum  has  just  been  subscribed  by  the  liberality  of  a  few  of 
the  members  who  have  given  their  notes  for  this  amount,  so 
that  the  church  in  a  few  years  will  be  free  from  all  pecuniary 
embarrassment.  It  is  with  a  glad  heart  that  we  make  this 
announcement,  for  we  regard  this  as  the  crowning  act  which 
opens  to  our  church  a  future  and  eminent  success.  For  what 
right  have  we  to  expect  the  divine  blessing  when  we  suffer  the 
house  of  God  to  be  weighed  down  with  the  pressure  of  debt? 
How  can  religion  prosper  when  its  pastor  and  officers  are 
perplexed  and  care-worn  about  the  outer  business  of  the  house 
of  God?  How  can  we  enjoy  the  comforts  of  our  own  homes 
and  dwellings  when  we  know  that  the  very  temple  in  which  we 
habitually  worship  is  encumbered  with  pecuniary  liability  ?  No, 
my  brethren,  the  place  of  prayer  must  not,  dare  not,  be  in  debt. 
We  rejoice  in  the  speedy  prospect  of  relief  in  the  case  of  this 
church.     We   sincerely  thank   those   brethren  who   have   done 


LIFE   AND    WORK  IN   PITTSBURG.  279 

themselves  the  honor  to  wipe  out  this  stain  from  our  history, 
and  we  pray  God  so  to  bless  them  in  their  basket  and  store  that 
they  may  be  able,  even  before  the  promised  time,  to  remove  all 
the  traces  of  our  former  embarrassment. 

"We  have  thus  hastily  reviewed  the  struggles  of  the  past 
ten  years  in  the  hope  that,  by  weaving  together  the  perishing 
fragments  of  our  history  and  thus  renewing  the  remembrance 
of  a  period  which  to  many  of  us  is  the  most  important  in  our 
lives,  we  might  be  led  to  adore  the  God  who  hath  hitherto 
helped  us,  and  to  render  to  Him  the  praise  and  glory  which 
are  His  due.  Surely  He  who  hath  prepared  for  us  a  table  in  the 
presence  of  our  enemies  and  made  our  cup  to  run  over  will 
cause  His  goodness  and  mercy  to  follow  us  all  the  days  of  our 
life,  and  we  shall  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  forever. 

"The  history  of  this  church  for  several  years  past  is  known 
to  most  of  you  who  are  present  this  morning.  I  need  not  enlarge 
on  this  topic  or  endeavor  to  call  up  before  your  minds  those 
scenes  in  which  you  have  so  recently  taken  a  personal  part. 
They  are  as  familiar  as  household  words  and  will  live  in  your 
remembrance  as  the  lights  and  shadows  of  your  religious  life. 

"Did  time  permit  it  would  be  a  pleasing  task  minutely  to 
describe  the  present  condition  of  this  church  in  order  to  excite 
our  gratitude  to  God  for  His  mercies.  We  live  in  constant 
enjoyment  of  its  privileges  and  ordinances.  Every  returning 
Sabbath  finds  us  with  our  families  in  this  earthly  temple, 
participating  in  the  high  and  solemn  services  of  the  sanctuary. 
We  have  peace  in  our  borders  and  prosperity  in  our  palaces. 
We  have  a  pure  Gospel,  a  fellowship  of  brethren  and  a  com- 
munion with  all  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity. 
The  congregation  is  increasing;  the  membership  is  increasing; 
the  spirit  of  liberality  is  increasing;  the  spirit  of  humanity  is 
increasing;  and  the  kind,  merciful  spirit  of  pure  religion  is 
increasing;  a  desire  for  knowledge  and  holiness  is  increasing. 
In  a  word,  there  is  a  more  intense  longing  among  us  for  the 
pure,  peaceful,  gentle  and  merciful  religion  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  our  hearts  and  in  the  hearts  of  all  men. ' ' 


280  THE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 


CHAPTER  XII. 

BESIGNS     FIRST     CHURCH.       MULTIPLIED     LABORS. 
GATHERS  AND  BUILDS  CHURCHES. 

For  some  time  previous  to  this  sermon  Mr.  Passavant  had 
felt  that  he  could  not  carry  the  church  much  longer  together 
with  all  his  other  work.  He  felt  that  the  church  was  not  getting 
the  attention  that  it  deserved,  and  that  there  was  some  ground 
for  the  criticisms  against  which  he  had  defended  himself  in  the 
sermon.  He  knew,  to  his  sorrow,  that  his  pastoral  visits  had 
been  sorely  neglected.  He  was  also  sadly  conscious  of  the  fact 
that  his  sermons  could  not  and  did  not  receive  the  time  and 
attention  that  should  have  been  given  them.  He  had  little  time 
tor  study,  and  he  often  felt  guilty  when  he  entered  the  pulpit, 
and  more  guilty  when  he  left  it.  His  ideals  of  preaching  were 
high.  His  ability  was  far  above  the  ordinary.  He  was  recog- 
nized as  among  the  best  preachers  in  Pittsburg,  which*  at  that 
time  had  an  unusual  array  of  brilliant  pulpit  orators.  His 
church  had  attracted  more  intelligent  outsiders  than  any  other 
in  the  city.  Its  delighted  hearers  had  been  from  among  the 
best  classes  in  all  denominations.  The  students  from  the 
Presbyterian  Seminary  in  Allegheny  frequented  his  evening 
services,  and  he  had  been  much  sought  after  to  speak  on  all  sorts 
of  public  occasions. 

But  during  the  late  years  of  his  multiplied  labors  he  knew 
that  he  was  not  doing  justice  either  to  himself  or  to  his  people. 
What  could  he  do?  He  dearly  loved  his  people  and  was  not 
less  loved  by  them.  He  could  not  for  a  long  time  endure  the 
thought  of  resigning,  but  the  unwelcome  necessity  became  more 
and  more  clear.    He  became  satisfied  that  it  must  come. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1854  he  first  mentioned 
his  determination  to  his  mother  in  these  words : 

"At  the  next  meeting  of  the  church  council  I  intend  to 
hand  in  my  resignation,  to  take  effect  on  the  first  of  April,  and 
if  they  cannot  be  supplied  before  by  another  pastor  and  desire 
me  to  continue,  on  the  first  of  June.  If  the  latter  is  the  case 
I  will  then  have  been  pastor  for  eleven  years.    A  long  time,  and 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  281 

yet  how  short  it  appears  now  that  it  has  nearly  passed  away. 
1  can  say  with  truth  that  no  one  act  of  my  life  has  been  longer 
or  more  calmly  considered,  and  I  am  perfectly  easy  in  my  mind 
about  the  question  of  duty  in  this  matter.  Possibly  I  may  be 
mistaken  in  the  indication  of  events,  but  it  appears  to  me  that 
my  life  is  to  be  devoted  to  the  cause  of  mercy  among  the  poor 
8nd  suffering.  Should  the  future  convince  me  that  I  have 
mistaken  my  vocation,  I  shall  know  that  no  earthly  motives  or 
object  impelled  me  to  accept  the  course  I  have  taken." 

His  mother  was  greatly  exercised  and  not  a  little  worried 
at  this  news.  To  her  mind  it  meant  a  laying  down  of  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel.  She  had  objected  more  and  more  to 
his  taking  upon  himself  so  many  heavy  burdens.  Her  German 
heart  was  especially  vexed  at  the  contracting  of  so  many  and 
such  hea^y  debts  and  at  the  need  of  the  constant  "begging," 
as  she  called  it.  When  he  was  about  to  contract  for  the  erection 
of  some  necessary  buildings  on  the  Zelienople  Orphan  Farm 
she  had  written  him  this  almost  bitter  complaint : 

"As  to  your  success  in  collecting,  no  one  else,  I  believe, 
would  have  got  so  much  in  so  short  a  time ;  but,  after  all,  what 
are  the  feAv  hundreds  in  view  of  the  many  thousands  necessary 
for  the  immense  building  you  are  again  undertaking?  For, 
besides  the  fifteen  thousand  dollars  as  per  contract,  there  will 
again  be  many  'extras,'  fencing,  laying  out  the  grounds  and 
now  the  building  of  a  stable  and  necessary  conveniences  for  Mr. 
Bassler,  which  will  swell  the  already  enormous  sum  to  several 
thousands  more.  What  'appeals,'  what  'festivals'  will  be 
needed  till  this  large  amount  is  collected,  and  how  mortifying 
to  always  see  my  son  before  the  public  in  the  character  of  a 
beggar !  The  '  faith '  of  which  you  speak  so  much  seems  to  me 
in  such  a  case  nothing  but  presumption.  In  fact,  faith,  being 
the  substance  of  things  not  seen,  relates  more  to  spiritual  things, 
and  in  temporal  ones  only  to  assistance  from  ills  which  we  have 
not  brought  on  ourselves  by  our  own  fault.  But  when  we  rush 
headlong  into  difficulties,  make  enormous  debts  while  we  are 
commanded  to  'owe  no  man,'  I  do  not  believe  we  are  authorized 
to  expect  relief.  You  will  perhaps  reply  'that  it  is  too  late  now 
to  pause.'  But  you  must  remember  that  from  the  first  I  made 
the  same  objections,  and  when  you  engaged  the  land  from 
Ziegler  (while  I  happened  to  be  absent  in  Ohio)  you  comforted 
me  with  the  assurance  'that  it  would  be  years  before  buildings 


282  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

would  be  erected.'  You  must,  therefore,  not  wonder  that  I  am 
dismayed  when  I  find  these  troubles  come  on  like  an  avalanche 
while  I  am  yet  here." 

He  answers  her  briefly  thus: 

"I  have  been  greatly  troubled  of  late,  dearest  mother,  to 
find  that  you  take  things  so  hard  concerning  the  responsibilities 
which  I  have  assumed.  Would  that  I  could  say  something  to 
allay  your  fears  in  my  behalf.  But  I  can  only  add,  in  addition 
to  what  I  have  already  said,  that  every  day 's  experience  con- 
vinces me  more  and  more  that  'he  that  believeth  shall  not  be 
confounded.'  On  Wednesday,  in  visiting  a  sick  lady  near 
Lawrenceville  (Mrs.  Collins,  who  has  had  a  stroke  of  paralysis) 
a  gentleman  met  me  and  told  me  that  on  mentioning  his  inten- 
tion to  his  wife  to  give  two  hundred  dollars  to  the  Home  she 
begged  him  to  make  it  two  hundred  and  fift.y  and  charge  her 
with  the  additional  sum.  And  so  instances  of  similar  interposi- 
tion are  constantly  occurring  which  make  it  impossible  for  me 
to  doubt  that  there  is  a  hand  above  which  is  adjusting  all  Ihings 
to  the  praise  and  glory  of  His  holy  name." 

But  when  he  finally  resolved  to  resign  she  almost  rebelled 
and  wrote  one  of  the  severest  letters  he  had  ever  received  from 
her.  This  letter  from  that  good  mother,  whom  he  loved  so  dearly 
and  whose  good  advice  he  delighted  to  follow,  hurt  him  sorely, 
and  he   answered: 

"Your  truly  kind  letter  has  been  duly  received  and  is 
gratefully  acknowledged.  I  confess,  however,  that  it  has  caused 
me  no  little  uneasiness,  for  I  see  that  you  greatly  misunderstand 
my  position  in  the  future,  and  I  do  not  wonder  that  this  gives 
your  tender  heart  anxiety  and  pain.  There  is  no  one  or  earth 
whose  opinion  has  more  weight  upon  my  mind  than  yours, 
dearest  mother,  and  certainly  there  are  none  whom  I  am  more 
anxious  to  gain  over  to  my  way  of  regarding  certain  things  than 
you,  the  guide  and  friend  of  my  youth  and  the  one  to  whom 
under  God  I  owe  the  little  of  good  that  is  in  my  character,  and 
the  measure  of  usefulness  which  I  have  been  permitted  (though 
so  unworthy)  to  attain.  And,  therefore,  on  the  risk  of  writing- 
en  a  thread-bare  theme,  for  my  own  peace  of  mind  and  your 
relief  (for  I  cannot  but  think  that  much  of  your  pain  arises 
from  a  misconception)  you  will  permit  me  to  write  once  more  on 
the  subject. 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  283 

"And  first,  I  confess  to  the  sad  side  of  the  picture,  the 
resignation  of  my  church  and  the  sundering  of  the  ties  which 
have  so  long  and  so  pleasantly  bound  me  to  this  people.  That 
I  will  feel  all  this,  even  more  deeply  than  the  congregation,  I 
knew  full  well  and  have  reflected  upon  it  much  for  many  years 
in  looking  forward  to  this  event. 

"But  in  the  second  place  you  greatly  err  in  regarding  this 
as  a  laying  down  of  the  ministry  for  what  you  regard  as  secular 
things  pertaining  merely  to  the  bodies  of  men.  I  confess  that  I 
v«'as  wounded  by  tjie  quotation  from  the  letter  I  wrote  when  I 
entered  the  ministry,  nor  do  I  see  in  what  way  I  am  to  be 
charged  with  having  forsaken  the  ground  then  expressed.  My 
views  and  feelings  are  precisely  the  same,  and  no  price  could 
induce  me  to  cease  preaching  the  gospel,  I  mean  not  a  'begging' 
gospel,  but  the  gospel  of  Christ,  'which  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  beiieveth. '  I  have  never  yet, 
when  away  from  home,  preached  a  sermon  on  'giving,'  never 
anything  that  referred  to  it,  never  one  in  the  cause  of  orphans 
or  the  sick,  but  always  a  sermon  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
congregation;  and  when  any  addresses  were  made  on  these 
topics  they  were  announced  as  such  in  the  evening  or  generally 
during  the  week.  Sermons  on  'giving,'  etc.,  I  have  none,  and 
while  some  brethren  may  be  able  to  preach  them,  I  cannot.  The 
most  that  I  have  ever  done  in  this  line  when  abroad  was  to 
make  a  brief  statement  of  five  minutes  in  length  of  the  Home 
and  its  aims  just  before  benediction,  and  then  leave  the  whole 
subject  to  the  voluntary  action  of  pious  people  to  send  in  any 
money  if  they  desire  it.  Nor  have  I  ever  yet  taken  up  a 
collection  in  a  church  for  the  Home  after  such  a  statement. 
This,  dear  mother,  is  the  amount  of  my  'begging'  and  the  idea 
and  mode  I  pursue  when  I  go  East  and  as  occasion  may  offer 
labor  between  times  for  the  Home.  Unless  my  views  of  duty 
as  well  as  all  my  feelings  undergo  an  entire  change,  it  is  the 
course  I  hope  to  pursue  hereafter. 

"Besides  all  this,  so  far  from  not  preaching  at  home  and 
having  idle  Sundays,  I  have  no  idea  of  anything  of  the  kind. 
Preach,  I  will,  and  preach  I  must,  and  'woe  is  me  if  I  preach 
not  the  gospel.'  But  I  cannot  but  add  a  remark  or  two  on  the 
expression  'secular'  in  opposition  to  'spiritual'  anxieties,  of 
which  you  speak  in  your  letter.  Here  is  just  where  I  have  all 
along  differed  with  so  many  of  our  Protestant  ministers.     Al- 


284  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

ready  in  Baltimore  I  had  a  society  for  the  relief  of  physical 
suffering,  because  such  suffering  had  to  be  relieved  in  order  to 
do  the  unhappy  victims  spiritual  good.  I  do  not,  dearest 
mother,  think  that  anything  is  comparable  to  the  soul  and  its 
salvation.  But  what  wonder  that  the  suffering  lose  all  belief 
in  spiritual  things  when  so  many  pastors  neglect  the  plainest 
duties  to  their  wretched  and  miserable  poor?  What  wonder 
that  reflecting  men  are  disgusted  at  the  religion  of  our  pewed 
city  churches  with  their  awful  want  of  mercy  and  charity? 
Take  the  following  as  an  illustration.  You  know  I  found  poor 
Alonzo  Gross  in  jail,  a  raving  maniac ;  and  for  some  weeks 
past  we  have  had  Wesley  Hoon  in  the  Infirmary,  literally 
covered  with  the  most  loathsome  smallpox.  Here  were  the 
sons  of  our  two  next  neighbors,  both  companions  of  my  boyhood, 
both  'strangers'  in  the  city,  both  unable  to  find  a  home  in  the 
hour  of  their  distress  at  any  price;  and  what  had  the  secular 
authorities  for  these  unhappy  ones?  A  jail  for  one  and 
absolutely  no  place  for  the  other.  The  spiritual  authorities  of 
the  city  had  done  nothing,  but,  like  the  priest  and  the  Levite, 
were  passing  by  on  the  other  side.  Now,  when  such  a  state  of 
things  exists  here  and  elsewhere,  is  it  going  out  of  the  appro- 
priate sphere  of  the  ministry  to  endeavor  to  do  something  more 
than  to  preach  the  gospel  ?  The  gospel  must  be  lived  as  well 
as  told,  or  men  disregard  it  as  an  idle  dream.  All  this  we  feel 
more  deeply  in  such  a  bustling  city  where  every  one  is  for 
himself  and  people  scarcely  know  each  other,  much  more  than 
it  is  possible  in  the  quiet  homes  of  our  village.  And  if  I 
express  myself  strongly,  it  is  not  for  want  of  a  proper  regard 
for  the  opinions  of  her  whose  will  to  me  is  next  to  that  of  God, 
but  because  I  see  such  an  amount  of  uncared-for  wretchedness 
from  day  to  day,  and  such  general  and  awful  insufficiency, 
indifference  and  positive  neglect  on  the  part  of  many  ministers 
that  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  preach  in  a  position  in  which  I 
may  be  able  at  the  same  time  to  contribute  my  mite  in  the 
relief  of  suffering  humanity  and  its  salvation." 

His  answer  in  a  manner  reconciles  his  mother,  and  she 
replies : 

"I  was  glad  to  find  from  your  letter  that  you  still  take 
the  same  delight  in  preaching  as  in  the  happier  times  when  yon 
first  entered  the  ministry.  But  could  you  not  spiritually  do 
good  by  assisting  other  ministers  without  encumbering  yourself 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  285 

afresh  with  a  new  congregation  ?  Have  you  not  experimentally 
discovered  that  it  is  impossible  for  you  to  do  justice  to  it  and 
also  to  your  troublesome  Institutions?  For  although  your 
congregation  may  be  but  small  at  first,  yet  the  convenience  of 
'free  seats'  will  soon  fill  it,  and  with  a  people  too  unable  to 
contribute  much  to  the  necessary  repairs  and  church  expenses, 
so  that  by  this  new  undertaking  a  prospect  of  more  collecting 
labors  is  before  you  and  the  certainty  of  greatly  hurting  the 
feelings  of  your  old  congregation,  who  will  very  naturally 
conclude  that  if  you  can  attend  to  the  duties  of  a  new  congre- 
gation (in  some  respects  more  arduous)  you  might  just  as 
well  have  remained  with  one  where  everything  was  under  way 
and  in  order.  I  am  unfortunate,  dear  William,  to  be  obliged  to 
act  so  often  as  a  damper  in  your  well-meant  zeal.  It  is  not  from  a 
wish  to  contradict,  but  because  I  have  more  experience  and  fore- 
thought, and  our  minds  are  entirely  differently  constituted. 
The  happiness  of  your  life  is  to  give  scope  to  your  fertile 
imagination  and  form  plans  on  which  you  allow  yourself  to 
dwell  till  they  become  'convictions'  of  duty,  while  it  would  make 
me  insane  to  be  distracted  with  such  manifold  responsibilities. 
Therefore  I  shall  add  nothing  more  on  these  subjects  but  my 
sincerest  wish  that  you  may  not  fail  in  your  multifarious 
enterprises. ' ' 

When,  on  Jan.  8,  1855,  he  offered  his  resignation  to  the 
church  council,  he  made  it  final,  so  that  the  council  was 
compelled  to  accept  it.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  draw 
up  an  address  to  the  retiring  pastor.  This  committee  afterwards 
reported  these  resolutions  through  Thomas  H.  Lane,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted  and  presented  to  Mr,  Passavant: 

"Whereas,  The  pastoral  relation  which  has  existed  during 
the  last  eleven  years  between  the  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Passavant  and  the 
First  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  church  of  this  city  has  been 
terminated  by  his  voluntary  resignation,  he  being  impelled  to 
the  relinquishment  of  his  charge  of  the  congregation  by  the 
accumulated  labors  and  responsibilities  incident  to  the  ex- 
panding demands  of  benevolent  enterprises  founded  by  him  in 
the  church,  and  to  which  he  feels  called  by  the  voice  of  God  to 
devote  entirely  his  time  and  energies,  we  feel  prompted  to 
record  our  sense  of  sorrow  at  the  loss  we  sustain  as  a  congrega- 
tion in  thus  being  deprived  of  his  able  and  earnest  ministra- 
tions ;    therefore 


286  TEE  LIFE  OF    W.A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"Resolved,  That  we  cherish  with  gratitude  to  God  the 
remembrance  of  that  period  of  our  history  during  which  he 
presided  over  our  congregation,  a  period  characterized  by  a 
mutual  participation  in  many  signal  manifestations  of  mercy, 
as  well  as  the  endurance  of  many  dark  hours  of  adversity  and 
affliction. 

"Resolved,  That  we  esteem  him  as  an  able  ambassador  for 
Christ,  who  in  the  public  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  calling 
amongst  us  has  been  distinguished  for  his  earnest  and  eloquent 
presentation  of  'the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,'  and  that  whilst 
preferring  to  win  souls  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer  by  the 
persuasive  motives  of  the  cross  he  'kept  back  nothing  that  was 
profitable  to  us. '  Whilst  he  ever  sought  prominently  to  set  before 
his  people  that  'pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God  and 
the  Father  is  this:  To  visit  the  fatherless  and  the  widow  in- 
their  affliction  and  keep  ourselves  unspotted  from  the  world,' 
his  own  private  character  has  beautifully  adorned  the  sacred 
precept. 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  shall  not  only  cherish  the  remembrance 
of  his  former  labors  amongst  us,  but  shall  likewise  follow  with 
our  sympathies  and  prayers  his  efforts  to  relieve  suffering 
humanity  and  extend  the  Master's  Kingdom  in  the  sphere  of 
his  present  engagements,  commending  him,  his  family  and  his 
prospects  to  the  guardian  care  of  Him  whom  we  serve  in  the 
full  assurance  that  'he  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward.'  " 

As  no  pastor  could  be  secured  at  once,  Mr.  Passavant  still 
had  to  serve  for  about  half  a  year.  During  these  final  months, 
he  and  his  family  were  made  to  feel  more  than  ever  how  deep 
was  the  love  of  this  people  toward  them.  The  last  Sunday  came 
and  with  it  the  tears  and  kind  words  and  silent  pressure  of  the 
hand  that  speaks  more  than  words.  The  heavy  labors  of  a  city 
pastor  were  over.     He  writes  to  his  mother: 

' '  I  find  it  exceedingly  delightful  to  be  relieved  in  mind  from 
the  heavy  charge  of  so  large  a  congregation,  and  cannot  be 
sufficiently  grateful  to  God  that  I  was  enabled  to  make  the 
sacrifice  of  my  situation  for  the  sake  of  His  suffering  poor. 
Since  my  resignation  everything  has  worked  together  for  good, 
and  in  many  delightful  ways  has  God  given  me  to  feel  that 
I  am  assuredly  in  the  path  of  duty.  I  will  tell  you  of  some  of 
these  strange  and  delightful  experiences  when  we  meet." 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  287 

About  Christmas  1855,  he  writes  his  mother  this  interesting 
account  of  the  new  manner  of  life: 

''My  dearest  mother,  A  happy  Christmas  to  you,  thou  dear 
and  faithful  Guide  and  Friend  and  Mother  of  my  youth  and 
manhood !  May  our  heavenly  Father  look  graciously  upon  you 
on  the  morning  of  this  sweet  day,which  commemorates  the 
coming  of  our  Lord  in  the  flesh,  and  bless  you  with  a  long  life 
and  vigorous  health,  and  His  peace  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing. May  you  be  cheered  by  the  filial  love  and  gratitude 
and  obedience  of  your  children  while  you  live,  and  be  refreshed 
by  the  unmistakable  evidences  of  God's  blessing  resting  upon 
them  and  their  offspring.  These  with  every  other  benediction 
which  a  loving  heart  can  wish  for  those  it  loves,  I  fervently 
beseech  Almighty  God  upon  your  behalf 

"I  cannot  omit  speaking  about  the  results  of  my  new  mode 
of  life,  dearest  mother,  as  this  has  given  you  so  many  anxieties 
and  cares  for  our  sake.  In  a  few  days  more  it  will  be  seven 
months  since  I  felt  called  upon  to  resign  the  church  and  cast 
myself  and  family  upon  God.  After  thirteen  years  of  severe 
pastoral  labor  I  feel  that  I  needed  a  change  for  a  longer  or 
shorter  period  as  the  case  might  be.  I  needed  time  for  the 
settling  up  of  many  unsettled  things,  for  a  freer  mode  of  opera- 
tion, unhampered  and  unhindered  by  the  incessant  funerals 
and  visitations  of  a  large  and  widely  dispersed  congregation. 
After  seven  months  of  trial  I  have  learned  not  a  few  lessons, 
but  I  am  more  and  more  thankful  every  day  for  the  step  which 
God  gave  me  grace  to  take.  In  addition  to  the  collection  of 
several  thousand  dollars  for  the  Home  and  Farm  School  and 
Infirmary,  and  the  great  amount  of  labor,  traveling  and  corre- 
spondence which  were  required  by  the  peculiar  situation  of  the 
Farm  School  just  at  its  commencement,  the  sum  of  five  thous- 
and dollars  has  been  given  me  for  the  purchase  of  the  farm  of 
the  Widow's  Home  at  Rochester.  A  beautiful  site  of  eleven 
acres  adjoining  it  has  been  presented  for  a  school  for  poor 
children,  and  a  conditional  promise  of  three  thousand  dollars 
voluntarily  made  me  towards  it  by  a  gentleman  in  this  city. 
In  the  case  of  both  these  things  I  will  do  nothing,  so  help  me 
God,  until  the  means  are  furnished  to  complete  the  building, 
while  a  good  residence  for  the  director  already  stands  on  the 
place  with  all  the  necessary  outhouses.  Besides  attending  Synods 
in  Harrisburg,  Canton,  and  Dayton,  and  in  many  ways  preach- 
ing, lecturing  and  operating  for  missions  and  mercy,  I  have 


288  THE  LIFE  OF  W  .A.  PASS AV ANT. 

visited  some  six  of  the  Missions  of  Synod,  as  IMission  President 
and  in  different  ways  sought  to  establish  and  build  them  up. 
During  the  unoccupied  Sundays  I  have  gone  down  to  Rochester, 
where  a  church  ninety  feet  in  length  is  now  being  roofed  in 
and  where  every  prospect  exists  of  establishing  a  much  larger 
congregation  than  the  one  I  resigned.  What  the  final  results  may 
be  at  Rochester,  I  cannot  now  say,  but  I  have  never  before 
labored  in  a  more  hopeful  field,  or  with  more  of  hope  and  satis- 
faction than  there.  You  will  therefore,  see  that  so  far  from 
retiring  from  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry  by  such  a  life^ 
I  am  in  them  as  fully  as  ever  and  the  results  of  the  first  seven 
months'  labor  have  far  exceeded  my  most  sanguine  hopes.  I 
desire  to  give  all  the  praise  and  honor  to  Him  who  alone  has 
given  this  success,  and  to  thank  Him  unceasingly  for  His 
mercy. 

"The  great  advantage  of  my  present  position  is  that  my 
services  cost  these  different  interests  nothing,  while  the  fact 
that  I  was  laboring  freely  and  in  a  disinterested  manner  has 
not  only  increased  my  usefulness  but  greatly  augmented  the 
amount  of  collections  and  donations  in  their  behalf. 

"But  how  have  I  been  supported?  I  scarcely  know,  if  I 
must  confess  it.  One  gentleman  in  Baltimore,  an  Episcopalian, 
gave  me  fifty  dollars,  a  member  of  my  church  gave  twenty 
dollars,  and  this  is  the  sum  total  of  donations  in  money  yet 
received !  And  yet  I  have  paid  my  rent  till  October,  have  made 
no  debts,  and  am  now  more  liberally  provided  for  with  pota- 
toes, cabbage,  sauerkraut,  meat,  flour,  meal,  sugar,  coffee,  tea, 
etc.,  than  I  ever  have  been  since  we  kept  house.  Neither  have 
I  used  the  legacy  from  Germany  nor  the  five  hundred  dollars 
of  wedding  fees  which  I  borrowed  from  Eliza  to  meet  a  payment 
on  a  church  lot  adjoining  the  Infirmary  and  which  is  on  interest. 
During  all  this  time,  I  can  say  with  perfect  truth  that  we  have 
never  lacked,  and  though  not  a  few  times  without  a  farthing, 
whenever  we  really  needed  either  money  or  other  things,  we  re- 
ceived them  in  one  way  or  another  without  our  interposition 
or  asking.  As  an  example,  just  as  we  were  about  laying  in 
our  winter  stock  of  groceries  last  week  there  came  from  some 
unknown  source  a  barrel  of  flour,  a  bag  of  coffee,  keg  of  sugar, 
tea,  rice,  starch,  etc.  Very  few  persons  know  anything  or 
even  suspect  anything  of  my  real  situation,  but  still  God  sup- 
plies all  our  wants  and  we  know  neither  care  nor  anxiety  about 
the  future.     Oh,  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for  His  good- 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  289 

ness  and  for  His  wonderful  mercy  to  the  sons  of  men.  Earewell. 
Dear  Eliza  unites  in  tender  love  to  you  all  and  the  little  ones 
send  each  a  kiss  to  their  dear  grandmamma." 

On  the  occasion  of  a  visit  to  the  East  in  the  Autumn  of 
1860,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Pennsylvania  College  conferred 
upon  him  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He  positively  de- 
clined the  honor.  To  his  mother  he  writes : 

"My  visit  to  Gettysburg  was  a  season  of  high  social  enjoy- 
ment and  only  one  thing  gave  me  trouble,  and  that  was  the 
foolish  and  most  unwelcome  doctorate  which  annoyed  me  be- 
yond measure,  until  I  had  met  with  the  Board  in  the  afternoon 
after  Commencement,  and  after  thanking  the  Faculty  and  the 
trustees  for  the  unmerited  compliment,  politely  handed  the 
whole  affair  back.  Headache  and  heartache  were  then  gone 
and  though  I  was  severely  censured  by  my  best  friends  (with 
the  exception  of  brother  Bassler)  I  was  once  more  relieved  and 
happy.  Apropos  of  such  trifles,  I  think  them  all  'well  enough' 
in  the  case  of  eminent  scholars  and  divines,  but  wretchedly 
out  of  place  in  the  case  of  the  great  bulk  of  men  who  wear 
them  or  strain  after  them,  as  many  do.  Hence,  I  was  wholly 
unwilling  to  have  such  a  handle  to  my  name,  which  ought  to 
mean  a  great  deal,  but  in  my  case  and  many  more  means  really 
nothing.  But  enough  on  this  unpleasant  subject.  Never  will 
I  use  it  in  connection  with  my  name  and  trust  that  others 
will  respect  my  feelings  and  do  me  the  kindness  to  leave  it  off 
forever. ' ' 

In  spite  of  all  his  disclaimers,  however,  the  title  stuck  to 
him  and  from  the  time  he  received  it  we  call  him  Doctor  Passa- 
vant. 

During  the  winter  of  1858,  his  family  was  afflicted  for 
nine  weeks  with  scarlet  fever.  This  virulent  disease  had  broken 
out  in  the  Girls'  Orphan  Home  and  had  been  carried  from 
there  into  Passavant's  home.  During  all  these  weary  weeks, 
when  death  seemed  to  be  hovering  over  the  family,  the  goad 
and  grind  of  the  work  iiust  go  on.  The  large  family  of  sick 
and  orphans  in  the  Institutions  must  have  medicine  and  bread. 
Collections  must  be  made  to  pay  the  bills  that  were  daily  ac- 
cumulating. The  Missionary  must  be  edited  and  correspondence 
kept  up  and  the  care  of  all  the  churches  carried. 

In  the  chapter  which  gives  us  the  Director's  report  on  the 
orphans,  we  have  an  account  of  the  opening  of  the  Germantown 
Orphan  Home  and  of  the  hand  that  Dr.   Passavant  and  his 


290  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASS  AY  ANT. 

Deaconesses  had  in  its  inception  and  initial  management.  The 
discouragement  and  hardships  incident  to  its  starting,  especial- 
ly during  the  long  siege  of  sickness  in  the  Passavant  family,  so 
discouraged  the  majoagement  that  they  thought  of  temporarily 
closing  its  doors.  When  Dr.  Passavant  was  informed  of  this, 
his  patience  almost  failed  him.  He  would  not  hear  to  such  a 
movement  for  a  moment.  The  idea  of  closing  up  an  Institution 
of  mercy,  which  he  believed  was,  as  all  his  other  institutions 
were  a  child  of  Providence  and  of  prayer,  seemed  to  him  to 
savor  too  much  of  unbelief  and  disobedience  toward  the  divine 
Master.  Pie  protested  vigorously,  went  on  at  once  to  German- 
town,  lent  a  helping  hand  and  again  revived  hope  and  courage. 
The  Institution  was  not  closed.  Mrs.  Schaeffer  was  the  efficient 
and  courageous  local  leader  in  the  movement.  She  stood  nobly 
by  Dr.  Passavant  and  at  his  suggestion  took  up  the  work  with 
new  determination  and  zeal. 

On  the  occasion  of  this  hasty  trip  to  Philadelphia,  Dr. 
Passavant  was  urged  to  allow  himself  to  be  called  as  pastor  to 
St.  Mark's  English  Lutheran  Church.  This  was  one  of  the 
most  desirable  congregations  in  the  General  Synod,  but  nothing 
could  tempt  him  from  his  chosen  path  in  the  work  of  mercy. 

We  have  noticed  incidentally  how  the  Doctor  for  a  number 
of  years  missionated  among  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Beaver 
County  about  eighteen  miles  below  Pittsburg.  In  connection 
with  his  work  at  Rochester,  Pa.,  begun  by  preaching  in  the  car 
shop  there,  he  used  to  visit  the  village  of  Baden  on '  Sunday 
afternoons.  There  he  preached  at  first  in  a  school  house  and 
afterwards  built  the  neat  frame  church.  After  he  had  gathered 
a  goodly  congregation  and  built  a  church  at  Rochester,  he  re- 
resigned  that  congregation  and  gave  his  Sundays  to  Baden  and 
the  regions  round  about,  establishing  congregations  and  build- 
ing churches  at  Logstown,  Crow's  Run  and  Rehoboth.  Thus 
he  set  an  example  of  how  mission  work  can  be  done  at  home  by 
every  pastor  who  is  willing  to  take  up  the  extra  toil  it  costs. 
In  urging  such  mission  work  upon  our  pastors,  the  Doctor 
writes : 

"Now  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  there  are  thousands 
of  such  neglected  fields  over  the  land.  We  know  of  great 
stretches  of  country,  indeed,  whole  counties  into  which  our 
German  and  Scandinavian  people  have  been  going  for  years 
for  whose  spiritual  benefit  no  provisions  whatever  have  been 
made.     Ask  the  pastors  in  the  adjoining  counties  and  they  will 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  291 

probably  reply  that  here  or  there  may  be  found  an  individual 
or  family  of  emigrants,  but  that  'they  are  so  scattered  that 
nothing  can  be  done  for  them.'  In  fact  no  one  knows  the  real 
condition  of  affairs,  and  the  consequence  is  that  nothing  is 
done  to  explore  the  field  or  look  after  these  neglected  ones.  We 
have  before  us  such  a  county,  only  now  partially  visited,  where, 
under  faithful  exploration  a  most  hopeful  mission  has  been 
laid  out  with  every  prospect  of  establishing  three  churches. 
Not  a  few  families  have  lived  there  from  twenty  to  thirty  years 
and  have  worked  their  way  up  from  poverty  to  comfortable 
homes  and  farms.  .Such  instances  might  be  multiplied  to  an 
indefinite  extent.  They  show  that  our  present  system  of 
missionating  in  the  east  is  a  most  imperfect  one.  Even  where 
Synods  are  most  energetic  in  looking  after  the  neglected,  com- 
paratively little  is  done  in  seeking  the  scattered  individuals  of 
our  home  and  foreign  population.  Thousands  find  themselves 
in  a  nominally  Christian  land  with  churches  on  every  side, 
but  without  the  ability  to  understand  the  language  in  the  land 
in  which  they  are  strangers.  The  isolation  is  often  most  sad 
and  their  spiritual  state  pitiable.  The  children  grow  up  care- 
less and  godless  or  are  alienated  from  the  faith  and  the  church 
of  their  parents,  never  to  be  gathered  again. 

* '  If  it  be  said  in  this  connection,  that  our  ministry  is  wholly 
insuf^cient  for  this  great  work,  it  is  enough  to  add  that  we 
should  do  what  we  can  to  supply  the  need.  Voluntary  mission 
work  might  easily  be  done  by  at  least  a  thousand  of  our 
pastors  in  destitute  localities  not  too  far  to  be  reached  from 
the  parent  church.  Even  supposing  that  the  appointment  is 
but  a  monthly  one  and  on  Sunday  afternoon  the  preparatory 
work  can  thus  be  done  towards  the  ingathering  of  the  people 
into  churches  and  the  establishment  of  classes  of  instruction 
and  Sunday  schools.  We  know  of  entire  pastorates  thus  built 
up  without  the  sound  of  a  hammer  or  the  outlay  of  a  dollar  of 
mission  money.  Let  the  members  of  the  Council  occasionally 
accompany  the  pastor  to  such  points  and  in  the  absence  of 
suitable  workers  let  some  friendly  conveyance  take  out  the 
needed  singers  and  teachers.  In  a  word,  instead  of  our  churches 
being  mere  funnels  into  which  the  water  of  life  is  poured, 
learn  the  lesson  of  sending  forth  water  from  the  wells  of  sal- 
vation. Every  church,  however,  small  or  weak,  should  be  a 
missionary  church  to  share  with  others  the  bread  of  life.  Such 
home  mission   work  would  bring  new  life   into   the  churches 


292  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

and  revolutionize  all  old  conceptions  of  the  gospel  and  its 
blessings. 

"The  work  of  exploration  in  neighboring  places  and  counties 
dare  not  be  neglected.  If  necessary,  without  longer  delay,  let 
a  few  neighboring  pastors  supply  the  charge  of  one  or  two  of 
their  number  and  after  the  churches  have  commended  them  to 
the  grace  of  God,  let  them  go  forth  to  seek  the  lost  sheep  of  the 
house  of  Israel.  At  the  first  coming  in  many  places,  only  a 
simple  service  can  be  held  in  the  evening,  a  few  neighbors 
being  called  in,  but  appointments  could  be  left  for  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Word  on  their  return.  In  this  -way,  in  a  few  weeks, 
pcores  of  places  could  be  visited  and  the  word  of  salvation 
brought  to  many  a  home. 

"But  to  do  this  effectually,  love  to  God  and  man  must  be 
the  great  motive  power.  If  attempted  in  another  spirit,  it  will 
be  a  wretched  failure.  It  cannot  be  done  in  cold  blood.  The 
fire  of  divine  love  must  warm  the  heart.  The  holy  enthusiasm 
of  saving  souls  must  fire  the  spirit.  'That  my  house  may  be 
full'  is  the  motive  of  Christ.  He  Svill  have  all  men  to  be 
saved  and  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.'  Into  oneness 
with  this  merciful  purpose,  the  Church  must  be  brought  and 
then  will  it' teach  transgressors  His  way  and  sinners  shall  be 
converted  to  God'." 

Afer  the  dedication  of  the  new  church  in  Rochester,  Pa., 
Dr.  Passavant  writes  this  reminiscent  editorial,  which  looks 
back  to  the  Pittsburg  Church: 

* '  In  looking  back  over  the  history  of  this  church,  we  cannot 
but  say:  'What  hath  God  wrought!'  In  July  it  will  be  thirty 
one  years  since  the  first  sermon  was  preached  by  a  Lutheran 
minister  in  Rochester.  In  the  absence  of  any  church  edifice 
in  the  place,  a  mixed  multitude  were  assembled  in  an  un- 
finished car  factory,  while  the  work  bench,  with  a  board  nailed 
across  it  for  the  Bible,  was  pointed  out  as  our  pulpit.  There 
and  in  a  large  paint  shop,  we  preached  for  eighteen  months, 
without  a  single  member.  The  year  after,  a  large  Gothic  church 
was  built  and  at  first  service  in  the  unfinished  building,  with 
muslin  in  the  windows,  and  rough  planks  for  seats,  tw^elve  per- 
sons were  baptized  or  confirmed.  Once  by  the  breaking  up 
of  the  Car  Company  and  twice  by  the  deaths  of  members  during 
the  war,  the  little  flock  was  well-nigh  scattered.  So  also,  by 
pastoral  changes  and  the  destruction  of  the  church  by  fire,  with 
long    vacancies    between,    the    faith    of   the    congregation    was 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  293 

sorely  tried.  And  yet  it  clung  to  life  with  marvelous  tenacity. 
It  was,  indeed,  cast  down,  but  was  not  destroyed.  Often  it 
seemed  '  as  one  dead '  and  some  said  '  it  is  dead. '  But  it  heroically 
said,  ■'  I  shall  not  die,  but  live  and  praise  the  name  of  the  Lord. ' 
And  here  is  the  result: 

"In  addition  to  the  fine  church  at  Rochester,  the  Baden 
charge  of  four  congregations,  each  having  their  own  comfortable 
church,  has  since  been  established  on  a  territory  where  not  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  was  knoA^Ti  for  eighteen 
months  after  services  were  held.  These  all,  in  a  certain  sense, 
may  be  said  to  have  grown  out  of  the  undertaking  at  Rochester 
while  the  present  church  with  a  beautiful  house  of  worship  and 
a  membership  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  their  own  pastor 
enters  upon  a  new  career  of  resurrection  and  life.  Truly  this 
is  the  Lord 's  doings  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes !  '  Unto  Him 
be  glory  by  the  church  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end. 
Amen ! ' 

"But  this  lesson  of  the  divine  working  is  not  the  only  one 
which  the  history  of  this  church  and  its  connections  presents. 
It  shoM's  that  the  apostolic  faith  which  Rome  stigmatized  as 
'  Lutheranism, '  is  but  another  name  for  primitive  Christian- 
ity. All  the  material  it  needs,  out  of  which  to  build  up  living 
churches,  is  sinning  and  suffering  men.  From  the  first,  the 
ministrations  of  the  gospel  in  these  places  were  to  the  neglected 
and  lost.  It  was  carried  into  the  lanes  and  streets,  the  highways 
and  hedges,  and  men  were  made  to  see  that  they  must  repent 
and  believe  or  perish.  In  several  localities,  which  no  one  would 
enter,  the  poor  had  the  gospel  preached  to  them  and  the  hill- 
side was  the  pulpit  and  the  hearers  sat  upon  the  ground.  The 
result  is  seen  in  Christian  congregations  and  well-ordered  com- 
munities, while  the  young  are  growing  up  in  Christian  house- 
holds. Out  of  the  debris  of  such  neglected  people  and  denomi- 
nations, God's  word  has  silently  builded  up  believing  churches 
whose  charities  already  extend  from  the  suffering  at  home  to 
the  heathen  in  India  and  the  destitute  in  our  o-wm  land.  It  is 
indeed  'a  little  one,'  but  great  truths  have  been  established  and 
all  can  see  from  the  results  that  our  Church  can  go  forth  every- 
where preaching  the  Word.  The  same  blessed  results  will  follow, 
for  the  Word  which  we  confess  and  preach  'is  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation  to  every  man  that  believeth,  to  the  Jew  first 
and  also  to  the  Greek'." 

During  the  Summer  of  1872,  Mr.  Peters  had  charge  of  the 


294  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

congregation  at  Chartiers  and  Rochester,  Pa.,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Dr.  Passavant.  Of  his  experience  during  that  memor- 
able summer,  he  sent  us  the  following  reminiscence : 

"It  was  in  these  two  congregations  that  I  had  my  first  ex- 
perience as  the  pastor  and  preacher  under  the  direction  and 
counsel  of  Dr.  Passavant.  My  very  first  experience  in  pastoral 
work  was  with  him  at  Chartiers.  One  morning  he  took  me  with 
him  and  we  climbed  the  hills  and  threaded  the  valleys  together, 
visiting  from  house  to  house  and  always  paying  special  attention 
to  the  poor  and  the  most  needy.  After  a  few  words  of  greeting 
and  inquiry  the  Doctor  would  take  the  Bible,  read  and  comment 
briefly  upon  a  passage  and  then  we  would  all  kneel  and  he  would 
offer  a  prayer  or  call  upon  me  to  do  so.  This  I  did  with  hesita- 
tion and  trembling  in  his  presence.  The  manner  in  which  I 
was  enabled  to  discharge  this  humble  duty  seemed  to  please 
him  and  was  a  source  of  encouragement  to  me  and  aided  me 
in  the  conviction  that  I  had  not  mistaken  my  calling.  I  was 
with  him  a  great  deal  during  that  summer.  Whenever  he  re- 
turned from  one  of  his  many  absences,  he  would  send  for  me 
to  tell  him  the  state  of  affairs  in  his  large  parish  and  I  would 
thus  be  enabled  to  spend  a  profitable  hour  in  his  study.  Al- 
though one  of  the  busiest  of  men  at  all  times,  and  the  greatest 
letter  writer  I  ever  knew,  he  would  always  find  time  to  talk  to 
young  men  who  were  studying  for  the  ministry.  I  soon  found 
that  one  of  his  habits  in  dealing  with  young  men  was  to  put 
them  on  their  mettle.  Frequently,  it  would  be  Saturday  evening 
before  I  would  find  out  where  I  was  to  preach  next  morning. 
He  had  advised  me  in  the  beginning  to  prepare  a  few  good 
sermons  of  a  general  character  and  to  master  them  so  thorough- 
ly that  I  could  make  use  of  them  on  short  notice.  He  even  sug- 
gested subjects  for  such  sermons.  But  after  I  had  preached 
for  some  time  in  the  two  congregations,  my  stock  was  used  up 
and  Saturday  evening,  would  find  me  unprepared  to  go  to  the 
same  place  where  I  had  been  the  Sunday  before.  The  Doctor 
believed  in  testing  his  boys  in  this  way.  "We  did  not  take  to  it 
kindly  at  the  time  but  it  proved  beneficial  in  the  future.  The 
severest  test  I  had  was  at  a  reunion  of  the  boys  and  girls  of 
the  two  orphan  homes  held  at  Zelienople.  I  rode  over  with  the 
girls  from  Rochester  in  the  big  wagons,  singing  along  the 
way.  After  dinner  in  the  grove,  the  Doctor  came  to  me  and 
said  that  he  would  call  upon  me  for  a  short  address.  After 
much  fear  and  trembling,  I  got  through  after  a  fashion.    Noth- 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  295 

ing  that  I  ever  did  in  my  connection  with  the  Doctor  pleased 
him  so  well  and  he  was  unusually  free  in  his  commendations. 
"During  the  whole  summer  the  Doctor  never  said  a  word 
about  remuneration ;  this  was  another  of  his  favorite  tests. 
The  congregations  gave  me  nothing.  As  the  time  to  return  to 
the  Seminary  drew  near,  I  became  quite  anxious.  The  Doctor 
had  provided  for  me  at  the  hospital  and  had  furnished  me  with 
traveling  expenses  and  pocket  money.  But  how  was  I  to  get 
through  the  Seminary?  A  few  days  before  I  was  to  leave  for 
Philadelphia,  the  good  Doctor  called  me  aside  and  handed  me 
two  hundred  dollars.  I  tell  you  I  was  glad.  I  thanked  God 
and  took  courage.  I  never  found  out  whether  he  paid  this  out 
of  his  own  pocket  or  received  it  from  the  congregations." 

Dr.  Passavant  knew  the  value  of  pastoral  visits.  We  have 
seen  that  while  he  had  a  church  he  was  a  model  pastor  among 
the  people.  He  knew  how  to  approach  all  classes  and  conditions 
of  men  and  how  to  give  to  each  a  word  in  season.  He  knew  how 
to  make  every  visit  count  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  good  * 
of  the  one  visited.  The  writer  of  this,  when  a  theological  stu- 
dent, had  the  privilege  of  assisting  him  for  two  summers  in  his 
mission  work  in  the  congregations  of  Chartiers  Creek  and  in 
Beaver  County.  Those  months  of  missionating  can  never  be 
forgotten.  It  was  then  and  there  that  we  learned  our  pastoral 
theology.  It  was  in  the  daily  companionship  of  this  man  of  God 
as  he  went  in  and  out,  talked,  read  and  prayed  with  all  kinds 
of  people  in  all  kinds  of  places  called  homes,  that  we  began  to 
realize  what  "Seelsorge".  or  the  care  of  souls  means.  What 
a  blessing  it  would  be  if  all  our  theological  students  could  thus 
spend  a  year  going  about  in  pastoral  work  with  a  godly  and 
consecrated  "  Seelsorger. "  Again  and  again  the  thought  comes 
to  us  that  a  great  desideratum  of  our  theological  training  is  a 
real  soul  clinic  under  the  guiding  and  inspiring  eye  and  hand 
of  a  soul  physician.  We  give  a  brief  editorial  of  Dr.  Passavant 
on  Pastoral  Visitng : 

"It  would  be  difficult  to  overstate  the  importance  of  pastor- 
al visiting.  The  reader  will  please  put  emphasis  on  the  right 
word,  we  say,  pastoral  visiting.  Ministers  sometimes  excuse 
their  neglect  of  this  duty  by  alleging  that  they  can  see  no 
good  resulting  from  their  visits.  ^  But  they  will  find,  if  such 
be  the  case,  that  the  reason  of  it  almost  invariably  is  that  they 
do  not  visit  as  pastors.  To  hurry  into  a  house,  loll  for  a  few 
moments  on  the  sofa,  look  at  the  pictures  on  the  walls,  ask  care- 


296  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

lessly  one  or  two  questions  about  the  family  without  listening 
to  the  answer,  this  we  freely  admit  is  useless.  Indeed  that  word 
is  too  complimentary  if  by  it  is  meant  that  such  visits  by  the 
pastor  are  merely  unprofitable.  They  are  pernicious.  Neither 
does  it  add  to  the  benefits  of  his  call  if  the  pastor  enters  the 
house  langiiidly  with  the  air  of  a  wretched  mortal  goaded  to 
the  performance  of  an  unpleasant  duty.  Even  though  his 
visits  be  prolonged,  and  he  contrives  to  pass  through  the  topics 
suggested  by  the  weather  and  the  news  of  the  day  and  passes 
through  the  church  chat, (for  even  the  sanctuary  may  have  its 
prattle  and  its  scandal),  even  with  these  agreeable  variations 
the  visit  of  the  pastor  is  not  likely  to  accomplish  good. 

*'The  visit  that  profits  must  be  truly  pastoral.  It  must 
present  the  clergyman  in  his  official  character  as  a  minister  of 
righteousness  and  must  be  designed  for  the  spiritual  good  of  his 
people.  Let  his  zeal,  however,  always  be  directed  by  a  sound 
judgment  and  let  him  remember  that  where  disgust  begins  profit 
•  ends.  The  man  who  recklessly  assails  even  the  prejudices  of 
his  fellowmen  will  conciliate  no  regard  for  himself  nor  respect 
for  the  truth  he  is  aiming  to  diffuse.  The  visits  of  a  pastor,  if 
faithfully  made,  will  benefit  him  as  much  as  they  do  his  people. 
They  will  tend  to  spiritualize  his  heart,  to  give  refinement  and 
depth  to  his  Christian  character,  to  impart  variety  to  his  ser- 
mons, and  to  render  his  ministration  rich  in  practical  and  ex- 
perimental value." 

Dr.  Passavant  always  laid  great  stress  on  being  rightly 
called.  He  would  never  undertake  anything  without  the  assur- 
ance that  it  was  God's  will  that  he  should  do  it  then  and  there. 
This  was  one  of  the  distinguishing  and  strong  factors  in  the 
character  and  life  of  the  man.  This  formed  the  text  for  many 
a  letter  to  a  restless  place-seeker.  He  had  no  patience  with  the 
itch  for  change,  the  hankering  for  fields  untried  and  pastures 
new.  He  believed  that  no  consideration  of  ease,  inclination,  or 
environment  should  come  between  a  vocation  and  a  minister. 
When  the  writer  of  this  was  in  the  senior  year  at  the  Seminary 
and  had  assisted  Dr.  Passavant  at  Chartiers  and  Baden  for 
two  summers,  the  people  at  Chartiers  expressed  a  unanimous 
desire  to  have  him  as  pastor.  Though  not  yet  in  written  form, 
the  Doctor  believed  that  this  ^express  desire  was  a  call  from  the 
Lord  through  the  church.  Meanwhile  the  writer  had  a  written 
call  from  Nova  Scotia.  He  wanted  to  go  with  a  classmate  who 
had    accepted    a  contiguous    charge.     He  naturally    consulted 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC,  297 

Dr.  Passavant  and  several  letters  passed  between  them.  To  give 
a  sample  of  the  Doctor's  creed  on  a  call,  we  append  the  following 
extract  from  one  of  his  letters  which  had  an  influence  that  could 
never  be  lost: 

"You  may  not  realize  the  utter  wretchedness  of  laboring 
in  a  field  where  you  have  placed  yourself  nor  can  you  yet  under- 
stand the  consolation  of  being  in  a  place  where  you  have  been 
placed  by  the  great  Head  of  the  church.  But  for  the  certainty 
I  feel  in  my  vocation  from  Christ,  I  would  long  since  have 
fallen  in  despair,  but  I  stand  in  darkness  as  in  the  day,  know- 
ing 'whose  I  am  and  whom  I  serve,'  and  quietly  abiding  at  my 
post. 

"Let  this  suffice,  then  for  the  present,  in  regard  to  Chartiers 
or  Nova  Scotia.  What  God  does  is  well  done.  The  reverse  is 
equally  true  for  'without  Him  we  can  do  nothing'." 

Dr.  Passavant  always  deprecated  and  deplored  a  restless 
ministry  ever  on  the  lookout  for  call  to  a  new  field  and  con- 
stantly changing  from  place  to  place.  Here  are  extracts  from 
an  editorial  on  a  New  Beatitude,  Blessed  are  they  who  stick: 

"The  sad  influence  of  the  prevalent  unrest  is  seen  even 
in  ministerial  life.  The  pastors  of  some  of  the  most  numerous 
denominations  cannot  remain  more  than  from  three  to  five  years. 
The  average  in  some  other  churches,  where  such  a  restrictive 
rule  does  not  exist,  is  not  greater  than  this.  The  consequence 
is  a  perpetual  change  of  pastors  and  a  frequent  vacancy  of 
the  churches.  Some  men,  not  ten  years  from  the  seminary,  have 
changed  twice,  thrice  and  even  four  times.  They  went  into 
the  work  with  great  zeal,  they  laid  the  foundations  for  needed 
improvements,  they  gained  the  confidence  of  the  people  and 
began  to  know  the  community.  They  were  encouraged  to  go 
forward  and  had  every  prospect  of  enlarged  success,  but  in  the 
midst  of  all,  a  mistake  was  made,  some  misunderstanding  oc- 
curred, some  friends  were  alienated,  some  opposition  was  en- 
countered, and  instead  of  living  down  all  these  by  meeting  and 
overcoming  them  in  a  Christian  way,  they  yielded  to  the  tempta- 
tion and  were  'available'  to  calls  from  other  churches.  And 
they  'went  elsewhere,'  again  to  'go  elsewhere,'  and  to  follow 
on  changing  and  shifting  until  their  reputation  was  gone  and 
calls,  even  on  suggestions  from  themselves  and  others,  came  no 
more. 

"Now,  while  nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  some  changes 
are  necessary  in  doing  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  that  certain 


298  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 

other  changes,  because  of  sickness,  disability  and  other  causes 
are  unavoidable,  this  everlasting  changing  from  one  field  of 
labor  to  another  is  a  source  of  great  weakness  in  the  church. 
When  once  called  of  God,  'rightly  called'  as  our  Confession 
has  it, there  is  no  greater  source  of  blessedness  in  ministerial 
life  than  the  conviction  that  we  are  where  the  Holy  Ghost  has 
made  us  'overseers'  or  'bishops.'  Knowing  this,  the  hardest 
field  becomes  a  very  garden  of  the  Lord.  It  may  be  a  waste 
place  of  Zion  or  a  burnt  district  or  a  field  where  Satan's  seat 
is,  with  few  or  no  advantages  of  society  or  culture,  but 
it  is  a  place  so  near  heaven  where  we  know  that  God  has  called 
us  that  a  blessedness  of  a  pastor's  life  is  indescribable  and  quite 
on  the  verge  of  heaven.  In  such  a  position  the  Christian  pastor 
may  safely  remain,  doing  his  utmost  to  build  again  Zion,  and 
working  on  hopefully  against  all  discouragements.  If  he  is 
to  go  elsewhere,  he  need  not  be  careful  about  the  time  when 
or  the  place  whither.  He  may  quietly  remain  where  he  is, 
doing  his  whole  duty  as  before,  and  leaving  all  in  the  hands  of 
God 

"The  blessedness  of  such  'patient  continuance  in  well 
doing'  is  seen  i;i  many  striking  instances  in  the  history  of  our 
Lutheran  Church.  The  work  of  Oberlin,  among  the  barren 
rocks  of  Steinthal  in  the  Vosges  Mountains  of  Alsace,  and  the 
labors  of  Harms  in  the  sandy  heaths  around  Hermansburg, 
Hanover,  show  what  faith  and  persistency  in  duty  can  ac- 
complish in  the  most  hopeless  fields.  We  have  few  such  fields, 
but  we  have  many  where  success  is  impossible  without  the 
same  faith  which  made  them  as  the  very  garden  of  the  Lord. 
What  our  system  cannot  effect  by  any  rule,  a  heroic  faith  with 
love  must  accomplish.  The  old  heroic  spirit  must  be  renewed 
as  in  the  days  of  old.  The  call  of  duty,  the  vocation  from 
God,  the  obligation  to  abide  at  our  calling  until  ordered  else- 
w'here,  the  love  of  souls  for  whom  Christ  died,  and  above  all 
the  love  of  Him  who  hath  redeemed  us  by  His  holy  blood, 
these  mighty  influences  must  enter  as  living  factors  into  our 
spiritual  life.  When  this  is  more  largely  the  case,  we  will 
realize  the  blessedness  of  abiding  where  we  have  been  called 
of  God." 

When  the  writer  of  this,  during  his  first  years  at  Chartiers, 
found  it  next  to  impossible  to  pay  off  his  seminary  debt  and 
support  his  family  on  five  hundred  a  year,  and  felt  restive 
under   the   strain.    Dr.    Passavant   kindly   proffered    assistance 


RESIGNS  FIRST  CHURCH,  ETC.  299 

which  was  not  a  charity  and  inspired  new  heart  and  hope  with 
the  following  words: 

"Labor  on  for  the  poor  and  the  wandering  as  you  have 
done  and  even  more  abundantly,  walking  not  by  sight  but  by 
faith  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible.  'Er  der  Allmaechtige 
Gott  wird  alles  herrlich  maclien  wenn  Seine  Zeit  da  ist.' 

"I  hope  that  nothing  visible  nor  invisible  will  keep  you 
back  from  the  duties  of  each  new  day.  'Sow  beside  all  waters.' 
The  most  unpropitious  soil  often  proves  the  most  hopeful  and 
the  reverse,  alas,  is  often  the  case.  God  has  placed  you  in  a 
position  of  trial  and  struggle  to  hold  'the  fort'  for  Ilim,  where 
Romanism  and  indifference  reign.  Let  this  develop  the  true 
Christian  heroism  of  fidelity  to  the  uttermost  in  the  sphere 
where  you  are  placed.  Make  full  proof  of  your  ministry,  do 
the  work  of  an  evangelist;  live  near  the  Savior  and  walk  with 
God  before  the  world  and  your  household." 

Here  is  an  account  of  another  remarkable  manifestation 
of  good  will  that  came  in  unexpectedly  and  kept  him  and  his 
family  comfortable  and  free  from  care  without  any  visible 
means  of  support.     He  writes  his  mother: 

"As  you  may  hear  some  intimations  of  what  has  lately 
happened  to  me,  I  must  not  longer  conceal  from  you  the  fact 
of  a  very  pleasant  donation  visit  which  I  received  on  Thursday 
night.  Last  week,  a  committee  of  ladies,  among  whom  was  Miss 
Morehead,  called  at  our  house  and  informed  us  that  they  were 
deputed  to  inform  us  that  some  friends  from  the  community 
at  large  would  call  at  our  house  Thursday  afternoon  and  night, 
for  the  purpose  of  testifying  their  appreciation  of  my  labors 
among  the  poor  and  showing  their  personal  good  will.  Accord- 
ingly, as  it  was  quite  out  of  the  question  to  refuse  (especially 
as  the  whole  affair  had  gone  on  too  far  to  stop  it)  we  gave  a 
reluctant  consent  and  on  Thursday  morning  the  ladies  came 
and  took  formal  possession  of  the  whole  house. 

"My  study  and  Mr.  Reek's  room  were  turned  into  one, 
and  three  or  four  tables  were  stretched  out  from  end  to  end 
which  were  quickly  loaded  with  all  manner  of  good  things,  such 
as  hams,  cakes,  preserves,  pickles,  etc.,  until  it  looked  like  a 
feast  for  a  regiment,  or  even  a  supper  for  a  wedding  party 
All  these  things  were  sent  in  by  ladies  from  the  neighborhood 
and  Minersville,  and  it  was  quite  an  amusing  sight  to  see  the 
ladies  up  to  their  arms  in  all  manner  of  queer  operations  in 
the  kitchen,  getting  these  various  things  ready  for  the  company. 


300  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

After  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  people  besran  to  call, 
and  on  their  arrival  were  taken  charge  of  by  the  ladies,  and 
after  spending  an  hour  or  two  in  the  parlor  talking  with  each 
other  and  with  us,  they  were  invited  out  to  take  some  refresh- 
ments at  the  table  in  the  dining-room.  A  committee  of  gentle- 
men and  ladies  took  charge  of  everything  they  brought,  so  that 
we  saw  nothing,  until  the  company  had  retired,  of  the  'material 
aid'  of  this  affair.  In  the  evening  a  large  number  of  people 
came,  and  at  about  nine  o'clock  all  were  invited  into  the  refresh- 
ment room  where  the  most  ample  justice  was  done  to  the  nice 
things  which  had  been  prepared.  Afterwards,  several  hours 
were  spent  in  friendly  intercourse  in  the  parlors,  and  the  whole 
exercise  was  concluded  by  a  brief  prayer. 

"Owing  to  a  mistake  in  one  of  the  parties  having  been  pre- 
vented from  delivering  a  large  number  of  invitations  (printed 
notes)  most  of  my  personal  friends  knew  nothing  of  the  affair, 
but  the  house  was  nevertheless  quite  crowded  and  the  proceeds 
were  some  three  hundred  dollars  in  money  and  two  hundred 
dollars  faboutj  in  groceries,  dry-goods,  etc.  With  the  exception 
of  the  above  failure,  everything  was  managed  with  great  order 
and  delicacy,  and  we  saw  nothing  and  heard  nothing  of  the 
donations,  until  the  company  retired,  when  Mr.  Joshua  Ilanua 
handed  Eliza  the  box  with  the  above  sum.  The  whole  thing  took 
us  quite  by  surprise,  and  was  gotten  up  entirely  by  people  out- 
side of  our  church.  On  this  account  it  was  doubly  grateful  to 
our  feelings,  and  greatly  encouraged  us  in  the  new  life  we  now 
live.  Indeed,  I.  quite  forgot  the  peculiar  nature  *of  the  party, 
and  enjoyed  myself  as  much  as  if  in  the  company  of  friends  at 
a  neighbor's  house,  no  one  making  any  allusion  to  the  circum- 
stance which  brought  them  together.  Several  ministers,  such 
as  Mr.  Howard,  Sparks,  and  others  have  already  had  similar 
visits  this  winter." 

During  all  these  busy  years  Mr.  Passavant  was  a  leading 
spirit  in  the  Pittsburg  Synod  and  for  a  large  part  of  the  time 
its  missionary  president.  To  show  what  the  spirit  and  enterprise 
of  the  Synod  accomplished  in  these  years  of  its  weakness,  in 
spite  of  the  many  inefficient  ministers  that  had  to  be  used  be- 
cause no  better  could  be  had,  it  is  only  necessary  to  glance  at  the 
list  of  the  new  churches  built  during  the  first  ten  years  of  its 
history.  Before  us  lies  a  list  of  sixty  new  churches  with  their 
names  and  locations  erected  during  this  period. 


WAB.-VIEWS  AND  WORK.  301 


CHAPTER  X[II. 

WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK. 

The  later  fifties  were  a  period  of  storm  and  stress  in  the 
State.  The  nation  was  agitated  from  center  to  circumference. 
The  weak  James  Buchanan  was  in  the  presidential  chair.  The 
Missouri  Compromise  had  been  repealed.  The  disastrous  Dred 
Scott  Decision  had  followed.  The  Underground  Railway  was  in 
lively  operation.  Squatter's  Sovereignty  raged  and  uprisings 
were  rife  in  Kansas  and  in  Nebraska.  The  Lincoln  and  Doug- 
lass debates  were  attracting  not  only  the  Nation  but  the  world. 
John  Brown's  tragic  raids  startled  and  frightened  the  whole 
country.  Abolition  routs  and  riots  were  becoming  common  in 
the  eastern  cities.  The  South  was  sullenly  brooding  and  pre- 
paring for  war.  The  President  was  lending  encouragement  and, 
negatively  at  least,  was  giving  assistance.  Yellow  Journalism 
with  its  flaming  headlines  was  springing  into  existence  and 
fanning  the  flames  of  excitement. 

In  the  nature  of  things,  the  Church  could  not  remain  un- 
affected. Fierce  and  fiery  debates  broke  out  in  nearly  every 
church  convention.  Brethren  became  embittered  and  were  alien- 
ated. The  great  Protestant  denominations  were  threatened  with 
disruption.  Some  divisions  had  already  taken  place.  The 
columns  of  religious  journals  teemed  with  bitter  and  biting 
editorials  and  contributions. 

The  Lutheran  press  had  kept  itself  comparatively  calm. 
It  is  in  the  nature  and  genius  of  Lutheranism  to  spend  its 
strength  in  trying  to  make  the  tree  good  rather  than  in  worry- 
ing about  the  fruit.  It  endeavors  rather  to  make  new  men 
and  leave  it  to  them  to  do  the  new  work,  and  to  implant  right 
principles  and  then  leave  it  to  time  and  occasion  to  work  them 
out  in  practice. 

The  year  of  1860  was  a  memorable  one  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  The  fiercest  political  battle  that  the  nation  had 
yet  known  was  fought  through  at  the  polls.  Abraham  Lincoln 
was  elected  president.  The  wildest  excitement  took  possession 
of  the  people  in  the  North  and  the  South.  The  voice  of  the  press 
and  of  the  pulpit  was  full  of  fears  and  forebodings.     Inflam- 


302  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

matory  editorials  and  sermons  added  fuel  to  the  fire.  Men's 
hearts  failed  them  for  fear  of  the  things  that  were  to  come.  In 
the  Missionary,  Dec.  12,  the  editor  closes  an  article  in  these 
words : 

"But  deliverance  is  not  to  come  from  Washington.  Pro- 
motion Cometh  not  from  the  North  nor  from  the  South,  but 
alone  from  God.  The  Christian  patriot  must  go  to  Him.  What 
his  purposes  are,  in  this  conflict  of  principles,  it  is  not  ours 
to  know.  But,  this  we  know,  that  'justice  and  judgment  are 
the  habitation  of  His  throne.'  Into  His  hands  we  may,  there- 
fore, safely  commit  our  whole  country  and  its  institutions,  in 
the  fervent  prayer,  that  what  He  proposes  may  stand,  and  that 
what  He  condemns  may  be  destroyed  forever.  Here  only  is 
our  hope,  and  to  this  refuge  let  us  fly.  In  the  family  and  in 
the  church,  let  the  prayer  of  faith  go  up  unceasingly  to  God, 
for  delivering  mercy.  Whatever  be  the  present  issue,  the  final 
one  will  bring  glory  to  God  and  good  to  men.  This  should  be  our 
only  concern,  amid  the  troubles  of  the  times.  'The  Lord  reign- 
eth!'  Let  this  sweet  truth  calm  the  heart,  amid  the  troubled 
waters.  If  Christ  is  in  the  ship  of  State,  she  cannot  sink. 
Tempests  may  come  and  the  wild  winds, roar,  and  the  Master, 
as  now,  may  seem  to  sleep.  But  the  cry  of  faith  must  rise  above 
the  winds  and  the  waves,  before  His  voice  will  say,  'Peace,  be 
still!'  Then,  when  the  great  calm  comes,  a  grateful  people 
shall  shout,  'Alleluia,  for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth'. " 

When  Ft.  Sumpter  had  fallen  and  the  heart  of  the  nation 
was  bowed  with  grief,  the  Missionary  had  a  column  editorial, 
ending  thus. 

* '  But  while  we  thus  indicate  what  we  conceive  to  be  a  most 
important  duty  of  every  Christian  in  this  awful  crisis,  there 
are  other  duties  which  are  equally  important.  Foremost  among 
these,  is  to  'put  away  all  bitterness  and  wrath,'  to  guard  against 
the  war  spirit,  which,  under  such  provocation,  comes  in  upon  the 
soul  like  a  swelling  surge,  and  to  bear  in  mind  that  'the  wrath 
of  man  worketh  not  the  righteousness  of  God. '  Another  duty  is 
to  make  unceasing  prayer  to  God  for  our  country,  that  it  may 
be  preserved  from  the  demoralization  of  the  war,  and  the  break- 
ing doAvn  of  moral  principle;  for  our  rulers,  that  they  may  be 
indued  with  justice,  wisdom  and  courage  to  do  the  right;  for 
our  enemies,  that  God  would  give  them  the  right  mind,  and 
bring  to  naught  the  counsels  of  their  wickedness.  Happily  for 
us,  the  cause  in  which  we  are  engaged,  is  one  which  appeals  to 


WAR.-VIEWS  AND  WORK.  303 

every  Christian  heart.  The  preservation  of  our  Government 
involves  all  the  interests  of  humanity  and  religion.  Let  then 
the  closet,  the  family,  and  the  sanctuary,  be  witness  to  the  fervor 
of  our  supplications.  The  final  results  are  with  the  Lord,  and 
no  great  interest  will  suffer  in  His  hands." 

In  the  next  number  is  this  editorial  on  "Our  City:" 
"It  is  impossible  for  those  at  a  distance  to  conceive  of  the 
excitement  in  our  city.  In  this  great  hive  of  industry,  the  sound 
of  the  grinding  is  low,  and  the  wheels  of  forges,  furnaces,  and 
factories  drag  heavily.  The  number  of  volunteers  from  the 
stores  and  from  the  shops  is  so  great  that  business  moves  only 
with  greatly  diminished  pace.  Our  streets,  and  especially 
"Wood  and  Fifth  streets,  are  crowded  with  troops  and  with  the 
populace.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  wave  over  every  church  and 
cathedral,  over  factories  and  dwellings.  Every  hour  witnesses 
the  passage  to  and  fro  of  armed  men.  The  incoming  and 
departing  trains  are  filled  with  troops,  hurrying  forward  for 
the  protection  of  Washington.  The  churches  on  the  Lord's 
Day  are  filled  with  anxious  thousands,  but  the  stillness  of  the 
day  is  disturbed  by  martial  music  and  the  unending  marching 
of  troops.  The  pulpit,  Protestant  and  Catholic,  gives  forth  no 
uncertain  sound,  and  one  sentiment,  strong  as  death,  pervades 
all  hearts,  that  the  Government  must  and  shall  be  sustained. 
Politics  has  given  place  to  patriotism.  Parties  have  fallen  to 
pieces.  A  noble  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  manifests  itself  on  every 
side.  Men  hold  property,  time,  and  even  life,  cheap  at  such  a 
crisis.  Money  flows  in  by  thousands  for  the  equipment  of 
troops,  for  the  support  of  their  families,  for  the  protection  of 
the  community.  The  patriotic  ladies  of  the  various  churches 
are  busily  engaged  in  making  bandages,  lint  and  other  necessary 
articles  for  those  who  may  be  wounded  in  the  service  of  their 
country.  The  Vigilance  Committees  are  unwearied  in  prevent- 
ing the  passage  of  contraband  goods,  and  only  yesterday  seized 
on  several  dray  loads  on  their  way  from  the  east  to  South 
Carolina.  Since  the  stoppage  of  the  telegraph  lines  the  anxiety 
of  the  public  to  hear  the  news  is  intense,  and  the  most  painful 
suspense  fills  every  mind.  If  this  is  but  the  beginning  of  the 
strife  which  has  unhappily  broken  out  in  our  land,  what  will 
the  end  be?    How  long,  0  Lord?    How  long?" 

And  again,  in  the  number  for  May  2,  we  find  this  on  "The 
Demoralization  of  War": 


304  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"No  tongue  of  man  can  describe  the  dreadful  demoraliza- 
tion consequent  upon  war.  Let  the  Church  put  forth  her 
whole  infiuence  to  arrest  this  gigantic  evil.  Let  ministers  and 
people  follow  with  their  prayers  and  best  counsel  those  who 
have  gone  to  battle  for  their  country  and  the  right.  Let  her 
most  able  and  earnest  pastors  be  sent  forth,  with  the  blessing 
of  the  Church,  to  preach  to  the  soldiery  the  whole  counsel  of 
God,  and  in  this  way  seek  to  gather  around  these  brave  men  the 
holy  influences  of  the  gospel.  We  copy  the  following  from  a 
letter  just  received  from  an  eminent  physician  of  this  city,  who 
is  attached  as  a  surgeon  to  the  army.  It  is  written  from  the 
camp  near  Harrisville : 

*'  'Now  let  me  say  that  I  am  more  than  ever  opposed  to 
war.  It  is  a  dreadful  necessity  which  drives  us  into  this  one. 
But  I  believe,  before  God,  we  are  right,  and  that  it  is  our  duty 
to  prosecute  this  contest  with  all  the  vigor  we  possess.  God 
pity  the  poor  soldiers  and  save  them  from  the  demoralizing 
influences  of  the  camp.'  " 

From  the  next  number  we  quote  the  editor  on  "The  Time 
in  which  We  Live " : 

"Who  has  not  inwardly  thanked  God  for  the  privilege  of 
living  in  this  grand  and  awful  time  ?  The  man  who  does  not  ap- 
preciate this  hour  has  not  studied  the  book  of  Providence.  This  is 
not  an  ordinary  period,  but  a  crisis,  an  epoch  in  the  history  of 
the  world  and  of  the  Church.  Two  forms  of  civilization  meet  and 
struggle  for  the  mastery.  Two  religions,  each  appealing  to  the 
same  inspired  source,  give  their  benedictions  to  opposing  hosts. 
The  question  is  to  be  settled  whether  might  shall  make  right, 
whether  treason  against  constitutional  government  is  patriotism, 
Avhether  crime  is  Christianity,  whether  slavery  which  com- 
menced with  theft  and  has  been  since  perpetuated  by  force,  is 
to  be  the  ruling  idea  of  our  land,  or  whether  liberty  shall  be  the 
law  and  slavery  the  exception  to  be  endured  only  that  it  may 
be  the  more  effectually  removed  from  the  land  and  the  inhab- 
itants thereof  forever. 

* '  These  vast  issues  are  thrust  upon  us,  and  whether  we  will 
or  will  not,  we  must  meet  them.  Peaceful  men  have  held  Iheir 
peace.  Prudent  men  have  counselled  prudence.  Timid  men 
have  spoken  in  whispers.  Politic  men  have  acted  by  compro- 
mise.    The  great  parties,  societies  and  churches  have  well-nigh 


WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK.  305 

gone  to  one  place  in  the  effort  to  keep  silence  or  to  enjoin 
feilenc^  upon  others.  And  what  has  it  all  availed?  Nothing, 
absolutely  nothing.  In  spite  of  fear  and  prudence  and  counsel 
and  compromise  and  a  thousand  resolves  all  men  now  speak 
and  act  from  the  house-top  in  reference  to  the  very  things 
concerning  which  they  feared  to  speak  in  whispers.  God 
has  taken  up  the  subject,  and  He  is  speaking  from  the  secret 
place  of  thunder.  His  arm  shakes  the  nation.  His  judgments 
are  abroad  in  the  land.  In  one  word,  our  sin  has  found  us  out. 
That  sin  is  our  oppression  of  the  poor.  This  has  caused  the 
trouble.  This  has  made  Secession.  This  has  fired  the  mob, 
inaugurated  the  reign  of  terror,  driven  away  thousands  of 
peaceful  citizens  from  the  south,  stolen  forts,  robbed  the. 
treasury,  demoralized  the  army,  decimated  the  navy,  and  turned 
our  once  peaceful  land  into  a  battlefield  where  law  and  anarchy, 
liberty  and  slavery  are  grappling  together  in  a  struggle  for  life 
or  death. 

*'It  is  good  to  live  in  such  a  time  as  this.  Our  great  danger 
was  the  complete  going  down  of  moral  principle.  We  were 
becoming  a  nation  of  materialists.  Virtue  was  at  a  discount. 
Patriotism  had  degenerated  into  party  spirit.  Nobility  of  soul 
was  sinking  under  the  influence  of  a  soft  and  luxurious  age. 
Truth,  justice,  liberty  had  well-nigh  given  way  before  gain  and 
advantage.  Manly  virtues  were  dying  out  and  our  nation 
exhibited  the  sad  spectacle  of  a  youthful  people  falling  into 
the  vices  of  an  old  and  effete  civilization.  Then  God  spoke,  and 
the  voice  of  His  thunder  started  us  from  our  sleep.  The  mighty 
spell  was  broken.  The  world  was  as  a  cloud  passing  beneath 
men's  feet.  Principle,  right,  patriotism,  these  remained,  and 
shone  with  an  unwonted  luster.  Liberty  never  appeared  more 
blessed ;  constitutional  government,  never  more  sacred ;  virtue, 
never  more  ennobling;  and  justice,  never  more  holy,  more 
equal  and  more  safe  in.  all  its  applications  to  human  sociely. 
Wealth,  position,  ease  and  material  interest  were  never  held 
so  cheap  as  in  this  solemn  time.  God  has  scattered  seed  in  the 
prepared  soil,  from  which  is  springing  up  a  nobler  crop  of 
men  than  the  dull  souls  who  lived  and  died  ingloriously  before. 
Woman,  too,  delivered  from  the  servitude  of  fashion  and  society, 
again  comes  forth  in  all  the  strength  and  tenderness  of  her 
nature  as  the  advocate  of  the  right  and  the  helper  and  sharer 
of  men's  toils.     Even  where  the  frenzy  of  the  hour  has  won 


306  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

ber  heart  for  the  delusion  of  the  south,  her  noblest  influences 
have  been  quickened  into  life,  and  every  day  attests  the  sub- 
limity of  her  devotion  and  the  power  of  her  sacrifice. 

"Apart  from  its  final  results  on  the  great  problem  of 
human  liberty,  the  struggle  through  which  we  are  passing 
cannot  but  have  a  happy  influence  upon  the  Church.  Times 
of  softness  are  cowardly  times.  Wars  for  conquest  are  ever 
demoralizing;  wars  for  principle  often  beneficial.  The  greatest 
moral  movements  have  gone  forward  in  the  midst  of  revolution 
and  seeming  ruin.  They  plow  the  base  sod  of  custom ;  they 
vsweep  away  the  abuses  of  the  age.  They  draw  men  to  the  closet 
and  to  God.  They  educate  men  in  the  lesson  of  Providence. 
They  lead  to  the  exercise  of  heroic  virtues  and  to  noble  sacrifice 
for  duty  and  for  man.  Let  but  the  Church  be  true  to  her 
mission,  and  she  shall  gather  a  harvest  of  souls.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  out  of  death  shall  come  forth  life.  Out  of  the 
grave,  her  resurrection." 

Also  this  on  "Nurses  for  the  Army":  "In  reply  to  numer- 
ous letters  of  inquiry,  we  take  this  opportunity  of  saying  that 
the  recent  statement  in  the  city  papers  about  our  organizing 
a  company  of  nurses  to  follow  the  army  was  made  without  our 
knowledge  or  authority.  It  probably  originated  from  the  fact 
that  at  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  war  we  had  quietly  offered 
the  services  of  some  of  the  deaconesses  and  of  ourself  to  the 
Government,  wherever  our  services  were  most  needed  among 
the  sick  and  the  wounded;  but  at  no  time  did  we  contemplate 
the  organization  of  volunteer  nurses  for  that  purpose.  Such 
service  requires  a  familiarity  with  hospital  life  and  labor  which 
but  few  experienced  nurses,  even  with  the  best  intentions, 
could  perform.  Out  of  nearly  fifty  ladies  who  have  offered 
their  services  but  five  have  been  selected  who  will  probably 
accompany  the  Sisters.  We  are  now  holding  ourselves  in  readi- 
ness, and  should  duty  call  us  to  the  sad  scenes  of  the  Hospital 
or  the  battlefield,  our  readers  will  hear  of  us  as  heretofore 
through  the  columns  of  the  Missionary. 

"Scarcely  had  our  offer  been  sent  to  the  Government  and 
we  were  beginning  to  fear  that  we  might  be  going  before  we 
were  called,  when  an  earnest  pica  was  received  through  the 
philanthropist.  Miss  Dorothy  L.  Dix,  asking  that  several  Dea- 
conesses might  be  sent  to  her  aid  in  case  of  an  epidemic  or  a 
battle.     This  angel  of  mercy  at  once  went  forward  to  the  scene 


WAR.-VIEWS  AND  WORK.  307 

of  danger  and  is  unwearied  by  night  and  by  day  in  multiplied 
offices  of  kind  relief  to  the  troops  in  Washington.  A  second 
letter,  just  received,  bids  us  wait  till  needed,  and  then  hasten 
immediately." 

From  the  next  number  we  quote:  "A  Merciful  Provision: 
Sickness,  suffering  and  death  are  inseparable  from  war.  How- 
ever just  and  sacred  a  contest  may  be,  these  sad  results  are 
unavoidable.  The  duty  of  the  Church  and  of  the  State  is, 
therefore,  apparent,  and  it  is  manifestly  to  relieve  the  sufferings 
and  mitigate  the  sorrows  of  war  by  all  the  appliances  of  mercy 
within  their  reach.  Our  readers  have  not  forgotten  the  fright- 
ful mortality  which  fell  like  a  death  blight  upon  the  British 
soldiery  in  the  Crimean  war,  and  how  the  hospitals  of  Scutari 
became  vast  pest  hoiv?es  where  thousands  more  died  from 
neglect  than  fell  by  the  sword.  Nor  will  it  be  forgotten  that 
healing  and  mercy  only  entered  these  sad  abodes  when  Florence 
Nightingale  went  forth  with  her  noble  band  to  minister  to  the 
suffering  in  the  name  of  Christ. 

' '  In  the  fresh  remembrance  of  these  scenes  the  Government, 
through  its  proper  officers,  has  wisely  established  a  new  office, 
and  has  vested  with  ample  authority  the  devoted  philanthropist. 
Miss  Dorothy  L.  Dix,  to  organize  and  superintend  a  staff  of 
Christian  nurses  who,  from  love  to  Christ  and  without  earthly 
reward,  will  labor  among  the  suffering  in  the  hospital  or  in  the 
camp.  This  eminently  practical  worker  in  the  cause  of  mercy 
hastened  to  Washington  with  the  first  troops  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  the  most  comprehensive  and  successful  efforts  to  set 
on  foot  a  system  of  effective  relief  for  the  sick  and  wounded." 

Dr.  Passavant's  offer  to  lend  the  Deaconesses  to  the  army 
in  this  time  of  peril  and  suffering  was  gladly  and  quickly 
accepted  by  that  American  Florence  Nightingale,  Miss  Dorothy 
Dix.  Hasty  arrangements  were  made  for  the  Missionary,  the 
Infirmary  and  the  Orphans'  Home  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reck  was 
left  in  charge  of  all.  There  had  been  serious  sickness  and  sleep- 
less nights  of  watching  in  the  Passavant  home,  but  through 
the  mercy  of  the  good  Lord,  little  Sidney  was  now  rapidly 
recovering.  Mr.  Passavant,  therefore,  took  the  train  with  two 
Sisters  for  Washington  city.  From  his  letters  "to  the  Missionary 
we  quote : 

*'It  had  been  the  plan  of  Miss  Dix  to  secure  a  large  and 
convenient   edifice    in   the   suburbs    of   the    city,    with    special 


308  THE  LIFE  OF  1f.  .1.   PASSAVA^^T. 

reference  to  the  wants  of  the  soldiers  of  the  German  regiments: 
but  the  constant  change  of  troops  from  one  point  to  another, 
with  other  circumstances,  made  this  plan  inadvisable.  After 
a  careful  examination  of  the  whole  field  it  was  mutually  con- 
cluded to  retain  our  rooms  near  the  Capitol,  to  nurse  the  sick 
iji  a  hospital  which  had  been  extemporized  in  the  Supreme 
Court  room,  and  from  this  center  to  go  forth  daily  into  the 
different  hospitals  which  might  be  established  with  a  special 
reference  to  the  bodily  and  spiritual  relief  of  the  numerous 
German  soldiers  in  the  array.  Full  authority  had  been  pro- 
cured by  Miss  Dix  for  such  a  service,  so  that  no  obstacles  will 
be  placed  in  the  way  of  its  performance.  Time  will  indicate 
what  may  be  done  more  than  this,  so  far  at  least  as  our  friends 
are  concerned.  For  the  present  this  is  enough  to  engage  their 
hearts  and  hands,  and  they  are  deeply  grateful  for  the  privilege 
vi  doing  even  this  in  aid  of  so  holy  and  sacred  a  cause. 

"The  first  night  of  the  Sisters  among  the  sick  was  that 
of  Thursday,  the  twenty-third,  a  memorable  day  in  the  future 
history  of  our  nation.  A  soldier  of  one  of  the  Brooklyn  regi- 
)nents  had  accidentally  shot  himself  that  morning  and  lifi^ 
seemed  to  be  fast  ebbing  away.  One  of  the  Sisters  was  watching 
by  his  bedside,  while  a  second  was  ministering  to  the  other 
poor  sufferers  who  filled  the  hall  sacred  to  justice  and  the 
majesty  of  impartial  law.  A  few  minutes  before  the  clock 
struck  twelve  the  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs  was  heard  in  the 
court  below.  A  few  moments  later  the  rolling  of  the  drum 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  night,  and  in  a  few  moments  more 
the  soldiers  of  two  regiments  stood  in  rank  and  file  on  the 
parade  grounds.  Quietly  and  with  perfect  order  they  obeyed 
the  command  to  'March,'  and  company  after  company  passed 
out  of  the  Capitol  gate,  leaving  none  but  the  sentries,  the  sick 
and  the  Sisters  behind.  Even  the  soldiers  who  were  on  duty 
in  the  hospitals  left,  and  the  hea\y  sigh  of  the  sick  patients 
alone  broke  the  stillness  of  the  hour.  The  moon  was  shining 
with  singular  beauty,  and  from  the  window  of  the  court  room 
the  whole  of  this  inspiring  scene  was  visible.  The  next  morning 
told  all.  Alexandria  was  taken  without  a  blow,  and  the  white 
tents  of  the  United  States  soldiery  covered  the  heights  of 
Arlington.  Thursday,  on  which  Virginia  was  dragooned  out 
of  the  Union,  was  suffered  to  pass  away,  and  scarcely  had  the 
c'.ock  struck  the  hour  of  midnight  before  ten  thousand  troops 


WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK.  309 

were  on  their  march  to  reassert  the  authority  of  the  Government 
and  strengthen  the  defences  of  the  CapitoL. 

"The  particulars  of  this  masterly  movement  of  General  Scott 
have  doubtless  ere  this  reached  every  portion  of  the  land  so 
that  I  need  not  repeat  them.  In  the  midst  of  the  general 
rejoicing,  however,  the  news  reached  the  city  that  Colonel 
Ellsworth,  the  young  and  gallant  leader  of  the  New  York 
Zouaves,  had  been  brutally  assassinated  in  Alexandria.  The 
excitement  which  followed  was  indescribable.  Strong  men 
wept  in  the  streets,  and  gentle  women  turned  away  heart-sick, 
to  seek  relief  in  tears.  Shops  and  stores  were  closed.  The  fire 
bells  tolled  in  mournful  cadence.  The  engine  houses  were 
draped  in  crape.  The  flags  on  the  shipping  and  houses  hung 
at  half-mast.  One  wide  wave  of  sorrow  after  another  rolled 
over  the  city,  as  each  sad  particular  of  his  brave  but  pitiful 
death  became  known.  The  swift  retribution  which  fell  upon 
his  murderer  was  little  consolation  for  his  loss.  The  soldiery 
and  the  citizens  were  alike  affected  with  the  deepest  sorrow, 
while  those  of  his  own  regiment  were  heart-broken  at  his  death. 
How  strange  the  mastery  which  nobility  of  soul  has  upon  all 
men!  A  mere  youth  of  twenty-three,  and  yet  a  nation  mourns 
his  fall.  The  highest  functionaries  of  Government  and  the 
veterans  of  many  a  battlefield  weep  like  children  at  his  bier. 
AVho  will  not  say  that  these  are  blessed  tokens  which  shine  forth 
brightly  amid  the  materialism  of  this  age?  The  hour  is  coming 
when  all  selfishness  and  baseness  of  soul  shall  sink  to  shame 
and  everlasting  contempt,  while  purity  and  patriotism  and  a 
heroic  devotion  to  the  right  will  stand  forth  as  great  lights,  to 
shed  their  illumination  along  the  pathway  of  a  nation's  life. 

"It  is  now  past  midnight;  and  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  I  leave  for  Philadelphia,  where  I  hope  yet  to  spend 
a  part  of  Monday  with  the  brethren  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod 
before  returning  home,  and  immediately  leaving  again  for  our 
Synodical   Convention  in  Canton." 

We  quote,  also,  a  few  lines  from  his  letters  to  his  mother: 
"You  know,  perhaps,  that  Martha  Douglass  has  also  gone 
to  Fort  Monroe.  Miss  Dix  authorizes  me  to  send  two  more 
ladies  and  Dr.  Lange's  wife's  sister  and  Martha  were  the  ones 
selected.  They  are  doing  well  and  are  quite  happy.  Martha 
is  superintending  the  linen  interests,  which,  in  a  hospital  of 


310  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

three  hundred  sick,  is  no  trifle.     She  has  quite  a  number  of 
contrabands  under  -her  care  in  her  department. 

"Our  Sisters  write  often  from  Washington  and  speak  very 
encouragingly.  Miss  Dix  appears  to  be  much  pleased  with 
them  and  is  determined  to  carry  out  some  necessary  reforms 
through  their  aid.  I  cannot  enter  into  particulars  of  the 
nursing  work  in  Washington.  It  would  take  me  hours  to  talk 
all  over.  Several  of  the  papers  speak  very  honorably  of  our 
Sisters  in  the  hospital  in  the  Capitol  building. 

"The  Sisters  are  doing  good  work  in  Washington,  and,  I 
presume,  went  down  to  Fort  IMonroe  with  INIiss  Dix  on  the 
news  of  the  late  sad  battle.  They  greatly  desire  me  to  be  in 
Washington  to  aid  Miss  Dix,  as  they  fear  she  cannot  endure 
the  great  fatigue  and  exertion  of  her  position." 

A  Washington  correspondent  writes  to  the  Pittsburg 
Chronicle  : 

"There  are  a  great  many  strangers  here,  many  from  your 
State,  pure,  honest  and  disinterested  patriots,  who  would  be 
entirely  willing  to  take  Government  contracts  or  any  little 
service  of  that  kind  that  they  could  render  the  State.  I  will 
not  mention  them,  for  they  are  too  numerous.  But  there  are 
parties  here  to  whom  I  will  allude,  who  reflect  honor  upon  our 
city.  The  first  are  three  ladies  from  Pittsburg,  who  came  here 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Passavant,  for  the  purpose 
of  nursing  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  They  are  volunteers 
in  this  good  work,  now  in  charge  of  the  eminent  philanthropist. 
Miss  D.  L.  Dix.  They  are  ministering  angels,  here  at  their  own 
expense,  devoting  from  fourteen  to  sixteen  hours  of  the  day  to 
hospital  duties.  God  bless  them !  They  will  have  their  reward 
here  and  hereafter.  I  was  told  by  a  soldier  the  other  day,  who 
had  been  shot  through  the  right  breast,  and  was  recovering:  'I 
have  lost  my  mother,  but  that  lady,  God  reward  her,  has  been 
a  mother  to  me.  She  never  gave  me  up,  nor  left  me,  until  my 
hour  of  peril  was  past.'  In  this  same  hospital  were  five  or 
six  of  the  New  York  Zouaves,  sick  and  wounded,  and  the  lady 
happening  to  say  in  their  hearing  some  words  of  high  compli- 
ment and  deep  sympathy  for  Colonel  Ellsworth,  the  poor 
fellows  were  melted  to  tears  and  from  that  time  would  have 
devoted  their  lives  to  her  service.  I  will  not  name  these  ladies, 
their  names  will  be  in  the  good  Book. ' ' 


WAR.  — VIEWS  AND  WORK.  311 

As  though  he  had  not  yet  enough  to   do,  the   Pittsburg 
Synod  at  its  Convention  in  Canton  elected  Dr.  Passavant  as 
its  president.     When  the  voice  of  the  Church  called  him  his 
conscience  always  responded.     How  he  ever  bore  his  countless  - 
burdens  is  a  wonder  to  all. 

The  Pennsylvania  Synod,  at  its  spring  convention,  passed 
a  number  of  resolutions,  from  which  we  quote  the  following: 

"Resolved,  That  we  will  be  specially  mindful  of  the  brave 
and  loyal  defenders  of  our  country,  earnestly  commending  them 
to  the  mercy  and  protection  of  God,  and  to  the  extent  of  our 
ability  affording  aid  and  comfort,  especially  to  the  sick  and 
suffering  among  them,  to  which  class  our  attention  has  been 
especially  directed  by  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant. 

"Your  committee  also  begs  leave  to  add  the  following 
additional  resolutions,  having  special  reference  to  the  class  last 
mentioned : 

"Resolved,  (a)  That  it  be  made  the  duty  of  every  minister 
connected  with  this  body  to  lay  before  his  people  a  statement 
of  the  condition  of  the  sick  soldiers,  and  especially  the  German 
portion  of  them. 

"  (b)  To  encourage  the  members  of  the  Church  to  extend 
voluntary  and  liberal  aid  to  our  devoted  Christian  Sisters, 
known  as  'Deaconesses,'  who  have  undertaken  the  arduous  duty 
of  nursing  the  sick  soldiers. 

"(c)  That  all  such  contributions  be  placed  in  the  hands 
of  our  treasurer,  Dr.  C.  W.  Shaeffer,  of  Germantown,  to  be  by 
him  transmitted  to  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  director  of  the 
Deaconess  Institution  at  Pittsburg,  the  Executive  Committee 
of  this  Sjmod  being  authorized  immediately  to  advaneo  such 
sums  as  the  missionary  treasury  may  warrant,  to  be  replaced 
by  the  contributions  hereafter  made  for  this  object. 

"(d)  That  inasmuch  as  so  great  a  proportion  of  the 
volunteers  from  Pennsylvania  and  other  States  are  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  we  realize  our  responsibil- 
ity as  a  Church  to  provide  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  our 
members,  called  from  their  homes  to  defend  our  common  coun- 
try;   therefore,  be  it  further  resolved: 

"1.  That  this  Synod  call  and  appoint  otir  beloved  and 
esteemed  brother,  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  to  be  the  missionary 
chaplain  of  this  Synod  in  the  volunteer  armies  of  the  United 


312  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

States,  and  that  we  pledge  the  support  necessary  to  sustain  him 
in  this  field  of  useful  labor. 

"2,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  authorized,  in 
connection  with  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  to  make  such  further 
arrangements  for  the  promotion  of  the  spiritual  welfare  of  our 
soldiers  as  time  and  circumstances  may  render  needful. 

"(e)  That  the  Secretary  of  this  Synod  be  instructed  to 
communicate  copies  of  these  resolutions  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Governor  of  this 
State,  our  church  papers,  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  and  to 
every  minister  belonging  to  this  Synod,  to  be  read  by  him  to 
his  people." 

When  Dr.  Passavant  received  these  resolutions  he  was 
deeply  moved.  This  call  from  a  whole  Synod  appealed  to  him 
in  the  strongest  possible  manner.  His  heart  was  overflowing 
with  sympathy  for  the  poor  soldiers.  Especially  did  he  long 
to  do  his  part  to  save  them  from  the  hardships,  temptations  and 
demoralizations  incident  to  the  camp,  the  march,  the  bivouac, 
the  battlefield,  the  barracks  and  the  hospital.  To  his  mother 
he  tells  his  perplexities  and  longs  for  a  certainty  as  to  his  duty. 
After  a  season  of  earnest  prayer,  contemplation  and  counsel 
from  others,  he  declined  the  offer.  On  one  point,  however, 
his  mind  was  made  up.  He  would  do  all  that  he  could  for  the 
soldiers.  How  he  carried  out  his  purpose  is  clear  from  the 
account  of  his  second  visit  to  the  Sisters  in  the  army  hospital, 
published  in  the  Missionary,  July  11,  1861.  We  quote  a  few 
paragraphs : 

* '  A  wide  door  and  effectual  is  here  open  to  our  Deaconesses, 
and  the  service  of  their  hands  is  emphatically  the  patience  of 
hope  and  the  labor  of  love.  Nor  are  their  exertions  confined 
to  the  sick  room  only,  but  the  sphere  of  their  usefulness  extends 
in  various  directions.  Through  the  agency  of  Miss  D.  L.  Dix 
and  the  kindness  of  Christian  friends  over  the  land  they  have 
been  furnished  with  a  tolerable  supply  of  Testaments,  prayer- 
books,  papers  and  tracts,  as  well  as  haversacks,  socks,  towels, 
shirts  and  other  necessities  for  extreme  cases,  which  they  are 
enabled  to  dispense  among  the  needy,  not  only  of  the  con- 
valescent patients,  but  in  the  encampment  and  regimental  hos- 
pitals of  the  vicinity.  We  made  arrangements,  when  in  Balti- 
more, for  the  weekly  shipment  of  oranges,  etc.,  to  the  Sisters 


WAR.-VIEWS  AND  WORK.  313 

for  the  hospital,  and  only  await  the  means  to  carry  it  into 
eJfeet.  When  at  the  Synod  in  Philadelphia,  a  grant  of  five 
hundred  of  Luther's  Catechism  in  German  was  earnestly  asked 
for,  of  which,  however,  we  heard  nothing. 

"A  description  of  the  things  at  the  Fortress,  without  a 
word  about  'the  inevitable  negro,'  concerning  whom  and  the 
right  of  his  toil  all  State  questions  seem  now  to  center,  would 
be  incomplete.  It  is  said  that  nearly  three  hundred  of  the 
colored  people  of  all  hues  and  both  sexes  have  'come  in'  since 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  Many  of  them  are  curious  speci- 
mens of  the  genus  man,  and  seem  low  down  in  the  scale  of 
being.  They  are  employed  in  various  ways  about  the  Fort  and 
on  the  wharf,  while  others  are  occupied  in  the  kitchen,  the 
hospitals,  etc.  One  morning  we  met  seventeen  coming  in  just 
fresh  from  'Nupus  News,'  as  they  pronounced  it,  and  in  a 
few  moments  afterwards  saw  them  again  in  the  court  of  the 
hospital.  It  is  truly  amusing  to  witness  their  recognition  of 
each  other,  and  to  hear  their  odd  exclamations  of  surprise. 
Among  them  were  several  women  and  their  little  ones,  and 
while  talking  to  a  sad  and  weary  mother  who  had  traveled  all 
night  carrying  her  child,  she  suddenly  recognized,  in  a  waiter 
coming  from  the  kitchen,  an  old  acquaintance  in  the  same 
church,  and  cried  out,  'Why,  Brudder  John,  is  you  here?' 
'Bless  de  Lord,  Sally,  whar  you  come  from?  How  you  git  here 
wid  dat  lil  chile?'     . 

"It  was  a  touching  sight  to  see  a  large  group  of  these 
recently  arrived  gather  around  one  of  their  number  to  whom 
the  Sisters  had  given  a  Testament,  trying  hard  to  spell  out 
the  words  of  the  blessed  Book.  There  they  sat  like  children, 
listening  to  the  sweet  sounds  which  told  of  rest  to  the  weary 
and  peace  to  the  burdened  heart.  When  it  was  known  that 
Testaments  could  be  had,  the  request  to  obtain  them  was  very 
frequent,  and  what  is  equally  noteworthy,  most  of  them  also 
begged  hard  for  a  spelling  book.  As  these  people  are  now 
'contraband'  and  Uncle  Sam  has  no  objection  to  their  learning 
to  read,  on  our  return  we  will  send  the  Sisters  a  good  supply 
of  spelling  books.  How  they  will  learn  is  not  for  us  to  say,  but 
if  they  do  not,  the  fault  will  not  be  ours.  One  of  them  quaintly 
remarked,  on  being  told  that  something  he  had  done  was 
wrong,  'Tank  you.  Missus,  whar  I  was  fotched  up  I  didn't  get 
much  fetching  up.'    We  hope  he  may  get  'fotched  up'  a  little 


31^  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

more  under  better  tuition,  and  pray  God  to  show  His  compas- 
sion to  him  and  all  his  companions  in  tribulation," 

And  again  a  few  paragraphs  from  an  account  of  his  third 
visit : 

"Miss  Dix  was  in  waiting  at  the  station,  and  we  proceeded 
at  once  to  the  new  hospital  which  had  been  opened  by  the 
Government  in  the  former  Seminary  of  Miss  English  in 
Georgetown. 

"]\Iy  time  since  Thursday  has  been  fully  occupied)  in 
visiting  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  different  hospitals,  and 
in  meeting  with  committees  of  the  Sanitary  Commission,  After 
preaching  to  an  attentive  congregation  in  Brother  Butler's 
church  in  the  morning,  on  Sunday  afternoon  I  took  the  place 
of  a  sick  chaplain  of  one  of  the  New  York  regiments  stationed 
beyond  Fort  Corcoran,  on  the  Virginia  side,  and  returned  to 
the  city  late  in  the  evening.  The  pulpit  was  a  camp  chest  with 
the  heavens  for  a  sounding  board,  while  the  many  soldiers,  not 
yet  recovered  from  the  prostration  of  the  hurried  march  on 
]\Ionday  last,  were  stretched  out  on  the  ground  before  me.  At 
the  close  of  the  service  a  large  number  came  forward  and  gladly 
accepted  some  tracts,  but  the  stock  on  hand  was  exhausted 
before  half  of  the  soldiers  were  supplied.  Not  knowing  of  any 
Germans  in  the  regiment,  no  provision  was  made  for  an  entire 
company  of  honest  fellows  who  would  have  been  most  thankful 
for  some  German  reading. 

' '  Never  before  did  we  find  a  more  ready  access  to  men  than 
among  the  wounded  in  the  hospitals.  The  visits  of  the  ministers 
and  other  Christians  seemed  peculiarly  welcome.  One  poor 
sufferer  who  was  very  near  his  end  requested  us,  through  the 
rurse,  to  offer  a  prayer  for  him,  and  afterwards,  clasping  our 
hand  with  both  of  his,  in  turn  invoked  upon  us  the  benediction 
of  God.  It  is  due  to  the  chaplains  of  the  different  regiments 
to  say  that  most  of  them  are  attentive  to  the  wounded  men,  not 
only  in  the  regimental  but  in  the  general  hospital.  The  San- 
itary Commission,  also,  is  working  day  and  night  to  improve 
the  condition  of  the  hospitals,  while  good  Miss  Dix  is  un- 
wearied in  the  multiplied  offices  of  charity  in  behalf  of  their 
inmates.  The  nurses  whom  she  has  called  here  from  different 
parts  of  the  land  are  performing  excellent  service  among  the 
v/ounded,  and  though  there  are  painful  hindrances  in  her  way, 


WAB.-VIEWS  AND  WORK.  315 

owing  to  the  army  regulations  and  other  causes,  which  need 
not  be  specified,  great  and  invaluable  results  are  being  attained 
through  the  working  of  these  different  agencies  and  organiza- 
tions." 

Here  are  a  few  extracts  from  letters  written  by  the  Sisters 
in  the  field  to  Dr.  Passavant: 

"August  28,  1861.  I  received  your  letter  yesterday  morn- 
ing, and  in  an  hour  later  I  had  a  visit  from  Miss  Dix.  She  did 
not  feel  at  all  satisfied  that  Sister  Barbara  should  return  in 
so  short  a  time.  She  said,  also,  that  it  whs  contrary  to  law  to 
give  so  many  passes,  that  when  she  goes  to  General  Mansfield 
for  a  pass  he  says  *it  is  contrary  to  law,  Miss  Dix,  but  as  it  is 
you  we  will  accommodate  you ; '  hence  she  is  unwilling  to  apply 
so  often  for  a  pass,  and  unless  we  were  discontented  she  would 
prefer  our  remaining  here.  We  told  her  we  felt  contented, 
but,  Mr.  Passavant,  should  you  rather  have  me  go  to  Ft. 
Monroe  to  labor,  I  am  perfectly  willing  provided  arrangements 
could  be  made  to  defray  traveling  expenses,  without  troubling 
anyone  for  a  pass.  I  would  like  to  see  the  Fortress,  though  I 
feel  contented  here.  I  find  Mrs.  Russell  very  agreeable,  I 
seldom  feel  the  difference  in  our  ages.  She  is  so  cheerful  that 
we  find  a  good  many  things  here  to  laugh  at  in  the  midst  of  our 
labor  and  trials." 

''Sept.  12,  1861.  I  received  your  kind  letter,  dated  Sept. 
5,  and  also  the  one  containing  the  money,  for  which  receive 
our  sincere  thanks.  It  came  very  opportunely.  Please  excuse 
our  delay  in  acknowledging  it.  I  find  it  almost  impossible  to 
v;rite.  We  generally  rise  at  five  a.  m.,  and  every  moment, 
nearly,  through  the  day,  is  occupied  by  our  duties.  As  I  try 
this  evening  it  seems  to  me  every  nerve  is  throbbing.  We  have 
about  one  hundred  and  eighty  patients ;  there  are  between  forty 
and  fifty  typhoid  fever  cases.  Quite  a  number  have  died,  gen- 
erally two  every  twenty- four  hours  during  the  past  week;  some 
of  these  were  here  only  a  day  or  two  before  they  died.  They 
had  been  kept  in  camp  too  long.  This  afternoon  we  heard 
cannonading.  It  is  reported  that  there  is  a  battle,  although 
we  are  only  a  few  miles  from  the  very  scene  you  will  know  the 
news  before  we  can.  Is  it  not  strange?  Yesterday  afternoon 
v.'e  very  distinctly  heard  the  firing  of  cannons.  It  caused 
quite  a  stir  among  the  patients.     One  poor  fellow  who  is  so 


316  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

sick  of  fever  that  he  can  scarcely  lift  his  head  off  his  pillow 
said  to  me,  'How  I  would  like  to  be  with  them  to  fight.'  He 
belongs  to  the  19th  Indiana  Regiment.  We  have  a  good  many 
Michigan  and  Indiana  men  here.  .  .  .  Miss  Dix  called 
to  see  us  yesterday.  She  told  us  she  had  met  you.  Mr.  Passa- 
vant,  I  would  like  to  ask  you  a  favor.  I  hope  you  will  not 
think  us  unreasonable.  We  being  on  the  third  story,  are  obliged 
to  run  up  and  down  the  stairs  so  much,  and  it  is  this  which 
wears  us  out.  If  we  had  a  gas  fixture  in  our  room  we  could 
make  many  little  things  for  the  sick  and  thus  save  time  and 
strength.  For  five  dollars  we  could  get  one  with  the  necessary 
utensils.  It  would  be  invaluable.  If  possible,  please  let  us 
have  money  to  buy  one  very  soon.  We  can  get  it  in  Washington. 
Mrs.  Russell  is  bringing  order  out  of  chaos.  She  is  very  active. 
Barbara  is  in  the  room  now  in  Mrs.  Russell's  place. 

Mary  H.  Keen." 

"Washington,  on  the  28,  1861.  Miss  Dix  has  been  to  see 
us  several  times.  She  wishes  very  much  to  see  us  at  the  head 
of  a  hospital.  This  morning  she  took  us  to  the  Infirmary.  We 
went  to  each  patient  and  spoke  a  few  words.  She  heard  enough 
to  make  her  feel  dissatisfied  with  the  arrangements  here. 
Gladly  would  she  put  us  in  there  if  she  could  safely  do  it. 
Yesterday  she  gave  them  more  than  one  hundred  shirts  for 
those  who  need  them.  Today  there  was  none  to  be  found  any 
more.  AVhat  they  had  done  with  them  she  could  not  find  out. 
Some  of  the  patients  told  us  that  they  get  very  unsuitable  diet 
for  their  dinners.  Rice,  pork  and  soup  for  all  alike,  weak  and 
strong.  I  will  go  and  see  the  patients  every  day  and  inquire  into 
their  wants,  but  in  how  far  I  will  be  able  to  relieve  them  I  can- 
not see  yet. 

"After  dinner  Miss  Dix  took  us  out  in  a  carriage  to  see 
the  camp  of  the  Federal  troops.  She  had  some  business  there. 
Some  of  the  officers  stated  that  the  troops  would  need  some  more 
clothes.  Miss  Dix  requested  us  to  let  our  friends  in  Pittsburg 
know.  The  clothes  most  needed  are  shirts,  undershirts,  drawers 
and  socks.  All  should  be  woolen.  Would  you  please  mention 
this  to  the  ladies  who  are  engaged  in  preparing  garments  for 
the  army.  In  returning  she  told  us  that  she  is  so  much  pleased 
with  our  manner  and  bearing  that  she  must  reserve  us  for  some 

particular  duties All  is  quiet  here  now  but  it  is  expected 

that  soon  a  blow  will  be  struck.    Miss  Dix  has  not  seen  the  W. 


WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK.  317 

Hotel  yet.  They  have  a  few  patients.  She  said  she  will  not  go 
so  soon  there.  I  cannot  but  again  and  again  regret  that  you 
could  not  remain  here.  It  would  be  such  a  relief  all  around. 
Miss  D.  looks  so  weary  and  tired  out  that  I  think  she  cannot 
stand  it  much  longer  to  have  such  an  amount  of  labor  resting 
upon  her.  I  believe  we  will  have  to  bid  adieu  to  Pittsburg  for 
a  time.  May  the  Lord  give  us  strength  and  courage  to  do  our 
whole  duty  as  it  is  pleasing  in  His  sight. ' ' 

"Ft.  Monroe,  the  20,  1861.  Yesterday  we  notified  Miss  Dix 
that  it  is  our  intention  to  return  to  "Washington  on  the  21st. 
unless  she  sent  us  a  message  to  order  it  otherwise.  Only  three 
days  we  were  among  the  patients  and  yet  they  seem  to  cling  to 
us  already.  Situated  as  we  are,  we  could  do  but  little  for  them 
except  to  witness  their  sufferings  and  to  sympathize  with  them. 
We  also  brought  some  refreshments  from  Washington  which  we 
distributed  among  them.  There  are  now  about  twenty  German 
patients  here  who  can  speak  but  very  little  English  and  cannot 
make  their  wants  known.  Dr.  Kimball  thinks  they  will  in 
a  short  time  have  five  hundred  patients.  Those  persons  who  are 
here  are  of  the  roughest  kind.  'Good  workers'  the  Doctor  says. 
All  we  have  seen  in  hospitals  cannot  but  make  one  weep  on  ac- 
count of  the  sad  conditions  they  are  in. 

Elizabeth  Hupperts." 

Here  is  a  letter  from  Miss  Dorothy  Dix  to  Dr.  Passavant: 

"I  have  not  time  to  write  to  you  at  length.  It  is  but  per- 
mitted me  to  hasten  from  hospital  to  hospital  all  the  time  or 
I  would  gladly  oblige  you.  Sister  Barbara  also  must  stay  here 
three  months  at  least.  Great  confusion  is  as  yet  occasioned  by 
persons  coming  and  going,  of  such  as  are  familiar  with  the 
details  and  cares  of  the  Institution.  It  is  difficult  to  keep  the 
medical  men  in  good  humor;  at  any  rate  for  that  I  must  ask 
you  for  the  Good  Cause's  sake  to  defer  all  changes  even  though 
you  advance  good  reasons.  The  sisters  should  have  come  down 
to  remain.  Objections  are  made  to  giving  furloughs  and  I 
hope  that  will  be  no  difficult  solution  in  Mr.  Dudley's  case.  I 
write  making  these  proposed  plans.  I  think  the  women  should 
have  their  pay  soon. 

"I  have  only  time  to  say  God  bless  all  your  good  plans 
and  aims  and  that  I  am  yours  with  esteem, 
August,  28,  1861.  D.  L.  Dix." 

Here  is  another  in  which  she  expresses  her  high  appre- 
ciation of  the  services  of  the  Deaconesses: 


318  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

"Dear  Sir,  I  may  not  have  the  evidence  to  go  by  to  show 
the  value  I  have  placed  on  the  services  rendered  by  Sister  Eliza- 
beth and  by  other  Sisters  in  this  beloved  Christian  duty.  Al- 
though we  would  like  to  see  the  end  of  this  unhappy  war,  it  is 
my  purpose  to  have  a  substantial  evidence  made  of  my  apprecia- 
tion of  our  friends  and  their  toil  in  the  cause  of  humanity. 
Yours  cordially,  D.  L.  Dix.     Dec.  26,  1861,  Washington." 

And  another:     "Washington,  06t.  5,  1862. 

"Dear  Sir,  Probably  no  request  was  ever  more  reluctantly 
complied  with  by  any  person  more  or  less  concerned  in  the 
affairs  of  a  hospital  than  is  your  recalling  Sister  Barbara,  from 
the  IMilitary  Hospital  service  to  a  more  limited  and  remote  field 
of  action.  I  have  still  to  say  if  it  be  at  all  possible  to  construct 
other  plans  for  another  point  that  we  all  should  most  grate- 
fully receive  and  welcome  our  precious  friend  and  nurse  again 
to  this  field  of  labor.     Yours  with  esteem,  D.  L.  Dix." 

Here  is  one  that  speaks  especially  of  the  value  of  the  work 
of  Sister  Elizabeth. 

"I  have  your  valued  letter.  I  had  already  written  after 
my  return  from  the  Fortress  to  Sister  Elizabeth,  stating  my 
appreciation  of  her  services,  and  of  the  great  sacrifice  she  has 
made  to  the  cause  in  leaving  her  charge  so  long.  I  thank  you  for 
your  hearty  co-operation  and  Christian  sacrifice  you  have  made 
to  the  great  work  in  lending  your  choice  hospital  force  to  the 
service  they  have  rendered  and  this  under  serious  difficulties. 
I  hope  Sister  Elizabeth  received  my  letter.  I  shall,  if  life  be 
spared,  give  a  more  solid  evidence  of  my  appreciation  of  her 
devotion  to  an  arduous  and  hard  work  than  heretofore.  Please 
present  my  cordial  regard  to  her." 

We  give  this  final  note  to  show  that  her  appreciation  was 
not  in  word  only  but  also  in  deed: 

"I  send  two  boxes  free  to  you  at  Pittsburg  intended  for 
your  Institution  and  immediately  near  that  place,  excepting 
the  'Shoulder  rests'  which  may,  if  you  wish,  be  more  widely 
distributed.  The  Havelocks,  the  part  of  a  stock  left  over  when 
that  article  was  in  great  demand,  can  by  some  ingenious  and 
economical  hand  be  made  useful  for  other  and  various  pur- 
poses. I  wish  I  could  see  and  hear  more  of  what  you  have  done 
and  are  doing. 

"Hoping  your  good  works  will  be  greatly  blessed  to  the 
salvation  of  many  helpless  and  destitute  ones,  I  trust  you  will 


WAR.-VIEWS  AND  WORE.  319 

not  so  multiply  without  reliable  funds  for  your  institutions  as 
to  hazard  failure  for  your  final  permanence." 

We  cannot  forbear  giving  an  extract  from  another  letter 
published  in  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  after  Dr.  Passavant 
had  visited  the  battlefield  of  Antietam : 

' '  It  may  be  interesting  to  have  a  nearer  view  of  the  hospitals 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  battlefield.  A  description  of  one  of  the 
largest,  for  there  were  between  twenty-five  and  thirty,  will 
answer  for  all.  A  substantial  farm  house,  half  a  mile  from  the 
battleground,  was  taken  for  this  purpose,  its  frightened  inmates 
having  fled  as  the  narrowing  circle  of  fire  warned  them  of  their 
peril,  from  the  shot  and  shell  of  both  armies.  The  usual  hospi- 
tal flag  over  the  house  and  barn  soon  told  the  uses  to  which 
they  were  devoted.  In  a  short  time  every  available  place  in 
the  rooms  and  passages  is  covered  with  the  wounded.  Then, 
the  threshing  floor  of  the  barn  is  filled,  a  little  straw  and  a 
soldier's  blanket  being  laid  on  the  threshed  but  uncleaned  wheat 
which  fills  its  whole  extent.  The  battle  rages  on,  and  the 
wounded  still  come  in.  Next,  the  yard  is  covered  with  them, 
the  rebels  in  the  lower  end,  and  the  Union  soldiers  near  the 
house.  The  barnyard,  on  which  the  newly-threshed  straw  was 
thrown  a  few  days  before,  with  grain  stacks  on  its  side,  before 
evening  becomes  another  hospital  ward,  with  alleys  between 
its  poor  suffering  inmates.  The>  greater  part  are  under  cover, 
such  as  it  is,  a  blanket  or  an  oil  cloth,  raised  tent  fashion  over 
their  heads,  and  covering  them  in  whole  or  in  part.  Every- 
thing is  so  quiet  within  and  around  these  buildings  that  it  is 
difficult  to  realize  the  character  of  the  place,  and  yet  more  than 
a  thousand  wounded  men  are  at  this  single  hospital,  many  of 
them  frightfully  injured,  while  the  daily  mortality  tells  how 
many  of  them  are  near  their  end !  And  yet,  in  this  great  number 
of  sufferers,  a  murmur  or  a  scream  is  seldom  heard  from  our 
men.  After  going  from  bedside  to  bedside,  for  several  hours,  we 
heard  but  a  single  complaint,  and  that  was  because  of  the  neg- 
lect of  an  attendant  to  bring  some  food.  In  this  respect,  the 
contrast  was  most  striking  between  our  brave  soldiers  and  the 
rebels.  Although  they  received  the  same  attention  and  fare  as 
our  wounded,  they  appeared  like  children  by  the  side  of  our 
noble  fellows,  they  would  cry  and  call  incessantly  for  this  and 
that,  and  seemed  quite  unnerved  when  it  could  not  be  pro- 
cured. Wretched  and  ragged  as  they  were,  almost  starved,  and 
often  covered  with  vermin,  these  miserable  creatures  had  many 


320  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

more  wants  than  our  noble  soldiers  who  had  been  brought  up 
in  the  midst  of  plenty  and  in  homes  of  comfort. 

"We  will  say  nothing  of  the  amputating  room,  and  the 
number  of  eases  Avhich  had  been  attended  to  there.  How  the 
worthy  surgeons  bore  up  under  such  an  accumulation  of  labors 
and  suffering,  we  confess  we  cannot  comprehend.  The  Medical 
Director,  Dr.  J.  King,  one  of  the  physicians  of  the  Infirmary 
of  this  city,  was  assisted  by  a  large  number  of  skillful  surgeons, 
among  whom  we  had  the  pleasure  of  greeting  an  old  friend  in 
the  person  of  Dr.  S.  Lane  of  Chambersburg.  Worthy  of  all 
honor  are  these  noble  men,  who  have,  in  many  instances,  made 
the  greatest  sacrifices  that  they  might  serve  and  save  the  brave 
defenders  of  their  country." 

In  the  spring  of  1864  the  confederates  had  raided  Eastern 
Tennessee.  A  large  number  of  homeless  orphans  were'  left  in 
their  trail.  A  pitiful  plea  was  sent  to  Dr.  Passavant  for  the 
reception  of  Jthese  into  his  orphan's  home.  Housefather  Hoi  Is 
was  sent  to  Nashville  to  gather  up  and  bring  on  the  poor  little 
sufferers.     Dr.  Passavant  writes: 

"The  question,  how  shall  the  means  be  raised  for  the 
rescue  and  support  of  these  destitute  orphans?  though  not  the 
most  difficult  one  connected  with  this  unexpected  call,  must 
not  be  overlooked.  None  will  coldly  turn  aside  and  say  that 
these  poor  victims  of  the  war  should  be  allowed  to  sicken  and 
die,  or  be  neglected,  because  our  treasury  is  exhausted  and  a 
heavy  charge  already  rests  upon  the  Institutions.  We  had 
either  to  speak  thus  or  to  say,  poor  and  dependent  as  we  are, 
'Come  in,  ye  blessed  of  the  Lord!'  The  officers  of  both  Insti- 
tutions have  said  the  latter  and  the  number  received  will  be 
limited  only  to  the  number  of  orphans  who  are  in  need.  The 
Lord  must  provide  for  all  their  wants.  Our  time  and  strength 
will  be  occupied  with  the  preparations  for  their  coming,  their 
clothing,  shelter,  support  and  Christian  training.  Those  who 
sympathize  with  them  can  select  the.  way  which  seems  most 
feasible  to  aid  in  their  behalf." 

We  subjoin  Dr.  Passavant 's  account,  in  the  Lutheran  and 
Missionary,  July,  14,  1864,of  his  efforts  for  these  bereft  ones: 

"Shortly  before  the  departure  of  Rev.  Mr.  Holls  for  Nash- 
ville, we  received  letters  from  Rev.  A.  H.  Waters,  of  Prospect, 
Pa.,  who  was  then  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  laboring  in  the  hospitals 
in  the  army  under  the  auspices  of  the  Christian  Commission. 
In  these,  there  was  frequent  reference  to  the  sad  condition  of 


WAR. -VIEWS  AND  WORK.  321 

the  Union  refuges  and  the  pitiable  state  of  some  children  among 
them  who  had  lost  their  parents  by  disease,  exposure,  or  the 
fiendish  cruelty  of  the  rebel  guerrillas.  Meeting  soon  after  a 
leading  citizen  of  Memphis,  he  kindly  agreed  to  co-operate  with 
brother  Waters  in  the  holy  work  of  rescuing  as  many  of  these 
little  ones  as  possible  and  we  immediately  authorized  the  latter 
to  draw  on  us  for  the  necessary  means  to  bring  them  to  the 
Home  and  Farm  School.  IMost  faithful  and  laboriously  did 
brother  Waters  seek  after  these  poor  victims  of  the  war,  extend- 
ing his  search  as  far  as  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  Little  Rock  and 
Helena  in  Arkansas.  Such,  however,  was  the  condition  of  not 
a  few  of  the  children  found  sick  and  dying  with  measles,  fever 
and  various  other  dreadful  diseases,  that  but  twelve  could  be 
safely  brought  along.  Five  others  whom  he  had  selected,  had  to 
be  left  behind  at  one  place,  being  unequal  to  the  journey.  By 
the  kindly  aid  of  a  Christian  lady  from  St.  Louis,  who  was  on 
her  way  home  from  the  hospital  in  Memphis,  brother  Waters 
finally  succeeded  in  reaching  Rochester  with  his  charge  one  week 
ago.  The  children  were  immediately  transferred  to  the  care  of 
the  sisters  at  the  Orphans'  Home  near  Rochester  and  the  Farm 
School  at  Zelienople.  They  already  begin  to^how  the  influence 
of  the  new  order  of  things  under  which  they  have  come,  and 
the  power  of  soap  and  water,  pure  air,  and  wholesome  food  is 
working  a  wonderous  change  for  the  better.  Their  condition 
was  truly  indescribable.  Several  are  yet  quite  ill,  and  one  of 
the  boys  has  already  been  laid  by  the  side  of  the  quiet  sleepers 
in  the  little  cemetery  of  the  Farm  School.  Poor  child!  The 
iron  hoof  of  war  will,  not  at  least  now,  desecrate  his  peaceful 
grave ! 

' '  Though  for  the  most  part  wholly  illiterate,  the  little  new- 
comers are  not  without  promise  for  the  future.  Some  are  really 
bright  children,  but  their  conversation  is  a  curiosity.  It  is 
'down  thar,'  'whar,'  youns,'  'weens,'  'fotched  up,'  and  simi- 
lar 'negro  talk'  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  A  poor  little  girl, 
scarcely  three  years  old,  who  had  been  adopted  by  the  soldiers 
and  lived  with  them  in  camp  at  first,  cried  immediately  for 
'rations!'  At  last  one  of  the  friends  caught  the  idea  that  the 
child  wanted  'crackers.'  Sure  enough,  when  the  crackers  were 
procured  the  poor  thing  was  satisfied.  The  'rations'  are  now 
regularly  served  and  the  tears  are  dried  up." 

Dr.  Passavant's  influence  and  effort  were  asked  and  freely 
offered  to  secure  the  -release   of  prisoners  of  war,   especially 


322  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

of  such  non-combatants  as  were  seized  by  the  Confederates  in 
their  Northern  raids.  Gen.  R.  Ould,  the  southern  commissioner 
of  prisoners,  had  been  a  room-mate  of  Dr.  Passavant  at  Jeffer- 
son College.  To  him  he  appealed  in  behalf  of  a  number  of  young 
men  who  had  been  captured  and  were  confined  in  Libby  and 
other  prisons.  His  appeals  however,  were  in  vain,  as  like  depre- 
dations were  being  committed  by  the  Northern  army.  The 
following  interesting  letter  to  his  mother  mentions  his  further 
efforts  in  this  direction: 

"Excuse  my  long  delay  in  writing  to  you  this  time,  for 
which  I  have  so  many  good  reasons,  that  I  need  only  mention 
one,  viz.,  my  absence  in  the  East  for  the  past  two  weeks.  I 
needed  to  go  to  Philadelphia  about  some  business  matters  but 
just  as  I  was  getting  ready  my  poor  friend  G.  Black,  got  a  fifth 
attack  of  erysipelas  and  I  was  consequently  under  the  necessity 
of  offering  to  take  his  daughter  to  school  at  Lutherville,  as  he 
could  not  safely  go  from  home.  At  the  same  time  I  received 
a  letter  from  R.  Ould,  a  Rebel  Commissioner,  in  reply  to  one  I 
had  written  him  concerning  some  ten  citizens  of  Franklin 
County,  Pa.,  who  were  carried  by  their  army  to  Richmond  and 
have  since  been  in  the  Libby  Prison.  This  made  a  further  trip 
to  Washington  necessary,  and  I.  ran  over  and  had  a  long  in- 
terview with  Major  Hitchcock,  who  has  entire  charge  of  this 
and  other  prisoner  interests  in  his  hands.  It  remains  yet  to 
be  seen  whether  my  next  letter  to  Ould  (we  were  schoolmates 
at  Cannonsburg)  will  be  of  any  account.  I  will  at  least  do  what 
I  can.  In  Washington  I  was  too  busy  to  look  around 
very  much.  It  was  the  same  place  as  before,  'only  more 
so.'  It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  two  great  tides 
which  pour  back  and  forward  through  this  war  city,  the  im- 
mense tide  of  soldiers  and  citizens  on  the  street  and  the  endless 
lines  of  wagons,  mules  and  horses,  which  perpetually  make  their 
way  through  one  and  another  great  thoroughfare.  I  called  on 
Miss  Dix,  but  she  was  at  Ft.  Monroe,  and  Portsmouth,  Va., 
where  our  good  Sarah  Schaeffer  is  doing  so  noble  a  work.  At 
Mr.  Butler's  in  Washington  I  also  saw  oui"  mutual  friend  Heyl, 
who  has  an  office  under  Mr.  Chase  or  rather  a  clerkship  in  the 
Treasury  Department.  His  whole  family  are  in  Philadelphia, 
keeping  house,  as  it  is  impossible  to  support  them  in  Washing- 
ton on  $1,600  which  he  receives.  He  goes  over  as  often  as 
possible  and  boards  with  our  minister,  Mr.  Baker,  in  Washing- 


WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK.  323 

ton,  so  that  he  is  quite  comfortable.  Poor  fellow !  He  has  lost 
bis  property  and  the  labor  of  many  years.  His  father  and 
mother  still  live.  The  friends  in  Baltimore  were  very  cordial. 
.  In  view  of  various  matters,  I  finally  gave  up  the  idea 
of  going  to  New  York  this  time,  and  improved  the  time  in 
Philadelphia  very  agreeably,  visiting  public  institutions,  ac- 
quaintances, etc.,  etc.  Good  Matilda  did  all  in  her  power  to 
make  my  stay  agreeable,  and  the  friends  and  brethren  were 
very  cordial.  I  cannot  describe  half  of  what  I  saw  or  heard, 
and  will,  therefore,  not  attempt  it.  But  the  week  spent  in 
Philadelphia  was  a  most  delightful  one  to  me,  and  I  have 
returned  with  a  revived  mind  and  a  refreshed  spirit.  Nearly 
two  hundred  dollars  were  handed  me  for  the  Home  and  Farm 
School  without  the  least  collection  or  intimation  of  our  need. 
So  kindly  and  bountifully  does  God  care  for  our  fatherless 
children, 

"In  our  family  'Alles  geht  ruhig  und  gut.'  Since  the  first 
week  in  January  we  have  had  no  girl,  though  Mary  has  been 
here  again  and  again,  and  the  last  time  offered  her  services. 
We  get  along  pleasantly  and  comfortably,  and  all  the  children 
do  their  share  in  the  housework.  The  twins,  especially,  are  very 
industrious.  All  the  children  are  well,  though  I  should  except 
the  baby  who  has  a  bad  cold.  The  dear  little  fellow  has  four 
teeth  and  is  a  most  fascinating  child.  He  runs  around  like  a 
little  partridge  and  is  of  a  most  merry  and  joyous  disposition. 
God  bless  the  dear  child." 

We  cannot  follow  all  the  interesting  trips  of  Dr.  Passavant 
to  the  army  hospitals  and  his  services  in  behalf  of  the  soldiers, 
as  they  are  so  vividly  set  forth  in  his  letters  to  his  mother  and 
to  the  Missionary.  For  the  present  it  must  suffice  to  say  that 
during  the  whole  long  course  of  the  war  he  was  the  loyal  sup- 
porter of  the  Government,  the  warm  friend  and  liberal  helper 
of  the  soldiers,  and  the  counsellor  and  assistant  of  Miss  Dix 
and  her  noble  army  of  nurses.  In  the  city  of  Pittsburg  he  was 
known  and  honored  as  one  of  the  leading  spirits  in  the  cause 
of  his  country.  His  counsels  and  assistance  were  continually 
sought  after  in  public  and  in  private  and  were  highly  appre- 
ciated by  the  best  men  and  women  in  the  State  and  Church. 
His  name  has  an  honored  place  on  the  rolls  of  the  Sanitary  and 
Christian   Commissions.     During  his  visits  to  Washington  he 


324  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

frequently  preached  to  the  soldiers,  and  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  hospital  authorities  he  met  and  mingled  with  the  most 
eminent  officers  in  civil  and  military  circles.  If  he  had  given 
himself  up  to  this  public  sphere,  or  if  he  had  cherished  political 
ambitions,  he  might,  doubtless,  have  had  honorable  preferment 
and  office.  But  he  never  forgot  that  he  was  first  of  all  a  min- 
ister of  Christ  and  of  His  Church.  He  loved  his  nation  much, 
but  he  loved  the  Kingdom  of  God  more.  He  honored  the  flag 
of  his  country,  but  placed  far  above  it  the  cross  of  Christ. 

On  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  Dr.  Passavant 
wrote  several  editorials.    We  quote  from  one: 

"After  life's  fitful  fever  he  sleeps  well; 
Treason  has  done  his  worst;  nor  steel  nor  poison, 
Malice  domestic,  foreign  levy,  nothing 
Can  touch  him  further. 

**To  die  amid  the  consummations  of  a  grand  mission  nobly 
performed  is  glorious.  With  them  the  where,  when  and  how 
matters  little. 

"Or  on  the  gallows  high, 

Or  in  the  battle's  van. 

The  noblest  death  for  man  to  die 

Is  when  he  dies  for  man. 

"Our  country's  faith  has  learned  a  new  interpretation  of 
her  standard.  The  white  typifies  the  purity  of  purpose  which 
belongs  to  a  true  ruler;  the  red  points  to  the  crimson  tide  in 
which  life  flows  forth  a  willing  ofll'ering;  the  blue  reminds  her 
cf  the  home  in  heaven  to  which  the  good  are  gathered;  the 
stars  in  her  banner  tell  of  light  and  darkness,  and  she  shall 
learn  to  range  them  in  a  new  and  beautiful  order  as  the  Con- 
stellation and  Cross. 

"Wickedness  tends  to  a  crisis,  some  awful  and  final  act 
of  atrocity,  which  so  marks  its  real  character,  that  even  the 
weak  and  vacillating  who  have  feared  and  hoped  and  doubted, 
ROW  stand  aghast  at  its  atrocities.  It  makes  all  good  men  of 
one  mind. 

"God  has  not  asked  too  much  of  us,  even  in  the  sacrifice 
over  which  we  mourn,  if  He  gives  to  us  as  a  recompense  for  it 
that  pure  love  of  right,  that  impartial  freedom,  of  the  welfare 
of  all  men  which  was  struck  at  by  the  murderer's  hand  which 
has  robbed  our  nation  of  the  light  of  its  eyes.     Years  before 


WAR.— VIEWS  AND  WORK.  325 

the  fatal  stroke,  as  if  with  a  presentiment  upon  the  soul  of  the 
future,  he  had  declared  in  our  city  that  for  this  he  would  will- 
ingly lay  down  his  life,  and  God's  own  life  is  the  pledge  that 
this  and  every  life  sacriticed  for  the  right  shall  prove  not  to 
have  been  laid  down  in  vain. 

"There  is  no  sepulcher  so  deep  as  to  hide  the  light  forever, 
there  is  no  stone  heavy  enough  to  close  it  in  for  man.  Truth 
may  be  slain  and  entombed,  hemmed  in  with  rocks,  with  a 
mighty  stone,  forbidding  all  entrance  to  it  and  all  exit  from 
it  to  the  world ;  sealed  and  guarded  may  be  the  sepulcher  where 
righteousness  seems  to  lie  dead  in  the  person  of  its  embodiment ; 
but  the  Easter  day  comes,  the  second  earthquake  comes,  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  with  countenance  like  lightning  and  garments 
like  snow,  descends  from  heaven  and  comes  and  rolls  back  the 
stone  and  sits  upon  it.  Then  is  the  time  for  the  keepers  to  shake 
and  become  as  dead  men;  and  then  the  trembling  hearts  of 
the  true  take  comfort  in  the  words :  '  Fear  not,  ye. '  The  blood 
of  the  innocent  descends  upon  those  who  sympathize  with  its 
shedding,  from  generation  to  generation.  Nothing  but  repent- 
ance, deep  and  abiding,  can  remove  it.  They  have  wrought  the 
mischief  and  shall  taste,  in  God's  time,  its  bitterest  fruits.  Mad- 
dened by  malignant  passions  the  murder  they  commit  or  pro- 
mote or  sympathize  with  proves  their  own  suicide." 


326  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

STORM  AND   STRESS   IN   THE    CHURCH. 

As  the  later  fifties  were  a  period  of  storm  and  stress  in 
the  State,  so  the  early  fifties  were  years  of  storm  and  stress  in 
the  Lutheran  Church.  Those  who  studied,  understood,  believed 
and  confessed  the  doctrines  that  have  always  made  the  Lutheran 
Church  Lutheran,  saw  more  and  more  clearly  the  danger  that 
was  threatened  by  explaining  away  and  toning  down  those 
doctrines  until  there  was  no  other  reason  for  being  a  Lutheran 
than  that  the  Lutheran  Church  was  essentially  the  same  as  "the 
other  Evangelical  denominations."  The  contention  of  Kurtz's 
book,  "Why  Am  I  a  Lutheran?"  might  be  summed  up  in  the 
Vvords :  "I  am  a  Lutheran  because  the  Lutheran  Church  has  all 
the  good  that  other  churches  have  and  differs  from  them  in 
no   important   point." 

This  lax,  uncertain  and  unsatisfactory  state  of  affairs  had 
moved  a  number  of  earnest  men  to  examine  what  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  her  theologians  really  teach.  Schmid's  "Dog- 
matik"  had  appeared,  and  American  scholars  who  could  read 
German  were  studying  it  and  had  their  eyes  open  to  the 
strength,  completeness,  consistency  and  scripturalness  of  the 
Lutheran  faith.  Dr.  Morris  and  others  wanted  it  translated 
ii)to  English.  Drs.  Nevin,  Schaff,  Hodge  and  other  Reformed 
theologians  were  teaching  Lutherans  what  historical  Luther- 
anism  is.  Those  who  were  in  favor  of  a  Lutheranism  that  was 
true  to  its  name  and  its  history  had  started  the  Evangelical 
Pieview.  The  little  Missionary  had  become  more  and  more  clear 
and  confessional  in  its  tone.  Wyneken  and  Walther,  Loebe  and 
Lehman,  Passavant  and  Harms  were  teaching  the  Church  not 
only  that  there  is  no  antagonism  between  confessional  doctrines 
and  living  piety,  but  also  that  the  former  demands  the  latter. 
The  elder  Krauth,  at  the  opening  of  the  General  Synod  in 
Charleston  in  1850,  had  preached  a  sermon  that  gave  no  un- 
certain sound  as  to  the  relation  of  true  Lutheranism  to  the 
Church  Confessions. 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  327 

The  General  Synod  was  strengthened  in  1853  by  the  en- 
trance into  it  of  the  strong,  conservative  Synods  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Pittsburg  and  Texas.  The  Pennsylvania  Ministerium 
had  founded  a  professorship  in  Gettysburg  Seminary  and  was 
seeking  a  conservative  man  to  fill  it.  Dr.  C.  F.  Shaeffer  be- 
came the  man  in  1856. 

This  trend  toward  a  confessional  Lutheranism  aroused  the 
radicals.  They  had  a  mighty  weapon  in  the  Lutheran  Ohserver, 
the  oldest  and  only  English  weekly  east  of  Ohio.  Through  it 
they  had  the  ear  of  the  reading  and  thinking  laity.  Thus  they 
had  wielded  a  direct  influence  in  the  congregations  of  the  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  churches  far  greater  than  their  number  or  ability 
\vould  seem  to  justify.  Besides  they  still  had  the  main  professor 
in  Gettysburg  Theological  Seminary  who,  year  after  year,  was 
molding  the  minds  of  incoming  ministers.  Thus  these  men 
felt  themselves  stronger  than  they  really  were.  They  im- 
agined that  the  whole  General  Synod  was  ready  to  follow  them. 
They  planned  a  bold  and  persumptuous  battle-call. 

For  months  they  had  been  secretly  at  work  on  a  document 
that  was  intended  to  startle  the  Church,  rout  the  "retrogres- 
sionists,"  and  lead  the  General  Synod  permanently  into  an 
American  Lutheranism  from  which  all  distinctive  Lutheran 
doctrine  would  be  eliminated. 

In  September,  1853,  an  anonymous  pamphlet  of  52  pages 
was  sent  through  the  mails  to  every  Lutheran  minister  who  was 
supposed  to  have  sympathy  with  and  would  lend  influence  to 
the  contemplated  coup.  The  mysterious  docviment  bore  the 
expressive  and  ominous  title  "Definite  Platform,  Doctrinal 
and  Disciplinary,  for  Evangelical  District  Synods;  constructed 
in  accordance  with  the  principles  of  the  General  Synod."  It 
claimed  in  the  introduction  to  be  "An  American  Recension 
of  the  Augsburg  Confession,  prepared  by  consultation  and  co- 
operation of  a  number  of  Evangelical  Lutheran  ministers  of 
the  Eastern  and  Western  Synods,  belonging  to  the  General 
Synod." 

It  claimed  to  find  these  dangerous  errors  in  the  Augsburg 
Confession;  viz.,  the  Romish  Mass,  Romish  Confession  and 
Absolution,  and  a  denial  of  the  divine  obligation  of  the  Chris- 
tian Sabbath.  It  also  repudiated  baptismal  regeneration  and 
the  real  presence  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  Christ  in  the  Lord's 
Supper.     It  recommended  that  no  minister  should  be  received 


328  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

into  any  Synod  of  the  General  Synod  who  would  not  adopt  this 
platform. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  this  proposed  new  confession 
of  faith  raised  a  terrific  storm.  It  disclosed,  more  boldly  than 
had  yet  been  done,  the  real  animus  and  purpose  of  the  radical 
^\ing  of  the  General  Synod.  The  Observer  defended  it;  so  did 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  of  Spring-field,  Ohio.  A  flood  of 
communications  from  the  radicals  commended  and  defended  it 
ill  the  columns  of  the  Observer.  Then  for  three  consecutive 
weeks  Dr.  Kurtz  editorially  defended  it.  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker 
followed  in  the  same  strain  for  five  consecutive  weeks,  writing 
eltogether  about  twenty  columns.  These  acute  and  learned 
v/riters  wrote  with  a  fervor  of  desperation.  They  defended 
tlieir  position  with  ability,  skill  and  eloquence.  They  visited 
the  various  Synods  and  pleaded  for  their  platform.  But  it  was 
a  lost  cause  from  the  beginning.  Never  were  intelligent  and 
sanguine  men  more  bitterly  disappointed.  Not  a  single  Eastern 
Synod  adopted  the  platform.  Three  little  Synods  in  Ohio  were 
all  that  deigned  to  do  it  honor.  But  it  did  good  work;  it 
opened  the  eyes  of  the  real  friends  of  the  Church  to  the  dangers 
that  threatened  from  Gettysburg  and  Baltimore. 

No  one  understood  and  felt  the  danger  more  seriously  than 
did  Dr.  Passavant.  He  followed  the  movement  with  the  keenest 
interest.  In  October,  1855,  he  published  the  resolution  of  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Synod  against  the  platform  with  this  com- 
ment of  his  own: 

"This  earnest  and  dignified  protest  against  the  anonymous 
publication,  referred  to  below,  was  put  forth  by  the  East  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  at  its  late  session  in  Lebanon.  This  decided 
condemnation  of  all  such  mining  and  sapping  operations  by 
means  of  'a  dark  lantern,'  will  meet  with  the  hearty  approval 
cf  the  best  friends  of  the  Church.  If  the  foundations  are  to 
be  destroyed,  let  it  not  be  done  by  honey-combing  of  the  ground 
after  such  a  Jesuitical  fashion,  but  by  a  General  Church  Diet, 
which  shall  possess  the  learning,  piety  and  charity  to  construct 
*r.  platform'  which  will  at  least  graciously  permit  Luther, 
INIelanchton,  Arndt,  Spener,  Francke  and  other  princes  in 
Israel  to  stand  upon  it." 

A  wave  of  indignation  against  the  Observer  broke  out  over 
all  the  Church.  Earnest  men  came  together  and  spoke  of  start- 
ing a  new  paper.    In  nearly  every  such  case  Mr.  Passavant  was 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  329 

mentioned  as  the  best  possible  editor.  Others  wrote  to  him  for 
counsel  and  advice.  His  monthly  Missionary  was  nearing  the 
close  of  its  eighth  year.     Of  these  years  he  could  say : 

"In  looking  over  the  past  eight  years  we  cannot  but  thank 
God  and  take  courage.  We  are  thankful  that  amid  the  going 
down  of  other  more  meritorious  papers  our  little  sheet  was 
enabled  to  live.  We  are  thankful  for  the  patronage  of  many 
of  the  good  and  the  pure  over  the  land,  and  we  trust  that  we 
i.re  grateful  that  its  labor  in  the  Lord  has  not  been  in  vain. 
Others  assure  us  that  a  livelier  interest  has  been  awakened  by 
it  in  missions  and  mercy,  and  that  the  attention  of  many  Chris- 
tians has  been  directed  to  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  of  the 
affiicted  members  of  our  Lord's  body.  So,  too,  in  addition  to 
the  numerous  and  generous  donations  which  have  been  sent  in 
for  the  Institutions  here,  a  thousand  dollars  have  been  paid  into 
the  treasury  of  the  Home  from  the  profits  of  the  paper  during 
this  time." 

The  thought  came  to  him  again  and  again:  Could  not  his 
Missionary  be  changed  from  a  monthly  to  a  weekly?  Could 
it  not  in  addition  to  being  a  Missionary  become  a  more  general 
Church  paper  ?  Could  it  not  be  a  medium  for  the  dissemination 
and  the  defence  of  the  Church's  faith?  Might  it  not  serve  to 
protect  the  many  against  the  insidious,  unsettling  and  divisive 
influences  of  the  Ohservcrf  For  weeks  and  months  he  planned 
and  prayed  and  wrote  to  the  wisest  and  best  men  in  the  Church 
for  counsel. 

We  have  before  us  over  a  score  of  letters  commending  Pass- 
avant's  plan.  They  are  from  A.  T.  Geissenhainer,  Greenwald, 
Reynolds,  H.  H.  and  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  B.  M.  Schmucker,  C. 
F.  and  C.  W.  Schaeffer,  Schreck,  Manning,  Mann,  Welden,  D. 
M.  Henkel,  Geo.  F.  Miller,  W.  S.  Emery,  Hoffmann,  and  others. 

The  elder  Krauth  counsels  patience  and  hopes  for  better- 
ment of  the  Observer.  Dr.  Morris  fears  Passavant's  abolition- 
ism. C.  A.  Hay  deprecates  the  rising  of  a  "hierarchical"  party 
in  the  Church,  claims  that  the  platform  expresses  the  faith  of 
the  majority  of  the  pious  laymen,  and  pleads  for  the  Observer. 
Henry  L.  Pohlman  counsels  delay  and  patience.  Others  favor 
the  new  weekly,  but  not  yet. 

After  much  deliberation,  counsel  and  prayer  Mr.  Passa- 
\ ant's  mind  was  made  up.  In  the  last  number  of  the  monthly 
be  writes: 


330  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

*  *  In  view  of  the  past  we  are  hopeful  for  the  future.  A 
large  number  of  our  most  serious  and  able  ministers  and  laymen 
have  urged  us  to  enlarge  the  Missionary,  and  change  it  from  a 
monthly  to  a  weekly  sheet.  After  much  reflection  and  prayer 
and  an  unreserved  consultation  with  leading  brethren  over  the, 
whole  land  we  are  convinced  that  it  is  our  duty  to  do  so.  The 
interests  of  missions  and  mercy,  of  truth  and  righteousness,  de- 
mand it.  This  issue,  clearly  and  satisfactorily  settled  to  our 
own  mind,  there  is  no  alternative  left,  but  'in  the  name  of  the 
liord  to  set  up  our  banner.'  And  this  we  do  with  good  courage 
and  cheerful  hope,  believing  that  by  so  doing  we  shall  be  more 
helpful  than  at  present  to  the  Church  which  Christ  hath  pur- 
chased with  His  own  blood. 

"Accordingly,  by  the  divine  permission,  the  first  number 
cf  the  new  series  will  appear  during  the  first  week  of  January, 
1856.  The  rate  for  subscribers  will  be  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents 
in  advance." 

To  his  good  mother,  who  again  feared  that  he  was  taking 
upon  himself  a  load  that  he  would  be  unable  to  carry,  he  ex- 
plains: 

"When  I  tell  you  but  a  few  of  the  facts  in  the  case  you 
v/ill  see  that  I  have  been  led  to  make  this  enlargement  simply 
from  a  deep  sense  of  duty,  and  in  doing  so  my  greatest  heart 
trouble  was  your  expressed  unwillingness  to  see  me  engaged  in 
such  a  work.  Rest  assured  that  this  step  has  been  taken  only 
after  much  prayer,  consultation  and  a  long  and  patient  examin- 
ation of  the  whole  subject,  ^nd  I  can  say  with  a  good  con- 
science that  my  unwillingness  to  engage  in  this  was  so  great 
that  I  could  scarcely  overcome  it,  and  had  it  been  possible  to 
have  done  so,  I  would  not  have  yielded.  But  the  enlargement 
is  to  be  made  during  the  first  week  in  January,  1856;  then 
there  will  be  an  intermission  for  three  weeks,  and  on  the  first 
of  February  it  will  go  on  regularly  every  week.  Brother  Reck 
assumes  the  entire  business  department,  correspondence  and 
mailing;  Brother  Krauth  writes  a  'leader'  for  the  editorial 
column  over  his  own  signature  every  week;  and  I  edit  the 
paper.  Friends  are  pledged  for  one  thousand  dollars'  dona- 
tion for  the  first  year,  some  sending  one  hundred  dollars,  one 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  others  fifty  dollars,  ten  dollars, 
and  pledges  have  been  sent  in  for  a  large  number  of  subscribers 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  331 

by  our  leading  ministers  in  the  East.  Besides  some  eighteen 
to  twenty  have  offered  to  write  for  it  every  few  weeks  so  as  to 
give  it  variety,  interest  and  life.     ... 

"When  I  wish  to  leave  the  city,  Brothers  Reck  and  Krauth 
get  out  the  paper,  so  that  I  am  as  free  to  be  away  even  for 
months  as  now  provided  I  send  on  a  weekly  editorial  or  two. 

"But  why  involve  myself  in  this  new  trouble  and  expense? 
The  expense  will  be  borne  by  friends  who  are  determined  to 
spare  no  means  in  order  to  have  a  paper  which  will  save  the 
Church  from  the  doom  w^hich  awaits  her  with  Kurtz  at  the  helm 
of  the  vessel.  As  for  the  trouble,  I  cheerfully  endure  it  for 
Zion's  sake,  and,  moreover,  because  I  am  nearly  through  with 
my  travels  abroad  which  suit  me  as  little  as  they  do  my  family 
and  especially  the  children.  In  this  way  I  have  something  to 
occupy  me  at  home,  and  I  can  go  to  Rochester  every  second 
Sunday  until  the  time  comes  when  they  will  require  a  pastor 
of  their  own.  This  may  be  a  considerable  time  hence,  as  the 
finishing  of  the  church  will  require  all  the  spare  means  and 
energies  which  they  can  devote  at  least  for  a  twelve-month  to 
come. 

"But  the  controversy  and  unpleasantness  with  Kurtz?  On 
this  subject  I  can  make  you  easy.  You  may  rest  assured  that 
with  that  man  I  will  have  no  controversy.  He  can  say  and 
think  and  do  just  as  he  pleases,  and  so  he  will,  as  far  as  I  am 
concerned.  My  strength  will  be  found  in  keeping  aloof  from 
these  wretched  controversies,  which  are  keeping  the  Church 
from  her  legitimate  work  of  doing  good  to  the  suffering  and  to 
the  immigrant.  If  he  insults  me,  I  will  publish  him  in  the 
Missionary,  and,  by  saying  nothing  in  return,  silence  his  talk. 
On  this  subject  my  mind  is  made  up,  for  your  sake,  and  my  own 
as  well  as  for  the  Church's.  I  shall  strive,  as  I  have  done  for 
eight  years,  to  keep  all  this  kind  of  strife  out  of  my  columns. 
In  changing  the  Missionary  from  a  monthly  into  a  weekly  I 
have  simply  yielded  to  the  pressure  which  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  me,  not  from  the  quarreling  part  of  our  ministry  but 
from  the  most  able,  solid  and  pious  men  of  our  ministry.  Our 
pastors  could  no  longer  stand  the  infamous  charges  which 
Kurtz  and  Schmucker  are  perpetually  making  against  the 
Church.  Their  only  refuge  was  in  the  establishment  of  a 
newspaper  or  influencing  me  to  enlarge  the  Missionary,  the  first 


332  THE  LIFE  OF   ^Y.   A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

they  deprecated,  as  it  would  have  been  a  herculean  attempt, 
and  would  have  aroused  all  the  hostility  of  the  Observer  against 
it  as  an  opposition  gotten  up  specially  against  it;  the  last  they 
flaxiously  and  most  earnestly  pleaded  for,  as  they  liked  \U 
spirit  and  its  general  course.  That  spirit  will  remain  the  same, 
and  its  general  course,  likewise,  so  that  they  will  now  have  what 
they  want,  a  weekly  Lutheran  Church  paper  devoted  to  missions 
and  mercies,  to  the  family,  the  school  and  the  Church.  May 
God  forgive  me  for  giving  you  additional  pain,  and  rest  assured 
that  in  conducting  it  I  will  be  influenced  only  by  the  fear  of 
God  and  the  fear  of  doing  anything  which  would  disturb  the 
spirit  of  my  precious  mother  in  the  evening  of  her  days.  All 
well." 

The  weekly  Missionary  was,  therefore,  launched  for  the 
defence  and  spread  of  the  Lutheran  faith  and  for  the  inspiration 
cf  the  works  that  should  grow  out  of  that  faith.  The  first 
number  appeared  in  January,  1856.  It  came  in  the  four-page, 
blanket-sheet  form  then  in  vogue. 

In  looking  over  the  first  volume,  probably  the  most  at- 
tractive feature  is  a  series  of  articles  by  C.  P.  Krauth,  Jr.,  on 
"The  Church  in  the  Wilderness."  These  articles  give  us  a 
vivid  picture  of  the  state  of  the  Church  of  that  day.  They  show 
the  low  and  almost  hopeless. view  of  the  mission  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  this  land,  on  the  part  of  the  platform  men,  as  well 
as  the  virile  and  hopeful  tone  of  those  who  knew  and  had  faith 
in  the  Church's  historic  and  confessional  position.  Some  of  the 
articles  are  in  the  form  of  a  dialogue  between  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Littlefaith  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hopeful. 

There  are  numerous  articles  from  his  pen  on  the  Augsburg 
Confession,  on  the  Lutheran  Doctrine  of  the  Sabbath,  in  which 
he  quotes  largely  from  Luther  and  the  Lutheran  dogmaticians, 
a  series  of  learned  articles  on  the  Romish  Doctrine  of  the  Mass, 
with  a  defence  against  the  aspersions  of  the  platform  men 
against  the  Confession.  They  are  well  worth  reading  to-day. 
There  is  a  series  by  J.  G.  Morris  on  Life  Pictures  from  the 
Reformation,  a  series  of  Letters  from  a  Father  to  His  Son,  an 
interesting  and  instructive  series  from  Dr.  Philip  Schaff  on  the 
Religious  Life  in  Germany.  There  are  frequent  letters  from 
nearly  every  State  in  the  West,  describing  the  condition  of  the 
scattered  Lutherans,  their  needs,  their  hopes  and  their  prog- 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  333 

ress.  Foreign  Mission  letters,  stories  and  notes  are  found  in 
every  number.  Instructive  and  inspiring  accounts  of  the  In- 
firmary and  the  Orphan  Home  are  kept  up.  There  is  a  variety 
of  Church  news  and  items  from  all  portions  and  Synods  of  the 
Church,  set  forth  with  that  spirit,  vividness  and  impartiality 
v.'hich  the  editor  manifested  all  through  life.  In  the  clippings, 
the  devotional  and  family  department,  the  judiciousness  and 
tact  of  happy  selection  which  mark  the  true  editor  are  manifest. 
Of  the  purpose  and  spirit  of  the  paper,  the  editor  says  in  the 
first  number: 

"The  general  plan  of  the  Missionary  remains  the  same,  the 
field  of  operation  being  merely  enlarged  with  the  enlargement 
of  the  paper.  While  it  aims  to  be  a  periodical  for  the  individual, 
the  family,  the  Church  and  the  times,  the  spirit  of  missions  and 
mercy  will  be  the  controlling  spirit.  It  will  'not  shrink  from 
confessing,  explaining  and  defending  the  faith  of  the  Church; 
but,  with  a  profound  conviction  that  the  Church  must  not  only 
be  evangelical,  but  evangelistic  also,  it  will  labor  alike  for  her 
purity  and  her  operative  piety.     The  motto  on  our  first  page 

fully  expresses  our  views  and  aims.     In  an  age  of  controversy 

•  .  ... 

and  division  we  shall  endeavor,  in  dependence  upon  divine  aid, 

to  edit  the  Missionary  according  to  the  wisdom  that  is  from 

above,  'which  is  first  pure,  then  peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  be 

entreated,    full   of   mercy   and   good   fruits,   without   partiality 

and  without  hypocrisy'." 

In  the  second  number  he  sets  forth  still  more  explicitly 

the  tone  and  spirit  of  the  paper: 

"WE  BE  BRETHREN. 

"Brought  together  by  a  power  higher  than  our  own,  we 
find  ourselves  on  the  virgin  soil  of  this  new  continent,  the 
representatives  of  numerous  nationalities  of  the  old  world.  Our 
childhood,  boyhood,  manhood,  early  training,  and  later  educa- 
tion have  been  widely  ditferent,  and  the  associations,  modes  of 
thought  and  local  surroundings  of  each  individual  have  not 
been  without  their  influence  in  the  formation  of  our  character 
as  a  Church.  That  under  these  circumstances  there  should 
be  some  diversity  of  thought,  and  difference  of  administra- 
tion, together  with  not  a  few  local  and  national  peculiarities, 
customs  and  even  prejudices,  is  only  what  might  be  expected, 
is  only  what  could  not  be  otherwise. 


33^  lEE  LIFE  OF   TT\  A.  PASSAVAST. 

**But  while,  in  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country  this 
diversity*  confessedly  exists,  there  exists,  at  the  same  time,  a 
unity  in  diversit>'  which  justifies  the  fraternal  declaration,  'We 
be  brethren.'  We  are  so  in  more  than  one  important  respect. 
Brethren  in  Christ,  we  stand  nearly  related  to  all  who  in  every 
place  call  upon  Jesus  Christ,  both  their  Master  and  ours.  But 
we  are  family  relations  to  each  other,  and  a  common  faith  with 
common  usages,  associations,  labors,'  aims  and  hopes,  makes  us 
one  in  a  peculiar  sense.  We  belong,  not  merely  to  the  same 
army,  but  to  the  same  regiment;  and  side  by  side  and  shoulder 
to  shoulder  we  have  resisted  the  same  mighty  force,  stood  up 
against  the  same  deadly  charge,  endured  the  same  agonizing 
suffering,  and,  after  the  smoke  and  dust  of  the  battlefield  has 
cleared  away,  we  have  together  wept  over  our  fallen  brethren, 
or  made  the  sky  echo  with  the  exulting  shout  of  victory.  Three 
centuries  with  their  history  of  trials  and  triumphs  look  down 
upon  us  this  day,  a  diversified,  but  yet  a  united  Church. 

"With  this  great  fact  of  our  common  brotherhood  before 
us,  our  duty  as  a  Church  is  clearly  apparent.  It  is,  to  live  and 
love  and  labor  as  brethren.  If  w^  cannot  see  eye  to  eye  in 
everj'thing  let  us  walk  by  the  same  rule,  so  far  as  we  are 
agreed.  Palsied  be  the  arm  that  would  turn  the  tide  of  battle 
from  the  common  foe  against  our  brethren.  At  a  time  like  this, 
when  Socialism  with  its  unclean  spawn,  and  Rationalism  with 
its  icy  touch,  and  Romanism  with  its  corrupt  faith  and  its 
relaxed  morality,  must  not  only  be  met  and  discomfited  by  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  but  when  the  overshadowing  power  oi 
material  interest  threatens  to  dry  up  the  very  heart  of  Chris- 
tianity itself,  and,  in  our  land  turn  all  into  the  idolatry  of  gold, 
divided  interests  and  efforts  can  oppose  no  barrier  to  the  over- 
flowing surf.  It  is  a  struggle  not  only  for  the  triumph  but  for 
the  life  of  Christianity.  It  affects  the  whole  brotherhood.  It 
is  a  strife  pro  aris  et  focis,  for  our  altars  and  firesides,  and  the 
weakest  as  well  as  the  mightiest  must  stand  by  his  arms  in  this 
coming  struggle  which  shall  shake  not  the  earth  only  but  also  the 
heavens. 

"It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  therefore,  that  our  common  duty 
in  this  crisis  of  our  history  is  to  seek  the  things  that  make  for 
peace  and  things  whereby  we  may  edify  one  another.  That 
partisans  of  different  kinds  will  misconstrue  this  advice,  we 


STORM  AXD  STRESS  IX  THE  CHURCH.  335 

know  beforehand;  but  what  we  have  written  is  not  ours,  but 
the  word  of  the  Lord.  Under  circumstances  very  similar,  the 
holy  apostle  'besought  the  brethren,  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
that  they  should  all  speak  the  same  thing,  and  that  there  be  no 
di^nsions  among  them,  but  that  they  should  be  perfectly  joined 
together  in  the  same  judgment.'  Christian  brethren  cannot 
hope  to  come  to  the  unity  of  the  faith  until  this  law  of  charity 
is  observed;  for  where  divisions  are  there  is  contention  and 
ever}'  evil  work. 

"It  may  not  be  out  of  place,  in  this  connection,  to  express 
the  hope  that  the  fact  that  'we  be  brethren'  may  be  reflected 
from  all  the  articles  which  may  appear  in  the  Missioiiary.  "With 
cur  views  of  truth  and  duty  we  cannot  consent  that  it  should 
be  an  arena  of  personal  conflict  and  partj'  strife.  It  has  a 
holier  mission  and  a  nobler  work.  It  will  seek  to  attract,  not  to 
repel,  to  make  peace,  not  to  wage  war,  to  reconcile  brethren, 
not  to  widen  the  breach  between  them.  And  so,  too,  it  wiU  be 
our  sincere  desire  to  be  helpful,  not  to  a  part,  but  to  the  entire 
brotherhood,  without  reference  to  particular  sections,  languages, 
rationalities  and  institutions.  This  is  our  aim,  and  in  its  prose- 
cutions we  invite  the  co-operation  of  all  who  love  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pittsburg  SjTiod,  held  in  Zelienople,  in 
May.  1856.  the  definite  platform  came  up  for  action.  In  the 
editorial  columns  of  the  Missionary,  Mr.  Passavant  gives  the 
following : 

"Below  will  be  found  the  action  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod, 
at  its  late  session  in  Zelienople.  on  the  great  question  now 
agitating  our  Church.  Its  character  will  be  as  unexpected  as  it 
will  be  gratif^-ing.  A  large  majority  might  have  been  obtained 
for  the  strongest  resolutions  condemnatory  of  the  platform 
movement,  but  truth  never  suffers  from  moderation,  and  a 
united  testimony  for  the  purity  of  our  faith  was  regarded  as 
more  important  than  the  most  violent  denunciation. 

"A  whole  afternoon  was  devoted  to  the  discussion  of  the 
different  topics  referred  to  in  the  report  below  which  was 
presented  by  t"he  Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth.  The  utmost  freedom  of 
objection  and  reply  was  encouraged:  no  resolution  was  acted 
upon  until  the  members  expressed  themselves  fully  and  were 
prepared  for  the  question;   and  when  the  vote  was  finally  taken 


336  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

upon  the  report  as  a  whole,  it  was  adopted  without  a  single 
dissenting  voice.  In  our  whole  experience  of  Synodical  action 
we  never  witnessed  a  discussion  more  candid  and  truthful  or  a 
more  beautiful  illustration  of  the  value  of  fraternal  conferences, 
(such  as  those  suggested  in  the  late  Missionary,)  in  the  settle- 
n)ent  of  disputed  doctrines  in  the  Church.  The  most  careless 
observer  could  not  but  have  felt  that  God  was  of  a  truth  in  the 
place,  and  during  the  passage  of  the  last  resolutions  there  was 
scarcely  a  dry  eye  in  the  whole  Synod.  We  fear  to  weaken  the 
force  of  the  testimony  so  unanimously  borne  by  the  Synod  con- 
cerning the  charges  made  and  the  changes  proposed  in  the 
acknowledged  faith  of  the  Church,  and,  therefore,  direct  the 
careful  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  language  of  the  preamble 
and  the  resolutions: 

'testimony    of    the    synod    of    PITTSBURG. 

*  Whereas,  Our  Church  has  been  agitated  by  proposed 
changes  in  the  Augsburg  Confession,  changes  whose  necessity 
has  been  predicated  upon  alleged  errors  in  that  Confession; 
and 

'Whereas,  The  changes  and  the  charges  connected  with 
them,  though  set  forth  by  individual  authority,  have  been  en- 
dorsed by  some  Synods  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  urged  upon 
others  for  approval,  and  have  been  noticed  by  most  of  the 
Synods  which  have  met  since  they  have  been  brought  before 
the  Church;    and 

'Whereas,  Amid  conflicting  statements,  many  who  are  sin- 
cerely desirous  of  knowing  the  truth,  are  distracted,  knowing 
not  what  to  believe  and  the  danger  of  internal  conflict  and 
schism  is  incurred;    and 

'Whereas,  Our  Synods  are  the  source  whence  an  official 
declaration  in  regard  to  things  disputed  in  the  Church  may  nat- 
urally and  justly  be  looked  for ;  we 

'Therefore,  In  Synod  assembled,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Searcher  of  hearts,  desire  to  declare  to  our  churches  and  before 
the  world  our  judgment  in  regard  to  these  changes  and  these 
charges,  and  the  alienation  among  brethren  which  may  arise 
from   them. 

'I.  Resolved,  That  by  the  Augsburg  Confession  we  mean 
that  document  which  M^as  framed  by  IMelanchthon,  with  the  ad- 
vice, aid  and  concurrence  of  Luther,  and  the  other  great  evan- 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  337 

gelieal  theologians,  and  presented  by  the  Protestant  princes  and 
iree  cities  of  Germany,  at  the  Diet  of  Augsburg  in  1530. 

'II.  Resolved,  that  while  the  basis  of  our  General  Synod 
has  allowed  of  diversity  in  regard  to  some  parts  of  the  Augs- 
burg Confession,  that  basis  never  was  designed  to  imply  thv 
right  to  alter,  amend,  or  curtail  the  Confession  itself. 

'III.  Resolved,  That  while  this  Synod,  resting  on  the 
Word  of  God  as  the  sole  authority  in  matters  of  faith,  on  its 
infallible  warrant  rejects  the  Romish  doctrine  of  the  real  pres- 
ence or  Transubstantiation,  and  with  it  the  doctrine  of  Consub- 
stantiation;  rejects  the  Mass,  and  all  ceremonies  distinctive 
of  the  Mass;  denies  any  power  in  the  Sacraments  as  an  opus 
operatum,  or  that  the  blessings  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper  can  be  received  without  faith;  rejects  Auricular  Con- 
fession, and  priestly  absolution ;  holds  that  there  is  no  priest- 
hood on  earth  except  that  6t  all  believers,  and  that  God  only  can 
forgive  sins;  and  maintains  the  sacred  obligation  of  the  Lord's 
day;  and  while  we  would  with  our  whole  heart  reject  any  part 
of  any  confession  which  taught  doctrines  in  conflict  with  our 
testimony,  nevertheless  before  God  and  His  Church,  we  declare 
that  in  our  judgment  the  Augsburg  Confession,  properly  inter- 
preted, is  in  perfect  consistence  with  this  our  testimony,  and 
with  Holy  Scripture  as  regards  the  errors  specified. 

'IV.  Resolved,  That  while  we  do  not  wish  to  conceal  the 
fact  that  some  parts  of  the  doctrine  of  our  Confession  in  regard 
to  the  Sacraments  are  received  in  different  degrees  by  different 
brethren,  yet  that  even  in  these  points  wherein  we  as  brethren  in 
Christ  agree  to  differ  till  the  Holy  Ghost  shall  make  us  see  eye 
to  eye,  the  differences  are  not  such  as  to  destroy  the  foundation 
of  faith,  our  unity  in  labor,  our  mutual  confidence  and  our 
tender  love. 

'V.  Resolved,  That  now,  as  we  have  ever  done,  we  regard 
the  Augsburg  Confession  lovingly  and  reverently  as  the  'good 
confession'  of  our  fathers,  witnessed  before  heaven,  earth  and 
hell. 

'VI.  Resolved,  That  if  we  have  indulged  harsh  thoughts 
and  groundless  suspicions,  if  we  have  without  reason  criminated 
and  recriminated,  we  here  humbly  confess  our  fault  before  our 
adorable  Redeemer,  beseeching  pardon  of  Him  and  of  each 
other,  and  covenant  anew  with  Him  and  with  each  other  to 
know-nothing  among  men  but  Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified, 


338  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

acknowledging  Him  as  our  only  Master,  and  regarding  all  who 
are  in  the  living  unity  of  faith  with  Him,  as  brethren. 

'VII.  Resolved,  That  we  will  resist  all  efforts  to  sow  dis- 
sension among  us  on  the  ground  of. minor  differences,  all  efforts 
en  the  one  hand  to  impair  the  purity  of  the  '  faith  once  delivered 
to  the  saints,'  and  that  with  new  ardor  we  will  devote  ourselves 
to  the  work  of  the  Gospel,  to  repairing  the  waste  places  of 
Zion,  to  building  up  one  another  in  holiness,  and  in  pointing  a 
lost  world  to  the  'Lamb  of  God.'  This  agreement  with  each 
other  is  made  in  singleness  of  heart,  without  personal  implica- 
tion, duplicity  of  meaning,  or  mental  reservation,  and  we  appeal 
to  Him  before  whose  judgment  bar  we  shall  stand,  and  through 
whose  grace  alone  we  have  hope  of  heaven'." 

Dr.  Passavant's  good  mother  w^as  greatly  grieved  by  some 
of  his  editorials  and  wrote  him  one  of  her  characteristic  cau- 
tions. His  reply  is  so  kind  and  so  expressive  of  his  change  in 
views  and  sentiment  that  we  cannot  forbear  giving  it  almost 
entire : 

"No  one  but  myself  could  be  aware  of  all  the  facts  in  the 
case,  for  I  alone  have  the  documents  in  my  hands.  The  course 
of  duplicity  and  double  dealing  which  was  being  carried  on 
under  the  name  of  'spiritual'  religion,  'revivals,'  etc.,  was 
beneath  all  criticism,  and  had  I  not  put  a  stpp  to  it  as  I  did,  not 
only  would  the  Missionary  have  gone  down  but  the  most  precious 
interests  of  religion  would  have  suffered.  You  would  be  sur- 
prised to  read  the  letters  which  I  receive  from  reasonable  and 
thinking  men  on  both  sides.  Not  from  the  'old  Lutherans,'  as 
you  suggest,  for  not  six  of  them  take  the  paper;  but  from 
leading  members  of  the  Synods  belonging  to  the  General  Synod. 
In  this  whole  matter  I  have  'done  nothing  through  strife  or 
vain-glory.'  Had  it  not  been  for  me,  Anspach  would  have  sold 
his  third  to  Kurtz,  ^o  disgusted  and  wearied  out  was  he  with 
the  machinations  of  that  man ;  and  yet  now  he  with  one  breath 
upholds  Kurtz's  grievous  wrong  and  with  the  next  makes  prom- 
ises to  the  friends  of  the  Missionary  that  if  they  but  throw  their 
influence  in  favor  of  the  Observer,  all  will  be  made  right !  I 
was  weary  of  such  disgraceful  work  and  put  a  stop  to  -it.  Now 
they  are  so  much  occupied  with  the  revival  movement  that  they 
have  no  time  to  clear  their  own  characters  of  the  charge  of 
double  dealing!  Be  it  so.  Our  men  now  know  where  they 
stand,  and  they  quietly  let  them  go! 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH  339 

"You  refer,  dearest  mother,  to  my  former  position,  and 
say  that  you  'gloried'  in  the  revivals  which  I  enjoyed  in  the 
first  years  of  my  ministry.  But  certainly  you  forget  that  your 
letters  were  full  of  the  most  excellent  counsels  and  warnings 
not  to  mistake  outward  manifestations  of  feeling  for  true  re- 
pentance and  faith  in  Jesus. 

"Influenced,  however,  as  I  was  at  that  time  by  Dr.  K.  and 
the  Methodistic  theology  which  I  had  studied  at  Gettysburg,  I 
disregarded  most  of  those  counsels.  An  experience  of  some  fif- 
teen years  in  the  ministry  has  convinced  me  that  you  were  then 
right  and  I  was  wrong,  and  besides,  I  cannot  possibly  close  my 
eyes  to  facts  which  I  see  every  day,  that  the  revival  system  of 
the  Observer  exhausts  the  soil  of  the  Church,  'like  raising  to- 
bacco does  the  soil  of  Virginia.'  I  am  as  much  the  friend  of 
genuine  revivals  as  I  ever  was,  and  even  at  this  very  time  there 
is  a  delightful  religious  interest  in  my  church  at  Rochester,  but 
for  the  bench- work  and  religious  clap-trap  with  which  Kurtz's 
system  is  connected,  I  have  nothing  but  distrust  and  execration. 
And  the  reason  of  this  is  because  I  know  it,  and  of  the  men 
who  fill  that  paper  with  their  lucubrations  on  this  subject,  no 
less  than  fourteen  have  already,  within  a  few  years  been  ex- 
pelled from  the  ministry  for  cheating,  adultery  and  other  dread- 
ful crimes.  All  my  present  ideas  of  religion  are  in  open  antag- 
onism to  this  system. 

"But  enough.  I  have  said  this  much  only  to  explain  my 
position  and  to  show  that  I  occupy  no  new  ground,  but  precisely 
the  ground  of  the  holiest  men  in  the  purest  ages  of  our  Church, 
to  whose  doctrines  and  usages  I  am  more  attached,  the  more  my 
mind,  through  God's  mercy,  throws  off  the  unhealthy  influences 
which  I  contracted  under  the  teachings  of  Drs,  Schmucker  and 
Kurtz." 

Dr.  Passavant  loved  his  Church  dearly;  whatever  hurt  his 
Church,  hurt  him.  Through  difficulties  and  doubts  and  deep 
investigations  and  heart-searchings  he  had  been  led  to  the  firm 
conviction  that  the  truths  which  Luther  had  rediscovered  and 
experienced  and  preached,  the  truths  which  had  made  the  Refor- 
mation invincible,  which  reformers  and  theologians  had  embod- 
ied in  the  evangelical  creeds  and  catechisms,  which  had  blessed 
the  German  and  Scandinavian  nations  and  people  in  proportion 
as  they  accepted  and  lived  them,  that  these  same  old  Scriptural 


340  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

truths  were  needed  in  our  land  and  age.  Not  for  love  of  con- 
troversy but  for  love  of  truth,  was  this  peace-loving  man  moved 
^o  contend  so  earnestly  for  that  faith  which  he  was  convinced 
had  been  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

Of  the  effect  upon  the  ministry  of  the  uncertain  and  union- 
istic  teaching  in  Gettysburg  and  through  the  Observer  he  writes: 

' '  The  years  are  not  long  gone  since  it  was  no  unusual  thing 
for  our  ministers  to  forsake  us,  with  no  very  urgent  reason  real 
or  pretended,  moving  them  thereto.  The  fact  is,  our  Church  was 
so  utterly  dissolved  in  the  Avhite  heat  of  universal  philanthropy 
that  it  ran  into  any  mold  that  offere<J,  sometimes  into  andirons 
and  sometimes  into  solid  pigs.  A  paper  w^hich  is  not  ashamed  to 
bear  the  name  of  our  Church  maintained  that  the  Lutheran 
doctrines  did  not  differ  in  any  important  respects  from  those 
of  Methodism.  This  position  was  indeed  taken  to  make  easy 
the  transfer  of  others  to  us,  and  did  some  work  in  that  way.  But 
the  principle  worked  in  both  directions,  'with  perfect  loose- 
ness. ' 

« 

"Our  young  men,  drilled  into  the  idea  that  nothing  could 
be  fundamental  that  was  doubted  by  the  sects  among  them, 
carried  out  the  conclusion  to  a  still  more  logical  extreme,  that 
nothing  was  fundamental,  even  if  the  sects  did  not  doubt  it. 
Therefore  their  church  connection,  as  it  involved  no  principle, 
might  be  regulated  by  convenience  or  self-interest.  These  im- 
pressions made  us  some  sore  losses  and  gave  us  some  sad  gains. 
Some  of  our  best  men  left  us,  protesting  then,  and  protesting 
still,  that  they  remain  as  good  Lutherans  out  of  our  connection 
{IS  in  it.  And  they  were  right,  except  in  their  phrase;  they 
meant  that  they  were  no  more  Lutheran  in  our  Church  than 
they  are,  since  they  went  out  of  it.  Of  course,  the  same  kind 
oi'  view  sometimes  brought  men  into  our  Church,  and  among 
them  were  good  and  true  men,  who  have  shown  more  love  and 
loyalty  to  it  than  it  had  the  right  to  demand,  on  the  theory  on 
which  it  received  them.  But  on  the  whole  we  have  been  great 
losers.  Some  of  the  men  we  have  lost  lacked  nothing  for  the 
highest  efficiency  in  our  Church  except  a  deep  conviction  that 
she  is  grounded  not  only  in  her  Protestant  doctrines  but  in  her 
distinct  faith  on  God's  Word.  We  can  scarcely  blame  them  that 
they  had  not  this  conviction,  for  it  was  hard  to  find  it ;  and  the 
few  who  held  it  were  under  the  ban  of  deep  and  general  preju- 
dice.   Truth  has  had  to  find  its  way  in  our  Church,  and  part  of 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  341 

its  way  has  been  fought;  but  there  are  some  who  ought  to  bear 
the  scars  of  the  battle,  whose  energies  have  been  spent  in  other 
fields  and  whose  names,  when  the  record  of  this  era  of  our 
Church  is  made  up,  will  not  be  found  where  their  birth  and 
early  attachments  once  gave  promise  that  they  would  be  en- 
rolled." 

On  the  state  of  the  Church  in  1863  we  find  this  short 
editorial : 

"We  glean  from  our  correspondence  some  illustrations  of 
the  tendencies  in  parts  of  our  Church  which  ought  to  arouse 
every  man  who  loves  the  truth : 

"1.  'One  of  our  theological  students  remarked  in  refer- 
ence to  the  Book  of  Concord,  that  no  minister  ought  to  give  that 
book  a  place  in  his  library.' 

"2.  'One  graduated  and  refused  to  study  theology,  saying 
that  he  wanted  to  be  a  practical  preacher,  and  not  one  of  these 
studied  metaphysical  preachers.  He  has  been  in  the  ministry 
two  years,  and  recently  resigned  his  second  charge.' 

"3.  'One  of  our  ministers,  when  he  was  urged  to  take  the 
Sunday  School  Herald,  said  that  they  did  take  a  Sunday  School 
paper,  but  he  did  not  know  what  paper  it  was.' 

"4.  'At  a  teachers'  meeting  in  one  of  our  largest  and 
most  influential  congregations  the  Lutheran  Sunday  School 
Herald  was  proposed  but  they  came  to  the  sober  conclusion  that 
it  was  sectarian.  (Every  one  of  the  teachers  was  a  nominal 
Lutheran. ) ' 

"5.  '  There'  are  four  contiguous  charges  known  to  one  of 
our  correspondents  where  they  have  Sunday  Schools  and  Sun- 
day School  papers,  but  not  the  Lutheran  Sunday  School  Her- 
ald.' 

"6.  'In  one  of  our  congregations  the  Catechism  had  not 
been  mentioned  by  its  pastor  to  the  people  for  three  years  and 
a  half.  No  wonder  that  one  of  our  ministers  took  the  liberty 
to  say:    I  never  thought  that  that  church  had  any  stability.' 

"7.  'In  a  certain  charge  the  Methodist  Christliche  Apolo- 
gde  had  at  one  time  among  Lutherans  about  twenty  subscribers 
for  three  or  four  years.  There  are  now  some  eight  who  take 
it.'  " 

In  September,  1861,  the  Lutheran  Association  for  News- 
paper and  Periodical  Publication,  which  published  The  Luth- 


342  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

eran  in  Philadelphia,  made  overtures  to  merge  The  Lutheran 
and  the  Missionary  into  one  paper.  To  this  Dr.  Passavant  was 
opposed  at  first.  But  after  all,  he  had  the  strength  of  one  man 
only.  He  felt  himself  in  danger  of  breaking  under  his  many 
burdens.  His  Institutional  work  was  growing,  and  he  was 
intensely  interested  in  the  bodily  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
soldiers.  All  this  made  him  think  more  favorably  of  the  pro- 
posal. Then,  also,  the  thought  that  a  merging  of  the  two  papers 
would  largely  increase  the  circulation  of  the  Missionary,  had  its 
weight.  He  went  to  Philadelphia  and  had  a  consultation  with 
.  the  officers  of  the  Association,  but  no  understanding  was  reached 
at  this  interview.  An  offer  was  also  made  to  get  the  Observer 
into  the  union  of  the  papers.  But  this  failed  because  the 
Baltimore  radicals  were  afraid  of  the  Philadelphia  conserva- 
tives. After  further  negotiations.  Dr.  Seiss  wrote  Dr.  Passa- 
vant the  final  result  of  the  Executive  Committee's  deliberation: 

"As  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Lutheran 
Association  for  Newspaper  and  Periodical  Publication,  I  have 
been  directed  to  inform  you  officially  that  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  said  Association,  held  on  the  seventeenth 
inst..  Rev.  C.  P.  Krauth,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  was  elected  the 
'General  Editor'  of  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary,  and  yourself 
'co-editor'  of  the  same  according  to  the  terms  and  conditions 
agreed  upon,  and  on  record  of  the  archives  of  the  Association. 

"At  the  same  time,  also,  the  following  among  the  by-laws 
was  passed,  that  'the  general  editor,  or  editors,  of  the  publica- 
tions issued  by  this  Association,  before  entering  upon  the  duties 
of  his  or  their  office,  shall  assure  the  Executive  Committee  of  his 
or  their  willingness  to  conform  to  the  requirements  of  the  tenth 
article  of  the  Constitution.' 

"It  was  at  the  same  time  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  publi- 
cation of  The  Lutheran  and  Missionary  as  soon  as  possible,  say 
on  the  day  of  the  Festival  of  the  Reformation,  that  the  size  of 
the  paper  shall  be  that  of  the  American  Presbyterian  or  The 
Christian  Instructor,  which  is  about  four  columns  larger  than 
the  Lutheran  Observer,  the  price  to  be  one  dollar  and  fifty 
cents  in  advance  and  two  dollars  at  the  end  of  three  months; 
also  that  subsribers  to  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  be  carried 
v/ithout  additional  charge  for  the  unexpired  time  for  which 
they  have  paid. 

"We  hope  that  all  this  will  meet  your  approval.     Upon 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  343 

two  points  you  will  see  that  it  will  be  necessary  for  us  to  have 
your  formal  answer,  first  as  regards  the  aeceptableness  of  Dr, 
Krauth  as  General  Editor  and  your  concurrence  in  his  appoint- 
ment; and,  second,  as  to  your  agreement  with  the  conditions 
specified  in  the  by-law  quoted  above.  Will  you  favor  the  com- 
mittee with  an  early  reply  upon  these  points?" 

While  Dr.  Passavant  accepted  the  proposal  of  the  Associa- 
tion he  was  not  altogether  satisfied  and  went  to  Philadelphia 
again  for  final  arrangements.     To  his  mother  he  writes: 

"My  stay  in  Philadelphia  was  considerably  prolonged  as  I 
had  both  weeks'  editorials  to  write.  I  was  very  careful  in  not 
committing  myself  to  Mr.  Krauth,  with  whom  I  apprehend  no 
difficulty.  But  the  business  agent  is  not  a  pleasant  man  to  me. 
His  course  in  getting  the  great  heading  for  the  Lutheran  was 
intolerable  and  unjust.  But  I  am  so  glad  that  at  least  some  of 
the  endless  cares  of  the  paper  are  off  my  shoulders,  and  that  I 
still  have  an  organ  in  which  to  appear  for  all  useful  purposes, 
that  I  made  up  my  mind  to  submit  to  some  little  inconveniences. 
How  it  will  succeed,  remains  to  be  seen.  I,  however,  hope  for 
tiie  best.  Mr.  Krauth  will  give  the  paper  his  undivided  time 
and  the  stimulus  of  such  an  able  writer  on  the  paper  will  do 
me  no  harm.  I  need  something  of  this  kind  to  stir  up  my 
sluggish  soul  amid  the  material  duties  of  my  vocation."- 

Here  is  his  mother's  criticism  on  the  first  issues  of  the  new 
paper : 

"You  do  not  allude  by  a  single  word,  dear  William,  to  your 
editorial  concerns,  which  by  the  subscribers  not  being  acknowl- 
edged is  shrouded  in  mystery  to  those  who  take  an  interest  in  its 
progress.  I  for  one,  (who  belong  to  the  class  of  ignoramuses), 
get  sometimes  awed  by  the  amount  of  theological  learning  the 
Lutheran  displays,  and  think  it  almost  enough  to  frighten  any 
poor  man  from  the  ministry  if  it  is  necessary  to  have  perused 
all  the  works  there  recommended.  But  I  fully  appreciate  the 
Lutheran's  delightful  style  and  graceful  handling  of  more  con- 
genial subjects.  His  acknowledgments  to  the  ladies  who  gave 
him  the  carpet  and  lounge,  his  'conscientious  grocer'  who  throws 
in  the  stems  of  the  raisins,  and  in  the  last  paper  his  tour  to 
Chambersburg,  was  charming,  and  his  selections  on  the  fourth 
page  are  always  very  appropriate  and  interesting." 


•    344  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

The  General  Synod  was  anything  but  a  homogeneous  body. 
It  embraced  two  widely  divergent  parties.  The  one  was  loyally 
Lutheran,  a/ccepting  the  Aug;sburg  Confession  in  the  sense 
v/hich  it  was  intended  to  convey  by  its  author  and  first  con- 
fessors; the  other  was  unwilling  heartily  to  accept  those  dis- 
tinctive doctrines  which  divide  the  Lutheran  Church  from  the 
rest  of  Protestantism.  The  Lutheran  and  Missionary  was  set 
first  for  the  defence  of  the  doctrine  of  the  Confessions  and, 
secondly  for  the  defence  of  the  General  Synod  in  so  far  as  it 
was  true  to  its  own  doctrinal  basis.  The  party  that  did  not  and 
would  not  understand,  much  less  accept,  the  doctrines,  was  bit- 
ter, hostile  and  aggressive.  Both  parties  claimed  to  be  loyal  to 
Ihe  General  Synod.  Dr.  Passavant  thought  that  it  was  high 
time  for  his  party  to  speak  out  and  to  declare  officially  and  once 
for  all  what  its  doctrinal  basis  meant.  In  the  paper  for  May 
first  he  writes: 

"Something  Greatly  Needed.  The  time  has,  in  our  judg- 
ment, been  reached  when  our  General  Synod,  coming,  in  her 
calm  dignity,  into  the  midst  of  disputes,  should  settle,  for  the 
Church  in  this  country,  the  questions  of  fact  which  have  been 
raised  in  regard  to  the  great  standard  of  our  Church,  the 
Augsburg  Confession.  With  that  Confession  the  character  of 
the  Church  herself  stands  or  falls,  as  surely  as  does  that  of  our 
land  with  the  protection  or  violation  of  her  flag,  the  maintenance 
or  overthrow  of  her  union.  The  masses  of  our  people  must  rest 
their  convictions  as  to  matters  of  fact  in  the  history  and  doc- 
trines of  our  Church  very  greatly  on  the  decisions  of  their 
teachers,  and  in  no  form  could  a  statement  of  the  truth  in  the 
case  reach  them  so  effectively  as  in  a  declaration  on  the  part  of 
our  General  Synod.  The  people  have  been  led  to  believe  that 
the  Lutheran  Church  has  taught,  in  the  Augsburg  Confession, 
unscriptural  doctrines  in  regard  to  Baptism,  the  Lord's  Supper, 
Confession,  the  Lord's  Day  and  the  Mass.  The  friends  of  the 
Confession  assert  that,  in  regard  to  every  one  of  these  points 
erroneous  statements  have  been  made ;  that  the  alleged  doctrine 
of  the  Confession  in  regard  to  them  is,  in  important  respects, 
rot  its  doctrine;  and  that  the  doctrines  it  does  teach  upon  all 
these  points  are  Scriptural.  Now,  between  these  questions  there 
is  this  distinction:  that  the  first  is  a  question  touching  facts; 
the  second  is  a  question  concerning  truths.     A  man  may  ac- 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  345 

knowledge,  with  the  first  position,  that  the  facts  have  been  mis- 
stated, and  yet  not  be  fully  persuaded  in  regard  to  the  second. 
This  difference  does  not  actually  exist.  There  are  those  in  our 
General  Synod  who  are  not  prepared  to  accept  certain  doctrines 
as  they  are  set  forth  in  the  Confession,  who  are,  nevertheless, 
heartily  persuaded  that  those  very  doctrines  have  been  grossly 
Djisunderstood.  We  do  not  believe  that  the  General  Synod  is 
prepared  now  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  second  series 
of  questions;  but  we  do  believe  that  it  might  and  should  settle 
the  first,  that  is,  as  to  what  is  taught  in  our  Confession.  Our 
people  say:  One  writer  tells  us  this;  another,  that  as  to  what 
is  taught  in  our  Confession,  One  says  it  has  this  meaning; 
another  puts  a  wholly  different  sense  on  it ;  now  let  our  General 
Synod  give  us  a  simple,  clear  statement  of  the  fact.  It  is 
indispensable  for  us,  before  we  can  tell  whether  we  receive  the 
doctrines  of  our  Church,  that  we  should  know  what  they  are. 
Now,  let  us  have  the  light  we  need.  If  it  were  possible,  as  we 
believe  it  is,  for  our  General  Synod  to  set  forth  a  statement  of 
facts,  to  which  a  decided  majority  of  its  members  should  assent, 
the  effect  would  be  good;  for  the  harmony  of  the  Church,  the 
heartier  love  of  the  brethren,  the  removal  of  scandal  would  be 
immeasurable.  How  profitable  the  discussion  itself  would  be; 
how  it  would  remove  misapprehensions  and  curb  extremes  and 
prepare  the  Church  for  a  more  perfect  unity  would  soon  be 
apparent.  Let  the  question  be  discussed.  The  friends  of  the 
Confession  desire  it;  and  those  who  have  found  fault  with  it 
ought  to  desire  an  opportunity  of  establishing  the  propriety  of 
their  strictures,  and  both  should  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  of 
correcting  their  mistakes,  if  they  have  made  them,  or  of  con- 
firming the  truth,  if  they  have  it." 

So  again  in  the  number  for  July  10 : 

"Where  is  the  difficulty?  Not  with  the  open  enemies  of  the 
truth.  We  know  them,  we  know  they  hate  the  truth  because 
it  is  the  truth,  and  no  softening  or  palliating  of  it  will  make 
it  acceptable.  So  far  as  they  are  concerned,  our  simple  way  is 
to  utter  the  truth  as  clearly  and  as  pointedly  as  possible.  The 
more  what  we  say  hurts  and  arouses  them,  the  more  sure  we  are 
that  it  is  the  truth,  and  has  been  set  forth  in  the  right  way. 

"Where  is  the  difficulty?  Not  with  the  open  friends  of  the 
truth.     They  know  its  preciousness,  and  for  it  are  willing  to 


346  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

contend,  and,  if  need  be,  to  lay  down  their  lives.  They  know 
low  it  is  hated,  how  fierce  is  the  war  made  upon  them,  how 
insidious  the  conspiracies  and  schemes  of  those  who  plot  against 
it ;  and  they  feel  that  its  friends  must  be  earnest,  untiring,  and 
uncompromising  in  their  advocacy  of  it.  They  want  unmistak- 
jible  utterances,  a  trumpet  with  no  uncertain  sound. 

"Where  is  the  diiBculty?  It  is  with  the  secret  enemies  of 
truth.  They  wish  to  be  thought  on  its  side,  though  they  hate  it. 
They  disguise  their  opposition  to  its  essence  under  pretence  of 
disliking  the  mode  of  its  utterance.  But  phrase  it  as  you  may, 
so  long  as  the  phrase  embodies  the  truth  they  will  find  fault 
with  it. 

' '  Where  is  the  diificulty  ?  It  is  with  those  who  don 't  know 
where  they  stand,  or  are  not  willing  that  others  should  know. 
They  hide  themselves  in  ambiguities  and  compromises  and  wish 
others  to  do  so.  Earnestness  is  with  them  the  unpardonable  sin, 
and  candor  the  most  shocking  of  indiscretions. 

"Where  is  the  difficulty?  W^ith  the  timid  friends  of  truth. 
They  love  it,  but  they  are  easily  frightened.  They  are  overcome 
bj''  the  Chinese  tactics,  and  are  howled  and  bellowed  into  flight. 
They  judge  of  the  strength  of  the  enemies  of  truth  by  the  faces 
they  make.  They  are  so  overcome  with  the  dismal  howling  of 
Cerberus  that  they  beseech  you  to  get  off  his  tail  and  give  him 
a  sop.  They  are  very  sad  at  the  thought  that  truth  must  en- 
counter such  rancorous  falsehoods,  such  wicked  appeals  to  ignor- 
ance and  prejudice.  They  are  so  sad  and  so  desirous  of  peace 
that  they  are  willing  to  secure  it,  not  indeed  by  giving  up  the 
truth— they  love  it  too  much  for  that— but  by  keeping  quiet 
about  it." 

Here  are  his  wishes  for  the  General  Synod  about  to  convene 
in  York,  in  May,  1864 : 

^^THE   GENERAL  SYNOD— PI  A   DESIDERIA. 

"This  day.  May  5,  our  General  Synod  opens  its  sessions 
at  York.  What  will  be  proposed  in  it  and  still  more  what  will 
be  done  in  it,  is  largely  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  There  aie 
v/ishes  which  we  deeply  cherish  in  regard  to  it  and  towards 
whose  consummation  w^e  devoutly  desire  to  see  some  movement. 
As  a  friend  of  the  General  Synod  we  would  desire: 

"I.  That  its  .claim  to  the  name  Evangelical  Lutheran 
should  be  put  beyond  all  cavil.     Its  open  enemies  say  it  is  not 


8T0BM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  347 

an  Evangelical  Lutheran  body.  Some,  who  pretend  to  be  its 
friends,  but  who  are  its  most  dangerous  enemies,  say  that  if 
we  take  the  name  in  its  historical  sense  and  define  it  as  it 
was  defined  for  ages,  the  General  Synod  is  not  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran;  but  it  is  American  Lutheran.  We  wish  that  the 
statement  of  both  these  classes  of  enemies  could  be  hushed  for- 
ever; or  that,  if  they  are  well  grounded,  the  General  Synod 
should  openly  and  unmistakably  acknowledge  their  truthfulness 
with  that  candor  which  is  the  first  essential  in  coming  to  a  true 
understanding  and  real  unity. 

"11.  That  the  General  Synod  should  represent  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States.  Now  an  im- 
mense proportion  of  our  Church,  not  only  pure  in  the  Faith  but 
active  in  good  work,  stands  aloof  from  it.  It  is  doubtful  whether 
a  majority  of  our  Communion  is  embraced  in  the  General 
Synod. 

"III.  That  the  principles  on  which  our  fathers  first  de- 
sired the  General  Synod  to  stand  were  acknowledged  and  em- 
bodied in  its  Constitution ;  the  principles  which  would  have 
given  it  governmental  authority  are  carefully  restricted  and 
mild,  yet  real. 

"IV.  That  the  representation  in  our  General  Synod  were 
equalized  and  reduced  so  that  it  should  fairly  represent  the 
portions  of  the  Church  embraced  in  it. 

"V.  That  the  General  Synod  have  sole  authority  to  set 
forth : 

"1.     One  and  the  same  Catechism,  in  the  various  languages 
used  among  us,  for  official  use  in  the  Church. 
'2.     One  and  the  same  Liturgy. 
'3.     One  and  the  same  collection  of  hymns. 

"4.  One  and  the  same  Confession  of  Faith,  to  wit:  the 
Augsburg  Confession,  unchanged  and  unabridged. 

"VI.  That  our  General  Sjmod  should  declare  that  the 
adoption  of  the  Definite  Platform,  or  any  other  substitute  for 
the  Augsburg  Confession,  is  inconsistent  with  the  proper  force 
of  the  terms  of  admission  stated  in  its  Constitution,  and  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  all  Synods  which  have  adopted  such  platforms 
0^  substitutes  to  set  them  aside. 

"Yll.  As  a  most  necessary  means  to  avoid  schism  among 
as,  that  our  General  Synod  should  declare  that  the  open  assail- 


<<  I 


348  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

ing  of  the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Augsburg  Confession  and  in 
the  Catechism  of  Luther  set  forth  by  its  own  authority  is  in- 
consistent with  the  Lutheran  name  and  with  the  unity  and  peace 
of  the   Church. 

"Let  there  be  pure  love  for  each  other  and  just  forbear- 
ance where  there  are  conscientious  differences,  but  let  there  be 
also  a  deep  love  for  the  truth  and  fraternal  plainness  of  speech. 
Men  cannot  build  together  unless  they  are  agreed  as  to  what 
shall  be  built.  We,  who  are  in  our  inmost  souls  convinced  that 
the  faith  of  our  Church  in  whole  and  in  each  of  its  parts  is  the 
very  truth  of  God's  Word,  cannot  believe  in  the  hearty  sympathy 
and  co-working  of  those  who  disregard  the  Faith  as  unscriptural, 
Romanizing  and  soul-destroying.  We  ask,  as  a  simple  matter  of 
justice,  as  a  matter  of  cogent  necessity,  involving  the  very 
peace  and  life  of  the  Church,  that  men  who  bear  the  same  hal- 
lowed name  with  us  shall  cease  to  assail  the  Faith,  apart  from 
which  that  name  as  a  Church  name  is  deceitful  and  delusive. 
With  the  brethren  not  perfectly  one  with  us,  but  who  treat  the 
confessed  faith  of  our  Church  justly,  fairly  and  reverently,  we 
can  heartily  labor,  looking  for  and  praying  for  that  time,  surely 
coming,  when  God  shall  bring  us  to  see  eye  to  eye,  when  He 
shall  have  ripened  us  for  an  unequivocal  confessing  together  of 
the  whole  truth.  But  with  those  who  regard  the  looseness 
which  rationalism  has  brought  into  our  Church  as  normal,  a 
thing  to  be  perpetuated  as  good  in  itself,  with  these  all  unity 
is  impossible ;  and  the  sooner  the  attempt  to  keep  it  up  is  aban- 
doned,  the  better." 

That  he  was  very  much  averse  to  a  disruption  of  the  General 
Synod  at  this  time,  and  was  ready  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  avert 
it,  is  clear  from  this  brief  note  to  Bassler: 

"I  have  been  importuned  by  brethren  whose  wishes  I  can- 
not disregard  to  go  on  to  the  Penasylvania  Synod  and  aid,  if 
possible,  in  averting  the  secession  of  that  body  from  the  General 
Synod.  Though  exceedingly  basy  and  without  the  least  desire 
for  such  a  fatiguing  trip,  yet  in  view  of  all  the  facts  in  the  case 
and  the  absence  of  some  of  the  brethren  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Synod,  I  will  leave,  D.  v.,  at  four  o'clock  this  afternoon,  hoping 
to  be  back  next  Tuesday.  Nothing  but  the  peace  of  JeriLsalem 
could  induce  me  to  go  away  now,  with  so  many  matters  of  im- 
portance in  view.     But  this  dread  of  division  and  all  its  conse- 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  349 

quent  miseries  and  weaknesses  urges  me  to  say  a  word  for  abid- 
ing in  our  place  and  testifying  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem." 

The  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  at  its  spring  convention  in 
1864,  resolved  to  establish  a  new  Theological  Seminary  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.  An  article  in  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  of 
June  30,  1864,  gives  seven  reasons  for  this  important  step.  The 
second  reason  given  is : 

"Because  it  appears  to  be  absolutely  necessary  to  have  an 
institution  whose  doctrinal  character  is  unreservedly  and  un- 
alterably based  on  all  the  Confessions  of  the  Evangelical  Luth- 
eran Church.  This  character  should  be  clearly  known  to  all 
men  and  be  beyond  dispute.  It  is  to  be  an  institution  whose 
professors  are  to  be  true  to  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  not  only  in  their  lectures  and  intercourse 
with  their  students,  but  in  their  preaching  and  in  all  their 
publications. ' ' 

The  article  closes  with  these  words:  "The  principle  on 
which  the  new  enterprise  rests  is  of  unutterable  importance,  the 

preservation    of    the    pure  faith When    error    coolly 

makes  arrangements  for  its  own  perpetuation  and  makes  the 
title  of  Lutheran  a  cloak  for  war  to  the  death  upon  Lutheranism 
itself,  it  forces  honest  men  to  cut  themselves  loose  from  all  fel- 
lowship with  it,  and  this  necessity  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania 
seems  to  regard  as  forced  upon  it." 

From  the  time  of  its  projection  and  for  several  years  for- 
ward, there  is  scarcely  a  number  of  the  Lutheran  and  Mission- 
ary which  does  not  have  one  or  more  articles  explaining,  de- 
fending and  commending  this  young  school  of  the  Prophets. 
Dr.  Passavant  was  deeply  interested  from  the  beginning  and 
Vv^ith  his  prophetic  vision  foresaw  what  an  important  work  it  was 
destined  to  do  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  Church.  He  eagerly  de- 
voted his  far-reaching  influence  and  enthusiasm  to  its  material 
and  spiritual  welfare.  This  interest  he  kept  up  until  the  day  of 
his  death.  When  he  afterwards  prayed  and  planned  for  a 
Western  Seminary,  he  did  not  lose  interest  in  the  one  in  Phila- 
delphia. He  was  broad  enough  to  know  that  there  is  room  for 
both  schools  and  that  a  Western  school  is  needed  to  do  the  work 
which  the  Eastern  cannot  do. 

In  the  spring  of  1868,  Dr.  Passavant  addressed  the  gradu- 
ating class  of  the  Philadelphia  Seminary.     His  sermon  was  a 


350  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

revelation,  an  inspiration  and  a  surprise  to  ?ome  of  the  brethren 
who  heard  him.  His  happy  way  of  combining  the  doctrinal  aad 
the  devotional,  the  theoretical  and  the  practical,  was  new.  He 
put  warmth  and  life  and  inspiration  for  service  into  dogmatics. 
His  sermons,  like  Luther's,  had  hands  and  feet.  They  would 
have  well  suited  the  old  sailor  who  wanted  sermons  'with 
harpoons  in  them.'  "While  they  were  beautiful,  tender  and 
touching  in  diction  and  delivery,  they  were  far  more  than  mere 
productions  of  beauty  to  be  admired  for  their  eloquence  and 
dramatic  effect.  To  the  writer  of  this  they  often  exemplified 
the  truth  of  the  saying  attributed  to  Cicero  in  Dialogues  of 
the  Dead:  "When  I  speak  people  say:  'How  beautifully  Cicero 
spoke  to-day;'  but  when  Demosthenes  speaks  they  say,  'Up,  let 
us  fight  Philip.'  "  Dr.  Passavant  was  a  Demosthenes  in  his 
preaching.  Of  the  impressions  made  by  his  Philadelphia  sermon 
on  the  cultured  and  critical  audience,  the  good  but  generally 
grave  and  undemonstrative  Dr.  C.  F.  Schaeffer  writes  him : 

' '  Dear  Brother  Passavant :  You  will  allow  me  to  state  in 
writing  what  my  heart  impelled  me  to  say  to  you  in  Philadel- 
phia but  which  your  departure  prevented  me  from  saying. 
When  my  family  returned  from  the  church  on  the  evening  in 
which  you  addressed  the  graduates  they  were  in  raptures  with 
your  discourse;  and  on  the  next  day  I  found  that  the  brethren 
with  whom  I  spoke  were  equally  delighted.  I  made  serious 
objection  to  all  this  when  I  heard  that  your  theme  had  been 
'Justification  by  Faith.'  I  said  that  was  Dogmatic  Theology, 
whereas  it  ought  to  have  been  something  from  Pastoral  Theology. 
I  was  afterwards  so  happy  as  to  read  your  address  in  the 
Lutheran.  And  now,  dear  brother,  I  thank  you  most  heartily 
for  the  delight,  instruction  and  comfort  which  I  received  from 
the  perusal.  'Plere  is  a  man.  Dr.  Passavant,  who  has  had 
extensive  experience  among  rich  and  poor,  old  and  young,  sick 
and  well,  believing  and  unbelieving,  and  after  such  a  widely 
diversified  experience  he  tells  us  that  after  all  the  best  and  most 
profitable  truth  is  that  we  are  justified  by  faith  in  Christ  alone. ' 
Oh,  what  a  glorious  doctrine  that  is!  But  what  charmed  me 
most  was  this,  that  in  place  of  discussing  the  subject  in  a 
theoretic  manner  you  gave  it  such  a  practical  character  and 
showed  the  students  what  its  value  is.  Nothing  could  have  been 
more  appropriate  or  of  greater  practical  utility,  and  after 
reading  the  address  I  said  what  I  have  more  than  once  said 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  351 

m  reference  to  you:  'God  bless  that  excellent  man.'  I  thank 
you  again  for  the  comfort  and  encouragement  which  the  reading 
of  the  address  gave  me  and  I  hope  and  pray  that  it  may  per- 
manently influence  the  preaching  of  the  graduates. 

"Forgive  me  for  this  effusion,  but  I  really  could  not  feel 
comfortable  until  I  had  expressed  my  thanks  for  the  happy 
effect  of  your  address  on  me.     Very  affectionately." 

From  the  sermon  as  published  in  the  Lutheran  we  quote  the 
following : 

"Permit  me^  my  young  brethren,   in  the  most   fraternal 
spirit,  to  press  upon  your  conscience  the  necessity  of  a  personal 
experience  of  this  chief  article  of  our  holy  faith.     What  you 
need  as  ministers  of  the  Word,  to  make  all  other  gifts,  graces 
and  attainments  available,  is  the  certain  consciousness  that  you 
'are  justified  freely  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.'     Your  own  personal  salvation,  by  faith  alone,  without 
the  deeds  of  the  law,  ought  to  be  to  you  a  matter  of  joyous 
sympathy.     The  sweet  words  of  the  Reformer  in  his  exposition 
of  the  Apostles'  Creed  should  be  to  you  full  of  freshness  and 
holy  calm:    'I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ,  true  God,  begotten  of 
the  Father  from  Eternity,  and  also  true  man,  born  of  the  Virgin 
Mary,  is  my  Lord.     For  He  has  redeemed  me,  a  lost  and  con- 
demned creature,  saved  and  delivered  me  from  all  sin,    Trom 
death  and  from  the  power  of  the  devil,  not  with  silver  and  gold, 
but  with  His  holy  and  precious  blood  and  His  innocent  suffer- 
ings and  death,  in  order  that  I  might  be  His,  live  under  Him  in 
His    Kingdom,    and    serve    Him    in    everlasting    righteousness, 
innocence  and  blessedness,  even  as  He  is  risen  from  the  dead  and 
lives  and  reigns  to  all  eternity.'     The  sweetness  and  power  of 
the  Gospel  is  often  found  in  its  pronouns.     The  two  words,  *my 
Lord,'  the  brief  sentence,  'hath  redeemed  me,'  are  the  principal 
things  in  this  doctrine  of  faith.     You  will  need  the  assurance 
and  support  which  they  impart  more  than  words  can  express. 
In  the  untried  path  before  you,  with  its  bodily  infirmities,  its 
spiritual   struggles,   its   agonizing   doubts,    its   paralyzing   hin- 
drances and,  above  all,  with  its  temptations  to  pride  and  world- 
liness  and  self-elevation,  'this  anchor  to  the  soul,  both  sure  and 
steadfast, '  must  be  constantly  let  down  into  the  depth  of  human 
sorrows,  that  its  flukes  may  lay  hold  of  the  rock  Christ  Jesus, 
the  only  strength  and  stay  of  the  soul. 


352  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

"There  is  something  deeply  affecting  in  the  idea  of  living 
and  laboring  in  the  ministry  without  a  clear  and  well-defined 
experience  of  this  cardinal  doctrine.  To  be  ministers  of  our 
Lord,  and  yet  not  to  know  in  whom  we  believe,  to  preach 
reconciliation  through  His  blood  and  yet  to  hang  in  doubt  be- 
tween Christ  and  the  world,  to  contend  for  the  letter  of  the 
evangelical  faith  and  yet  to  be  unblessed  with  its  spirit,  is  in- 
conceivably awful.  What  wonder  that  a  warning  of  unexam- 
pled severity  is  revealed  from  Heaven  against  all  such  unhappy 
men!  'These  things  saith  the  Amen,  the  faithful  and  true 
witness,  the  beginning  of  the  new  creation  of  jGod ;  I  know  thy 
works,  that  thou  art  neither  cold  nor  hot;  I  would  that  thou 
wert  cold  or  hot.  So  then,  because  thou  art  lukewarm,  I  will 
spue  thee  out  of  my  mouth.' 

"Let  no  one  deem  these  earnest  words  of  Jesus  uncalled 
for  in  the  sad  times  in  which  we  live.  They  have  a  significance 
of  tremendous  import  to  all  who  minister  at  His  altar.  Not  for 
tlieir  own  peace  merely,  but  for  the  highest  spiritual  needs  of 
others,  do  ministers  require  this  full  assurance  of  faith.  They 
must  be  able  to  say  with  the  apostle,  '  That  which  we  have  heard, 
which  we  have  seen  with  our  eyes,  which  we  have  looked  upon 
and  our  hands  have  handled  of  the  word  of  life,  declare  we 
unto  you,  that  ye  also  may  have  fellowship  with  us,  and  truly 
our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father  and  His  Son,  Jesus  Christ.' 
Indeed,  nothing  can  compensate  for  the  lack  of  this  conscious 
apprehension  of  the  Gospel.  Neither  learning,  nor  literature, 
nor  wisdom,  nor  oratory,  nor  eloquence,  can  make  up  for  the 
lack  of  this  great  source  and  secret  of  spiritual  power.  The 
absence  of  it  is  moral  impotence.  In  the  nature  of  the  ease, 
the  whole  tone  and  temper  of  the  ministry  becomes  relaxefl  when 
Christ  is  not  fully  apprehended  by  faith.  The  want  of  heart- 
felt reliance  upon  the  atonement  begets  a  service  listless  and 
time-serving,  outwardly  fair  but  inwardly  false  and  without 
power  for  good.  The  grasp  of  faith  once  let  go,  the  fire  of  love 
is  gone.  A  cold  and  mechanical  handling  of  the  Word  of  Life 
is  a  speedy  result.  Religious  indifference  in  our  hearers  suc- 
ceeds. Truth  feebly  preached  hardens.  The  public  conscience 
becomes  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron.  Infidelity  follows,  poisoning 
the  minds  of  intelligent  and  thoughtful  men.  Immorality  soon 
abounds.    Unnatural  sins  shock  the  public  sense.     The  ways  of 


STORM  AND  STRESS  IN  THE  CHURCH.  353 

Zion  mourn.  The  enemy  comes  in  like  a  flood  and  desolates  the 
heritage  of  God,  So  certainly  and  awfully  has  unbelief  in  the 
ministry  always  brought  demoralization  in  the  Church  and  in 
the  world." 

Nearly  twenty  years  later,  after  the  fine  new  building  for 
the  Theological  Seminary  of.  the  Missouri  Synod  was  dedicated, 
he  writes  editorially  in  the  Workman : 

"The  completing  of  the  Concordian  Seminary  and  its 
dedication  last  Sunday  are  notable  events  in  this  memorial  year. 
They  belong  not  to  one  Synod  only,  but  to  the  whole  Church  in 
the  United  States.  We  have,  therefore,  given  as  full  account 
as  possible  on  another  page,  and  feel  assured  that  it  will  be  read 
with  profound  interest.  We  have  before  us,  in  the  Anzeiger  des 
Westens,  an  advertisement  of  a  little  Academy  in  Perry  County, 
Missouri,  signed  by  C.  F.  Walther  and  four  other  young,  minis- 
ters, in  which  they,  call  the  attention  of  parents  to  this  school 
where  religion,  the  ancient  languages  and  the  German  with  all 
elementary  branches  are  taught.  This  wa-"  forty-four  years  ago, 
and  the  schoolhouse  was  a  rude  log  cabin  and  the  Fsculty  a 
single  teacher.  Out  of  this  humble  beginning  this  great  Institu- 
tion with  ample  halls  and  rooms  for  two  hundred  students  has 
grown. 

*'It  is  the  most  complete  ecclesiastical  structure  in  the 
Lutheran  Church  of  America,  and  is  a  noble  monument  to  its 
evangelical  faith.  Under  God  its  influence  on  our  common  Prot- 
estantism cannot  but  be  far-reaching,  and  the  energy  and  faith 
manifested  by  the  Synod  in  its  erection  will  powerfully  quicken 
all  other  movements  in  the  Church  elsewhere  to  increase  her 
facilities  for  the  training  up  of  the  future  ministry. ' ' 


354  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

WORK  AND  INFLUENCE  AMONG  THE  SCAN- 
DINAVIANS. 

Dr.  Passavant  had  a  deep  conviction  of  the  importance  of 
the  Church's  occupying  the  cities.  He  lamented  the  short- 
sighted policy  of  the  Church  in  the  past  and  encouraged  every 
earnest  effort  to  occupy  the  great  centers  of  population, 
especially  in  the  growing  West.  Here  is  a  reminiscent  editorial 
of  Jan.  7,  1864 : 

"An  eminent  statesman  once  contemptuously  said,  'great 
cities  are  great  sores.'  If  not  sanctified  by  the  gospel  of  Christ 
they  are  worse  than  sores  upon  the  body  politic,  they  are  vol- 
canoes within  it,  whose  smoldering  fires  need  only  a  spark  to 
explode  and  upheave  all  the  ordinances  of  law  and  the  insti- 
tution of  religion.  Cities  are  centers.  Not  merely  population, 
but  wealth,  influence,  and  the  resources  of  social,  civil  and  re- 
ligious power  are  attracted  to  them  by  an  irresistible  law.  On 
this  account,  as  well  as  to  show  forth  the  riches  of  the  Divine 
mercy,  did  Jesus  command  that  the  ministry  of  the  gospel 
should  'begin  at  Jerusalem.'  The  church  at  Jerusalem  was, 
therefore,  the  earliest  Church  of  the  Saints.  In  one  sense  it 
has  become  'the  mother  of  us  all.'  The  same  law  of  the  di- 
vine operation  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  early  history  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country.  Muhlenberg  began  his 
ministry  in  Philadelphia,  and  from  that  center  of  German 
population  and  influence  he  operated  systematically  and  with 
astonishing  success  for  over  half  a  century  over  the  land.  The 
constitution  of  the  first  church  there  became  the  constitution  of 
all  our  leading  churches,  and  one  spirit  pervaded  the  whole 
body  during  the  life-time  of  this  remarkable  man.  ■  If  we  who 
come  after  him  have,  in  a  great  measure,  lost  his  apostolic 
spirit  and  seem  no  longer  equal  to  his  great  undertakings,  we 
must  at  least  be  convinced  by  the  bitter  fruits  of  our  neglect 
that  the  course  he  pursued  by  'beginning  at  Jerusalem'  was 
eminently  scriptural  and  beneficent.  Though  much  is  already 
lost   by   the   culpable   short-sightedness   and   most   inexcusable 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  355 

neglect  for  two  thirds  of  a  century,  more  by  far  than  is  in  the 
power  of  any  mind  to  comprehend,  all  is  not  lost.  There  is  yet 
a  field  open  before  us  in  the  cities  of  our  land  for  the  forth- 
putting  of  the  most  vigorous  efforts  of  faith  and  charity. 
Among  our  foreign  nationalities  and  our  home  populations 
which  gather  in  these  great  centers,  the  Lutheran  Church  has  a 
work  to  perform  which  none  other  can  do  for  her.  Not  only  the 
cities  of  the  East,  but  the  many  populous  towns  and  cities  of 
the  West  present  the  most  inviting  fields  for  Christian  effort. 
Something  is  being  done  in  this  department  of  our  work,  but 
more,  a  hundred  times  mpre,  is  called  for  by  the  necessities  of 
the  times  and  the  multitudes  of  our  brethren  who  are  'as  sheep 
without  a  shepherd.' 

"It  cannot  but  be  encouraging  to  those  who  are  alive  to 
the  great  interest  at  stake,  to  show  from  some  illustrations  what 
may  be  done  by  a  few  earnest  men  who  have  devoted  them- 
selves to  the  welfare  of  their  countryman  in  the  cities  of  the 
West.  For  the  present,  we  will  only  furnish  a  brief  statement 
concerning  the  labors  of  one  of  them,  the  Rev.  Erland  Carlson, 
the  faithful  pastor  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  Chicago, 
and  that  merely  in  connection  with  his  pastoral  and  missionary 
labors  among  the  Swedes  of  the  Northwest.  The  statistics  given 
were  obtained  by  us  during  our  frequent  visits  to  Chicago 
during  the  past  summer  and  will  be  read  with  much  interest. 

"For  some  years  a  number  of  Swedes  resided  in  Chicago, 
and  in  the  absence  of  a  church  of  their  o^\ti,  attended  the  Nor- 
wegian church  of  Rev.  Paul  Anderson,  or  were  carried  away 
from  their  own  Communion  by  the  deception  of  Unonius. 
Touched  by  their  desolate  condition,  after  some  temporary  sup- 
plies by  Revs.  Esbjorn  and  Hasselquist,  (the  latter  of  whom 
had  shortly  before  arrived  and  settled  in  Galesburg,  Illinois, 
with  the  advance  guard  of  a  large  colony)  a  Swedish  Lutheran 
congregation  was  organized  in  Chicago  by  Rev.  Pastors  Hassel- 
quist and  Anderson  on  the  sixteenth  of  January,  1853.  The 
names  of  eighty  Swedes  were  handed  in  as  members  of  the  new 
church,  and  were  appended  to  the  call  for  a  pastor,  which  was 
sent  to  Sweden.  This  was  forwarded  by  these  brethren  to  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Fjellstedt,  then  at  Lund,  with  power  to  make  the  selec- 
tion of  a  minister  who  would  be  suitable  for  the  place.  Dr. 
Fjellstedt  at  once  sent  the  call  of  the  Chicago  church  to  the  Rev. 
Erland  Carlson,  who  had  already  been  in  the  ministry  for  sever- 
al years  in  the  Diocese  of  Wexio,  in  Sweden,  and  was  laboring 


356  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

with  much  acceptance  to  his  people.  The  final  result  cf  this  unex- 
pected invitation  from  the  New  World  was  its  acceptance  by- 
Pastor  Carlson  and  his  arrival  in  Chicago  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  August,  1853.  Instead  of  a  membership  of  eighty 
to  welcome  him  on  his  arrival,  only  eight  families,  consisting 
of  man  and  wife,  and  twenty  unmarried  persons,  could  be 
found  of  those  who  had  signed  the  call.  More  than  one  half 
of  the  original  signers  had  either  moved  away  or  now  remained 
aloof  from  the  congregation.  With  these  thirty-six  members 
brother  Carlson  commenced  his  ministry,  nearly  all  of  whom 
were  miserably  poor  and  were  compelled  to  remain  and  labor 
in  the  city  because  they  had  not  means  to  go  farther  into  the 
country.  At  the  first  communion,  Oct.  10,  1853,  other  addi- 
tional members  were  added  to  the  church,  thus  increasing  the 
number  to  forty  four.  Since  that  time  to  the  present  larger 
or  smaller  accessions  have  been  made  at  every  communion.  At 
the  late  meeting  of  the  Augustana  Synod,  the  membership  re- 
ported contained  350  communicants,  of  whom  forty  three  had 
been  received  by  letter  and  twelve  by  confirmation  during  the 
past  year.  In  addition  to  this  large  number,  no  less  than  360 
other  communicants  had  been  connected  with  the  church  since 
its  organization  ten  years  ago,  315  of  whom  have  been  dis- 
missed by  letter  to  other  Lutheran  churches  over  the  West,  and 
twenty-seven  of  whom  had  died,  while  seven  were  excommuni- 
cated, and  eleven  abandoned  our  communion.  If  the  very  large 
number  of  persons  who  for  a  time  attended  the  services  of  the 
church  and  did  not  unite  with  the  congregation  but  have  re- 
moved from  Chicago  to  various  places  in  the  West,  is  consid- 
ered, it  will  be  seen  that  few  churches  in  our  whole  connection 
have  had  such  a  steady  growth  or  been  more  largely  instru- 
mental in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  thousands  of  immigrants. 
Of  the  350  members  who  have  been  dismissed  to  other  congre- 
gations it  may  be  safely  said  that  some  are  found  in  almost 
every  Swedish  church  in  the  west.  The  Chicago  church  has 
therefore  not  only  been  an  in  gatherer  but  a  feeder  to  the 
country  churches,  and  hundreds  of  other  immigrants  who 
heard  the  gospel  in  its  humble  sanctuary  in  their  temporary 
residence  in  the  city  are  now  zealous  members  in  the  places 
where  they  have  made  their  homes.  We  might  yet  mention, 
in  this  connection,  that  during  the  last  five  months  sixty-seven 
new  members  have  been  added  to  the  parent  church  and  that 
during  the  same  time  seventeen  have  been  dismissed  to  congre- 


WORK  AMONG   TEE  SCANDINAVIANS.  357 

gations  in  the  country.     So  wonderfully  has  the  Word  of  the 

Lord  grown  and  prevailed  during  the  past  ten  years ! 

"The  amount  of  good  which  has  been  accomplished  through 
the  establishment  of  this  church  cannot  be  estimated.  Thousands 
upon  thousands  of  Swedish  immigrants  have  passed  through 
Chicago  and  have  received  counsel,  assistance,  and  spiritual  di- 
rection for  their  new  and  untried  American  life.  Many  of  these 
have  been  fed  and  lodged  by  the  pastor  and  brethren,  who  have 
never  spared  themselves  in  caring  for  the  poor  among  their 
countrymen.  Hundreds  who  were  unable  to  proceed  farther 
have  been  provided  with  employment,  and  have  afterwards  gone 
on  their  way  rejoicing.  No  less  than  seven  hundred  children 
were  baptized  by  Pastor  Carlson  in  Chicago  and  at  his  other 
stations  in  the  country.  Nearly  two  hundred  young  persons 
were  confirmed  after  long  and  thorough  instructions  in  the 
catechism.  In  addition  to  the  instruction  of  the  parochial  and 
Sunday  schools,  the  gospel  has  been  faithfully  preached  and 
the  Holy  Supper  statedly  administered  and  the  heart  of  the 
pastor  has  often  been  cheered  by  the  return  of  many  a  prodigal 
son  and  daughter  to  purity  and  peace.  Discarding  all  the 
modern  methods  of  getting  up  excitements  or  helping  on  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  by  human  means  and  expedients,  apart 
from  the  means  of  grace  revealed  in  the  Word,  this  church  has 
enjoyed  a  continued  awakening  or  revival  from  its  commence- 
ment, and  great  has  been  the  ingathering  of  souls.  It  may 
almost  be  said  of  it,  as  of  the  one  in  Jerusalem,  '  the  Lord  added 
to  the  church  daily  those  that  were  saved.'  Meanwhile  it  has 
grown  not  only  in  number,  but  in  principle,  in  piety,  in 
efficiency  and  in  charity.  The  beloved  pastor  moves  among 
his  people  as  a  father  and  a  friend.  He  is  indeed  a  man  of 
labors  and  of  cares,  but  the  love  of  God  and  of  his  people 
makes  every  burden  light,  and  he  lives  only  for  their  good. 
Long  may  this  sacred  and  beautiful  relation  between  a  faithful 
pastor  and  a  grateful  flock  remain!  Long  may  they  'walk  to- 
gether in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and  in  the  comfort  of  the  Holy 
Ghost'." 

He  then  goes  on  to  show  how,  from  this  missionary  church 
of  Pastor  Carlson,  there  grew  the  congregations  at  St.  Charles 
Geneva,  DeKalb,  Rockford,  Peccatonica,  111.  and  also  at  Bailey- 
town,  La  Porte,  Attica  and  Hobart,  Ind. 

Mar.  2,  1856,  Dr.  Passavant  made  a  hasty  trip  to  Chicago 
to  preach  the  consecration  sermon  of  the  first  Norwegian  Luth- 


358  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

eran  church,  of  which  the  Kev.  Paul  Anderson  was  pastor.  He 
gives  a  full  account  of  this  interesting  event  in  the  Missionary 
of  March  13.  The  article  is  headed  by  a  fine  large  cut  of  the 
church.  After  giving  a  full  description  of  the  exterior  and  in- 
terior of  the  building,  as  well  as  the  consecration  service,  he 
says : 

"In  concluding  this  imperfect  notice, "we  would  do  violence 
to  our  feeling,  did  we  not  express  our  deep  sense  of  the  divine 
goodness  which  has  hitherto  marked  the  history  of  this  church. 
'Not  by  might  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  spirit,'  saith  the  Lord, 
and  yet  it  pleases  Him  who  is  Head  over  all  things  to  the 
Church,  to  raise  up  from  time  to  time  the  very  instruments  who 
are  adapted  for  the  most  trying  positions.  How  unlikely  was 
such  a  result  eight  years  ago,  as  was  witnessed  on  last  Lord's 
day.  Then,  a  young  man  without  fame,  influence,  means  or 
friends,  came  to  Chicago  and  began  to  preach  Christ  to  his 
countrymen.  It  seemed  as  if  everything  had  conspired  against 
him.  Bitter  hate,  zealotic  zeal,  poverty,  ill  health,  the  pesti- 
lence, over-exertion  and  innummerable  other  difficulties  beset 
his  path.  But  God  was  with  him.  Mountains  of  difficulty 
vanished,  confidence  was  inspired,  friends  were  raised  up,  the 
people  gathered  around  him,  and  the  joyful  event  just  de- 
scribed gives  delightful  evidence  of  the  great  work  which  God 
has  wrought  through  His  instrumentality." 

There  was  a  warm  and  intimate  friendship  between  Dr. 
Passavant  and  the  Rev.  0.  J.  Hatlestad.  This  pioneer  Nor- 
wegian came  to  America  in  1846  and  became  one  of  the  editors 
of  the  first  Norwegian  paper  published  in  America.  He  was 
pastor  in  Milwaukee  for  a  time  and  there  came  in  contact  with 
Dr.  Passavant  and  along  with  Pastor  Muehlhaeuser,  assisted 
materially  in  the  founding  of  the  hospital  in  that  city.  He  was 
the  first  president  of  the  Norwegian  Augustana  Synod  and  held 
that  office  from  1870  to  1880.  Like  the  Swedish  brethren,  Carl- 
son, Hasselquist,  Norelius,  Swensson  and  others.  Pastor  Hatle- 
stad had  a  high  appreciation  of  the  wisdom  and  counsel  of  Dr. 
Passavant.  It  was  through  his  contact  with  the  latter  that  the 
Norwegian  Augustana  Synod  entered  into  fraternal  relations 
with  the  General  Council  and  would  doubtless  have  become  an 
integral  part  of  it,  had  it  not  been  merged  into  the  United  Nor- 
wegian Church. 

In  the  late  summer  of  1870  a  conference  was  held  at  St. 
Ansgar,  Iowa,  between  representatives  of  the  Norwegian  An- 


WORE  AMONG   THE  SCANDINAVIANS,  359 

gustana  Synod  and  Pastors  Clausen  and  Ilvisaker  and  a  few 
others  who  had  fallen  out  with  the  old  Norwegian  Synod  and 
were  standing  in  an  independent  position.  Pastor  O.  J.  Hatle- 
stad  was  president  of  the  Norwegian  Augustana  Synod.  It 
was  proposed  by  the  Clausen  men  to  organize  a  conference 
which  was  to  be  a  kind  of  free  organization  which,  while 
ostensibly  holding  all  pastors  and  teachers  of  churches,  should 
hold  the  churches  in  such  an  easy  way,  "that  they  should 
nevertheless  stand  free  and  independent  of  the  conference  as 
such,"  that  is,  churches  "who  employ  any  of  the  ministers 
of  the  Conference  have  the  right  to  send  a  delegate  to  the 
meeting,"  but  they  are  still  "free  and  independent  of 
it  as  such,"  and  can  send  or  not  send,  and  do  or  not  do 
just  what  they  please,  in  the  very  face  of  the  well  considered 
advice  of  their  Christian  brethren. 

The  Eev.  Jens  C.  Roseland  who  was  a  leader  in  the  Nor- 
wegian Augustana  Synod  and  afterwards  in  the  United  Nor- 
wegian church  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many  interest- 
ing facts,  claims  that  an  address  made  by  Dr.  Passavant  at  the 
St.  Ansgar  Conference  had  more  to  do  with  the  making  of  Nor- 
wegian church  history  in  America  than  is  usually  conceded. 

Of  the  proposed  organization,  Dr.  Passavant  in  the  Luth- 
eran and  Missionary  says: 

"It  would  be  difficult  to  imagine  any  association  more 
powerless  for  good  and  more  powerful  for  the  propagation  of 
radical  and  revolutionary  tendencies  than  this.  Though  the 
brethren  whose  work  it  is  certainly  do  not  see  unto  what  all  this 
tends,  they  could  not  have  devised  any  association  which  could 
more  successfully  repeal  the  order  of  God's  house  than  such  an 
irresponsible  association." 

In  this  case  again,  the  after  results  show  how  truly  the 
Doctor  divined  the  un-Lutheran  and  disintegrating  tendencies 
of  this  free  association.  President  Hatlestad  refused  to  go  into 
this  uncertain  organization.  Dr.  Passavant  ends  his  editorial 
on  the  subject  with  this  telling  tribute  to  the  young  General 
Council : 

"But  there  is  another  reason  why  Pastor  Hatlestad  could 
not  'unite'  in  this  St.  Ansgar  movement.  In  common  with  all 
the  older  pastors  and  churches  of  the  Norwegian  Augustana 
Synod,  he  is  in  favor  of  the  General  Council,  took  part  in  its 
organization,  is  fully  persuaded  of  the  Scriptural  character  of 
its  doctrinal  and  governmental  principles,  is  convinced  of  the 


360  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

godly  sincerity  and  integrity  of  those  who  founded  and  repre- 
sent it,  has  carefully  weighed  the  conscientious  arguments 
against  it  and  the  unworthy  slanders  which  have  been  heaped 
upon  it,  and  with  the  liveliest  gratitude  to  God  has  marked  its 
onward  course  in  the  midst  of  every  obstacle  in  the  successful 
establishment  of  schools,  colleges  and  seminaries,  the  publica- 
tion of  tracts,  papers,  and  books,  the  establishment  of  hospitals 
for  the  sick  and  homes  for  orphanage,  the  preaching  of  the  pure 
Word  and  the  administration  of  the  Sacraments  to  the  neglected 
and  scattered  of  all  nations  in  our  own  land,  and  the  revival  and 
reinvigoration  of  the  abandoned  mission  fields  among  the  heathen. 
He  sees  that  the  future  of  the  churches  with  which  he  has  been 
always  associated  and  that  of  many  others  is  bound  up  in  the 
future  of  the  General  Council,  that  the  little  schisms  and  fac- 
tions and  parties  of  his  countrymen  which  now  gather  around 
individuals  and  their  peculiarities  will  one  by  one  pass  away 
before  the  growing  influence  of  the  great  truths  and  principles 
confessed  by  the  General  Council,  and,  therefore,  he  and  others 
who  have  long  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  and 
learned  important  lessons  by  the  experience  and  mistakes  of 
the  past,  desire  to  bring  all  doubt  and  vacillation  to  a  speedy 
end  by  a  formal  union  with  the  Council  at  their  approaching 
Convention  of  Synod  in  October.  If  they  must  part  with 
cherished  brethren,  it  will  be  with  a  sorrowful  heart,  loving 
them  and  praying  for  their  return,  but  their  position  is  un- 
alterably taken,  to  unite  with  a  very  different  organization 
than  the  so-called  'free'  one  lately  organized  at  St.  Ansgar." 

Of  the  position  and  influence  of  Dr.  Passavant  in  the  Nor- 
wegian Augustana  Synod,  Pastor  Roseland  writes: 

"From  1870  to  1875  Dr.  Passavant  was  looked  upon  as  the 
foremost  spiritual  adviser  of  the  Synod.  It  has  often  been 
asked  why  the  little  Norwegian  Augustana  Synod  led  the  Nor- 
wegian Lutherans  in  the  English  work.  I  believe  it  was  owing 
to  the  keen  interest  and  the  helpful  direction  of  Dr.  Passavant 
with  whom  our  early  leaders  stood  in  the  most  intimate  relation. 
He  served  as  a  sort  of  connecting  link  between  the  orthodox 
English  Lutheran  Church  and  the  Americanizing  wing  of  the 
Norwegian  Lutheran  Church.  It  was  undoubtedly  through  his 
assistance  and  direction  that  our  classical  school  at  Marshall, 
Wis.,  became  the  most  thoroughly  Americanized  Norwegian 
Lutheran  School  in  America.  This  fact  I  think  is  silently  con- 
ceded even  by  those  who  prefer  to  say  very  little  about  it.  Only 


WORK  AMONG   THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  361 

two  weeks  ago  I  was  asked  by  a  leading  pastor  of  Anti-Missouri 
extraction  why  it  was  that  the  men  who  hailed  from  the  Nor- 
wegian Augustana  Synod  used  the  best  English  in  the  United 
Norwegian  Church  today.  My  answer  was  that  our  little  Synod 
was  fraternally  guided  by  the  wise  and  safe  counsel  of  Dr. 
Passavant  to  establish  a  school  in  which  a  thoroughly  Amer- 
icanized atmosphere  prevailed  as  far  as  language  was  con- 
cerned. ' ' 

Dr.  Passavant  was  elected  president  of  the-  first  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Marshall  Academy  and  was  reelected  for  four  suc- 
cessive years.  He  attended  a  number  of  the  Synodical  conven- 
tions and  on  these  occasions  was  always  requested  to  preach. 
He  donated  a  number  of  church  books  to  the  Marshall  Academy 
to  be  used  in  the  morning  devotions.  He  also  preached  the  ser- 
mon at  the  dedication  of  Bethlehem  Norwegian  Lutheran  church 
in  Chicago.  His  sermon  was  afterwards  published  in  full  in 
the  Norwegian  church  paper,  the  files  of  which  contain  many 
extracts  of  his  synodical  sermons. 

Of  the  work,  wants,  and  welfare  of  the  Minnesota  Lutheraas 
Dr.  Passavant  writes: 

"The  Lutheran  immigration  to  this  young  State  is  large. 
The  steamers  and  cars  are  crowded  with  the  incoming  immi- 
grants. A  friend  writes  us  of  over  a  thousand  Norwegians  who 
arrived  in  a  week!  The  Swedes  and  Germans  are  also  coming 
in  large  numbers.  It  is  manifest  that  Minnesota  will  soon  be- 
come one  of  the  principal  strongholds  of  our  American  church. 
The  settlers  almost  univerally  purchase  land,  the  poorest  doing 
so  as  soon  as  they  earn  sufficient  money.  Township  after  town- 
ship is  thus  taken  up,  and  congregation  after  congregation  ia 
organized.  Our  Norwegian,  Swedish  and  German  ministers 
are  overburdened  with  the  vast  responsibility  of  supplying  all 
these  immigrants  with  the  preached  Word  and  the  Holy  Sacra- 
ments. But  they  still  go  forward  doing  'what  they  can'  and 
leaving  the  rest  with  God.  Oh,  for  helpers  in  this  time  of  need ! 
The  'Elementary  School'  of  the  Augustana  Synod  in  Carver 
County,  is  now  the  'St.  Ansgar  Academy'  and  is  doing  an  ex- 
cellent work  among  the  Scandinavians.  They,  however,  greatly 
need  a  library  of  good  English  books,  and,  should  any  of  our 
readers  be  disposed  to  aid  in  supplying  this  want,  we  will  be 
happy  to  select  the  books,  or  take  charge  of  those  which  may  be 
sent.  A  few  hundred  dollars  would  be  an  excellent  investment 
in  this  promising  Institution." 


362  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

In  the  autumn  of  1856,  he  took  his  first  trip  to  the  Scan- 
dinavians in  the  then  farthest  west.  Before  he  started,  he 
appealed  to  some  of  his  well-to-do  and  liberal  friends  for  dona- 
tions toward  buying  land  for  schools  and  churches  for  the  Scan- 
dinavians in  the  West.  From  Chicago  he  took  his  friend  Paul 
Anderson  with  him  to  help  select  the  land  and  the  church  lots. 
He  gives  his  impressions  and  descriptions  of  the  long  trip  to 
the  new  country  and  its  booming  cities,  in  the  most  fascinating 
manner.  We  reproduce  only  those  parts  of  these  letters  which 
tell  of  his  Church  work : 

"It  was  evening  before  we  discovered  that  there  were  a 
number  of  Norwegians  and  Swedes  in  La  Crosse,  but  through 
the  kind  offices  of  several  young  men,  word  was  conununicated 
to  as  many  as  possible,  and  by  eight  o'clock  some  thirty  persons 
were  gathered  together  in  the  house  of  a  Norwegian,  to  whom 
we  preached  the  Word  of  God.  The  services  were  solemn  and, 
to  us  at  least,  peculiarly  interesting.  They  had  brought  with 
them  their  hymn  books  and  after  opening  the  services  with  an 
English  hynm,  the  remaining  hymns  were  sung  in  their  own 
tongue.  There  are  perhaps  one  hundred  Scandinavians  in  the 
town,  though  the  greater  part  are  unmarried  and  reside  here 
but  for  a  season.  Several  Norwegian  settlements  are  found 
some  distance  in  the  country,  and  many  of  the  young  people 
come  in  to  the  town  to  work,  while  the  number  of  permanent 
residents  must  necessarily  increase  with  the  increase  of  this 
place.  Under  these  circumstances,  instead  of  taking  the  packet 
on  ]\Ionday  morning,  we  concluded  to  remain  until  Tuesday  and 
if  possible  secure  a  lot  for  a  church.  Several  owners  of  property 
were  visited,  and  at  length  two  were  found,  one  of  whom  gener- 
ously donated  a  lot  on  an  addition  to  the  city,  with  the  privilege 
of  building  upon  it  in  five  years,  and  another,  who  sold  us  a 
beautiful  lot,  made  a  reduction  of  fifty  dollars  in  the  price. 
Several  other  benevolent  gentlemen  were  called  upon  who  gave 
subscriptions  of  from  fifty  dollars  to  five  dollars  towards  the 
purchase  money,  so  that  with  the  exception  of  forty-five  dollars 
the  whole  sum  was  raised.  This  we  advanced  out  of  some 
moneys  in  our  hands,  then  wrote  out  the  deeds,  and  had  them 
signed  and  witnessed,  as  well  as  registered  at  the  court-house, 
and  after  a  hard  day's  work,  retired  to  rest  as  tired  a  man  as 
could  be  found 

"The  Swedish  Lutheran  congregation  in  Red  Wing  under 
the  care  of  the  Rev.  E.  Norelius,  have  a  neat  frame  church 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  363 

under  roof,  and  so  far  finished  that  they  can  use  it  for  worship. 
The  German  Methodists  have  likewise  one  nearly  finished  for 
their  society,  which  numbers  forty  members.  The  German 
Lutherans,  we  regret  to  say,  are  totally  neglected  and  it  is 
pitiable,  in  traveling  from  place  to  place,  to  find  that  instead 
of  concentrating  our  strength  to  supply  the  appalling  desti- 
tution in  the  western  States  and  Territories,  our  energies  are 
weakened  and  our  forces  are  scattered  by  intestine  feuds,  and 
that,  too,  among  brethren.  What  hope  or  promise  is  there  of 
ever  coming  to  the  unity  of  faith  and  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Son  of  God  while  we  thus  turn  away  from  our  own  flesh  and 
refuse  to  come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty? 
Only  they  who  do  God's  will  shall  know  the  doctrine  whether 
it  be  of  God,  nor  is  there  a  single  promise  in  the  Word  that  we 
shall  be  guided  into  all  truth  while  we  remain  thus  careless  and 
neglectful  toward  our  needy  and  perishing  brethren.  May  God 
have  mercy  upon  us,  for  verily  we  know  not  what  we  do.  But 
we  are  wandering  from  our  subject.  Red  Wing  is  quite  an  im- 
portant point,  and  with  a  magnificent  prairie  country  in  the 
rear,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  securing  a  location  for  English 
and  German  churches,  and  the  appointment  of  a  missionary  to 
look  after  our  interests  in  this  portion  of  the  territory.  Un- 
fortunately the  persons  to  whom  we  had  letters,  were  mostly 
absent  and  no  effort  could  be  made  to  secure  church  sites  at 
this  time. 

"As  brother  Noreliiis,  who  officiates  among  the  Swedes,  lives 
some  twelve  miles  out  in  the  country,  we  procured  a  buggy  and 
made  a  visit  on  Friday  afternoon 

' '  We  fortunately  found  Pastor  Norelius  at  home,  and  though 
we  were  strangers  to  each  other,  we  at  once  felt  that  we  were 
brethren  in  Christ  and  partakers  of  the  same  blessed  hope. 
It  was  deeply  affecting  to  receive  the  warm  hospitality  of 
this  dear  brother  and  his  faithful  companion,  and  we  shall  ever 
cherish  the  remembrance  of  the  night  which  was  passed  under 
their  roof  with  pleasant  thoughts.  For  hours  we  conferred  to- 
gether concerning  the  interests  of  Zion  among  the  Scandina- 
vian population  of  the  territory,  and  various  plans  were  sug- 
gested, about  which  we  hope  to  communicate  more  hereafter. 
The  crying  want  is  pious,  educated,  and  self-denying  ministers ! 
At  every  point  of  importance  the  Scandinavians  are  settling  in 
large  numbers,  but  while  the  Methodists  and  Baptists  have  some 
six  or  eight  persons  who  are  licensed  as  ministers  and  are  sup- 


364  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

ported  as  missionaries  by  their  societies  in  New  York,  we  have 
but  two  Swedish  pastors  for  the  whole  territory,  and  not  a 
single  minister  that  we  know  of  among  the  multitudes  of  Nor- 
wegians who  are  already  counted  by  thousands.  There  ought 
to  be  at  least  twelve  Lutheran  Missionaries  among  the  Scan- 
dinavians now  in  Minnesota  and  how  many  additional  ones 
are  needed  can  only  be  ascertained  when  the  summer's  immi- 
gration from  Sweden  and  Norway  has  ceased.  Should  this 
paragraph  meet  the  eye  of  any  pious  young  Scandinavian,  we 
would  beg  him  most  earnestly  to  consider  the  great  question 
of  devoting  his  life  and  his  all  to  the  welfare  of  his  destitute 
countrymen.  Our  seminaries  and  colleges  are  all  open  to  him, 
and  if  he  is  without  means,  our  education  societies  will  be  glad 
to  take  him  by  the  hand  and  assist  in  his  education. ' ' 

To  this  account  of  Mr.  Passavant's  visit  to  Mr.  Norelius 
the  latter,  in  a  personal  letter  to  the  writer  adds  this  interesting 
little  incident: 

''In  the  fall  of  1856  Mr.  Passavant  visited  me  in  my 
'claim-shanty'  in  Vasa,  Minnesota.  It  was  raining  during  the 
night  and  as  the  roof  consisted  of  only  a  thin  piece  of  canvass, 
we  did  not  altogether  escape  a  wetting.  The  rain  on  the  bed, 
soaking  through  to  Mr.  Passavant's  skin,  caused  him  to  dream 
that  he  was  lying  at  the  bottom  of  a  sea  and  to  wonder  how  he 
could  escape. " 

Mr.  Passavant  continues  the  account  of  his  missionary 
tour: 

"The  sun  shone  brightly  after  the  rain,  and  poured  over 
mount  and  vale  and  stream  a  flood  of  mellow  light,  as  our  stea- 
mer came  in  sight  of  St.  Paul.  The  first  view  of  the  city  with 
the  dew  and  freshness  of  youth  upon  it,  was  truly  enchanting. 
It  is  finely  located  upon  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
although  the  houses  are  scattered  over  nearly  two  miles  of 
bluff  and  plain,  it  appeared  from  our  boat  like  an  old  and 
compact  town. 

"As  we  remained  in  St.  Paul  for  eight  days,  including  two 
Sabbaths,  we  had  an  excellent  opportunity  of  becoming 
acquainted  with  its  inhabitants,  its  resources,  and  its  pros- 
pects   

"After  thus  taking  the  bearings  of  the  city  from  different 
points,  and  spending  some  time  visiting  the  suburbs  and  study- 
ing the  genius  of  the  place,  we  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  the 
most  effective  way  of  doing  something  for  the  cause  of  Christ 


WORK  AMONG   THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  365 

and  His  Church  in  the  Territory,  was  to  commence  in  this  its 
natural  center.  Accordingly,  after  visiting  the  honorable  Mr. 
Sibley,  at  Mendota,  and  securing  his  co-operation,  which  was 
generously  given,  we  determined,  in  humble  reliance  upon  the 
divine  aid,  to  secure  a  lot  for  an  English  Lutheran  church  as 
near  as  possible  to  the  center  of  the  city.  We  were,  however, 
several  years  too  late  to  obtain  such  a  site  as  a  gift,  although 
two  lots  were  offered  us  by  owners  of  land  on  the  edge  of  the 
city,,  on  condition,  however,  that  the  proposed  church  should 
be  erected  on  them.  As  there  was  therefore  no  alternative  left 
but  to  raise  the  necessary  sum  by  subscription  among  the  citi- 
zens, we  spent  several  weary  days  in  this  self-denying  work,  and 
although  many,  who  it  was  thought  would  have  favored  the 
enterprise  were,  unfortunately  for  us,  absent  from  the  city, 
twelve  gentlemen  generously  subscribed  one  hundred  dollars 
each  towards  the  lots,  and  another,  with  a  truly  liberal  spirit, 
presented  us  with  a  deed  for  three  acres  of  ground  on  a  beau- 
tiful lake,  a  mile  from  the  city  limits,  with  permission  either 
to  sell  them  for  a  church,  or  use  them  hereafter  as  a  site  for 
an  Orphan  House.  Had  not  our  time  been  so  limited,  this 
sura  might  have  easily  been  raised  to  two  thousand  dollars, 
but  our  engagements  at  home  required  a  speedy  return,  and 
after  making  arrangements  to  have  the  list  continued,  we  de- 
voted the  remainder  of  the  time  to  a  selection  of  a  suitable  site 
for  the  church.  Two  locations  were  especially  preferred,  on 
account  of  their  central  and  commanding  position,  both  being 
near  the  State  house,  and  one  immediately  facing  it;  but  the 
owTiers  of  both  were  in  other  parts  of  the  territory,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  defer  the  actual  purchase  of  one  or  the  other, 
until  their  return.  In  this  connection,  we  cannot  omit  return- 
ing our  grateful  acknowledgements  to  the  Hon.  W.  H.  Sibley, 
ex-Governor  Ramsey,  and  Messers  Oaks,  Berkey,  M'Kenty, 
Rohrer  and  Levering,  who  in  many  ways  manifested  their  in- 
terest and  M'armly  co-operated  in  this  undertaking. 

"  If  it  be  asked  whether  we  found  any  or  many  of  our  Eng- 
lish members  in  St.  Paul,  we  must  confess  that  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  lady,  the  daughter  of  one  of  our  ministers  in 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  a  few  persons  whose  sympathies  are 
with  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  who  are  not  members,  we  found 
none.  There  are  no  doubt  a  few  of  our  people  here,  as  in  every 
other  western  city,  but  we  are  certain  that  so  soon  as  a  mis- 
sionary is  on  the  ground,  (which  we  hope  will  be  early  in  the 


366  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

Spring)  there  will  be  numerous  immigrations  of  our  people 
from  the  East  to  this  promising  place.  In  addition  to  those 
who  may  immigrate  here,  there  are  many  German  Protestants 
in  the  city,  some  of  whom  would  unite  with  an  English  Luther- 
an Church,  while  not  a  few  of  the  Norwegians  and  Swedes,  who 
acquire  our  language  with  great  facility,  would  be  happy  to 
identify  themselves  with  an  English  Lutheran  congregation. 
But  there  is  no  lack  of  material  in  St.  Paul,  for  thousands  live 
without  Christ  and  without  hope,  serving  the  god  of  this  world; 
while  hundreds  of  energetic  young  men  from  the  East,  who 
have  come  here  to  seek  their  fortune,  are  accessible  to  a  faith- 
ful minister  of  the  Word,  and  constitute  one  of  the  most  hope- 
ful classes  for  pastoral  effort.  And  the  Church  of  the  Reforma- 
tion has  a  work  to  do  in  the  metropolis  of  a  territory  five  times 
the  size  of  Pennsylvania,  which  will  soon  be  the  home  of  millions 
of  industrious  freemen.  We  cannot  be  true  to  ourselves,  to 
our  country  and  to  our  God,  and  continue  to  neglect  these 
centers  of  population  and  influence,  as  we  have  hitherto  done. 
We  must  perform  our  part  of  the  work  of  molding  the  het- 
erogeneous masses  in  our  western  States,  and  if  we  spend  our 
strength  in  out-of-the-way  places,  to  the  neglect  of  the  larger 
cities,  we  shall  be  utterly  unable  to  do  our  Master's  work. 

"It  is  already  late  in  the  day  to  begin  an  enterprise  which 
should  have  been  commenced  with  the  very  commencement  of 
the  city.  The  difficulties  which  are  now  inseparable  from  such 
an  undertaking,  are  but  the  consequences  of  our  sinful  neglect. 
But  these  dare  not  make  us  shrink  from  our  obvious  duty. 
Whatever  be  the  cost  and  the  exertions  in  entering  the  field  at 
the  eleventh  hour,  it  must  be  done.  And  let  the  importance  of 
early  and  vigorous  effort  in  other  States  and  Territories,  such  as 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Kansas,  Oregon  and  California  be  fully 
recognized  by  the  Church,  for  while  she  sleeps,  the  enemy  is 
awake  and  is  sowing  tares 

"The  Norwegian  and  Swedish  members  of  our  Church  are 
generally  found  in  settlements,  though  many  of  them,  especially 
the  younger  portion,  may  be  met  with  in  all  the  towns  where 
work  can  be  procured.  This  will  greatly  facilitate  missionary 
operations  among  them,  as  the  number  and  compactness  will  en- 
able them  to  erect  churches  and  schools  and  support  the  gospel 
themselves  more  readily  than  if  dispersed  among  the  American 
population.  By  attending  vigorously  and  without  delay  to  this 
great  and  growing  interest,  which  is,  the  Lord  be  praised,  in- 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  367 

tensely  Protestant,  our  Church  will  soon  become  the  most  numer- 
ous Protestant  body  of  Christians  in  this  future  State.  We  hope 
hereafter  to  suggest  something  for  their  intellectual  and  spirit- 
ual benefit,  but  at  present  would  only  again  call  the  attention 
of  our  Norwegian  and  Swedish  ministers  in  Illinois  to  the  im- 
portance of  sending  one  or  more  of  their  most  able  and  ex- 
perienced men  to  reside  in  St.  Paul,  or  some  other  central  point, 
and  operate  from  thence  over  the  whole  Territory  in  preaching 
the  Gospel,  circulating  good  papers  and  books,  and  supplying 
the  settlements  as  rapidly  as  possible  with  able  and  faithful 
pastors  and  teachers.  The  present  immigration  into  this  Terri- 
tory from  Sweden  and  Norway,  as  well  as  from  Wisconsin, 
Illinois  and  Indiana,  will  give  our  Scandinavian  brethren 
enough  to  do  without  attempting  anything  to  increase  it." 

Oct.  20,  'Mv.  Passavant  writes  to  Mr.  Norelius,  offering  a 
personal  contribution  of  fifty  dollars  and  further  help  for  the 
church  lot  in  Red  Wing.  He  also  speaks  of  an  offer  of  land  for 
a  Swedish  college  at  Lake  City,  Minn.,  and  asks  Mr.  Norelius  to 
investigate  the  place.  He  further  gives  advice  for  starting  Swe- 
dish work  at  Carver  and  New  Sweden  and  continues  to  secure 
funds  for  the  Scandinavians  from  churches  and  individuals  in 
the  east.  ]\Ir.  Passavant  seems  at  this  time  to  be  principal  ad- 
viser and  leader  of  the  Scandinavian  Lutherans. 

At  this  point,  Father  Heyer  again  comes  upon  the 
scene.  This  remarkable  man  went  to  India  for  the  first  time 
in  1842,  when  he  was  forty-nine  years  old.  On  account  of  his 
health,  he  returned  in  1846.  He  gathered  and  organized  a 
church  in  Baltimore  and  went  back  to  India  in  1848.  In  1857 
he  again  turned  his  face  homeward.  On  his  way  home  from 
preaching  to  the  Hindus  he  crossed  the  desert  of  Arabia  and 
stopped  to  preach  to  a  congregation  of  Europeans  camping 
under  the  shadow  of  ]\It.  Sinai.  He  went  do\m  into  Egypt,  ex- 
plored the  pyramids  and  then  visited  Bethlehem,  Nazareth  and 
Jerusalem.  He  did  not  come  home  to  rest  on  his  laurels  but, 
though  sixty-four  years  old,  was  ready  for  work  wherever  he 
might  serve  the  Lord  and  His  Church.  ]\Ir.  Passavant,  who 
knew  him  intimately  and  who  had  kept  the  Church  informed 
and  interested  in  his  India  work,  had  his  eye  on  him  for  the 
Home  Mission  Field.  He  secured  his  appointment  and  support 
for  the  West.  Mr.  Heyer  was  accordingly  sent  to  St.  Paul  to 
gather  and  build  up  a  German  and  an  English  Lutheran  church. 

Mr.  Passavant  writes  thus  to  Norelius: — 


368  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

"You  will  rejoice  %yhen  I  inform  you  that  I  have  (under 
God)  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  services  of  an  admirable  min- 
ister for  St.  Paul.  It  is  none  other  than  Father  Heyer,  late  of 
India.  He  leaves  for  St.  Paul  in  two  weeks  and  will  probably 
accept  a  call  from  the  German  Lutheran  Congregation  there, 
and  at  the  same  time  seek  to  build  up  an  English  Lutheran  Con- 
gregation, or  at  least  labor  to  collect  the  scattered  members  and 
prepare  the  way  for  the  sending  out  of  a  faithful  English  Luth- 
eran pastor  by  spring.  Pray  for  him,  and  if  you  can,  do  your 
best  to  slip  up  to  St.  Paul  and  see  the  dear  old  man  sometime 
soon.  I  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  come  along,  but  fear  it  is 
very  doubtful  whether  I  can  go  this  fall.  The  money  difficulty 
is  so  distressing  here  that  I  have  been  in  the  greatest  struggle 
for  the  last  four  weeks.  Do  not,  therefore,  delay  writing  but  let 
me  hear  from  you  imiiiediately  on  your  receiving  this.  If  I  can 
go  out,  I  will,  of  course,  stop  a  day  at  Red  Wing." 

After  Heyer  had  been  in  the  field  for  a  few  years  he  wrote 
this  interesting  account  of  his  labors  to  Dr.  Passavant: 
"Dear  Brother, 

"Among  the  many  items  of  business  to  which  your  attention 
is  called,  you  may  perhaps  have  lost  sight  of  Minnesota  where, 
through  your  instrumentality,  the  Lutheran  Missionary  opera- 
tions were  first  commenced.  Allow  me  to  state  a  few  circum- 
stances, which  show  that  the  work  is  still  going  on.  After 
struggling  with  difficulties  which  threatened  the  very  existence 
of  the  Minnesota  Synod,  our  prospects  .are  now  becoming 
brighter.  At  the  next  synodical  meeting  in  St.  Paul  on  Ascen- 
sion Day  the  following  members  are  expected  to  be  present: 
Mallinson,  Thompson,  Fachtman,  Blecken,  Evert,  Hoffman 
Wolff,  Emmel,  Reitz,  Gur  Nedden,  Eise  and  Kuhn;  members 
not  present,  Brand  and  Heyer,  Total  fourteen.  Several  of  these 
brethren  are  from  the  Chrischona,  and  have  come  recommended 
by  the  superintendent  of  that  Institute.  These  men  are  better 
calculated  to  labor  among  the  German  settlers  of  Minnesota  than 
are  candidates  from  universities  or  from  our  seminaries  in 
this  country.  The  most  of  them  will  be  able  to  get  along,  if 
we  can  only  allow  them  fifty  dollars  a  year  in  addition  to  what 
they  may  get  from  the  people.  After  inviting  them  to  come 
over,  it  would  be  unfortunate,  discreditable,  and  injurious  to 
our  cause,  if  we  should  fail  to  assist  them  with  the  small  amount 
above  stated.  I  have  written  to  the  Pennsylvania  Missionary 
Committee,  and  also  to  the  Committee  of  the  General  Synod  in 


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WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  369 

Baltimore.  What  these  committees  may  be  able  and  willing  to 
do  for  Minnesota  I  do  not  know  yet;  if  you  should  be  present 
at  the  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  SjTiod  in  Easton,  I  trust 
you  will  plead  for  Minnesota.  Br.  Fachtman  is  doing  what  he 
can  to  provide  places,  etc.,  for  the  new  assistants  in  ^Minnesota, 
but  he  is  sometimes  almost  overburdened,  being  poor  himself,  he 
must  be  furnished  with  the  means  to  help  the  brethren  who 
have  arrived  and  others  who  are  yet  coming,  or  there  will  be 
suffering  among  them.  If  it  were  in  your  power  from  any  funds 
or  resources  at  your  disposal  to  send  twenty-five  or  fifty  dollars 
to  Br.  Fachtman  soon,  it  would  be  a  great  relief  to  him.  In 
conclusion,  allow  me  to  make  one  more  suggestion.  When  the 
war  is  over,  the  Christian  Commission  will  have  performed  its 
great  labor  of  love,  the  benevolent  in  our  Lutheran  community 
should  then  be  encouraged  to  provide  clothing  and  other  ar- 
ticles for  our  poor  missionaries  in  the  far  west. 

"I  will  add  no  more,  but  pray  the  Lord  to  have  you  in  His 

holy  keeping. 

Your  aged  fellow  pilgrim 

C.  F.  Heyer." 

Here  is  a  letter  to  Pastor  Hatlestad  showing  the  same  con- 
cern for  the  Scandinavian  interests  about  Chicago: 

"I  was  truly  sorry  that  I  could  not  see  you  when  in  Chi- 
cago. Oh,  how  wonderfully  is  our  work  opening  up  in  the  great 
West!  My  heart  bleeds  when  I  think  how  wide  is  the  desti- 
tution and  how  few  the  laborers.  We  need  men,  men,  men! 
But  in  every  case  men  of  purity,  piety,  principle  and  power, 
men  who  are  equal  to  the  great  work  which  God  has  given  us 
to  do. 

"I  fear  that  if  one  or  two  more  Swedish  pastors  of  this 
kind  cannot  be  spared  to  our  dear  brother  Carlson  in  Chicago, 
we  must  and  will  go  down.  Another  fear  with  me  is  that  the  in- 
coming of  the  masses  of  unsanctified  material  into  the  Swedish 
Church  in  Chicago  will  duplicate  the  New  York  trouble.  A 
good  and  experienced  man  is  needed  for  the  South  Side  and 
a  strong  and  devout  man  for  the  new  enterprise  on  the  West 
Side.  Think  over  these  things  and  cry  to  God  earnestly  for  such 
men. ' ' 

Dr.  Norelius  saw  the  need  of  purely  English  congregations 
in  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  west  when  many  others  ridiculed 
and  opposed  them.  If  he  could  have  had  his  way  in  Red  Wing, 


370  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A  .PASSAVANT. 

the  Episcopalians  would  not  have  won  some  of  the  most  prom- 
ising and  wealthy  young  Lutherans  of  the  town  and  would  not 
have  built  up  their  strong  church  so  largely  out  of  Lutheran 
material.   Pastor  Norelius  writes  to  Mr.  Passavant,  Oct.  30, 1865. 

"It  would  be  very  desirable  to  have  an  English  Lutheran 
congregation  established  here  in  Red  Wing  in  time  to  gather 
in  the  large  material  which  is  already  available.  There  are 
already  three  different  Lutheran  nationalities  who  have  estab- 
lished congregations  viz.,  the  Germans,  the  Swedes,  and  the 
Norwegians.  I  do  hope  that  by  the  grace  of  God  we  may  soon 
be  able  to  establish  an  English  congregation,  since  otherwise  many 
of  the  young  people  will  be  lost  to  our  church." 

Along  the  same  line,  Dr.  Passavant  closes: 

"It  will  be  seen  that  as  yet  we  have  not  an  English  Luth- 
eran Church  in  Milwaukee.  Though  a  city  of  sixty  thousand 
inhabitants,  it  is  off  the  line  of  immigration  (with  some  excep- 
tions) of  our  people  from  the  east.  It  is  a  city  of  Yankees,  Ger- 
mans and  Irish;  of  Norwegians,  Dutch  and  Bohemians.  And 
yet  the  time  will  come,  ere  long,  when  an  English  church  will 
be  a  necessity.  It  is  very  desirable,  even  now,  particularly 
among  the  Scandinavians,  and  the  worthy  pastor  of  the  Nor- 
wegian church  is  most  anxious  that  an  enterprise  of  the  kind 
should  be  commenced  without  delay.  But  the  man,  where  can 
he  be  obtained?  And  the  means  of  support,  whence  are  they  to 
come?  These  cannot  be  overlooked,  it  will  require  a  living  man, 
and  even  then  such  a  person  must  be  content  to  sow  for  years 
before  the  harvest  comes." 

In  the  spring  of  1864  Dr.  Passavant  made  another  mission- 
ary trip  to  the  west.  On  these  journeys  he  always  stopped  on 
the  way  and  encouraged  the  brethren  of  every  nationality  in 
their  pioneer  labors  and  struggles  and  gave  them  counsel  and 
assistance.  Into  many  a  modest  pastor's  home  he  came  like  a 
messenger  of  hope  and  courage.  The  seeds  he  sowed,  the  in- 
fluence he  exerted,  the  movements  he  inspired  and  started,  the 
courage  and  hope  he  left  behind,  eternity  alone  can  reveal.  To 
this  day  the  mention  of  his  name  makes  the  eyes  of  many  a  saint 
sparkle  or  dim  with  tears.  He  always  knew  how  to  speak  a 
word  in  season,  not  only  to  the  weary  pastor  but  also  to  the 
struggling  wife  and  mother  who  shared  her  husband's  toils 
and  privations.  It  would  be  interesting  to  quote  from  his  long 
account  of  this  trip  to  Erie,  Ft.  Wayne  and  Milwaukee.  He  had 
a  gift  of  measuring  the  importance  of  every  city  he  visited  for 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  371 

the  Kingdom  of  God.  He  had  remarkable  ability  to .  gather  the 
history  and  statistics  of  the  early  Lutheran  settlers.  He  seemed 
to  be  able  to  divine  the  character  of  hirelings  who  came  to  prey 
upon  the  scattered  sheep.  He  mercilessly  unmasked  immoral 
and  rationalistic  pretenders.  To  them  he  was  not  a  welcome 
visitor,  as  he  went  to  and  fro  on  his  apostolic  journeys.  Many 
a  clerical  hypocrite  was  exposed  and  warned  against,  and  many 
a  weak  flock  saved  from  ruin. 

Thus  in  his  account  of  his  trip  to  Erie  he  tells  of  the  early 
settlements  of  the  Germans,  of  their  spiritual  destitution,  of  the 
labors  of  young  Heyer  in  their  behalf,  of  the  scourging  of  some 
of  the  'independent'  pretenders,  and  of  the  havoc  they  made  of 
the  flock. 

He  was  instrumental  in  the  gathering  and  organizing  of 
the  first  English  mission  in  Erie  and  of  the  securing  of  the  Rev. 
J.  H.  W.  Stuckenberg  for  the  field  in  1861.  He  did  much  to  aid 
the  struggling  flock  in  these  early  days.  He  stopped  over  by 
appointment  in  Ft.  Wayne  and  preached  there  three  times  in 
connection  with  the  dedication  of  the  first  English  Lutheran 
church.  Toward  the  payment  of  the  six  thousand  dollar  debt, 
he  raised  about  two  thirds  of  the  sum.  He  ends  a  three-column 
editorial  thus : 

' '  We  must  reserve  for  another  time  an  account  of  the  pleas- 
ant Monday  which  succeeded  this  day  of  joy  and  toil.  Memory 
will  often  wander  back  to  the  family  room  in  the  Rudisill  man- 
sion, where  genial  friends  were  gathered,  and  we  listened  and 
laughed  and  cried  over  the  old  days  when  the  'Synod  of  the 
West'  embraced  Indiana,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Illinois,  and 
the  entire  west  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Pastor  Wynecken,  one  of 
the  few  surviving  members,  was  the  soul  of  the  company  and 
described  those  early  days  with  their  sunny  and  stormy  memor- 
ies, their  hard  toil  and  wretched  pay,  their  defeats  in  one  place 
and  triumphs  in  another,  their  log  cabins  and  'early  candle 
lightings, '  and  weaknesses,  oddities  and  peculiarities  of  good  men 
then  as  now.  Vale  et  vale.  The  train  is  coming.  We  must 
hasten  back  to  work  at  home.  In  a  little  while  our  toils  will 
be  over.    'There  remaineth  a  rest  for  the  people  of  God.'  " 

In  Sept.,  1867,  Dr.  Passavant  made  a  laborious  journey  to 
visit  the  Canada  SjTiod.  He  was  sorely  needed  there,  as  that 
Synod  did  not  seem  to  know  what  it  was  doing  and  how  it  was 
being  imposed  upon  by  place-seekers  and  other  uncertain  ad- 
venturers. 


372  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

When  the  Swedish  Publishing  Society  had  been  organized 
in  Chicago  he  advised,  that  while  the  Society  would  naturally 
import  most  of  its  books  from  Sweden,  provision  should  at 
once  be  made  to  publish  also  such  books  and  tracts  as  would 
set  forth  the  peculiar  dangers  that  beset  the  immigrants  on 
settling  down  in  this  land  of  sects,  schisms  and  heresies,  and  to 
give  such  instruction  and  direction  as  would  save  them  to  the 
Church  of  their  fathers.  He  was  always  a  helper  of  the  saints 
and  so  here  also  he  urged  the  American  Lutherans  to  assist 
these  brethren  in  the  establishment  of  their  Book  and  Tract 
Society. 

He  seemed  to  have  the  insight  of  a  seer  into  all  the  needs 
and  interests  of  the  great  West.  He  understood  each  locality, 
knew  its  strategic  value  for  the  future  of  the  Church,  what  kind 
of  man  it  needed  and  what  work  he  should  do.  Thus  when  he 
felt  that  the  time  had  come  for  driving  a  permanent  stake  in 
Ked  Wing,  he  wrote  to  Norelius: 

''I  want  that  corner  lot  near  your  church,  if  it  can  be  got 
for  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars.  Would  not  the  pro- 
prietor throw  off  twenty-five  or  fifty  for  such  a  purpose?  Try 
him  hard.  Now,  dear  brother,  will  you  not  do  me  the  favor  to 
take  this  subscription  paper  to  Messers  Freeborn,  Phelps  and 
Graham  and  get  each  of  them  to  give  you  a  good  donation? 
Tell  them  that  a  Lutheran  Church  in  Red  Wing  will  bring  in 
more  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  Germans  of  the  best  kind  than 
any  other  thing.  It  would  greatly  add  to  the  value  of  their 
property  to  get  this  class  of  persons  to  settle  among  them  as 
they  all  have  money  and  are  industrious  and  enterprising  men. 
I  must  beg  you,  dear  brother,  to  prosecute  this  matter  with 
vigor.  If  you  can  get  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  of  the 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  subscribed  and  paid  either  in  cash 
or  notes,  you  may  draw  on  me  at  sight  for  the  other  fifty  dollars. 
We  must  try  hard  to  get  a  good  man  stationed  in  Red  Wing  who 
can  preach  English  and  German  and  in  this  way  he  could  serve 
the  country  back  for  twenty  miles  and  up  and  down  the  river 
for  the  same  distance.  No  doubt  it  would  be  a  great  mercy  to 
our  Scandinavians  to  have  such  a  man  on  the  ground. 

"Dear  brother  Norelius,  spare  no  pains  in  pushing  this 
matter  through  immediately.  'The  King's  business  requireth 
haste'  and  as  the  river  will  soon  open,  what  we  do  must  be  done 
quickly. ' ' 

Not  only  did  Dr.  Passavant  know  how  to  find  out  all  items 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  373 

of  interest  for  himself,  but  he  knew  also  how  to  train  and  use 
others  in  this  service.  Thus  he  directs  the  ever-willing  Nore- 
lius: 

"Now  one  more  request  from  you  and  do  not  refuse  me  or 
'I  will  excommunicate  you,'  as  Luther  said  to  Melanchthon 
when  he  was  ill  and  would  not  take  the  soup  until  thus  threat- 
ened. I  am  most  anxious  for  your  monthly  notes  again.  They 
did  much  good  and  will  do  more.  Here  is  a  recipe  for  making 
them.  You  have  the  Eemlandet  and  other  Scandinavian  papers. 
Now,  just  lay  them  in  one  place  after  having  marked  with 
pencil  every  little  notice  of  a  new  settlement,  visit  or  whatever 
it  may  be  from  father  Esbjorn  down  to  the  humblest  student. 
Then  quietly  sit  down  and  string  these  facts  together  for  the 
Missionary.  If  I  only  understood  the  Swedish  and  Norsk  a 
little  better  I  would  do  so  myself,  but  I  am  often  not  quite 
certain  of  the  meaning  of  words  and  fear  to  make  blunders. 
A  little  resume  occasionally  at  the  end  of  a  letter  would  be 
deeply  interesting  to  all  our  readers.  Now,  dear  brother,  know- 
ing your  weakness,  it  is  hard  that  I  should  thus  trouble  you, 
but  it  arises  from  my  strong  desire  to  interest  our  American 
Zion  in  our  Swedish  and  Norwegian  work.  In  this  way  you 
may  be  as  useful  as  though  actually  in  the  field  farther  west. 
Nay,  more,  by  thus  having  the  ear  of  the  Church  east,  you  can 
get  at  its  heart  and  pocket  likewise.  Punktum!  as  the  Germans 
say.  We  shall  therefore  expect  number  one  so  as  to  get  it  in 
the  first  week  in  February.  Love  to  Mrs.  N .  . .  .  " 

When  "The  Scandinavian  Evangelical  Lutheran  August- 
ana  Synod"  was  organized  in  Clinton,  Wis.  in  the  summer 
of  1860,  Mr.  Passavant  gave  it  a  hearty  Godspeed  in  the 
Missionary.    He  concluded  his  editorial  thus: 

"The  tone  of  the  proceedings  of  the  New  Synod  is  emi- 
nently Christian  and  catholic.  The  brethren  composing  it  seem 
intent  on  their  appropriate  business.  They  have  separated  from 
their  former  connection,  not  to  strive  but  to  work.  So  long  as 
they  observe  the  apostolic  injunction,  'whereunto  we  have  al- 
ready attained,  let  us  walk  by  the  same  rule,  let  us  mind  the 
same  thing,'  they  cannot  but  prosper.  A  work  of  vast  magni- 
tude is  committed  to  their  hands.  Tens  of  thousands  of  immi- 
grants from  the  old  world,  look  to  them  for  spiritual  care.  Let 
them  be  faithful  to  their  own  souls  and  they  will  be  faithful  to 
'their  brethren  after  the  flesh.'  Let  them  seek  first  of  all  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  His  righteousness,  and  all  else  shall  be  added 


374  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

unto  them.  Let  them  do  all  unto  Christ  and  nothing  through 
strife  or  vain  glory.  In  this  way  they  will  not  only  be  able  to 
keep  the  unity  of  the  spirit  and  to  live  and  love  as  brethren, 
but  also  to  become  eminently  useful  in  establishing  pure  Christ- 
ian churches  and  training  them  in  all  the  virtues  of  the  Christ- 
ian life. 

"The  New  Synod  already  numbers  twenty-seven  ministers 
and  upwards  of  fifty  congregations,  so  that  with  two  periodic- 
als, the  Hemlandet,  (Swedish)  and  the  Kirketidende,  (Norwe- 
gian), a  respectable  Publication  Society  and  a  Theological 
Seminary,  this  newly  formed  body,  will  ere  long  become  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  efficient  of  our  American  Synods.  As  the 
fields  of  labor  and  the  nationalities  occupied  by  it  are  entirely 
distinct  from  those  of  existing  Synods,  we  trust  that  there  will 
be  no  further  occasion  of  strife  between  them  and  others.  The 
great  Northwest  is  broad  enough  for  all  to  enter  in  and  gather 
sheaves,  without  interfering  with  the  rights  of  others." 

On  the  return  of  the  Rev.  Prof.  Esbjorn  to  Sweden,  Dr. 
Passavant  writes,  July  23,  1863: 

"We  deeply  regret  to  announce  to  our  readers  that  this 
devout  and  honored  pastor  and  professor  has  finally  determined 
to  return  to  Sweden  and  devote  the  remaining  years  of  his 
ministry  to  the  service  of  the  Church  in  his  native  land.  When 
in  Chicago,  two  weeks  ago,  we  had  the  sad  pleasure  of  bidding 
him  adieu  previous  to  his  departure  for  New  York.  He  is  now 
probably  on  the  ocean  and,  should  it  please  God  to  give  him  a 
prosperous  journey,  he  will  soon  be  installed  as  pastor  in  the 
dear  old  'Hemlandet.'  In  coming  to  this  decision,  so  deeply 
painful  to  all  the  brethren  of  the  Augustana  Synod,  and  against 
which  they  publicly  and  privately  urged  every  possible  objec- 
tion, it  is  but  justice  to  Prof.  Esbjorn  to  remark  that  a  con- 
sciousness of  the  infirmity  of  increasing  age  had  much  to  do 
with  his  final  resolution.  For  nearly  fifteen  years  he  has  given 
his  whole  time  and  strength  to  the  missionary  work  among  his 
countrymen  in  the  West;  and  his  constitution,  greatly  impaired 
by  the  exhausting  labors  of  an  apostolic  ministry,  was,  in  his 
judgment,  at  least,  no  longer  equal  to  the  confinement  and 
exertion  of  the  lecture  room.  Having  been  the  first  of  our 
Swedish  Lutheran  pastors  in  America,  he  continued  most  faith- 
fully at  his  post  until  the  last,  successfully  carrying  his  classes 
tlirough  the  winter  and  spring  sessions  and  receiving  the  bene- 
dictions alike  of  its  Board  and  of  the  Synod.     His  departure 


WOEK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  375 

from  among  us  is,  humanly  speaking,  a  loss  to  our  American 
Church ;  his  return  to  Sweden  will  be  an  important  gain  to  the 
Church  at  home." 

To  Pastor  Norelius  he  writes  privately  after  the  Indian 
massacre  in  Minnesota: 

"Your  favor  of  the  second  has  been  read  with  much  sad 
interest  I  have  made  notice  of  the  information  received  in 
the  paper,  which  I  hope  may,  perhaps,  bring  in  some  material 
aid.  By  to-morrow  I  hope  to  send  a  box  of  articles  for  the 
families  of  missionaries  or  pastors  of  your  Synod.  In  the 
present  state  of  the  country  I  cannot  get  any  unmade  materials, 
these  being  harder  to  get  than  money,  and  with  the  collection 
of  that  I  am  more  than  occupied  with  my  different  orphan  and 
sick  families.  So  I  send  on  all  the  odds  and  ends  of  missionary 
boxes  which  I  have  received  for  some  time  past.  In  addition 
to  these  articles  I  have  put  in  some  warm  clothing  for  any  poor 
Scandinavians  or  other  sufferer  by  the  Indians  whom  you  may 
meet,  and  a  couple  of  warm  coats  which  may  answer  this  winter 
for  any  poor  brethren  who  have  no  overcoats.  .  .  .  Please 
keep  me  posted  up  in  matters  and  things  in  Minnesota.  I 
devoutly  pray  God  that  you  may  be  successful  in  providing 
for  those  poor  widows.  If  the  ministers  have  enough  bedding 
and  your  poor  widows  have  none  or  little,  you  can  transfer  to 
them.  Meanwhile  be  of  'good  cheer.'  God  will  yet  arise  and 
have  mercy  upon  Zion.  Let  us  work  on,  pray  on,  and  hope  on. 
How  thankful  would  I  be  to  see  an  Orphan  House  at  Lake 
Como!  Who  can  tell  but  that  my  orphan  investment  may  yet 
come  in  just  in  the  time  of  need?" 

And  again:  "I  write  to  request  that  you  would  immedi- 
ately inform  me  what  ones  of  your  Minnesota  Swedish  or  Nor- 
wegian ministers  are  most  in  need.  A  small  sum  of  money  has 
been  placed  in  my  hands  for  Western  missions,  and  at  this 
distance  I  must  rely  on  the  judgments  of  brethren.  Will  you, 
therefore,  give  me  the  post-office  address  of  all  the  Minnesota 
brethren,  and  write  opposite  each  a  brief  statement  of  about 
what  each  one  now  receives  and  whether  he  is  needy,  and,  also, 
whether  he  is  zealous  in  the  Master's  service.  Since  your  last, 
for  which  I  am  much  obliged,  I  have  received  a  box  of  clothing 
from  ladies  in  Dr.  Seiss'  church.  Are  any  of  your  brethren 
unsupplied  with  overcoats?  I  could  yet  supply  a  few,  and 
might  send  some  other  useful  things.     I  have  taken  the  liberty 


376  TEE  LIFE  OF   W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

to  pay  one  dollar  on  the  subscription  of  Dr.  Beckman  to  the 
Lutheran  and  Missionary,  and  also  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  to 
Brother  Henderson.  You  will  kindly  explain  that  these  sums 
were  given  me  to  apply  to  some  struggling  brother's  paper." 

Of  his  concern  and  anxiety  for  the  scattered  and  unsTiep- 
herded  Scandinavians  in  Minnesota,  he  writes: 

"But  I  must  close.  And  yet  I  cannot  close  without  an 
expression  of  the  deep  anxiety  which  I  feel  towards  you  and 
our  brethren  in  Minnesota.  In  these  last  sad  times,  when  so 
many  good  but  weak  men  are  led  about  by  the  thousand  forms 
of  error,  how  great  is  the  need  of  prayer  and  silent  looking 
unto  Christ  for  His  gracious  assistance  and  preservation !  Let 
us,  therefore,  pray  unceasingly  for  the  humility  of  Christ,  for 
the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  guide  us  into  all  truth,  and  for 
living,  satisfying  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  Only  God 
can  fortify  our  poor  dispersed  immigrants  against  the  wiles  of 
the  devil,  who  in  the  garb  of  an  angel  of  light  goes  about  as  a 
roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  ...  I  will 
send  you,  next  week,  one  hundred  Swedish  Testaments,  one 
hundred  Norwegian,  fifty  Swedish  Bibles  and  fifty  Norwegian. 
So  soon  as  they  arrive,  please  notice  in  your  paper;  they  are 
from  the  American  Bible  Society  and  are  to  be  distributed  either 
gratuitously  to  the  poor  or  sold  at  the  usual  cheap  rate  to  those 
who  can  buy.  You  may  mention  now  in  your  paper  that 
they  will  be  in  Red  Wing  by  the  fourth  of  July,  so  that  the 
brethren  can  take  them  home  with  them.  They  must  report 
sales  and  grants  to  you,  and  you  will  not  fail  to  report  to  me, 
first,  immediately  after  you  give  them  to  the  brethren,  and 
afterwards  when  they  write  to  you  the  particulars  of  the 
distribution.  All  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  should  be  sent  back 
to  me,  as  I  am  responsible  to  the  Society  for  them." 

During  the  succeeding  years  Mr.  Passavant  secured  and 
sent  a  number  of  boxes  of  clothing  and  provisions,  together 
with  considerable  money,  to  Mr.  Norelius,  to  be  distributed 
among  those  who  had  suffered  from  the  massacre. 

The  Swedish  Augustana  Synod  was  organized  in  1860.  Its 
Theological  Seminary  was  temporarily  located  at  Chicago.  In 
the  early  part  of  1863  one  thousand  acres  of  land  were  pur- 
chased from  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  six  dollars  per 
acre  at  Paxton,  111.,  about  100  miles  south  of  Chicago.  The 
plan  was  to  lay  out  the  land  in  city  lots,  sell  them,  and  with 


WOEK  AMONG   THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  377 

the  proceeds  to  build  and  equip  the  Seminary.  All  this  looked 
very  feasible  and  favorable.  "Papier  ist  geduldig,"  the  Ger- 
mans say ;  but  Dr.  Passavant  had  his  fears  and  misgivings.  In 
an  editorial,  May  19,  1863,  he  writes : 

"While  we  most  heartily  rejoice  in  the  favorable  issue  of 
this  long  and  anxiously  considered  project,  and  see  in  it  many 
evidences  of  the  care  and  providence  of  God,  we  at  the  same 
time  'rejoice  with  trembling.'  Indeed,  we  stand  in  painful 
doubt  of  all  plans  and  undertaking.s  which  look  so  hopeful  to 
the  natural  eye.  It  ought  not,  perhaps,  so  to  be;  for  we  know 
of  several  striking  exceptions;  but  on  the  other  hand  so  many 
promising  schemes  for  Christ  and  humanity  have  come  to 
nothing  that  the  exceptions  appear  but  to  establish  the  rule, 
'The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  a  grain  of  mustard,  which, 
indeed,  is  the  least  of  all  seeds.'  Let  not,  then,  our  dear 
Scandinavian  brethren  trust  less  in  God  than  in  the  dark  hour 
when  all  but  God  seemed  lost  to  their  view.  Let  not  pastors 
and  churches  forget  that  for  years  to  come  their  earnest  efifort 
must  be  put  forth  to  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the  Seminary 
and  its  students  by  the  free-will  offerings  of  the  people.  It  will 
require  time  and  exertion  to  pay  for  the  Seminary  land  which 
has  been  purchased.  It  will  require  toil  and  sacrifice  to  erect 
the  necessary  buildings.  It  will  require  instruction  and  appeals 
to  educate  and  support  the  candidates  for  the  schoolroom  and 
the  ministry.  The  location  is,  indeed,  admirable  and  the  land 
most  excellent,  but  if  pastoral  effort  is  relaxed  and  if  the  people 
imagine  the  Seminary  can  now  take  care  of  itself,  the  whole 
undertaking  will  be  a  failure.  But  we  think  better  things  of 
our  brethren,  though  we  thus  speak.  A  word  of  caution  and 
warning  may  not,  however,  be  in  vain,  for  more  hopeful  pros- 
pects even  than  these  have  been  hopelessly  blasted." 

How  well  his  fears  were  grounded  is  shown  by  the  after- 
history  of  the  Seminary. 

The  Swedes,  it  seems,  had  intended  also  to  open  an 
orphans'  home  about  the  same  time  that  they  opened  their 
institution  of  learning  in  Paxton,  111.  Later  on,  when  they 
thought  they  were  ready  to  begin,  they  felt  their  need  of  counsel 
and  naturally  turned  again  to  Dr.  Passavant. 

Their  appeal  was  not  in  vain.  Dr.  Passavant  recommends 
the  project.  Always  "pious  towards  land,"  as  he  himself  ex- 
presses it,  he   advises   the   securing  of   a  large   tract   for  the 


378  THE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 

institution,  encourages  them  to  go  forward  with  implicit  re- 
liance on  the  Father  of  the  fatherless,  and  prays  God's  richest 
blessing   on   the   undertaking. 

About  this  time  the  Swedes  were  contemplating  the  found- 
ing of  a  second  orphanage  in  Minnesota,  and  again  they  con- 
sulted Dr.  Passavant.  He  writes  several  lengthy  letters,  goes 
into  the  subject  fully  and  canvasses  the  whole  ground.  He 
K^minds  them  that  the  most  important  thing  is  not  grounds, 
buildings,  money  or  even  orphans,  but  the  proper  persons  to 
direct  and  man  the  institution.  He  advises  against  a  new  home 
t.nd  counsels  concentration  on  and  a  more  liberal  support  of 
the  one  which  had  been  established  at  Paxton. 

Pastor  Norelius  had  favored  colonizing  the  Swedes  into 
settlements.  He  consulted  Dr.  Passavant,  and  the  Doctor  again 
advises  caution  and  careful  preparation.     He  writes: 

"I  too  have  had  such  fond  and  poetical  plans  about  colonies 
in  my  head.  But  after  studying  the  whole  matter  philosophic- 
ally and  practically  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  they 
are  nothing.  Only  two  things  can  give  success  to  such  colonies. 
Either  a  little  exclusive  fanaticism  or  an  extraordinary  degree 
of  pure  and  undefiled  religion.  The  friction  is  too  great  be- 
cause of  the  too  great  contact  and  intimacy.  I  find  it  much 
easier  to  colonize  people  around  a  church  in  a  good  location,  by 
getting  a  devoted  pastor  and  a  good  school  as  a  center.  People 
will  buy  land  in  such  localities  and  will  be  better  satisfied  than 
by  making  a  joint-stock  concern  with  anyone  else.  Had  I  time, 
I  could  give  you  many  facts  on  this  subject  of  a  very  singular 
and  fanciful  nature." 

In  a  later  letter  he  writes: 

"You  know  how  fully  I  sympathize  with  the  general  plan 
of  a  colony  and  that  the  general  idea  of  its  location  in  northern 
Iowa  or  southern  Minnesota  has  long  been  a  favorite  one  with  me. 
So  many  possibilities  must  be  carefully  looked  to  in  its  par- 
ticular location  that  I  can  now  only  drop  a  word  of  caution. 
First,  let  the  title  of  the  land  be  beyond  doubt.  Don't  touch  it 
unless  the  legal  evidence  is  brought  by  the  selling  party  duly 
signed  and  sealed  by  the  court  officers.  Secondly,  good  land, 
good  water,  plenty  of  fuel,  and  tolerable  means  of  access  are  all- 
important.  If  possible,  get  on  a  railroad.  Thirdly,  a  healthful 
location.  This  is  a  sine  qua  non  for  such  a  plan  and,  finally, 
undisturbed  possession  and  no  sectarian,  worldly,  or  proselyting 
English  people  on  the  ground.     In  other  "words,  let  the  settle- 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  379 

ment  be  a  Scandinavian  one,  where  you  can  carry  out  your 
Lutheran  ideas  of  parochial  education  without  opposition  and 
your  religious  ideas,  without  the  annoying  presence  of  hungry 
sects  who  wait  to  entrap  your  people.  I  charge  you  by  the  Lord 
not  to  care  a  straw  for  any  offer  of  land  or  money  which  in- 
volves an  overlooking  of  these  most  important  considerations. 
Moreover,  do  not  locate  unless  you  can  clearly  gain  these  points. 
The  offer  of  the  Railroad  Co.  is  all  well,  but  four  fourths  is 

what  you  must  have  if  you  are  going  to  succeed By  all 

means,  dear  brother,  guard  against  those  rascally  Yankees  and 
sharpers  with  which  the  West  abounds.  Promises  are  a  perfect 
humbug  in  America.  I  would  have  a  printed  legal  article  drawn 
up  in  which  they  bind  themselves  to  sell  for  so  much  the  tract 
numbering  so  and  so  and  the  lands  they  agree  to  donate.  Every 
mother's  son  of  them  would  have  to  sign  it  or  I  would  not  give 
a  farthing  for  a  ship  load  of  their  promises.  I  know  these 
scamps  and  hence  my  anxiety  on  this  subject.  I  would  not  trust 
any  land  speculators  or  Railroad  Co.  further  than  I  had  them 
tight  in  a  legal  vise." 

He  was  also  instrumental  in  securing  the  land  in  Carver, 
Minn.,  on  which  was  located  the  school  which  grew  into  Gustavus 
Adolphus  College.     He  writes  to  Norelius: 

"I  have  the  promise  of  eighty  acres  of  land  for  your 
school  in  Carver.  It  is  in  the  Still  Water  District.  I  await  more 
specific  information  in  order  to  get  a  deed  made  out.  My  idea 
is  that  it  should  be  deeded  to  you  and  brother  Jackson  for  the 
benefit  of  the  school.  Please  let  me  have  views  on  this  point. 
Possibly  I  may  get  some  more  of  the  same  sort." 

Of  a  visit  to  the  Augustana  Synod  in  session  at  Rockford, 
he  writes: 

"By  four  hours'  midnight  travel  from  Chicago  we  were 
enabled  to  look  in  upon  our  brethren  in  this  large  Swedish  body 
on  Monday  morning,  June  22,  in  the  city  of  Rockford,  111. 
What  a  spectacle  met  our  view.  The  representatives  of  upwards 
of  four  hundred  churches,  with  more  than  two  hundred  pastors 
and  students,  assembled  in  the  first  Swedish  Lutheran  Church, 
a  large  and  elegant  Gothic  structure,  second  to  no  Lutheran 
church  in  size,  finish,  and  churchly  appointments  in  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  At  our  first  visit  to  Rockford  some  years  ago, 
a  small  frame  church  contained  both  congregations  and  Synod, 
and  now  three  large  Swedish  churches  with  their  own.  pastors 
occupy  the  field.    And  the  Synod !  What  a  change !  It  was  more 


380  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

like  a  dream  than  a  reality.  Already  a  week  in  session,  they 
were  to  remain  a  week  longer,  to  look  after  the  diversified  in- 
terests of  their  institutions  and  churches.  They  had  come  to 
study  and  work  and  worship,  and  they  meant  to  stay  and  attend 
to  what  was  committed  to  their  care.  The  same  old  brethren, 
with  Pastor  Carlson  again  in  the  chair  as  their  president  were 
there,  but  also  a  multitude  of  new  ministers,  strangers  indeed 
but  yet  brethren  in  the  unity  of  the  faith  and  working  for  one 
and  the  same  high  end,  to  hold  forth  the  Word  of  Life  and  lead 
men  to  God.  Kindly  introduced  to  the  Sj^nod  by  the  President, 
we  endeavored  to  make  an  address,  but  the  car  wheels  seemed 
to  whirl  around  in  our  brains  and  the  ideas  were  confused  and 
words  were  broken.  But  the  one  thought  which  was  foremost 
was,  that  the  whole  future  of  the  Synod  depended  on  the  fidelity 
which  is  manifested  in  preaching  the  Divine  Word,  and  espe- 
cially the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  And  in  proof,  we  pointed  to  the 
fact,  that,  at  first,  without  schools  or  students,  without  means, 
without  any  social  position  or  surroundings  and  solely  by  the 
preaching  of  this  blessed  Word,  the  Synod  had  not  only  main- 
tained itself  and  become  a  powerful  body  but  it  had  obtained 
one  victory  after  another  over  earth  and  hell,  now  struggling  for 
its  ovTn  life  against  unhealthy  elements  from  within ;  now  meet- 
ing ancient  errors  revived  in  the  Fatherland  and  brought  over 
to  our  own  shores!  now  resisting  the  wiles  of  a  plausible  secta- 
rianism which  compassed  sea  and  land  to  make  a  proselyte,  and 
again  making  head  against  the  more  dangerous  materialism  of 
the  times  which  threatened  to  engulf  the  best  energies  of  their 
people  in  a  common  destruction." 

Dr.  Passavant  was  in  a  certain  sense  the  founder  and 
starter  of  the  English  Lutheran  work  which  grew  into  the 
Synod  of  the  Northwest.  He  had  for  several  years  b^.'en  urging 
the  importance  of  occupying  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul.  When 
Pastor  Trabert  was  called  by  the  Mission  Board  as  the  first 
English  missionary  west  of  the  Mississippi  and  finally  accepted 
the  call,  he  found  that  the  Doctor  had  been  there  two  years 
earlier,  purchased  a  large  lot  and  then  purchased  an  old  Swed- 
ish church  and  had  it  moved  upon  the  lot.  When  the  church 
was  opened  as  St.  John's  English  Lutheran  church.  Dr.  Passa- 
vant was  invited  to  be  present.  Of  his  trip  and  the  new  mission 
he  writes : 

"The  old  route  from  Pittsburg  to  Milwaukee  was  taken 
for     the     eighty-ninth     time     in     the     last     twenty     years. 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  381 

What  changes  in  the  farms,  villages  and  cities  traversed 
by  the  railroads  since  then!  Chicago  has  quadrupled  its  pop- 
ulation, Milwaukee  has  more  than  doubled  its  inhabitants. 
Villages  along  the  route  have  grown  into  cities,  and  cities  have 
outgrown  and  overgrown  all  municipal  and  natural  boundaries. 
It  is  as  if  one  had  lived  in  two  worlds,  to  have  traversed  these 
regions  in  the  past  and  in  the  present.  The  development  of 
every  industrial  interest  is  indescribable  because  inconceivable 
unless  accompanied  by  the  facts  and  figures  which  demonstrate 
this  wondrous  growth  of  this  Eastern  world. 

"At  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  St.  John's  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran,  church,  formerly  the  Swedish  church,  was 
again  opened  for  divine  service.  The  church,  after  its  removal 
from  Washington  Street,  had  been  occupied  by  the  Swedish 
brethren,  and  after  their  removal  into  their  new  church  it  was 
neatly  calcimined  and  otherwise  repaired  and  improved.  Al- 
though this  work  is  not  yet  complete,  it  is  at  present  a  comfort- 
able and  capacious  church,  its  dimensions  being  thirty-five  by 
seventy,  with  steeple,  a  gallery  and  chancel.  Two  years  ago 
v/e  carefully  examined  the  various  locations  in  the  city,  and 
with  the  advice  of  reliable  business  men  purchased  two  lots  on 
the  corner  of  Eighth  Ave.,S.  andFifth  St.,  with  a  frontage  of  132 
and  a  depth  of  165  feet.  The  purchase  of  the  Swedish  church 
and  its  removal,  together  with  these  two  valuable  lots  and  the 
parsonage  on  it,  cost  nine  thousand  dollars.  This  sum  we 
borrowed  from  parties  in  Pittsburg  who  were  deeply  interested 
in  the  establishment  of  an  English  Lutheran  church  in  Min- 
neapolis. The  increase  of  values,  owing  to  the  rapid  growth  of 
Ihe  city,  has  been  so  great  since  then  that  eighteen  thousand 
dollars  would  be  a  moderate  estimate  of  the  worth  of  this 
property  with  the  church  and  parsonage  upon  it." 

There  had  been  a  sad  division  and  defection  in  the  Luth- 
eran State  Church  of  Sweden.  Peter  Waldenstrom,  a  gifted 
and  eloquent  preacher  in  Sweden,  began  to  preach  against  the 
deadness  and  formalism  of  the  State  Church.  He  made  great 
professions  of  a  superior  grade  and  amount  of  piety.  He  thus 
drew  around  himself  many  impressible  followers,  among  whom 
were  enrolled  all  who  had  a  grudge  or  quarrel  against  any 
minister  or  congregation  of  the  State  Church.  There  doubtless 
was  much  coldness  and  worldliness  in  the  State  Church  and 
among  its  ministers.     But  this  gave  Waldenstrom  no  right  to 


382  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

create  a  schism  and  rend  the  body  of  Christ.  Why  did  he  not 
do  as  Hans  Nilson  Hauge  had  done  in  Norway?  That  conse- 
crated Lutheran  remained  in  the  Church,  tried  to  revive  her 
from  within,  and  never  preached  seperation  or  schism.  But 
Waldenstrom  soon  disclosed  the  animus  of  his  opposition.  He 
was  out  of  harmony  with  some  of  the  fundamental  evangelical 
doctrines  of  his  Church.  He  denied  the  vicarious  atonement 
which  is  the  foundation  of  the  doctrine  of  Justification  by 
Faith.     He  was  drifting  towards  Socinianism  and  moralism. 

Some  over-zealous  Congregationaiists  learned  of  the  disaf- 
fection in  Sweden,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery,  of  Minneap- 
olis, was  sent  to  Sweden  to  exploit  the  Seperatists  in  favor  of 
American  Congregationalism.  As  a  result  of  his  trip,  on  which 
he  had  been  careful  to  avoid  loyal  Lutheran  ministers,  scores 
of  whom  were  deeply  spiritual  and  consecrated  servants  of 
Christ  but  had  consulted  and  counseled  with  the  enemies  of  the 
established  Church,  he  wrote  a  book  called  "A  Wind  from  the 
Holy   Spirit." 

It  might  be  hard  to  find  a  book  more  full  of  misunderstand- 
ing, misrepresentation  and  baseless  assertion.  The  whole  book 
belies,  betrays,  slanders  and  raises  injurious  reports  against  a 
Church  that  had  brought  inner  peace  and  outward  prosperity, 
marvelous  intelligence,  happiness  and  beauty  of  character  to 
millions  of  her  sons  and  daughters,  a  Church  that  had  made 
Sweden  a  crown  jewel  among  the  nations. 

And  yet  these  false  and  misleading  reports  were  made  the 
basis  for  an  organized  effort  to  proselyte  the  Swedes  and  win 
them  away  from  the  Church  of  the  Reformation. 

Dr.  Passavant  watched  these  efforts  and  was  righteously 
indignant.    Here  is  part  of  an  editorial  of  July  16,  1885 : 

"For  the  thinnest  kind  of  superficial  religionism,  of  the 
'sanding  the  sugar  and  watering  the  molasses'  kind,  commend 
us  to  some  of  our  modern  Yankees  who  are  just  now  'working 
up'  the  so-called  Waldenstromian  errorists  in  Sweden  and  in 
this  country,  and  making  them  believe  that  they  are  Congre- 
gationaiists. The  following  precious  bit  of  information  shows 
■what  kind  of  talk  is  employed  to  blind  their  own  honest  people 
and  get  them  to  endow  professorships  for  the  training  of 
ministers  for  these  poor  Scandinavian  (Lutheran)  heathen. 

''The  Christian  Union  says:  'The  Chicago  Theological 
Seminary    (Congregational)    has   already   established    German, 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  383 

Swedish,  Danish  and  Norwegian  departments,  not  yet  endowed, 
to  provide  for  the  work  that  must  be  done  among  these  people. 
Oberlin  is  preparing  to  do  likewise.  These  immigrants  are 
open  to  the  light  and  liberty  of  a  Protestant  faith:  Germans 
are  here  from  the  land  of  Luther,  Bohemians  from  the  land  of 
Huss,  Scandinavians  from  the  land  of  Gustavus  Adolphus. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  meeting  was  the 
report  of  a  special  committee  of  their  visit  to  the  Independent 
or  Free  Church  of  Sweden  and  Dr.  Montgomery's  account  of 
their  life  and  work  in  this  country.  Their  natural  affiliation 
is  with  the  Congregationalists,  to  whom  they  must  look,  if  any- 
where, for  fellowship  and  aid.  A  conunittee  was  appointed  to 
extend  to  the  churches  in  Sweden  the  greetings  of  the  Congrega- 
gational  body.' 

"It  seems  'their  natural  affiliation  is  with  the  Congrega- 
tionalists. '  Why  so  ?  Is  it  because  they  are  independent  of  State 
control?  So  are  all  the  churches  of  the  Augustana  Synod  and 
in  addition,  more  truly  'Congregational'  than  even  the  so-called 
Congregational  churches.  If  'their  natural  affiliation  is  with 
the  Congregationalists'  because  of  doctrine,  then  these  modern 
Congregationalists  have  simply  denied  the  first  principles  of 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  and  become  gross  errorists! 

"But  it  is  'fellowship  and  aid'  they  need!  The  Lutheran 
church  in  Sweden  and  this  country  is  ever  ready  and  concerned 
to  give  to  these,  her  erring  children,  both  fellowship  and  aid  by 
the  ministry  of  the  pure  Gospel  and  thus  to  restore  to  them  the 
joys  of  Christ's  salvation.  Thousands  who  were  sadly  misled 
by  the  gifted  Waldenstrom  have  already  returned  to  the  Shep- 
herd and  Bishop  of  their  souls  and  thousands  more  will  be  re- 
covered by  the  same  saving  means  if  their  evil  is  not  pronounced 
good  and  the  soul-destroying  errors  of  their  leaders  are"  not 
sanctified  by  the  name  of  a  respected  denomination.  As  for  those 
who  deny  the  Lord  that  bought  them  and  put  His  atonement  to 
an  open  shame,  they  deserve  neither  'fellowship  nor  aid'  from 
the  Congregationalists  or  other  believers  in  Christ." 

During  all  his  long  and  useful  life,  Mr.  Passavant  was 
ready  to  defend  his  Church  against  the  slanders  of  her  enemies 
as  well  as  against  the  proselyting  efforts  of  those  who,  under 
pretense  of  pious  zeal,  were  trying  to  alienate  her  children  to 
another  faith.  In  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Baird  had  gloried  in  the  fact  that  $46,000  had  been  appro- 
priated by  the  Methodist  Missionary  Society  of  New  York  for 


384  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

the  support  of  missionaries  among  the  Germans  in  the  bounds 
of  the  M.  E.  church  north  and  $10,500  for  a  like  work  among 
the  Swedes  and  Norwegians  in  the  west.  Dr.  Baird,  as  is  usual 
with  all  proselyters,  had  claimed  that  the  Germans  are  nearly 
all  infidels  and  rationalists,  and  that  the  Scandinavian  Luth- 
erans were  destitute  of  a  living  and  spiritual  religion.  In  his 
righteously  indignant  and  warm  defence,  Mr.  Passavant  writes 
in  the  Missionary : 

"In  many  of  the  settlements  and  towns,  where  the  Ger- 
man Methodist  Missionaries  operate,  we  already  have  faithful 
ministers  who  are  seeking  to  save  and  bless  their  countrymen. 
This  is  a  fact  which  is  so  well  known  that  it  will  not  be  denied. 
Now,  are  we  to  understand  Dr.  Baird,  because  the  right  and  the 
duty  of  going  to  all  the  world  and  preaching  the  gospel  to 
every  creature  is  freely  conceded,  that  it  is  considered  brotherly 
and  Christian  to  go  to  places  which  are  already  supplied  with 
an  Evangelical  ministry?  Surely,  some  courtesy  is  due  to  each 
other  on  this  point  among  the  Evangelical  Protestant  churches 
of  our  land,  and  there  is  no  excuse  for  the  existence  of  rival 
churches  and  ministers  in  every  petty  place.  It  is  against  these 
unhappy  divisions  and  the  consequent  injury  done  to  our  com- 
mon Christianity  which  is  the  result  of  such  a  policy,  that  we 
protest,  and  not  against  the  Methodist  church  or  any  other 
church  for  compassionating  the  multitudes  of  our  foreign  popu- 
lations, many  of  whom  are  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd 

"With  the  exception  of  two  or  three,  all  of  these  are  la- 
boring in  the  northwest,  and  in  most  places,  too,  we  deeply  re- 
gret to  add,  where  we  already  have  as  faithful  Evangelical  and 
devoted  ministers  as  the  world  can  produce.  The  Scandinavians 
being,  with  very  few  exceptions  already  Lutheran,  our  brethren 
feel  deeply  aggrieved  that  such  an  organized  system  of  prose- 
lytism  should  be  carried  on  in  the  bosom  of  their  congregation 
and  that,  too,  without  the  shadow  of  an  excuse.  "We  assured 
some  of  them  during  our  visit  west  that  the  executive  committee 
of  the  Missionary  Society  in  New  York  certainly  was  not 
cognizant  of  all  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  must  be  imposed  upon 
in  many  instances  by  the  representations  of  unworthy  men  who 
found  it  easier  to  make  a  living  by  missionating  at  a  good  salary 
than  by  laboring  with  their  hands. 

"Is  it  strange  that  our  ministers  should  feel  deeply  ag- 
grieved under  the  operation  of  such  a  system?  If  the  Lutheran 
Church  were  to  organize  a  propagandism  of  this  kind  and  sup- 


WORK  AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  385 

port  missionaries  in  settlements  of  Americans  or  English,  where 
all  were  in  nominal  connection  with  the  Methodist  church  and 
in  which  Methodist  ministers  were  faithfully  laboring  amid 
many  privations,  we  would  lift  up  our  feeble  voice  against  such 
a  wrong  and  denounce  it  as  unworthy  of  Christian  encourage- 
ment. But  if,  in  honestly  endeavoring  to  carry  the  Gospel  to 
the  spiritually  destitute,  the  officers  of  our  Missionary  Society 
were  imposed  upon  by  persons  unworthy  of  confidence,  who, 
instead  of  doing  their  appropriate  work,  would  invade  the 
congregations  of  others  and  by  means  of  a  support  from  abroad 
would  organize  rival  societies  and  erect  altar  against  altar,  we 
should  be  thankful  to  anyone  who  would  make  us  aware  of  such 
facts.  But  because  we  have  done  this  very  thing  in  the  case 
of  the  Methodist  church,  we  are  published  to  the  world  as  striv- 
ing 'to  cast  odium  on  the  work,  and  prejudice  the  missionary 
cause  before  the  public'  Now  to  this  we  refuse  to  plead  guilty. 
We  must  and  will  'cast  odium'  on  all  such  un-Christian  con- 
duct as  that  which  we  have  described,  but  until  we  have  very 
good  evidence  to  the  contrary  we  are  unwilling  to  believe  that 
such  abuses  are  known,  much  less  approved,  by  the  officers  of 
the  Methodist  Missionary  Society." 

As  a  noble  example  on  the  other  side,  the  next  number  of 
the  Missionary  has  this  editorial: 

"The  Right  Spirit. 

"The  following  letter  from  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Wis- 
consin is  so  Christian  in  its  spirit  and  so  truly  fraternal  in  its 
object  that,  although  private,  we  cannot  withhold  it  from  our 
readers.  Would  that  this  co-operative  and  catholic  spirit  were 
more  widely  prevalent,  then  would  our  church  be  at  once  en- 
couraged and  provoked  to  enlarged  efforts  in  the  gigantic  work 
before  her  of  supplying  the  spiritual  destitution  which  meets 
us  on  every  side.  We  need  scarcely  add  that  we  have  answered 
this  letter  favorably,  and  assured  the  writer  that  no  effort  will 
be  spared  to  send  a  suitable  missionary  to  this  field. 

'Superior  City,  Wis.,  Jan.  20,  1857. 
Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant: 

Excuse  the  liberty  which  I  take,  though  unacquainted,  in 
writing  to  you.  My  object  is  to  advance  our  common  cause, 
the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  I  have  been  laboring  here  for  the 
last  eighteen  months  as  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  during  this 
time  the  population  has  increased  from  300  to  about  1500.  Our 


386  THE  LIFE  OF   W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

location  is  at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior.  Our  harbor  is  ex- 
cellent, and  in  two  years  from  next  July  a  railroad  is  to  be  com- 
pleted from  this  point  to  the  IMississippi  River.  A  glance  at 
the  map  will  show  you  the  importance  of  our  position.  Not 
a  few  of  our  population  are  Germans  and  a  number  are  Luth- 
erans. I  was  talking  with  a  German  today  who  thinks  that 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty  families  are  connected  with  the 
Lutheran  Church,  all  directly  from  Germany.  We  as  Ameri- 
cans cannot  reach  them,  yet  it  is  most  important  that  they  be 
brought  under  the  influence  of  the  Gospel,  and  no  other  Church 
can  do  this  so  successfully  as  yours,  and  naturally  they  belong 
to  it.  I  therefore  write  to  know  whether  you  could  send  us  a 
Lutheran  minister  in  the  spring,  and  if  so,  whether  the  Mission- 
ary Socitey  of  your  church  would  contribute  part  of  his  sup- 
port and  how  much.     It  w^ould  require  about dollars  for 

a  man  to  live  here,  but  I  am  unable  to  say  how  much  the  Ger- 
mans could  raise  for  his  support.  Much  would  depend  on  the 
character  of  the  person  who  was  sent.  If  he  were  an  honest 
and  faithful  minister,  I  have  no  doubt  the  Americans  would 
contribute  to  his  support.  I  would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you 
on  this  subject,  and  any  information  I  can  impart,  I  will  be 

happy  to  give My  address  is  Superior,  Wisconsin. 

J.  I\I.  Barnett.' 

The  Doctor  had  taken  a  deep  interest  in  the  Icelandic 
Lutherans  of  the  Northwest  from  the  beginning  of  their  immi- 
gration. He  had  entered  into  correspondence  with  their 
scholarly  leaders  and  had  become  personally  acquainted  with 
their  students.  He  understood  and  appreciated  their  native 
talents,  their  piety,  thrift  and  sterling  character.  He  knew 
that  they  also  would  form  an  important  factor  in  the  future  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  In  the  Workman  of  Nov.  9,  1893,  we 
find  this  editorial: 

"The  Icelanders  in  the  Northwest. 

"It  was  our  privilege  to  meet  the  Rev.  Pastors  Bergman 
and  Peturson,  of  the  Icelandic  Synod,  during  their  late  visit 
in  Chicago,  and  'to  be  somewhat  filled  with  their  company.' 
They  speak  hopefully  of  the  work  among  their  countrymen 
and  are  much  encouraged  by  the  prospect  of  additional  la- 
borers. Of  the  six  now  in  preparation  for  the  ministry  at  our 
colleges  and  seminaries,  all  will  be  able  to  officiate  both  in  Ice- 
landic and  English.     One  by  one  the  present  vacant  fields  can 


WORK  AMONG  TEE  SCANDINAVIANS.  387 

thus  be  occupied  and  the  incoming  immigrants  will  be  pro- 
vided with  faithful  pastors. 

"It  is  a  source  of  general  thanksgiving  that  the  present 
Pastor,  John  Bjarnesson,  of  Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  is  so  far  re- 
covered that  he  could  return  to  his  home  in  that  city  and  once 
more  be  among  his  people,  even  though  nearly  all  of  the  ser- 
vices must  be  conducted  by  his  assistant.  The  large  missionary 
field  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Bergman  in  North  Dakota,  across  the  line, 
has  been  divided  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sigurdson,  of  the  Chicago 
Seminary,  is  working  successfully  in  his  new  charge.  The  Rev. 
B.  B.  Johnson,  the  traveling  missionary  of  the  Synod,  has  been 
busily  engaged  in  visiting  the  remote  Icelandic  settlements,  and 
has  been  both  a  blessing  and  a  consolation  to  many  poor  people. 
In  one  instance  he  found  a  settlement  fifty  miles  from  any 
railroad  with  a  congregation  which  had  never  yet  been  visited 
by  any  minister  during  the  six  years  of  its  organization !  During 
the  coming  months,  he  will  supply  the  four  congregations  of 
Pastor  Thorlackson  in  Minnesota,  during  his  absence  in  Nor- 
way. 

"The  Rationalist  movement  to  which  we  have  before  re- 
ferred, is  happily  on  the  wane.  Since  it  developed  into  Unitar- 
ianism,  and  was  thus  organized,  it  has  lived  by  means  of  the 
Missionary  appropriations  of  the  Unitarian  church.  But  it  is 
without  any  moral  significance.  Both  of  its  missionaries  were 
of  intemperate  habits,  and  the  one  in  Winnipeg  recently  died. 
In  fact,  the  whole  affair  is  another  illustration  of  the  de- 
ceptions which  are  played  upon  certain  denominations  by  the 
unworthy  subjects  who  abandon  their  church  or  are  compelled 
to  leave  because  of  their  unbelief,  or  for  other  causes  which  need 
not  be  named.  Meanwhile,  though  the  Church  loses  its  mem- 
bers for  a  season,  she  eventually  gains  both  in  number  and  in 
spiritual  power.  All  such  movements  lead  to  the  establishing 
of  her  members  in  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  There  can  be  only 
one  ending  to  all  controversies  about  the  faith  in  Christ:  'The 
world  passeth  away  and  the  lust  thereof,  but  the  Word  of  the 
Lord  abideth  forever'." 

In  a  letter  to  his  son  William  on  his  o\\ti  seventieth  birth- 
day, he  gives  his  estimate  of  notoriety-seekers  who  try  to  get 
themselves  on  every  program  and  into  the  colunms  of  every 
possible  paper.    He  also  gives  an  estimate  of  his  owti  life : 

"They  had  a  grand  'carousal'  at  the  Deaconess  House  in 
P to  which  I  was  pressingly  invited  last  week,  but  I 


388  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

could  not  go,  neither  could  I  leave  for  the  laying  of  the  comer 
stone  of  the  new  building  at  the  Wartburg.  I  am  so  foot-sore,  and 
so  weary  of  these  ever-lasting  journeys  and  speechmakings,  that 
I  preferred  to  stay  at  home  and  attend  to  mother  and  the  paper 
and  many  other  things.  Little  M.  from  Washington,  D.  C, 
and  the  inevitable  B  were  there,  both  making  speeches ! !  My 
soul  is  sick  of  these  notoriety-seekers!  Oh,  it  makes  me  long 
for  the  spirit  of  Him  who  after  his  miracles  'went  and  hid  him- 
self.' Today,  dear  son,  was  my  birthday.  I  am  now  sixty-nine 
years  old  and  am  traveling  towards  seventy.  The  remembrance 
of  much  of  my  life  is  very  unsatisfactory.  It  has  been  so  largely 
a  failure,  on  account  of  many  causes,  most  of  which,  I  grieve 
to  say,  have  a  common  root,  the  lack  of  an  unshaken  faith  in 
God.  I  can  only  ask  God  for  forgiveness  and  hope  that  the 
remainder  of  my  life  may  be  crowTied  with  the  divine  mercy 
to  such  an  extent  that  the  incompleteness  of  it  may  be  covered 
and  that  God  may  receive  the  praise  for  what  has  been  done 
in  His  name  and  for  his  glory." 


TEE  FOUNDING  OF  3IILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.    389 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE   FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE   HOSPITAL. 

On  his  first  trip  to  the  then  far  West  in  1850,  Dr.  Passa- 
vant  met  the  Rev.  J.  Miiehlhaeuser.  This  saintly  German  who 
had  been  imprisoned  for  his  faith  in  Austria  and  who  was  now 
pastor  of  Grace  German  Lutheran  Church,  Milwaukee,  directed 
the  attention  of  young  Passavant  to  the  need  of  a  hospital  in 
that  city.  The  latter  began  to  canvass  the  subject  at  once,  but 
was  hastily  called  to  Pittsburg  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  cholera. 
The  project,  however,  never  left  his  mind  or  that  of  pastor  JMuehl- 
haeuser.  For  ten  years  the  matter  was  prayed  over,  planned 
and  hoped  for  by  these  two  godly  men.  Of  the  providential 
opening,  the  feeble,  laborious,  and  heroic  beginning  of  this 
western  porch  of  mercy,  destined  in  the  providence  of  God  to 
grow  into  one  of  the  most  magnificent  hospital  properties  in  the 
West,  with  a  well-equipped  and  prosperous  deaconess  Mother 
House  attached,  we  shall  let  the  founder  tell  the  story,  as 
published  in  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary,  Dec.  10,  1863: 

"The  want  of  a  hospital  in  this  city,  under  Protestant 
influences,  has  been  long  and  painfully  felt  alike  by  pastors 
and  people.  On  several  occasions,  through  the  efforts  of  Rev. 
J.  Muehlhaeuser,  the  attention  of  the  public  had  been  directed 
to  this  subject,  and  at  one  time  the  plans  for  a  building  were 
procured.  Through  unforeseen  causes,  however,  the  undertaking 
was  suffered  to  die  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  labored  for  it. 
In  1850  we  visited  Milwaukee  and  were  engaged  in  selecting  a 
site  when  the  breaking  out  of  the  cholera  in  Pittsburg  suddenly 
recalled  us  home  and  arrested  further  proceedings.  Then  again 
in  1855,  in  answer  to  an  urgent  appeal  from  Pastor  Muehl- 
haueser  to  come  to  Milwaukee  and  make  a  commencement,  in 
our  inability  to  comply  with  his  request,  we  sent  him  a  dollar, 
urging  him  to  begin  with  this,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  telling 
him  for  his  encouragement  that  the  first  donation  to  our 
hospital  was  only  twenty-two  cents.  Four  years  later  a  German 
lady  added  another  dollar  to  this  small  fund  and  here  the  work 
remained  until  last  spring.  A  case  of  extreme  suffering  and 
exposure  again  called  the  attention  of  Pastor  Muehlhaeuser  to 


390  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

this  subject,  and  he  once  more  wrote  us  stating  that  the  time 
had  certainly  come  when  something  must  be  done  for  the  suffer- 
ing members  of  our  Lord's  body  and  the  numerous  cases  of 
those  who  were  yet  without.     His  letter  was  laid  before  the 
Board   of  IManagement  of  the   Deaconess   Institution,   and   its 
Director  was  instructed  to  visit  Milwaukee  and  report  on  the 
facts  in  the  case.     This  was  accordingly  done  in  May  last,  and 
at  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board,  on  our  return,  it  was  un- 
animously resolved  that  the  Deaconess  Institution,  in  reliance 
upon  the  most  high  God,  at  once  proceed  to  the  establishment 
of  a  hospital  in  the  city  of  Milwaukee.    At  the  same  time  Rev. 
J.  M.  Schladermundt  who  was  providentially  disengaged  at  the 
time  M^as  elected  as  the  provisional  Director  and,   having  ac- 
cepted this  unsought  position,  in  a  few  days  afterwards  pro- 
ceeded  to   his   field   of   labor.     A   few   weeks    later,    in   June, 
we  made  a  second  journey  to  Milwaukee  in  order  to  rent  a  suit- 
able house  and  if  possible  open  a  small  hospital.     This  on  trial, 
however,  proved  impossible.    Vacant  houses  were  not  only  diffi- 
cult to  find,  but  for  such  a  purpose  could  not  be  obtained  at 
all.    At  this  stage  of  the  undertaking  it  appeared  as  if  we  were 
beset  with  insuperable   difficulties.     There  was  no  alternative 
but  to   purchase  property  or  abandon  the  enterprise.     After 
going  thus  far,  the  last  could  not  be  thought  of,  and  yet,  to  buy 
without  money  was  only  the  least  of  two  troubles.     What  and 
where  to  buy  was  the  subject  of  most  anxious  solicitude.     In 
vain  did  we  examine  various  properties  and  compare  their  re- 
spective   advantages.      One    was    without    suitable    buildings: 
another  was  without  any  building,  a  third  was  not  centrally 
located,  a  fourth  was  held  above  its  value.     After  a  wearisome 
search  of  days,  not  a  ray  of  light  shone  upon  our  path.     Oh, 
how  gladly  we  would  have  taken  the  first  train  and  hastened 
home  from  the  perplexities  of  this  hour.    It  was  then,  however, 
that  man's  extremity  again  proved  to  be  God's  opportunity. 
"When  we  had  done  our  utmost  and  utterly  failed  a  carriage 
was  driven  to  Pastor  Muehlhaeuser's  by  one  of  his  members 
who  had  accidentally  heard  of  a  property  about  to  be  offered 
for  sale  on  account  of  the  recent  death  of  the  owner.     After  a 
short   drive  we  reached  the  outskirts   of   the   city,   entered   a 
gateway,  and  soon  alighted  before  a  large  brick  edifice  on  an 
eminence  which  commanded  a  charming  view  of  the  whole  city 
and  the  blue  sky  and  lake  beyond.     A  careful  examination  of 
the  buildings  and  grounds  fully  convinced  us  that  a  most  de- 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     391 

sirable  location  for  the  hospital  had  been  found,  and  yet,  in 
returning  home,  the  heart  was  oppressed  by  the  conscious- 
ness of  our  inability  to  purchase  a  property,  the  intrinsic 
value  of  which  could  not  be  less  that  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
The  administrators  were,  however,  visited,  the  terms  of  the 
sale  received,  and  the  whole  subject  committed  to  the  direction 
of  God  during  the  hours  of  the  Lord's  Day,  which  followed 
this  week  of  anxious  toil. 

"The  location  so  providentially  discovered  was  all  thai 
could  be  desired  for  a  hospital.  It  was  central,  suitable,  within 
the  city  limits,  and  yet  in  the  country.  The  large  brick 
mansion  on  the  grounds  was  both  convenient  and  attractive 
and  cost  upwards  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  though  its  erection 
now  would  cost  a  much  larger  sum.  The  future  wants  of  the 
Institution,  demanding  a  free  space  on  every  side,  it  was  re- 
solved, if  possible,  to  purchase  the  mansion  and  ten  acres.  The 
whole  was  offered  at  the  low  price  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
on  time  or  twelve  thousand  dollars  in  cash.  Both  these  sums 
seemed  beyond  our  reach,  but  the  last  less  so  than  the  former. 
After  much  reflection  and  in  hopeful  reliance  upon  that  God 
who  has  said,  'All  things  are  possible  to  him  that  believeth'  we 
chose  the  latter,  and  on  Monday  morning  purchased  it  for  a 
hospital  in  the  name  of  the  Deaconess  Institution.  A  friend 
kindly  loaned  us  a  thousand  dollars  ^^  to  close  the  sale  and  the 
remainder  was  to  be  paid  on  the  delivery  of  the  deed  after 
certain  forms  of  law  had  been  complied  with.  An  important 
step  had  at  last  been  taken,  a  site  for  the  hospital  secured.  A 
capacious  dwelling  opened  its  friendly  halls  and  a  few  days 
later  brother  Schladermundt  and  his  family  took  possession. 

"The  opening  took  place  a  month  later,  Aug.  3.  The  inter- 
vening time  was  a  busy  season.     The  clover  had  to  be  mowed 


'=  A  lifelong  friend  and  supporter  of  the  hospital  who  assisted 
Mr.  Passavant  with  advice  and  money  in  procuring  the  site  and  in 
whose*  office  the  purchase  was  effected,  recently  rehearsed  to  the  writer 
this  incident,  not  mentioned  by  Passavant: 

"While  the  administrators  of  the  property  and  Mr.  Passavant  were 
sitting  together  in  my  office  and  the  description  and  price  were  read 
Mr.  P.  sat  silently  by  with  his  eyes  closed.  When  they  asked  him 
whether  he  had  any  objection  to  the  price  or  terms,  which"^  required  one 
thousand  dollars  in  cash  and  the  balance  on  time,  he  answered,  'none  ' 
and  still  sat  with  his  closed  eyes  turned  upward.  As  the  final  words 
were  being  written  in  the  deed,  a  servant  announced  that  Mr.  P.  was 
wanted  in  the  adjoining  room.  He  went  out  and  in  a  few  minutes  re- 
turned with  beaming  face  and  laid  down  a  thousand  dollars.  During 
the  negotiations  he  had  not  had  a  dollar  in  his  pocket.  Now  a  friend 
had  unexpectedly  appeared  and  put  the  money  in  his  hands." 


392  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

and  harvested,  the  basement  cleansed  and  whitewashed,  the  gar- 
den renewed,  and  in  addition  to  all  this  the  Director,  assisted 
by  ]\Iessers  ]\Iuehlhaeuser  and  Streissguth  must  thread  the 
streets  and  allies  to  obtain  contributions  among:  the  German 
community  for  the  furnishing  and  support  of  the  hospital.  The 
benevolent  ladies  of  their  churches  labored  most  zealously  in 
making  bedding  and  other  articles  for  the  sick,  and  when  the 
time  for  receiving  patients  arrived,  it  was  a  goodly  sight  to 
look  upon  the  works  of  their  hands.  With  preparations  thus 
made  and  additional  collections  of  furniture  after  our  arrival, 
a  few  days  of  preparatory  labor  sufficed  for  the  first  beginnings 
of  hospital  life.  Nor  must  we  forget  in  this  connection,  the 
timely  and  valuable  arrival  of  a  box  of  excellent  bedding  and 
clothing  forwarded  by  the  Ladies '  Missionary  Society  of  Christ 's 
Church  at  Gettysburg,  and  kindly  diverted  to  this  infant  enter- 
prise by  the  permission  of  the  merciful  donors.  This  seemed  to 
complete  the  lack  of  service  elsewhere,  and  the  new-made  beds 
were  tastefully  covered  by  the  quilts  which  it  contained." 

In  a  private  letter  to  Mr.  Bassler  he  writes. 

"God  has  blessed  my  journey  thus  far  to  Milwaukee. 
'Ueber  Bitten  und  Hoffen.'  Instead  of  renting,  which  we  found 
impossible,  as  the  people  were  unwilling  to  give  their  houses 
for  such  a  purpose,  we  finally  came  to  the  'clear  conviction  that 
we  must  purchase.  The  ten  acres  which  the  brethren  had 
written  about  on  closer  examination  were  not  suitable  and  at 
the  price  asked  ($12,000.00)  were  not  to  be  thought  of.  What 
now  to  do?  was  the  question.  I  can  think  only  with  pain  of 
the  three  days  of  vain  searching,  anxiety  and  indecision  which 
followed.  I  felt  that  we  were  at  our  wits'  end,  that  we  were 
nothing,  could  do  nothing,  and  were  of  no  consequence  what- 
ever. Then,  when  all  was  dark  and  we  had  cried  to  the  Lord 
for  light  and  direction,  light  and  direction  came.  A  beautiful 
property  of  ten  acres  in  the  city  limits,  admirably  located  and 
well  known  to  all  the  people,  was  found  to  be  for  sale,  though 
not  yet  advertised;  the  proprietor  had  only  recently  died,  and 
the  administrators  were  compelled  to  sell  to  save  a  part  of  the 
large  estate.  It  had  on  it  a  large  and  elegant  brick  house,  with 
every  comfort  and  convenience  which  we  could  desire,  and  a 
space  sufficient  for  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  patients,  after 
providing  for  Brother  Schladermundt's  family  in  the  rear. 
The  land  is  certainly  quite  cheap  at  $1,000  per  acre,  and  the 
liouse  cost,  eight  years  ago,  not  less  than  $10,000.     The  price 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     393 

asked  was  $15,000,  but  after  a  complete  examination  of  it  by 
the  best  judges  in  the  city,  who  pronounced  it  very  reasonable 
at  that,  I  bought  it  for  the  Deaconess  Institution  for  $12,000, 
the  whole  to  be  paid  in  six  to  eight  weeks.  Of  course,  it  is  not 
possible  to  say,  for  certain,  how  much  can  be  secured  for  this 
purpose  in  Milwaukee,  but  we  have  the  best  hopes  for  the 
result.  One  kind  German  friend  has  already  agreed  to  pay 
$500  as  soon  as  the  friends  can  get  the  work  of  collection  under 
\vay.  Owing  to  the  meeting  of  the  Augustana  Synod  in 
Chicago  and  the  unsettled  state  of  things  in  Pennsylvania,  I 
had  to  leave  as  soon  as  I  got  all  the  papers  drawn  up  and 
signed  and  the  way  prepared  for  the  work  of  collection. 

"Brother  Schladermundt  is  already  in  the  new  house,  i.  e., 
the  back  part  of  the  hind  building  away  from  the  hospital  part. 
He  is  busy  gathering  in  some  six  acres  of  beautiful  grass,  clover 
and  timothy.  There  is  a  nice  fruit  crop  on  the  place,  and 
beautiful  roses,  with  a  tolerable  garden  which  he  is  increasing. 
There  will  be  no  sick  taken  in  before  August  1st,  the  collection 
of  articles,  money,  furniture,  etc.,  meanwhile  going  on.  Some 
twenty  beds  are  being  made  by  two  congregations  in  Milwau- 
kee. He  will  also  spend  some  Sundays  in  the  country,  and 
hopes  in  one  congregation  to  get  eight  good  cows.  An  excellent 
stable,  with  horse,  cow,  and  chicken  house  stands  on  the  place. 
Two  large  cisterns  are  near  the  kitchen  containing  each  eighty 
barrels  of  water.  It  is  a  beautiful  sight  to  overlook  the  whole 
city  of  Milwaukee  from  the  porches  and  windows  and  especially 
from  the  balcony  on  the  top  of  the  house.  0,  how  blessed  that 
the  Protestant  Chuirch  has  so  admirable  a  position  for  a  hospital 
just  in  its  time  of  need.  Surely  God  has  done  it  all  and  He 
shall  have  the  glory. 

''On  the  morning  of  Aug.  3  the  first  patient 'was  admitted 
to  the  hospital,  a  poor  Norwegian,  very  ill  with  consumption 
and  a  stranger  in  the  city.  Hearing  of  his  situation.  Pastor 
Hatlestad,  of  the  Norwegian  Lutheran  Church,  at  once  ob- 
tained a  permit  and  brought  him  to  the  Institution.  About  the 
same  time  two  pictures  were  sent  in,  the  one,  'Christ's  Triumph- 
ant Entry  into  Jerusalem,'  by  an  American  lady;  the  other, 
'The  Good  Shepherd,'  by  a  German  gentleman.  In  the  after- 
noon a  few  ministers  and  friends  met  at  the  hospital.  The  two 
pictures  were  hung  upon  the  parlor  wall.  The  familiar  German 
hymn,  'Unsern    Ausgang   segne    Gott,'   was   sung   amid   many 


394  THE  LIFE  OF  TT.  A.  PASSAYAXT. 

thanksgi-vTiigs.  "We  then  knelt  down  together  and  invoked  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  this  humble  beginning.  On  rising  from 
our  knees,  the  picture  of  the  'Good  Shepherd'  seemed  to  look 
down  upon  us  and  its  gracious  lesson  touched  every  heart. 
There  was  Jesus,  the  Good  Shepherd,  and  at  His  feet  a  poor 
sheep,  torn  and  bleeding  and  unable  to  extricate  itself  from 
the  thicket  of  thorns,  while  the  hand  of  the  Merciful  One  was 
gently  pressing  back  the  tangled  briars  for  its  escape.  The 
services  of  the  opening  were  ended.  We  had  met  in  joy;  we 
separated  in  tears.  The  spirit  of  Him  who  came  'meek  and 
lowly,'  though  a  King,  'to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  is  lost,' 
filled  every  heart.  God  grant  that  such  may  ever  be  the  spirit 
of  the  institution,  that  this  may  be  the  true  consecration,  its 
crowning  grace.  May  its  officers  be  clothed  with  humility  and 
its  helpers  with  the  meekness  and  mercy  of  their  Lord. 

"A  week  after  the  opening  services  and  again  during  two 
weeks  in  October  and  November  we  were  engaged  in  the  trying 
and  toilsome  labor  of  making  collections  among  the  American 
community  to  meet  the  last  pa\Tnent  of  six  thousand  dollars, 
a  similar  sum  ha^•ing  already  been  borrowed  and  paid  on  the 
property.  The  difficulties  of  such  a  service  are  known  only  to 
Him  who  knoweth  all  things.  Heat  and  cold,  sunshine  and 
storm,  weariness  and  waiting,  hope  awakened  and  hope  disap- 
pointed, are  as  nothing  compared  to  the  struggles  within  which 
must  be  overcome,  the  heart-sickness  over  the  materialism  of 
men,  and  the  strong  insensibility  of  Christian  men  to  the  sorrow 
of  their  Lord  who  still  dwells  among  us  in  the  person  of  his 
sorrowing  disciples,  sick,  an  hungered,  athirst,  and  a  stranger, 
without  a  shelter  and  without  a  home.  And  yet,  the  vine  which 
pierces  by  its  thorns  bears  the  rose  of  sweetest  fragrance,  and 
so  this  hard  toil  has  its  blessed  compensations.  In  not  a  few 
there  is  a  revelation  of  divine  mercy  which  sheds  its  compassion 
on  everj'  desolate  path  of  life ;  while  in  others  there  is  a  native 
sympathy  with  suffering  which  warms  the  heart,  unhoards  the 
wealth,  and  stretches  forth  the  hand  of  succor  to  all  who  are 
in  need.  Both  these  experiences  are  alike  needful.  The  one 
to  destroy  self-dependence  and  lead  to  trust  only  in  God;  the 
other,  to  quicken  to  thanksgiving  and  to  ascribe  to  Him,  in 
whose  hands  are  the  hearts  of  men,  all  the  glorj'  and  praise  for 
the  accomplished  results. 

"By  the  blessings  of  the  Most  High  upon  the  labors  of  these 


TEE  FOrXDIXG  OF  MIUVAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     395 

three  weeks  the  sum  of  six  thousand  dollars  was  finally  sub- 
scribed, collected  and  paid.  For  this  auspicious  result  we  are 
deeply  grateful,  and  although  a  debt  of  six  thousand  dollars 
still  remains  we  cannot  doubt  that  He  who  hath  begun  this 
good  work  will  in  due  time  provide. 

"The  hospital  has  now  been  in  quiet  and  successful  oper- 
ation since  its  beginning  in  Ausrust  and  between  twenty  and 
thirty  patients  have  been  admitted.  Nearly  all  of  these  are 
charity  cases.  Some  of  them  are  of  peculiar  interest.  They 
belong  to  no  less  than  seven  nationalities.  Americans,  Germans, 
Norwegians,  Swedes,  Irish,  French  and  Africans,  while  four 
tj'pes  of  faith  are  represented  among  them.  Protestant,  Cath- 
clic.  Jewish  and  infidel !  A  wide  field  of  usefulness  has  been 
opened  to  the  Church,  and  the  laborers  in  it  have  their  hearts 
and  hands  full  of  care  and  toil.  They  need  the  sympathies  and 
prayers  of  those  who  love  God,  for  nothing  but  His  sustaining 
grace  can  enable  them  to  perform  the  difficult  work  given  them 
to  do.  Instead  of  a  number  of  Deaconesses  the  parent  Institu- 
tion could  furnish  only  one,  who  for  the  time  being  is  compelled 
to  unite  in  herself  the  offices  of  matron  and  nurse.  It  is 
cheering  to  find  a  growing  interest  and  co-operation  among  the 
different  pastors  and  churches  of  ^Milwaukee,  which  manifest 
themselves  in  many  pleasant  ways.  But  it  is  laborers  that  are 
most  needed,  trained  laborers  for  the  sick  room,  without  which 
the  increasing  work  increases  only  too  rapidly  on  our  hands. 
"Who  on  reading  this  extension  of  the  cause  will  respond,  'here 
am  I,  send  me?'  Who  will  first  give  herself  to  the  Lord  and 
then  devote  life  and  all  else  to  the  work  of  the  ministration  ? ' ' 

This  plaintive  plea  for  helpers  calls  for  at  least  a  brief 
notice  of  several  of  the  faithful  helpers  during  the  days  of  trial 
in  the  beginnings  at  ^lilwaukee.  One  of  these,  who  for  twent^'- 
two  years  was  an  invaluable  helper  and  a  priceless  comfort  to 
Dr.  Passavant  in  her  unselfish  service  was  sister  Barbara  Kaag. 
We  have  met  her  before  as  one  of  the  noble  little  band  of 
sisters  who  did  such  valiant  service  in  the  army  hospitals  in 
and  about  the  District  of  Columbia  during  the  Civil  War.  A 
niece  of  Missionary  Schwartz  of  India,  she  had  been  reared 
among  the  Lutheran  Pietists  of  Wuertemberg,  Germany. 
Coming  to  Pittsburg  as  a  young  woman,  she  had  found  a  con- 
genial, Christian  home  in  the  family  of  George  Weyman. 
Through  him  and  his  good  wife  she  had  become  acquainted  with 
the   Rev.    :Mr.    Passavant,   then    pastor   of   the   First    Church. 


396  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

Through    his    influence    she    prepared    herself    for    deaconess 
work. 

Of  her  service  in  the  Army  hospitals  the  Rev.  W.  A. 
Passavant  Jr.  \\Tites  in  the  "Annals  of  the  Institution  of 
Protestant  Deaconesses,"  June,  1900: 

"Sister  Barbara  has  in  her  possession  a  large  number  of 
photographs  given  her  as  tokens  of  remembrance  by  soldiers 
who  were  restored  to  health  or  whose  dying  moments  were 
soothed  by  her  ministrations.  Medals  have  also  been  presented 
to  her  by  various  organizations,  and  she  receives  a  pension 
from  the  government  in  recognition  of  her  services  during  the 
war. ' ' 

The  following  letter  shows  the  high  esteem  and  grateful 
love  of  Miss  Dorothy  Dix: 

"To  Miss  Barbara  Kaag, 
My  excellent  and  valued  Friend: 

I  cannot  allow  you  to  leave  the  place  you  have  so  long 
honorably  filled,  without  the  expression  of  my  sincere  respect 
for  your  character,  and  my  grateful  thanks  for  the  faithful 
service  you  have  rendered  to  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers 
under  your  nursing  care.  All  with  whom  you  have  associated 
have  felt  the  influence  of  your  good  example,  and  in  the  transfer 
of  your  labors  to  another  institution,  I  feel  that  while  the  one 
you  leave  will  long  miss  your  intelligent  and  faithful  care,  that 
to  which  you  now  proceed  will  be  greatly  benefitted.  You  have 
your  reward  in  the  consciousness  of  having  performed  a  high 
and  noble  duty,  and  comforted  many  a  distressed  and  suffering 
soldier  .  I  shall  always  hold  you  in  esteem  and  if  at  any  time 
during  life  I  can  aid  or  benefit  you  I  hope  you  will  call  on  me 
without  hesitancy 

Your  sincere  friend, 
Washington,  Oct.,  1863.  D.  L.  Dix." 

In  the  same  month  sister  Barbara  entered  the  Milwaukee 
hospital  at  the  summons  of  Dr.  Passavant  and  became  its  first 
matron.  She  found  the  building  in  anything  but  an  attractive 
condition.  From  garret  to  cellar  the  building  must  be  cleaned 
and  scoured,  and  much  of  the  hea\'y  work  was  done  by  her  own 
hands.  The  furnishings  and  equipments  were  meager.  Not 
only  the  comforts,  but  the  very  necessaries  were  often  missing. 
But  she  labored  on  in  faith  and  cheerful  hope,  she  bore  the 
burdens  of  her  position  uncomplainingly  until  after  twenty 
two  years  of  service  for  Christ's  suffering  ones  she  felt  con- 


THE  FOUNDING  OP  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     397 

strained  by  the  oncoming  of  old  age  to  retire  to  live  with  her 
nephew  the  Rev.  Wm.  Huth,  in  whose  home  in  Hustisford,  Wis., 
she  died  in  Christ  and  in  peace,  Jan.  12,  1905. 

Another  faithful  helper  who  did  much  to  lighten  the 
burdens  of  Dr.  Passavant  and  was  held  in  grateful  and  affect- 
ionate esteem  by  him,  was  William  Huth,  sr.,  the  brother-in- 
law  of  sister  Barbara.  When  in  1853  the  Doctor  was  in  sore 
perplexity  to  find  a  reliable  male  nurse  for  his  young  Infirmary 
at  Pittsburg,  after  looking  in  vain  for  the  right  man  in  Pitts- 
burg, he  sent  the  Rev.  W.  Berkemeier  to  New  York  to  seek  one 
among  the  German  immigrants.  Mr.  Berkemeier  after  a  careful 
searching  and  sifting  found  the  newly-arrived  William  Huth, 
then  twenty-one  years  old  and  brought  him  to  Pittsburg.  There 
he  was  installed  as  male  nurse  of  the  Infirmary.  The  small- 
pox was  raging  in  the  city  and  a  pest-house  had  been  set  apart 
at  the  institution. 

Here  Mr.  Huth  was  broken  in  and  ministered  to  the  victims 
of  the  loathsome  disease.  For  thirteen  years  this  faithful 
servant  did  the  work  of  a  New  Testament  Deacon,  ministering 
to  all  classes  of  sufferers,  watching  by  day  and  by  night  until 
his  own  health  was  broken  and  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a 
change  of  climate. 

He  had  married  Miss  Mary  Kaag  who  had  been  a  faithful 
helper  in  the  Infirmary  from  the  beginning.  Two  children  had 
been  born  to  them,  one  of  whom  had  died  in  infancy  and  the 
other  became  the  Rev.  Wm.  Huth,  to  whom  we  are  are  indebted 
for  some  of  these  data. 

Father  Huth  had  intended  to  buy  a  little  farm  in  Wis- 
consin. But  Dr.  Passavant  desired  him  to  become  housefather 
of  the  Milwaukee  Hospital.  He  accepted  the  position  and  in 
1866  moved  his  family  into  a  little  house  back  of  the  main 
building.  He  began  at  once  to  set  the  grounds  in  order,  had 
new  farm  buildings  erected,  secured  cows,  hogs  and  poultry, 
and  made  the  little  farm  productive  and  profitable,  at  the  same 
time  he  had  the  oversight  and  management  of  the  internal 
affairs  of  the  hospital.  He  manifested  superior  qualifications 
as  manager  in  securing  and  training  competent  help  and  nurses, 
A  pest  house  was  built  on  the  grounds  and  Mr.  Huth  again 
ministered  to  the  poor  sufferers  during  a  severe  scourge  of  the 
small-pox. 

He  also  won  many  valuable  friends  for  the  institution  and 


398  TEE  LIFE  OF   W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

aided  materially  in  reducing  the  debt.  The  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth 
writes  of  him: 

"Upon  his  settlement  in  Llilwaukee  he  united  with  Grace 
German  Lutheran  Church,  whose  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J.  Muehl- 

haeuser In  heart  and  life  Mr.  Huth  was  a  Christian  man, 

nor  was  he  ashamed  to  confess  his  divine  ^Master.  Among  the 
sick  he  made  his  influence  felt.  Kindly  did  he  exhort  the 
wayward.  Gently  he  encouraged  the  weak.  His  simple  speech 
was  enriched  with  experiences,  gained  from  closest  contact  in 
the  hours  of  pain  and  disease,  with  men  of  all  classes  and  con- 
ditions. He  wonderfully  secured  and  held  the  confidence  of 
young  men,  and  to  this  day  gratitude  for  good  counsels  keeps 
his  memory  green  in  the  hearts  of  many  with  whom  he  came 
into  contact.  . .  .Dr.  Passavant  valued  the  friendship  and  fidelity 
of  Mr.  Huth  and  knew  and  prized  his  practical  common-sense. 
In  the  old  sitting  room  together  they  scanned  the  accounts  and 
made  plans  that  both  ends  of  the  hospital's  meager  finances 
might  meet." 

When  some  years  later  a  fire  destroyed  the  new  building 
Dr.  Passavant  said  to  the  young  Mr.  Huth: 

"If  only  your  father  were  yet  with  me,  I  should  not  be 
afraid  of  this  debt!"  After  a  service  of  fifteen  years  in  Mil- 
waukee Mr.  Huth  on  July  1,  1881  fell  asleep  in  peace.  For 
twenty-eight  years  he  had  served  his  dear  Master  in  the  person 
of  His  suffering  ones.  He  rests  from  his  labors  and  his  works 
do  follow  him. 

The  Rev.  Wm.  Huth,  son  of  the  deceased,  was  born  in 
the  Pittsburg  Infirmary  in  1860,  and  spent  his  life  in  the  two 
hospitals.  After  his  father's  death  he  assisted  his  widowed 
mother  and  his  Aunt,  sister  Barbara,  very  materially  in  the 
business  affairs  of  the  hospital.  He  writes  us  this  interesting 
reminiscence  of  the  long  years  of  his  association  with  Dr. 
Passavant : 

"You  know  what  a  delightful  vein  of  pure,  pithy  humor 
ran  through  his  conversation,  especially  through  his  unique  table 
talk.  I  believe  some  of  his  intimate  friends  could  write  a  volume 
of  bright  anecdote  heard  from  him.  I  never  met  his  equal 
in  this  respect. 

"He  used  to  tell  a  story  of  the  early  Milwaukee  days  that 
occurs  to  me  as  often  as  I  drink  a  cup  of  poor  coffee.  After 
the  war  coffee  was  quite  an  expensive  article  in  Milwaukee 
and  Rev.  Muehlhaeuser 's  salary  was  quite  slim  at  that  time. 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     399 

So  his  good  wife  substituted  browned  barley  for  the  genuine 
article.  Dr.  Passavant  was  a  frequent  guest  at  the  pastor's 
home  in  those  days  and  on  one  occasion  he  asked:  'What  is 
this  I  am  drinking?'  'Barley  coffee'  was  the  answer.  'Bro. 
Muehlhaeuser, '  said  the  Doctor,  'drink  Christian  coffee,  drink 
Christian  coffee.'  When  the  Dr.  got  back  to  Pittsburg  he  sent 
the  pastor  a  good-sized  sack  of  'Christian  coffee'  which  was 
highly  appreciated  and  richly  relished." 

"Dr.  Passavant  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania German  dialect  and  would  often  recite  poems  and  tell 
stories  in  that  exquisite  brogue.  ^^ 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Gausewitz,  at  this  writing  President  of  the 
Minnesota  Synod,  once  visited  me  at  the  hospital  when  Dr. 
Passavant  was  present.  He  afterwards  told  me  that  he  had 
never  been  so  much  impressed  in  his  life  as  when  the  Dr.  con- 
ducted evening  worship  with  the  household  and  patients.  Faith, 
strong,  simple,  childlike  faith,  rang  out  of  every  sentence  of  his 
fervent  supplications,  as  he  prayed  for  the  sick,  for  all  present, 
for  his  work  and  for  the  whole  Christian  Church.  ^* 

"When  I  afterwards  assisted  the  Dr.  with  his  hospital 
accounts  I  learned  that  the  one  secret  of  his  success,  next  to 
his  wonderful  faith,  was  his  scrupulous  care  in  small  things 
and  his  systematic  way  of  doing  things.  One  of  the  most 
prominent  business  men  in  Milwaukee  after  refusing  a  small 
loan  to  a  neighbor  said :  '  If  Dr.  Passavant  would  ask  for  the 
loan  of  thousands  I  should  not  hesitate,  for  he  never  forgets 
the  date  of  an  obligation.'  " 

Overwhelmed  with  worries,  vexations  and  forebodings,  the 


"  He  had  committed  to  memory  a  numlier  of  the  choicest  poems  of 
Harbach  's  Harf  e.  By  repeating  these  in  his  own  inimitable  way  he  would 
often  solace  himself  and  entertain  his  friends. 

"  This  reminds  the  writer  how,  when  Dr.  Passavant  was  visiting  him 
in  Fargo,  N.  D.,  and  we  had  invited  several  Norwegian  Lutheran  ministers 
td  dine  with  us,  we  afterwards  sat  in  tlie  study  and  talked  over  the  interests 
of  the  Lutheran  church  in  the  Eed  Kiver  Valley  and  the  need  of  a 
Lutheran  hospital  in  Fargo.  Before  we  separated  the  Doctor  invited  us 
all  to  unite  with  him  in  prayer  on  our  bended  knees.  He  then  offered  up 
one  of  those  remarkable  prayers  that  can  never  be  forgotten.  How 
wonderfully,  how  tenderly,  how  touchingly,  how  trustfully  he  gathered  up 
the  weaknesses,  the  wants  and  the  woes  of  Zion  and  of  her  dear  children, 
spread  them  all  before  his  Lord  and  laid  them  on  the  loving  heart  of  his 
heavenly  Father.  One  of  the  ministers  present  that  afternoon  was  the 
Eev.  J.  O.  Hougen,  one  of  our  dear  friends  and  one  of  the  most  gifted 
men  in  the  United  Norwegian  Church.  Years  afterwards  he  told  us  that 
he  could  never  forget  that  afternoon,  and  that  one  meeting  with  Dr. 
Passavant  had  been  an  inspiration  to  him  ever  after. 


400  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

faith  of  some  of  the  good  brethren  would  sometimes  grow 
■weak  and  their  spirits  would  droop  and  become  despondent. 
At  such  times,  Dr.  PassaA-ant  had  to  be  the  comforter,  the 
strengthener  of  faith  and  the  hopeful  helper.  Even  the  good, 
consecrated  and  ever  faithful  Bassler  sometimes  grew  so  dis- 
couraged that  his  knee  grew  feeble,  the  hands  hung  doMTi  and 
his  faith  failed  him.  At  such  times,  Dr.  Passavant  was  God's 
messenger  to  instil  a  new  hope  and  courage.  Here  is  one  of 
his  private  sermons  to  Bassler  on  faith  and  hope: 

"Your  favor  was  duly  received,  but  I  cannot  tell  you  what 
its  disheartening  influence  was  upon  my  mind.  Dear  Br.  B., 
if  sad  things  happen  do  not  let  me  know  of  them  when  I  am 
away  from  home  and  can  do  nothing  toward  a  better  state  of 
things.  As  to  money  discouragements,  I  do  not  care  to  go 
over  this  ground  again.  If  the  Lord  will  not  provide,  we  can- 
not and  had  better  quit  our  work  among  the  suffering,  for  it  is 
all  up  with  us.  But  He  will  provide,  and  never  assuredly  by 
our  doubt  and  fears,  but  by  an  implicit  confidence  in  His 
infinite  mercy.  Oh,  may  He  strengthen  our  faith  greatly  and 
fill  us  with  the  sweet  sense  of  'His  eternal  mercies  in  Jesus 
Christ.'  Has  He  given  us  His  own  Son  and  will  He  not  with 
Him  freely  give  us  all  things?" 

Here  is  his  estimate  of  the  character  and  services  of  one 
of  the  saintly,  self-denying  German  pioneers  in  Milwaukee: 

''A  telegraphic  dispatch  from  Br.  S.  brings  the  sad  news 
that  my  dearly  beloved  brother  and  friend,  Muehlhaeuser,  has 
fallen  asleep.  "What  an  illustration  his  life  was  of  the  power 
of  an  earnest  and  holy  ministry.  No  one  man  of  our  unobtrusive 
ministry-  has  wrought  such  results.  Help  Lord,  for  the  godly 
man  ceaseth,  for  the  righteous  fail  from  among  the  sons  of 
men. ' ' 

Here  is  a  letter  brimful  of  interest  about  his  western  in- 
stitutions and  the  western  mission  field  in  general.  It  is  one 
of  the  last  letters  to  his  beloved  Bassler  who  was  making  his 
la.st  brave  fight  against  the  relentless  inroads  of  his  final  ill- 
ness: 

"My  dear  Br.  Bassler.  Grace  and  peace!  Your  favor 
reached  me  an  hour  after  my  arrival  here  in  Chicago  from  Mil- 
waukee whither  I  had  gone  for  various  reasons.     The  fact  that 

you  are  not  worse  but  rather  better  cheers  me  very  much 

My  visit  to  Milwaukee  Avas  a  truly  agreeable  one,  the  institution 
under   good  sister   Barbara   and   W.    Huth's   faithful   care   is 


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THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     401 

doing  a  blessed  work.  The  gardens  and  grounds  are  singularly- 
green  and  fresh  as  well  as  most  fruitful,  while  the  clear  bracing 
air  is  something  altogether  new  to  me  after  living  this  summer 
in  the  sweltering  atmosphere  of  Pittsburg.  Oh,  what  a  mercy 
that  hospital  is  to  the  suffering  in  Wisconsin.  "When  I  was 
there  on  Friday  last  the  Rev.  Pastor  Braun,  a  minister  of  the 
Wisconsin  Synod,  on  his  way  to  Germany  with  his  wife  and 
six  little  children,  was  brought  to  the  hospital,  sick  unto  death. 
The  poor  man,  I  fear,  cannot  last  long,  but  he  is  happy  in  the 
love  of  God  and  in  the  comforts  of  a  Christian  home.  I  forgot 
all  my  cares  and  toils  when  I  looked  upon  this  poor  sufferer 
thus  cared  for  in  the  hour  of  need.  ^ 

"The  Institution  is  working  its  way  into  the  confidence 
of  all  good  men  and  the  Protestants  of  all  denominations  feel 
that  it  is  a  most  blessed  thing  for  the  common  cause  to  have 

such  a  retreat  in  the  hour  of  suffering But  most  of  all 

do  I  miss  my  dear  old  friend,  Muehlhaeuser,  whose  presence 
greatly  refreshed  my  spirit  on  each  succeeding  visit  to  Mil- 
waukee. So  we  pass  away,  one  coming  and  another  going,  un- 
til at  last  we  shall  all  stand  before  the  Judge  of  quick  and  dead. 

"I  am  often  sorry  that  I  cannot  live  and  labor  out  in 
this  vast  region  exclusively.  The  field  is  so  large  and  so  white 
to  the  harvest  while  the  laborers  are  so  few.  Last  week  in  one 
day  fifteen  hundred  Norwegians  passed  through  Milwaukee. 
The  next  day  one  thousand  and  for  days  as  many  as  five 
hundred  and  upwards,  all  for  'Minnesota.'  The  fact  is  our 
northwestern  States  will  soon  be  very  largely  Lutheran  and 
that,  too,  with  the  best  Lutheran  material  from  the  Old  World. 
Oh,  for  the  spirit  and  power  of  the  Highest  to  meet  these  vast 
obligations  as  servants  of  Christ  and  of  His  Church! 

''Young  Muehlhaeuser  goes  to  Philadelphia  with  the  be- 
ginning of  the  session.  He  is  a  lovely  youth,  frank,  devout, 
talented  and  humble.  I  had  promsed  his  father  on  his  death- 
bed that  I  would  see  that  he  got  two  hundred  dollars  annually 
while  in  Philadelphia.  In  Germany  he  was  supported  by  the 
'Langeiiburg  Verein'  and  wonderful  to  relate  God  so  arranged 
it  that  a  person  whom  I  took  up  from  Chicago  with  me  to  visit 
the  hospital  who  accidentally  made  his  acquaintance  without 
a  word  from  mo,  asked  whether  he  might  not  be  permitted  to 
educate  the  young  man.  Truly  God's  ways  are  wonderful  and 
past  finding  out 

"The  merciful  Lord  be  with  you  and  your  dear  wife.     Do 


402  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 

not  forget  my  earnest  counsel  in  my  last  about  walking  and 
riding.  The  ease  is  a  pressing  one  and  you  must  hearken  to 
the  voice  of  stern  necessity,  cost  what  it  will.  I  think  the  rush 
of  the  fashionables  is  over,  and  now  you  will  have  things  much 
quieter  than  before.  I  enclose  the  fifty  dollars  spoken  of. 
More  will  follow  as  you  have  need." 

Of  the  bitter  opposition  to  the  hospital  at  Milwaukee,  be- 
cause it  harbored  and  cared  for  the  loathsome  and  otherwise 
abandoned  small-pox  sufferers,  of  the  efforts  to  ruin  its 
property  an(i  of  the  beginning  of  the  new  building  in  1883, 
he  writes : 

"For  fifteen  years  it  cared  for  the  small-pox  sick  and  for 
every  form  of  contagion  and  infection,  that  religion  might  not 
be  dishonored  by  the  neglect  of  municipal  provisions  for  these 
unfortunate  ones.     As  a  consequence  of  this,  a  persecution  of 
the  most  unscrupulous  character  hunted  and  hounded  the  In- 
stitution long  after  a   City  pest-house  was  erected  elsewhere. 
Nothing  was  left  undone  to  defame  and  destroy  it.     A  square 
of  its  beautiful  grounds  was  cut  off  by  forcing  a  street  through 
them  and  the  entire  cost  of  its  construction,  amounting  to  six 
thousand  dollars,  was  assessed  to  the  hospital.     The  legislature 
even  was  invoked  to  cut  another  street  through  the  remainder, 
and  when  this  was  defeated  only  by  the  greatest  exertion  an 
attempt  was  made  to  repeal  the  charter.     But  the  hand  of  God 
was  over  it  and  all    these  efforts  failed.     The  hospital  grounds, 
consisting  of  two  entire  squares  of  the  highest  land  in  the  city 
remained  untouched  and  are  dedicated  forever  to  the  merciful 
purposes   of   their   original   purchase.      On   this   beautiful   ele- 
vation a  new  capacious  hospital  is  now  in  progress  of  erection. 
Its  massive  foundations  were  laid  last  autumn.     For  two  weeks 
past  a  multitude  of  busy  men  have  been  at  the  brick  work,  and 
the  first  story  above  the  basement  will  be  finished  in  a  few  days. 
The  workmanship  is  of  the  very  best  character,  the  material  of 
beautiful    cream-colored    Milwaukee    brick    and    all    the    other 
component   parts   of   qualities   to   secure   the   greatest   possible 
strength  and  comfort  to  the  Institution, 

"We  bespeak  an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  God's  people 
for  this  important  undertaking.  Looking  at  it  from  its  human 
side,  its  magnitude  appals  us  and  its  success  seems  impossible. 
We  cannot  see  any  earthly  source  from  which  the  necessary 
means  can  come.  But  if  we  regard  it  in  its  true  light,  as  a 
refuge  for  Christ's  suffering  ones  in  sickness  and  poverty  and 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     403 

death,  knowing  its  absolute  need,  we  cannot  doubt  that  God 
will  provide  all  needed  means.  The  cause  is  His,  not  ours. 
The  sufferers  are  the  purchase  of  His  blood.  He  has  all  hearts 
in  His  hand,  and  can  fill  them  with  thoughts  of  sweetest  charity. 
We  know  it  is  not  for  self,  or  pride,  or  vain  glory,  but  for  His 
glory  that  this  work  has  been  commenced  and  continued  to  this 
day.  He  shall  have  all  the  praise.  He  shall  have  all  the  honor. 
And  to  Him  shall  be  ascribed  all  the  glory.  Therefore,  let  the 
Church  help  us  by  its  faith  and  its  prayers  unto  God.  The 
Lord  hath  need  of  it.  Even  now  His  suffering  children  from 
distant  states  in  the  great  Northwest  are  seeking  healing  within 
its  walls.  It  will  be  a  Bethesda  for  thousands  in  coming  time. 
Let  prayer,  then  be  made  unto  God  without  ceasing  and  the 
Lord  wdll  hearken  and  send  deliverance." 

Of  the  crushing  calamity  that  befell  the  Milwaukee  Hos- 
pital in  the  incendiary  fire  in  August,  1883,  he  writes  to  the 
readers  of  the   Workman : 

"Milwaukee  Hospital, 
August,  25,  1883. 
"Dear  readers,  two  weeks  have  nearly  lapsed  since  I  reached 
this  place.  The  scene  which  greeted  me  was  a  pitiful  one. 
The  roofless  walls  of  our  'holy  and  beautiful  house'  were  black- 
ened with  fire  and  scorched  with  flame.  The  little  group  of 
sisters  and  helpers  who  waited  my  coming  and  poor  patients 
even  met  me  with  tears  and  sorrowful  greetings.  When  I  saw 
that  there  was  no  loss  of  life,  and  that  character  was  not  de- 
stroyed and  principle  still  lived,  what  could  I  do  but  give 
thanks  to  a  merciful  God  who  had  mingled  His  compassion  with 
His  chastening.  Then,  too,  afterwards,  on  a  close  inspection 
of  the  building,  we  found  that  the  destruction  was  not  so  total 
as  we  had  been  led  to  believe.  The  entire  foundation  and  two 
thirds  of  the  brick  walls  were  not  seriously  injured,  and  if  the 
w'ork  of  rebuilding  could  be  commenced  immediately,  the 
whole  structure  might  again  be  enclosed  before  winter. 

"But  the  saddest  of  all  was  the  wanton  destruction  of  this 
noble  edifice  by  the  hands  of  an  incendiary.  About  this  there 
can  be  no  manner  of  doubt.  Not  only  was  the  building  not  yet 
occupied,  but  the  fire  had  not  been  suffered  to  be  brought  into 
it.  Even  the  fire  of  plumbers  had  been  made  on  the  outside  of 
the  building.  At  nine  o'clock  on  Monday  night  the  architect 
Mr.  Chas.  Birkner  accompanied  by  his  wife,  visited  every  part, 
from  the  first  story  to  the  roof,  and  remained  for  a  time  to 


404  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

enjoy  the  view  of  the  city  spread  out  below.  At  five  o'clock  on 
Tuesday  morning,  Aug.  14,  the  third  story  from  end  to  end 
was  discovered  to  be  one  sheet  of  fire  and  flame.  In  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Fire  Department,  the  building  must  have  been  set 
on  fire  simultaneously  at  many  places,  and  in  all  probability 
by  shavings  of  paper  steeped  in  kerosene.  What  motive  could 
have  actuated  a  human  being  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on  a  house 
of  mercy  for  the  suffering,  we  cannot  comprehend,  nor  do  we 
know  who  this  fiend  can  be.  Suspicion,  indeed,  rests  strongly 
on  a  certain  person,  but  the  evidences  thus  far  are  wanting 
to  justify  an  arrest.  But  the  work  was  done  and  done  so 
thoroughly  that  the  slate  roof  and  entire  woodwork,  including 
the  floor  and  joists  were  completely  burnt.  The  whole  was 
ready  for  the  plasterers  and  the  sides  as  well  as  ceiling  were 
already  lathed.  Then  it  was  that  the  torch  of  the  incendiary 
was  applied,  and  ruin  and  desolation  were  the  speedy  results. 

"Another  sad  discouragement  is  the  absence  of  an  insurance 
on  the  building.  The  contractors  had  already  spoken  to  an 
agent  and  as  the  chapel  roof  would  be  completed  in  a  few  days, 
they  proposed  then  to  take  out  a  builders'  risk  as  is  customary 
in  such  cases.  The  loss,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  small  con- 
tracts, falls  upon  the  contractors.  The  case  was,  however,  one 
of  peculiar  suffering.  Though  we  were  not  liable,  in  law  or 
equity,  for  the  heavy  loss,  this  was  so  serious  that  the  con- 
tractors could  not  bear  up  under  it.  A  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  was  therefore  called  and  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  that  the  institution  should  assume  one  third  of  the  loss. 
The  whole  of  this  will  probably  be  upwards  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  so  that  the  one  third  of  this  with  the  original  contract 
price  must  be  raised  by  the  hospital.  This  large  sum  is  entirely 
beyond  our  weak  ability  to  collect.  As  we  have  said  before, 
'The  Lord  must  provide  the  necessary  means.'  And  in  the  con- 
fident conviction  of  this,  we  have  signed  the  papers  for  its 
immediate  rebuilding  and  calmly  await  the  unfolding  of  the 
mysterious  Providence  which  has  made  the  impossible  work 
still  more  impossible  to  us.  But  with  God  all  things  are  possible. 
The  resources  of  the  universe  are  in  His  hands  and  at  Hu 
disposal.  'Now  unto  Him  who  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think,  to  Him  be  the  glory 
by  the  Church  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.    Amen.' 

"The  great  blessing  in  this  trying  time  is  the  character  of 
the   contractors,   Messers.    Hommrighausen   and   Pilger.     Even 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     405 

before  our  arrival,  they  had  ordered  brick  for  the  third  story. 
They  were  indeed  east  down  but  not  destroyed,  and  since  then 
they  have  worked  with  great  energy  to  save  the  walls  by  new 
joists  and  the  necessary  girders  and  supports.  The  peril  to  life 
has  been  very  great,  but  thus  far  notwithstanding  the  high 
winds,  there  have  been  no  accidents.  If  the  weather  continues 
favorable,  it  is  hoped  to  have  the  building  as  far  advanced  as 
before  the  fire,  in  about  six  weeks.  The  hope  of  finishing  and 
occupying  this  winter  must,  however,  be  abandoned.  This  is 
another  great  trial  and  drawback,  as  another  winter  of  difficulty 
and  unsatisfactory  work  in  the  old  building  will  be  unavoidable. 
These  and  many  other  serious  consequences  are  unavoidable, 
and  each  day  will  reveal  new  and  unexpected  difficulties  in 
consequence  of  this  sad  calamity. 

"But  God  lives  and  reigns.  Even  the  wrath  of  man  shall 
praise  Him,  and  He  will  restrain  the  remainder  thereof.  It  is  at 
a  time  like  this  that  we  are  called  to  believe  that  'all  things 
work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love  God.'  How  this  will 
he,  is  not  for  us  to  say,  nor  is  it  possible  for  us  to  understand 
how  it  can  be.  But  God's  Word  abides,  and  He  will  do  all 
His  pleasure.  He  hath  said,  'What  I  do,  thou  knowest  not 
now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter.'  Shall  we  not,  therefore, 
say,  'Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  Thy  sight?' 
'It  is  the  Lord!  It  is  the  Lord!  Let  Him  do  what  seemeth 
Him  good.' 

"We  have  before  asked  a  remembrance  of  this  important 
interest  in  the  sj^mpathies  and  prayers  of  God's  people.  To-day 
we  ask  for  more.  We  likewise  ask  for  their  charities.  But  we 
do  this  with  a  becoming  modesty,  unwilling  to  direct  the  stream 
of  mercy  from  other  needed  objects.  With  this  understanding 
we  will  gratefully  receive  the  mite  of  the  poor  and  the  bounty 
of  the  rich  toward  the  rebuilding  of  this  hospital  so  greatly 
needed  for  the  sick  and  suffering  over  the  whole  Northwest. 
Here,  where  a  new  world  invites  the  poor  from  all  lands,  where 
the  Church  has  the  mightiest  problem  to  solve  for  'pure  and 
undefiled  religion,'  and  where  sin  and  sickness  abound  on  every 
side,  a  little  company  of  Christians  are  toiling  by  night  and  by 
day  in  ministrations  to  the  suffering.  They  neither  ask  nor 
receive  an  earthly  reward.  They  only  desire  a  proper  shelter 
for  the  sick  and  the  stranger  within  their  gates  that  they  may 
receive  them,  minister  unto  them  and  heal  them  in  the  name  of 


406  THE  LIFE   OF  ^y.  A.  PA8SAVANT, 

Christ  or  prepare  them  to  die  in  Christ  and  in  peace.  For 
tliemselves  they  ask  nothing,  but  for  these,  the  poor,  the  shat- 
tered, the  afflicted,  they  ask  everything  that  love  can  give.  They 
have  but  one  motive,  the  love  of  God.  They  offer  but  one 
argument,  the  words  of  Christ,  'Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 
unto  one  of  these,  the  least  of  my  disciples,  ye  have  done  it 
unto  me.'  " 

Of  the  opening  of  the  rebuilt  Hospital  two  years  after  its 
destruction  by  fire,  he  writes  editorially,  Sept.  25,  1884 : 

' '  Ten  day?,  of  incessant  work  completed  the  closing  up  of 
multitudinous  details,  and  Saturday  night,  Sept.  20,  witnessed 
groups  of  laboring  men  in  their  holiday  attire,  making  their 
way  to  the  new  building.  The  whole  edifice  was.  beautifully 
illuminated,  the  gas  for  the  first  time  having  been  turned  on 
from  the  Cedar  Street  main,  and  every  room,  ward  and  passage 
was  brilliant  with  the  cheerful  light.  As  the  noble  structure 
stood  out  against  the  dark  sky,  the  stained  glass  in  the  transoms 
over  the  windows  and  the  three  tall  memorial  windows  in  the 
chapel  reflecting  their  many  colored  views,  the  spectacle  was  an 
inspiring  one.  The  basement  story  likewise  was  a  scene  of  busy 
and  cheerful  activity.  Great  tables  had  been  built,  side  by  side, 
around  which  two  hundred  persons  could  find  room,  and  these 
were  covered  with  a  profusion  of  substantial  and  elegant  dishes 
with  fruits  and  choice  greenhouse  flowers.  We  had  expressed 
the  desire  to  give  the  contractors  and  all  the  men  who  had 
labored  on  the  new  building  some  slight  expression  of  thanks 
for  the  manner  in  which  they  performed  their  various  tasks  in 
the  erection  of  the  hospital,  and  suggested  this  measure  of 
bringing  them  together.  The  ladies  of  the  newly  formed  'Aid 
Association'  at  once  kindly  offered  their  services,  and  how  they 
carried  out  their  part  of  this  formidable  undertaking  we  have 
scarcely  words  to  describe.  Everj^thing  was  done  with  an 
elegance  and  grace  which  was  beautiful  to  contemplate.  The 
leading  ladies  of  the  city  gave  themselves  up  to  this  work,  and 
personally  performed  the  service.  'The  rich  and  the  poor' 
literally  'met  together,'  and  labor  felt  itself  respected  by  the 
courteous  attentions  of  the  'chief  women  not  a  few.'  Many 
brought  their  wives  along,  and  the  occasion  was  one  of  universal 
pleasure. 

"After  the  'collation'  was  over,  eaCli  one  with  flowers  in 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL,    407 

hand  repaired  to  the  chapel  to  listen  to  a  brief  address  by  J. 
II.  Van  Dyke,  Esq.,  of  the  Milwaukee  bar,  in  which  the  grateful 
appreciation  of  the  Board  of  Visitors,  the  friends  and  the 
Director  of  the  hospital  was  expressed  to  all  who  had  labored 
on  the  building,  from  the  humblest  individual  to  the  contractor 
and  the  architect  whose  designs  had  been  so  faithfully  carried 
out  in  the  workmanlike  manner  in  which  the  entire  structure 
was  completed.  A  few  remarks  followed  by  the  Editor  of  the 
Workman,  directing  attention  to  the  advantages  of  such  in- 
stitutions, not  only  in  caring  for  the  indigent  sick,  but  also  in 
relieving  persons  of  small  means  during  seasons  of  extended 
suffering,  and  at  a  cost  so  moderate  that  embarrassment  and 
debt  need  not  follow  such  times  of  trial.  It  was  nearly  ten 
o'clock  when  the  company  parted  wuth  many  expressions  of 
good  will.  The  joy  of  all  seemed  to  be  general  that  out  of  a 
pile  of  blackened  ruins  so  cheerful  and  beautiful  a  structure 
had  risen,  to  glorify  God  and  to  relieve  suffering  men. ' ' 

Another  of  the  many  faithful  workers  and  sisters  who  were 
a  great  comfort  to  Dr.  Passavant  was  Sister  Martha  Gensike, 
who  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  has  borne  the  burdens  and 
endured  the  trials  and  disappointments  as  directing  sister  in 
the  Milwaukee  Hospital,  and  is  still  at  her  post.  Dr.  Passavant 
appreciated  her  faithful  services,  and  she  appreciated  his  con- 
fidence, his  counsel  and  his  comfort.  Here  is  one  of  his  charac- 
teristic letters  of  encouragement : 

"I  am  very  grateful  to  God  that  He  has  enabled  you  to  go 
through  the  trying  duties  of  your  position  so  cheerfully  and 
comfortably.  It  is  of  God's  great  mercy  that  He  has  been  with 
us  and  acknowledges  our  feeble  work  for  Him.  We  are,  indeed, 
not  worthy  of  this  great  privilege.  Tens  of  thousands  of  young 
women  are  spending  the  flower  of  their  youth  in  so-called 
'society'  with  its  'balls,'  its  'germans,'  its  'progressive  eucher 
parties,'  its  'receptions,'  its  'masquerades'  and  other  nonsense. 
But  tens  of  thousands  more  who  love  God  are  longing  for 
something  better,  which  will  satisfy  the  heart  and  bless  others. 
Would  to  God  that  they  were  turned  '  as  the  rivers  of  water  are 
turned,'  to  something  better  than  lives  of  indulgence  and  self- 
pleasing  and  indolence.  But  what  can  we  say  or  do  except  what 
we  are  doing?  We  can  only  be  faithful  in  our  humble  spheres 
and  minister  to  those  who  come  to  us  suffering  and  miserable. 


408  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"This  is  our  'testimony'  for  Him  who  died  for  us,  and, 
verily,  it  will  not  be  in  vain.  The  devout  people  of  other 
churches  and  even  the  unbelieving  must  see  that  this  is  a  work 
of  God,  and  they  will  in  due  time  come  to  our  aid  in  a  very 
different  manner  from  now." 

And  here  he  gently  chides  and  cheers  her  when  she  is 
discouraged : 

"Dr.  Roth's  letter  of  this  week  has  given  me  no  small 
anxiety.  I  read  between  the  lines  that  you  are  like  Martha  of 
old,  'careful  about  many  things.'  It  is  not,  this  time,  about 
helpers  in  our  common  work  so  much  as  about  the  means  to 
carry  on  the  work.  You  miss  the  constant  inflow  of  the  patient 
and  the  payment  of  the  private  room,  which  for  so  long  a  time 
enabled  you  to  feel  quite  comfortable  when  bills  and  expenses 
rolled  in  upon  you.  How  could  it  be  otherwise  than  that  you 
sliould  feel  the  difference  between  the  past  fulness  and  the 
present  scarcity!  I  know  all  about  this  feeling  and  can  truly 
and  deeply  sympathize  with  you.  I  have  been  much  in  such 
situations  for  forty  years  and  am  constantly  in  it  now,  and  the 
only  way  in  which  I  can  keep  up  courage  is  to  always  repeat  to 
myself  the  comforting  words,  'The  Lord  will  provide.'  He 
has  always  provided,  if  not  in  one  way  yet  in  another,  if  not 
in  my  way,  yet  in  His  way,  if  not  in  my  time,  yet  in  His  own 
time. 

' '  When  we  know  this  it  is  sinful  for  us  to  doubt  and  to  be 
worried  about  this  or  that.  Let  us  faithfully  do  our 
duty  to  the  suffering  under  our  care,  to  the  poorest  as  well  as 
to  those  of  ample  means.  'The  poor,'  Jesus  says,  'ye  have 
always  with  you.'  This  to  me  is  a  great  consolation.  The 
Blessed  One  will  be  the  paymaster.  'He  will  not  leave  us 
comfortless.'  ' He  will  come  unto  us. '  ' Hdben  wir  Bin,  so  lidben 
wir  alles.'  Knowing  this,  'let  not  your  heart  be  troubled.'  Pray 
on,  work  on,  sing  on,  and  cheerfully  look  up  to  God  and  say  in 
confident  faith:    'Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread.' 

"I  have  often  found  that  when  our  need  is  the  greatest  our 
help  is  the  nearest.  God  often  permits  us  to  get  down  very  low 
so  that  He  may  aid  us ;  and  remember.  He  cannot  aid  us  unless 
we  are  in  such  state  of  humble  expectation  that  we  momentarily 
look  for  His  gracious  interference  for  our  relief.  This  is  the 
state  in  which  I  pray  that  I  may  always  be.    I  am  drawing  near 


TEE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     409 

unto  it  now,  I  feel  as  never  before  that  'we  have  no  strength, 
we  are  without  counsel,  but  our  eyes  are  unto  Thee,  0  God.' 
On  every  side,  at  the  different  institutions,  the  needs  are  pressing 
me  sorely.  But  just  because  this  is  the  case,  I  feel  a  cheerful 
confidence  that  the  Lord  will  provide  and  shall  be  glorified  in 
the  deliverance  He  brings." 

And  again: 

"I  reached  here  safely,  but  so  weary  that  I  could  not  write 
last  night.  I  therefore  write  this  morning  so  as  not  unduly  to 
delay  certain  things.  And  'first,'  as  the  preachers  say,  you 
must  look  after  your  health.  I  do  not  wonder  that  you  were 
sick  and  that  you  feel  miserable  at  times.  But  now  that  the 
cause  of  most  of  the  troubles  is  removed,  I  hope  you  will 
faithfully  use  some  remedies,  and,  working  with  a  more  hopeful 
spirit,  your  mind  and  body  will  revive  as  the  corn  and  the  trees 
in  summer  showers.  Do  your  utmost  to  be  regular,  going  to 
rest  at  ten  o'clock,  not  later,  and  taking  some  exercise  daily, 
even  though  only  going  to  town  in  the  street  cars  to  pay 
bills.     ... 

"It  would  be  well  to  go  carefully  over  your  books  and  see 
if  any  backstanding  bills  or  balances  are  yet  unpaid.  Then  make 
out  a  list  and  in  polite  notes  try  to  get  it  collected.  The 
Germans  say,  'The  mild  power  is  mighty,'  and  this  is  especially 
true  in  sending  bills  and  writing  letters  for  the  money.  Yon 
can  say  with  truth  that  the  hospital  is  maintained  only  by 
occasional  donations  of  charitable  people  and  the  small  charges 
made  for  pay  patients.  But  this  is  insufficient  to  support  the 
numerous  charity  patients  we  receive,  and  the  consequence  is 
that  we  are  heavily  in  debt  and  are  frequently  embarrassed  for 
a  few  dollars  to  pay  the  most  necessary  bills.  Under  these 
circumstances,  without  wishing  to  distress  those  who  are  still  in 
debt  to  the  hospital,  we  would  esteem  it  a  special  favor  if  the 
amount  could  be  sent  us.  The  money  can  be  sent  to  the  address 
of  Sister  Martha  Gensicke,  Milwaukee  Hospital,  Milwaukee,  in 
checks  to  above  or  any  Wisconsin  bank,  or  in  postal  orders. 

"One  thing  more.  Suppose  you  consider  whether  it  would 
not  be  possible  to  have  all  the  sisters  and  probationers  meet 
evenings,  say  at  eight  o'clock,  in  the  sisters'  parlor  and  do  their 
work  together,  either  for  the  Institutions  or  for  themselves.  If 
cue  would  occasionally  read  from  some  mission  or  deaconess 


410  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVAXT. 

reports,  it  would  greatly  enlarge  their  sphere  of  knowledge  and 
thought.  You  will  find  in  my  room  among  the  papei-s  on  the 
chair  some  German  mission  journals  which  greatly  interested 
Die  and  would  greatly  interest  all  and  carry  them  a  special 
blessing.  Even  if  there  was  nothing  but  friendly  conversation 
and  a  plate  with  apples,  etc.,  to  close  at  nine  o'clock,  such  a 
'Zusammeiikommen'  would  be  of  service  to  scatter  thought  and 
prepare  the  mind  for  rest. 

"  T/Jflf  nun,'  may  our  lo%Tng  Father  stand  by  you,  dear 
sister,  and  make  you  an  increasing  benediction  to  many.  ^ly 
anxious  prayers  go  up  for  you  continually,  both  for  your  soul 
and  your  body.  If  any  one  ever  repeats  an  unkind  thing  to  you 
v.hich  another  has  said,  say  to  them  kindly.  ' Please  never  repeat 
anv  unworthv  thing  to  me  again.  I  cannot  for  a  moment  be 
occupied  with  any  unkind  thoughts  about  others.'  " 

And  here  we  must  not  forget  Sister  ]Mary— for  ^lartha  has 
her  Mary— the  faithful,  modest,  patient  ]\Iary,  who  has  become 
"of  age"  in  the  culinary-  department.  She  is  too  modest  to 
respond  to  repeated  requests  for  some  experiences  with  Dr. 
Passavant.  Yet  no  one  has  done  more  for  the  health,  the 
comfort  and  the  enjoyment  of  the  thousands  of  patients  who 
have  passed  through  the  hospital.  She  knows  what  each  patient 
needs  and  what  he  must  forego.  She  knows  how  to  prepare  and 
serve  the  most  nourishing,  palatable,  tempting  and  yet  harmless 
delicacies.  Dr.  Passavant  knew  the  value  of  her  service  and 
appreciated  her  highly.  Naturally  she  would  sometimes  grow 
tired  of  her  humble  service  and  would  go  to  the  Doctor  for 
release  or  change  of  position.  And  then  the  Doctor  would  turn 
those  wonderful,  persuasive  eyes  upon  her  and  quietly  say: 
"Sister  Marj',  if  you  knew  how  I  have  prayed  that  God  may 
enable  you  to  remain  steadfast  and  be  patient  in  your  good 
v.ork!"  And  Sister  MarA*  would  dry  her  tears  and  go  back  to 
her  kitchen,  pray  for  patience  and  cook  for  patients.  And  there 
she  is  to-day,  the  masterful  manager  of  her  department.  Arid 
when  the  final  accounts  are  cast  up  and  the  divine  appreciation 
is  pronounced,  Sister  Mary  will  not  stand  last.  Yes,  the  Blessed 
Master,  to  whom  she  ministered  in  the  thousands  of  sick,  whose 
lonely  hours  she  cheered  and  gladdened,  will  not  forget  Sister 
Mary. 

Of  Dr.  Passavant 's  solicitude  for  the  comfort  of  the  sisters 


THE  FOUXDIXG  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.    411 

when  traveling,  this  note  to  Sister  ]\Iartha  is  a  beautiful  illus- 
tration :  * 

"The  enclosed  will  enable  you  and  Mary  to  get  tickets  for 
Pittsburg  from  the  Union  Depot  in  Chicago.  You  will  ask  ^Ir. 
Geo.  Bean,  the  comer  of  the  restaurant  on  the  same  floor  as  the 
ticket  office,  to  go  with  you  for  the  tickets  (mentioning  my 
name  to  him.)  Be  sure  to  take  the  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul 
Road,  the  depot  is  the  one  nearest  to  you.  See  if  a  train  does 
not  leave  at  eleven  o'clock  on  ]\Ionday  morning.  Your  object  is 
to  make  the  Pittsburg  train  which  leaves  Chicago  (Union  Depot) 
at  3:15  in  the  afternoon.  That  will  bring  you  to  Pittsburg  at 
seven  to  eight  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday.  I  will  (D.  v.)  meet 
you  at  the  depot  in  Pittsburg.  Be  sure  to  get  a  lunch  with 
coffee  before  starting,  so  as  to  fortify.  Also  purchase  (when 
you  get  your  tickets)  a  lower  berth  for  two  dollars  and  fifty 
cents.  One  is  broad  enough  for  two.  In  order  to  let  the  air  in, 
pin  up  the  lower  part  of  the  curtain  near  your  feet.  Have  the 
pillow  made  so  that  your  feet  will  be  towards  the  engine.  Be 
sure  to  get  the  sleeper  ticket  for  the  lower  berth  and  thus  secure 
a  resting  place.  I  will  arrange  the  matter  of  the  expenses  when 
we  meet.  If  you  have  more  money  than  it  is  safe  to  leave, 
deposit  it  in  the  name  of  the  hospital  at  lUsley's." 

It  was  one  of  his  many  beautiful  customs  to  remember  all 
of  his  helpers  with  some  suitable  token  of  appreciation  and 
esteem  at  Christmas  time.  When  we  consider  that  Jacksonville 
made  his  seventh  institution,  and  that  every  helper  in  all  of  the 
seven  as  well  as  many  a  poor  home  missionary  was  remembered 
every  Christmas,  we  can  appreciate  in  part  the  thought  and  care 
aiid  labor  and  expense  bestowed  on  giving  happiness  to  others 
at  this  happy  season  which  he  had  learned  in  his  childhood 
home  to  appreciate  so  highly. 

Of  his  interest  in  and  ministration  to  the  patients  Sister 
Martha  writes: 

"Dr.  Passavant  always  was  very  kind  to  all  the  patients 
in  the  hospital.  One  time  he  had  come  from  Pittsburg  on  the 
day  before  a  young  woman  was  to  be  operated  upon.  The  mother 
asked  him  kindly  to  see  her  daughter  and  have  prayer  with  her 
before  going  into  the  operating  room.  He  saw  the  patient,  and 
after  that  was  just  as  much  concerned  as  if  she  had  been  one 
of  his  own  family.    Again  and  again  he  said,  'Sister,  have  you 


412  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

heard  how  the  poor  sufferer  is?  This  has  oppressed  me  so 
sorely  that  I  am  unable  to  do  any  work  this  morning.  Please 
let  me  hear  as  soon  as  you  can  how  the  patient  is  if  they  bring 
her  back  to  her  room. '  He  was  in  the  hospital  for  several  weeks 
after  this  but  never  did  a  day  pass  when  with  all  his  many 
duties  he  did  not  find  time  for  the  short  visit  in  the  patient's 
room. ' ' 

Here  are  a  few  of  the  many  miraculous  deliverances  he 
experienced  in  his  long  career.    Sister  Martha  writes : 

"On  one  visit  at  the  hospital  he  had  a  payment  of  one 
thousand  dollars  coming  due ;  he  had  been  seeing  all  the  people 
who  used  to  help  him,  walking  the  streets  for  two  weeks  without 
response.  The  day  came,  but  he  had  not  been  able  to  collect 
a  single  dollar,  and  his  many  pressing  duties  made  it  necessary 
to  take  the  noon  train  for  Pittsburg.  How  could  he  leave  and 
not  pay  what  he  owed?  He  saw  no  way,  but  resolved  to  tell 
all  to  his  Lord  in  prayer,  and  quietly  wait  for  deliverance.  He 
called  on  all  the  patients  in  the  hospital,  firmly  trusting  in  the 
Lord,  saying  the  Lord  can  and  will  help  in  this  kind  of 
perplexity.  The  morning  passed,  and  he  was  getting  very 
anxious,  not  knowing  what  he  should  do.  He  had  to  leave,  but 
how  could  he  do  so  honorably  if  he  could  not  pay  ?  It  was  eleven 
o'clock  when  he  was  told  a  lady  asked  to  see  Dr.  Passavant.  He 
went  to  the  parlor.  After  asking  if  he  was  Dr.  Passavant,  she 
said:  'I  have  one  thousand  dollars  which  I  would  like  you  to 
keep  for  me  six  weeks,  as  I  don't  know  just  what  to  do  with  it 
'  imtil  then.  I  will  then  call  for  it  here. '  When  he  spoke  of 
giving  her  security  she  thought  it  unnecessary,  as  she  thought 
he  was  a  true  Christian  gentleman.  Not  even  her  name  she 
thought  of  giving  him  until  he  insisted  that  it  was  only  right, 
as  something  might  happen  to  him  and  she  might  not  have 
anything  showing  that  he  had  received  money  from  her.  I  can 
yet  hear  him  say  how  much  he  felt  ashamed  for  not  having  more 
faith  and  trusting  his  heavenly  Father  more  implicitly. 

* '  At  another  time,  after  walking  •  for  six  weeks,  trying  to 
collect  funds  when  we  did  not  know  how  to  pay  the  bills,  the 
only  thing  he  got  was  a  halter  for  the  cow.  It  was  at  such  times 
when  he  was  tried  so  severely  that  his  firm,  steadfast  faith  would 
stand  out  so  bright  and  clear,  and  willing  to  abide  by  what  his 
Lord  thouerht  best. 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.    413 

"After  the  hospital  was  destroyed  by  fire  all  were  lamenting 
about  the  heavy  loss,  worrying  about  Dr.  Passavant,  thinking 
this  would  almost  crush  him.  But  he  came,  and  his  gentle, 
quiet  manner,  his  trust  in  what  the  Lord  could  and  would  do, 
was  so  wonderful  that  it  had  a  quieting  effect  on  all  of  us.  He 
said  his  great  anxiety  was  relieved  when  he  knew  that  no  life 
was  lost.  'Brick  and  wood  we  can  get  again,'  he  said.  'This  the 
Lord  will  provide  all  in  his  own  way,  so  we  have  nothing  to  fear. ' 

"At  one  time  the  supply  had  gotten  so  low  that  he  was 
informed  that  unless  he  could  get  something  they  would  be 
unable  to  give  the  patients  their  dinner.  After  telling  his 
trouble  to  the  One  ever  ready  to  help,  he  started  out,  not 
knowing  where  to  get  help.  When  he  got  about  a  square  away 
from  the  hospital  an  old  drunken  man  whom  he  had  helped  in 
Pittsburg  met  him  and  would  not  let  him  go  until  he  had  taken 
him  into  several  stores  where  he  was  acquainted.  He  partly 
solicited  and  partly  purchased  a  goodly  supply  of  provisions 
for  the  hospital." 

Here  is  a  deliverance  reported  to  us  by  the  Rev.  W.  F. 
Eyster : 

' '  On  a  certain  occasion  he  was  in  great  need  of  five  hundred 
dollars  to  meet  some  payment  for  one  of  his  Institutions,  and 
while  walking  aimlessly  along  the  street  in  Pittsburg,  hoping 
and  praying  for  deliverance,  he  met  Dr.  Taylor,  who  inquired 
concerning  his  benevolent  work.  To  which  he  replied  that  he 
was  just  then  in  sore  distress  for  five  hundred  dollars  and  knew 
not  where  it  was  to  come  from.  'I  can  tell  you,'  replied  Dr. 
Taylor.  'It  is  in  Chas.  Brewer's  pocket.'  'How  is  that?' 
inquired  Dr.  Passavant.  'I  do  not  understand  you.'  'Why,' 
answered  Dr.  Taylor,  'I  have  just  seen  Mr.  Brewer,  upon  whom 
I  called  and  solicited  a  donation  for  a  benevolent  purpose,  and 
he  informed  me  that  he  had  just  set  apart  all  his  available  funds 
amounting  to  five  hundred  dollars  for  one  of  Mr.  Passavant 's 
Institutions.  The  money  is,  therefore,  waiting  for  you  in  Mr. 
Brewer 's  pocket. '  It  is  needless  to  say  that  his  pocket  was  soon 
relieved,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  Dr.  Passavant.  Mr.  Chas. 
Brewer  was  a  very  liberal  supporter  of  Dr.  Passavant 's  institu- 
tions, and  at  his  death  left  them  a  liberal  bequest." 

Of  the  faithful  and  ofttimes  heroic  work  of  his  deaconesses 
he  writes  affectionately  in  an  editorial  of  Dec.  10,  1891 : 


414  THE  LIFE  OF   W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

"For  more  than  forty  years  it  has  been  our  privilege  to  be 
associated  with  a  band  of  faithful  deaconesses  in  works  of 
Christian  charity.  During  all  this  time  it  has  pleased  our 
gracious  Father  to  spare  the  lives  of  these  devoted  women  'who 
labored  with  us  in  the  gospel'  in  the  midst  of  the  multiplied 
forms  of  disease  and  pestilence  to  which  they  are  exposed.  In 
the  visitations  of  cholera,  small-pox,  ship  fever  and  other  forms 
of  contagion,  they  have  ministered  to  the  sick  and  dying  for 
many  years,  but  until  now  they  have  escaped  unhurt.  The  only 
breaking  down  was  from  over-exertion  and  the  continued  toil 
of  these  long  and  trying  years.  Recently,  however,  it  has  pleased 
God  to  lead  them  through  the  valley  and  shadow  of  death,  and 
of  their  number,  in  the  vigor  of  her  young  life,  one  has  fallen  at 
the  post  of  duty.  The  particulars  of  this  sorrowful  event  are 
given  in  a  letter  of  our  Chicago  correspondent.  They  reveal  a 
condition  of  things  which  calls  for  a  special  notice. 

"One  is,  the  helpfulness  of  woman's  service  in  times  of 
pestilence  and  death.  A  brutal  man  thrusts  a  poor  girl  from  his 
dwelling  when  overcome  by  disease,  and  in  the  wide  world  there 
seems  no  place  for  her  but  in  woman's  loving  heart.  They  take 
in  the  stranger  and  minister  to  her  in  the  name  of  Christ.  The 
driving  rain  out  of  which  she  had  come  forbids  the  idea  of 
sending  her  to  the  remote  'pest-house'  which  the  city  provides, 
but  into  which  few  but  small-pox  cases  ever  find  their  way,  and 
this  is  the  history  not  of  one  but  of  multitudes.  During  these 
forty  years  nearly  two  thousand  persons  with  infectious  or 
contagious  diseases  were  nursed  in  a  separate  building  at  the 
different  hospitals  under  their  care.  Among  these  were  cases 
which  were  eclipsed  as  with  the  darkness  of  death,  and  with 
every  minor  form  of  loathsome  suffering  and  of  fatal  pestilence. 
The  city  and  State  make  sanitary  laws  and  erect  places  of 
shelter,  but  the  great  thing  in  the  hour  of  danger  is  not  so  much 
want  of  bodily  care  as  the  loving  heart  and  willing  hands  of 
Christian  women  to  minister  to  a  suffering  one. 

"And  the  second  thought  is  that  Christian  heroism  is 
needed  for  such  a  service.  The  pestilence  walketh  in  darkness 
and  wasteth  at  noonday.  It  passe th  by  or  it  strikes  down,  by 
some  mysterious  law  which  man  cannot  comprehend.  And 
hence,  like  the  profession  of  the  soldier,  the  calling  of  a 
Christian  deaconess  is  full  of  terror.     In  the  midst  of  life  they 


THE  FOUNDING  OF  MILWAUKEE  HOSPITAL.     415 

are  in  the  way  of  death ;  they  may  not  count  their  life  dear  for 
the  love  they  bear  for  Him  who  bids  them  do  all  their  things  as 
unto  Himself.  It  is  to  this  devotion  to  Christ  that  the  Church 
is  called  by  this  afflictive  event.  What  is  life,  if  not  for  Christ 
as  well  as  in  Christ?  In  this  age  of  softness  and  self-pleasing 
we  need  this  high  devotion  of  unselfish  souls,  this  death  to  the 
world,  this  life  unto  God,  this  heroic  indifference  to  consequences 
to  ourselves,  which  enables  us  to  exclaim,  'Whether  we  live,  we 
live  unto  the  Lord,  and  whether  we  die,  we  die  unto  the  Lord; 
whether  we  live,  therefore,  or  die,  we  are  the  Lord 's. '  " 

In  the  winter  of  1892,  the  Doctor  became  a  patient  in  his 
own  Deaconess  Hospital  in  Milwaukee. 

When  recovering,  he  sent  this  editorial  note  to  his  paper: 

"The  editor  is  yet  in  the  'dry-dock  for  repairs,'  at  the 
hospital  in  Milwaukee.  It  is  the  fifth  week,  and  we  devoutly 
thank  God  for  a  gradual  recovery.  Instead  of  gloom  there  is 
gladness  in  the  sick  room.  The  beautiful  city  is  before  us,  and 
the  'beautiful  snow'  all  around  us,  but  the  atmosphere  of  the 
hospital  is  that  of  Florida,  and  while  it  is  fifteen  degrees  below 
zero  without,  within  it  is  seventy  above.  Literally,  we  have  all 
things  and  abound;  and  not  for  our  sakes  so  much  as  for  the 
house  full  of  sufferers  do  we  in  all  things  give  thanks.  Next  to 
the  loving  providence  of  God  this  institution  is  the  result  of  the 
skill  of  able  physicians  and  the  faithful  services  of  our  Christian 
sisters  who  have  labored  and  have  not  fainted  during  all  the 
long  years  since  the  hospital  was  commenced,  in  1863.  These 
weeks  of  retreat  have  not  been  in  vain.  They  have  also  been 
weeks  of  observation  and  of  constant  giving  of  thanks  unto  God. 
In  the  weary  night  watches,  how  often  have  we  been  startled  by 
the  ringing  of  the  bell  and  the  coming  of  conveyances  with  the 
injured,  or  the  heavy  groans  of  suffering  in  the  rooms  and  wards, 
and  again  by  the  quick  response  and  the  helpful  offices  of 
woman's  gentle  touch.  If  there  is  a  place  outside  of  the 
Christian  family  nearer  heaven  than  all  others,  it  is  where 
Christian  women  thus  devote  themselves  to  the  ministrations  to 
Christ  in  the  persons  of  His  suffering  ones,  and  do  it  in  the  glad 
response  of  a  loving  heart  to  Him  who  had  redeemed  them  by 
His  blood.  What  life  so  sweet  as  a  life  thus  laid  upon  the  altar, 
a  living  sacrifice  to  the  Son  of  God  who  pitied,  suffered  and  died 
for  us." 


416  TEE  LIFE  OF  W,  A,  PAS8AVANT, 


CHAPER  XVII. 

CHICAGO    HOSPITAL  -  BASSLER'S    DEATH  -  PASSA- 

VANT'S  INFLUENCE. 

Institutional  life  brings  with  it  a  large  measure  of  worries, 
cares  and  disappointments.  Dr.  Passavant  had  his  full  share  of 
9II  these. 

One  of  his  greatest  perplexities  was  the  securing  and 
holding  of  suitable  helpers  in  the  different  Institutions  and 
their  various  departments.  Some  were  selfish,  slovenly,  or 
sluggish.  Their  laziness  and  lack  of  neatness  were  a  constant 
source  of  irritation.  Others  might  be  willing,  honest  and 
earnest,  but  they  were  so  devoid  of  common-sense,  tact  and 
management  that  they  committed  all  sorts  of  blunders.  These 
unwittingly  brought  about  loss  and  accident  and  exposed  the 
management  to  criticism.  Others  again,  and,  strange  to  say, 
these  were  often  those  who  made  the  greatest  pretense  and 
profession  of  piety,  proved  to  be  unreliable,  deceitful  and  dis- 
honest. Still  others  were  found  guilty  of  secret  vices  that  would 
bring  scandal  on  the  Institutions.  All  this  would  come  back 
to  the  busy  Director  and  would  sorely  try  and  vex  his  righteous 
soul.  He  had  no  patience  with  insincerity,  cant  and  hypocrisy, 
and  at  such  times  became  righteously  indignant  and  mercilessly 
severe.  The  John-like  disciple  would  feel  like  calling  down  fire 
from  heaven  and  would  become  a  son  of  thunder  in  his  fierce 
denunciations.  Woe  unto  the  offender  who  would  thus  fall 
under  his  righteous  wrath. 

Trials  and  troubles  of  a  different  sort  would  come  when 
good,  reliable  and  efficient  helpers  became  weary  of  well-doing 
and  notified  him  that  they  coiild  serve  no  longer.  This  happened 
again  and  again  with  those  on  whom  he  had  hoped  to  lean  and 
depend.  Sometimes  a  probationer  or  even  a  deaconess  would 
notify  him  that  she  would  fain  be  released  from  her  vocation. 
At  such  times  he  would  often  plead  most  earnestly  and  elo- 
quently. He  would  try  his  best  to  make  the  lot  of  the  weary  one 
more  tolerable  and  would  often  succeed  in  saving  a  valuable 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  417 

helper  to  the  Institutions.  But  when  he  found  that  the  discon- 
tented one  was  determined  to  go,  he  would  bestow  a  parting 
blessing. 

Another  source  of  sorrow  and  frequent  trial  was  the  in- 
gratitude of  those  who  had  eaten  the  Institution's  bread  and 
enjoyed  its  privileges.  Orphans  would  sometimes  become  in- 
corrigible and  vicious.  One  diseased  sheep  would  infect 
a  flock.  Again  some  of  the  older  boys  would  run  away, 
taking  stolen  plunder  with  them.  The  tender  Doctor  was 
no  sentimental  softling.  He  believed,  with  Solomon,  in  the  rod 
of  correction ;  with  Luther,  that  the  rod  must  lie  close  to  the 
apple,  and  that  to  spare  the  rod  is  to  spoil  the  child.  He  there- 
fore insisted  on  a  fair  though  loving  discipline  in  his  Orphan 
Homes.  Here  is  a  letter  to  Bassler  who  had  reported  some  base 
wickedness  and  running  away: 

"I  cannot  express  the  deep  and  painful  solicitude  which 
your  two  letters  gave  me.  These  manifestations  of  sin  and  of 
strange  and  awful  perversity  deeply  depress  my  heart.  At  this 
distance,  I  cannot  search  out  the  cause,  and  my  mind  wanders 
darkly  in  vague  and  sad  thoughts.  One  thing  has  struck  me 
which  I  will  mention  in  confidence:  if  I  do  wrong,  God  will 
surely  forgive  me,  for  I  do  not  desire  or  even  think  a  wrong 
thought  of  one  whom  I  so  much  regard.  It  is  this:  Is  there 
not  ground  for  the  fear  that  possibly  Mr.  G.  is  too  arbitrary 
and  passionate  with  the  children?  I  know  the  provocation  and 
I  would  not  have  a  move  suggested  which  you  or  Br.  Holls 
would  not  undertake  in  the  way  of  guarding  against  such  devil- 
ment in  the  future.  But  think  of  it  and  examine  carefully  into 
the  causes  of  such  a  ruinous  tendency  to  run  off.  I  know  by 
sad  experience  what  this  means.  Oh,  that  God  would  give  us 
the  grace  to  deal  with  this  evil  so  promptly  that  its  power  may 
be  broken  once  and  for  ever.  My  refuge  is  alone  in  prayer  for 
the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  our  poor  children.  This 
alone  can  effectually  drive  away  and  break  up  by  the  roots  the 
noxious  plants  of  sin  which  seem  to  have  taken  so  deadly  a 
hold  in  the  soil  of  their  youthful  hearts." 

Again  and  again  some  of  the  patients  in  the  hospitals, 
generally  those  who  were  in  the  charity  wards,  would  make 
trouble.  They  would  complain  bitterly  about  their  treatment, 
abuse  and  sometimes  curse  the  nurses  and  sisters,  and  slander 
the  Institutions.  Others,  when  so  far  restored  as  to  be  able  to 
get  away,  would  steal  what  they  could  and  slip  off  without  a 


418  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

"thank  you"  or  a  "good-bye,"  and  sometimes  those  who  were 
abundantly  able  to  pay  would  leave  without  settling  their 
bills. 

Poor  Sehladermundt,  the  conscientious  and  careful  man- 
ager of  the  Milwaukee  Hospital  in  the  days  of  its  early 
struggles,  was  almost  driven  to  distraction  by  such  patients  and 
more  than  once  worried  himself  into  actual  illness.  He  Avould 
send  Dr.  Passavant  long  letters  filled  with  vivid  description, 
characterization,  and  forcible  German  epithets.  In  less  than 
two  years  he  wearied  of  his  office  and  to  the  great  sorrow  of  Dr. 
Passavant  sent  in  an  unconditional  resignation. 

We  could  fill  page  after  page  from  letters  giving  account 
of  such  patients  as  those  described  above,  and  it  is  their  baseless 
and  slanderous  criticisms  which  gave  his  enemies  occasion  to 
speak  evil  of  Dr.  Passavant  and  his  work.  Great  were  his 
daily  sorrows  and  crosses.  Ofttimes  they  made  his  great  heart 
sore.  To  his  dying  day  the  ingratitude  and  deceit  of  those 
whom  he  had  befriended  caused  him  secret  pain.  But  in  the 
midst  of  it  all  he  never  lagged  or  lost  interest  in  his  work. 
Even  when  men  high  in  the  councils  of  the  Institutions  he  had 
founded,  men  who  owed  their  positions  to  him,  turned  against 
him  and  gave  him  the  Brutus  stab,  he  would  pray  and  labor 
even  as  before.  Few  men  ever  had  more  or  more  bitter  dis- 
appointments. But  amid  them  all  he  kept  his  sweetness  of 
temper  and  spirit  and  lived  and  loved  and  labored. 

The  hospital  in  Milwaukee  had  now  been  established.  The 
debt  of  $12,000  with  which  it  had  started  was  paid.  It  now 
owned  free  from  all  incumbrance  that  prominent,  beautiful  and 
valuable  ten  acres  which  it  still  occupies.  By  its  unselfish 
and  efficient  work  of  relieving  the  sufferings  of  all  who  came 
for  relief  without  regard  to  class,  creed,  color  or  nationality, 
it  had  made  for  itself  a  warm  place  in  the  affections  of  the  best 
people  in  Milwaukee.  The  good  Director  was  happy  and  full 
of  thanksgiving  to  God  for  these  blessed  results.  Even  his 
cautious,  hesitating  and  doubting  mother  admitted  the  success 
of  the  undertaking  and  was  glad  that  her  heroic  son  had  gone 
into  the  work,  though  against  her  advice. 

She,  with  many  other  good  friends  of  the  Doctor,  hoped 
that  he  would  now  rest  satisfied  and  give  his  attention  to  see- 
ing that  his  Institutions  were  properly  maintained.  They 
hoped  that  he  would  now  give  himself  more  of  the  leisure  and 
rest  which  they  were  persuaded  he  owed  to  himself. 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  419 

But  there  was  no  rest  for  Mm.  He  was  born  for  a 
strenuous  life.  His  nature  required  activity.  His  spirit  could 
not  rest  in  full  view  of  suffering  which  it  was  in  his  power  to 
relieve. 

This  is  strikingly  evident  from  the  following  incident: 
In  August,  1864,  he  was  overcome  by  heat  and  the  strain  of 
constant  exertion.  He  finally  yielded  to  the  pressing  impor- 
tunities of  his  friends  and  went  to  Atlantic  City  for  a  week's 
rest.  But  the  expense  of  remaining  there  did  not  suit  him.  He 
says:  "My  pocket  book  could  not  long  endure  the  pressure  of 
three  fifty  per  day,  without  an  utter  collapse."  But  the  en- 
forced idleness  was  even  harder  to  endure  than  the  high  prices. 
He  writes  to  Pastor  Bassler  on  his  return  to  Pittsburg :  "  0,  how 
thankful  I  am  to  be  once  more  at  home.  Never  before  for  ten 
years  have  I  been  away  without  work  on  hand  and  this  time 
I  could  not  manage  to  spend  the  time.  Doing  nothing  away 
from  home  was  simply  a  burden.  Labor  of  body  and  mind  is 
a  necessity  to  my  nature  and  I  thank  God  for  it.     All  my  joys 

and  hopes  are  renewed  day  by  day  when  thus  employed 

I  take  it  for  granted  that  you  will  enjoy  a  laugh  at  my  expense 
in  regard  to  my  failure  to  go  off  pleasuring  and  health-seeking. 
But  I  cannot  help  it  and  I  thought  it  best  to  be  honest  and  tell 
you  how  it  came  that  I  was  back  so  soon.  In  the  midst  of  the 
busy  pleasure-seeking  throngs,  'Ich  hahe  Heemtveh  hekomme.' 
I  wondered  how  anyone  could  be  so  foolish  as  to  find  pleasure 
away  from  the  quiet  scene  of  home  and  loved  ones  and  put  in 
his  whole  time  trying  to  kill  time." 

For  a  dozen  years  he  had  been  a  frequent  visitor  to  the 
great  and  rapidly  growing  western  metropolis,  Chicago.  He 
knew  the  character  of  its  rapidly  increasing  population.  He 
saw  the  Lutheran  immigrants  swarming  in  and  crowding  the 
tenements.  He  saw  them  exposed  to  physical  and  spiritual 
disease  and  death.  Like  his  Master,  he  had  compassion  on  the 
multitude.  Did  not  Chicago  need  a  hospital  even  more  than 
Milwaukee?  Could  the  great  Lutheran  Church  stand  idly  by 
and  see  her  own  sick  and  suffering  and  succorless  children  miser- 
ably perish?  Or  should  they  be  left  to  the  uncongenial  mercy 
of  the  city,  or  the  Church  of  Rome? 

As  Pastor  Muehlhaeuser  had  been  touched  and  troubled 
with  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  Germans  in  Milwaukee,  so  pastor 
Carlson  was  moved  in  like  manner  for  the  poor  Swedes  in 
Chicago.     He  had  often  conferred  with  Dr.  Passavant  on  this 


420  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT.       . 

subject.  At  last  this  apostle  of  mercy  could  delay  no  longer. 
He  was  persuaded  that  God  wanted  him  to  open  a  hospital  in 
Chicago.  The  story  of  its  struggles  in  its  beginnings  is,  if 
possible,  even  more  interesting  than  that  of  IMilwaukee.  In  the 
Lutheran  and  Missionary  of  May  17,  1866,  he  tells  the  story  in 
his  own  inimitable  way: 

"When  the  hospital  in  Milwaukee  was  commenced  nearly 
three  years  ago,  it  was  not  thought  that  so  long  a  time  would 
elapse  before  a  second  one  Avould  be  undertaken  in  Chicago. 
The  wants  of  that  large  city  were  so  great  and  the  necessity  for 
immediate  effort  so  pressing,  that  the  delay  of  more  than  two 
years  was  endured  only  because  it  was  unavoidable.  The  days 
of  waiting  and  hoping  at  last  passed  away  and  the  time  for  action 
finally  came.  The  Parent  Deaconess  Institution  at  its  annual 
meeting  in  January,  1865,  resolved,  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  in 
confident  reliance  on  His  aid,  to  do  what  it  could,  toward  re- 
lieving the  sick  and  suffering  strangers  and  immigrants  in  that 
city.  The  Director  was  also  instructed  at  'a,s  early  a  day  as 
possible'  to  carry  this  resolution  into  effect,  and  the  whole  un- 
dertaking was  fervently  commended  to  the  care  and  loving  pro- 
vidence of  God. 

"The  entire  absence  of  means  was  the  smallest  difficulty 
in  the  commencement  of  this  work.  The  want  of  a  suitable 
building  was  one  of  the  greatest.  Even  after  it  was  decided 
temporarily  to  use  a  house  which  had  been  purchased  for 
another  purpose,  it  was  with  great  effort  that  the  tenant 
could  be  induced  to  leave  it.  But  most  of  all,  when  it  came  to  the 
point  we  trembled  at  the  responsibility  of  the  undertaking. 
How  gladly  would  we  have  been  beaten  with  stripes  instead  of 
going  west  on  this  mission.  The  labor  and  suffering  of  solicita- 
tion for  charity  in  another  strange  city  seemed  almost  more 
than  we  could  endure.  But  there  was  no  way  of  retreat.  To 
stand  still  was  to  go  back,  and  to  go  back  was  to  deny  the 
faith  of  Christ  and  turn  away  from  the  suffering  members  of  the 
Lord 's  body  who  had  a  right  to  appeal  to  His  Church  for  relief. 

"In  some  respects,  the  time  for  commencing  seemed  very 
unfavorable.  Arriving  in  Chicago  a  few  days  before  August 
first  of  last  year,  we  found  scarcely  a  person  at  home  to  whom 
we  had  letters.  We  called  at  stores  and  dwellings,  but  the  in- 
mates were  in  the  country,  at  the  Springs,  at  the  Lake  resorts 
or  in  the  East.  Day  after  day  we  traversed  the  streets,  seek- 
ing friends  but  finding  none.    Those  weary  discouraging  days  of 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  421 

heat,  rain  and  loneliness  can  never  be  forgotten !  But  at  last  the 
clouds  began  to  clear  away.  Here  and  there  a  helper  was  raised 
up.  Tokens  of  good  will  cheered  the  sad  hearts.  We  had  in 
hand  twenty  dollars,  ten  of  which  were  donations  from  the 
venerable  ]\Ioravian  Bishop  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  eight,  the  free- 
will offering  of  an  aged  widow  in  Pittsburg,  and  two  the  gift 
of  a  former  member  of  our  Baltimore  church,  now  in  Allegheny 
City,  and  to  these  other  small  sums  were  ere  long  added.  The 
house  secured  had  to  be  repaired,  papered  and  cleansed.  Furni- 
ture and  fixtures  must  be  purchased  and  paid  for.  The  whole 
kitchen  economy  was  to  be  provided  and  the  beds  and  bedding 
to  be  obtained.  Indeed,  all  things  to  commence,  to  carry  on  and 
continue  the  varied  occupations  of  hospital  life  were  wanting 
and  must  be  bought  with  cash,  and  that,  too,  with  as  little  delay 
as  possible.  Need  we  say,  that  the  obtaining  of  these  led  to 
prayer  as  well  as  labor?  But  it  was  the  Master's  work,  and  He 
knew  that  we  had  need  of  these  things,  and,  to  the  praise  of  His 
glory,  we  love  to  record  that  in  several  instances,  before  we 
had  asked,  He  provided  for  our  needs.  A  striking  illustration 
of  this  occured  on  Friday  preceding  the  first  of  August.  In 
the  morning  one  of  the  Deaconesses  with  a  young  sister  arrived 
from  Milwaukee,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  went  to  the  hospital 
to  receive  the  furniture  which  was  ordered  at  a  certain  hour. 
Scarcely  had  we  reached  the  house,  before  a  kind  Christian 
family  also  arrived  with  carpets,  bedding  and  furniture,  com- 
plete for  two  rooms  and  before  leaving  arranged  everything 
for  immediate  occupancy.  The  ladies  of  the  Swedish  Lutheran 
Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  E.  Carlson  is  pastor,  and  the  ladies 
of  the  First  Norwegian  Church  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Peterson, 
furnished  bedding  for  twelve  beds,  while  the  Rev.  Pastor  Hart- 
mann  from  the  poor  fund  of  his  German  St.  Paul's  Church, 
most  kindly  paid  for  the  bedsteads.  A  few  friends  gave  money 
for  some  pictures.  Several  others  contributed  articles  of  fur- 
niture and  others  still,  provisions  and  money.  In  less  than  a 
week,  the  hospital  was  ready  for  the  reception  of  patients. 

"The  first  patient  was  a  worthy  Swedish  woman,  very  ill 
with  a  fever.  Early  the  next  morning  a  carriage  brought  from 
the  Railroad  Depot  a  little  Swedish  boy  with  his  foot  so  di:ead- 
fully  crushed  by  an  accident  that  amputation  was  necessary  to 
prevent  mortification.  By  the  greatest  skill  of  the  physician 
and  care  of  the  sisters,  his  life  was  saved,  and  our  little  Her- 
mann, no  longer  the  emaciated  and  dying  immigrant  child  but 


422  THE  LIFE   OF   W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

brimful  of  mirth  and  health,  makes  hospital  life  lively,  as  he 
now  hobbles  about  with  his  footless  leg. 

"With  these  two  representatives  of  the  'Man  of  sorrows,' 
the  house  was  opened  by  reading  the  Word  to  a  few  assembled 
friends.  A  hymn  of  thanksgiving  and  trust  was  sung.  Two 
pictures  were  hung  above  the  fire-place  in  the  little  parlor,  the 
one  of  Faith  looking  steadfastly  upon  the  cross  on  which  '  Christ 
died  for  our  sins';  and  the  other  the  Redeemer  rising  and  as- 
cending on  high  'for  our  justification.'  A  fervent  prayer  for 
the  presence  and  blessing  of  God  closed  this  simple  service  and 
the  hospital  was  consecrated  to  Jesus  Christ  and  the  relief  of 
His  suffering  disciples. 

"It  is  nearly  ten  months  since  this  afternoon,  and  since 
then  with  few  exceptions  the  house  has  been  filled  with  the  sick. 
So  many  had  to  be  refused  admittance  that  the  Institution  has 
scarcely  deemed  it  advisable  to  say  a  word  of  its  existence  in 
the  secular  or  religious  press,  as  publicity  would  have  only 
added  to  the  embarrassment  of  those  who  have  it  in  charge. 
But  one  of  the  results  of  this  silence  is  that  its  treasury  is  largely 
overdra\^Ti  and  we  are  responsible  for  its  maintenance.  It  is 
the  old  story  over  again,  'give  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you,' 
which  God  has  made  in  the  history  of  these  Institutions  a 
thousand  times,  and  which  He  will  do  even  to  the  end.  We 
therefore  mention  our  situation  in  full  confidence  that  God's 
children  will  come  to  our  aid.  The  helpless  sufferers  under 
the  care  of  our  Deaconesses  are  more  to  us,  as  a  class,  than  most 
other  sick  and  afflicted  ones  .  Thus  far  they  have  been  largely 
the  fever-stricken  immigrants  from  Sweden,  Norway  and  Ger- 
many, whom  scarcity,  poverty  and  oppression  of  the  poor  have 
driven  from  their  fatherland,  and  many  of  whom  after  untold 
sufferings  on  filthy  vessels  and  crowded  railroad  cars  arrive 
in  Chicago  on  their  westward  way  sick  and  strangers  and  dying, 
^vithout  a  crust  to  eat  or  a  place  whereon  to  lay  their  heads. 
The  hospital  of  the  Deaconesses  has  been  their  only  refuge.  But 
for  this,  many  must  have  miserably  died  and  some,  it  is  to  be 
feared,  without  God  and  without  Christ  in  the  world.  Now, 
between  seventy-five  and  a  hundred,  principally  of  our  poor 
and  suffering  brethren,  have  found  healing  and  have  'gone  on 
their  way  rejoicing.' 

"The  state  of  the  treasury  of  the  Home  and  Farm  School 
is  such  that  we  dare  not  divert  a  dollar  from  the  support  of 
the  orphan,  but  in  view  of  the  importance  of  this  undertaking 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  42Z 

in  Chicago,  the  gate  city  of  the  West,  and  the  clear  Christian 
duty  of  the  Church,  stretching  out  the  hand  of  succor  to  her 
suffering  brethren  in  the  hour  of  their  greatest  need,  we  ask 
of  good  men  among  us  their  sympathy  and  aid.  The  smallest 
offering  of  faith  and  love  and  the  most  generous  donation  will 
be  alike  most  gratefully  received.  The  Lord  hath  need  of  both. 
And  in  ascertaining  what  to  give,  think  of  Him  who  hath  said : 
*I  was  sick  and  ye  visited  me,  I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me 
in,  inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  ye  have  done 
it  unto  me'." 

One  of  the  Doctor's  first  helpers  was  the  young  Isabella 
Oakland.  At  the  writer's  request,  she  sent  this  artless  and  ab- 
sorbingly interesting  account  of  the  inside  workings  of  the  in- 
fant hospital: 

*'I  am  truly  thankful  that  it  was  my  happy  privilege  to 
be  associated  with  Dr.  Passavant  for  twelve  years  and  then  for 
another  year  with  his  son.  I  really  did  not  appreciate  them  as 
I  have  since  they  are  gone.  I  see  it  all  now  in  a  very  different 
light.  You  ask  me  where  did  Dr.  Passavant  find  me?  He  was 
at  the  Scandinavian  Synod  and  my  father  was  a  lay  delegate. 
The  Doctor  made  one  of  his  impressive  pleas  for  more  helpers. 
The  Rev.  P.  Esbjorn  was  my  pastor.  He  had  a  country  charge 
near  Pontiac,  Illinois.  He  came  home  full  of  the  enthusiasm 
that  had  been  inspired  by  Dr.  Passavant,  and  talked  to  the 
younger  women  of  his  church,  of  whom  there  was  a  goodly 
number.  He  set  before  them  the  ministry  of  mercy  and  urged 
them  to  give  themselves  to  the  blessed  service.  A  goodly  number 
promised  to  go,  among  whom  was  myself.  But  as  I  was  only 
sixteen  years  old  I  did  not  get  much  encouragement.  "When 
the  time  came  to  go,  all  the  others  had  grown  faint-hearted  and 
refused.  My  people  tried  to  persuade  me  to  do  likewise  but 
my  father  said  I  should  go  if  I  desired.  I  was  to  meet  Dr. 
Passavant  in  Chicago.  My  pastor  went  there  with  me,  but  the 
Doctor  did  not  come  for  a  week  or  more,  so  Pastor  Esbjorn  left 
me  there  to  meet  him  alone.  He  had  intended  to  send  me  to  Pitts- 
burg but  when  he  found  that  I  was  only  a  bashful  country 
child  he  changed  his  mind  and  said  that  he  would  take  me  to 
Milwaukee,  as  I  would  soon  want  to  go  home  and  that  was  not 
so  far  away.  We  got  to  Milwaukee,  Oct.  21,  and  I  found  four 
Swedish  women  who  had  come  from  different  congregations. 
They  had  all  been  moved  by  the  plea  that  the  Doctor  had  made 


424  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

at  Synod.  The  Doctor  prayed  with  us  all  and  implored  the 
Lord  to  assist  us  and  keep  us. 

"At  Milwaukee  Sister  Barbara  was  in  charge  and  Miss 
Carolina  Super  was  assistant.  In  a  day  or  two  the  Doctor  took 
two  of  the  women  to  Rochester  with  him  and  left  three  of  us  in 
Milwaukee.  The  others  were  much  older  than  I.  Sister  Super 
had  had  her  training  at  Pittsburg  and  had  been  in  the  work 
for  some  time.     Her  home  was  at  Mansfield,  Ohio. 

"They  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  me.  They  said  I  was 
too  young  to  nurse  and  they  had  plenty  of  help  in  the  kitchen. 
So  they  gave  me  the  lamps  to  clean.  Well  do  I  remember  those 
thirty-four  lamps.  Homesick  is  no  name  for  what  I  suffered 
during  those  first  wrecks.  All  my  friends  had  said  that  I  would 
be  back  in  less  than  three  months.  This  made  me  all  the  more 
determined  to  stay. 

"The  next  spring  one  of  the  nurses  had  to  go  home.  She 
had  a  very  bad  cancer  patient  and  she  was  asked  whom  she 
wanted  to  take  care  of  her.  She  wanted  me.  The  sisters  thought 
it  best  to  humor  her  and  so  I  had  my  first  patient.  When  the 
nurse  returned  the  patient  would  not  give  me  up  and  the 
Doctor  complimented  me  by  saying  that  I  was  a  born  nurse. 
There  were  no  lamps  for  me  to  clean  after  that. 

"In  July,  Dr.  Passavant  was  going  to  open  a  hospital  in 
Chicago.  He  wanted  Sister  Super  to  have  charge  of  it  and  to 
choose  one  of  the  ]\Iilwaukee  force  to  go  with  her.  To  my  sur- 
prise, she  selected  me.  Sister  Super  was  a  very  quiet  woman 
and  I  scarcely  knew  her.  July  28,  we  started  for  Chicago. 
My  cancer  patient  felt  so  sad  'that  I  did  not  like  to  leave  her. 

"We  got  to  Chicago  in  the  afternoon  in  a  drizzling  rain. 
The  old  house  intended  for  the  hospital  had  been  painted  and 
papered  but  not  cleaned.  The  outlook  was  not  encouragmg. 
I  wish  the  kodak  fiend  had  been  around  to  take  the  picture  of 
the  house  and  ourselves.  I  well  remember  how  everything 
looked,  even  to  the  holes  in  the  carpet.  The  kitchen  stove  was 
up.  We  had  a  fire  made  in  it  and  coffee  prepared  in  a  tin  pot. 
We  had  some  bread  and  cheese,  and  pieces  of  brown  wrapping 
paper  for  dishes.  In  the  afternoon  the  furniture  came  and  I 
wondered  how  such  furniture  would  suit  a  hospital.  There 
were  several  wooden  bedsteads  without  springs,  little  wooden 
tables  and  a  few  kitchen  chairs. 

"As  soon  as  we  had  warm  water  w'e  began  to  clean  house. 
Dr.  Passavant  helped  us  to  put  up  the  beds  and  we  were  soon 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  425 

ready  to  open  the  hospital.  A  Swedish  woman  brought  in  her 
little  son  Hermann  who  had  a  crushed  foot.  He  had  no  change 
of  clothes,  so  we  had  to  make  him  a  gown  out  of  some  of  ours. 
Dr.  Passavant  helped  the  physician  to  wash  and  dress  him. 
For  some  days  we  did  not  think  the  poor  boy  would  live  but  he 
soon  began  to  improve  and  we  kept  him  for  nearly  two  years. 
He  became  quite  lively  on  his  crutches  and  grew  to  be  a  favor- 
ite with  us  all.  His  parents  moved  to  Wisconsin  and  did  not 
seem  to  care  for  him  because  he  was  a  cripple.  The  father  finally 
came  for  him.  It  was  a  sore  trial  for  us  to  see  the  little  fellow 
go.    We  were  all  so  attached  to  him. 

"The  house  was  small  and  was  soon  full  of  patients.  I 
had  to  give  up  my  bed  and  sleep  on  the  floor  for  months  at  a 
time.  I  would  take  my  pillow  and  lie  down  in  the  room  where 
the  patients  needed  me  the  most.  We  bought  everything  on 
time  and  the  Doctor  would  pay  the  bills  when  he  came  out  from 
Pittsburg.  He  would  always  preach  in  the  double  parlor  when 
he  came  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  the  Church  of  Mercy 
which  afterwards  became  the  English  Lutheran  Church  of  the 
Holy  Trinity.  We  had  some  chairs  and  a  table  in  the  parlor. 
When  Dr.  Wenzel  came  to  preach  for  us,  we  had  to  put  a  soap 
box  on  the  table  as  he  was  near-sighted  and  read  his  sermons. 
Dr.  H.  W.  Roth  also  preached  for  us  from  time  to  time.  We 
also  had  to  entertain  the  preachers  during  their  stay. 

"Our  patients  were  mostly  immigrants,  nearly  all  Swedes. 
Dr.  Carlson  sent  in  many  of  them.  We  had  a  German  doctor 
and  I  had  to  interpret  the  Swedish  to  him.  The  new  comers 
were  often  very  homesick  in  this  strange  land  and  I  had  to  take 
care  of  them.  Several  of  them  died  in  quick  succession  and  as 
there  was  no  undertaker,  two  plain  coffins  were  carried  out  of 
the  house  in  one  day.  Then  the  neighbors  got  frightened  and 
sent  a  petition  to  the  city  authorities  to  have  the  hospital  closed. 
A  committee  of  the  Board  of  Health  came  to  investigate.  Sister 
Super  became  so  nervous  that  she  told  me  to  take  them  through 
the  house.  When  they  left  they  said  if  every  private  house 
were  kept  as  clean  as  ours,  there  would  be  no  epidemics  in  the 
city.  But  it  was  too  much  for  Sister  Super.  She  informed  Dr. 
Passavant  that  she  could  stay  no  longer,  and  soon  left. 

"Dr.  Passavant  had  bought  a  house  and  had  it  moved  on 
the  next  lot.  The  opposition  of  the  neighbors  was  so  great  that 
he  was  not  allowed  to  use  it  for  a  hospital. 

"By  this  time  the  Rev.  Frank  Richards  was  our  pastor. 


426  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

He  had  the  front  parlor  for  his  study  and  as  pastors  have  con- 
siderable company,  it  made  it  even  harder  for  me.  All  the 
help  I  had  was  one  girl  in  the  kitchen  and  a  male  nurse.  Dr. 
Passavant  thought  we  must  not  even  go  into  the  men's  rooms 
much  less  do  anything  for  them.    "What  a  change  since  then. 

"As  we  had  very  little  money  to  pay  hired  nurses,  we 
generally  persuaded  the  convalescents  to  assist  in  the  nursing 
until  they  would  leave.  This  w^as  not  very  satisfactory  but  it 
was  the  best  we  could  do. 

''After  Miss  Super  had  gone  people  would  come  and  ask 
for  the  matron.  I  said  she  was  away.  Mr.  Richards  said  to 
me  that  I  must  tell  them  that  I  am  the  matron.  I  shrank  from 
doing  so,  but  one  day  I  did  tell  a  lady  and  she  remarked,  'It 
seems  to  me  you  are  rather  young  for  such  a  responsible  po- 
sition.'   I  had  my  cry  over  it  afterwards. 

"When  Dr.  Passavant  would  come  out  from  Pittsburg 
every  few  months  to  straighten  out  affairs,  I  would  become  very 
much  frightened  as  I  knew  so  little  about  things.  When  I 
would  ask  him,  '  Is  no  one  coming  to  take  charge  ? '  he  would  say, 
'The  Lord  will  send  some  one.'  When  he  found  that  I  got  up 
every  Monday  morning  to  do  the  washing,  he  would  say,  '  Sister, 
you  must  get  a  wash  woman.'  But  how  could  I  with  no  money 
to  pay  one?  We  rarely  had  a  pay  patient  in  those  days  and  the 
only  time  we  had  money  was  when  the  Doctor  came  out  to 
collect.  The  butcher  and  the  grocer  and  the  druggist  would 
often  ask  when  the  Doctor  was  coming,  and  as  I  knew  what  that 
meant  I  disliked  very  much  to  get  anything  from  them. 

"One  day  I  told  the  Doctor  that  we  had  no  money  and  I 
could  not  bear  to  ask  for  credit  any  more,  he  said,  'The  Lord 
will  provide.  I  am  going  out  to  get  some  means  and  will  be 
back  for  dinner.'  He  came  back  without  a  cent  but  picked  up 
a  poor  man  standing  by  a  house  shivering  with  ague  and  said, 
'Sister  Isabel,  I  brought  this  poor  sick  man,  give  him  a  bed.' 
But  every  bed  was  full,  so  I  made  his  bed  on  the  floor.  The 
Doctor  said,  'The  Lord  did  not  send  us  any  money  but  sent  one 
of  His  people  to  be  cared  for.' 

"At  another  time,  he  started  out  and  sent  home  a  couple 
of  barrels  of  cracked  dishes,  though  I  already  had  more  cracked 
dishes  in  the  house  than  anything  else.  I  said  nothing,  but 
washed  them  and  put  them  away.  No  one  but  God  knows  of 
the  struggle  of  those  early  days  and  how  that  good  man  tramped 
the  streets  of  Chicago  day  after  day  to  have  the  cold  shoulder 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  427 

turned  to  his  appeals.  People  would  often  say  to  him,  'You 
had  better  close  up,  there  is  no  use  trying  to  keep  it  up. '  I  can 
never  forget  his  prayers  in  the  evening  after  these  days  of 
disappointment. 

"Many  a  time  did  I  go  to  bed  crying  because  the  physician 
had  ordered  something  for  a  patient  and  I  could  not  get  it. 
In  those  days  I  did  not  understand  Dr.  Passavant  but  as  I  look 
back,  he  is  more  and  more  a  wonder  to  me.  I  was  not  half  thank- 
ful enough  for  the  privilege  of  being  associated  with  such  a  man 
of  God.  The  Doctor  would  always  encourage  and  advise  and 
help  in  the  kindest  possible  manner.  He  would  say,  Sister, 
Isabel,  do  not  think  of  these  disagreeable  people,  just  think  you 
are  doing  it  for  the  Lord.'  He  wanted  the  work  carried  on  in 
that  spirit.  He  would  say.  Put  your  Bible  under  your  pillow 
and  read  a  passage  while  dressing  because  you  are  so  busy  all 
day.  Often  he  would  talk  and  pray  with  us  all  alone.  The 
work  of  those  early  days  doubtless  was  very  imperfect  but  it 
was  Christ-like  and  I  only  wish  I  could  be  engaged  in  the  work 
with  such  a  man  now." 

In  spite  of  all  the  discouragements  the  brave  Director, 
however,  kept  right  on  and  won  the  confidence  and  interest  of 
some  of  Chicago's  leading  and  able  citizens.  Among  these  was 
E.  B.  McCagg,  Esq.,  who  became  one  of  Dr.  Passavant 's  most 
efficient  advisers  and  helpers.  His  name  will  ever  be  linked 
with  the  early  struggles  and  trials  of  the  Institution.  He  se- 
cured a  charter  and  organized  a  corporation.  The  following 
well  known  names  appear  on  the  roll  of  the  Board  of  Visitors 
of  the  hospital: 

Wm.  B.  Ogden,  Ezra  B.  McCagg,  Wm.  Bross,  Eliphalet  W. 
Blatchford,  J.  Young  Scammon,  Elbridge  G.  Hall,  Samuel  Hale, 
Jonathan  Burr,  Conrad  Furst,  Wm.  Blair,  Mr.  Muelke,  Francis 
A.  Hoffman,  Von  H.  Higgins,  John  V.  Farwell,  Edwin  H. 
Sheldon,  Gilbert  Hubert,  Iver  Larson,  Erland  Carlson  and 
Thos.  B.  Bryan. 

A  friend  now  came  forward  and  gave  a  conditional  gift  of 
a  valuable  plot  of  ground  500x250  feet  in  size,  near  Lincoln 
Park,  between  Clark  Street  and  the  Lake  front.  A  munificent 
subscription  of  thirty  thousand  dollars  by  Wm.  B.  Ogden  and 
the  legacy  of  five  thousand  dollars  by  Jonathan  Burr  promised 
ready  means  for  the  erection  of  the  needed  building.  The 
prayer,  the  faith,  and  the  effort  of  years  were  at  last  to  be  re- 
warded, when  the  terrible  fire  of  October,  1871,  laid  Chicago 


428  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

in  ruius  and  blotted  out  the  Deaconess  Hospital.  The  Director 
visited  the  scene  of  desolation  and  sold  what  the  fire  had  left 
'for  eight  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  The  provisional  gift  it  had 
now  become  impossible  to  retain,  as  the  conditions  could  not  be 
carried  out  in  the  general  calamity.  The  death  of  Mr.  Ogden 
delayed  payment  of  the  subscription  for  several  years,  and  the 
condition  of  things  in  Chicago  after  the  fire  rendered  immediate 
efforts  to  reorganize  the  Institution  inexpedient. 

The  great  fire  again  brought  out  the  heroic  faith,  the 
generous  and  broad  sympathy,  executive  ability  and  the  won- 
derful resourcefulness  of  Dr.  Passavant.  In  an  editorial  in 
The  Lutheran  and  Missionary  ten  days  after  the  fire  he  writes: 

"The  daily  press  has  already  borne  to  every  person  of  the 
land  the  particulars  of  this  appalling  calamity.  Words  are 
unequal  to  a  description  and  we  will  not  attempt  it.  Let  it 
suffice  to  mention  that  the  entire  business  portions  of  the  city 
and  the  homes  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  people 
are  in  ashes.  Banks,  warehouses,  and  fire-proof  blocks  melted 
away  before  the  fierceness  of  the  flames  as  swiftly  as  the  tene- 
ments of  wood.  Incredible  as  it  may  seem  only  a  single  house 
for  miles,  escaped  the  general  conflagration.  An  area  of  nearly 
four  miles  in  length  by  one  and  a  half  in  breadth  is  an  utter 
desolation.  All  that  fire  could  burn,  break,  melt  or  crumple  to 
sand,  has  disappeared,  and  ruin  reigns  supreme. 

"But  this  wonderful  city,  which  arose  as  if  by  magic 
above  the  marshes  of  the  Chicago  River  and  Lake  and  in  little 
more  than  a  generation  became  a  mighty  mart  of  trade  and  a 
teeming  center  of  population  from  many  lands,  cannot  remain 
in  ashes.  It  will  be  rebuilt  more  substantially  than  ever,  and 
even  in  a  material  sense,  this  appalling  destruction  of  property 
and  capital  will  'work  together  for  good,'  though  tens  of  thou- 
sands who  have  lost  their  all  will  be  Mattered  as  the  chaff  before 
the  wind.  'The  Lord  reigneth'  and  the  devouring  fire  as  well 
as  the  stormy  wind  fulfill  His  word. 

"It  is  a  noble  spectacle  to  witness  the  general  and  wide- 
spread sympathy  with  the  sufferers.  The  materialism  of  the 
times  is  thus  broken  up  by  the  plowshare  of  calamity,  and  the 
seeds  of  charity  which  knows  not  custom  and  races  but  only 
men,  are  broadly  sown  in  the  furrows  of  the  nations.  There 
is  every  prospect  that  a  large  'Relief  Fund,'  the  aggregations 
of  the  offerings  of  many  people  and  many  lands,  will  flow  into 
the  hands  of  the  treasury  which  will  be  created,  and  that  thou- 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  429 

sands  of  homes  will  thus  be  rebuilt  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
needy  sufferers,  who  have  lost  their  earthly  all,  will  be  clothed 
and  fed.  God  be  praised  for  this  welling  up  of  the  fountain 
of  charity  in  millions  of  hearts,  'which  blesses  twice:  blessing 
both  him  who  gives  and  him  who  takes.' 

"The  Roman  Catholic  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  the 
United  States  have  ordered  a  collection  in  all  their  churches 
in  the  land  for  the  immediate  rebuilding  of  their  churches, 
chapels,  and  institutions  in  Chicago,  and  this  wise  movement 
should  not  be  lost  upon  our  people.  Let  our  pastors  do  the 
same  in  all  our  churches,  and  it  will  be  possible  for  our  poor 
stricken  Lutheran  flocks  to  go  on  at  once,  and  rebuild  their 
desolated  sanctuaries.  A  famine  of  the  Divine  Word  is  not  to 
be  thought  of  in  such  a  great  city,  so  filled  with  the  tens  of 
thousands  of  our  people  from  the  east  and  from  the  Old  World, 
two-thirds  of  whom  are  utterly  stripped  of  their  little  homes 
and  of  their  earthly  all. 

"A  letter  from  Chicago  will  be  found  under  Editorial 
Correspondence  which  states  some  of  the  facts  as  they  affect 
our  churches,  institutions,  and  people  in  Chicago.  The  insurance 
on  the  Church  of  Mercy,  being  in  a  Chicago  company  is  worth- 
less. In  addition,  there  remains  upon  it  an  unpaid  debt  of 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  and  nearly  all  of  the  members  have 
been  burnt  out.  It  ought  to  be  immediately  rebuilt,  and  the 
interest  of  the  cause  will  admit  of  no  delay.  The  Charity  Hos- 
pital of  our  Deaconesses,  which  for  the  past  six  years  has  re- 
ceived and  cared  for  so  many  hundreds  of  German  and  Scan- 
dinavian immigrants  and  many  of  our  sick  from  our  eastern 
churches,  is  a  mass  of  ruins.  What  makes  the  loss  of  this  so 
distressing,  is  that  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  local  insurance 
companies,  a  debt  of  upwards  of  seven  thousand  dollars  rests 
upon  it  for  which  Dr.  Passavant  is  personally  responsible  to 
persons  who  now  need  the  money.  Oh,  that  this  Porch  of  Mercy 
to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  the  perishing  could  be  speedily  re- 
built, now  that  the  suffering  and  want,  more  than  ever,  will 
seek  for  admission  at  its  doors. 

"Our  poor  Swedish  and  Norwegian  churches  are  greatly 
to  be  pitied.  Almost  their  entire  membership  is  entirely  burnt 
out  and  years  must  elapse  before  the  churches  can  be  rebuilt. 
The  Swedish  church  of  Pastor.  Carlson  lost  both  their  old  and 
their  large  new  sanctuary  and  is  particularly  commended  to 
the  sympathy  and  liberality  of  our  churches  in  the  east.   Boxes 


430  THE  LIFE  OF   W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

of  clothing,  bedding,  etc.,  can  be  sent  to  Rev.  E.  Carlson,  Chi- 
cago, III.,  by  express,  and  will  find  the  rightful  distribution 
through  this  faithful  servant  of  the  ]\Iaster.  But  the  church 
needs  and  ought  to  have  the  timely  aid  of  our  American 
churches.  Moneys  can  also  be  sent  to  Dr.  Passavant  at  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  and  will  be  duly  acknowledged  ]by  him.  P.  S. — Let 
the  offerings  of  the  individual  be  sent  with  the  specific  des- 
ignation of  the  object  for  which  they  are  intended.  This  will 
avoid  all  mistakes." 

Two  weeks  later  he  writes : 

"We  have  just  returned  from  Chicago,  but  not  too  late 
to  give  the  sad  details  of  the  pitiful  calamity  which  has  be- 
fallen our  Lutheran  churches  and  people,  in  common  with 
others,  in  that  doomed  city.  Our  first  care  has  been  for  the 
body.  The  arrangements  for  their  relief  from  the  general  fund, 
and  by  boxes  of  clothing  from  abroad,  are  becoming  more  and 
more  perfect.  Many  are  on  their  way  to  our  pastors  and  more 
will  follow,  for  the  need  is  great  and  the  urgency  pressing.  By 
a  wise  arrangement,  a  'Shelter  Committee'  is  furnishing  lum- 
ber, etc.,  to  enable  the  most  destitute  to  erect  temporary 
dwellings. 

"Our  next  care  must  be  for  the  souls  of  our  people. 
With  churches  in  ruins,  their  own  dwellings  and,  in  most  in- 
stances all  they  contained  swept  away  by  the  hurricane  of  fire, 
aid  must  come  from  abroad  to  rebuild  them  immediately.  Be- 
fore our  leaving  the  city,  workmen  were  busy  on  the  ruins  of 
the  Hospital  and  the  Church  of  Mercy  and  the  large  Swedish 
Lutheran  Church  of  Pastor  Carlson.  The  Gethsemane  Swedish 
Church  of  Pastor  Erickson  will  be  rebuilt,  but  the  location  will 
be  changed  to  the  West  Side.  Others  are  awaiting  the  issue  of 
certain  events  to  determine  what  to  do.  But  in  the  case  of  one 
and  all,  generous  and  immediate  help  is  indispensable.  With- 
out it,  the  churches  would  become  well-nigh  extinct.  The  Ro- 
manists are  taking  subscriptions  in  all  their  churches  in  the 
United  States.  The  Methodists  are  doing  the  same  in  most 
places  and  at  a  mass-meeting  in  Philadelphia,  it  was  resolved 
by  them  to  raise  forty  thousand  dollars  in  the  Philadelphia 
Conference  alone.  Such  action  indicates  the  acknowledged  im- 
portance of  immediately  reestablishing  what  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Our  pastors,  office-bearers,  and  people  surely  will  not 
be  behind  in  such  a  time  as  this.     It  is  one  affecting  not  a  few 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  431 

churches,  but  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom  over  the 
entire  West." 

October  25,  to  his  mother  he  gives  some  interesting  facts 
about  his  personal  efforts  for  the  suffering  which  he  was  too 
modest  to  publish: 

''Oh,  the  utter  and  awful  desolation  of  the  doomed  city 
of  Chicago.  Like  Niagara,  it  so  grows  upon  your  vision  that 
you  linger  and  wonder  and  cannot  leave.  So  strange  and 
mysterious  is  the  fascination  of  those  weird  and  wonderful 
ruins !  My  time,  however,  was  taken  up  with  the  solemn  real- 
ities of  the  living,  homeless,  and  without  place  to  worship  God 
in  all  the  vast  regions,  four  and  a  half  miles  in  length  and  one 
and  a  half  in  width,  once  so  dense  with  human  beings.  Several 
of  our  Swedish  and  Norwegian  congregations,  once  strong  and 
numerous,  were  so  badly  discouraged  with  their  houses  in  ashes 
and  their  churches  in  ruins,  that  I  had  to  meet  with  them  on 
the  West  Side  and  show  them  that  all  was  not  lost.  On  Mon- 
day morning  at  nine  o'clock,  we  met  at  the  ruins  of  the  large 
Swedish  church  and  after  a  solemn  service,  commenced  re- 
building. A  large  number  of  men  and  boys  who  could  get  no 
employment  worked  at  cleaning  the  bricks  and  hauling  away 
the  debris  of  their  once  beautiful  sanctuary.  By  my  taking  out 
money,  Mr.  Carlson  will  be  able  to  pay  them  off  every  evening 
and  thus  not  only  give  them  bread  but  also  save  the  brick 
which  can  be  used  to  rebuild  at  least  the  basement  of  their 
church.  So  too  I  have  some  poor  Swedes  at  the  ruins  of  our 
English  church  and  hospital  putting  things  in  such  a  shape 
as  will  prove  the  best  for  the  future  of  the  church. 

"Much  of  my  time  also  was  spent  in  making  the  most 
efficient  arrangement  for  the  success  of  the  most  needy  and 
worthy  of  our  poor  people  in  the  way  of  suitable  winter  apparel. 
Tens  of  thousands,  after  removing  their  furniture  and  cloth- 
ing time  and  again  had  it  burned  up  in  the  cemetery  or  on  the 
very  graves  to  which  it  had  been  borne  away,  so  awfully  did  the 
sparks  and  great  pieces  of  broken  timber  fall  down  on  every 
side  for  many  blocks. 

"By  God's  blessing,  I  was  enabled  to  minister  no  small 
consolation  as  well  as  relief  to  numerous  acquaintances,  some 
of  whom  were  once  the  possessors  of  houses  and  lands  and  now 
escaped  only  with  the  clothes  on  their  back.  The  venerable 
Mrs.  McCagg,  aged  seventy-two,  the  mother  of  the  donor  for 
the  new  hospital,  was  saved  only  '  as  by  fire, '  and  with  thousands 


432  TEE  LIFE  OF  T7.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

of  others  was  swept  clean  of  every  earthly  thing.  On  my  re- 
turn home  I  found  numerous  letters  from  the  east  with  money, 
etc.,  while  others  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia  make  inquiries 
how  to  send  it.  So,  in  the  midst  of  the  awful  realities  of  this 
trying  time,  I  am  comforted  by  the  consciousness  that  my  poor 
labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord ! ' ' 

Oct.  9,  he  writes  his  brother  Sidney: 

"I  am  in  sore  perplexity  about  our  affairs  in  Chicago. 
The  Church  of  Mercy,  the  toil  of  so  many  years,  and  our  little 
hospital,  both  with  obligations  resting  on  them  for  which  I  am 
responsible,  are  in  ashes.  The  entire  North  Side  for  two  miles 
is  a  smoking  desolation.  No  less  than  seven  Lutheran  churches 
are  in  ruins.  The  insurance  to  pay  the  losses  cannot  be  collected, 
as  the  fire  companies  are  utterly  broken  up.  My  situation  is 
a  trying  one  indeed,  but  not  worse  than  multitudes  of  others 
and  God  will  open  some  way  of  deliverance. 

"In  all  probability  I  will  leave  home  on  Thursday  to  go 
there  and  see  to  the  interests  of  that  once  hopeful  Institution 
and  church.  Oh,  the  poor  people  who  are  tonight  in  the  open 
air  without  a  roof  to  cover  their  heads  and  every  earthly  thing 
burned  with  fire.  The  thought  is  more  than  one  can  bear.  What 
then  must  the  reality  be?" 

For  fourteen  years  after  the  desolation  of  the  fire.  Dr. 
Passavant  was  not  able  to  rebuild.  But  the  purpose  of  having 
a  hospital  in  Chicago  was  never  given  up.  Of  the  struggles  and 
disappointments  of  those  years,  the  plans  and  purposes,  as  well 
as  the  securing  of  the  Superior  Street  site  and  the  valuable 
Lake  View  tract,  he  writes  in  the  Workman  of  March  2,  1882: 

"With  the  exception  of  a  few  movables,  the  expense  book 
and  the  door  key,  everything  Avas  consumed.  By  means  of  the 
donations  sent  us,  we  paid  off  all  but  a  few  hundred  dollars 
of  its  indebtedness.  The  beautiful  site  which  had  been  generously 
given  for  the  hospital,  we  felt  it  our  duty  to  return  to  the 
donor  whose  earthly  all  had  perished  in  the  great  catastrophe. 
Afterwards,  through  the  great  kindness  of  this  gentleman,  the 
cause  of  this  little  hospital  was  pleaded  so  eloquently  before 
the  relief  committee,  that  they  kindly  placed  a  generous  sum 
at  our  disposal  with  which  we  purchased  eight  acres  near  the 
Graceland  Cemetery  as  a  site  for  the  future  Institution.  With 
a  legacy  from  a  friend,  we  also  purchased  a  site  in  the  city  for 
an  Emergency  Hospital  into  which  all  cases  of  accident  or 
sudden  sickness  may  be  admitted.     Owing  to  the  panic  which 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.      '  433 

came  shortly  after,  and  the  years  of  financial  distress  which 
followed,  it  was  not  in  our  power  to  do  anything.  The  taxes 
and  assessments  on  both  properties  were  more  than  a  sufficiency. 
After  long  and  patient  waiting,  however,  the  day  of  deliverance 
seemed  near  at  hand.  Last  week  a  subscription  of  thirty  thou- 
sand dollars  which  had  been  made  us  for  a  hospital  building  be- 
fore the  fire,  and  which  for  years  past  would  not  be  recognized 
by  the  executors  of  the  man  who  made  it,  was  settled  by  com- 
promise, the  executors  proposing  to  pay  the  sum  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars.  To  avoid  longer  delay  and  greater  loss, 
this  proposal  was  accepted  and  the  money  has  just  been  paid. 
Of  its  intended  disposition,  we  will  speak  hereafter.  Meantime, 
we  cannot  but  express  devout  thanksgiving  unto  God  for  His 
gracious  interposition  in  behalf  of  this  undertaking  which  has 
cost  so  many  exertions,  anxieties  and  prayers.  ]\Iay  it  arise  out 
of  the  ashes  which  seemed  to  consume  its  very  being,  and  from 
the  dust  of  the  earth  come  forth  in  newness  of  life.  Should 
this  prove  to  be  the  case,  it  will  be  a  fresh  illustration  of  the 
fact  that  'His  ways  are  not  our  ways  and  His  thoughts  are  not 
our  thoughts'." 

Dr.  Passavant  had  been  the  mo^^ng  spirit  in  the  starting 
of  the  English  Lutheran  Church  in  Chicago  and  one  of  its  main 
supporters  from  the  beginning.  We  may  therefore  imagine  his 
disappointment  and  chagrin  when  the  General  Home  Mission 
Society  suddenly  resolved  to  discontinue  its  support.  This 
action  meant  that,  as  far  as  the  Mission  Society  was  concerned, 
the  congregation  was  left  to  die.  As  soon  as  he  could  get  away 
he  took  a  train  to  Chicago  and  spent  four  days  with  Missionary 
Bowers  and  his  little  flock.  He  reinspired  hope  and  courage, 
assured  them  that  the  church  would  still  be  supported  and 
dare  not  die.    We  give  a  part  of  his  account  of  this  visit : 

"The  word  of  truth  has  been  made  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation  to  some  who  heard  it.  Not  only  have  wanderers  been 
reclaimed  and  mere  formalists  become  spiritual  members  of 
Christ  and  his  church,  but  impenitent  men  have  been  con- 
verted to  God.  Judging  of  such  things  as  the  world  judges, 
the  time,  and  toil,  and  outlay  may  seem  greater  than  the  result, 
but  in  the  sight  of  heaven  they  are  not.  Even  though  many 
of  them  no  longer  live  in  Chicago,  this  handful  of  disciples 
will  be  as  seed-corn  in  the  land,  which  in  God's  good  time  shall 
spring  forth  and  shake  like  Lebanon. 

"In  addition  to  this,  a  vast  amount  of  preparatory  work 


434  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAYANT. 

has  been  accomplished,  which  is  indispensable  to  final  success. 
A  neat  house  of  worship  has  been  purchased  and  removed  to 
a  central  position,  while  all  the  heavy  expenses  of  doing  this, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  hundred  dollars,  have  been  paid 
by  kind  friends  at  a  distance  and  on  the  ground.  It  is  true, 
it  is  on  a  leased  lot  and  the  ground  rent  is  high  for  a  small 
congregation.  But  the  superiority  of  a  church  to  a  hall  is  so 
great  that  this  result,  after  years  of  painful  toil,  is  a  subject 
of  profound  thankfulness.  Then,  too,  the  missionary  has  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  peculiarities  of  city  life,  the  wants 
of  the  poor  and  the  methods  of  their  relief,  the  care  of  the 
stranger  and  the  immigrant,  as  well  as  those  numerous  classes 
who  most  need  the  oversight  of  a  Christian  pastor  in  the  great 
cities  and  sea-ports  of  our  land.  This  is  an  immense  gain  and 
requires  time,  and  expense  and  toil,  or  it  can  never  be  at- 
tained. 

"With  these  facts  before  us,  we  were  called  upon  to  con- 
template the  breaking  up  of  the  mission,  the  dispersion  of  the 
congregation,  the  sale  of  the  church  and  its  furniture,  the  re- 
moval of  the  pastor  and  the  demoralization  forever  after  of  a 
great  and  powerful  communion  through  so  inglorious  and  dis- 
astrous a  defeat.  The  thought  of  this  was  insupportable.  For 
the  sake  of  a  petty  outlay,  not  Chicago  only,  but  every  western 
city  must  be  virtually  abandoned  by  our  Church,  our  work  be 
left  undone,  our  incompetency  be  confessed,  our  shame  be  pub- 
lished, and  the  first-born  of  the  Reformation,  instead  of  coming 
forth  from  the  wilderness  leaning  on  the  arm  of  her  Beloved, 
be  content  to  sink  down  to  acknowledged  imbecility,  or  given 
up  to  dishonor  and  contempt.  No !  This  dare  not  be.  Surely 
God  has  better  things  in  store  for  a  Church  which  for  centuries 
has  stood  in  the  deadly  breach  and  poured  out  the  blood  of  her 
martyrs  in  the  high  places  of  the  field. 

"Days  of  intercourse  with  the  brethren  in  Chicago  and 
much  reflection  and  prayer  since  then,  have  led  to  the  following 
conviction :  The  Chicago  Mission  must  not  be  abandoned.  As 
the  General  Synod's  Home  Mission  Society  have  signified  their 
inability  longer  to  support  the  missionary,  this  must  be  done 
by  others.  In  the  absence  of  a  Missionary  Society,  individuals 
alone  can  do  it.  In  a  short  time  a  committee  will  be  announced 
who  will  have  its  direction  and  the  oversight  of  its  affairs. 
Until  then,  contributions  may  be  sent  to  the  editor  of  the 
Luther aji  and  Missionary. 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  435 

"But  whence  shall  the  money  be  obtained  to  support  the 
missionary  in  so  expensive  a  city?  We  joyfully  answer:  the 
LORD  WILL  PROVIDE.  A  kind  friend  in  the  East  has  already  signi- 
fied his  willingness  to  contribute  fifty  dollars  annually  to  the 
mission,  and  others  will  assuredly  follow.  A  pastor's  wife 
has  volunteered  to  raise  fifty  dollars  more  for  five  years,  from 
acquaintances  in  her  husband's  charge.  And  this  suggests  a 
more  excellent  and  effective  way,  which  we  hope  will  be  imi- 
tated over  the  land.  Let  the  wives  of  our  pastors  undertake 
this  work  and  it  cannot  fail.  The  sum  of  eight  hundred  dollars 
divided  among  a  few  resolute  hearts,  can  soon  be  achieved. 
How  many  could  find  five  persons  who  would  each  contribute 
five  dollars  annually  for  five  years.  Let  us  have  the  pleasure 
of  an  early  and  joyful  response.  The  salary  of  the  missionary 
commences  from  the  first  of  September  and  we  want  to  know 
beforehand  on  what  we  can  rely." 

Had  it  not  been  for  this  heroic  action  of  Dr.  Passavant, 
the  first  English  Lutheran  Church  in  Chicago  and  in  the  new 
West  would  have  died  ingloriously.  A  blow  would  thus  have 
been  struck  at  English  Lutheranism  in  the  west  from  which 
it  would  have  taken  a  generation  to  recover.  The  man  of  faith 
and  of  courage  saved  the  day. 

Of  the  caring  for  and  developing  the  remnant  of  that 
church  he  said : 

"Ever  since  the  opening  of  our  little  Deaconess  Hospital 
in  Chicago,  services  have  been  held  by  the  feeble  remnant  of 
the  English  Lutheran  congregation  in  the  parlor  of  the  Insti- 
tution. The  attendance  has  gradually  increased  until  even 
the  adjoining  rooms  will  no  longer  hold  the  people.  The 
mission  has  been  continued  amid  many  and  unexpected  dis- 
couragements, and  during  these  twenty-two  months  the  brethren 
of  the  Pittsburg  SjTiod,  in  connection  with  Prof.  Copp,  of 
Paxton,  have  faithfully  kept  up  the  appointments,  traveling 
often  a  thousand  miles  to  spend  a  Sunday  with  the  brethren 
in  Chicago !  Nor  has  their  labor  been  in  vain.  The  congregation 
is  now  engaged  in  the  collection  of  funds  to  erect  a  neat  chapel 
for  preaching  and  school  purposes.  Though  but  a  handful, 
they  are  of  good  heart  and  large  hope.  Some  young  persons 
cheerfully  gave  fifty  and  one  hundred  dollars  and  what  was 
most  gratifying  to  us,  among  these  were  some  of  our  dear 
orphans,  now  young  men  and  women,  laboring  in  Chicago,  and 
mindful  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  which  forgot  them  not 


436  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

in  the  day  of  their  sore  affliction.  Meanwhile  the  ]\Tission  Com- 
mittee of  the  Pittsburg  SjTiod  is  prayerfully  looking  to  God 
for  the  man  whom  He  has  chosen  for  this  important  post  and 
earnestly  ask  the  faithful  to  remember  this  interest  at  the 
Throne  of  God." 

In  one  of  his  last  letters  to  Bassler,  a  short  time  before 
that  good  man's  death,  he  writes  about  the  work  of  the  hos- 
pital : 

"In  Chicago,  Br.  Kichards  is  going  on  in  the  same  labor- 
ious way.  Dr.  IMorris,  who  was  at  the  Scientific  Congress  here, 
preached  for  him  on  Sunday  and  seemed  much  pleased  with 
the  prospects  of  our  cause.  The  little  hospital  is  well  filled 
with  sick.  Our  faithful  Ole  is  doing  his  duty  to  the  poor 
sufferers  and  likewise  Miss  Isabella  who  during  Sister  Caro- 
line's stay  in  Pittsburg  nobly  fulfills  her  duty  in  the  charge 
of  the  female  patients  and  the  domestic  affairs  of  the  house. 
One  poor  Norwegian  girl  is  very  ill  and  it  is  feared  will  die 
before  morning. 

"I  saw  Mr.  Ogden  this  evening.  He  is  very  friendly  and 
as  soon  as  Congress  adjourns  we  Av-ill  begin  our  work  of 
subscriptions.  The  rise  of  property  here  is  enormous.  In  one 
place  one  hundred  per  cent  in  one  to  three  months.  The  truth 
is  that  the  city  is  growing  at  a  rate  which  is  most  wonderful, 
and  it  is  too  bad  that  we  are  not  able  to  avail  ourselves  of  the 
opportunity  of  the  growing  with  it  for  God  and  humanity." 

Dr.  Passavant  was  Jiuman.  He  sometimes  lost  patience 
and  spoke  in  words  having  a  sting  that  hurt  sorely. 

But,  while  human  he  was  always  a  Christian.  "When  he 
was  conscious  of  having  wronged  anyone  he  was  always  ready 
to  acknowledge,  beg  pardon  and  make  the  amende  honorable. 
On  one  occasion  there  had  been  a  misunderstanding  between 
him  and  his  dear  friend  Bassler.  Hasty  words  had  passed  be- 
tween them  and  heartache  had  followed.  Good  brother  Bassler 
had  given  vent  to  his  hurt  feelings  in  a  letter.  Dr.  Passavant 
answered : 

"I  cheerfully  overlook  the  remarks  you  made  at  the  time 
you  referred  to  in  your  last,  especially  because  I  saw  that  you 
at  the  time  did  not  fully  see  why  I  wanted  to  go  over  to  the 
site  of  the  building  before  attending  to  anything  else.  At  my 
request  Sidney  had  come  along  and  as  he  had  an  engagement 
I  did  not  wish  to  keep  him  longer  than  necessary.  At  the  same 
time,  I  felt  that  this  matter  of  location,  to  one  who  had  but 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  437 

an  hour  to  stay,  was  the  most  important  of  all  other  things  and 
when  I  spoke,  I  had  no  idea  'to  cut  you  off,'  but  as  Sidney  was 
at  the  door,  I  wanted  to  get  this  matter  off  my  hands  first  and 
let  him  go  home.  I  saw  you  were  laboring  under  a  misap- 
prehension of  my  purpose  and  therefore  in  the  surprise  which 
I  felt  under  your  remarks  may  have  spoken  in  an  arbitrary 
voice,  but  there  was  nothing  left  in  my  heart  but  sorrow  that 
we  were  both  so  weak,  so  nervous  and  so  easily  thrown  off  our 
balance.  The  cause  of  my  detention  for  half  an  hour,  was  that 
at  mother's  suggestion,  I  should  do  certain  things,  and  among 
the  rest  call  on  Mrs.  Reed,  with  which  I  complied.  But  let  all 
pass  and  may  God  be  merciful  unto  us." 

In  the  winter  of  1868  Mr.  Bassler's  health  became  more 
and  more  precarious.  Everything  possible  was  done  for  his 
comfort  and  relief,  but  in  spite  of  all  the  good  man  was  slowly 
but  surely  going  down.  During  all  these  months  Dr.  Passavant 
cheered,  cared  for  and  provided  for  him  as  he  would  for  his 
own  father.  When  at  last  it  was  evident  that  he  could  not 
improve  in  Zelienople  Dr.  Passavant  grasped  at  the  hope  that 
the  salt  sea  air  might  restore  him.  After  much  persuasion 
the  poor  brother  consented  to  go  to  Atlantic  City.  Dr.  Passa- 
vant made  every  arrangement  for  coach,  clothing,  sleeping  car, 
hotel,  etc.  He  arranged  for  Mrs.  Bassler  to  go  with  him  and 
accompanied  them  personally  part  of  the  way.  He  *vrote  al- 
most daily  such  cheering  and  encouraging  letters  as  he  alone 
could  write. 

But  though  there  was  a  temporary  rallying  of  the  spent 
powers,  a  flickering  of  the  feeble  flame,  yet  the  recuperative 
powers  of  the  good  man  were  gone  and  he  longed  to  be  back 
among  the  brethren  with  whom  he  had  planned  and  prayed 
and  wept  and  worked  for  Zion  and  for  her  suffering  children. 
His  last  journey  back  to  Pittsburg,  his  last  three  weeks  in  the 
''prophet's  chamber"  in  the  hospitable  home  of  Dr.  Passavant 
and  his  final  falling  asleep  we  shall  let  Passavant  describe: 

"The  three  last  weeks  of  his  holy  and  useful  life  conse- 
crated that  sick  chamber  and  made  it  quite  the  verge  of  heaven. 
We  thought  we  intimately  knew  our  beloved  brother  and  fellow- 
laborer  before,  but  the  fidelity  and  purity  of  his  character,  the 
greatness  and  nobility  of  his  nature,  and  the  sweetness  and 
refinement  of  his  spirit  made  us  feel  that  until  now  our  eyes 
were  holden,  and  that  one  of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  was 


438  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

passing  away  from  earth  to  heaven  under  our  roof.  Those  three 
weeks  of  watching  in  the  sick  room  are  among  the  most  cherished 
privileges  in  our  life. 

"It  is  not  in  our  power  to  express  to  others  the  impressions 
made  upon  our  minds  by  the  scenes  of  the  sick  chamber  during 
these  weeks  of  patient  suffering.  There  was  nothing  of  rapture 
and  little  even  of  joyous  anticipation  in  the  event  so  certain  to 
his  own  mind.  The  habit  of  his  religion  was  never  after  this 
kind  during  health,  and  the  current  of  his  spiritual  life  flowed 
on  just  as  before  until  it  was  quietly  lost  in  the  ocean  of  eternity. 
He  was  emphatically  a  thoughtful,  praying,  working  Christian, 
and  he  meditated,  prayed  and  worked  for  the  Master  until  the 
last.  He  was  faithful  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  'His  wisdom, 
righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption,'  was  certain, 
Scriptural  and  satisfying.  The  Bible  and  the  Catechism  of 
Luther  had  for  many  years  been  his  only  devotional  books.  The 
pure  word  of  truth  was  his  daily  food.  There  was  nothing 
affected,  sentimental  or  fanatical  in  his  piety,  but  everything 
was  evangelical,  natural  and  childlike,  both  in  his  faith  and 
in  his  life,  and  these  characteristics  were  beautiful  to  contem- 
plate in  the  departing  servant  of  God.  His  interest  in  the 
Church  and  in  her  Institutions  was  most  intense,  and  had  it 
pleased  God  to  spare  him,  we  think  he  would  have  loved  to  live 
and  labor.  But  as  he  felt  this  could  not  be,  he  meekly  bowed 
to  the  will  of  God  and  worked  for  Christ  and  the  Church  until 
he  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.  We  might  fill  many  pages 
with  the  interesting  details  of  his  last  cares  and  prayers  for 
Christ  and  His  Church,  particularly  for  the  Pittsburg  Synod, 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders;  the  General  Council  of 
which  he  was  the  first  President;  and  the  Farm  School  for 
orphans  of  which  from  its  commencement  he  was  the  efficient 
and  faithful  Director.  Not  a  duty  was  neglected  to  his  family, 
or  to  either  of  these  great  interests  which  lay  so  near  to  his 
heart.  The  most  minute  directions  were  given  concerning 
particular  children,  the  rotation  of  the  crops,  the  smallest  details 
of  unfinished  work  and  the  future  conduct  of  the  Institution 
which  might  be  helpful  to  the  fatherless  under  his  care.  His 
love  and  blessing  were  sent  to  his  brethren,  the  deaconesses  and 
their  associates,  the  teachers  and  orphans  and  benefactors  of  our 
poor.    Many  came  once  more  to  see  him  for  the  last  time,  and 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  .        439 

for  all  he  had  a  word  of  recognition  or  thanks  or  love.  His 
'house  had  been  set  in  order'  before,  and  his  last  will  and 
testament  avowed  his  implicit  confidence  in  the  evangelical  faith 
confessed  by  the  General  Council,  in  whose  certain  and  glorious 
future  he  rejoiced,  when  'giving  commandment  concerning  his 
bones.'  His  death  through  God's  mercy  was  easy,  though  the 
great  suffering  for  weeks  before  led  to  the  fear  that  it  might  be 
attended  with  much  pain.  He  had  often  prayed,  'How  long, 
0  Lord,  how  long?'  and  at  last  when  the  clock  struck  ten  on 
Saturday  night  the  strained  ear  failed  to  hear  the  hushed 
breath,  and  all  was  still.  He  had  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  and 
in  peace.  In  the  holy  calm  of  that  sick  room  a  single  voice  was 
heard,  which  gathered  into  his  utterance  the  desires  and  prayers 
of  all:  'Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last 
end  be  like  his. '  The  next  moment  all  knees  were  bowed  around 
the  bedside  of  the  departed,  while  thanksgivings  were  rendered 
to  God  that  '  death  was  swallowed  up  in  victory. '  ' ' 

The  eyesight  of  his  good  mother  had  been  gradually  failing 
for  some  time.  To  an  intellectual  and  active  nature  like  hers 
this  was  certainly  a  sore  affliction.  To  be  denied  the  society  of 
the  books  and  papers  which  she  had  always  enjoyed  with  such 
keen  interest,  to  sit  with  folded  hands,  while  her  mind  was  as 
active  as  ever,  meant  much  more  to  her  than  to  ordinary  women 
of  her  age.  Everything  possible  was  done  to  avert  the  threaten- 
ing danger.  Kemedies  without  number,  the  most  skillful  spe- 
cialists and  even  painful  operations  were  resorted  to.  But  all 
this  brought  only  added  pain  without  improvement.  It  was 
evident  at  last  that  perpetual  darkness  was  closing  in  on  the 
good  woman.  When  she  had  reached  her  fourscore  years  she 
was  practically  blind. 

Her  dutiful  and  affectionate  son  felt  her  affliction  almost 
as  keenly  as  she  did.  During  all  the  weary  months  of  treatment, 
of  suffering,  of  alternating  hope  and  fear  he  wrote  her  fre- 
quently. His  letters  were  all  full  of  tenderest  sympathy  and 
love.  Of  his  many  touching  messages  we  select  from  the  one 
sent  her  on  her  eightieth  birthday,  on  which  occasion  Eliza  and 
he  sent  her  as  her  birthday  gift  an  easy  and  elegant  couch : 

"You  know  not  how  your  last  sad  letters  stirred  the  deepest 
emotions  of  my  heart.  Most  devoutly  do  I  thank  God  for  having 
so  mercifully  removed  the  worst  pains  of  your  affliction;    and 


440  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

yet  to  think  of  j^ou  sitting  so  silently  and  thoughtfully  from 
morn  till  night  without  the  enjoyment  of  your  eyes'  dearest 
pleasure,  the  reading  of  books  and  papers,  makes  me  very  sad 
indeed.  But  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  surely  of  God's  great 
mercy  that  you  have  been  preserved  from  all  the  complainings 
of  old  age  and  all  the  melancholy  despondency  which  so  often 
connects  itself  with  the  evening  of  our  days.  Oh,  my  mother, 
there  is  not  a  thought  or  memory  of  you  which  is  not  full  of 
sweetness  and  love,  and  my  heart  swells  with  devout  gratitude 
to  God  that  even  at  your  advanced  age  the  sustaining  grace 
of  God  is  as  your  days.  May  His  mercy  ever  cheer  you  in  the 
weary  hours  of  your  pilgrimage  until  He  cometh  whose  coming 
and  call  will  end  our  sorrows  and  admit  us  to  the  joys  of  our 
dear  Lord." 

Of  the  varied  and  incessant  demands  for  advice  and 
assistance  in  delicate  and  difficult  matters  by  men  high  in  the 
councils  of  the  different  parts  of  the  Church  we  submit  a  few 
samples.    Dr.  Hasselquist  writes,  April  22,  1863: 

"We  must  begin  our  school  at  Paxton  next  September,  and 
for  that  purpose  find  an  English  professor.  I  am  requested  by 
the  Seminary  Board  to  write  to  you  in  regard  to  this  matter. 
We  wish  to  have  a  man  of  the  old  faith  both  in  regard  to 
knowledge  and  the  inner  light;  one  who  possesses  the  necessary 
qualifications  for  a  good  teacher,  and,  I  would  also  say,  a  good 
preacher,  because  we  should  like  to  see  an  English  church  arise 
at  the  side  of  our  school.  But  where  to  get  such  a  man?  We 
have  only  thought  of  two,  Rev.  D.  Garver  and  Brother  Bassler. 
But  can  we  get  either  of  them?  We  need  and  want  a 
prominent  man,  but  will  such  a  one  deny  himself  so  much  that 
he  will  unite  with  us  and  labor  for  the  upbuilding  of  Zion 
among  the  poor  Scandinavians?  Upon  the  first  English  pro- 
fessor will  depend  a  great  part  of  the  success  of  the  enterprise 
so  far  as  human  agency  is  concerned.  Therefore  you  can  easily 
understand  our  anxiety  in  this  respect.  Could  not  you,  Brother 
Passavant,  come  to  Chicago  the  last  days  of  next  week,  say 
Friday  and  Saturday,  go  down  to  Paxton  with  us  and  help  us 
to  make  out  and  fix  the  plans  for  our  future  operations  there?" 

The  justly  celebrated  Wm.  Augustus  Muhlenberg,  the 
great-grandson  of  Henry  IMelchior  IMuhlenberg,  is  one  of  the 
many   great,   noble    and   valuable   men   who   were   lost   to   the 


CHICAGO  HOSPITAL,  ETC.  441 

Lutheran  Church  because  she  would  not  give  her  children  the 
gospel  in  English.  He  resolved  to  study  for  the  ministry  and 
offered  himself  to  Dr.  Demme  as  a  candidate  for  the  Englisli 
Lutheran  ministry.  Dr.  Demme  informed  him  that  there  was 
no  place  to  study  theology  in  English  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Thereupon  this  gifted  and  consecrated  youth  turned  to  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  became  one  of  the  grandest 
and  most  influential  men  in  that  communion.  He  became  fa- 
mous as  a  preacher,  a  poet,  an  organizer,  an  educator  and  a 
philanthropist.  He  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  well-known 
hymns,  among  which  are,  "I  Would  Not  Live  Alway,"  "Like 
Noah's  Weary  Dove,"  "Saviour,  Who  Thy  Flock  Art  Feeding." 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  beautiful  St.  Luke's  Hospital  over- 
looking Central  Park,  New  York,  and  the  father  of  the  wliole 
grand  hospital  system  for  which  the  Episcopal  Church  is  noted 
throughout  our  land.  He  is  also  the  founder  of  an  order  of 
Deaconesses  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  twenty-five  years 
older  than  Dr.  Passavant,  whom  he  had  come  to  know  and  to 
love,  and  who  had  founded  his  Pittsburg  Infirmary  several  years 
before  St.  Luke's  was  opened,  and  had  blazed  the  way  for 
Deaconess  work  in  America.  He  often  consul  ted  Mr.  Passavant 
and  received  much  inspiration  and  many  valuable  hints  for  his 
hospital  and  Deaconess  work  from  him.  The  following  brief 
and  courteous  note  shows  how  ready  and  glad  he  was  to  learn 
from  his  Lutheran  friend: 

"St.  Luke's  Hospital,  54th  St.  and  Fifth  Ave. 

"Sunday  Evening. 
'^Bev.  and  Dear  Brother: — If  you  will  let  me  know  where 
you  are  stopping  in  the  city,  and  at  what  hour  I  can  see  you,  I 
will  be  happy  to  call  and  pay  you  my  respects;  hoping,  too, 
that  I  can  induce  you  to  come  and  see  my  hospital.  I  want  to 
have  a  little  talk  with  you  about  sisterhoods.    With  great  regard, 

"Yours  very  truly, 

W.  A.  Muhlenberg." 

The  now  famous  Episcopal  Bishop  of  New  York,  the 
Kt.  Rev.  Alonzo  Potter,  when  he  wanted  information  that  he 
might  use  in  the  benevolent  operations  of  his  own  Church, 
turned  to  Dr.  Passavant.  He  writes: 

"My  Dear  Mr^  Passavant: — You  will  pardon  me,  I  know, 
if  I  ask  if  your  interest  in  Pastor  Fliedner's  plan  for  training 


442  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

and  organizing  Deaconesses  continues  unabated,  and  whether 
your  experience  in  that  work  in  this  country  develops  any 
difficulties  new  and  peculiar  or  suggests  any  important  change. 
When  in  Pittsburg,  in  May,  I  visited  your  hospital  with  much 
interest,  though  in  considerable  haste.  We  are  engaged  in 
maturing  plans  for  employing  the  ministry  of  women  in  various 
ways  and  should  be  most  thankful  for  any  hint  that  you  may 
be  able  to  give  us.    My  address  is  Philadelphia. 

"Yours  most  truly, 

Alonzo  Potter." 


FOUNDING  OF  TEE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         443 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL. 

The  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  on  re-entering  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  in  1853,  had  expressly  reserved  to  itself  the  right, 
in  case  at  any  time  the  General  Synod  should  violate  its  own 
constitution,  for  its  delegates  to  withdraw  and  report  to  their 
own  synod  for  further  instruction.  This  written  stipulation 
had  stood  for  eleven  years,  and  its  rightfulness  had  never  been 
called  into  question.  This  right  to  withdraw  and  report  to  their 
own  synod  had  been  exercised  by  the  Pennsylvania  delegates 
at  the  convention  of  the  General  Synod  at  York  in  1864.  They 
had  reported  to  their  synod  at  Pottstown,  a  few  weeks  after  the 
York  convention,  that  they  believed  the  General  Synod  had 
Violated  its  own  constitution.  Their  withdrawal  had  been 
sanctioned  by  their  synod.  A  full  delegation  had,  however, 
again  been  elected  to  attend  the.  convention  at  Ft.  Wayne. 
"With  the  distinct  understanding  that  the  protest  and  with- 
drawal of  its  delegates  from  the  last  session  of  the  General 
Synod  is  still  endorsed  and  that  the  Mother  Synod  still  main- 
tains its  relation  to  the  General  Synod  under  the  conviction 
that  the  subsequent  action  of  that  body  in  the  adoption  of  the 
proposed  amendments  to  its  constitution  is  calculated  to  promote 
the  unity  and  purity  of  our  beloved  Zion.  It,  however,  still 
reserves  to  itself  the  rights  asserted  in  1853."  At  Ft.  Wayne, 
in  May,  1866,  Dr.  Sprecher,  the  president  of  the  General  Synod, 
had  refused  to  recognize  the  delegates  from  Pennsylvania  and 
had  taken  the  ground  that  by  withdrawing  from  the  former 
convention  they  had  severed  their  connection  with  the  General 
Synod  -and  were  no  longer  members.  The  committee  to  which 
the  case  was  referred  reported  as  follows: 

''1.  Resolved,  That  this  Synod  regards  the  resolution  an- 
nexed by  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  to  the  appointment  of  their 
delegates  as  contrary  to  that  equality  among  the  synods  com- 
posing this  body  provided  for  by  the  constitution  of  the  Synod. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  whatever  be  the  motive  of  Christian 
forbearance  that  may  have  induced  this  Synod  to  receive  the 


444  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

Pennsylvania  delegates  in  1853,  with  this  condition,  the  unfav- 
orable influences  since  exerted  by  it  render  this  Synod  no  longer 
willing  to  submit  to  such  a  distinction, 

"3.  Resolved,  That,  waiving  the  irregularities  in  the  pres- 
ent case,  for  the  sake  of  brotherly  love  and  present  peace,  this 
Synod  hereby  agrees  to  receive  their  present  delegates  with 
the  understanding  that  they  use  their  influence,  at  their  next 
meeting  of  the  Synod,  to  have  the  obnoxious  condition  re- 
scinded. 

"4.  Resolved,  That  this  Body  will  not  hereafter  receive 
or  retain  any  synod  in  its  connection  upon  other  terms  or 
condition  than  those  prescribed  in  the  constituion  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod." 

In  the  discussion  of  this  report  Dr.  Passavant  said:  "Is 
not  this  an  ex  post  facto  law?  Has  not  the  mover  of  these 
resolutions  been  aware  of  the  existence  of  these  resolutions  since 
tlie  reception  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  in  1853?  And  did 
be  ever  say  anything  against  them  ?  We  have  no  right  to  make 
ex  post  facto  laws.  A  resolution,  to  have  any  binding  force, 
must  be  prospective,  not  retrospective.  These  conditions,  on 
vrhich  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  entered  this  body,  are  similar 
to  those  on  which  other  synods  entered  into  connection  with  the 
General  Synod.  The  Pittsburg  Synod  came  into  this  synod 
with  conditions.  That  synod  declared,  when  applying  for 
admission,  that  it  would  not  be  responsible  for  certain  acts  of 
the  General  Synod.  The  resolutions  of  the  New  York  Synod 
annexed  to  their  application  for  admission  were  even  stronger 
and  more  decided  than  those  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod. 
(These  resolutions  were  read  by  Rev.  Mr.  Adelberg,  of  the  New 
York  Ministerium.)  Should  the  General  Synod  put  out  a 
catechism  contrary  to  the  faith  of  the  Church,  each  synod  would 
have  a  right  to  protest,  and  if  the  book  were  not  disavowed,  to 
withdraw  from  the  General  Synod  as  an  act  of  condenmation 
of  the  action  of  that  Body." 

On  the  second  resolution  he  said:  "I  had  hoped  that  this 
important  matter  would  have  been  deferred  until  Monday,  so 
that,  aided  by  the  rest  and  devotions  of  the  Lord's  Day,  we 
would  have  been  able  to  arrive  at  a  peaceable  and  satisfactory 
solution  of  this  important  question.  The  difficulty  in  the  way 
of  the  reception  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  does  not  rest  upon 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         445 

a  matter  of  faith;  they  have  been  excluded  npon  a  mere  tech- 
nicality. We  have  repeatedly  asked  that  the  real  crime  of 
which  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  is  accused  be  distinctly  stated, 
and  you  have  answered  only  in  the  doubtful  phrases  drawn 
from  the  corrupt  pool  of  political  phraseology.  The  matter  has 
evidently  been  pre-arranged;  among  the  opponents  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Synod,  East  and  West,  there  has  been  a  perfect 
understanding,  either  that  the  division  of  the  Church  should 
be  effected  at  this  convention,  or  that  the  Pennsylvania  Synod 
should  be  insulted  and  degraded.  This  was  pre-determined,  but 
it  was  necessary  that  at  least  a  plausible  reason  should  be  found 
by  which  to  carry  it  into  effect,  and  at  the  same  time,  if  possible, 
to  cast  the  odium  of  schism  from  themselves  upon,  the  Synod 
cf  Pennsylvania  and  others  agreeing  with  her  faith.  But  the 
leaders  of  this  movement  do  not  dare  to  expose  the  true  reasons 
on  account  of  which  they  desire  a  separation.  This  is  shown 
by  the  attempt  they  pertinaciously  make  to  justify  their  conduct, 
by  arguments  based  on  the  alleged  doctrinal  exclusiveness  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Synod.  They  have  demanded  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Synod  that  they  sacrifice  vital  principles,  that  they 
sanction  palpable  and  gross  violation  of  the  constitution; 
that  the  only  defense  that  they  and  others  constituting  the 
minority  have  against  the  oppressive  tyranny  of  the  majority, 
shall  be  swept  away.  The  only  plea  that  they  offer  in  justifica- 
tion of  these  unrighteous  demands  is  a  mere  technicality,  viz., 
that  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  has  in  some  unaccountable  way 
severed  its  'practical  relation  with  the  General  Synod.'  " 

Just  before  the  vote  endorsing  the  ruling  of  the  president 
was  taken.  Dr.  Passavant  arose  and  requested  permission  to 
read  something  that  had,  in  his  opinion,  an  important  bearing  on 
the  question  at  issue.    He  read  as  follows: 

''And  when  it  was  day,  the  magistrates  sent  the  sergeants, 
saying,  let  those  men  go. 

"And  the  keeper  of  the  prison  told  this  saying  to  Paul: 
The  magistrates  have  sent  to  let  you  go;  now  therefore  depart 
*in  peace. 

"But  Paul  said  unto  them.  They  have  beaten  us  openly 
uncondemned,  being  Romans,  and  have  cast  us  into  prison; 
and  now  do  they  thrust  us  out  privily  ?  Nay,  verily,  but  let  them 
come  themselves  and  fetch  us  out."     (Acts  16:  35-37.) 


446  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

Immediately  after  the  passage  of  the  resolution  Dr.  Passa- 
vant  gave  notice  that  he  and  others  would  enter  a  protest  against 
the  action  of  the  Synod,  and  invited  all  who  wished  to  sign  such 
a  protest,  to  call  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  Ruthrautf  during  the 
pfternoon. 

He  afterwards  read  the  protest  against  the  president's  rul- 
ing drawn  up  at  the  house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ruthrauff. 

The  refusal  of  Dr.  Sprecher,  the  president  of  the  General 
Synod,  to  receive  the  credentials  of  the  delegates  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Synod  at  the  Convention  of  the  General  Synod  at  Ft. 
Wayne  produced  a  profound  impression  on  the  whole  Lutheran 
Church.  Intense  earnestness  had  characterized  the  convention. 
The  three-days'  debate  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  that 
ever  took  place  on  the  floor  of  a  chiirch  convention.  Not  only 
were  the  citizens  of  Ft.  Wayne  deeply  stirred,  so  that  they 
crowded  the  aisles  and  galleries  of  the  church  during  the  great 
discussion,  and  not  only  were  the  papers  of  Ft.  Wayne  full  of 
exciting  accounts  and  crude  comments,  but  the  whole  country 
was  informed  of  the  rupture  of  the  only  general  body  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America. 

The  Associated  Press  dispatclies  carried  the  news,  often 
strangely  distorted,  to  every  part  of  the  land.  The  religious 
papers  took  it  up  and  often  displayed  dense  ignorance  of  the 
principles,  polity  and  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The 
minds  and  hearts  of  the  Lutheran  ministers  were  exercised  as 
never  before. 

Naturally  the  interest  was  most  intense  in  the  synods  and 
congregations  belonging  to  the  General  Synod.  The  ministers 
took  sides  for  or  against  the  ruling  at  Ft.  Wayne.  But  it  was 
felt  by  all  the  thinking  men  on  both  sides  that  while  a  parlia- 
mentary technicality  had  been  the  occasion  of  the  rupture,  the 
real  cause  lay  much  deeper.  These  men  knew  that  underneath 
and  back  of  the  disputed  ruling  there  was  a  deep-seated  differ- 
ence of  doctrine  and  experience.  It  was  the  difference  between 
those  who  had  studied,  apprehended,  and  learned  to  love  the 
distinctive  and  positive  teachings  of  the  Lutheran  Church  on 
the  one  side,  and  those  on  the  other  who  had  not  so  seriously 
studied  the  Confessions,  who  had  not  so  earnestly  searched  the 
Scriptures  to  see  whether  these  doctrines  were  true,  and  who 
had  little  if  any  love  for  those  great  and  far-reaching  principles 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         447 

which  make  the  Lutheran  Church  Lutheran,  as  distinguished 
from  the  Reformed  Churches. 

The  controversy  waxed  warm  on  every  side.  The  really 
sincere  and  pious  lovers  of  truth  began  to  study  the  Confessions 
and  compare  them  with  Scripture  as  they  had  never  done  before. 
The  more  superficial  and  sectarian  partisans  contented  them- 
selves with  baseless  assertions,  railing  accusations,  and  claims 
to  a  superior  spirituality.  The  sermons  were  the  expressions 
of  the  spirit  of  the  preachers.  Some  were  bitterly  polemical, 
without  any  warmth  of  love  for  God  or  for  man  or  for  truth. 
Others  were  filled  with  rabid  railings  against  the  Romanists  and 
formalists;  while  those  of  the  better  class  were  full  of  Scrip- 
tural instruction  and  admonition  delivered  with  an  earnest 
yearning  for  the  permanent  peace  of  Zion  and  for  the  conver- 
sion, comforting  and  strengthening  of  souls.  It  was  to  this 
class  that  Dr.  Passavant  belonged.  Oh,  how  he  prayed  and 
pleaded  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem !  More  than  once  did  he 
tell  the  writer  how  he  spent  hours  of  the  night  on  his  knees 
during  these  sad  days  of  estrangement,  mistrust  and  bitter 
disappointment. 

The  exclusion  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  at  Ft.  Wayne  had 
led  that  venerable  body,  at  its  convention  one  week  later,  to 
issue  a  call  for  a  convention  of  representatives  of  all  Lutheran 
synods  that  unreservedly  accepted  all  the  Confessions  of  the 
Church,  even  as  Muhlenberg  and  the  Halle  fathers  had  done. 
The  call  was,  therefore,  sent  out  for  a  fraternal  conference,  to 
be  held  at  Reading,  Pa.,  in  the  following  December. 

It  was  now  evident  that  the  General  Synod  was  divided  and 
that  a  new  general  body  was  to  be  organized. 

The  burning  question  everywhere  was:  What  would  the 
district  synods  of  the  General  Synod  now  do?  What  would 
the  congregations  of  the  synods  do?  What  would  the  members 
of  the  congregations  do?  Whither  should  they  go?  To  Read- 
ing, and  after  Reading  to  the  new  and  strictly  Lutheran  con- 
vention at  Ft.  Wayne?  Or  should  they  remain  in  the  old 
General  Synod? 

A  campaign  of  educating  and  advocating  and  pleading  and 
blaming  and  defaming  was  inaugurated  in  all  parts  of  the 
General  Synod.  The  excitement  was  like  that  of  a  political 
campaign.    Many  pulpits  were  turned  into  polemical  platforms. 


448  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

Not  satisfied  with  this,  there  were  public  debates  in  churches 
and  in  schoolhouses.  Impromptu  orators  stood  up  on  store 
boxes  and  on  street  corners  and  aired  their  grievances  and  their 
fears  before  the  public.  Communities  took  sides  and  debated 
•  on  the  streets  and  in  the  shops  and  stores.  At  many  a  Lutheran 
fireside  there  w^ere  anxious  discussions  and  earnest  prayers. 
Communities  Avere  sundered  into  hostile  parties,  churches  were 
split,  and  households  divided  between  themselves.  There  were 
sad  and  bitter  alienations,  strifes  and  feuds.  It  was  not  an 
unheard  of  thing  that  some  zealous  champions  would  try  to 

"Prove  their  doctrine  orthodox 
By  apostolic  blows  and  knocks." 

In  many  eases  the  civil  courts  were  called  upon  to  settle  disputes 
and  rights  between  those  who  bore  the  same  church  name  and 
had  communed  at  the  same  altar.  Some,  too  impatient  of  the 
laAv's  delaj^s,  would  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and 
would  lock  the  doors  of  the  churches  to  prevent  the  opposite 
side  from  having  their  favorite  preacher.  What  all  this  meant  to 
Dr.  Passavant  can  only  be  imagined.  He  was  immersed  soul  and 
body  in  his  Institutions  of  mercy  in  Pittsburg,  Rochester, 
Zelienople,  ]\Iilwaukee,  Chicago  and  New  York.  He  was  found- 
ing a  college  in  the  opening  of  Thiel  Hall,  at  Phillipsburg,  Pa. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  Philadelphia  Seminary.  He 
was  already  planning  and  praying  for  the  Chicago  Seminary.  He 
was  co-editor  of  The  Lutheran  and  Missionary.  He  was  pastor 
of  the  Rochester  and  Baden  churches.  He  was  everybody's 
counsellor  and  -adviser.  Now  came  Church  wars  and  rumors 
of  wars.  There  M^ere  few  congregations  in  the  Pittsburg  Synod 
with  whose  founding  he  had  not  had  something  to  do.  There 
were  few  into  which  the  present  disturbance  did  not  enter. 
From  every  side  Dr.  Passavant  was  appealed  to.  His  personal 
presence  was  solicited  on  all  occasions  and  in  every  place.  His 
a-dvice  was  asked  in  heaps  of  letters  every  day.  More  than  ever 
did  the  care  of  all  the  churches  rush  in  upon  him.  More  than 
ever  did  he  have  to  be  on  train,  on  wagon,  in  buggy  and  on  foot, 
by  day  and  by  night,  in  heat  and  dust  and  storm,  in  journeyings 
oft,  in  perils  by  his  own  countrymen,  and  in  perils  among  false 
brethren.  It  was  largely  through  his  indefatigable  labors  and 
influence  that  so  large  a  majority  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod  stood 
firm   for  historic  and  confessional  Lutheranism. 


WARTBURG  ORPHANS'  FARM  SCHOOL,  MT.  VERNON,  N.  Y. 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         449 

It  certainly  seems  strange  to  us,  looking  back  from  this 
distance,  that  a  man  so  deeply  devout,  so  certainly  spiritual,  so 
conscientiously  consecrated;  a  man  who  had  shown  his  faith  by 
his  works  as  no  other  man  in  the  Church  had  done,  and  whose 
name  and  fame  were  a  crown  of  glory  to  the  Church  that  he 
loved  better  than  he  loved  his  life,  in  the  heat  and  bitterness 
of  the  conflict  should  be  called  a  "hypocrite,"  a  "Romanist," 
a  "formalist"  and  what  not.  Yet  such  is  the  fact,  and  such  is 
human   nature. 

We  would  not  be  understood,  however,  as  claiming  that 
there  was  no  fault  on  the  side  of  the  conservatives.  There  were 
unworthy  men  on  that  side,  also.  There  were  men  who  used 
the  plea  of  orthodoxy  to  cover  up  an  unbelieving  heart,  men, 
whose  professions  of  love  of  sound  doctrine  were  used  to  cloak 
an  impure  and  a  dishonest  life.  There  were  others  who,  while 
not  real  hypocrites,  were  yet  sorely  at  fault  in  spirit.  Like 
veritable  sons  of  thunder  they  were  ready  to  call  down  fire  from 
heaven  upon  their  opposers.  While  they  spoke  and  preached 
the  truth,  they  did  not  speak  it  "in  love. ' '  Their  weapons  were 
not  always  spiritual,  often  intensely  carnal.  Neither  were  they 
always  careful  to  tell  the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth. 
They  were  human,  and  the  human  played  its  sad  part.  The 
rabies  theologorum,  from  which  Melanchthon  prayed  to  be 
delivered,  was  too  much  in  evidence  on  the  side  that  was 
confessionally  correct. 

Even  the  good  Dr.  Passavant  was  human.  The  heat  and 
dust  of  the  battle  sometimes  blinded  him  so  that  he  did  not  see 
clearly.  His  indignation  was  not  always  righteous  nor  his 
anger  without  sin.  He  was  not  always  fair  to  an  opponent.  He 
was  sometimes  too  slow  to  acknowledge  or  forgive  a  fault.  Like 
Luther,  whose  faith  he  championed,  he  was  often  wrong  in 
spirit  and  in  method.  But,  like  Luther,  he  was  still  a  great  and 
good  man,  a  chosen  vessel  of  God,  an  eminent  saint,  a  John 
among  the  disciples.  God  forgave  his  infirmities,  set  His  seal 
upon  him  and  his  labors  and  delighted  to  honor  him.  Let  him 
that  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone  and  let  his  traducers  and 
vilifiers  show  at  least  a  modicum  of  his  consecration,  self- 
sacrifice  and  achievement  for  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity. 

At  the  convention  of  the  Pittsburg  Synod  in  Rochester,  Pa., 
in  October,  1866,  the  invitation  of  the  Pennsylvania  Synod  to  all 


450  THE  LIFE  OF  IV.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

synods  that  unreservedly  accept  the  Augsburg  Confession  to 
send  delegates  to  a  fraternal  convention  soon  to  be  called,  came 
up  for  action,  A  resolution  was  offered  that  the  Pittsburg 
Synod  endorse  the  movement  and  send  delegates  to  the  Reading 
Conference.  A  very  earnest  and  prolonged  discussion  took 
place  in  which  Dr.  Passavant  was  one  of  the  chief  speakers,  and 
his  words  had  probably  more  weight  than  those  of  any  other 
man. 

At  the  Reading  Convention,  in  December,  1866,  which  re- 
sulted from  the  Pennsylvania  Synod's  invitation,  Dr.  Passavant 
was  one  of  the  influential  speakers  in  the  discussion  of  the 
fimdamental  principles  of  faith  and  church  polity  which  had 
been  drawn  up  and  submitted  by  Dr.  Krauth.  This  convention 
resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  General  Council  in  whose  early 
history  the  Doctor  bore  such  a  prominent  part  and  in  which  he 
remained  a  potent  factor  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

Here  is  his  humorous  and  ironical  account  of  the  "Symbol- 
ism" of  the  Allegheny  Synod: 

STILL  ANOTHER  SYMBOLICAL  BOOK. 

"Our  brethren  of  the  Allegheny  Synod  who  have  so  zeal- 
ously contended  against  'creeds  as  long  as  the  Bible'  and  for 
very  short  ones,  are  in  danger  of  doing  something  which  will 
astonish  even  themselves.  It  is  not  enough  that,  years  ago, 
they  resolved  that  all  licentiates  in  addition  to  the  qualified 
subscription  to  the  Augsburg  Confession  recommended  by  the 
General  Synod,  should  solemnly  declare  that  they  receive  these 
fundamental  doctrines,  etc.,  as  explained  by  Dr.  S.  S.  S.,  in  his 
'Popular  Theology,'  thus  binding  them  not  only  to  those  doc- 
trines, but  to  the  very  explanations  of  them  in  a  System  of 
Theology  larger  than  the  'Form  of  Concord,'  to  say  nothing  of 
the  Bible.  But  one  Symbolical  Book,  it  seems,  was  not  enough 
to  keep  out  heresy,  and  will  it  be  believed,  another  much  'larger 
than  the  Bible'  has  been  added.  A  minister  may  receive  the 
Confession  with  all  his  heart,  he  may  possibly  even  believe  the 
explanation  of  it  in  the  Popular  Theology,  but  all  this  will  avail 
him  nothing  so  long  as  he  does  not  'read  the  Lutheran  Observer.' 
He  may  not  be  able  to  afford  it.  No  difference!  He  must 
afford  it.  He  may  not  like  it;  but  he  must  like  it.  It  may 
abuse  him,  and  he  may  not  care  to  see  himself  abused,  but  'read 


FOUXDIXG  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         451 

it'  he  must— editorials,  selections,  church  notices,  advertise- 
ments of  bitters,  pills,  powders  and  all,  or  he  can  have  no  part 
in  the  ministry.  Does  anyone  say.  this  is  a  joke  ?  We  should 
pronounce  it  rather  a  large  one,  but  on  page  thirty  of  the 
minutes  of  the  twenty-fifth  convention  in  reply  to  a  letter  from 
a  pastor  of  one  of  their  principal  charges,  in  which  he  men- 
tioned that  he  did  not  read  the  Observer,  in  which  the  notice  of 
the  meeting  was  published,  we  find  the  following  extract  from 
the   committee 's   report : 

"  'The  second  reason  we  regard  as  not  only  invalid  but  a 
reproach  to  a  man  professing  to  be  a  Lutheran  minister,  holding 
as  we  do,  that  no  man  is  competent  to  serve  a  Lutheran  congre- 
gation in  connection  with  the  Allegheny  Sj^nod  who  does  not 
read  the  Lutheran  Observer/    'Received  and  adopted.'     Arte- 
mus  Ward  would  certainly  call  this  'sarcassum'  but  Artemus 
would  be  greatly  mistaken.     It  is  solemn,   downright  earnest. 
Look  at  it  again,  'holding  as  we  do,'  etc.,  but  this  is  but  the 
sorious  language  of  the  old  confessors  in  taking  their  stand  for 
their  creed,  and  witnessing  it  before  all  the  world.    Alas !    What 
are  these  brethren  coming  to?     Where  is  now  the  'freedom  of 
the  will,',  the  'creed  as  long  as  the  Bible,'  the  'strait  jacket'  of 
this  enlightened  nineteenth  century?'     We  stand  in  doubt  of 
these  brethren.     We  are  afraid  they  are  meditating  something 
dreadful.     They  are  going  into  the  creed  business  quite  too 
extensively  for  us.     If  the  brakes  are  not  put  on  their  down 
train  it  will  certainly  run  otf  and  do  serious  mischief.    The  next 
symbolical  movement  may  be  to  compel  its  ministers  to  read 
some  living  or  some  dead  man's  whole  library,  or  declare  those 
who  prefer  not  to  do  so  as  'incompetent  to  serve  a  Lutheran 
congregation  in  connection  with  the  Allegheny  Synod.'     There 
is  reason  in  all  things,   and  moderation   is  a   great   Christian 
virtue.    Be  easy,  then,  with  those  of  your  ministers  who  cannot 
take  so  much  in  the  creed  line  all  at  once.     They  can  come  to  it 
by  and  by.     There  is  nothing  like  trying,  but  for  the  present, 
be  patient.    Don't  pronounce  them  'incompetent.'    A  theologic- 
al system,  and  so  soon  afterwards,  a  weekly  newspaper,  with 
its   varied   contents,   religious,    literary,   political,    secular   and 
medicinal,  is  traveling  entirely  too 'fast  and  makes  men  cry  out, 
'Wliat  next?'     Any  reasonable  amount  they  may  be  prepared 
to  receive,  but  making  them  swallow  a  whole  newspaper,  nolens 
volens,  on  pain  of  the  anathema  of  'incompetency,'  is  a  little 


452  TEE  TAPE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

too  steep  an  operation  even  for  those  who  profess  to  stand  on 
the  liberal  basis  of  the  General  Synod." 

When  the  Allegheny  Synod  passed  resolutions  that  set 
aside  their  agreement  with  the  Pittsburg  Synod  as  to  boundary 
lines,  Dr.  Passavant  in  a  long  editorial  gave  vent  to  his  right- 
eous indignation.     He  concludes  as  follows : 

"Now  that  the  position  has  been  deliberately  taken,  that 
'faith  is  not  to  be  kept'  with  any  ministers,  churches  or  synods 
but  such  as  are  connected  with  the  General  Synod,  an  associa- 
tion which  does  not  represent  one-tenth  of  the  communicant 
membership  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States,  we 
call  the  attention  of  the  whole  brotherhood  tp  the  fact  that  tho 
first  body  to  thus  unchurch  and  ignore  the  Lutheran  character 
of  all  others  is  one  of  the  synods  of  the  General  Synod.  What 
a  commentary  on  the  boasted  'liberality'  of  men  who  can  receive 
the  Franckeans  with  their  Arian  Creed  to  this  day  unrepealed 
in  their  constitution,  and  yet  practically  unchurch  all  evan- 
gelical Lutherans  not  in  the  General  Synod.  Had  the  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  States  on  withdrawing  from  the 
General  Synod  in  last  June  passed  a  resolution,  'that  in  view 
of  the  action  of  the  body  of  Ft.  Wayne,  it  hereby  resumes  its 
former  boundaries  as  they  existed  prior  to  the  formation  of 
Vv^'est  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia,'  etc.,  what  a  cry 
of  'old  Lutheran  bigotry'  would  at  once  have  been  heard  over 
the  land.  It  would  have  been  made  the  staple  of  sermons, 
addres.ses,  pamphlets,  newspaper  articles  and  editorials,  from 
the  center  to  the  circumference  of  the  Church,  and  men  would 
have  held  their  breath  in  astonishment  'at  the  intolerance  of 
the  symbolists.'  But  'this  is  quite  a  different  thing,'  and  the 
Observer  of  this  week,  just  fresh  from  the  press,  defends  and 
justifies  it  all.  Exactly  so !  Everything  is  fair  in  politics  and 
partisanship.  But  God  hath  said,  'As  for  those  who  turn  aside 
unto  their  crooked  ways  the  Lord  shall  lead  them  forth  with 
the  workers  of  iniquity,  but  peace  shall  be  in  Israel.'  " 

To  show  what  kind  of  men  were  often  the  boldest  in 
decrying  as  'formalists,"  "Romanists'  'and  "hypocrites"  those 
who  loved  the  doctrines  of  the  Augsburg  Confession,  to  show 
who  were  the  men  who  were  loudest  in  claiming  "vital  piety," 
"deep  spirituality'  'and  "experimental  religion"  for  them- 
selves, we  subjoin  this  from  a  letter  written  to  Dr.  Passavant: 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL,         453 

"There  is  another  man  of  whom  you  may  have  heard  who, 
though  not  now  in  the  bounds  of  your  synod,  may  do  you  much 
harm.  I  mean  the  Rev.  "W.,  of  B.  Have  an  eye  on  him.  He  is 
a  vile  wretch,  destitute  alike  of  principle  and  religion;  a  man 
of  strong  passion  and  unrelenting  vindictiveness.  There  are 
sins  of  the  deepest  dye  of  which  he  has  been  guilty,  which  if 
made  public  would  not  only  exclude  him  from  the  ministry  but 
from  all  respectable  society.  The  persons  who  know  this  are 
committed  to  secrecy.  And  I  make  mention  of  it  to  you  as  a 
confidential  matter  only  to  show  you  who  are  the  men  selected 
to  do  the  most  abominable  sectarian  work." 

That  all  is  not  gold  that  glitters,  and  that  there  is  not 
always  the  most  real  piety  wjiere  there  are  the  loudest  profes- 
sions, came  out  again  and  again  during  that  sad  controversy 
between  the  radicals  and  the  conservatives.  Here  is  an  account 
written  to  Dr.  Passavant  of  the  doings  in  a  theological  seminary 
presided  over  by  one  of  the  authors  of  the  Definite  Platform : 

"I  have  a  copy  of  a  paper  published  there  by  the  students, 
a  paper  which,  in  the  language  of  Prof.  S.,  is  full  of  obscenity 
and  blasphemy,  published,  on  his  own  acknowledgment,  by 
theological  students.  I  will  keep  it  for  you,  and  I  want  you  to 
see  it.  I  think  the  Church  ought  to  know  what  a  hot-bed  of 
corruption  it  is.  One  of  the  sons  of  one  of  the  authors  of  the 
Definite  Platform  and  a  number  of  others  went  so  far  as  to 
hold  a  mock  communion  with  bread  and  whisky.  I  would  not 
have  believed  half  that  is  in  the  blasphemous  sheet  had  not  S. 
acknowledged  it  all  on  the  floor  of  synod." 

There  had  been  serious  trouble  in  the  First  church,  Pitts- 
burg, Dr.  Passavant 's  former  church.  The  radical  element 
had  several  men  in  the  council.  As  the  church  was  vacant  they 
were  determined  to  secure  a  man  after  their  own  heart  for 
pastor.  But,  owing  largely  to  the  quiet  influence  of  Dr.  Passa- 
vant, the  large  majority  stood  firmly  for  conservative  Luther- 
anism  and  the  General  Council.  The  baffled  opposition  now 
took  things  into  their  own  hands,  got  possession  of  the  church 
key  and  locked  the  door  to  prevent  the  congregation  from 
having  services.  They  would  not  give  up  the  key  until  ordered 
by  the  courts  to  do  so. 

They  then  seceded  from  the  congregation  and,  with  a 
great  flourish  of  trumpets,  started  an  opposition  church.  This 


454  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

congregation,  however,  soon  came  to  naught.     Here  is  a  note 
from  Passavant  on  the  subject: 

"I  am  about  exhausted  with  the  pressure  of  church  trou- 
bles, but  God  sustains  me  wonderfully,  for  which  I  bless  His 
holy  name.  The  Rev.  Dr.  S.  was  here  on  Sunday  and  is 
reported  to  have  preached  'two  splendid  sermons'  in  the  Third 
Presbyterian  church,  whose  pastor  was  absent.  The  'holy' 
people  from  our  church  were  there  in  large  force,  but  I  am 
told  that  the  congrgation  in  our  church  was  as  good  as  before. 
What  a  peculiar  mercy  from  God  that  this  central  church  was 
saved  to  the  synod  and  to  the  truth.  We  really  have  great 
reason  to  be  very  thankful  for  this  and  for  Brother  Laird's 
coming.  Dr.  C.  is  here  at  his  old  business,  'log-rolling'  and 
wire-working.  Oh,  how  weary  I  am  of  these  mean  men  who  have 
turned  aside  to  their  crooked  ways  and  are  now  belying  the 
faith  of  the  brotherhood." 

Here  is  a  sample  of  many  similar  letters  written  to  and 
about  him  by  bitter  partisans: 

"Some  four  years  ago  I  withdrew  my  patronage  from  the 
Lutheran  atid  Missionary  because  I  saw  that  it  was  established 
t(»  create  or  at  least  to  widen  and  intensify  the  breach  which 
now  unhappily  disturbs  the  harmony  in  the  Lutheran  Church 
in  this  country.  You  have  had  a  principal  agency  in  creating 
this  breach,  as  is  apparent  from  the  bitterness  with  which  you 
have  denounced  the  General  Synod,  its  friends  and  supporters, 
in  the  columns  of  your  paper.  The  legal  records  of  Armstrong 
County  afford  abundant  evidence  of  your  vindictiveness.  Apart 
from  more  recent  events  nearer  home  my  apprehension  would 
be  dull,  indeed,  if  I  did  not  find  in  all  this  good  reasons  for 
such  an  opinion  of  an  old  friend. 

"I  determined,  in  early  life,  not  to  form  my  friendships 
hastily,  and  never  to  sever  them  if  I  could  avoid  it,  without 
good  and  sufficient  cause.  In  the  present  case  the  fault  is  not 
mine,  which  interrupts  the  friendly  relations  of  'a  quarter  of  a 
century. '  No  one  regrets  it  more  deeply  than  I  do,  not  only  for 
myself,  but  for  the  hosts  of  other  friends  whom  you  have  lost. 
If  you  can  conciliate  the  wrath  of  heaven  for  your  violent 
sundering  of  family  ties,  the  disruption  of  social  amenities,  the 
loss  of  one  old  friend,  or  even  of  many  will  be  of  little  moment 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.  455 

in  the  settlement  of  your  great  account.  To  the  mercy  of  that 
tribunal  I  commend  you. 

"I  bid  you  an  affectionate  farewell." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Morris  of  Baltimore,  was  a  lifelong  friend  of 
Dr.  Passavant.  He  was  one  of  the  many  conservative  Lutherans 
who  remained  in  the  General  Synod.  He  was  a  humorist  as 
well  as  a  theologian.  When  the  controversy  was  rife  in  the 
Pittsburg  Synod  he  wrote  for  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  the 
following  account  of  a  congregational  meeting: 

''communication. 

'^Mr.  Missionary : — I  would  like  to  tell  you  something  about 
how  they  do  business  in  some  parts  of  western  Pennsylvania 
but  I  never  wrote  for  a  paper  and  I  don't  hardly  know  how  to 
say  it.  But  if  you  agree  to  put  it  in  your  paper,  free  of  expense 
to  me,  I  will  tell  you  about  a'  meeting  I  was  at  last  Saturday. 
Of  course  my  wife  was  along.  The  day  was  very  pleasant,  and 
I  says  to  Salley  (that's  my  wife),  'Let's  hitch  up  Doll  and  go 
to  that  congregational  meeting  up  at  K.'  'Well,'  says  she,  'I 
just  thought  I  would  like  to  hear  the  proceedings  there  to-day;' 
so  she  got  herself  ready  and  we  hitched  up  Doll  and  we  went. 
When  we  got  there,  there  was  a  great  many  folks  there,  and 
we  set  down  until  meeting  commenced. 

"The  preacher  came  pretty  soon  and  then  sung  a  hymn 
and  read  a  chapter  and  prayed.  Then  a  small  man  came  in 
with  a  big  book  and  laid  it  upon  the  table.  Says  I  to  Salley, 
'What  is  that?'  '0,'  says  she,  'I  guess  it's  a  big  Bible.'  'No,' 
says  I,  'the  preacher  had  a  Bible  to  read  out  of  before;'  then 
somebody  said  it  was  the  church  book.  'Law  me,'  says  Salley, 
'I  wonder  whether  that  is  full  of  church  matters;  they  must  do 
a  great  deal  of  business  here  to  need  such  a  big  book.'  I  won- 
dered, too. 

"Well,  the  preacher  moved  that  somebody  should  be  chair- 
man, and  then  they  elected  that  man,  and  he  set  down  on  a 
chair.  Then  another  man  moved  that  the  man  that  brought 
that  church  book  in  should  be  the  secretary.  Then  they  elected 
him,  too.  Thinks  I,  'that's  nice,  that  goes  right  along  without 
any  trouble,  truly  these  folks  can  agree,  that's  the  way  church 
members   ought  to   agree.' 

"Well,  the  chairman  or  somebody  else,  I  don't  recollect^ 


456  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

moved  that  the  women  should  have  a  vote,  and  somebody  else 
said,  'So  they  ought,'  and  then  they  voted  for  that  and  they 
all  voted  for  it.  'Salley,'  says  I,  'I  would  like  to  join  this 
church,  this  is  a  Christian  church,  see  how  they  all  agree  to- 
gether; I  like  to  see  that.' 

"Then  somebody  moved  for  giving  the  building  committee 
power  to  borrow  money  to  put  the  church  under  roof.  The 
secretary  said  they  would  have  to  stop  building  if  the  congre- 
gation didn't  let  them  do  that  and  then  their  house  would  go 
to  rack  and  they  would  lose  all  they  had  paid  out  so  far,  I 
don't  recollect  how  much  he  said,  and  they  voted  on  that  and 
the  all  agreed  on  it  and  they  voted  against  it.  And  after  it 
was  all  done,  then  the  chairman  got  up  and  said,  'Now  you' 
have  done  it,  now  you  will  see  what  will  become  of  our  church 
property;  it  will  all  be  sold  for  us  and  then  we  have  nothing,' 
I  thought  that  was  queer.  Why  did  he  not  say  that  before 
thy  voted?  And  he  didn't  stay  inside  the  railing  either  when 
he  spoke.  He  gof  outside,  I  thought  that  was  queer,  too.  But 
he  set  down  again  inside  the  railing,  on  his  chair. 

"Then  somebody  moved  again,  and  somebody  else  seconded 
that.  It  was  something  about  whether  they  would  go  into  the 
General  Council  or  not.  Then  the  secretary  said,  he  would  read 
a  letter  to  the  congregation  and  that  said  that  Brother  Bassler 
could  not  come,  but  he  sent  Mr.  Passavant  in  his  place  and 
hoped  they  would  receive  him.  But  the  preacher  jumped  up 
and  said  he  didn't  want  Passavant,  and  he  spioke  real  mad 
about  it.  I  thought  that  was  strange  for  a  Christian  minister 
to  get  so  mad  all  at  once.  I  couldn't  understand  what  all  this 
meant,  but  then  the  secretary  said  what  it  Avas.  He  said  some 
members  had  come  to  him  and  wanted  him  to  get  a  man  to 
speak  and  explain  what  the  General  Council  intended  to  do. 
"Whether  they  were  going  to  take  back  the  times  of  Luther  again 
and  make  crosses  on  a  person  when  they  were  baptized  and 
drive  the  devil  out,  and  abolish  the  Sabbath,  and  do  such  things. 
The  preacher  had  said  that  was  what  they  were  going  to  do,  and 
they  didn't  believe  it.  They  wanted  Mr.  Passavant  to  say  if 
it  was  true.  But  the  preacher  jumped  up  again  and  said  he 
could  tell  them  all  about  it  himself.  They  didn't  need  Passa- 
vant and  so  on.  Somebody  behind  me  handed  me  a  printed 
letter  that  the  preacher  had  wrote  and  got  printed.     He  paid 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         457 

twefnty  dollars  they  said,  for  what  he  got  printed.  He  sent 
them  all  over  the  country  and  tried  to  make  people  believe  that 
the  preachers  who  belonged  to  the  General  Council  was  going 
over  to  the  Pope,  to  ride  in  his  steamboat.  The  chairman  got 
np  again  and  went  outside  that  railing  and  said  that  there  was 
a  lie  out  somewhere. 

"I  asked  Salley  why  that  chairman  didn't  stay  insida  the 
railing  when  he  spoke.  The  secretary  didn't  go  out.  She 
thought  perhaps  he  was  afraid  to  say  inside  what  he  said  out 
ior  fear  of  desecrating  the  altar.  I  thought  so,  too,  then, 
perhaps  that  was  the  reason.  The  preacher  jumped  up  again 
and  slapped  his  fist  on  a  paper,  as  mad  as  fire,  and  said  members 
must  ask  him  first  if  they  wanted  anybody  else  to  speak  and 
then  the  congregation,  too.  Somebody  else  said  the  preacher 
had  no  more  power  than  a  single  member.  I  thought  so  too, 
£.nd  so  did  Salley.  I  think  so  yet  and  Salley  does,  too.  What 
do  you  think? 

"Well,  they  voted  at  last,  and  twenty-three  voted  to  let 
Passavant  explain  the  matter,  and  twenty-five  voted  that  he 
shouldn't.  I  thought  that  was  queer.  Was  the  preacher  afraid 
to  have  his  letter  answered?    It  looked  so. 

"Then  they  voted  again  to  stay  out  of  the  General  Council 
or  go  in,  and  seventeen  voted  to  go  in  and  twenty-seven  not  to 
go  in.  The  preacher  throwed  dust  in  his  members'  eyes.  Whole 
handfuls.     I  saw  it  plainly. 

"Finally  they  adjourned;  but  I  felt  bad.  Says  I  to  Salley, 
'Let's  go  home.  I  don't  believe  them  twenty- three  got  justice 
done;  it  looks  very  queer  to  me  that  they  wouldn't  let  Mr. 
Passavant  explain  the  other  side.  Now,'  says  I  to  Salley,  *if 
the  preacher  said  what  was  true  in  his  letter,  why  should  he 
persuade  his  people  not  to  let  Passavant  speak?'  And  I 
thought,  too,  there  must  be  a  lie  out  somewhere,  as  the  chairman 
said.     Salley  thinks  so,  too.    What  do  you  think? 

"Yours  truly,  Lutheraner. 

"P.  S.— Since  I  wrote  the  above  I  heard  more  about  this 
trouble.  If  you  print  this  and  want  to  hear  the  end,  I  will 
write  next  week  if  I  can  get  my  corn  up  in  time. 

Lutheraner." 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  worries  of  that  eventful  year  there 


458  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

came  sore  sickness  and  suffering  into  the  Passavant  home.  The 
Doctor  was  absent  every  day  for  nearly  a  week  at  a  church  trial 
in  Kittanning".  The  pastor  there  had  tried  to  alienate  the 
congregation  from  the  Pittsburg  synod.  To  this  end  he  had 
published  a  pamphlet  in  which  he  tried  to  make  his  people 
believe  that  the  General  Council  people  w^ere  going  towards 
Eome  and  would  endeavor  to  Romanize  the  Church.  By  citing 
fragmentary  and  garbled  extracts,  torn  out  of  their  connection, 
from  the  Confessions  of  the  Church,  he  had  tried  to  make 
believe  that  these  Confessions  taught  a  mechanical  and  magical 
operation  of  the  Sacraments  and  a  heartless  and  lifeless  formal- 
ism. As  Dr.  Passavant  was  not  allowed  to  preach  in  the  church 
during  the  trial  he  was  ask&d  to  preach  in  the  Court  House. 
A  large  representative  audience  heard  him  attentively  as  he 
calmly  met  the  slanders  and,  by  full  and  fair  quotation  from 
the  Confessions,  showed  that  they  teach  the  very  opposite  of 
what  the  pamphlet  had  claimed.  The  sermon  had  the  desired 
effect.  The  pastor  had  to  leave,  the  congregation  remained 
loyal  to  the  Pittsburg  Synod,  and  has  ever  since  been  happy 
in  the  General  Council. 

While  the  Doctor  was  absorbed  in  this  uncongenial  affair 
three  of  his  sons  were  seriously  sick  at  home.  He  came  down 
from  Kittanning  to  Pittsburg  every  evening  and  returned  in 
the  morning.  William  had  been  at  the  point  of  death  but 
recovered.  Frank  gradually  grew  worse  and  died.  Here  is 
an  extract  from  one  of  his  letters  at  this  time: 

^'The  shadows  of  the  dark  valley  are  gradually  gathering 
around  our  youngest  son,  little  Frank  Herman.  The  change 
since  yesterday  is  so  marked  that  the  doctor  who  came  at  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning  was  counfounded.  All  his  remedies  fail 
to  operate,  and  the  sweet  little  sufferer  is  fading  away  before 
our  eyes  ...  Of  our  feelings  I  will  say  nothing  except 
that  we  pray  for  submission.  It  seems  as  if  our  hearts  must 
burst,  but  God  is  with  us,  nearer  than  ever.  Forget  us  not, 
dear  Brother  Bassler,  in  your  prayers,  and  try  to  be  ready  with 
the  orphan  children  to  lay  our  dear  lamb  in  the  quiet  resting 

place    with    the    other    beloved    sleepers    there Poor 

Eliza  is  heart-broken  and  has  not  slept  for  five  nights.  Her 
anxieties  and  burdens  from  the  first  have  been  too  great  for 
her." 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.         459 

Shortly  after  this,  on  his  forty-sixth  birthday,  he  writes  his 
mother : 

"To-day  is  my  birthday,  though  none  of  us  remembered 
it  till  evening,  and  it  is  meet  and  right  that  I  should  devote  its 
closing  hours  to  her  unto  whom,  under  God,  I  am  indebted  for 
what  little  of  good  I  have  been  enabled  to  accomplish  in  life. 
Forty-six  years  ago  I  came  into  this  world  a  feeble  child,  and 
through  how  long  a  portion  of  this  long  time  were  not  you  the 
unwearied  and  loving  watcher  by  my  side,  inciting  me  to  what 
was  pure  and  good  and  restraining  me  from  the  manifold  temp- 
tations which  beset  my  pathway.  Not  a  day  passes  in  which  I 
do  not  recall  the  powerful  influence  of  your  example  or  your 
words,  and  as  the  years  gather  around  me  I  am  made  to  realize 
more  and  more  the  great  love  of  God,  not  only  in  giving  but 
also  in  preserving  you  to  me,  even  to  this  hour.  You  have 
so  often  laid  your  hand  upon  my  head,  dearest  mother,  and 
blessed  your  son,  that  it  is  the  natural  prompting  of  a  loving 
and  grateful  heart  to  do  the  same  for  you,  ever  thanking  and 
blessing  you  for  all  your  tenderness,  prudence  and  love, 
and  silent  but  most  powerful  restraints  of  your  teaching 
and  your  life.  Once  more,  too,  I  ask  your  forgiveness  for  all 
the  anxiety  and  pain  I  have  caused  you  by  the  waywardness 
and  sins  of  my  youth  and  the  mistakes  and  errors  of  riper  years. 
I  know,  indeed,  that  you  have  long  since  done  so,  but  I  am 
anxious  that  you  should  realize  that  these  things  are  a  perpetual 
sorrow  to  me  and  that  I  can  only  feel  happy  when  I  know  that 
I  bewail  them  before  God  and  my  dearest  mother. 

"Many  thanks,  dearest  mother,  to  you  and  Sidney  for 
your  many  acts  of  kindness  to  Eliza  and  the  children.  The 
latter  felt  badly  in  returning,  and  have  very  much  to  say  of 
'dear  grandma'  and  all  the  things  she  told  and  showed  them. 
Poor  Harry  seems  like  'a  lost  Pleiad,'  who  misses  Frank  at 
every  step  and  wanders  about  the  house,  looking  lonely  indeed. ' ' 

In  1873  a  certain  Mr.  Ziegenfuss,  who  had  been  graduated 
from  Pennsylvania  College,  studied  at  Philadelphia  Seminary, 
and  had  been  ordained  by  the  Pennsylvania  Sj'nod,  went  over 
to  the  Episcopalians.  This  moved  the  Rev.  Dr.  Diehl  to  write 
an  article  in  the  Ohserver,  in  which  he  claimed  that  the  tendency 
of  the  Philadelphia  Seminary  and  of  the  General  Council  is  to 
"High  Church  Episcopacy."     In  reply  we  find  this  editorial 


460  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

in  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  of  Feb.  6,  1873;  we  are  not 
certain  that  it  is  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Passavant  but  we  are 
certain  that  it  expresses  his  views.  We  quote  only  the  latter 
half  of  the  article: 

"If  there  are  any  other  ministers  who  have  made  such  a 
change  from  the  synods  connected  with  the  General  Council 
since  its  formation,  we  do  not  know  who  they  are.  Let  them 
be  named  before  so  unjust  and  injurious  an  assertion  is  started 
on  its  round  of  false  witness.  Even  in  this  trying  time  of 
change  and  transition  in  all  our  denominations  we  cannot  sufifi- 
ciently  thank  God  for  the  remarkable  progress  toward  the  unity 
of  the  faith  and  the  establishment  of  so  many  in  the  truth  of 
Christ  as  confessed  by  the  Church. 

"Let  us  now  look  at  the  facts  on  the  other  side,  the 
changes  of  the  General  Synod  ministers  to  Episcopacy.  They 
will,  perhaps,  surprise  some  as  they  surprised  us.  The  first 
and  second  cases  we  note  occurred  about  the  time  Dr.  Diehl 
entered  the  ministry  and  the  second  created  no  small  sensation 
at  the  time,  as  Mr.  Kehler  was  known  in  those  days  as  'a  new 
measure  man.'    Here  are  the  names: 

"1.  Rev.  Wm.  Skull,  of  the  Virginia  Synod,  who  studied 
at  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Gettysburg,  Rev.  Dr.  S.  S. 
Schmucker  being  his  teacher  in  theology. 

"2.  Rev.  John  Kehler,  of  the  Maryland  Synod,  also  of 
Gettysburg  Seminary,  same  instructor  . 

"3.  Rev.  Edward  Meyer,  of  the  New  York  Synod,  edu- 
cated at  Hartwick,  Rev.  Dr.  Miller  his  tutor  in  theology. 

"4.  Rev.  W.  R.  Rally,  licensed  by  the  Maryland  Synod, 
who  studied  at  the  Gettysburg  Seminary,  Dr.  S.  S.  S.  instructor. 

"5.  Rev.  Mr.  Von  Schmidt,  studied  at  Gettysburg  and 
re-ordained  by  Bishop  Kemper,  of  Wisconsin. 

"6.  Rev.  Dr.  W.  M.  Reynolds,  confirmed  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Kurtz,  re-confirmed  by  Bishop  Whitehouse;  ordained  by  the 
Maryland  Synod,  re-ordained  in  Illinois;  studied  in  the  Get- 
tysburg Seminary  and  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  Illinois 
synods  connected  with  the  General  Synod  at  the  time  of  his 
passing  over. 

"7.  Rev.  Mr.  Steck,  studied  at  Gettysburg  and  belonged 
to  one  of  the  synods  in  Pennsylvania  connected  with  the 
General  Synod. 


FOUNDING  OF  THE  GENERAL  COUNCIL.        461 

"8.  Rev.  A.  Rumph,  studied  at  Hartwick  and  belonged 
to  the  Hartwick  Synod.  Rev.  Dr.  Miller  his  instructor  in 
theology. 

"9.  Rev.  F.  M.  Bird,  studied  at  Hartwick  Seminary;  same 
instructor.  At  the  time  of  the  separation  belonged  to  the  New 
York  Ministerium.  Would  not  go  to  the  seceders  and  could 
not  go  to  the  General  Council  because  he  was  not  a  Lutheran. 
Broad  Church  in  doctrine  and  latitudinarian  in  his  ideas,  he 
finally  floated  into  the  Episcopalian  Church. 

"10.  Rev.  John  C.  Weills,  son  of  Rev.  A.  Weills,  Washing- 
ton, Pa.,  studied  part  of  his  course  in  th'e  Philadelphia  Sem- 
inary, but,  as  the  Observer  of  that  day  declared,  he  could  not 
endure  symbolism  and  went  over  to  the  General  Synod  with 
great  eclat,  was  admitted  to  the  ministry  by  the  East  Pennsyl- 
vania*  Synod  but  not  given  one  of  the  leading  churches  in  the 
General  Synod  as  Dr.  Hutter  had  hoped,  became  dissatisfied, 
took  charge  at  Valatie,  N.  Y.,  was  suspected  of  Universalism, 
accused  of  it  by  some  of  the  people  and  resigned.  A  few  weeks 
before  he  joined  the  Episcopal  Church  he  declared  to  a  gentle- 
man who  visited  him  his  belief  in  Universalism  and  scoffed  at 
the  evangelical  faith  on  this  point. 

"We  turn  their  own  argument  against  the  General  Synod 
editors,  and  ask  for  them  to  tell  us  why  so  many  of  their  men 
develop  in  this  Episcopal  direction.  Let  them  answer  the 
question,  and  when  they  have  tried  their  hand  on  that  we  will 
be  prepared  with  another." 

Here  is  an  extract  from  a  chatty  letter  to  Dr.  Morris,  in 
Avhich  he  speaks  of  the  consciousness  of  the  creeping  on  of  old 
age.  He  also  expresses  his  opinion  concerning  a  scurrilous 
German  periodical  called  Kelle  und  Sckwert,  which  appeared 
for  a  short  time  from  Philadelphia.  It  was  published  anony- 
mously and  under  a  pretended  zeal  for  reine  Lehre  and  echtes 
Deutschthum,  it  slanderously  attacked  the  best  men  of  the 
General  Council  as  well  as  its  Institutions: 

"Here  we  are  toiling  on  day  after  day  in  the  care  of  the 
various  Institutions,  The  interests  at  Milwaukee  and  Chicago 
have  become  so  important  and  time-occupying  and  consuming 
that  I  hardly  know  where  to  begin  or  end.  And  besides,  so 
many  dear  old  friends  and  helpers  have  died  that  I  feel  the 
burden  at  times  very  heavy  all  along  the  line.     Returned  lately 


462  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  F  ASSAY  ANT. 

from  my  one  hundred  and  eighteenth  trip  to  the  West.  It  is 
becoming  such  a  trial  to  leave  home  and,  what  is  worst  of  all, 
I  am  beginning  to  get  either  tired  or  lazy,  I  know  not  which. 
You  will  laugh  at  a  youngster  of  only  sixty-seven  talking  thus 
when  you,  slightly  beyond  eighty,  limber  about  like  a  man  of 
fifty.    But  so  it  is,  and  I  cannot  help  but  confess  the  truth. 

"You  wonder  whether  I  will  reply  to  Helle  und  Scliwert. 
as  someone  calls  it.  Nay,  verily!  I  do  not  even  read  what  they 
say  about  me.  I  would  as  soon  attack  and  defend  myself  against 
a  skunk  as  to  enter  into  a  controversy  with  such  blackguards. 
They  have  made  the  German  name  a  stench  in  the  Church  and 
have  completely  killed  themselves.  For  some  reason  or  other 
the  Lord  permits  such  assassins  to  live,  just  as  He  permits 
bedbugs,  horseflies  and  Southern  woodticks  to  bite  and  torment. 
But  the  result  will  be  a  blessed  one.  'As  for  those  that  turn 
aside  unto  their  crooked  ways,  the  Lord  shall  lead  them  forth 
with  the  workers  of  iniquity ;   but  peace  shall  be  upon  Israel. '  ' ' 


ORPHAN  WORK.  463 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

ORPHAN  WORK.  —  ROCHESTER.  —  ZELIENOPLE.  — 

MOUNT  VERNON. 

In  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  of  July  30,  1863,  we  find 
this  account  of  the  progress  of  Dr.  Passavant's  worl^  in 
Rochester  and  Zelienople: 

"The  second  week  in  July  was  a  memorable  one  in  the 
history  of  the  Home  and  Farm  School.  Though  late  in  appear- 
ing, a  few  notices  of  the  events  which  then  took  place  will  not 
be  without  special  interest  to  many  of  our  readers.  The  first 
of  these  was  the  dedication  to  God  and  to  the  sacred  purposes 
of  mercy  of  the  new  Orphans'  Home  at  Rochester,  Beaver 
County,  Pa. 

"The  removal  of  the  Home  from  Pittsburg  to  this  place, 
was  lately  announced  in  our  columns.  It  was  the  final  result 
of  years  of  painful  waiting,  and  of  earnest  inquiry  in  regard 
to  the  question,  'What  would  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
Institution?'  From  its  commencement  in  1852,  it  had  been  in 
a  part  of  the  old  Infirmary,  but  the  rooms  hitherto  occupied 
were  now  needed  for  hospital  purposes.  The  claims  of  the  sick 
could  not  be  disregarded  and  a  removal  elsewhere  was  un- 
avoidable. But  where  to  go  was  the  question.  The  want  of 
means,  but  mainly  the  cost  of  sufficient  ground  precluded  the 
idea  of  locating  a  permanent  home  in  the  city.  Besides,  the 
welfare  of  the  children  called  for  a  residence  in  the  country. 
Past  experience  with  the  boys  indicated  a  similar  location  for 
the  girls.  It  was  felt  that  such  a  home  would  be  healthier, 
cheaper,  happier  and  better  in  many  important  respects. 
Fortunately,  may  we  not  say,  providentially,  we  had  for  years 
past  a  small  farm  which  seemed  to  be  the  very  location  de- 
sired, and,  though  given  for  other  charities,  when  means  were 
not  furnished  by  the  Church  for  their  establishment  we  asked 
and  obtained  permission  of  the  kind  donors  to  devote  it  as  a 
home  for  orphan  children.  Accordingly,  we  offered  it  to  the 
Deaconess  Institution  for  this  and  kindred  purposes  and,  after 
due  consideration,  the  offer  was  thankfully  accepted,  the  trans- 
fer of  the  property  made  and  recorded,  and  arrangements  en- 


464  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  PA88AVANT. 

tered  into  for  the  removal  of  the  Home  from  Pittsburg  to 
Rochester.  This  was  not  accomplished  without  considerable 
labor  and  expense,  for  the  dwelling  houses  on  the  farm  needed 
renewing,  a  school  house  had  to  be  built  and  a  nameless  but 
necessary  change  of  the  whole  establishment  to  fit  it  for  the 
new  purposes  to  which  it  was  to  be  appropriated.  Then  came 
the  removal  of  the  children,  with  the  sisters  in  charge,  to  this 
new  home.  This  took  place  some  two  months  ago,  so  that  the 
inconveniences  of  moving  time  are  now  forgotten  and  the  two 
orphan  families  are  fully  established  in  their  comfortable 
dwelling. 

"The  consecration  to  God  of  this  property  with  its  build- 
ings and  grounds  was  thought  to  be  an  appropriate  act  of  faith 
and  thanksgiving.  Accordingly,  on  Wednesday  afternoon,  July 
8,  in  the  presence  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  other  friends, 
the  whole  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God,  in  the  care  and 
relief  of  the  fatherless.  The  assembled  congregation  met  in 
the  orchard  just  in  the  rear  of  the  school  house.  The  sky  above 
was  overcast  with  clouds,  as  if  in  kindness  to  ward  off  the 
noon-day  sun.  A  pleasant  breeze  cooled  the  sultry  air.  In  the 
distance  for  nearly  twenty  miles,  the  beautiful  valley  of  the 
Ohio  with  its  numerous  villages  and  hamlets  was  spread  out 
before  the  eye  of  the  beholder,  while  the  two  orphan  families 
of  twenty-five  little  girls,  with  the  sisters,  were  grouped  to- 
gether on  the  grass,  sweetly  singing  the  praise  of  the  Redeemer. 
Then  the  history  of  the  Institution  was  traced  from  its  first 
beginning  to  the  present  time,  and  the  history  also  of  the 
purchase  of  this  Orphan  Farm,  originating  as  it  did  with  the 
donation  of  three  thousand  dollars  unexpectedly  made  to  us 
by  a  gentleman,  on  the  train.  The  character  of  the  charity  was 
explained  from  the  charter,  its  benefits  open  to  all  without 
distinction  of  country  or  creed,  but  its  positive  religious  teach- 
ings clearly  defined  and  settled  by  the  same  instrument,  so 
that  the  bickerings  of  sectarian  jealousy  may  not  rob  the 
fatherless  of  the  blessed  faith  of  Christ.  That  faith  was  then 
unitedly  confessed  by  the  orphans  before  the  visitors  and  the 
officers  of  the  Institution,  after  which,  the  Director,  Rev.  H. 
Reck,  solemnly  offered  up  to  God  the  entire  establishment,  as 
a  home  for  the  fatherless,  forever.  The  services  were  simple 
but  impressive,  and  tears  of  thanksgiving  and  pious  joy  coursed 
down  many  cheeks. 

"The  situation  of  the  new  Institution  is  one  of  singular 


REV.  G.  C.  HOLLS 


ORPHAN  WORK.  465 

and  romantic  beauty.  It  is,  in  this  respect,  all  that  could  be 
desired  in  order  that  our  children  may  carry  with  them  through 
life  a  pleasant  remembrance  of  their  early  home.  The  tract  of 
land  contains  forty-five  or  more  acres  and  is  sufficiently  large 
for  an  Institution  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  children.  By  the 
recent  payment  of  a  debt  of  a  thousand  dollars  which  yet  re- 
mained, this  property  is  practically  free  from  all  liabilities. 
The  location  is  deemed  peculiarly  suitable.  It  is  situated  a 
mile  from  the  village  of  Rochester  on  the  Pittsburg  and  Chi- 
cago railroad,  about  twenty-six  miles  from  Pittsburg  and  ten 
miles  from  Zelienople,  the  road  to  which  passes  by  its  very 
door.  All  the  trains  stop  at  the  Rochester  station,  so  that  it  is 
accessible  by  rail  from  east  and  west,  and  north  and  south. 
No  other  point  in  Western  Pennsylvania  combines  so  many 
advantages  for  such  an  Institution  as  this.  Its  proximity  to 
the  Farm  School,  where  the  brothers  of  many  of  the  girls  re- 
side, is  very  important,  and  the  children  of  both  Institutions 
annually  meet  to  strengthen  the  sacred  ties  of  friendship. 

"The  Lutheran  Deaconess  Institution  in  this  city  is  in- 
corporated by  the  Legislature,  and  the  objects,  as  set  forth  in 
the  charter,  are  'The  relief  of  the  sick  and  insane,  the  care  of 
the  orphan,  the  education  of  youth  and  the  exercise  of  mercy 
to  the  unfortunate  and  destitute. '  An  organized  and  permanent 
existence  is  thus  provided  for  an  Institution  the  members  of 
which  devote  themselves,  without  any  vows,  to  the  relief  of  the 
suffering  in  the  four  great  fields  of  human  misery,  the  field  of 
the  sick  and  insane,  of  the  poor,  of  the  ignorant,  and  of  the 
imprisoned  and  fallen.  The  charter  likewise  provides  for  the 
reception  of  any  new  members.  Accordingly,  at  ten  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  July  8,  a  number  of  friends  with 
the  orphans  filled  the  little  schoolhouse  chapel  of  the  Home  to 
witness  the  solemn  introduction  into  the  office  of  Deaconess 
of  three  young  ladies,  who  for  a  considerable  time  past  have 
been  inmates  of  the  Infirmary  and  Home,  and  have  'made  full 
proof  of  their  ministry.'  After  the  chanting  of  a  Psalm  and 
the  repetition  of  the  Commandments  by  the  orphans,  a  selection 
from  the  Scriptures  was  read  by  Rev.  G.  Bassler,  which  was 
followed  by  an  appropriate  hymn.  The  Director  of  the  Dea- 
coness Institute  then  preached  a  short  sermon  from  Romans 
16:  1,  2,  'I  commend  unto  you  Phoebe,  our  sister,  who  is  a 
servant  (deaconess)  of  the  church  at  Cenchrea,  that  ye  receive 
her  in  the  Lord  as  becometh  saints,  and  that  ye  assist  her  in  what- 


466  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

soever  business  she  hath  need  of  yon,  for  she  has  been  a  suecourer 
of  many  and  of  myself  also. '  The  Scriptural  authority  for  the  of- 
fice of  Deaconess  was  argued  from  the  general  consent  of  the 
Church  from  the  beginning  and  the  practice  of  the  Church  in 
its  purest  ages.  The  duties  also  of  this  office  were  fully  de- 
scribed. The  Christian  deaconess  is,  first,  a  servant  of  Christ. 
She  is  such,  not  only  in  the  general  sense  in  which  all  believers 
are  servants  of  Him  'whose  they  are  and  whom  they  serve,' 
but  in  that  high  sense  in  which  the  whole  being  is  consecrated 
to  the  service  and  glory  of  the  Redeemer.  Secondly,  a  servant 
of  the  Church.  Christ  and  His  people  are  one.  Serving  Christ, 
such  a  one  becomes  a  servant  of  all  for  Jesus'  sake.  Not  only, 
like  Phoebe,  does  she  become  'a  succorer  of  many'  among  the 
believing,  but  her  merciful  mission  is  likewise  extended  to  the 
miserable  and  sinful  who  are  without.  The  hope  of  'saving 
some'  makes  the  most  painful  service  light.  Under  its  inspiring 
influence  the  dread  of  contagion  vanishes,  weariness  is  forgot- 
ten, ingratitude  is  disregarded  and  life  or  death  is  gained. 
Thirdly,  a  servant  to  her  associates  in  the  work  of  mercy.  In 
this  community  of  kindred  hearts  and  toiling  hands  Christ  is 
the  master  and  all  are  servants.  To  be  useful  to  each  other,  to 
aid  in  their  teaching,  to  share  their  anxieties  and  bear  their 
burdens,  especially  in  the  first  months  and  years  of  weakness 
and  misgiving,  and  thus  to  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ,  is  an 
important  work  of  this  Christian  service.  Here  emphatically 
none  liveth  unto  herself,  and  all  are  members  one  of  another. 

"The  sermon  being  ended,  the  three  sisters  approached  the 
altar  and  answered  affirmatively  the  following  questions  in  a 
distinct  and  courageous  voice : 

"1.  Have  you,  of  your  own  free  choice,  moved  thereto  by 
the  love  of  Jesus  Christ  and  without  the  persuasion  of  others, 
chosen  this  service  upon  which  you  are  now  about  to  enter  ? 

"2.  Are  you  resolved  faithfully  to  perform  the  duties  of 
a  Christian  Deaconess  in  the  fear  of  God  and  according  to  His 
Word  so  long  as  you  continue  in  this  office  ? 

"The  right  hand  of  Christian  recognition  was  now  given 
tx)  these  our  fellow-laborers  by  the  officers  of  the  Institution, 
after  which  they  were  committed  to  God  in  fervent  prayer. 
The  singing  of  the  following  appropriate  hymn,  with  the  bene- 
diction, closed  the  solemn  services: 


ORPHAN  WORE.  467 

**If  so  poor  a  worm  as  I 

May  to  Thy  great  glory  live, 
All  my  actions  sanctify, 

All  my  words  and  thoughts  receive; 
Claim  me  for  Thy  service,  claim 
All  I  have  and  all  I  am. 

"Take  my  soul  and  body's  powers! 

Take  my  memory,  mind  and  will, 
All  my  goods  and  all  my  hours, 

All  I  know  and  all  I  feel; 
All  I  think,  or  speak,  or  do; 
Take  my  heart;  but  make  it  new. 

"Now,   O  God,   Thine   own  I  am: 

Now,  I  give  Thee  back  Thine  own. 
Freedom,  friends  and  health,  and  fame. 

Consecrate  to   Thee  alone. 
Thine  I  live,  thrice  happy  I; 
Happier  still,  if  Thine  I  die!" 

' '  May  we  not  ask :  '  Who  will  next  consecrate  themselves  to 
this  holy  service?  "Who  next  will  say,  'Here  am  I,  send  me?' 
Will  not  some  at  least  ponder  this  question  of  duty?  Christian 
Vv'omen!  Shall  hundreds  and  thousands  of  the  young  men  of 
this  land  nobly  rush  to  battle  and  to  death  when  their  country 
calls,  and  can  you  refuse  when  Christ  invites  you  to  this 
peaceful  labor  for  souls?  It  cannot  be!  He  calls  you  not  to 
destroy  men's  lives,  but  to  save  them.  The  service  may  be 
toilsome,  but  He  will  make  it  light.  It  may  be  dangerous  to  go 
into  the  midst  of  danger.  He  can  shield  you.  You  may  die; 
but  to  live  is  Christ  and  to  die  is  gain.  Courage,  then!  With 
Christ  in  life  and  death  in  gain,  make  the  consecration.  What 
an  honor!  To  minister  to  Him  before  whom  angels  bow  and 
worship,  in  the  persons  of  His  suffering  disciples!  And  what 
a  reward!  To  hear  from  the  lips  of  Christ  Himself,  'I  was 
an  hungered  and  ye  gave  me  meat,  I  was  thirsty  and  ye  gave 
me  drink ;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in ;  I  was  sick,  and 
ye  visited  me ;  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came  unto  me.  Come, 
ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.' 

"A  pleasant  ride  of  a  few  hours  over  the  'hill  country'  of 
Beaver  County  brought  the  Board  of  Visitors  and  a  few  other 
friends  to  the  village  of  Zelienople,  where  kind  greetings  wel- 
comed the  coming  guests.     The  strained  eye  looked  in  vain  for 


468  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

the  once  graceful  towers  of  the  Farm  School.  In  place  of  that 
imposing  pile  there  was  naught  but  a  mass  of  shapeless  ruins. 
The  same  flowers  bloomed  around,  the  same  bright  faces  beamed 
v/ith  joyful  recognition,  but  all  else  how  changed!  It  seemed 
as  a  dream,  and  yet  the  sad  reality  was  too  real  not  to  be  soon 
realized.  On  Thursday  morning  the  Board  of  Visitors  person- 
ally examined  the  improvements  and  buildings  in  progress  at 
the  Farm  School,  and  at  ten  and  a  half  o'clock  met  the  children 
and  their  teachers  in  the  temporar}^  schoolhouse,  where  some 
time  was  spent  in  devotional  exercises  and  examination  in  a  few 
of  the  branches.  Such,  however,  was  the  interruption  in  the 
studies  occasioned  by  the  fire  and  the  necessity  of  employing 
the  labor  of  the  boys  at  the  brickyards,  foundations  and  other 
work  of  the  buildings,  that  the  extended  examination  of  previ- 
ous years  was  dispensed  with. 

"At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  though  no  public  an- 
nouncement could  be  made  of  such  a  service,  a  number  of 
friends  met  with  the  Board  and  officers  to  lay  the  corner-stone 
of  the  main  building  or  central  house  of  the  Institution.  The 
contents  of  the  old  corner-stone  were  deposited  in  the  new  one, 
and  a  second  entry  made  upon  the  parchment  which  was  placed 
in  the  original  corner-stone  of  the  building  in  1854.  Both 
statements  were  read  and  the  contrast  in  reference  to  the  offi- 
cers, the  government  and  condition  of  the  country  awakened 
many  solemn  emotions,  'Franklin  Pierce  then  being  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  Wm.  Bigler  Governor  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.'  'This  corner-stone  is  laid  in  the  midst  of 
the  dreadful  civil  war',  etc!  Brief  addresses  were  delivered  by 
different  brothers;  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God  was  humbly 
invoked;  and  His  adorable  Son  Jesus  Christ  was  worshipped 
in  hymns  of  praise,  after  which  the  corner-stone  was  laid  in 
the  name  of  the  adorable  Trinity,  in  the  humble  hope  that  this 
sacred  edifice  may  be  a  refuge  for  the  fatherless  for  centuries 
to  come.  A  benediction  by  Rev.  Father  Manning,  President 
of  the  Board,  closed  the  exercises  of  this  interesting  occasion, 
and  after  partaking  of  some  refreshments,  in  a  short  time  the 
brethren  were  on  their  return  way  to  Rochester.  We  leave  it 
to  another  pen  to  give  the  details  of  this  return,  and  other 
pleasant  incidents  hj  the  way." 

Some   kind    friend   of  Pittsburg,    during  Dr.    Passavant's 


ORPHAN  WORK.  .      469 

absence,  donated  a  large  bell  for  the  Farm  School.    This  moved 
the  Doctor  to  become  poetic.     He  writes: 

"Here  is  a  stanza  not  found  in  Edgar  A.  Poe's  'Bells:' 

THE  FARM  SCHOOL  BELL. 

"Hear  the  pleasant  orphan  bell — 
Sacred  bell! 

Oh,  what  a  world  of  peaceful  rest 
Its  melody  fortells. 
How    sweetly   at    the    dawning 
Of  a   summer  Sunday  morning 
Sounds   the   rhyming 
And   the    chiming   of   the   bell! 
How  it  peals  out  its  delight 
At  the  happy,  happy  sight 
.  ,  Of  the  villagers'  commotion, 

As  they  go  to  their  devotion. 
What  emotions  fill  the  breast 
At  the  ringing. 
And  the  singing! 
And  the   solemn  organ  blending 
With  the  fervent  prayer  ascending 
To  the  God  who  made  the  Sabbath 
For  the  weary  Pilgrim's  rest! 

What  joy,  what  pain  the  bosom  swells,         , 
As  fondly  reminiscence  dwells 
On  the  happy  hours  of  childhood, 
When  we  hear  the  orphan  bell! 
Oh,  the  rhyming, 
And    the    chiming 
Of  the  bell! 
Of  the  bell,  bell,  bell, 
Bell,  bell,  bell— 
Of  the   rich   melodious   chiming 
Of  that  pleasant  orphan  bell !  " 

The  most  prominent  English  Lutheran  church  in  New  York 
City  in  the  early  sixties  was  St.  James. '  This  congregation  had 
been  vacant  for  several  months.  The  Church  Council  had  in- 
vited Dr.  Passavant  to  supply  the  pulpit  during  Holy  Week 
including  Palm  Sunday  and  Easter  in  1865. 

It  was  during  this  week's  stay  in  New  York  that  the 
Doctor's  heart  was  moved  at  the  sight  of  so  many  orphans  left 
by  the  war  and  cast  out  upon  the  charities  of  the  cold  world. 
He  felt  that  the  Church  owed  it  to  herself  as  well  as  to  her 
compassionate  Lord  to  be  a  mother  and  to  provide  a  home  for 
these  homeless  waifs.     In  his  persuasive  and  powerful  manner 


■170     .  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

he  brought  the  Church's  responsibility  and  privilege  before  the 
good  people  of  St.  James'.  Of  the  result  of  this  plea  and  of  his 
personal  efforts  to  interest  individuals  in  the  project,  he  writes 
to  Holls  and  Bassler: 

"According  to  promise  made  to  Brother  B.  in  my  note 
before  leaving  home,  I  avail'  myself  of  the  first  leisure  moment 
al  hand  to  communicate  with  you  in  reference  to  the  existing 
slate  of  things  which  called  me  on  a  second  visit  to  this  city. 
On  this  afternoon  a  week  ago  I  left  home  and  have  since  been 
in  this  city  and  vicinity,  having  held  four  services  during 
Passion  "Week  for  this  still  vacant  English  Lutheran  church; 
and  during  the  intervals  between  those  services  have  had  many 
opportunities  for  improvement  and  observation  in  this  vast 
central  metropolis  of  the  New  World. 

"In  my  last  interview  with  Brother  Bassler  I  gave  him 
some  information  of  the  desires  and  purpose  of  a  few  of  our 
people  here,  of  their  request  and  of  my  intention  to  come  on 
and  see  whether  they  would  lead  to  anything  more  than  'pious 
desires.'  Out  of  an  unwillingness  to  occasion  thought  to  our 
dear  Brother  Holls,  who  has  already  suffered  so  much  recently, 
I  conclude  it  better  to  defer  all  conversation  with  him  on  the 
subject  and  &sk  Brother  Bassler  to  do  the  same  until  I  might 
personally  see  whether  the  subject  was  worthy  of  that  serious 
and  prayerful  reflection  and  study  which  such  a  topic  would 
unavoidably  cause.  If  I  have  erred  in  this  it  was  an  error  of 
the  head,  not  of  the  heart.  It  was  kindness  to  and  confidence 
in  Brother  Holls  and  not  the  lack  of  it,  and  just  as  little  a 
wish  to  solve  this  perplexing  problem,  without  consultation  with 
both  of  you  and  Brother  Reck,  in  whose  society  and  love  I 
esteem  it  the  joy  of  my  life  to  be  permitted  to  live  and  labor 
that  moved  me  to  do  as  I  did.  To  be  brief,  then,  the  suggestion 
which  I  made  during  my  first  visit  to  a  wealthy  member  of  our 
church  in  this  city  to  do  something  noble  for  the  succor  of  the 
immigrant  children,  has  taken  hold  of  his  mind,  and  he  has 
fully  resolved  to  contribute  $30,000  towards  the  founding  of 
such  an  Institution  in  or  near  the  city.  To  bring  the  whole 
matter  to  a  test  I  drew  up  a  subscription  book,  writing  it  very 
carefully  and  placing  the  whole  in  the  most  intimate  connection 
with  the  Lutheran  Church  and  with  our  Institutions  at  Pitts- 
burg, and  he  cheerfully  subscribed  the  sum,  with  the  remark 


ORPHAN  WORK.  471 

that  $5,000  or  $10,000  additional  if  necessary  lie  would  not 
mind,  in  order  to  make  the  undertaking  successful.  His  brother, 
likewise  a  member  of  the  same  congregation,  was  approached  at 
his  suggestion,  and  he  added  $10,000  more,  while  Messrs.  G.  and 
A.  Ockershausen  added  $10,000  more,  making  $50,000  already 
secured  from  four  responsible  men  towards  this  object.  It  is 
the  opinion  of  these  brethren  that  fifty  thousand  more  can  be 
collected  among  the  German  merchants  (and  a  few  Americans) 
without  difficulty  in  sums  of  from  $500  to  $5,000,  as  a  thank- 
offering  that  the  war  has  closed,  with  special  reference  to  the 
relief  of  the  thousands  of  neglected  soldiers'  orphans  and  needy 
immigrant  children.  I  did  not  deem  it  advisable  to  try  any 
more  until  I  had  made  some  inquiry  about  the  probable  cost  of 
a  suitable  farm  for  boys  and  one  for  girls,  and  yesterday  visited 
the  most  desirable  location  on  the  Harlem  and  Albany  Railroad, 
some  fifteen  miles  from  the  city,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pease,  the 
originator  of  the  Five  Points  movement,  has  located  his  Farm 
Institution  for  boys.  The  result  of  my  inquiries  is  that  two 
such  farms  within  a  half  hour's  ride  from  the  city,  on  the  great 
railroad  trunk  lines  to  Albany  and  New  England,  can  be  pur- 
chased for,  say  thirty  to  forty  thousand  dollars,  which  amount 
could  easily  be  collected  in  a  few  weeks,  having  already  secured 
the  sum  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  buildings  on  both  places. 
So  the  matter  now  stands.  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  whole 
establishment  of  Mr.  Pease  may  be  transferred  to '  the  enter- 
prise for  a  trifle,  both  Mr.  Pease  and  one  of  the  trustees  having 
called  to  speak  of  the  propriety  of  such  a  measure,  as  they 
desire  to  devote  themselves  wholly  to  the  work  of  the  Five 
Points,  and  have  neither  time  nor  means  to  devote  any  longer 
to  their  Farm  School  'Experiment.'  Of  this  I  will,  therefore, 
say  nothing  until  a  written  proposition  is  made  on  this  subject. 

"Now  what  shall  we  say  to  these  things'?  Can  we  say 
anything  else  than  this:  'Who  is  a  God  like  unto  Thee,  who 
doest  great  and  wonderful  things  in  the  earth?'  And  still  I 
cannot  yet  clearly  see  that  it  is  our  duty  to  undertake  this  work. 
I  see,  indeed,  that  none  but  God  could  have  put  such  a  thought 
of  faith  into  the  hearts  of  men  as  to  give  such  a  sum;  but  on 
the  other  hand  I  cannot  understand  how  we  can  undertake 
such  work  without  the  man,  and  yet,  when  I  told  Mr.  Pease  my 
feelings  and  views,  his  answer  was:   'Cannot  He  who  furnished 


472  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT, 

the  means  furnish  the  men?'  Beyond  a  doubt  He  can,  if  it 
pleases  Him  and  if  we  ask  in  faith.  On  this  last  point  I  have 
some  facts  to  mention  which  seem  so  wonderful  that  I  will  defer 
them  till  we  meet  and  can  confer  together  in  confidence  and  in 
prayer.  Meanwhile,  rest  assured  that  I  will  do  nothing  which 
will  in  any  way  compromise  my  relations  to  you,  my  dear 
fellow-laborer  in  Christ,  or  commit  the  course  of  the  future  by 
the  purchase  of  property  or  by  pledges  or  promises.  I  propose 
to  lay  all  the  facts  before  you,  Br.  Reck  and  Sister  Elizabeth, 
with  any  proposition  which  may  be  made  by  others,  and  we  can 
consult  over  the  whole  subject  in  the  fear  of  God. 

"In  the  meantime  I  would  fraternally  ask  you  both  to 
calmly  consider  this  unexpected  manifestation  of  interest  in 
behalf  of  the  fatherless.  We  have  not  only  seen  nothing  like 
it  in  our  American  Lutheran  Church,  but  I  know  of  nothing 
equal  to  it  in  any  Church  of  the  land.  My  impression  is  that 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  additional  to  the  fifty  thousand 
already  subscribed  will  come  together  from  this  congregation. 
The  condition  of  this  congregation  has  been  most  deplorable 
for  fifty  years.  It  w^as  literally  dying  of  the  'dry  rot.'  Now 
it  seems  to  have  been  quickened  to  a  newness  of  life  which  is 
really  marvelous.  Every  day  persons  send  word  that  they 
want  to  be  called  on  and  will  give  liberally,  so  soon  as  it  is 
known  whether  the  work  will  go  on.  I  can  tell  them  nothing 
positively  but  I  am  gradually  coming  to  the  clear  conviction 
that  we  ought  not  to  longer  be  in  doubt,  that  'it  is  the  Lord.' 
I  daily  pray  that  we  may  come  to  a  united  conviction  on  the 
subject  and  that  God  will  graciously  show  us  by  unmistakable 
signs  what  is  His  good  and  gracious  will." 

On  June  22,  he  writes  Bassler  from  New  York : 
"On  Friday  last  I  went  out  to  the  'Pease'  Farm  in  order 
'to  eat  strawberries'  which  are  to  be  seen  by  the  acre,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  see  the  trustees  of  the  place  who  were  also 
there.  They  had  held  a  meeting  some  time  ago  and  are  willing 
to  sell  the  two  places  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  for 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars  to  us  Avith  all  the  buildings,  etc., 
as  they  now  stand.  This  is  very  reasonable  indeed,  and  our 
friends  here  seem  to  be  generally  in  favor  of  the  purchase  so 
soon  as  we  can  raise  some  thirty-two  thousand  dollars  which 
they  think  the  trustees  will  take  for  it.  On  Saturday  last  I 
began  visiting  certain  parties  and  thus  far  by  the  blessing  of 
God   have    obtained    subscriptions    in    sums    of    one    thousand 


ORPHAN  WORK.  473 

dollars  each  of  twelve  thousand  dollars.  This  is  a  slow  work, 
having  to  call  many  times  on  the  parties  in  question  before  find- 
ing them  in  and  then  one  by  one  to  win  them  over  for  the  cause. 
About  half  of  this  is  from  Germans  and  the  rest  from  persons 
in  the  English  Lutheran  Church.  I  think,  dear  brother,  you 
will  think  this  is  a  poor  show  towards  purchasing  the  farm  in 
question,  but  it  is  the  best  I  have  been  able  to  do  in  view  of 
the  terrible  heat,  the  absence  of  many  from  the  city,  and  the 
inherent  difficulty  of  getting  the  people  to  give^up  their  cash. 
This  week's  experience  however  has  convinced  me  that  the 
money  can  be  raised,  but  that  it  must  be  dug  out,  subscription 
by  subscription,  and  generally  in  smaller  sums  than  one  thou- 
sand dollars.  My  object  was,  if  possible,  to  raise  the  whole  sum 
this  week,  but  if  I  can  secure  fifteen  or  sixteen  thousand  dollars, 
it  is  as  much  as  can  be  done  on  this  trip.  For  the  remainder 
we  must  look  to  the  efforts  of  the  friends  here  after  I  leave,  and 
what  they  cannot  make  up  I  will  have  to  collect  when  I  next 
come  on  in  the  fall  and  the  autumn  business  has  again  brought 
the  citizens  together.  Meanwhile,  much  as  I  desire  to  pur- 
chase now,  it  is  deemed  best  not  to  do  so  till  we  have  the  whole 
sum  subscribed,  without  touching  on  the  building  fund  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars  already  secured.  This  is  the  idea  of 
the  friends  here,  and  I  do  not  think  it  safe  to  go  against  this 
course  recommended  by  the  heavy  donors.  Providence  per- 
mitting, I  will  still  be  here  on  Sunday,  as  the  church  has  no  one 
to  preach  for  them,  and  I  am  anxious  to  do  what  I  can  before 
finally  leaving." 

In  December,  he  writes  to  his  mother  about  his  recent  trip 
east  and  the  proposed  New  York  orphan  work: 

"My  stay  there  was  on  the  whole  tolerably  pleasant.  By 
God's  blessing  upon  our  united  work  the  subscriptions  were 
brought  up  to  such  a  figure  that  the  friends  thought  it  advisable 
to  purchase  the  two  farms  adjoining  each  other  of  which  I 
have  told  you,  making  together  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres 
of  excellent  and  finely  located  land,  with  buildings  worth  from 
twelve  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  whole  was  purchased 
for  thirty-two  thousand  dollars.  The  last  six  thousand  to  be 
paid  without  interest  in  thirteen  months,  the  rest  by  the  first 
of  February.  This  will  be  done,  without  any  pressure,  from 
the  subscriptions  taken.  Mr.  Hoge  gave  me  one  thousand 
dollars  and  Mr.  G.  P.  Smith,  formerly  of  Wood  Street,  Pitts- 
burg, whom  I  met  most  unexpectedly  on  the  train  gave  me  five 


474  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

hundred  dollars  without  the  least  urging'  from  anyone.  These 
and  other  tokens  of  God's  loving  providence  over  the  work  were 
very  pleasant  and  encouraging.  I  am  now  truly  glad  that  I 
did  not  accept  the  call  to  New  York.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Wedekind 
is  succeeding  very  well  and  has  more  than  enough  to  do.  Be- 
sides, he  finds  that  he  cannot  get  a  house  for  love  or  money  in 
New  York  and  had  to  be  separated  from  his  family  all  winter. 
O,  Avhat  a  deliverance  to  be  where  I  am.  Surely  God  has  already 
vindicated  th^  wisdom  of  yielding  in  this  matter  to  the  judg- 
ment of  others." 

Here  is  a  later  letter  to  his  mother  about  the  eastern  farm : 

"Sister  Elizabeth  and  Mr.  Holls  were  designated  as  the 
committee  to  accompany  me,  and  they  seemed  at  once  surprised 
and  delighted  beyond  measure  with  the  character,  convenience 
and  admirable  availability  of  the  beautiful  farm  which  is  to  be 
the  seat  of  our  future  Eastern  Home  and  Farm  School.  It  is 
indeed  a  most  unlooked  for  prize  and  I  hope  will  remain  a  wit- 
ness to  the  saving  power  of  the  delivering  grace  of  God  to  the 
poor  and  the  fatherless. 

"It  was  indeed  a  goodly  sight  to  look  over  our  beautiful 
grounds  of  one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
York,  with  a  noble  orchard  of  apples  and  perhaps  as  many  as 
eight  hundred  pear  trees,  and  fourteen  acres  of  strawberries. 
We  could  not  but  say,  'Behold  what  hath  God  wrought.'  'Truly 
He  hath  done  all  things  well.'  " 

The  synodical  differences  and  difficulties  seriously  affected 
the  support  of  Dr.  Passavant's  Institutions.  Many  of  the  radi- 
cal ministers  became  his  personal  enemies  and  used  their  in- 
fluence against  his  work.  They  were  ready  to  let  the  orphan  and 
the  sick  suffer  unaided  because  Passavant  was  at  the  head  of 
the  Institutions.  Many  of  them  made  strenuous  efforts  to  alien- 
ate the  supporters  of  the  work  and  to  divert  the  charities  that 
would  have  gone  into  this  channel. 

Some  of  the  ministers  and  laymen  in  New  York  made  it 
difficult  for  the  Doctor  to  get  a  charter  for  the  Wartburg  Or- 
pharLs'  Home  as  the  new  Home  was  called.  They  also  tried 
to  alienate  the  Mollers  who  had  made  the  Institution  possible 
and  were  among  its  most  liberal  supporters.  The  letters  of 
Pastor  Holls  who  was  now  the  superintendent  at  thie  Wartburg 
were  full  of  sad  complaints.  The  work  was  made  doubly  diffi- 
cult and  this  added  greatly  to  the  heavy  burden  of  Dr.  Passa- 
vant.   Added  to  this  difficulty  a  severe  financial  depression  was 


ORPHAN  WORK.  475 

making  itself  felt  in  commercial  circles.     Here  is  a  mention 
of  a  disheartening  trip  to  New  York : 

"I  returned  this  afternoon  and  am  very  weary  and  'used 
up.'  But  the  'tone  and  temper'  of  my  dear  old  friend  Bassler 
is  so  sad  that  though  I  have  nothing  with  which  to  make  him 
glad,  I  drag  myself  to  the  table  to  write  him  a  few  lines. 

"Financially,  my  trip  was,  humanly  speaking,  fruitless. 
Never  before  have  I  seen  such  a  state  of  things  among  business 
men.  Every  day  is  bringing  with  it  shrinkage  and  loss  and 
you  have  no  idea  how  men  feel  under  such  circumstances.  If 
the  old  credit  system  were  still  in  vogue  there  would  be  a  general 
smash-up.  This  with  the  absence  of  many  persons  on  whom 
I  most  of  all  relied  was  a  heavy  barrier.  But  nevertheless, 
we  strengthened  ourselves  in  God  and  brother  Holls  was  kept  in 
good  heart  and  hope.    Der  Alte  Gott  leht'  nocJi." 

Here  is  a  further  illustration  of  how  he  was  hampered  and 
hindered  by  his  enemies  in  New  York. 

"A  letter  from  Adelberg  conveys  the  sad  information  (so 
it  seems  but  I  think  I  see  a  blessing  in  it)  that  after  the  charter 
had  passed  both  senate  and  house  and  was  going  to  the  Governor 
for  his  signature  P.  0.,  and  others  got  the  new  members  to  have 
it  'recommitted.'  As  this  was  the  last  week  of  the  session  it 
was  killed  for  the  second  time.  The  truth  is,  they  are  determined 
not  to  pay  their  ten  thousand  dollars  unless  they  can  control 
the  whole  in  the  interests  of  the  General  Synod  and  that  they 
shall  never  do.  Their  unworthiness  is  thus  manifest  to  all  and 
God  is  saving  us  from  their  presence  and  influence  forever. 
What  a  mercy  that  Dr.  Krotel  is  in  New  York  in  the  crisis, 
$ince  Dr.  S.  has  very  suddenly  died.  Oh,  that  there  were  a 
faithful,  able,  earnest  successor  for  his  church.  Unite  in  prayer 
to  God  for  this  important  place." 

Here  is  a  note  from  Dr.  Philip  Schaff  on  the  proposed 
orphanage : 

"Dear  brother,  I  heartily  rejoice  with  you  in  the  prospect 
of  a  German  Orphans'  Home  in  this  city  where  there  are  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  Germans.  I  have  no  doubt  such 
an  institution  would  be  a  great  blessing  and  a  perennial  foun- 
tain of  good  for  years  to  come." 

When  all  was  ready  for  the  opening  of  the  new  Institution, 
the  next  serious  problem  was  to  find  the  right  man  for  this 


476  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

very  important  position.  After  much  prayer  and  consultation 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Holls,  the  tried  and  true  superintendent  of  the 
Farm  School  at  Zelienople,  was  selected  and  called.  For  this 
good  and  conscientious  man  it  was  a  hard  question  to  solve.  He 
had  become  warmly  attached  to  his  large  family  and  farm  home. 
But  with  him  duty  always  went  before  inclination.  When  he 
was  convinced  that  duty  called  him  to  New  York,  he  was  ready 
to  cut  loose  from  Zelienople  even  though  it  should  cut  his 
very  heart-strings.  After  this  decision,  Dr.  Passavant  writes  to 
Bassler : 

"The  New  York  matter  is  finally  decided  and  Br.  Holls 
goes  next  week.  I  said  nothing  whatever  to  induce  him  to  go. 
I  desire  him  to  be  at  both  places  and  the  truth  is  he  wishes  to 
be  at  both  places  for  the  common  good.  But  he  feels,  more  than 
words  can  express,  that  only  God's  call  and  God's  presence  can 
give  him  strength  and  peace  in  this  very  important  undertak- 
ing. Poor  dear  brother  and  sister.  From  my  heart  I  pity  them 
more  than  I  have  words  to  express  in  pulling  up  the  roots  which 
time  and  suffering  have  but  strengthened,  and  going  to  a  new 
and  untried  place  where  all  has  to  be  done  ah  initio.  Let  us 
unite  our  supplications  and  prayers  for  him  in  this  his  tim^  of 
need. ' ' 

One  of  the  greatest  disappointments  of  Pastor  Holls  at  the 
Wartburg  was  that  the  orphans  did  not  come  in  the  numbers 
that  had  been  expected.  In  fact  they  came  very  slowly.  This 
was  a  surprise  and  a  perplexity  to  Dr.  Passavant  also.  It  is 
explained  in  part  in  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Holls: 

"It  is  a  notorious  fact  that  the  different  Institutions  for 
the  care  of  orphans  and  half  orphans  in  the  city  of  New  York 
are  so  jealous  of  each  other  that  they  are  actually  preying  over 
the  children  they  may  hear  of  at  any  hour  of  the  day.  Their 
agents  are  a  vigilant  set  of  men  and  the  larger  number  of 
orphans  they  may  present  before  the  public  the  more  will  they 
be  patronized.  Public  concerts,  exhibitions,  declamations  and 
newspaper  puffs  do  the  rest.  I  am  very  sorry  to  see  the  Ger- 
mantown  Home  dragged  head  and  tail  into  this  Yankee  notion 
of  benevolence.  This  new-fashioned  pedagogy  positively  does 
more  harm  to  the  poor  children  than  all  the  good  they  will 
ever  receive  from  any  Institution.  Of  course  it  is  the  fashion 
of  the  day  in  New  York  as  well  as  in  Philadelphia.  I  fear  we  have 
not  long  to  wait  to  see  the  fruit  of  this  new  fashion  in  bringing 
up  poor  orphans. 


ORPHAN  WORK.  477 

"For  my  part,  I  am  satisfied  witli  the  old  time-honored 
fashion  of  the  Word  of  God  in  relation  to  the  education  of  the 
children,  though  our  number  should  be  very  limited  and  there- 
fore, as  the  Lord  has  not  filled  our  house  yet,  we  may  safely 
wait  with  our  building  plans.  I  am  afraid  of  making  a  large 
Institution  here  if  the  Lord  wants  it  to  be  a  small  one.  My 
anxiety  to  have  more  children  here  is  caused  only  and  alone 
by  the  desire  to  see  the  indication  of  the  Lord  that  it  is  His  will 
that  we  should  have  such  an  Institution  under  the  care  of  our 
Church  in  this  neighborhood." 

Of  the  corner-stone  laying  of  the  first  new  building  of  the 
Wartburg  Orphans'  Home,  August  26,  1869,  he  writes  his 
mother : 

"The  New  York  corner-stone  laying  Dr.  Krotel  has  duly 
described  in  his  letter,  and  I  need  not  enlarge.  It  was  really 
a  most  interesting  and  important  affair.  As  I  looked  at  all  this 
vast  concourse,  and  the  beautiful,  impressive  building  of  stone 
which  was  going  up  on  the  Orphans'  Farm,  I  could  not  but  look 
back  some  four  years  and  think  how  I  sadly  wandered  through 
the  avenues  and  alleys  of  east  New  York  and  in  anguish  cried 
to  God  to  open  the  heart  of  some  one  to  pity  the  fatherless  and 
those  who  had  no  helper!  The  venerable  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
with  his  snow-white  head,  was  very  much  delighted  with  the 
whole  scene  and  my  heart  was  filled  with  thanksgiving  to  God.  * ' 

For  the  corner-stone  laying  the  venerable  Wm.  Augustus 
Muhlenberg,  who  was  the  lifelong  friend  of  Dr.  Passavant  as 
well  as  of  Revs.  Holls  and  Berkemeier,  composed  the  following 
hymn  which  was  sung  by  the  orphans  on  the  occasion: 

"Our  corner-stone  in  Faith  we  lay, 

That  He  will  deign  our  work  to  own 
Who  bids  us  build  for  now  and  aye, 

On  Christ,  the  sure  foundation-stone. 

"Our  corner-stone  we  lay  in  Hope; 

For  ages  may  our  Wartburg  stand, 
Whence  to  the  fatherless  shall  ope 

Ways  to  the  heavenly  Fatherland, 

*'Our    corner-stone   in   Charity 

We  lay,  moved  by  the  Saviour's  grace; 
Orphan  and  outcast  all  were  we 

Save  for  His  pitying  love 's  embrace. 


478  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

"And  more,  for  ■which  he  honor  paid, 

This  stone  an  altar  stone  we  lay 
Of  their  thanksgiving  who  have  made 

In  filial  love  this  happy   day. 

"Eemember  them,  O  Lord,  for  good, 

And  all  whose  hearts  Thou  dost  incline 
Thus  to  act  out  their  gratitude 

And  own,  that  all  they  give  is  Thine. 

"Building  for  Christ  meanwhile  may  we 

Ourselves  together  build   in   one, 
An  holy  temple  built  to  Thee, 

Lord,  through  Thine  everlasting  Son. ' ' 

In  this  brief  extract  he  tells  his  mother  of  the  settling  of 
the  Wartburg  charter: 

"Everything  at  the  Home  in  New  York  is  prospering  ad- 
mirably. Those  opponents  of  our  cause  utterly  failed  in  their 
insane  opposition  to  our  charter.  It  passed  finally  and  we  have 
a  certified  copy.  So  that  now  we  are  a  duly  organized  corpo- 
ration and  can  hold  property  without  taxation  as  well  as  receive 
legacies  and  bequests,  of  which  there  are  several  in  prospect. 
All  this  is  a  source  of  great  relief  to  me,  for  now  we  can  duly 
present  the  claims  of  the  cause  without  any  fear  of  open  or 
secret  opposition  from  those  disappointed  men  who  have  given 
us  so  much  trouble,  vexation  and  expense." 

During  the  second  quarter  of  the  nineteenth  century  there 
grew  up  among  the  cultured  people  of  New  England  that  form 
of  thought  or  philosophy  which  was  called  Transcendentalism. 
During  this  time  Emerson  wrote  to  Carlyle:  "We  are  all  a 
little  wild  here  with  numberless  projects  of  social  reform,  not 
a  reading  man  but  has  a  draft  of  a  new  community  in  his  waist- 
coat pocket." 

The  Transcendental  seers  saw  visions  of  new  Eutopias  and 
dreamed  dreams  of  Edens  restored.  Their  philosophy  was  to. 
usher  in  a  new  civilization  in  which  man's  wants  were  to  be 
reduced  to  a  minimum,  all  luxuries  were  to  be  abolished,  and  he 
was  to  get  "back  to  nature."  The  minimum  of  physical  labor 
was  to  make  room  for  the  maximum  of  time  for  intellectual  and 
spiritual  progress. 

George  Ripley,  a  retired  Unitarian  minister,  proposed  the 
organization  of  the  Brook  Farm  Association  for  Education  and 
Agriculture.     The  project  commended  itself  to  men  like  Emer- 


ORPHAN  WORK.  479 

son,  Hawthorne,  Whittier,  Lowell,  Channing,  Storey,  Higgin- 
Bon,  Theodore  Parker,  Horace  Greeley,  George  A.  Dana,  George 
"William  Curtis,  Margaret  Fuller  and  other  like  leading  literary 
lights. 

A  number  of  these  kindred  spirits  purchased  a  beautiful 
and  fertile  farm  a  few  miles  out  from  Boston.  There  the  ex- 
preachers  and  poets  and  philosophers  and  journalists  settled 
down  with  their  wives' and  children  for  what  Emerson  called 
"a  perpetual  picnic."  The  men  hauled  manure  and  plowed 
and  sowed  and  reaped  and  dug  ditches  and  grubbed  and  cleared 
out  the  underbrush  and  milked  and  churned  and  cleaned  the 
stables ;  and  the  women  scrubbed  and  washed  clothing  and  dishes 
and  cooked  and  baked  and  darned  and  sewed.  In  the  evening, 
the  tired  men  and  women  would  gather,  in  circles  of  elective 
affinity,  study  and  read  German,  discuss  the  latest  phases  of 
philosophy,  politics,  literature  and  religion.  On  Sunday,  Theo- 
dore Parker  would  preach  in  the  woods,  perhaps  on  Goethe's 
Faust,  Carlyle's  Sartor  Resartus,  on  the  latest  theories  of  Four- 
ier, or  on  some  kindred  subject. 

But  we  cannot  here  write  the  romantic  history  of  Brook 
Farm.  Like  scores  of  other  similar  projects  to  restore  Para- 
dise without  getting  rid  of  sin,  it  was  a  dismal  failure.  What 
we  are  interested  in  is  that  that  beautiful  farm  afterwards  fell 
into  the  hands  of  some  good  Lutherans  and  is  now  a  successful 
orphans'  farm  school  in  which  the  bereft  children  of  sorrow  are 
gathered,  sheltered,  clothed,  fed  and  trained  up  in  that  truth 
which  alone  can  make  men  free,  because,  instead  of  dreaming  of 
new  conditions,  it  makes  new  men  and  they  improve  conditions 
wherever  that  truth  is  received  and  lived. 

In  the  selecting  and  purchasing  of  Brook  Farm  for  a  Lu- 
theran orphans'  home,  Dr.  Passavant  had  an  important  share. 
To  his  mother  he  writes  this  interesting  account  of  the  affair : — 

"You  will  be  surprised  to  learn  that,  without  my  consent 
or  knowledge  even,  I  was  made  the  president  of  an  association 
for  works  of  mercy  in  Massachusetts  in  connection  with  our 
Church.  After  refusing,  I  finally  yielded  to  the  opinion  of 
friends  here  and  in  New  York  and  consented  to  serve  a  short 
time,  until  the  whole  gets  into  running  order.  Accordingly  Br. 
Holls  and  I  got  in  the  cars  in  New  York  at  eight  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  night,  went  to  bed  at  nine  and  woke  up  in  Boston 
at  six  in  the  morning.    We  were  at  the  breakfast  table  of  Pastor 


480  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

Hansen  and  afterwards  went  to  the  house  of  one  of  his  members 
in  Roxbury,  part  of  Boston,  and  were  driven  out  six  miles  into 
the  country  through  beautiful  country-seats  and  villas  to  the  site 
of  the  future  orphan  institution.  Here  on  the  identical  Brook 
Farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  where  Channing,  Parker, 
Goodwin  and  a  whole  host  of  Boston  poets,  sophists,  and  dream- 
ers tried  the  experiment  of  Fourierism  and  had  their  community, 
'etc.,  God  has  provided  in  a  wonderful  way  for  the  future  or- 
phans' home  of  our  New  England  orphans.  I  cannot  describe 
the  beautiful  domain,  for  it  is  a  succession  of  beautiful  hills, 
dales,  and  meadows,  with  a  noble  trout-brook  running  through 
it.  I  would  only  mention  that  the  whole,  worth  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  is  the  free  and  unsolicited  gift  to  God  and  His  poor, 
of  a  worthy  German  in  Boston,  a  plain  man  whose  heart  God 
has  touched  to  pity  the  fatherless  and  the  widow.  Part  of  this 
beautiful  farm  will  be  used  for  a  cemetery  for  the  city  and  all 
the  proceeds  go  directly  into  the  treasury  of  the  Home.  "We  had 
scarcely  finished  our  ramble  over  the  farm,  when  a  violent  storm 
drove  us  to  our  carriage  and  we  hastened  to  Br.  Burkhart's 
where  a  comfortable  dinner  was  in  w^aiting.  Then  came  the 
organization  of  the  Board  and  several  hours  of  business  in  which 
all  the  details  of  the  intended  Institution  were  discussed  and 
adopted.  A  worthy  clergyman  and  his  wife  were  chosen  for 
the  post  and,  as  the  house  cannot  be  obtained  till  April,  they 
will  be  at  the  Wartburg,  learning  in  quietness  how  to  labor  in 
the  work.  After  singing  a  sweet  German  hymn  and  engaging 
in  prayer,  we  returned  to  supper  at  Mr.  Hansen's  and  at  nine 
0  'clock  at  night  went  to  bed  in  the  cars  and  awoke  at  six  in  New 
York. 

* '  Dearest  mother,  is  not  all  this  wonderful !  Not  the  travel- 
ing only,  but  this  strange  and  unlooked  for  extension  of  the 
work  of  mercy  East  and  West.  •  It  is  true,  I  am  often  over- 
whelmed with  its  duties;  but  could  I  only  get  relief  from  my 
preaching  duties  at  Baden,  Rochester,  and  Chartiers,  I  could 
easily  attend  to  all.  Meanwhile  I  labor  and  wait  for  the  dawn- 
ing of  the  good  day  of  relief  when  I  can  devote  my  whole 
strength  to  this  holy  work  alone." 

"When  the  faithful  co-laborer  of  Dr.  Passavant,  the  Rev. 
C.  G.  Holls,  the  efficient  rector  of  the  Orphans'  Farm  school  at 
Zelienople  and  afterwards  at  the  Wartburg,  died,  Aug.  12,  1886, 
the  Doctor  wrote: 


THE  PASSAVANT  MEMORIAL  HOSPITAL.  JACKSONVILLE,  ILT,. 


ORPHAN  WORE.  481 

"To  do  justice  to  the  character  and  life-work  of  the  de- 
ceased, in  the  brief  limits  of  this  notice,  is  simply  impos- 
sible. For  nearly  thirty  years  it  has  been  our  privilege  to  be  as- 
sociated with  him  in  the  most  intimate  relations  of  friendship 
and  official  intercourse  and  we  know  not  which  to  admire  most, 
his  goodness  or  his  greatness,  as  evinced  in  his  absolute  sub- 
mission to  the  authority  of  the  divine  Word,  his  renuncia- 
tion of  all  self-reliance  and  merit,  and  his  implicit  trust  for 
salvation  in  the  righteousness  of  Christ  Jesus,  his  Saviour.  A 
great  reader,  a  thinker,  a  scholar,  a  teacher,  a  philanthropist, 
who,  while  he  gave  his  first  thoughts  to  the  care  and  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  orphans,  was  yet  alive  to  every  form  of  rescuing 
mercy  in  the  Church,  and  withal  an  able  Christian  minister  who 
fed  the  flock  which  Christ  has  purchased  with  His  own  blood. 
The  deceased  was  a  marked  character  and  a  very  unusual  per- 
sonage. Working  his  way  up  from  the  trade  of  a  bookbinder, 
after  setting  up  binderies  at  the  Industrial  Institution  at  Strass- 
burg  and  Beuggen  he  was  called  to  the  Rauhe  Haus  of  Dr. 
Wichern,  at  Horn,  to  perform  a  like  work.  In  all  these  posi- 
tions while  working  with  his  own  hands  he  was  a  close  student 
of  books  and  of  men,  of  languages  and  of  systems,  so  that  on  com- 
ing to  America,  in  1856,  he  at  once  took  charge  of  an  English 
High  School  at  Pomeroy,  Ohio.  His  growth  in  thought  and  in 
general  knowledge  was  only  excelled  by  his  familiarity  with 
Christian  doctrine;  and  strength  and  manliness,  with  the  grace 
of  charity,  were  the  adornments  of  his  character. 

"These  fine  abilities  were  not  stored  away  for  self-enjoy- 
ment or  the  admiration  of  friends,  but  were  laid  at  the  feet  of 
Christ  for  the  service  of  the  Church.  The  Farm  school  at 
Zelienople,  where  he  spent  twelve  years,  and  the  one  at  the  Wart- 
burg,  near  Mt.  Vernon,  were  model  Institutions.  Thoughtful 
men  came  from  far  to  study  the  working  of  these  charities.  The 
latter,  where  he  labored  for  seventeen  years  in  his  best  days, 
was  the  most  admirable  Institution  of  the  kind  we  have  ever 
known.  On  various  occasions  we  met  leading  educators  there 
from  New  England,  and  one  of  these,  the  honored  Mr.  Barnard, 
came  expressly  to  obtain  the  service  of  Pastor  Hoi  Is  for  a  train- 
ing house  for  Christian  'brothers'  like  in  the  Institution  at  Horn. 
In  several  instances,  generous  salaries  were  offered  him  as 
superintendent  of  reform  schools,  but  he  recognized  his  position 
as  a  vocation  f  ron^  God,  being  '  rightly  called '  by  the  Church  to 
work    among   her    fatherless    ones.      Neither    money    nor    'the 


482  THE  LIFE  OF  W,  A.  PASSAVANT. 

prospect  of  greater  usefulness',  as  the  world  has  it,  could  move 
him  from  the  post  of  duty.  There  he  lived  and  labored  and  died, 
deeply  thankful  that  when  he  could  work  no  more  God  had  pro- 
vided a  successor  to  whom  he  could  give  his  fullest  confidence 
and  love. 

"The  deceased  was  a  member  of  the  Missouri  Synod,  and 
one  who,  more  than  any  other,  by  his  great  worth  and  service, 
brought  it  into  favorable  notice  in  the  Eastern  States.  For 
many  years  past,  however,  while  doctrinally  one  with  that 
synod,  he  could  not  harmonize  with  certain  extremists  in  regard 
to  cooperation  with  brethren  not  in  that  body.  This  was  a 
source  of  great  distress  to  him,  for  no  one  valued  the  friendship 
of  his  synodical  brethren  more  than  he.  But  he  had  not  so 
learned  Christ,  and  being  certain  that  his  former  position  was 
in  full  accord  with  the  divine  Word  and  the  Confessions  of  his 
Church,  he  would  not  be  moved  from  that  position  by  threats 
of  censure  or  the  dread  of  discipline.  His  testimony  on  this 
subject  was  decided  and  emphatic;  and  without  bitterness  to 
any  he  quietly  bore  the  reproach  for  Christ  and  the  brethren 
among  whom  he  had  so  long  lived  and  labored. 

"What  a  passing  away  of  the  little  band  of  laborers  who 
first  engaged  in  the  orphan  work  in  our  American  Church! 
Already  Pastor  Bassler,  Reck,  Diebendarfer,  and  now  Pastor 
Holls,  'rest  from  their  labors.'  They  were  united  in  life,  and 
in  death  they  were  not  divided.  What  a  call  to  those  who  re- 
main, to  'work  while  it  is  day,'  to  be  'instant  in  season  and  out 
of  season',  and  to  be  'faithful  unto  death.'  " 


MERCY-WOKK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.         483 


CHAPTER  XX. 

MERCY-WORK   IN   JACKSONVILLE    FOR   EPILEPTICS. 

—FOR  IMMIGRANTS. 

How  surprisingly  and  strangely  he  was  led  to  begin  his 
work  of  mercy  in  Jacksonville,  111.,  he  tells  his  mother  in  a  letter 
dated  May  15,  1868 : 

"But  the  strangest  thing  which  ever  happened  me  was  a 
letter  from  an  unknown  lad}^  in  Jacksonville,  111.,  just  before 
I  left  home,  which  haunted  me  like  a  spirit  and  gave  me  no 
rest  till  I  took  the  night  train  Wednesday  night  two  weeks  ago 
and  visited  the  writer.  Jacksonville  is  two  hundred  and  eighty 
miles  from  Chicago  and  the  city  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
refined  in  the  State,  with  three  large  Female  Seminaries,  a  blind 
(state)  asylum,  deaf  and  dumb  ditto,  and  the  immense  insane 
hospital;  besides  being  the  seat  of  the  Illinois  College.  When 
I  arrived  everything  Avas  green,  though  in  Chicago  and  the 
North  the  trees  were  not  yet  in  bloom. 

*  *  Judge  then  of  my  surprise  when  I  found  that  this  old  Pres- 
byterian lady  wished  to  donate  a  most  valuable  block  of  five 
acres  on  the  leading  street  of  the  city,  on  which  was  erected  a 
building  nearly  as  large  as  our  farm  home.  She  had  heard  of 
our  Deaconess  Institution  and  in  the  kindness  of  her  heart  she 
wished  nothing  so  much  as  to  give  it  without  money  or  price 
to  us.  Oh,  how  sad  I  felt  when  I  could  give  her  no  encourage- 
ment and  had  to  frankly  confess  to  her  that  neither  I  nor 
they  were  equal  to  the  task  of  commencing  and  carrying  on 
another  Institution,  especially  one  so  far  from  the  route  of  my 
travel. 

' '  What  she  will  now  do  I  have  no  idea.  She  seemed  so  much 
disappointed  that  I  promised  to  return  the  next  day.  But  on 
going  to  the  hotel,  I  found  that  unless  I  returned  that  night, 
I  could  not  reach  Chicago  till  Mondaj^  and  I  had  to  be  there  to 
fill  Mr.  Richards'  pulpit  who  had  gone  to  preach  and  collect  at 
Ft.  Wayne. 

"How  wonderful  are  God's  ways!  This  old  lady's  parents 
came  from  Frankfurt,  Germany,  and  died  of  the  yellow  fever  in 


484  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

Philadelphia  in  1808.  Sixty  years  after,  she  makes  this  offer 
of  property  worth  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  the  son  of  a  good 
Frankfurt  woman  and  that,  too,  in  the  ends  of  the  earth. ' ' 

In  a  letter  dated  April  23,  1870,  he  tells  his  mother  the 
strange  story  over  again  and  continues  it  up  to,  and  including, 
the  opening  of  the  Institution.  He  seems  to  have  forgotten  that 
he  had  written  the  above  nearly  two  years  before.  Besides  the 
interesting  facts,  this  letter  again  brings  out  so  forcibly  his 
high  regard  for  his  mother's  judgment  and  his  earnest  desire 
for  her  approval  and  blessing  that  we  give  it  entire,  leaving 
out  only  what  he  had  said  before: 

' '  My  beloved  mother,  grace  and  peace !  Excuse  my  protract- 
ed silence  on  a  subject  which  has  long  and  most  painfully  agi- 
tated my  heart,  and  of  which  I  have  certainly  wished  to  take 
counsel  with  you,  but  could  not,  owing  to  the  many  agonizing 
sufferings  which  you  have  undergone.  It  was  not  in  my  heaii; 
needlessly  to  add  another  to  all  the  anxieties  which  I  have  caused 
you  by  my  strange  life,  the  peculiar  form  and  development 
of  which,  I  am  persuaded,  has  not  been  of  my  own  will  or  choice, 
much  less  desire  or  thought. 

"Mrs.  Ayers  is  a  lady  of  education  and  energy  whose  two 
sons  are  rich  bankers  in  Jacksonville,  and  who  for  years  had 
her  heart  set  on  this  plan  of  an  orphans'  home  in  Jacksonville. 
The  property  in  question  she  purchased  at  sheriff's  sale,  moved 
into  it  herself ....  was  laid  on  her  bed  for  years,  and  was  thus 
prevented  from  carrying  out  her  beneficent  plan.  Never  in  my 
life  did  I  act  more  honestly  and  truthfully  with  anyone  than 
with  Mrs.  Ayers  in  response  to  this  oft'er.  I  told  her  of  our 
trouble  for  laborers.  I  frankly  acknowledged  that,  magnificent 
as  the  present  was,  it  was  clear  to  me  then  we  had  no  vocation 
so  far  down  in  the  State,  that  my  hands  were  full,  and  that,  for 
other  reasons,  I  could  not.  I  also  begged  her  to  donate  it  to  her 
own  Church,  which  was  the  Presbyterian,  and  gave  her  every 
reason  I  could  to  change  her  mind  and  her  heart  towards  us 
in  reference  to  such  a  gift.  I  was  then  obliged  to  leave  and 
preach  at  Chicago  and  as  she  begged  me  not  to  act  finally,  but 
to  reconsider  my  refusal,  I  did  so  and  wrote  from  ]\Iilwaukee, 
going  over  the  whole  ground  again  in  the  fear  of  God  I  thought 
this  had  ended  the  matter.  Two  months  later,  however,  when  I 
was  in  New  York,  Eliza  sent  me  a  second  communication  from 
Mrs.  Ayers  which  Emma  will  read  to  you,  and  in  compliance 
with  Eliza's  strong  desire   I   again   gave  a   long   and  minute 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  485 

exhibit  of  the  reasons  why  we  could  not  receive  her  valuable  gift. 
So  the  summer  passed  on,  but  in  July  came  a  third  letter  of  the 
same  sort.     This  I  could  not  answer,  for  I  knew  not  what  to 
say  in  addition.    Meanwhile  poor  Mr.  Bassler  was  taken  ill,  was 
carried  to  the  seashore  and  returned  here  and  died  in  my  house. 
Mrs.  Ayers'  letter  was  still  unanswered  and  on  my  return  from 
the  funeral  the  strange  letter,  written  with  indelible  ink,  which 
Emma  will  read  for  you,  was  received !  What  to  do  I  could  not 
imagine!  I  laid  both  letters  before  God  and  finally  concluded  to 
ask  dear  Eliza,  who  was  very  much  broken  down,  to  accompany 
me  out  West  and  to  go  to  Jacksonville  with  me,  for  the  purpose 
of  finally  and  forever  saying:  'No,  it  is  not  our  duty  to  receive 
your  gift.'     The  journey  was  duly  taken  and,  contrary  to  all 
our  ideas,  when  we  arrived  in  Jacksonville,  both  Eliza  and  I 
were  convinced  from  what  we  saw,  but  especially  from  a  chapter 
in  our  morning  lesson  out  of  Ephesians,  that  'God  could  do  ex- 
ceeding abundantly  above  all  that  we  asked  or  thought'  not  only 
in  the  princely  gift  of  property,  but  also  in  raising  up  laborers 
who  could  aid  in  carrying  on  this  offered  Institution !  When  we 
finally  communicated  the  conclusion  to  Mrs.  Ayers,  the  evening 
we  returned  to  Chicago,  the  poor  woman  remarked,  'This  is  the 
first  easy  breath  I  have  drawn' for  three  months!'  and  the  next 
day  went  and  had  the  deed  made  for  the  property  1 !  That  was 
in  November,  1868,  and  the  orphan  home  was  to  be  opened  in 
June,  1869,  but  two  weeks  before  that  time  the  noble  blind  asy- 
lum on  the  opposite  corner  of  the  street  was   burned  to  the 
ground  and  the  eighty  blind  children  were  quietly  led  into  the 
vacant  'Berean'  College!  At  the  request  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Asylum  I  visited  Jacksonville  immediately  and  the  arrangement 
was  made  that  they  should  occupy  our  building  and  grounds, 
without  charge,  until  this  spring  when  the  Asylum  would  be  re- 
built.   There  are  so  many  slips  between  the  cup  and  the  lip  that 
I  knew  not  what  next,  and  therefore  went  on,  towards  the  end 
of  March,  to  personally  arrange  everything  before  hand,  staying 
ten  days  in  Jacksonville  with  a  crowd  of  men,  putting  on  a  new 
roof,  painting,  papering,  whitewashing  and  furnishing  the  old 
Hardin  house,  and  getting  the  extensive  ground  into  order  for 
gardens  and  lawns.     All  this  went  slowly,  as  the  money  had  to 
be  raised;  but  here  also  the  merciful  God, provided  the  means, 
so  that  in  four  days  after  preaching  twice  in  two  of  the  Pres- 
byterian churches  on  Sunday  all  sorts  of  persons  and  parties 
sent  in  furniture,  money  and  provision. 


486  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

"Having  done  this,  I  returned  home  and  on  last  Monday, 
after  God  had  very  wonderfully  provided  a  free  pass  for  our 
children  to  Chicago,  Br.  Reck  with  nine  of  them  from  Rochester 
and  his  wife's  sister,  a  most  excellent  personage,  left  Rochester 
for  the  future  home.  I  send  his  two  enclosed  favors,  one  from 
Chicago  and  the  other  from  Jacksonville,  from  which  you  will 
see  how  the  Lord  has  prospered  his  way  and  how  kindly  and 
lovingly  those  dear  friends  met  the  children  and  greeted  them 
on  their  arrival. 

"I  might  say  many  more  things  on  this  subject,  but  will  not 
weary  you.  In  all  honesty,  I  can  say,  that  in  this  whole  affair 
I  have  resisted  until  I  could  resist  no  longer.  Dear  Eliza  knows 
this  and  hence  we  feel  alike  that  our  vocation  in  Jacksonville 
is  as  clear  as  the  sun  in  the  heavens.  I  therefore  write  to  you 
now,  asking  your  blessing  upon  this  seventh  child  of  prayer  and 
toil.  I  must  have  it,  dearest  mother ;  for  under  God  I  owe  to 
you  all  the  conception  and  execution  of  these  merciful  institu- 
tions which  God  has  been  pleased  to  call  into  life  through  my  in- 
strumentality. Your  sympathy  with  the  suffering,  your  self- 
denial  and  love  to  benefit  others,  and  your  management  and 
economy  as  well  as  ability  to  carry  out  what  you  have  resolved 
upon,  have,  under  God,  sowed  the  seeds  of  one  and  all  of  these 
charities  and  churches  which  have  grown  into  life  and  useful- 
ness. I  cannot,  therefore,  keep  back  anything  from  my  mother, 
nor  carry  on  anything  without  her  knowledge ;  for  I  need,  more 
than  words  can  express,  her  sympathy,  her  counsel  and  her 
blessing.  You  may  and  do  say  that  I  do  not  practically  regard 
these  things  and  do  what  I  please,  but  I  can  appeal  to  God  for 
the  truth  of  the  remark,  that  your  silent  influence  constantly 
controls  my  movements  and  keeps  me  from  doing  my  own 
pleasure  in  many  ways  which  I  cannot  here  explain.  As  the 
Institution  at  Jacksonville  is  now  a  fixed  fact  and  there  is  no 
longer  any  uncertainty  about  its  future,  I  have  made  a  faithful 
statement  of  the  past  and  explained  as  fully  as  possible  my 
silence,  lest  I  might  be  uselessly  troubling  and  distressing  you 
about  a  matter  while  still  in  uncertainty. 

"Farewell,  beloved  mother.  Think  of  us  and  pray  for  us. 
All  unite  in  much  love." 

And  so  this  home  was  in  working  order.  It  was  doing  its 
blessed  work  in  a  community  in  which  such  work  was  entirely 
new.  Into  none  of  his  many  merciful  enterprises  had  Dr.  Pas- 
savant  been  led  so  mysteriously,  so  unexpectedly,  and  we  may 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  487 

add,  so  reluctantly.  It  was  all  contrary  to  his  usual  experience. 
In  the  other  instances,  he  had  been  under  the  necessity  of  be- 
ginning in  the  most  humble  way.  It  had  been  ' '  first  the  blade, ' ' 
and  the  Doctor  loved  to  refer  to  the  parable  of  the  mustard 
seed  and  to  quote  the  words,  "Despise  not  the  day  of  small 
things."  At  Jacksonville  a  valuable  property  with  large  and 
costly  buildings  had  been  almost  thrust  upon  him.  Against 
his  first  convictions  tind  will  he  had  felt  himself  driven  into  the 
undertaking. 

And  although  he  had  been  finally  persuaded  that  God 
willed  it  and  gone  into  the  work  with  this  conviction,  he  never- 
theless seemed  to  have  some  lingering  doubts. 

All  did  not  go  smoothly.  Orphans  did  not  come  in.  The 
Institution  did  not  come  with  that  outward  parade  and  flourish 
of  trumpets  which  the  average  American  loves  so  dearly.  It 
did  not  blow  its  own  trumpet.  It  did  not  publish  wonderful 
achievements  and  tear-drawing  stories.  So  quietly  and  humbly 
was  the  work  carried  on  that  the  citizens  of  Jacksonville 
scarcely  knew  that  an  orphanage  was  there.  The  lovers  of  the 
spectacular  and  sensational  were  disappointed.  Even  Mrs.  Ay- 
ers  became  dissatisfied. 

Of  the  second  strange  chapter  in  the  history,  the  Rev.  W. 
A.  Passavant,  Jr.,  tells  the  story  in  his  annual  report  of  October 
1895: 

"In  so  rich  an  agricultural  countrv  as  Morgan  County, 
where  the  best  provisions  could  at  once  be  made  for  the  adop- 
tion of  fatherless  children,  experience  demonstrated  that  there 
was  no  real  need  for  such  an  Institution.  For  several  years  the 
Home  dragged  out  a  precarious  existence,  when  the  donors 
brought  suit  to  recover  the  property.  On  a  technical  point,  that 
the  Institution  of  Protestant  Deaconesses  of  Cook  County,  Illi- 
nois, was  chartered  for  the  specific  purpose  of  carrying  on  a 
hospital  in  Chicago  and  could  not,  therefore,  legally  hold  prop- 
erty for,  or  conduct  Institutions  elsewhere,  the  property  revert- 
ed to  Mrs.  Ayers. 

"Providence  intended  that  the  old  Berean  College  should 
be  a  hospital,  for  it  was  not  long  before  it  was  again  tendered 
to  Dr.  Passavant.  This  time  the  offer  met  with  a  prompt  re- 
fusal, and  only  after  repeated  and  urgent  solicitations  and  on 
the  explicit  condition  that  if  given  the  title  must  be  vested  ab- 
solutely in  'The  Association  forWorfe  of  Mercy  of  the  Evangelical 


488  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

Lutheran  Church  of  Illinois',  a  chartered  body  under  the  State 
laws,  was  his  consent  finally  secured.  It  was  on  November  2, 
1875,  that  Sister  Louisa,  and  a  year  later,  Sister  Caroline,  be- 
gan in  an  humble  way  and  with  the  most  primitive  equipments 
a  small  hospital  in  the  building  that  did  not  have  the  first  re- 
quisite for  such  a  purpose.  A  dozen  beds  and  a  kitchen  stove 
brought  from  Pittsburg,  several  pieces  of  furniture,  kindly  do- 
nated by  Mrs.  Ayers,  and  some  white  muslin  curtains  for  the 
huge  sixteen-foot  windows,  the  seams  of  which  the  writer  sewed 
on  a  borrowed  sewing  machine,  constituted  the  meager  furnish- 
ment.  The  awful  discomforts,  poverty  and  makeshifts  of  those 
years  of  struggle  are  known  only  to  God  and  to  a  few  faith- 
ful souls.  Through  it  all  and  to  his  death,  Dr.  Prince  was  a 
friend  of  the  Institution.  Dr.  King  also  stood  nobly  by  the 
little  hospital  from  its  insignificant  beginning  and  his  skill  and 
considerateness  were  only  equalled  by  the  patience  and  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  of  those  who  nursed  the  sick  and  comforted 
the  dying  in  its  whitewashed  and  scantily  furnished  rooms. 

*  *  Yes,  '  it  is  the  order  of  God 's  House  that  things  shall  grow 
not  in  a  night,  but  slowly',  and  so  Dr.  Passavant  hoped  and  lab- 
ored on.  Through  good  report  and  through  evil  report,  the 
work  progressed  with  occasional  bursts  of  public  interest  that 
seemed  to  augur  larger  and  better  things.  But  the  poor,  little 
hospital  was  making  permanent  friends.  Its  unselfish  work 
slowly  gained  recognition.  Its  ever  open  door  and  its  ministra- 
tion of  Christ-like  mercy  in  times  of  sudden  accident,  or  of 
public  calamity  won  it  respect.  Today  it  is  reaping  what 
it  has  sown  and  its  harvest  of  charitable  gifts  and  noble  benefac- 
tions has  blessed  Jacksonville  with  an  Institution  that  is  a 
credit  to  its  many  friends  and  an  honor  to  the  city." 

From  another  report,  we  add: 

"It  is  well  to  state  that  the  Passavant  Memorial  Hospital 
is  the  direct  result  of  the  generosity  of  Jacksonville  citizens, 
and  must  owe  its  success  largely  to  their  fostering  care.  The 
principles  upon  which  its  founder  insisted  will  be  sacredly 
guarded  and  retained  in  its  future  development.     These  are: 

"1.  That  it  is  to  be  a  distinctively  Christian  Institution, 
conducted  by  deaconesses,  and  offering  the  best  skill  in  every 
department  of  hospital  work. 

"2.  That  it  is  not  and  can  never  become  a  source  of  profit 
to  ony  one  connected  with  its  management. 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  .        489 


( ( I 


■3.  That  it  is  open  to  any  reputable  physician  for  his 
private  patients. 

"4.  That  it  is  always  open  to  accident  cases;  and  as  long 
as  there  is  a  bed  vacant  the  deserving  poor  who  need  hospital 
care  will  find  shelter  within  its  walls. 

"This  Institution  is  directly  under  the  care  of  the  Mother 
House  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin. 

"In  1896  the  benefactress  of  this  Institution  died  in  the 
ninty-third  year  of  her  age.  During  that  year  one  hundred  and 
ninty-five  patients  were  cared  for  in  the  hospital. 

"The  building  has  recently  undergone  some  reconstruction, 
and  now  has  a  frontage  of  ninety  feet  on  East  State  Street,  the 
main  avenue  of  the  city. 

"The  main  building  contains  six  wards  for  classified  pa- 
tients, including  a  pretty  ward  exclusively  for  children ;  the 
operating,  drug  and  etherizing  rooms,  the  kitchen  with  its  neces- 
sary pantry  and  closets,  and  the  dining  room  for  the  Sisters  and 
their  helpers,  with  boiler  and  steam-heating  plants,  the  laundry 
and  storage  cellars  in  the  basement.  Each  ward  is  furnished 
with  necessary  closets  and  bathrooms  and  the  plumbing  and 
steam-heating  throughout  are  of  the  best  modern  design  and 
workmanship.  The  operating  room  is  finished  in  adamant 
plaster,  encaustic  tile,  and  equipped  with  every  convenience  in 
iron  and  glass  to  make  it  thoroughly  aseptic. 

"Space  has  been  reserved  in  this  building  for  a  chapel,  and 
private  rooms  are  located  on  each  floor,  for  the  endowment  of 
which  $4,500  each  has  been  contributed  by  several  persons,  and 
several  are  without  endowment,  awaiting  the  generosity  of  those 
having  the  means." 

Here  is  a  letter  which  Dr.  Passavant  writes  to  Mr.  A.  H. 
Wirz,  an  intimate  friend  and  a  generous  helper: 

"Let  me  tell  you  of  our  trials  and  triumphs  of  late.  Two 
weeks  ago,  after  being  at  home  for  three  days,  I  got  a  dispatch 
to  come  immediately  to  Jacksonville.  Weary  and  sad,  I  hurried 
there  only  to  find  that  the  City  authorities  had  resolved  to  pave 
the  entire  front  street  of  our  hospital  home  property  there  at  a 
cost  to  us  of  nearly  fifteen  hundred  dollars  for  the  four  hundred 
feet  front.  It  was  literallj^  dreadful.  I  said  nothing  to  man 
for  I  could  not  say  a  word.  It  was  all  just  and  proper.  But  what 
to  do  I  could  not  imagine.  I  could  only  again  look  up  to  God 
and  hope  in  the  divine  Providence.     As  to  raising  money  in 


490  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

Jacksonville,  everybody  dissuaded  from  the  effort  because  the 
country  roads  had  been  literally  a  swamp  and  the  merchants 
had  no  money.  I  could  therefore  only  say  with  one  of  old,  'We 
are  without  strength,  we  have  no  counsel  but  our  eyes  are  unto 
Thee,  0  God.'  And  so  I  waited  with  an  anxious  heart,  until 
yesterday  Sister  Louisa  wrote  that  a  quiet  company  of  citizens 
had  united  together  and  gotten  up  a  concert  as  well  as  taken 
subscriptions  and  had  raised  seventeen  hundred  dollars.  The 
extracts  from  the  Journal  of  Jacksonville  will  appear  in  the 
next  Workman!  So  singular  are  the  ways  of  God.  It  is  there- 
fore not  a  vain  thing  to  trust  in  Christ  always  and  to  believe 
that  'He  will  provide'.  I  cannot  but  think  after  all  these 
providential  dealings  that  some  great  blessing  will  come  through 
those  Institutions  at  Jacksonville,  though  their  history  is  a  mys- 
tery of  Providence  which  I  cannot  fathom." 

Of  the  blessed  work  that  the  Jacksonville  Hospital  was 
doing,  he  writes: 

"The  lovely  shade  trees  which  surround  the  hospital  are 
vocal  with  songs  from  the  birds.  Robins  and  wrens,  blue  jays  and 
turtle-doves  dwell  among  its  branches  and  rear  their  little  ones 
in  peace.  Where  we  write  these  lines,  in  the  old  Hardin  man- 
sion, there  often  assembled  in  the  early  history  of  Illinois,  the 
men  who  laid  the  foundations  of  the  State;  Governor  Duncan, 
Mr.  Lincoln,  Richard  Yates  and  many  others.  The  whole  seems 
more  like  a  dream  than  a  reality !  And  so  our  reluctant  coming 
here,  our  unwilling  and  resisting  acceptance  of  this  fine  prop- 
erty, with  all  the  years  since  then  full  of  difficulty  and  strug- 
gle, of  pains  and  prayers,  what  is  it  all  for?  What  does  it  all 
mean?  It  is  a  mystery  of  God's  providence  which  we  cannot 
fathom.  Now  and  then  a  rift  appears  in  the  clouds  and  the 
shining  out  of  God's  purposes  seems  for  a  time  to  make  all  clear. 
But  such  is  the  weakness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit  that  after- 
wards 'shadows,  clouds  and  darkness  rest  upon  us.' 

"One  of  these  events  recently  occurred,  which  has  gone  far 
to  strengthen  faith,  and  make  us  confident  that  'our  labor  in  the 
Lord  is  not  in  vain'.  On  the  evening  of  the  eighteenth  of  May 
a  storm  of  great  violence  passed  over  the  city,  with  dark  and 
threatening  clouds  in  the  distance.  As  early  as  six  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  conveyances  were  at  the  hospital  door  filled  with 
the  mangled  victims  of  a  frightful  tornado  which  had  struck 
the  village  of  Liter,  demolishing  everything  in  its  track  and 


,  MEBCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  491 

leaving  behind  it  many  wounded  and  dead.  The  survivors  were 
in  a  condition  which  cannot  be  described.  Broken  arms  and 
limbs,  bodies  cut  with  fearful  gashes  and  so  covered  with  dirt 
as  to  be  scarcely  recognized,  they  presented  a  most  horrible 
spectacle.  In  some  cases  their  clothing  had  to  be  cut  off  piece 
by  piece,  and  only  then  could  the  extent  of  their  injuries  be 
known.  Seven  of  these  were  of  one  family,  a  mother,  the 
widow  of  a  minister,  with  her  four  sons,  a  daughter  and  a 
daughter-in-law.  As  the  news  of  the  disaster  spread,  hundreds 
came  from  city  and  country  to  inquire  of  the  suffering;  pack- 
ages of  clothing  and  linen,  baskets  of  delicacies  and  provisions 
were  sent  and  above  all  the  kindly  offices  of  gentle  woman  to 
watch  and  minister  were  freely  given.  Dr.  King,  with  a  staff 
of  physicians,  seemed  not  to  know  of  weariness,  the  sisters  were 
at  the  bedside  and  in  the  kitchen  night  and  day  for  weeks; 
everything  that  love  and  strength  and  patience  could  do  was 
done.  But  death  had  marked  three  of  the  poor  sufferers  as  his 
victims.  One  of  them,  Dr.  Griffin,  a  promising  young  physician 
never  became  conscious,  and  followed  his  wife  who  died  first  in 
the  haspital.  The  third  was  the  youngest  son  of  the  afflicted 
mother,  who  could  hardly  even  weep  when  her  youngest-born 
was  released  from  his  awful  sufferings. 

"Two  months  of  this  hard  and  sad  service  have  passed 
away,  and  today,  the  mother  and  daughter  were  removed  to  the 
country.  A  son  will  leaVe  this  afternoon,  while  the  other  son 
who  can  move  about  on  crutches  remains  in  the  hospital.  An- 
other young  man  from  the  same  village,  also  the  son  of  a  min- 
ister, whose  skull  was  frightfully  injured,  is  rapidly  recovering. 
A  poor  German,  who  was  brought  from  another  place,  dread- 
fully mangled,  has  also  recovered.  The  gratitude  of  these 
worthy  people  was  most  touching,  but  that  which  to  us  is  pe- 
culiarly gratifying  is  the  effect  it  has  produced  on  the  com- 
munity. It  is  seen  and  felt  that  a  Christian  hospital  is  a  neces- 
sity; that  legal  provision  with  its  almshouse  is  insufficient  and 
degrading  and  that  only  when  the  Church  goes  out  doing  good, 
both  in  preaching  the  Gospel  and  healing  the  sick,  is  she  re- 
producing the  life  of  Christ  in  its  best  and  holiest  form.  What 
may  be  the  effect  of  this  altered  conviction  on  this  Institution, 
time  alone  will  prove.  But  for  the  present,  it  would  seem  that 
God  has  set  His  seal  of  approbation  upon  both  hospital  and 
home  more  clearly  than  ever.  The  future  is  with  Him,  while 
present  duty,  trial,  faith  and  patience  are  ours.     Blessed  are 


492  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAT  ANT. 

they  who  'overcome  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  and  by  the  word 
of  their  testimony  and  love  not  their  lives  unto  death. '  ' ' 

When  Julia  Sutter's  intensely  interesting  and  instructive 
book,  entitled  "A  Colony  of  Mercy,"  appeared,  Dr.  Pasisavant 
was  delighted  and  edified.  From  a  two-column  editorial,  we 
quote : 

"It  is  a  touching  narrative  of  the  inner  and  outer  life  of 
the  Institution  of  Epileptics  at  Bielefeld,  Germany,  which  has 
attained  a  world-wide  fame  under  the  superintendence  of  Pas- 
tor Bodelschwingh.  The  style  of  the  author  is  beautiful  in  its 
simplicity  and  the  whole  is  written  from  a  heart  which  is  touch- 
ed by  the  pitying  love  of  Christ.  One  cannot  read  it  without 
tears  of  rejoicing  that  mercy  has  come  to  the  poor  unfortunates 
over  whose  sad  life  the  dark  shadow  of  the  sorest  of  earthly 
afiflictions  has  fallen. 

"This  beautiful  volume  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  pages, 
with  twenty-two  illustrations  and  the  plan  of  Bethel,  is  one  of 
the  most  fascinating  books  which  has  left  the  American  press. 
It  is  a  portraiture  of  a  healthy  Christianity  amid  the  cheats 
and  shams  of  that  blessed  faith  which  deform  our  modern 
Christianity.  Its  living  characters,  like  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount, 
are  full  of  the  gentleness  of  Christ  and  they  move  among  these 
children  of  affliction  with  the  repose  and  sweetness  of  the  early 
saints.  The  contrast  between  this  wonderful  revelation  of  'the 
life  also  of  Jesus'  and  the  legalistic  and  humanitarian  relief- 
efforts  of  our  day  is  most  striking  and  indicates  more  clearly 
than  words  can  express  the  mission  of  the  Christian  Church, 
'to  comfort  all  that  mourn,  to  give  unto  them  beauty  for  ashes, 
the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the 
spirit  of  heaviness'. 

"It  is  deeply  interesting  also  to  observe  how  the  Church 
of  the  Reformation,  in  this  as  in  so  many  other  spheres  of  ap- 
plied Christianity,  is  becoming  the  instructor  of  England  and 
America.  The  restoration  of  the  primitive  office  of  Deaconess 
in  the  Church,  the  family  system  of  the  Rauhe  Haus  in  the 
care  of  Orphans  and  of  all  reformatory  institutions,  the  Colony 
System  of  missions  among  the  heathen,  the  Kindergarten  schools 
of  Froebel  with  many  others  owe  their  origin  and  wonderful 
development  to  the  Christianity  of  Germany.  From  the  article 
below,  it  will  be  seen  that  in  the  care  of  epileptics  England  is 
following  the  model  of  the  Bethel  colonies  of  Germany,  and  we 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  493 

may  add,  in  America  also,  the  first  Institutions  of  the  same 
system  are  beginning  to  appear.  Thus  while  sophists  rave  and 
philosophers  wrangle  and  science  falsely  so  called  is  busied  in 
tearing  down  the  Church  of  God,  and  erecting  in  its  place  the 
temple  of  Reason,  German  piety,  like  its  Master,  goes  about  do- 
ing good,  healing  all  manner  of  diseases  and  all  that  are  op- 
pressed by  the  devil." 

About  a  year  before  his  death.  Dr.  Passavant  was  planning 
to  open  an  Institution  for  the  care  of  Epileptics.  Here  is  an 
extract  from  one  of  his  editorials: 

"For  years  past  the  desire  has  been  sacredly  cherished  that 
something  might  be  done  for  the  relief  of  this  unhappy  class 
of  sufferers.  The  lack  of  time,  strength,  means  and  laborers  has. 
hitherto  prevented  an  effort  in  this  direction.  But  the  thought 
of  faith  was  never  abandoned.  On  the  contrary,  as  difficulties 
multiplied,  more  earnest  prayer  was  offered  and  it  would  ap- 
pear that  the  Lord  has  hearkened  to  the  agonizing  cries  for 
relief  which  have  gone  up  from  many  a  stricken  home  and 
heart.  Without  anything  of  our  doing,  ample  means  have  been 
offered  and  if  it  please  God,  a  beginning  will  be  made  in  the 
near  future  for  the  relief  of  these  suffering  ones, 

"We  are  pledged  to  absolute  silence  as  to  the  details  and 
likewise  in  regard  to  the  time  and  place  of  the  commencement. 
It  is  mentioned  now  only  that  others  may  unite  their  prayers 
with  those  who  have  borne  the  cause  of  these  sufferers  on  their 
hearts.  So  many  things  are  needed  before  such  an  Institution 
can  be  established,  that  unless  the  Lord  build  the  house,  'they 
labor  in  vain  who  build  it'.  The  whole  is  in  His  hands  and  He 
will  yet  be  inquired  of  for  these  things. 

"While  recovery  to  health  or  bodily  relief  is  a  prominent 
aim  of  such  an  Institution,  the  interests  of  the  immortal  soul 
will  occupy  the  constant  thought  and  effort  of  its  establishment. 
In  most  instances  both  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  training 
of  this  neglected  class  have  been  unavoidably  neglected.  With 
the  fearful  downward  tendency  of  all  their  powers,  when  not 
restrained  by  Christian  principle  they  drift  onward  towards 
the  abyss  of  hopeless  imbecility.  It  is  not,  therefore,  merely 
bodily  relief,  with  shelter  and  food  and  needful  care,  that  is 
sought  to  be  given  them,  but  a  knowledge  of  the  Savior  and  a 
personal  love  to  Him.  That  must  be  the  ultimate  and  unceasing 
aim  of  the  Institution  that  is  to  meet  the  highest  wants  of  this 
afflicted  class." 


494  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

Of  the  carrying  out  of  this  holy  purpose  several  years  later 
by  his  son  and  successor,  that  son  writes: 

"Long  before  the  story  of  the  remarkable  Bethel  colony 
for  Epileptics,  at  Bielefeld,  Germany,  had  reached  his  ears,  Dr. 
Passavant  had  decided  to  attempt  the  founding  of  a  home  for 
these  afSicted  ones.  Correspondence  had  been  begun  with  some 
persons  specially  interested  in  the  project  and  it  was  his  in- 
tention to  begin  in  a  humble  way  in  the  near  future.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  hopes  and  prayers  of  years  were  about  to  be  fulfilled, 
when  death  suddenly  overtook  him  and  the  weary  burden-bearer 

was  at  rest Association  with  the  poor  and  sick  brought 

to  his  attention  numerous  cases  where  this  terrible  affliction 
made  poverty  all*  the  more  wretched,  put  sickness  beyond  the 
hope  of  recovery  and  subjected  child-sufferers  to  life-long  mis- 
ery. Appealed  to  in  numberless  instances,  even  by  the  wealthy, 
to  recommend  some  Christian  Institution  where  an  unfortunate 
epileptic  might  be  cared  for  and  shielded  from  the  danger  and 
humiliation  which  public  attacks  of  the  malady  made  unavoid- 
able, he  was  compelled  to  reply  that  no  such  home  existed  in 
this  country.  Not  admitted  to  hospitals,  refused  admission  by 
the  authorities  of  homes  for  incurables  and  allowed  in  the  wards 
of  the  insane  asylum  or  within  the  doors  of  the  institutions  for 
the  imbecile  or  idiotic  only  after  the  ravages  of  the  disease  had 
injured  the  reason  or  destroyed  the  mind,  the  position  of  the 
epileptic  sufferer  seemed  to  be  pitiful  and  hopeless  in  the  ex- 
treme. 

' '  It  was  suggested  after  his  death  that  an  Institution  should 
be  begun  and  called  THE  PASSAVANT  MEI\IORIAL  HOME. 
He  had  preserved  as  a  sacred  trust  small  sums  given  him  for 
this  purpose.  His  praj^ers  had  consecrated  these  gifts;  and 
soon  after  his  death  there  was  secured  in  response  to  an  appeal 
sent  out  by  others  who  were  interested  nearly  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  work  so  long  discussed  at  last  took  a  tangible 
form. 

"In  less  than  one  year  after  Dr.  Passavant 's  death  these 
Christian  homes  were  formally  opened.  On  the  sixth  of  June, 
a  large  audience  was  gathered  in  the  central  building,  and  ap- 
propriate religious  services  were  held.  Addresses  were  made 
by  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Passavant,  Jr.,  and  Rev.  W.  M.  McEwan,  de- 
scribing kindred  work  in  Germany  and  the  scope  of  what  was 
here  in  view. 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  495 

"The  three  buildings  now  occupied  are  beautifully  situated 

•on  the  slope  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  city  of  Rochester,  Pa., 

within  twenty-five  miles  of  Pittsburg.  Sixty  acres  of  land,  mostly 

under  cultivation,  furnish  healthful  occupation,   and  prove  a 

source  of  revenue. 

"No  one  who  has  seen  an  epileptic  in  a  convulsive  fit,  or 
knows  the  apprehension  and  terror  which  his  presence  causes 
to  family  and  friends,  will  doubt  the  necessity  of  special  hQmes 
for  these  poor  sufferers.  No  one  who  has  visited  the  sunny 
hillside  above  Rochester,  Pa.,  with  its  southward  sweep  over 
clustering  towns,  undulating  hills  and  miles  of  winding  river, 
can  forget  the  view,  or  the  homes  for  epileptics  established  at 
this  ideal  spot.  To  a  visitor  who  follows  the  superintendent 
along  the  broad  sidewalk  that  connects  the  different  family 
houses,  there  is  little  to  attract  attention  except  the  perfect 
order  of  the  place,  the  quiet  industry  of  the  inmates  and  the 
air  of  peace  that  is  over  all.  He  notices  a  white-capped  deacon- 
ess with  several  female  patients  seated  on  the  back  porch  paring 
potatoes.  Another  can  be  seen  in  the  sewing  room  occupied  with 
others  at  the  sewing  machines.  The  farmer  is  busily  engaged 
hauling  shocks  of  corn  to  the  barn,  where  a  half  dozen  men  are 
having  a  husking  .bee.  'Carlo',  the  faithful  watchdog,  and  a 
couple  of  boys  seem  the  only  ones  who  are  getting  fun  out  of 
anything  else  than  work.  But  Sister  Catharine  can  tell  of  other 
scenes,  when  these  strong  men  drop  as  if  shot,  their  faces  con- 
torted with  horror  or  indescribable  agony,  and  when  the  loud 
agonized  cry  is  heard  at  night  from  the  convulsed  sufferers  at 
the  Woman's  Cottage,  a  call  for  instant  attendance  and  tender- 
est  care.  And  though  love  is  there  and  the  sun  shines  and  God 
has  given  the  afflicted  family  a  home,  a  peaceful  Christian 
home,  j^'et  the  shadows  are  there  also  and  the  sorrows  and  suffer- 
ing of  sin.  The  visitor  must  not  forget  to  see  the  chapel.  It  is 
small,  but  it  has  its  pulpit,  reading  desk  and  altar  and  Mr.  S. 
whose  handiwork  it  all  is,  did  not  omit  to  place  the  simple 
cross  upon  it.  It  is  a  churchly  sanctuary  and  dearly  the  pa- 
tients appreciate  its  privileges.  On  Sunday  afternoon  there  is 
a  Sunday  school  of  epileptics,  ranging  in  age  from  the  child 
of  eight  to  Uncle  Sam  and  Grandma  Moore,  who  are  both  up  in 
the  sixties  but  as  eager  as  the  children  to  hear  the  lessons  out  of 
'Bible  Stories.'  " 

One  of  the  faithful,  trusted,  life-long  friends  and  co-work- 
ers of  Dr.  Passavant  was  the  sainted  Rev.  Wm.  Berkemeier.    He 


496  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

was  one  of  those  guileless,  consecrated,  unselfish  souls  whom  the 
Doctor  loved  and  honored.  Berkemeier,  on  the  other  hand, 
loved  Passavant  as  he  loved  his  own  soul,  looked  to  him  for 
counsel  and  implicitly  followed  his  leading.  Settled  in  Pitts- 
burg on  his  graduation  from  Gettysburg  Seminary  he  was 
brought  into  daily  contact  with  Passavant.  There  he  gathered 
and  organized  a  strong  Lutheran  Congregation,  mainly  out  of 
neglected,  unchurched  Germans.  Here  he  began  to  note  and 
lament  the  wrongs  inflicted  upon  the  German  immigrants  on 
their  arrival  in  the  new  world.  From  Pittsburg  he  went  to 
Wheeling,  where  the  many  poor  and  helpless  Germans  appealed 
still  more  strongly  to  his  sympathetic  nature.  During  the  nine 
years  of  his  fruitful  ministry  in  "Wheeling  he  constantly  prayed 
and  planned  for  an  Emigrant  Refuge,  in  New  York.  He  kept 
in  closest  touch  with  Passavant  and  often  they  conferred  with 
each  other  on  the  immigrant  problem.  In  1877  Berkemeier  ac- 
cepted an  urgent  call  to  a  German  Church  in  Mount  Vernon, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  had  a  still  better  opportunity  to  watch  the  help- 
less new  arrivals  and  to  see  the  impositions  practised  on  them. 

Dr.  Passavant  during  his  visits  to  New  York  as  a  supply 
of  St.  James'  and  in  connection  with  the  founding  of  the  Wart- 
burg  had  also  carefully  looked  into  the  sori;owings  and  suffer- 
ings of  the  hapless  strangers  when  they  first  set  foot  on  a  strange 
land.  He  saw  how  conscienceless  keepers  of  the  low  lodging 
house  fleeced  them;  how  the  pimps  of  the  questionable  resorts 
enticed  them;  how  the  sharks  and  plunderers  of  every  class  rob- 
bed them.  Like  unclean  birds  of  prey  these  human  buzzards 
pounced  upon  the  unprotected  ones  to  their  wreck  and  ruin. 
And  again  he  would  seek  out  his  Berkemeier  and  together  they 
would  bewail  and  plan  and  pray  for  a  way  to  help  and  rescue 
these  helpless  strangers. 

True,  something  had  been  attempted  by  the  eastern  Lu- 
therans. For  four  years  the  New  York  and  Pennsylvania  Synods 
had  conferred  together.  At  last  a  committee  had  been  appoint- 
ed, which  had  called  the  Rev.  R.  Neuman  to  become  missionary 
to  the  immigrants.  During  the  year  when  Passavant  was  sup- 
plying St.  James'  pulpit,  studying  the  city,  moved  with  com- 
passion for  the  orphan  and  the  immigrant,  Neuman  began  his 
work.  He  opened  an  office,  visited  and  counseled  the  newcom- 
ers and  thus  saved  some. 

But  for  Passavant  this  was  not  enough.  He  desired  a 
Christian  Inn,  into  which  these  dazed  children  of  another  world 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  497 

and  another  tongue  might  be  gathered  and  there  counseled  as  to 
their  material  and  spiritual  welfare.  He  wished  to  make  it  im- 
possible for  pimps  and  sharks  to  get  into  communication  with 
them,  until  they  had  been  properly  instructed  and  warned  as 
to  their  dangers,  accompanied  and  assisted  toward  their  desti- 
nation and  directed  to  spiritual  advisers  at  their  jour- 
ney's end.  Passavant  wanted  Berkemeier  to  undertake 
the  work  of  establishing  such  an  immigrant  mission, 
with  a  local  habitation  and  a  name.  To  this  end  he  conferred  with 
the  Emigrant  Committee  and  finally  prevailed  on  that  body 
to  call  the  Rev.  Mr.  Berkemeier  to  become  the  assistant  of  mis- 
sionary Neuman,  with  the  special  task  of  securing  a  permanent 
way-side  Christian  home,  to  father  the  stranger,  counsel  him  to 
forget  not  his  Father  above  and  guard  him  while  in  New  York 
and  send  him  on  his  way  rejoicing.  And  so  in  1867,  Pastor 
Berkemeier  entered  upon  his  mission,  with  what  self-sacrifice, 
hardship,  toil  and  tears  this  man  of  God  pushed  forward  the 
work  and  through  evil  report  and  through  good  report  held  on 
until  he  saw  the  Emigrant  House  at  26  State  St.  purchased 
and  afterwards  enlarged,  God  only  knows.  In  it  all  Dr.  Passa- 
vant was  his  adviser  and  assistant.  Passavant  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  reorganized  Emigrant  Board  and  prevailed  upon  the 
General  Council  to  accept  the  Emigrant  Mission  as  its  own 
and  give  it  official  endorsement  and  at  least  moral  support.  He 
contributed  personally  to  the  building  fund  and  time  and  again 
accompanied  and  assisted  Berkemeier  in  soliciting  aid.  It  is 
probably  not  too  much  to  claim  that  next  to  Pastor  Berkemeier 
Dr.  Passavant  did  more  than  any  other  man  to  make  the  Emi- 
grant Mission  a  success  as  God  counts  success  and  a  credit  to 
the  American  Lutheran  Church.  By  word  of  mouth  and  with 
his  eloquent  pen  in  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary  and  after- 
wards in  The  Workman,  he  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  stranger 
within  our  gates  and  the  mission  that  existed  for  his  welfare. 

Of  the  benign  and  merciful  work  that  the  Emigrant  House 
was  doing,  he  writes  in  the  Workman  of  January  5,  1882 : 

"The  establishment  of  the  Castle  Garden  mission  with  the 
Emigrant  House,  has  been  a  beautiful  reflection  of  this  Christ- 
like spirit.  It  has  been  an  evangel  of  good  to  all  peoples.  To 
stand  as  we  have  stood,  on  a  parapet  in  Castle  Garden,  after  the 
arrival  of  an  emigrant  ship  and  look  down  upon  the  motley 
crowds  below,  every  possible  costume  from  every  land  and  of 
every  faith,  the  poor  children  clinging  to  the  mothers  and  the 


498  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

men  clamoring  for  release  at  the  barred  gates  or  dragging  their 
baggage  to  get  there,  to  note  the  cards  of  the  Emigrant  House  in 
their  caps,  or  to  see  them  reading  the  tracts  given  them  by 
pastors  Berkemeier  or  Keyl,  or  thankfully  receiving  the  testa- 
ments given  by  the  Bible  Society,  is  a  spectacle  full  of  deep  and 
holy  significance.  And  then,  when  the  law  has  been  complied 
with  and  the  doors  at  last  are  opened,  to  see  hundreds  of  these 
foot-sore  and  weary  travelers,  at  rest  in  the  Emigrant  House, 
their  wants  attended  to,  their  baggage  safely  guarded,  the  eve- 
ning worship  over,  and  the  stillness  of  a  Christian  household 
settling  upon  the  quiet  sleepers  is  a  sight  to  thank  God  for.  How 
can  we  see  this  and  not  thank  God  for  the  erection  of  this 
mission  of  mercy  to  the  poor  and  the  stranger  within  our  gates. 
When  we  first  saw  these  things,  we  were  overcome  with  tears, 
that  notwithstanding  our  great  shortcomings  elsewhere,  yet 
here,  on  this  most  important  mission  ground  in  the  new  world, 
and  at  the  most  impressive  moments  of  their  lives,  the  immi- 
grants are  received  by  our  American  Church  in  the  spirit  of  our 
Lord  and  with  the  charities  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion. 

"It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  no  investment  of  time, 
labor,  money  and  unceasing  anxiety  has  brought  in  a  larger  rev- 
enue of  benedictions  to  the  poor  and  of  richer  blessings  to  the 
Church  than  have  these  missionary  labors  among  these  incom- 
ing strangers.  We  cannot  number  the  cases  which  have  come 
under  our  own  observation,  of  excellent  service  done  to  the  de- 
serving poor.  Over  the  whole  land  are  countless  eases  of  situa- 
tions procured  for  industrious  laborers,  of  families  forwarded 
to  their  friends,  of  the  inexperienced  saved  from  sin  and  ruin, 
as  well  as  tens  of  thousands  who  have  been  refreshed  and  aided 
in  their  westward  way.  We  can  even  point  to  churches  supplied 
with  deserving  pastors,  to  young  men  rescued  and  now  in  the 
ministry,  to  orphans  gathered  into  homes  and  invalids  into  hos- 
pitals, now  rejoicing  in  health,  and  returning  to  give  God  the 
thanks.  The  Emigrant  House  has  been  a  Bethesda  alike  for  the 
bodies  and  souls  of  men." 

Here  is  a  note  about  the  Emigrant  House,  written  May  8, 

1884: 

"In  the  midst  of  the  hurrying  thousands  on  Broadway,  it 
is  touching  to  note  the  little  groups  of  freshly  arrived  im- 
migrants, M'hole  families,  parents  and  children,  down  to  the 
babe  on  the  mother's  arm,  following  a  great  stream  of  life  and 


MERCY-WORK  IN  JACKSONVILLE,  ETC.  499 

looking  with  wondering  eyes  on  the  banks,  warehouses,  offices 
and  hotels. which  line  the  street.  Their  baggage  is  at  the  Emi- 
grant House  at  the  foot  of  Broadway  and  they  do  not  leave  for 
the  West  until  four  o'clock.  We  saw  them  on  their  arrival, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  strong,  each  with  his  green  card  on  his 
cap,  and  thankfully  said,  *a  troup  cometh'.  We  saw  them  also 
at  the  evening  worship,  and  wept  as  we  heard  them  sing  the 
first  song  of  thanksgiving  in  the  New  World  to  the  familiar  mel- 
ody known  in  the  old.  We  also  heard  the  fervent  prayers  of 
the  Church  in  their  behalf  and  felt  that  holy  sympathies  from 
two  continents  were  clustering  around  them.  We  realized  as 
never  before  that  these  were  but  a  vanguard  of  a  vast  multitude 
on  the  way.  Nay,  more,  we  had  just  come  from  the  meeting  of 
the  Emigrant  House  Board,  where  we  resolved  to  at  once  erect 
additional  accommodation  for  these  incoming  thousands.  The 
new  building  will  be  in  the  rear  of  the  old  and  will  be  five 
stories  above  the  basement.  It  will  cost  perhaps  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars.  But  it  will  give  more  office,  dining  and  sitting 
room  with  a  larger  Chapel.  A  hundred  more  persons  can  then 
be  cared  for  so  that  three  hundred  can  then  be  fed  and  housed 
without  the  excessive  labor  of  providing  for  two  hundred  as  at 
present. 

"Thanks  be  to  God  for  the  Emigrant  House,  and  thanks 
and  praise  be  to  His  holy  name  for  having  raised  up  the  un- 
selfish and  devoted  men  and  women  who  give  their  best  services 
to  care  for  these  '  strangers  within  our  gates. '  ' ' 

When  the  Dr.  was  coming  out  of  a  protracted  and  severe 
spell  of  sickness  in  the  Fall  of  1886,  he  found  among  his  ac- 
cumulated letters  one  from  good  father  Berkemeier,  complain- 
ing bitterly  about  an  unworthy  and  slanderous  attack  on  the 
Emigrant  House  by  Dr.  Walther,  published  in  the  Lutheraner. 
Dr.  Passavant  writes: 

"It  is  upwards  of  three  weeks  since  the  shadow  of  a  heavy 
disease  with  brain  exhaustion  has  been  upon  me.  Of  most  of  the 
time  I  can  give  no  account.  By  God's  mercy  I  am  gradually 
coming  out  of  the  cloud  and  can  work  by  'heads',  as  they  say 
in  the  oil  region,  at  the  accumulation  of  letters  on  my  table. 
Oh,  how  grateful  I  feel  that  it  is  no  worse  but  on  the  contrary 
that  I  feel  so  much  better  and  am  daily  growing  stronger. 

"Let  me  thank  you  for  your  fraternal  affection  and  your 
thoughtful  requests  to  send  but  a  line.     Would  like  to  write 


500  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

much  and  about  many  things,  but  cannot  now.  I  would  have 
personally  written  Prof.  "Walther  and  had  him  make  the  cor- 
rection, but  friends  in  Chicago  and  Elilwaukee  told  me  that  he 
was  at  death's  door  and  could  not  live  many  days.  Now,  bless- 
ed be  God,  the  dark  shadow  has  passed  and  he  is  recovering. 
I  cannot  find  the  paper  where  he  makes  this  unworthy  state- 
ment. Oh,  how  unutterably  sad  that  good  men  can  come  under 
the  influence  of  partisan  and  party  spirit  and  do  such  unworthy 
things. 


TRIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  501 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THIEL  COLLEGE— COLLEGE  LIFE— MOUNTAIN 

HOSPITALITY. 

In  the  early  sixties  Dr.  Passavant  had  become  acquainted 
with  a  liberal  layman  named  Louis  Thiel.  This  plain  and  pious 
German  had  been  a  butcher  in  Petroleum  Center,  Pa.  There  he 
had  invested  his  life's  savings  in  oil  lands.  He  promised  the 
Lord  that  he  would  devote  to  the  Church  at  least  one  tenth 
of  whatever  he  might  realize  from  the  investment.  And  the 
Lord  prospered  him.  On  removing  to  Pittsburg  he  united  with 
the  Second  German  Lutheran  church  of  which  the  Rev.  G.  A. 
Wenzel  was  pastor.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  placed  the  sum 
of  $5505  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Passavant  to  be  used  at  his  dis- 
cretion for  some  benevolent  purpose.  After  mutual  consulta- 
tion they  agreed  to  devote  it  to  the  cause  of  Christian  educa- 
tion. With  this  money  Dr.  Passavant  purchased  several  build- 
ings in  Phillipsburg,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  which  had  been  used  as 
a  sort  of  water-cure  Sanitarium.  Early  in  1866  Dr.  Passavant 
had  the  buildings  fitted  up  for  a  Boarding  school  which  was 
opened  as  Thiel  Hall,  in  September  of  that  year. 

With  his  unusual  gift  of  discovering  and  securing  the  best 
young  men.  Dr.  Passavant  found  the  young  Rev.  H.  E.  Jacobs, 
who  has  since  become  the  prince  of  dogmaticians  in  the  Amer- 
ican Church.  Dr.  Passavant  secured  his  service  during  a  Sum- 
mer vacation  to  several  missions  on  the  Allegheny  River  with 
Springdale  as  a  center.  He  afterward  secured  him  as  principal 
for  Thiel  Hall  and  would  have  been  glad  to  keep  him,  had  he 
not  been  called  to  Pennsylvania  College  as  Latin  professor.  Here 
is  Passavant 's  estimate  of  him: 

''He  is  a  noble  young  man  and  endears  himself  to  every- 
one. He  is  doing  admirably  at  the  church  of  the  Allegheny 
Mission,  has  found  a  settlement  three  miles  in  the  country  of  a 
dozen  German  families  and  is  'running  them  down',  will  have 
Communion  on  Sunday  a  week  and  expects  to  confirm  quite  a 
good  class." 

Of  the  spirit  and  life  of  that  school  under  Dr.  Jacobs,  the 


502  TEE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

writer  of  this  can  speak  from  experience.  Never  can  we  forget 
the  blessed  days  spent  there.  At  no  school  that  we  ever  attend- 
ed did  we  find  so  good  a  spirit,  so  homelike  an  atmosphere,  such 
affection  among  the  students  as  there. 

Prof.  Jacobs  preached  on  Sunday  evenings  in  the  Ger- 
man church  of  the  village  and  organized  a  little  English  Luth- 
eran congregation.  The  membership  consisted  mainly  of  the 
students,  the  professors,  Jacobs  and  Feitshans,  and  the  Down- 
ing family  who  had  charge  of  the  buildings  and  the  boarding. 
Students  were  elected  as  elders  and  deacons;  students,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  Misses  Wagner,  made  up  the  choir.  Students 
gathered,  superintended  and  taught  the  English  Sunday  school. 
The  unconfirmed  students  were  catechised  by  Prof.  Jacobs  and 
when  the  time  came  for  confirmation  it  was  left  to  each  one  to 
decide  whether  he  desired  to  take  this  step  or  not.  Among  those 
who  applied  for  confirmation  in  the  Autumn  of  1869,  was  Wm. 
A.  Passavant,  Jr.  Dr.  Passavant  came  down  from  Baden  on 
Sunday  afternoon,  led  the  evening  devotions  at  the  supper  table 
and  preached  the  confirmation  and  communion  sermon.  How 
he  prayed  for  the  students  as  we  knelt  in  that  dining  room  that 
Sunday  evening.  The  memory  of  that  prayer  after  thirty-five 
years  still  touches  the  heart  and  moistens  the  eye.  And  that 
sermon!  We  can  see  the  silver-crowned  saint  in  that  wine-glass 
pulpit  now.  The  text  was:  "He  brought  me  into  the  banquet- 
ing house  and  His  banner  over  me  was  love."  We  know  that 
sermon  today.  How  tenderly  and  touching  were  the  applica- 
tions to  those  about  to  be  confirmed,  and  the  appeals  to  all  of 
us  to  give  our  hearts  wholly  to  the  dear  Savior  and  our  lives  to 
His  service  in  the  ministry.  More  than  one  half  of  the  boys  who 
heard  that  sermon  became  ministers.  Of  that  little  family-con- 
gregation we  recall  the  familiar  ministerial  names:  H.  Peters, 
J.  A.  Zahn,  D.  L.  and  f.  B.  Roth,  J.  C.  Kunzman,  R.  M.  Zim- 
merman, D.  L.  and  W.  A.  Passavant,  G.  C.  Berkemeier,  J.  W. 
Myers,  H.  L.  McMurray,  F.  C.  E.  Lemcke,  and  G.  W.  Critchlow. 

Of  that  same  service  the  Rev.  H.  Peters  writes  this  reminis- 
cence : 

"I  first  met  and  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Passavant  at 
Thiel  Hall.  The  scene  in  which  he  stands  out  most  prominently 
in  my  recollection  is  that  of  the  first  confirmation  service  held 
in  our  little  English  Lutheran  Congregation  which  had  been  or- 
ganized by  some  of  us  older  students  and  in  which  at  the  ripe 
age  of  twenty-one  years  I  acted  as  one  of  the  'elders'.     In  that 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  503 

class  (which  has  now  become  famous  in  the  church)  was  W. 
A.  Passavant,  Jr.  His  father  had  been  requested  to  preach  the 
sermon.  It  was  the  first  sermon  I  ever  heard  him  preach  and 
it  stamped  him  upon  my  mind  and  heart  as  one  of  th«  great 
preachers  of  the  Church.  Stirred  as  the  Doctor  could  and  would 
be  by  the  presence  of  his  own  beloved  son  before  him  in  so 
impressive  a  service,  it  was  most  touching  and  eloquent." 

The  boys  always  looked  forward  to  the  visits  and  the  chap- 
el-talks of  Dr.  Passavant.  His  generous  nature  could  not  help 
but  win  those  youthful  hearts.  Here  is  an  incident :  We  were 
at  the  supper  table,  at  whose  head  sat  the  Doctor.  We  had  little 
sausages  for  supper  that  evening.  The  rule  had  been  that  each 
student  should  get  one.  The  housefather  of  that  evening  put 
two  on  each  plate,  and  when  the  platter  was  empty  he  called 
out:  "Sister  D.,  you  must  bring  more  sausages;  these  boys  have 
a  good  appetite. ' '    The  boys  voted  him  a  good  man. 

Nor  have  we  ever  forgotten  the  communion  season  of  that 
little  college  church.  When  Prof.  Jacobs  announced  a  com- 
munion, he  indelibly  impressed  it  upon  our  minds  that  no  one 
ought  to  come  to  the  altar  with  any  spite  or  bitterness  in  his 
heart  against  a  fellow-student ;  that  if  any  of  us  had  quarrelled, 
we  ought  to  be  reconciled  before  we  came.  Quite  vividly  we  re- 
call how  the  boys  who  had  quarrelled  came  together  before  each 
communion  to  "make  up,"  shake  hands  and  be  reconciled. 

When  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  E.  Jacobs  was  installed  as  professor 
of  Systematic  Theology  at  the  Philadelphia  Seminary,  to  take 
the  place  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Krauth,  Dr.  Passa- 
vant wrote: 

"There  are  in  Dr.  Jacobs  special  qualifications  for  this  im- 
portant post.  Like  Dr.  Krauth,  a  child  of  the  covenant,  he  grew 
up  in  the  sanctity  of  a  Christian  home  and  in  the  atmosphere 
of  thorough  scholarship.  The  growth  of  faith  and  learning  went 
hand  in  hand  and  before  men  were  aware  the  modest  student 
had  developed  into  Christian  manhood  and  scholarship  of  un- 
usual prominence.  First  a  tutor  in  the  College  at  Gettysburg, 
then  Principal  of  Thiel  Hall,  then  Latin  Professor  in  Pennsyl- 
vania College  and  afterwards  Greek  Professor  in  the  same  in- 
stitution, he  passed  up,  step  by  step,  through  the  varied  branches 
and  studies  of  these  positions,  mastering  everyone  thoroughly  • 
and  making  full  proof  of  his  ability  in  all.  So,  too,  his  studies 
during  these  years  made  him  at  home  in  the  German  language, 
out  of  whose  treasures  of  theology  and  literature  he  had  already 


504  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

done  so  much,  by  translation  and  otherwise,  to  increase  the 
sphere  of  the  Church's  knowledge. 

"The  long  familiarity  with  young  men,  the  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  their  weaknesses  and  their  virtues,  the  helpful- 
ness of  his  spirit,  and  the  entire  absence  of  every  element  of 
cheat  and  sham,  and  the  felt  presence  of  Christian  nobility  in 
his  character,  all  gave  him  special  qualifications  for  the  training 
of  our  future  ministry.  But  most  of  all,  and  best  of  all,  there 
is  in  Dr.  Jacobs  not  only  the  assurance  of  a  personal  faith  in 
Christ  but  the  assurance  of  the  absolute  truth  of  Christ's  teach- 
ings as  confessed  by  our  Evangelical  Church.  How  he  was  led 
to  both,  need  not  here  be  told.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  as  in 
the  case  of  some  others,  it  was  not  only  by  earthly  teachers,  but 
by  the  Holy  One,  'who  hath  the  key  of  David,  who  openeth  and 
no  man  shutteth,  and  who  shutteth  and  no  man  openeth'.  In 
bowing  before  the  authority  of  Christ,  he  literally  gave  up  all, 
resigning  position  and  going  forth,  he  knew  not  where,  that 
he  might  be  free  to  confess  the  whole  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 
The  strange  result  is  known.  He  returned  to  -honorable  posi- 
tions, to  confidential  relationships,  to  helpful  associations,  and 
to  important  services  in  confessing,  defending  and  propagating 
the  faith  which  was  dearer  to  him  than  life.  Even  now,  he 
leaves  the  scene  of  his  most  painful  trials  and  joyful  triumphs 
with  the  blessings  and  regrets  of  students,  faculty  and  trustees. 
He  leaves  not  in  anger,  but  in  love  and  good  will  to  all,  in- 
voking upon  his  dear  old  home  and  the  Institutions  there  the 
benedictions  of  God." 

On  the  above-named  occasion  when  "Willie"  Passavant  was 
confirmed  the  Doctor  wrote  his  mother: 

"The  enclosed  letter  of  Prof.  Jacobs  concerning  our  Willie 

you  will,  I  am  certain,  read  with  sincere  pleasure  and  thanks- 
giving to  God.  I  answered  it  at  once,  encouraging  the  dear  boy 
to  take  this  step  and  also  saying  to  Mr.  Jacobs  that  I  would 
come  down  from  Baden  in  the  afternoon  and  preach  for  him  in 
the  evening.  Oh,  what  a  source  of  joy  to  a  father's  heart  to 
see  the  dear  boy  kneel  at  Christ's  altar  and  consecrate  himself 
to  God.  Pray  for  him,  dear  mother,  that  God  may  accept  the 
offering  of  his  heart  and  life  and  that  he  may  yet  become  a 
chosen  instrument  of  good  in  His  service. 

"Our  little  school  at  Phillipsburg  is  doing  a  blessed  work 
and  some  twelve  or  more  of  the  students  have  the  ministry  in 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  505 

view How  wonderfully  God  is  both  spiritually  and 

materially  adding  His  benediction  to  this  cherished  work!  To 
His  great  name  be  all  the  glory." 

In  1871  the  Board  of  Directors  resolved  to  move  the  school 
to  Greenville,  Pa.,  under  the  name  of  Thiel  College.  Dr.  Passa- 
vant  did  not  favor  this  removal.  He  warned  against  it  and 
predicted  that  before  twenty-five  years  the  school  would  want 
to  move  away  again.  But  he  was  overruled  and  gave  the  school 
the  same  hearty  support  and  service  that  he  would  have  given 
at  a  place  of  his  own  selection. 

At  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  Greenville  Hall,  the 
first  building  of  Thiel  College,  August  15,  1872,  Dr.  Passavant 
made  the  principal  address.  In  it  he  gives  first  the  history  of 
the  school  and  secondly  the  principles  on  which  he  desires  to  see 
it  conducted.  The  address  brings  out  so  clearly  his  interest  and 
zeal  for  Christian  education,  as  well  as  his  ideas  of  what  a  Luth- 
eran College  ought  to  be  in  its  ideal,  its  spirit  and  its  work, 
that  we  cannot  forbear  quoting  its  principal  parts : 

"Ladies  and  Gentlemen — The  laying  of  the  corner-stone 
of  Greenville  Hall,  the  first  of  the  buildings  of  Thiel  College, 
is  not  designed  to  be  an  empty  ceremony.  It  is  meant  to  express 
by  an  act  more  striking  than  by  words  the  fact  that  this  is 
a  Christian  College.  The  corner-stone  will  be  laid  in  the  name 
of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  By  this 
token,  its  origin,  its  character  and  its  continuance,  in  the  unity 
of  the  Christian  faith,  are  set  forth  in  language  unmistakable 
and  in  terms  the  import  of  which  is  known  and  read  of  all  men. 

"Having  been  requested  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements 
to  state  a  few  facts  concerning  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
institution,  I  will  mention  that  the  idea  of  such  a  college  in 
Western  Pennsylvania  was  the  cherished  thought  of  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  The  pressing  need  of  an  Institution  of 
learning  on  this  territory,  where  the  Word  of  God  would  be  the 
supreme  law  and  the  chief  thing  in  study,  discipline,  and  gov- 
ernment, was  felt  more  and  more  painfully  with  each  new  year. 
I  will  not  conceal  the  fact  that  it  was  made  the  subject  of  earn- 
est prayer,  during  all  this  time,  that  God  would  raise  up  some 
one  to  provide  the  means  for  such  an  undertaking.  It  was  felt, 
amid  the  claims  and  wants  of  existing  charities,  that  a  public 
call  for  means  to  commence  another  Institution  was  not  advis- 
able.   For  more  than  a  score  of  years  not  a  single  providential 


506  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

opening  had  occurred  which  seemed  to  point  to  the  realization 
of  this  hope,  nor  were  there  any  visible  tokens,  though  anxiously 
looked  for,  that  the  set  time  to  favor  Zion  had  come.  At  length, 
as  the  years  wore  on  and  the  need  of  such  a  school  became  more 
pressing,  and  counsel  and  relief  were  sought  more  earnestly  from 
God,  the  name  of  Louis  Thiel  was  impressed  upon  the  mind  of 
one  of  our  pastors  when  in  prayer  for  this  great  interest.  At 
the  same  time  the  purpose  was  formed  to  open  the  subject  to 
him,  and  if  possible,  obtain  from  him  a  loan,  so  as  to  purchase  a 
suitable  tract  of  land  on  which  a  humble  commencement  might 
be  made.  Before  this  purpose  could  be  carried  out  Mr.  Thiel  called 
on  the  pastor  in  question,  and  on  introducing  to  him  the  object 
of  his  intended  visit  was  told  by  him  that  he  had  come  to  con- 
sult as  to  the  most  useful  way  of  appropriating  four  thousand 
dollars  which  he  had  set  apart,  as  the  tenth  of  his  income  for 
years  past,  and  which  he  begged  him  to  employ  according  to 
his  best  judgment  in  doing  good.  Alarmed  at  this  unexpected 
issue  and  dreading  new  responsibilities  which  it  so  suddenly  in- 
volved, the  whole  subject  was  recommitted  to  God  in  mutual 
prayer,  and  the  money  placed  on  interest  to  await  the  further 
indication  of  Providence.  During  the  next  fifteen  months, 
various  places  were  visited  with  reference  to  a  location ;  but  the 
absence  of  buildings  at  several,  or  the  price  demanded  for  those 
which  were  found,  for  a  time  prevented  a  purchase.  At  length, 
in  the  Spring  of  1866,  a  property  in  Phillipsburg,  Beaver  Co., 
Pa.,  which  had  been  used  as  a  Summer  retreat,  after  having  been 
visited  in  company  with  ]\Ir.  Thiel  and  meeting  his  approval, 
was  purchased  for  $4,500,  the  interest  and  the  original  donation 
paying  the  whole.  A  few  months  later  an  adjoining  house  and 
lot  were  generously  bought  for  $1000  so  as  to  afford  a  residence 
for  a  teacher.  In  the  Autumn  of  the  same  year,  the  main  edi- 
fice was  formalh^  set  apart  by  a  special  religious  service  for  the 
sacred  purposes  of  Christian  education,  and  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  benevolent  donor,  received  the  designation  of  Thiel 
Hall.  A  few  weeks  before  this,  the  instructions  of  the  school 
had  been  commenced  under  the  principalship  of  Rev.  Prof. 
Giese,  of  Wisconsin,  with  five  pupils.  This  humble  beginning 
though  most  insignificant  to  the  eyes  of  some,  was  the  work  of 
faithful  love  and  was  attended  with  a  visible  blessing  of  God. 
New  students  were  received  every  week,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
first  year  the  number  of  pupils  required  the  appointment  of  Rev. 
W,  Copp,  of  Paxton,  111.,  as  a  second  instructor.     The  original 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  507 

purpose  was  sacredly  kept  in  view,  and  the  Word  of  God  became 
a  ruling  element  in  the  institution.  Its  instructions  were  not 
only  opened  and  closed  with  prayer,  but  the  Holy  Sferiptures 
were  daily  read  and  studied  by  all  the  classes.  Their  influence 
was  happily  seen  in  the  studiousness  and  order  of  the  scholars, 
in  their  behavior  and  morality,  and  in  their  conscientious  fideli- 
ty to  all  their  duties.  In  the  midst  of  the  most  cheering  tokens 
of  an  honorable  future,  Prof.  Giese  accepted  a  call  to  New  York 
City,  and  the  institution  was  continued  for  two  years  under  the 
instruction  of  Rev.  H.  E.  Jacobs  and  Prof.  Feitshans  of  the  col- 
lege at  Gettysburg.  With  many  evidences  of  the  Divine  favor, 
a  charter  having  been  obtained  from  the  legislature  of  Penn- 
sylvania with  the  powers  of  a  college,  the  whole  was  formally 
transferred  to  the  corporation  thus  created  and  the  institution 
was  opened  under  its  new  auspices  on  the  first  of  September, 

1870.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  H.  W.  Roth,  W.  F.  Ulery  and  D.  Mc- 
Kee,  having  been  elected  instructors  by  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
devoted  themselves  to  the  duties  of  their  responsible  position, 
and  the  first  collegiate  year  gave  evidence  that  only  time  and 
pains  and  prayers  w^ere  needed  to  establish  and  perfect  the  work 
so  auspiciously  begun.  In  the  beginning  of  this  year  the  offer  of 
the  citizens  of  Greenville  to  donate  seven  acres  of  land  as  a 
site  and  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  of  a  college 
building  was  officially  made  to  the  Board  of  Trustees,  which, 
after  many  delays,  owing  to  a  diversity  of  views  was  finally 
and  thankfully  accepted.  In  like  manner,  it  was  decided  by  the 
Board  to  remove  the  institution  from  Phillipsburg  to  Greenville 
without  longer  delay,  and  accordingly  on  the  first  of  September, 

1871,  the  exercises  of  the  college  were  formally  opened  in  the 
Academy  building  of  this  town. 

"After  this  had  been  done  the  Synod,  to  whom  the  property 
of  Thiel  Hall  had  been  transferred  by  its  founders  at  its  conven- 
tion in  Warren,  Pa.,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  after  a  thor- 
ough discussion  of  the  college  question,  fearing  that  there  might 
be  some  indistinctness  in  the  minds  of  the  citizens  of  Green- 
ville in  regard  to  the  religious  character  of  the  institution,  took 
action  to  the  effect  that  before  the  college  should  be  declared 
permanently  located  here,  the  Board  of  Trustees  should  have  a 
personal  interview  with  the  committee  of  the  citizens  who  had 
subscribed  to  the  college,  and  to  communicate  with  them  in  the 
clearest  possible  manner  the  purpose  of  the  Synod  in  its  estab- 
lishment, its  character  as  an  institution  pledged  to  the  distinc- 


508  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

tive  faith  and  life  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  together 
with  the  religious  study  that  would  be  expected  of  all  unless 
excused  by  the  desire  of  their  parents  or  guardians ;  so  that,  while 
provision  could  be  made  for  exceptional  cases,  the  college  must 
be  carried  on  in  the  spirit  of  the  Church  and  with  its  own  posi- 
tive historical  faith  duly  recognized  and  constituting  the  ground- 
work of  Christian  truth  and  instruction.  The  reply  of  the  com- 
mittee to  this  communication  was  made  in  writing,  and,  we  are 
happy  to  add,  was  as  honorable  to  them  as  it  was  satisfactory 
to  the  Board 

''We  have  entered  into  these  details  of  the  early  inception, 
the  providential  origin  and  the  subsequent  history  of  this  in- 
stitution, not  merely  for  the  purpose  of  information  to  those 
interested  in  its  welfare,  and  to  show  with  what  a  special  con- 
cern certain  essential  features  were  guarded  by  the  Synod  to 
whom  it  was  committed  by  its  founders,  but  mainly  to  prepare 
the  way  for  a  justification  of  this  characteristic  feature  of  the 
College  which  has  finally  been  located  in  this  community.  Here 
on  this  solemn  occasion  of  laying  its  first  corner-stone  and  in 
the  midst  of  those  who  have  so  generously  given  of  their  bounty 
for  its  erection,  we  openly  proclaim  that  if  the  Word  of  God 
is  not  made  the  great  thing  in  the  whole  future  of  this  College, 
it  will  sooner  or  later  become  in  the  strong  language  of  Luther, 
'A  great  gate  of  hell'. 

"If  anyone  supposes  that  it  is  our  purpose  to  add  another 
to  the  so  called  'progressive'  colleges  of  the  land,  he  is  mistaken! 
We  say  it  openly,  that  we  want  no  more  of  these  'great  hell 
fires'  .  .  We.  are  not  indifferent  to  the  classics  of  antiquity. 
They  are  incorporated  in  our  college  course.  We  insist  on  the 
natural  and  exact  sciences.  We  value  highly  the  philosophy  of 
the  mind.  The  principles  of  the  English  language,  the  laws  of 
rhetoric,  and  the  rules  of  oratory  are  indispensable.  The  an- 
cient and  modern  tongues,  and  in  these  last  the  German  and 
our  own  English  with  their  world-wide  signification  are  obli- 
gatory to  all  who  would  take  the  college  course.  But  we  dare 
not  ignore  the  fact  that  our  young  men,  to  be  truly  educated, 
must  be  taught  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus.  To  be  truly  great, 
they  must  be  truly  good.  To  be  possessed  of  the  treasures  of 
knowledge  and  wisdom  they  must  come  to  Him  who  is  the  life. 
'For  this  is  life  eternal,  to  know  Thee,  the  only  true  God  and 
Jesus  Christ  whom  Thou  hast  sent.' 

"1.     The  faith  of  our  young  men  requires  the  thorough 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  509 

study  of  the  Word  of  God.  It  is  a  fact,  that  most  students 
who  enter  college  come  with  an  immature  and  half-formed  re- 
ligious faith.  It  may  be  that  the  Word  of  God  is  associated  in 
their  minds  with  the  dearest  memories  of  home  and  the  most 
tender  attachments  of  life.  They  have  come  with  the  vows  of 
God  upon  them  and  the  power  of  an  endless  life  lifting  them 
above  all  that  is  sordid  in  the  search  of  the  truth,  beneath  the 
groves  of  the  academy.  But  it  is  equally  true,  that  the  im- 
maturity of  their  character  is  only  equaled  by  the  immaturity 
of  their  faith  which  in  the  narrow  circle  of  the  family  and 
neighborhood  was  happily  not  called  upon  to  wrestle  with  prin- 
cipalities and  powers.  Once  in  the  new  world  of  a  college,  all 
is  changed.  The  thought,  inspirations,  and  turbulent  heavinga 
of  the  human  heart  for  thousands  of  years,  at  once  confront 
and  impress  them.  '  Who  am  I  ? '  '  Why  am  I  ? '  '  Whose  am  I  ? ' 
'Whither  am  I  bound?'  And  a  whole  world  of  problems,  per- 
plexities, solicitudes,  hopes  and  fears  which  are  inseparable 
from  a  living  and  immortal  spirit,  come  up  singly  or  in  strange 
combinations  to  confuse  and  exhaust  the  soul.  The  youthful 
heart  needs  rest.  It  requires  the  certainty  of  a  positive  faith. 
And  such  a  faith  can  come  only  by  the  Word  of  God.  And 
that  it  may  come,  not  as  an  ignorant  conclusion  received  at 
second  hand  from  another  or  accepted  without  the  process  of 
anxious  thought,  it  must  be  studied  in  its  own  simple  majesty, 
in  its  living  purity,  in  its  satisfying  answers  to  human  perplexi- 
ties and  in  its  divine  provisions  to  cleanse  from  sin  and  to  make 
all  things  new.  And  so,  too,  the  whole  literature  of  the  Bible 
must  be  studied,  including  the  great  question  of  so  much  mo- 
ment in  religion,  whether  the  Bible  is  the  Book  of  God,  and  the 
associated  practical  questions  growing  out  of  this  final  one,  thus 
removing  doubt,  clearing  away  difficulties,  deepening  convic- 
tions, and  establishing  conclusions  which,  though  long  since 
reached  by  the  heart,  need  the  logical  argument  and  the  evi- 
dence of  facts  to  enable  men  to  give  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is 
in  them  with  meekness  and  with  fear. 

"We  can  conceive  of  nothing  more  praiseworthy  in  the 
service  which  men  can  perform  for  their  fellow  men,  than  to  send 
back  to  his  home,  at  the  end  of  his  college  course,  the  young 
man  in  the  dew  of  youth,  healthful  in  body,  ingenuous  in  heart, 
pure  in  life,  cultivated  in  intellect  and  established  in  the  faith 
of  Christ.  The  world  needs  such  men  and  the  Church  needs 
them.     They  are  wanted  at  the  bar,  in  the  ministry,  in  the 


510  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

healing  art,  in  the  editorial  chair,  in  the  school  room,  in  every 
department  of  business,  commerce,  trade,  in  agriculture  and  the 
mechanical  arts,  everywhere,  men  of  an  intelligent  piety,  of  a 
positive  faith,  of  a  true  manhood,  who  know  in  whom  and  in 
what  they  believe,  and  stand  up  in  their  place  as  God's  wit- 
nesses among  their  fellows!  No  want  of  society  is  greater  than 
the  want  of  such  men !  May  we  not  expect  that  the  handful  of 
corn  on  the  top  of  this  mountain  shall  yet  wave  like  Lebianon 
in  a  noble  harvest  of  such  men! 

"2.  The  life  of  our  young  men  requires  a  thorough  study 
01  the  Divine  Word. 

"  'Search  the  Scriptures'  said  Jesus,  'for  in  them  ye  think 
ye  have  eternal  life  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of  Me.'  In 
them,  as  in  a  glass,  is  seen  the  only  true  and  perfect  life  on 
earth.  What  conflicts  with  it  is  a  cheat.  What  accords  with  it 
is  an  approach  toward  truth.  From  it  all  rules  of  living  are 
to  be  drawn.  By  it  all  customs  of  men  are  to  be  tried.  What 
harmonizes  with  it  is  to  be  held  fast;  what  is  in  antagonism  to 
it  must  be  trampled  under  foot.  Now,  the  study  of  this  life, 
is  the  business  of  our  life.  The  secret  of  all  true  goodness  and 
greatness  on  earth  is  that  men  set  this  life  before  them,  that 
they  believe  it  to  be  the  only  reality,  that  they  fix  their  eye 
steadfastly  upon  it,  that  they  draw  toward  it,  falling  down  be- 
fore it  and  worshipping  it  in  study  and  in  silence  and  devotion, 
and  never  leaving  it  except  to  reflect  the  borrowed  glory  of  the 
Holy  One,  in  a  life  formed  after  the  pattern  of  their  Lord ! 
And  only  by  such  studies  of  the  man  Christ  Jesus  can  we  look 
for  a  holy  childhood  and  a  sanctified  manhood  in  the  schools 
and  colleges  of  our  land.  They  whose  names  are  splendid  with 
the  life  of  sanctified  learning  have  found  the  secret  in  the 
school  of  Christ.  Conformed  to  the  likeness  of  their  Lord,  the 
lives  of  all  living  men  are  to  them  no  more  than  shadows, 
breathing  the  atmosphere  of  His  unselfish  love,  they  walk  on  a 
higher  plane  of  being  in  the  company  of  the  Son  of  God. 
There  is  about  such  persons  a  moral  weight  and  an  honored 
force  before  which  everything  gives  way.  They  have  about 
them  a  dignity,  borrowed  from  the  grandeur  of  life  which  they 
seek  to  imitate.  They  do  not  strive  nor  cause  their  voice  to  be 
heard  in  the  street,  and  yet  they  move  all  before  them  as  by  the 
power  of  absolute  dominion.  What  wonder  that  in  the  Christ- 
less  schools  of  this  sad  age  we  miss  these  nobler  types  of  man- 
hood! What  wonder  that  in  turning  away  from  the  contem- 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  '  511 

plation  of  the  man  Christ  Jesus,  we  have  fallen  among  thieves. 
Let  us  assert  our  high  prerogative  and  cease  from  the  cheats 
and  shams  of  pagan  heroes.  Let  us  sow  the  seeds  of  true  man- 
hood and  work  for  a  crop  of  men." 

Here  is  a  letter  to  William,  his  son,  when  he  started  his 
sophomore  year  at  Muhlenberg  College,  in  1872: 

"Absence  from  home  prevented  my  writing  until  this  late 
day.  We  are  truly  glad  to  hear  that  you  are  comfortably  fixed 
•up  again  for  another  collegiate  year,  that  your  room  is  bright 
and  cheerful,  that  you  have  flowers  to  grace  it,  and  an  old  Thiel 
Hall  boy  as  your  companion  and  room-mate.  But  now,  a  few 
things  more,  dear  son,  for  without  these  you  are  in  great  danger 
of  a  sad  failure  not  only  in  your  college  days  but  for  life !  Let 
me  then,  as  a  father,  say  a  few  words  which  I  beg  you  not 
to  thoughtlessly  read  over  but  inwardly  to  consider  and  to  act 
upon  during  your  whole  course.  Keep  your  heart  with  all  dili- 
gence. The  reason  given  in  the  Word  is,  'that  out  of  it  are  the 
issues  (extremes)  of  life'.  I  charge  you,  dear  son,  by  your 
solemn  confirmation  vows  to  daily  read  the  Scriptures,  both 
morning  and  night,  giving  at  least  a  half  hour  by  your  watch 
to  the  exercises  of  your  closet  and  the  reading  of  your  Bible, 
and  from  the  exact  and  conscientious  performance  of  this  duty 
and  privilege  you  will  not  turn  aside,  no  not  a  hair's  breadth, 
for  pleasure,  company,  study  or  any  other  thing.  Thus  the 
heart  will  be  'kept'  with  all  diligence  in  purity  and  fidelity 
and  your  whole  life  will  be  characterized  by  principle  in  the 
sight  of  God  and  of  man. 

"  'Do  thyself  no  harm'.  In  other  words,  take  care  of  your 
bodily  health.  By  God's  great  mercy  you  have  no  bodily  in- 
firmities or  hereditary  disease.  But  it  is  an  easy  thing  to 
break  the  stamina  of  health  and  to  lay  the  foundation  for  an 
early  death.  ]\Iy  advice  to  you  is  to  keep  up  the  habit  of 
weekly  washing  your  body  in  pure  water  and  daily  exercise  in 
walking.  Have  your  time  for  this,  rain  or  shine,  and  take  your 
room-mate  with  you  to  make  life  lively,  to  forget  books  and  to 
give  to  the  body  the  benefit  of  a  good  stretch,  until  the  dormant 
energies  are  aroused  and  the  blood  again  bubbles  and  leaps  in 
your  young  veins  as  before. 

"Strive  to  excel  in  your  studies.  Don't  do  this  with  re- 
ference to  college  honors,  but  solely  with  reference  to  duty  and 
usefulness.  Meet  and  grapple  Avith  every  difficulty  in  your 
studies  with  a  cheerful  heart,  and  good-naturedly  dig  out  the 


512  ■  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

ugly  roots  to  the  last  inch.  The  habit  thus  formed  will  go  with 
you  all  through  life,  and  you  will  never  be  dismayed  at  ob- 
stacles. I  would  not  give  my  experience  in  this  respect  for  tens 
of  thousands.  Hammer  away  and  finally  the  old  rock  will 
crack ! 

"Pay  special  attention  to  your  composition  and  the  most 
earnest  watchfulness  to  your  writing  and  spelling.  Your  last 
two  letters,  were,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  carelessly  (must  I  add 
slovenly)  written  and  both  your  mother  and  I  were  sorry  to 
see  it.  They  were  also  full  of  mistakes  in  spelling.  Now,  this 
is  without  excuse !  For  one  who  has  gone  to  school  all  his  life 
and  is  in  the  sophomore  class,  it  is  simply  abominable.  I  en- 
close a  dollar  and  fifty  cents  to  enable  you  to  procure  a  small 
dictionary  which  you  can  have  near  you  on  your  table  always. 
Read  over  your  letters  carefully  after  they  are  written,  making 
all  needful  corrections,  in  punctuation,  orthography,  etc.,  and 
then  rewrite  if  they  are  so  numerous  as  to  disfigure  the  paper. 

"I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  you  express  your  determination 
to  study  German  thoroughly.  I  would  now  give  thousands  of 
dollars  if  I  had  but  improved  the  opportunities  of  my  college 
days  in  this  respect.  Take  every  conceivable  pains  both  in  the 
pronunciation  and  in  the  composition  of  the  sentences  and 
you  Mali  be  amply  rewarded  by  the  acquisition  of  one  of  the 
noblest  of  languages  which  will  wonderfully  increase  both  the 
sources  of  your  enjoyment  and  your  future  usefulness.  Now 
is  the  time,  dear  Will,  to  lay  foundations,  and  you  will  do  well 
to  lay  a  strong  one  here  by  the  acquisition  of  another  language 
which  will  do  great  things  for  you,  should  God  spare  your  life 
hereafter. ' ' 

And  here  is  another  to  the  college  boy  now  in  his  junior 
year : 

"Your  letter  makes  me  write,  but  the  previous  one  could 
not  be  understood  in  any  other  way.  I  have  no  objection  to  a 
'  cane '  provided  it  is  not  used  by  young  men !  Save  me  from  the 
young  fellows  who  sport  canes  and  part  their  hair  in  the  mid- 
dle of  their  heads !  We  notice  these  things  in  the  ministry  and 
give  such  lads  a  wide  berth,  just  as  bank  directors  do  the  offered 
notes  of  young  business  men  who  have  fast  horses!  They  can't 
get  them  discounted! 

"But  enough.  Hope  to  meet  you  and  greet  you  next  time 
as  superintendent  of  'Clapboard-staedtle'  Sunday  school.  By 
all  means,  dear  Will,  accept  the  'call'  to  become  superintendent 


TEIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  513 

there  and  do  the  best  you  can  for  the  people.  The  place  will 
enable  you  to  gain  confidence  in  yourself  and  thus  qualify  your- 
self for  the  duties  of  your  future  vocation. ' ' 

For  a  time  the  fraternity  craze  had  gotten  into  Muhlen- 
berg College  when  the  writer  was  a  student  there.  Some  of  us 
had  been  taught  that  these  embryonic  lodges  were  evil  in  tone  and 
tendency  and  argued  against  them.  Among  these  on  our  side 
was  Wm.  Passavant.  Rumor  reached  us  that  the  "frats"  were 
gaining  a  foothold  in  young  Thiel  also.  William  wrote  his 
father  in  regard  to  the  matter.  In  the  reply  the  father  also 
speaks  of  the  hope  of  having  William  as  his  assistant  in  his 
work  of  mercy.  Doubtless  it  was  such  letters  as  this  one  that 
made  William  finally  decide  on  his  future  noble  career  as  his 
father's  helper  and  successor: 

"My  dear  Will,  Grace  and  Peace.  Your  mother  sent  your 
letter  to  me  at  Akron  where  I  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  Br. 
Roth  and  consulting  with  him  on  the  whole  subject.  He  is  of 
the  opinion  that  there  has  been  as  yet  no  organization  in  the 
college.  If  there  has,  he  will  doubtless  do  what  he  can  to  root 
out  and  break  up  this  last  great  nuisance.  I  am  truly  obliged  to 
you,  dear  son,  for  your  thoughtful  and  manly  course  in  this  ugly 
matter.  You  say,  with  truth,  that  'Thiel  College  has  gotten 
along  this  far  without  such  associations,  and  that  God  will  care 
for  it  in  the  future.'  The  end  of  all  such  aids  and  adjuncts  is 
evil  and  only  evil.  I  am  truly  thankful  that  you  so  far  respect 
the  wishes  of  your  father  that  you  stand  aloof  from  all  such 
secret  associations,  and  neither  seek  nor  desire  the  influence 
which  they  give  a  man  for  the  time  being.  A  great  principle 
is  involved  in  this  whole  matter,  and  it  is  the  principle  of  being 
and  doing  what  God  requires,  in  all  things  according  to  His 
open  laws.  We  need  no  dark  lanterns  either  for  friendship  or 
for  education.  Let  all  things  be  done  by  our  young  men  open- 
ly and  with  the  whole  world  in  view.  'Thou  God  seest  me'  is 
the  watchword.  In  His  presence  and  with  His  loving  favor  on 
our  side  we  need  not  go  moping  or  coaxing  about  for  special 
favors  or  special  friendships,  either  at  college  or  elsewhere. 

"Amid  the  many  heavy  duties  which  devolve  on  me,  dear 
Will,  how  often  have  I  thought  of  you  as  a  helper  for  me  in 
my  work  for  the  souls  and  bodies  of  men !  If  it  should  please 
God  to  so  influence  your  heart  as  lovingly  and  thankfully  to 
devote  your  life  to  His  service,  it  would  be  the  greatest  happi- 
ness which  could  happen  to  me.     I  daily  pray  for  you  and  ask 


514  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

God  that  you  may  grow  up  into  the  image  of  our  blessed  Lord 
and  that  you  may  see  your  way  clear  to  devote  yourself  to  the 
holy  ministry;  but  dear  child,  do  not  let  my  anxieties  over- 
persuade  you  to  such  a  calling.  On  the  contrary,  improve  every 
moment  of  time  and  opportunity  afforded  and  conscientiously 
prepare  yourself  for  usefulness.  Do  not  think  of  an>i;hing  else 
but  the  glory  of  God  in  connection  with  your  future  life,  and 
bend  all  your  energies  in  preparation  for  it !  God  will  attend 
to  the  rest! 

"In  coming  from  Akron,  where  the  General  Council  met, 
we  stayed  over  a  day  at  Thiel  College,  Greenville.  The  large 
building  is  nearly  ready  for  the  roof,  and  looks  well,  indeed 
quite  imposing  and  attractive.  The  Boarding  Hall  will  be 
built  early  next  Summer  so  as  to  be  ready  by  September  first, 
1873.  This  will  be  done  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  Phillipsburg 
property  amounting  to  four  thousand  dollars.  Things  look 
hopeful  for  the  college,  nevertheless  it  is  a  work  of  patient  toil 
like  all  other  new  undertakings.  The  boys  are  looking  forth  to 
the  Christmas  reunion  with  great  interest.  We  have  laid  up 
a  good  stock  of  apples,  cider  and  nuts  for  the  children  and 
Mamma  will  certainly  not  let  them  starve !  It  is  amusing  how 
Mary  talks  about  'her  boy'  and  thinks  and  dreams  of  him. 

"God  bless  you,  dear  son.  Do  not  forget  your  daily  ex- 
ercise out  doors.  It  is  a  little  cold,  but  no  difference.  We  send 
you  a  shawl  which  will  keep  you  warm  both  when  you  walk  out 
and  w^hen  you  are  in  the  cars  on  your  homeward  way.  Please 
call  for  it  at  the  Express  Office.  Your  mother  got  your  last  let- 
ter last  night  and  unites  in  much  love.  We  are  glad  to  hear  of 
the  Society's  progress.  My  poor  means  have  gone  to  'the  tombs 
of  the  Capulets',  or  I  would  aid  a  little.  Let  me  also  have  an 
occasional  line.    All  the  family  are  well." 

Here  is  an  interesting  letter  of  April  13,  1885  to  his  col- 
lege classmate  in  old  Jefferson,  the  Rev.  Hugh  Brown.  It 
shows  how  amid  his  multiplying  cares  and  burdens  with  age 
creeping  on  and  in  spite  of  his  ceaseless  activity,  he  still  took  Jt 
cheerful  view  of  life,  had  not  forgotten  the  amenities  of  old  at- 
tachments, and  could  still  write  a  chatty  letter  of  pure  friend- 
ship "from  grave  to  gay,  from  somber  to  severe:" 

"Your  letter,  dear  brother  Hugh,  brings  back  a  world  of 
thoughts  of  dear  old  Cannonsburg  and  all  the  dealings  of  God 
with  me  there.  Oh,  what  sinning  and  suffering,  what  blind, 
dark,  broken  and  self-righteous  ways  of  unbelief  in  Christ !  I 


TEIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  515 

shrink  back  when  I  think  of  them  as  I  do  of  my  whole  spiritual 
life,  and  cast  myself  anew  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  hoping  alone 
in  the  divine  mercy.  All  my  theology  is  reduced  to  two  heads. 
First,  I  am  a  lost  and  damned  sinner.  Second,  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  almighty  Savior  of  just  such  sinners.  Here  I  abide  and 
try  to  believe  this  last,  to  rejoice  in  it,  to  glorify  God  for  it  and 
to  make  some  return  by  His  grace  for  His  saving  mercy.  I  am 
leeply  grateful  to  my  sainted  mother,  to  my  old  pastor,  to  my  sec- 
ond pastor  Dr.  Brown,  and  not  less  to  you  and  many  others  whose 
earnest  efforts  to  aid  me  when  at  college  were  an  invaluable  aid 
to  me  in  the  inexperience  of  youth  and  the  multiplied  tempta- 
tions of  college  life 

"You  felt  twenty-five  years  older,  did  you  not,  after  being 
in  Cannonsburg  and  Providence  Hall?  I  do  not  think  I  could 
bear  it,  and  yet  my  thoughts  constantly  wander  thither,  espe- 
cially in  the  night  visions.  I  see  it  all  again  and  live  it  over  and 
believe  I  am  among  the  old  boys !  But  how  many  are  dead ! 
Since  you  were  North  quite  a  number  have  died.  Judge  Carter 
of  Cincinnati  and  Wiley,  Esq.  of  Cleveland!  Then,  too,  Judge 
Ould,  formerly  Dr.  Ould,  my  old  room-mate  of  'Tusculum 
memory, '  Jacob  Dall,  Billy  IMatthias,  Paul  Gibson,  Judge  Critch- 
low  and  Dr.  Naphys,  all  dead  and  scores  and  hundreds  more! 
We  few  remain.  Brown,  Wenzel,  Patterson  and  myself.  I  know 
of  but  few  others.  Caulter,  Conley,  and  so  many  more  having 
long  since  passed  away !  It  seems  scarcely  possible  that  we  can 
live  five  years  longer  and  once  more  meet  and  greet  each  other 
in  Cannonsburg! 

"I  have  six  sons,  one  of  whom  is  a  minister,  a  bright  and 
devout  young  man  of  twenty-eight,  full  of  the  juices  of  life 
and  with  a  heart  singularly  merry  and  glad  both  by  nature  and 
grace.  He  aids  me  in  the  Workman  and  the  editorial  in  this 
week's  number  signed  'Junior'  is  from  his  pen.  My  married 
children  'among  them'  have  given  us  twelve  grandchildren  so 
that  we  have  our  affections  spread  out  over  a  large  space !  But 
such  is  life,  full  of  struggles  and  blessing,  and  in  looking  back 
to  early  days  I  can  say  with  you  '  I  am  not  worthy  of  one  of  the 
least  of  all  the  blessings  conferred  upon  thy  servant.' 

"The  future  is  strangely  unknown  to  me.  I  am  as  hard 
at  work  as  if  I  were  to  live  forever  and  yet  I  see  that  the  shad- 
ows of  the  evening  are  rapidly  gathering  about  me.  The  new 
hospital  here  (Milwaukee)  has  cost  ninety-five  thousand  dollars 
and  is  forty  thousand  in  debt.     A  large  new  hospital  is  nearly 


516  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

ready  for  occupancy  in  Chicago,  costing  with  the  land  forty-five 
thousand  dollars  and  a  third  is  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  between 
Springfield  and  St.  Louis,  which  needs  pulling  down  or  a  com- 
plete remodeling.  None  of  these  have  a  cent  of  endowment  or 
the  prospect  of  any  that  we  know  of.  It  is  the  same  ^vith  the 
Orphan  Institution  at  Zelienople  and  Rochester,  Pa.,  though  the 
Infirmary  at  Pittsburg  and  the  Wartburg  Home  near  New  York 
have  each  small  sums  from  legacies.  How  all  these  things  are 
to  be  cared  for  I  neither  know  nor  am  concerned  about.  They 
are  all  in  the  hands  of  the  Lord  and  He  must  raise  up  the  men 
and  the  means.  Meanwhile,  we  work  on  and  pray  on  and  leave 
all  the  results  with  God.     He  must  provide ! 

"Now  then,  dear  old  friend,  Hugh,  may  God  keep  you  and 
your  beloved  ones  as  in  the  hollow  of  His  hand.  Give  my 
greetings  to  your  wife  and  daughter  and  if  trial  and  sorrow 
come  upon  you  let  me  know  that  I  may  bear  with  you  this 
greater  burden.  The  Lord's  peace  be  your  consolation. 
Amen." 

Here  is  another  one  of  those  priceless  letters  of  friendship 
to  the  same  college  classmate  full  of  reminiscent  interest,  pres- 
ent love  and  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed: 

"There  is  no  business  doing  today,  it  being  a  holiday,  and 
I  have  given  its  hours  to  the  reception  of  friends  and  the 
answering  of  letters.  Yours  came  at  noon  and  I  read  it  with 
varied  and  mingled  feelings.  It  brings  all  the  old  time  memo- 
ries of  the  past  to  my  mind  and  heart.  Yes!  those  were  earnest 
days  to  not  a  few,  and  amid  the  exuberance  of  animal  life  there 
was  the  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  awakening,  quick- 
ening and  alarming  the  careless  soul  and  making  us  to  taste  of 
'the  powers  of  the  world  to  come'.  In  my  case,  I  am  painfully 
conscious  of  much  darkness  and  lack  of  spiritual  life  in  Christ. 
In  some  way,  during  all  my  college  life,  I  served  God  as  a 
servant,  not  as  a  child.  I  failed  to  realize  the  deep  words  of 
Paul:  'He  hath  loved  me  and  died  for  me'.  It  was  only  after 
I  entered  the  Seminary  in  Gettysburg,  from  a  sense  of  the 
'necessity  laid  upon  me',  that  I  came  out  of  the  darkness  of  this 
legal  servitude  into  the  blessed  consciousness  of  a  child  of  God. 
But  when  I  look  back  over  the  long  years  since  then,  I  am 
deeply  humiliated  that  I  have  loved  so  little  and  that  my  poor 
life  has  been  so  marred  by  unbelief,  hardness  of  heart  and  sin. 
My  only  comfort  in  looking  back  is  to  know,  that  another,  even 
Jesus  Christ,  has  died  on  the  cross  for  these  very  sins  and  that 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  517 

*by  His  stripes  I  am  healed'.    Oh,  the  depth  of  the  divine  mercy 
to  us,  the  chief  of  sinners. 

''I  am  glad  to  know  that  you  are  well  and  in  good  heart 
and  hope.  Through  the  divine  mercy,  so  am  I,  but  the  long 
sickness  of  four  months  last  winter  has  left  me  greatly  broken 
down  by  mental  and  bodily  exertion,  both  before  and  since  that 
time.  If  I  could  only  get  away  for  a  few  months  and  rest,  but 
the  cares  of  the  seven  institutions  are  upon  me  and  debts  and 
labors  abound.  But  I  am  trying  to  throw  some  of  them  on 
others.  I  still  aid  my  son  in  editing  every  number  of  the  Work- 
man, but  the  responsibility  of  seeing  the  paper  out  whether  at 
home  or  abroad  is  taken  away.  This  is  a  blessed  relief,  and  my 
son  seems  to  find  his  special  happiness  in  such  work.  For  this, 
too,  I  am  very  thankful.  He  is  a  whole-hearted  generous  fellow 
with  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  live  and  labor .  . 

"That  College  life  was  a  little  world  in  itself,  with  all  its 
mingled  emotions  of  fear,  hope,  joy,  ambition  and  every  other 
thing  which  stirred  the  heart  of  man.  One  by  one,  the  old 
residenters  have  all  passed  away,  so  that  going  there  now  one 
would  feel  sadly  like  one  who  goes  back  to  the  place  of  his 
youth,  and,  asking  for  his  old  friends,  hears  only  the  echo  of 
his  own  inquiring  voice.  Yes !  It  was  Robert  Ould,  whom  the 
boys  called  the  doctor,  who  was  my  roommate  at  Tusculum.  He 
was  the  identical  commissioner  at  Richmond,  and  I  correspond- 
ed with  him  once  in  order  to  get  back  some  citizen  friends  in 
Chambersburg  who,  supposing  that  our  forces  were  in  Hagers- 
toM^n,  were  taken  prisoners  and  sent  to  Salisburg,  N.  C.  The 
Doctor  demanded  that  I  should  get  some  'mail  carriers'  who 
were  in  prison  at  Washington,  exchanged  for  these  helpless  be- 
ings, and  so  knowing  it  was  useless  to  write  to  Stanton  with 
such  conditions,  I  never  again  answered  his  letter. 

"Jacob  Dahl,  once  called  at  my  house  in  the  city  on  a  visit 
North.  He  was  a  warm-hearted  jovial  Pennsylvania  German 
from  Martinsburg,  Va.,  and  'loved  good  beef  and  a  genial  joke. 
I  think  of  him  often  and  the  very  remembrance  of  his  loving 
spirit  makes  me  smile.  At  Tusculum  the  boys  used  to  elect 
him  president  (provider)  as  often  as  the  law  would  allow,  and 
most  bravely  did  Jacob  lay  in  slaughtered  quarters  of  beef  and 
provide  turkeys  for  the  day  of  his  retiring  from  office.  The  old 
frame  has  long  since  disappeared  and  nothing  is  to  be  seen  of 
Tusculum  but  the  old  log  building,  the  lower  part  of  which 
contained  our  kitchen  and  the  dining  room.    Such  a  lot  of  dem- 


518  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

ocratic  looking  students  with  their  patched  and  quaintly  mended 
coats!  Judge  Critchlow,  Paul  Gibson,  Jacob  JDahl,  Dr.  Na- 
phys,  Anthony  Wenzel,  Wm.  Matthias,  'old  Scot',  'Billy'  Ea- 
ton, Moses  Blackburn,  Johnston,  Forsythe,  and  so  many  others! 
Nearly  all  have  long  since  passed  away  and  the  few  remaining 
ones  are  looking  towards  sunset.  What  is  life  ?  It  is  even  as  the 
vapor  which  soon  passeth  away! 

"It  is  impossible  not  to  feel  deeply  on  these  and  other 
kindred  subjects,  as  we  read  of  the  many  sad  changes  on  every 
side.  Every  now  and  then  it  is  some  old  Jefferson  student 
whose  death  is  chronicled  in  the  Banner.  Its  genial  editor,  Pat- 
terson, is  one  of  the  purest  and  noblest  of  men,  to  whose  con- 
sistent example  though  not  a  church  member  (communicant) 
while  at  college,  I  feel  myself  greatly  indebted.  I  shall  always 
count  it  one  of  the  kindest  gifts  of  God  to  me  that  He  gave  me 
the  confidence  and  companionship  of  such  a  college  friend.  I 
greatly  regret  that  I  can  -do  so  little  to  enjoy  his  company 
though  we  live  so  near  each  other.  In  my  long  experience  with 
men,  I  have  never  known  a  man  of  higher  and  nobler  principles 
than  Patterson.  God  bless  him  and  spare  him  to  the  Church 
for  many  long  years.  I  am  sorry  to  hear  of  the  impaired 
health  of  your  dear  wife.  The  Lord  deal  gently  by  her  and  by 
you  in  this  regard.  And  your  daughter,  may  her  life  be  very 
precious  in  the  sight  of  God  and  may  her  presence  long  be  your 
comfort  and  joy ! 

"Shall  we  ever  again  meet  as  a  class  in  the  old  halls 
of  Jefferson?  I  wonder  if  such  a  thing  shall  happen?  Writing 
as  I  have  thus  hastily  done,  brings  back  so  many  sacred  thoughts 
that  the  desire  for  such  a  meeting  is  growing  very  strong  in 
me.  Heretofore  I  have  been  so  busy  that  I  could  not  even  think 
of  it  and  when  Patterson  on  meeting  me  would  speak  of  it,  I 
scarcely  gave  it  a  serious  thought.  But  now,  in  two  and  a  half 
years,  yes,  most  certainly  w^e  may  well  afford  to  look  forward 
and  watch  and  wait !  God  grant  that  we  may  all  be  spared  to 
then  meet  and  greet  one  another.  But  if  not  in  C.  through  di- 
vine grace  we  will  in  one  of  our  Father's  mansions.  There  all 
will  be  lived  over  in  the  adoring  love  and  thanksgiving  of 
heaven.  With  happy  New  Year's  greetings  and  kind  regards 
to  your  family,  I  am  your  much  obliged  friend  and  brother. ' ' 

Dr.  Passavant  during  all  his  active  life  had  been  the 
warm  friend,  advocate  and  i)romoter  of  higher  education  in  the 
Church.     This  has  come  out  again  and  again  in  these  pages. 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  519 

One  of  his  last  letters  to  his  old  friend,  Dr.  Morris,  laments 
that  he  had  not  done  more  in  this  line.  In  it  he  says  that  if 
he  had  his  life  to  live  over  again,  he  would  labor  more  persistent- 
ly for  this  cause  so  essential  to  the  healthy  life  and  progress  of 
the  Church. 

Here  is  a  significant  editorial  written  half  a  year  before  his 
death  on  "A  lesson  for  the  Times:" 

"If  the  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Europe  teaches 
one  lesson  more  distinctly  than  all  others,  it  is  that  she  has 
gained  and  maintained  her  hold  upon  the  nations,  not  only  })y 
the  confession  of  the  pure  faith  of  Christ,  but  by  the  per- 
sistency with  which  she  has  insisted  upon  Christian  education 
everywhere.  In  this  period  she  stands  foremost  among  the  re- 
ligious forces  of  the  Old  World,  and  while  her  humbler  classes 
are  the  best  educated  of  the  European  people,  the  scholars  of 
the  world  crowd  her  technical  schools  and  universities  and  sit 
at  the  feet  of  her  instructors. 

"The  shortcomings  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America 
can  be  clearly  traced  to  the  failure  to  carry  out  this  policy  in 
this  New  World.  Poor,  helpless,  and  with  languages  which 
build  around  her  early  churches  a  wall  of  isolation,  her  de- 
pendence was  almost  wholly  upon  foreign  sources  for  spiritual 
supply.  Meanwhile  the  dry  rot  of  rationalism  in  the  fatherland 
was  eating  into  her  very  life,  and  a  negative  Christianity  in 
leading  centers  cut  the  sinews  of  exertion  at  home.  A  century 
and  a  half  of  inaction  followed  before  our  Church  in  America 
had  a  college  of  her  own!  The  same  must  also  be  said  of  'a 
school  of  the  prophets'.  When  one  after  another  of  these  came 
into  being,  how  indistinct  their  teachings  and  how  weak  the 
goings  forth  of  their  whole  spiritual  life ! 

"On  the  other  hand,  the  fact  must  not  be  overlooked  that 
it  is  only  since  the  educational  idea  has  taken  hold  upon  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America  that  she  has  entered  upon  a  new 
and  higher  life.  Those  Synods  which  have  most  fully  realized 
the  need  of  Christian  education  have  passed  from  weakness  to 
strength,  from  insignificance  to  spiritual  power.  This  is  true 
alike  of  every  nationality,  American,  German,  Swedish,  Norwe- 
gian, Danish.  They  have  gone  forth  conquering  and  to  conquer. 
The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  have  been  glad  for  them, 
and  the  desert  has  rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose.  Looking 
back  to  their  humble  beginnings  and  around  upon  the  fruit  of 
their  hand,  we  stand  in  amazement  and  can  only  say:  'What 


520  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASS  AY  ANT. 

hath  God  wrought'.  Thousands  of  pastors  have  gone  forth  from 
their  schools  and  seminaries  and  everywhere  'their  works  praise 
them  in  the  gates'.  In  instance  after  instance  a  single  in- 
dividual has  been  a  host,  and  has  left  the  impress  of  his  conse- 
crated learning  upon  the  Church  and  the  land. 

"It  is  almost  incredible  what  has  been  done  in  our  Ameri- 
can Church  within  the  past  ten  years.  Certainly  the  educa- 
tional idea  from  the  parochial  school  to  the  theological  semi- 
nary has  witnessed  a  development  within  this  time  greater  by 
far  than  in  the  fifty  preceding  years.  This  is  most  inspiring. 
But  while  this  expansion  has  been  phenomenal,  the  establishment 
of  these  institutions  upon  an  effective  financial  basis  is  lament- 
ably defective.  Our  colleges  and  seminaries  need  immediate 
endowment.  They  cannot  do  the  best  service  without  it.  State 
and  denominational  colleges  and  seminaries  on  every  side  offer 
special  attractions,  and  the  most  hopeful  elements  of  our 
Church  are  often  drawn  away  from  her  influence.  The  Church 
needs  her  best  talent,  her  best  culture,  the  consecration  of  her 
best  gifts  and  graces,  in  order  to  accomplish  the  work  which 
God  has  given  her  to  do  among  the  millions  of  her  children 
from  the  Old  World  and  the  neglected  millions  of  our  American 
people.  The  necessity  of  this  must  be  pressed  home  upon  the 
conscience  in  the  family  and  congregation,  in  the  school  and 
the  academy,  until  the  educational  idea  becomes  the  absorbing 
thought  and  concern  of  our  people,  and  Christian  parents  and 
pastors  vie  with  each  other  in  the  noble  effort  to  give  our  land  a 
laity  and  a  ministry  who  can  stand  up  for  Christ  and  if  need  be 
die  for  Him  in  the  high  places  of  the  field!" 

Mother  Passavant,  remarkable  woman,  good  mother,  who 
had  so  wonderfully  moulded  and  guided  her  son  and  been  so 
tenderly  loved  and  piously  revered  by  him,  died  in  Christ  and 
in  peace,  in  December,  1871.  Here  is  Dr.  Passavant 's  letter 
to  William,  telling  him  of  her  end: 

"The  contents  of  this,  our  first  letter  in  the  new  year,  will 
greatly  surprise  and  sadden  your  heart !  Our  dear  grandma  is 
no  longer  with  us,  having  fallen  asleep  in  the  Lord  on  last 
Friday  at  eleven  o'clock!  Oh,  how  we  dreaded  this  event  for 
years  and  in  her  repeated  sicknesses  always  feared  the  worst. 
But  how  sudden  at  last  did  the  summons  come  and  how  un- 
prepared were  we  for  it!  On  Thursday  after  Christmas  she 
complained  of  great  weakness,  but  came  down  stairs  and  took 
both  dinner  and  supper  with  the  family  as  before,  but  on  Fri- 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  521 

day  morning  after  a  restless  night  and  great  difficulty  in 
breathing,  she  suddenly  seemed  to  sink  and  after  the  doctor 
was  sent  for  he  pronounced  the  case  to  be  very  critical.  Uncle 
Sidney  sent  for  Aunt  Jennings  and  for  me.  Your  mother  and 
I  at  once  took  the  cars  for  Rochester  and  went  up  to  Zelienople, 
but  on  our  arrival,  she  had  already  quietly  passed  away !  It 
was  of  the  great  mercy  of  God  that  she  had  few  pains,  and 
that  the  drowsiness  peculiar  to  her  last  disease,  pneumonia, 
probably  took  away  all  actual  suffering.  But  it  was  a  heavy 
blow,  to  come  back  to  the  old  home  and  to  find  our  precious 
mother  no  longer  there. 

"On  Saturday  morning  Mrs.  Jennings  came  and  on  Sun- 
day morning  Walter  and  Zelia,  Philip,  wife  and  two  children, 
Dettmar  Ehrman  and  Rev.  Sidney  Jennings  came  up  in  con- 
veyances from  the  Home  in  Rochester  where  they  had  passed 
the  night.  It  was  a  sorrowful  meeting  of  the  family,  but  not 
for  her  sake  who  lay  so  quietly  and  sweetly  before  us,  with  an 
expression  not  of  pain  as  before,  but  of  deep  and  everlasting 
peace.  We  sorrowed  only  for  ourselves  that  we  were  now  moth- 
erless, and  that  we  would  no  longer  meet  and  greet  this  loving 
friend  as  in  the  other  years  of  our  life,  and  with  her  recount 
the  goodness  of  our  God.  Such  a  mother,  only  we,  who  for  more 
than  half  a  century  have  enjoyed  her  love  and  her  law,  can  at 
all  understand,  much  less  express  to  others  in  words. 

"On  Sunday  afternoon,  in  a  dreadful  thunderstorm,  we 
took  the  body  of  the  beloved  sleeper  in  her  coffin  to  the  church 
and  addresses  were  made  in  German  and  in  English  by  Rev. 
Messers.  Butz  and  Kunkelmann  to  a  large  congregation  who, 
notwithstanding  the  rain  and  storm  filled  every  part  of  the  large 
German  church.  Rev.  Mr.  Roth  had  also  kindly  come  up  and 
took  part  in  the  services,  and  so  we  bore  the  precious  dust  of 
our  beloved  mother  to  her  last  resting  place  until  Christ  shall 
call  her  forth  from  her  sleep  at  the  morning  of  the  resurrection. 
But  to  us,  she  is  not  dead  but  living  mightily  unto  God  and 
also  to  us.  Oh,  what  a  comfort,  to  know  that  she  loved  us  and 
appreciated  our  love  to  her  and  that  her  last  years  were  made 
joyous  even  in  the  midst  of  all  her  sufferings  by  the  letters  and 
visits  of  her  children  who  were  dearer  to  her  than  life. ' ' 

In  a  letter  to  William,  he  has  this  to  say  of  his  faithful 
helpmeet : 

"Dear  Mamma  has  been  very  busy  all  last  week  over  at 
the  hospital,  and  you  must  excuse  her.     She  is  doing  a  blessed 


522  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

work  of  unselfish  love  and  most  nobly  does  she  deport  herself 
in  every  respect.  I  will  not  say  I  am  proud  of  her,  but  I  will 
say  that  I  thank  God  with  profound  love  and  thankfulness  for 
such  a  blessed  helper  in  my  work." 

About  1875  he  purchased  the  mountain  home  in  which 
his  widow  of  upwards  of  four  score  years,  at  this  writing  still 
delights  to  spend  her  Summers.  Of  this  restful  retreat  he 
writes  his  former  fellow  student,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Eyster  of  Crete, 
Neb. : 

"I  am  a  farmer,  a  tiller  of  the  soil  in  my  old  days.  Provi- 
dentially I  was  directed  to  a  retreat  in  the  mountains  above 
Uniontown,  Pa.,  last  Summer.  My  health  was  so  much  benefit- 
ed that  I  concluded  to  buy  me  a  cabin  and  go  there  wdth  my  family 
during  the  hot  season  of  Summer,  Br.  Waters  having  his  Sol- 
diers' home  there.  I  was  induced  to  find  a  small  farm  in  the 
vicinity,  and  purchased  it.  Part  is  stony,  but  the  view  is  wond- 
rous, overlooking  a  sweep  of  fine  country  some  twenty  or  thirty 
miles  in  extent.  My  boys  are  there  with  ]\Irs.  Passavant,  living 
in  the  old  log  cabin,  which  has  been  comfortably  fixed  up  and  is 
now  our  mountain  home.  It  is  a  great  relief  to  tired  nature  to 
get  up  into  the  clear  atmosphere  and  sleep  under  blankets,  when 
people  are  roasting  in  the  plains  below.  But  it  is  a  greater 
consolation  to  know  that  one  has  both  employment  and  pleasure 
for  the  children  during  the  long  Summer  vacation  and  that  the 
boys  come  back  to  their  lessons  in  September  as  new  men  in  a 
new  work." 

Dr.  Passavant  as  we  have  seen  could  never  take  an  idle  vaca- 
tion. He  loved  the  country.  He  reveled  a  few  days  every  Sum- 
mer in  his  mountain  retreat.  But  he  always  had  his  grip  full  of 
letters  to  answer,  demands  for  'copy'  or  memoranda  of  letters 
to  Avrite  to  all  parts  of  the  Church  where  counsel  or  caution 
seemed  to  be  needed.  He  counted  those  Summer  days,  largely 
spent  in  the  cabin  dining  room  at  a  table  littered  with  letters, 
as  rest  days. 

But  he  was  always  concerned  that  other  weary  toilers  should 
rest.  His  mountain  home  was  an  open  hospice.  Every  weary 
worker  was  welcome  there.  Here  is  a  sample  of  his  considera- 
tion for  his  tired  fellow-worker,  pastor  Berkemeier,  and  of  his 
Isrge-hearted   hospitality: 

"I  know  you  are  'aufgerieben'  and  how^  much  you  need 
such  a  trip.  Br.  Holls  is  in  the  same  state.  So  am  I.  Now, 
as  Wheeling  is  your  old  home  and  church  and  the  Pittsburg 


THIEL  COLLEGE,  ETC.  523 

Synod  ditto,  I  beg  you  to  have  your  son,  'Brick'  down  to  New 
York  by  the  Monday  morning  train  so  as  to  get  his  instructions 
for  the  following  week.  He  must  help  you  as  you  have  often 
helped  him  or  dear  Brother  Schmidthenner  will  also  most  at- 
tentively look  after  your  duties  twice  or  three  times  a  day  until 
your  return.  Do  not  refuse,  but  be  at  the  synod  the  week  after 
next  and  then  visit,  collect  and  rest  for  a  tew  days  on  the 
glorious  mountains.  You  will  lodge  in  my  cabin.  Bismark  will 
see  that  no  other  dogs  come  near.  Dettmar  will  keep  up  a  large 
supply  of  blackberries,  Mrs.  Passavant  will  delight  to  cook  her 
cabbage  and  make  'double  deckers'  of  berry  potpie  and  even 
poor  Phillip  will  do  all  in  his  power  to  make  you  happy.  If  dear 
Mrs.  Berkemeier  comes,  so  be  it,  none  will  be  more  welcome.  Our 
cabin  can  be  extended  like  an  omnibus  and  tw^elve  can  sit  at  the 
table.  Mrs.  P.  will  be  truly  glad  to  have  you  and  her  and  Rev. 
Holls  and  myself  altogether  in  our  Patmos. " 

In  an  editorial  on  Lutheran  colleges,  he  speaks  very  highly 
of  Luther  College,  Decorah,  Iowa.  After  commending  its  thor- 
ough classical  course  and  especially  its  daily  instruction  in  the 
divine  "Word,  in  Luther's  catechism  and  Church  History,  as  well 
as  the  attention  it  gives  to  English,  he  concludes : 

"If  we  followed  up  our  impulse,  we  would  be  happy  to  re- 
fer, in  conclusion,  to  the  quiet  and  successful  labors  of  Presi- 
dent Larson  and  his  associates  in  the  Faculty  and  Board  of 
Trustees  in  building  up  this  very  noble  Institution.  But  they 
neither  seek  nor  accept  the  praises  of  men,  most  thankful  to 
work  on  in  silence  and  leaving  all  the  results  with  God,  to  give 
all  the  glory  to  Him." 


524  TEE  LIFE  OF  F.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH.— LETTERS —JOURNEYS.— 
REFLECTIONS.— REPROOFS.— DELIVERANCES. 

"We  have  often  noted  the  warm  and  intimate  friendship  that 
existed  between  Dr.  Passavant  and  Dr.  Krauth.  When  the  latter 
died,  January  2,  1883,  the  Doctor's  heart  was  deeply  moved. 
In  the  Workman  he  writes: 

"In  the  soreness  of  this  great  bereavement,  and  in  the 
loneliness  we  have  since  felt,  we  find  ourselves  wholly  incom- 
petent to  express  what  would  do  justice  to  his  great  worth.  It 
must  suffice  for  the  present  to  say  that  he  w^as  truly  a  prince  in 
Israel.  The  son  of  a  noble  sire,  he  grew  up  in  the  sanctity  of  a 
Christian  home  and  in  the  atmosphere  and  surroundings  of 
C'hristian  nurture  and  sanctified  learning.  His  personal  expe- 
rience, history  and  studies  led  him  through  the  various  schisms, 
sects,  tendencies  and  systems  of  religion  and  philosophy  in  vogue 
for  the  last  half  century ;  and,  in  the  wonderful  providence  of  God, 
in  spite  of  prejudice,  choices  and  strong  affections  he  came  to  the 
conviction  that  the  true  solution  of  the  troubles  of  Protestant- 
ism was  in  the  loving  reception  of  the  Divine  Word  as  confessed 
by  the  Lutheran  Church.  What  this  position  cost,  to  a  nature, 
generous,  sensitive  and  catholic,  it  is  not  possible  to  express. 
It  caused  him  nights  of  waking  and  days  of  suffering.  In  the 
midst  of  all  the  goings  forth  of  life  and  love,  it  for  a  time 
left  him  well-nigh  alone.  His  name  was  cast  out  as  evil. 
He  lost  the  regard  of  former  associates  and  brethren.  He 
was  looked  upon  as  one  who  dreamed.  Men  counted  his  life 
a  failure  and  his  learning  foolishness.  But  none  of  these  things 
moved  him.  He  took  no  steps  backward.  He  went  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures  with  new  love  for  the  divine  communications.  How 
he  grew  strong  and  great,  thus  alone  with  God,  and  powerful 
before  men  in  the  defence  of  the  divine  Word,  the  whole  Church 
knows;  for  the  infiuence  of  his  studies  and  his  writings  has  in- 
fused into  it  a  new  and  diviner  life.  To  human  vision  it  would 
seem  as  if  his  life  work  was  unfinished;  that  his  vast  learning 
had  been  scarcely  utilized,  and  that  the  preparations  he  had 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC.  525 

made  for  a  system  of  Lutheran  Theology  and  for  other  needed 
treatises  were  now  little  more  than  time  and  labor  lost.  But  we 
cannot  regard  it  so.  The  library  he  gathered,  the  pleasant  toil 
of  a  lifetime,  is  yet  among  us.  Out  of  its  accumulated  treasures 
will  come  forth  things  new  and  old  in  God's  time.  The  con- 
sciousness of  the  truth  confessed  by  the  Church  he  so  much 
loved,  and  to  awaken  which  he  contributed  so  largely,  will  grow 
with  the  increasing  love  for  the  divine  oracles.  The  future,  with 
its  blessed  unfoldings,  will  yet  reveal  his  great  work,  not  now 
visible  to  the  eye  of  sense;  and  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  Head  over 
all  things  to  His  Church  shall  have  all  the  praise." 

In  an  editorial  he  thus  refers  to  his  hopes  and  fears  for  the 
still  embryonic  Luther  League : 

"If  all  the  music  is  not  taken  out  of  me,  it  is  because  of 
'the  mighty  prop  of  the  sustaining  God,'  and  nothing  else.  In 
this  I  can  and  do  rejoice  and  praise  God  for  His  great  mercy. 
Between  the  Workman  and  all  the  other  duties,  I  have  so  little 
spirit  left  that  I  cannot  write  as  I  would  about  many  things, 
or  give  them  much  thought.  That  is  the  case  in  regard  to  the 
efforts  of  the  young  men  in  New  York  and  their  alliance  efforts. 
I  never  was  'hefty'  (as  the  Yankees  say)  about  any  outward 
unions,  though  I  am  not  so  blind  as  not  to  admit  that  mutual 
fellowship  and  brotherly  coming  together  will  do  much  good; 
but  my  thoughts  have  always  been  directed  rather  to  the  unity 
in  the  faith,  from  the  reverential  study  of  the  Word,  and  I  have 
always  believed  that  the  outward  organization  must  come  from 
the  inner  consciousness  of  oneness  in  the  faith,  and  the  repro- 
duction of  the  life  of  Christ  in  the  Church.  The  union  or  unity 
is  already  perfect  among  those  who  accept  the  same  faith,  not 
merely  'the  letter  which  killeth,  but  the  spirit  of  that  faith 
which  giveth  life';  so  I  work  on,  to  try  to  remove  prejudice 
and  party  spirit  against  the  faith,  and  am  satisfied  to  leave  all 
in  the  hands  of  God.  ^Es  soil  uns  dock  gelingen.'  " 

That  he  was  sometimes  almost  overcome  by  the  accumula- 
tions of  difficult  tasks,  is  evident  from  this,  written  to  Berke- 
meier,  May  13,  1885: 

"Life  has  been  very  laborious  since  I  last  saw  you.  Indeed 
it  has  been  one  continued  strain  all  the  time,  day  and  night. 
These  three  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-five  week  ab- 
sences are  all  well  enough.  But  when  I  get  home,  to  strike  a 
land-slide  of  letters  on  the  track  which  requires  a  month  of  hard 
shoveling  and  wheeling  to  get  it  out  of  the  road,  and  from  one 


526  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  F  ASSAY  ANT. 

hundred  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  appeals  and  bills  are  on  my 
table,  and  not  a  dollar  of  money,  with  each  new  mail  bringing  in 
additional  matter,  it  seems  as  if  the  whole  hill  were  loose  and 
coming  down  upon  me !  But  what  a  mercy,  that  I  yet  live  and  am 
spared  to  go  through  these  labors. 

"I  was  out  at  Zelienople  last  week  and  got  back  Saturday 
night.  'Was  fuer  Gedankep!'  How  did  my  thoughts  wander 
back  to  the  corner-stone  laying  in  the  old  oak  grove  when  you 
were  present  and  made  an  address !  Oh,  what  changes  since  then. 
Brother  Bassler  and  Mrs.  Gottlieb  in  their  graves;  Mr.  Dieben- 
dorfer  also;  our  dear  brother  Reck  also;  poor  Mr.  Schweitzer- 
barth ;  my  parents  likewise,  and  so  many  more !  All  gone  to  the 
treasure  house  above!  And  we  yet  live  and  our  precious  house- 
holds also!  Thanks  be  to  God  for  His  unspeakable  gift.  But 
our  poor  brother  Holls,  a  wreck  and  now  resigned,  and  another 
to  take  his  place!  Oh,  how  sad,  how  unspeakably  sad,  and  how 
great  the  loss  to  us  and  to  the  cause." 

'  From  an  editorial  on  the  death  of  his  life-long  friend.  Dr. 
E.  Greenwald,  we  take  the  following. 

"A  truer  and  more  beautiful  type  of  personal  Christianity 
thau  Dr.  Greenwald,  it  would  be  difficult  to  imagine.  Modest, 
pure,  conscientious,  eminently  loving  and  singularly  guileless, 
he  stood  forth  before  all  men  as  a  Christian  man,  'full  of  faith 
and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.'  Of  modern  religiousness  without  re- 
ligion, he  knew  nothing.  In  his  case,  engrafting  into  Christ  in 
holy  baptism  M'as  the  beginning  of  that  divine  life  which  was 
carried  on  by  'the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Spirit'  and  made  per- 
fect by  constantly  growing  more  and  more  into  the  likeness  of 
his  blessed  Lord. 

"It  was,  however,  as  a  minister  of  Christ  that  he  excelled, 
'laboring  more  abundantly'  and  'making  full  proof  of  his  minis- 
try '  unto  the  very  last.  Knowing  him  intimately  for  nearly  half 
a  century,  we  can  say  with  truth  that  we  never  knew  any  man 
to  whom  the  preaching  of  the  Divine  Word  was  a  greater  privi- 
lege. To  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  was  a  source 
of  the  purest  joy,  and  not  to  be  able  to  preach,  the  cause  of 
keenest  suffering.  When  in  Ohio,  for  upwards  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  went  everywhere  preaching  the  Word.  In  private 
dwellings,  barns,  schoolhouses,  and  in  the  forest  sanctuary,  he 
testified  to  all  of  the  power  and  grace  of  God.  He  did  the 
same  at  Easton,  riding  between  services  to  Freemansburg,  build- 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC.  52T 

ing  a  church  here  and  gathering  a  congregation  of  colored 
people,  and,  after  a  thorough  instruction,  organizing  them  into 
a  Lutheran  Church.  What  he  did  in  Lancaster  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  mention.  His  works  praise  him  in  the  gates.  He  studied, 
visited  and  worked  systematically,  and  verily  his  labors  were  not 
in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Of  their  magnitude  few  have  any  idea. 
A  single  fact  will  answer  for  all.  When  called  home,  he  had 
just  completed  a  visitation  of  his  large  congregation,  during 
which  five  hundred  visits  had  been  made.  In  all  these  he  paid 
no  formal  compliments,  but  from  house  to  house  warned  ever^ 
man  and  counselled  every  one  to  seek  and  serve  God.  In  all 
his  vast  systematic  and  incidental  visitations  there  was  no  pref- 
erence as  to  earthly  condition,  and  the  poor  and  rich  were  alike 
the  objects  of  loving  solicitude.  Even  where  persons  removed 
to  other  places,  he  followed  them  with  kindly  messages  and  by 
special  letters  to  resident  pastors,  commended  them  to  their  spe- 
cial care  and  sought  their  spiritual  welfare.  He  could  say  as 
but  few  can  do :  '  I  am  free  from  the  blood  of  all  men. '  ' ' 

To  his  son,  William,  then  in  Leipsic,  he  writes  under  date, 
February  27,  1886: 

"Your  letters  to  us,  dear  Will,  have  been  a  source  of  great 
amusement,  instruction  and  benediction.  We  rejoice  with  you 
as  only  loving  parents  can  and  thank  God  for  His  kindly  care 
over  you  in  all  your  wanderings.  It  seems  so  true  that  'He 
leadeth  the  blind  by  a  way  that  they  know  not.'  When  we 
know  but  little  through  the  actual  experience  of  life,  how  help- 
less we  are.  How  entirely  dependent  on  God.  We  are  like 
Peter.  We  'gird  ourselves.'  As  you  once  said,  'We  rely  on  our 
mettle. '  But  as  we  grow  older  in  grace,  to  say  nothing  of  years, 
we  find  that  we  are  very  helpless  and  can  do  nothing  alone. 
Even  the  mettle,  or  physical  and  mental  force,  is  God's  gift 
which  He  gives  us  or  lends  us,  and  which  in  a  moment  He  can 
take  away.  The  sad  experience  of  a  lifetime  has  been  necessary, 
to  teach  me  all  this  and  I  feel  more  than  ever  the  words  of 
Christ :  'Without  me,  you  can  do  nothing.'  Our  greatness,  there- 
fore, is  to  consist  in  our  littleness:  our  ability,  in  our  inability 
to  do  anything,  giving  ourselves  to  God,  casting  all  our  burdens 
upon  Him  and  following  His  guidance.  This  is  the  only  true 
pathway  for  us.  Thus  M-e  will  meet  our  Lord,  walk  with  Him, 
talk  with  Him,  and,  as  Paul  said,  'be  able  to  do  all  things  through 
Christ  which  strengtheneth  us.' 


528  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASS AV ANT. 

"You  will  want  to  know  what  I  am  doing  here  in  Chicago. 
Well,  after  innumerable  delays,  hindrances,  etc.,  the  institution 
is  at  last  ready  again  for  patients 

"While  I  write,  a  second  surgical  patient  has  been  brought 
in.  The  first,  a  poor  Norwegian  woman  from  Wisconsin.  The 
one  now  entering  is  a  German  young  man  who  pays,  from 
Peoria.  So,  dear  son,  after  long  waiting  and  praying,  hoping 
and  believing  for  fourteen  years  since  the  great  fire  in  '72,  the 
new  building  stands  on  the  site  of  the  first  Swedish  Church  in 
Chicago.  God's  hand  is  seen  so  clearly  in  all,  that  He  shall  have 
all  the  praise" 

On  the  occasion  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  ordination 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Walther,  the  Nestor  of  the  Missouri  Synod, 
Dr.  Passavant  wrote  this  appreciative  editorial: 

"Wonderful  indeed  are  the  ways  of  God  with  His  Church 
on  earth.     Among  the  little  group  of  ministers  who  for  con- 
science' sake  withdrew  from  the  Lutheran  State  Church  of  Sax- 
ony upwards  of  forty-six  years  ago,  and,  joining  their  destiny 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Stephan,  emigrated  with  several  hundreds  of  their 
people  to  the  western  world,  was  Rev.  Pastor  Walther,  then 
a  young  man.     The  first  results  were  terrible.     One  vessel  with 
all  on  board  disappeared  and  was  never  heard  of  again.     Ar- 
riving in  New  Orleans,  the  cholera  was  raging  there;  and  on 
their  way  to  St.  Louis,  many  became  victims  to  its  deadly  rav- 
ages.    But  worse  than  shipwreck  and  pestilence,  Stephan,  once 
a  beloved  and  Evangelical  pastor  in  Dresden,  on  whose  ministry 
thousands  waited  in  anxious  concern,  was  discovered  to  have 
fallen  into  deadly  sins !  To  all  these  came  doctrinal  errors,  spirit- 
ual tyrannies  and  hierarchial  tendencies,  which  had  eaten  as  a 
cancer  into  the  souls  of  ministers  and  people.     Stephan  was 
deposed,  but  the  whole  colony  seemed  a  wreck,  and  out  of  the 
depths  an  agonizing  cry  went  up  to  God  for  mercy.     Sin  was 
confessed  before  the  world.    Under  the  teachings  of  the  immortal 
Luther,  the  truth  of  Christ  was  discovered  and  error  abandoned. 
The  shattered  remains  of  these  smitten  flocks  were  gathered  to- 
gether, a  parochial  school  was  established,  the  blessed  Word  of 
God  was  preached,  and  out  of  this  humble  beginning  largely 
under  the  influence  of  this  eminent  servant  of  Christ,  a  synod 
has  since  grown  up  with  nearly  one  thousand  pastors  and  seven 
hundred  parochial  school  teachers,  who  labor  in  nearly  twelve 
hundred    congregations, — figures    not    far    from    those    of    the 
Lutheran  State  Church  of  Saxony! 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR,  KRAUT H,  ETC.  529 

"It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  German  Protestantism  in 
America  is  indebted,  under  God,  to  no  one  man  in  the  present 
century  more  than  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Walther.  Leaving  out  every- 
thing peculiar,  which  goes  by  the  name  of  '  Missourianism, '  his 
testimony  for  fundamental  Evangelical  truth,  with  its  living 
center,  justification  alone  by  faith  in  Christ,  has  nowhere  been 
exceeded  in  fullness  and  strength,  while  all  that  relates  to  the 
rights  of  the  churches,  the  duties  of  the  membership  and  the  office 
of  the  ministry  have  found  in  him  a  most  able  advocate,  in  the 
pulpit,  the  professor's  chair  and  the  religious  press.  His  labors 
in  all  these  spheres  have  been  tireless  and  the  result  wonderful. 
No  marvel  that  on  the  fiftieth  anniverary  of  his  ordination  such 
manifestation  of  love  and  gratitude  should  be  made  by  pastors 
and  people  to  one  so  justly  revered.  The  purse  of  three  thousand 
for  his  own  use,  contributed  by  the  pastors,  and  the  endowment 
of  a  professorship  by  the  churches  to  bear  his  name,  are  only 
faint  expressions  of  an  affection  as  sincere  as  it  is  deserving." 

We  have  seen  the  personal  interest  and  effort  of  Dr.  Pass- 
avant  in  his  younger  days  in  behalf  of  the  colored  people.  His 
interest  and  sympathy  remained'  to  the  end.  When  the  weight 
and  weariness  of  old  age  were  upon  him,  when  the  burdens  and 
labors  of  his  institutions  were  growing  heavier,  -when  he  had 
assumed  the  responsibility  of  the  Chicago  Seminary,  he  was 
quietly  and  effectively  helping  to  start  a  work  among  the  freed- 
men  of  North  Carolina  which  doubtless  would  have  grown  to 
blessed  proportions  if  he  had  lived  and  if  it  had  been  carried  on 
in  his  spirit. 

In  his  younger  years,  he  had  learned  to  know,  appreciate 
and  befriend  the  Rev.  D.  Alexander  Payne.  This  gifted  man  of 
pure  African  blood  had  been  a  slave  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bachman 
of  Charleston,  S.  C.  That  good  man  had  noticed  the  eager- 
ness and  ability  of  this  bright  black  boy  to  learn  and  had  en-  ^ 
couraged  and  assisted  him  at  home.  He  had  instructed  and 
confirmed  him  and  had  afterwards  sent  him  to  Pennsylvania 
College  and  to  the  Seminary  there.  Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker  and 
the  other  professors  had  assisted  him,  and  he  graduated  at  both 
college  and  seminary.  Mr.  Payne  was  licensed  by  the  Hartwick 
Synod  and  became  a  member  of  that  body.  But  no  permanent 
work  was  found  for  him,  and  when  he  appealed  to  the  authorities 
at  Gettysburg,  he  was  informed  that  the  Lutheran  Church  had 
no  field  among  the  colored  people.  These  men  advised  him  to- 
go  into  the  African  M.  E.  Church.    This  he  did  very  reluctantly, 


530  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

but  threw  his  whole  soul  into  the  work  of  lifting  up  his  brethren. 
He  never  forgot  the  influence  and  instruction  of  his  former 
master,  Dr.  Bachman.  He  saw  that  what  his  people  needed 
above  all  else  was  simple,  solid  instruction  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. He  was  the  beginner  and  promoter  of  the  educational 
system  in  the  body  of  which  he  soon  became  a  leader  and  after- 
wards a  bishop.  He  became  the  founder  and  builder  of  Wilber- 
f orce  University  and  was  in  every  way  the  greatest  and  grandest 
man  in  his  communion. 

Dr.  Passavant  never  lost  sight  of  him  and  often  encouraged 
him  by  letter  and  by  gift  in  his  arduous  labors.  The  Doctor 
also  knew  that,  if  the  Lutheran  Church  had  known  the  day  of 
her  visitation,  she  would  have  used  Mr.  Payne  for  the  opening 
of  a  great  field  for  a  great  work  among  the  sable  sons  of 
Africa.  He  knew  that,  at  the  time  when  the  promising  young 
Payne  offered  his  services,  the  valley  of  Virginia  was  full  of 
Lutheran  slaves  and  freedmen  whom  he  could  have  evangelized 
and  organized  into  Lutheran  congregations.  He  knew  that  the 
Lutheran  Church  might  thus  have  cultivated  the  fruitful  field 
which  she  left  to  others;  and  her  record  for  work  among  the 
negroes  might  have  been  an  added  glory  instead  of  a  pitiful 
apology. 

Dr.  Passavant  often  referred  to  these  things  in  his  private 
letters  and  editorials.  In  the  Workman  of  November  22,  1888, 
he  speaks  thus  of  these  people  and  of  Bishop  Payne.  He  also 
publishes  the  appended  letter  from  the  aged  bishop : 

"Like  the  destitute  in  all  lands,  these  people  are  the 
children  of  our  common  Father,  the  objects  of  divine  love,  the 
subjects  of  redeeming  mercy  and  the  heirs  with  us  to  an  endless 
existence.  Whatever  we  may  do  for  the  heathen  abroad,  we 
dare  not  overlook  these  needy  millions  at  home,  who  have  come 
out  of  the  house  of  bondage  as  Israel  of  old,  demoralized  and 
sorely  in  need  of  the  uplifting  hand  and  saving  mercy  of 
Christ. 

"We  have  spoken  in  previous  issues  of  the  labors  of  a  de- 
vout young  man  whom  the  late  Dr.  Bachman  had  encouraged  in 
his  early  struggles  to  acquire  an  education.  More  than  half  a 
century  has  passed  since  Daniel  Payne  graduated  from  the  Get- 
tysburg Seminary.  That  modest  youth  is  now  a  venerable  man, 
crowned  alike  with  honors  and  ^Yith  years,  and  the  senior 
bishop  of  a  colored  communion  of  upwards  of  three  hundred 
thousand  members!  He  has  never  forgotten  the  Church  which 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTS,  ETC.  531 

reached  out  to  him  a  helping  hand  in  the  dark  days  of  his  feeble 
beginnings  and  we  are  glad  to  have  the  weight  of  his  opinion 
in  regard  to  the  duty  of  the  Lutheran  Church  towards  the  col- 
ored people  in  this  land.  No  one  is  better  qualified  than  Bishop 
Payne  to  form  a  correct  judgment  on  the  question  whether  the 
Church  of  the  Reformation  has  a  mission  among  the  freedmen 
also.  "We  have  therefore  asked  and  obtained  his  consent  to  make 
public  the  letter  below  which  was  designed  only  to  be  a  private 
one.  We  ask  for  it  a  careful  perusal  by  all  thoughtful  readers 
who,  with  us,  are  anxiously  inquiring:  'Lord,  what  wouldst  Thou 
have  us  do?' 

'Evergreen   Cottage,  Wilberforce,   0. 

Nov.  7,  1888. 
Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Passavant, 
Rev.  and  Dear  Brother; 

Your  kind  remembrance  of  May  10  came  to  hand  while  I 
was  attending  our  conference  in  the  city  of  Indianapolis.  I  was 
quite  sick  at  the  time  and  too  busy  since,  holding  annual  confer- 
ences and  attending  to  official  duties,  to  write  such  a  letter  as 
I  desired. 

'I  have  also  read  your  editorial,  in  relation  to  the  colored 
people,  in  the  Workman  of  May  10  and  hope  that  it  may  stimu- 
late the  Lutheran  Church  to  follow  the  good  example  of  other 
denominations  and  gather  into  her  fold  some  of  the  millions  of 
the  colored  race,  who  are  multiplying  in  the  South  as  the  stars 
in  the  skies  and  who  need  all  the  help  which  Protestants  can  be- 
stow, to  rescue  them  from  ignorance  and  the  vices  and  crimes 
resulting  therefrom,  as  well  as  from  the  evil  habits  and  customs 
engendered  by  upwards  of  two  centuries  of  abject  slavery. 

'The  A.  M.  E.  Church  is  doing  what  is  in  her  power,  to  lead 
the  wandering  millions  into  the  bosom  of  the  Church  of  the 
Living  God.  But  her  deep  poverty  renders  her  too  feeble  to  do 
more  than  a  tithe  of  service.  Oh,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  would 
move  the  heart  of  the  Lutheran  Church  to  work  among  the 
colored  people,  according  to  her  ability.  Luther  ought  to  be 
as  widely  and  intimately  known  down  South  among  the  colored 
Christians  as  Calvin,  Knox  or  Wesley.  His  anti-popish  spirit 
which  always  stimulated  to  Protestant  activity  is  needed  more 
than  ever,  now  that  Rome  is  making  conquests  among  the  freed- 
men. 

'Tens  of  thousands  of  colored  people  could  be  led  into  the 


532  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA88AVANT. 

bosom  of  your  denomination  and  into  tlie  Church  of  the  Living 
God  through  her  efforts,  if  the  right  kind  of  missionaries  were 
sent  to  win  them  for  the  Savior.  May  our  covenant  God  bless  her 
for  the  preparation  she  gave  me  to  work  in  the  fertile  field  into 
which  his  inscrutable  pj'ovidence  has  manifestly  called  me.  And 
with  your  advancing  age  may  He  bestow  upon  you  increasing 
wisdom  and  power  to  work  for  Him.     Fraternally  yours, 

Daniel  Alex.  Payne.'  " 

To  Mr.  F.  Schack  of  Waverly,  low^a,  who  for  years  had  been 
his  intimate  friend  and  generous  helper,  he  writes,  February  24, 
1889: 

"This  time  I  write  in  behalf  of  a  new  and,  I  believe,  a 
providential  work  which,  notwithstanding  years  of  earnest  ap- 
peal by  our  white  brethren  in  the  South,  I  absolutely  declined 
to  engage  in  unless  'necessity  was  laid  upon  me.'  In  the  first 
part  of  December,  1888,  a  piteous  cry  for  mercy  came  to  me 
from  Rev.  W.  P.  P.  of  Concord,  N.  C,  imploring  me  for  the 
love  of  Christ  to  do  something  to  arouse  our  Church  to  come  to 
bis  aid  in  teaching  and  preaching  among  his  colored  country- 
men. He  and  the  Rev.  D.  I.  K.  were  struggling  with  poverty 
and  want  in  preaching  the  pure  Word  of  God  and  both  have 
large  and  dependent  families.  His  sole  income  was  ten  cents  a 
week  from  each  of  thirty  children  in  his  parochial  school,  while 
thirty  others  from  five  to  forty  years  of  age  were  so  poor  that 
they  could  pay  little  or  nothing.  In  addition  to  this,  I  learned 
that  while  he  -worked  during  the  odd  hours  of  the  week  at  such 
jobs  as  he  could  get  and  preached  to  his  little  flock  of  thirty-five 
communicants  on  Sunday,  he  traveled  by  rail  to  Charlotte  and 
was  doing  earnest  missionary  work  there  for  the  pittance  which 
the  people  put  into  the  hat  collection.  This  was  scarcely  suffi- 
cient to  pay  his  expenses,  and  once  he  failed  to  get  to  Char- 
lotte for  the  want  of  money.  The  poor  man  modestly  asked  for 
old  clothing,  old  shoes  and  hats,  and  his  simple  w^ords  of  en- 
treaty nearly  broke  my  heart.  I  at  once  wrote  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
C.  of  C.  and  Rev.  Mr.  B.  of  C.  concerning  the  doctrine,  character 
and  life  of  these  men  and  I  enclose  their  satisfactory  answer. 
The  next  step  was  to  send  a  little  money  which  had  been  sent  to 
me,  a  few  weeks  before,  wholly  unsolicited,  for  a  mission  among 
the  freedmen.  Then  I  sent  five  dollars  for  a  Christmas  treat 
of  cakes  and  peanuts  for  his  school  and  sixty  pretty  cards,  which 
had  been  donated  by  a  friend ;  next  I  sent  a  barrel  of  comfortable 
clothing  for  the  dominie,  his  mother  and  brothers  and  sisters, 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC  533 

and  also  an  amusing  variety  of  tinware,  etc.  of  some  twenty 
different  kinds  which  were  sold  to  me  very  cheaply  at  one  of 
our  stores,  together  with  slates,  etc.,  for  the  children.  Then,  in 
the  beginning  of  February,  I  sent  a  similar  barrel  with  a  new 
and  excellent  cloth  suit  made  to  order  for  the  elder  dominie,, 
with  clothing,  etc.,  for  the  children,  and  similar  supply  of  all 
manner  of  useful  tinware  and  household  conveniences.  It  would 
have  amused  you  beyond  measure  to  see  how  these  poor  neglected 
brethren  'revived  as  the  corn  and  the  wine'  under  this  little 
shower  of  charity.  It  is  a  new  life  to  them  and  they  now  have, 
as  one  of  them  writes,  'a  new  will  power'  to  go  forward  teaching 
and  preaching  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

"That  they  may  do  so  without  discouragement  of  poverty 
and  may  give  their  whole  time  to  this  proper  work,  I  have  ar- 
ranged to  send  them  each  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
month.  I  enclose  the  letter  which  acknowledges  the  last  remit- 
tance for  February  so  that  you  may  know  in  what  a  grateful 
spirit  these  poor  colored  brethren  are  working  and  in  what  way 
they  receive  the  aid  of  their  brethren.  All  but  forty  dollars 
has  been  paid  for  the  outlays  of  clothing  on  the  two  barrels  al- 
ready sent  and  their  monthly  dues  are  paid  in  full  to  March 
the  first. 

''What  may  be  the  future  issue  of  this  humble  beginning  1 
cannot  predict.  There  are  upwards  of  seven  millions  of  colored 
people  in  the  South  alone  and  at  the  rate  they  are  increasing 
there  will  be  ten  millions  in  a  few  years.  Surely  the  Church  of 
the  Reformation  has  a  work  among  those  ignorant  and  fanatical 
people,  just  as  it  had  amid  the  corruptions  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic Church  in  the  dark  ages.  If  we  succeed,  which  we  cannot 
doubt,  it  will  bring  new  life  to  our  American  Charch.  How  can 
we  hope  for  Christ's  presence,  if  we  longer  neglect  the  children 
of  enslaved  Africa  at  our  very  doors." 

When  Dr.  Hasselquist  learned  of  this  work,  he  wrote : 

"Dear  Brother:  God  bless  you  in  your  endeavor  to  do 
something  for  the  negroes.  Our  Church  ought  to  have  done 
much  for  that  unhappy  race.     But  alas,  we  have  slept  and  are, 

I  fear,  sleeping  yet;  at  least,  sleepy I  hope  you 

will,  by  and  by,  send  us  some  information  about  the  work  in 
North  Carolina." 

In  the  spring  of  1889,  the  Doctor  took  a  missionary  trip  to 
the  Pacific  coast.    We  had  tried  to  interest  him  in  establishing 


534  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS  SAVANT. 

a  hospital  in  Fargo,  N.  Dak.  He  stopped  with  us  and  looked  at 
several  properties.  He  doubtless  would  have  purchased  and  un- 
dertaken this  new  enterprise  if  he  would  have  been  assured  of 
two  things: 

First,  could  he  find  the  proper  head  and  helpers  for  such 
work  in  this  western  field? 

Second,  could  he  count  on  the  hearty  ^support  of  the  Nor- 
wegian and  Swedish  Lutherans  of  the  Red  River  Valley?  As 
both  of  these  points  were  uncertain,  he  concluded  to  await 
further  light  and  encouragement. 

After  preaching  to  a  Lutheran  union  mass  meeting  of  over 
a  thousand  people  in  the  Fargo  rink  on  the  Church's  Duty  to 
the  Suffering,  he  started  from  our  home  in  a  terrific  storm  at 
two  o  'clock  on  ]\Ionday  morning  for  Helena,  Montana.    There  he 
stopped  for  several  days,  gathered  together  what  Lutherans  he 
could  find  and  preached  to  them  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  hall.    He  be- 
lieved that  the  time  was  ripe  for  an  English  Mission  in  Helena 
and  secured  an  option  on  a  choice  lot  in  the  heart  of  the  city. 
He  also  purchased  a  large  ranch  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  for 
an  Orphans'  farm  school  and  a  Lutheran  college.    Then,  with  his 
heart  all  aflame  for  the  interests  of  his  dear   Church  in  the 
lew  West,  he  traveled  on  toward  the  setting  sun.      He  was 
deeply  interested  in  Spokane,  Seattle,  Tacoma  and  Portland.    In 
each  of  these  centers,  he  wanted  not  only   English  Lutheran 
churches,  but  also  institutions  of  learning  and  of  mercy.     He  was 
full  of  hopes  and  plans  for  the  future.     In  the  midst  of  it  all, 
he  received  a  telegram  that  the  main  building  of  the  Orphans' 
Farm  School  at  Zelienople  had  again  burned  to  the  ground. 
About  the  same  time,  came  the  fearful  flood  of  Johnstown,  Pa. 
The  whole  country  was  deeply  stirred  with  sympathy  and  poured 
out  its  benefactions  for  the  sufferers  of  that  stricken  city.     At 
such  a  time,  the  Farm  School  disaster  seemed  like  a  trifle  to  the 
public,  and  Dr.  Passavant  found  it  difficult  to  get  financial  help 
to  rebuild.    Before  us  are  several  letters  showing  that  his  heart 
was  almost  ready  to  sink.    Under  such  circumstances,  new  ven- 
tures in  the  West  could  not  be  considered.    Then  came  the  prep- 
aration   for   the   opening   of   the   Chicago    Seminary,   with   its 
anxieties  and  responsibilities.     And  on  the  heels  of  this  came 
one  of  the  severest  and  most  protracted  financial  panics  this 
country  has  ever  experienced.    What  wonder,  then,  that  during 
the  closing  years  of  his  busy  life  he  could  not  push  his  western 
projects  into  being?  But  is  it  not  an  additional  honor  to  him 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAVTH,  ETC.  535  . 

that,  at  his  time  of  life  and  with  the  many  burdens  already  upon 
him,  he  still  planned  and  prayed  and  hoped  for  the  expansion 
of  a  living,  loving  and  laboring  Church? 

How  his  plans  and  purposes  went  out  into  the  future  for 
the  Church  of  his  love  and  the  people  who  need  her  treasures 
and  blessings,  is  evident  from  this  extract  from  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Morris : 

"Have  bought  a  farm  of  one  thousand  acres  in  a  lovely  lo- 
cation twenty  miles  east  of  the  city  of  Helena.  No  Protestant 
Orphan  House  in  a  State  as  large  as  New  York,  Pennsylvania 
and  Delaware.  Have  also  entered  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
for  a  college  adjoining  the  orphan  farm,  and  hope  to  live  to 
see  something  for  Christ  and  the  Church  in  that  magnificent 
spot.  The  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  goes  through  the  place  and 
there  is  a  station  just  at  hand.  Have  had  this  land  for  three 
years,  and  am  carrying  it  with  'pains  and  prayers'  to  God,  look- 
ing up  to  the  hills  for  deliverance  and  salvation.  Say  nothing  to 
anyone.  But  when  you  can  offer  up  a  'Vater  Unser'  in  its  be- 
half, do  so  in  faith !  Oh,  may  this  place  yet  become  as  a  very 
garden  of  the  Lord!" 

But  here  we  must  also  refer  to  a  serious  wealmess  in  the 
good  Doctor,  a  weakness  that  many  of  his  friends  noted  and 
lamented.  It  caused  great  sorrow  and  anxiety  to  his  bright  and 
promising  son,  William,  and  indeed  to  all  his  family.  He  him- 
self seemed  utterly  unconscious  of  it  and  was  unable  to  realize 
or  admit  it. 

We  refer  to  his  habit  of  trying  to  do  everything  himself. 
He  was  the  power  behind  all  his  institutions.  He  was  director, 
board  and  management.  He  took  upon  himself  the  details  and 
the  drudgery  which  belong  to  a  common  clerkship.  He  was  pro- 
vider, purchaser,  market-man,  collector,  contractor,  bookkeeper, 
proof-reader,  copyist,  and  what  not.  With  all  his  immense  cor- 
respondence and  writing,  he  never  had  a  private  secretary  or  a 
stenographer.  Whether  he  felt  that  no  one  could  suit  him 
in  the  thousand  little  duties  that  he  took  upon  himself  and  that 
wasted  his  time  and  strength,  or  whether  it  was  a  streak  of 
heredity,  or  whether  what  was  at  first  a  necessity  grew  into  a 
habit  that  became  a  second  nature,  we  know  not.  But  we  know 
that  he  suffered  from  this  habit  and  believe  that  it  shortened 
his  life. 

No  one  felt  this  weakness  more  keenly  than  his  son  William. 
Before  us  lies  a  long,  plaintive  plea,  written  from  Germany,  in 


536  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  F  ASSAY  ANT. 

which  the  son  beseeches  the  father  to  change  his  ways,  take  him 
into  his  confidence,  and  thus  make  life  easier  for  himself.  But 
it  was  all  to  no  purpose.  Two  days  before  his  death  he  was 
correcting  proof-sheets  for  the  next  issue  of  The  Workman. 

When  the  modest  but  generous  Mr.  Schack,  mentioned 
above,  wanted  a  Lutheran  hospital  established  in  Waverly,  Iowa, 
he  invited  Dr.  Passavant  to  look  over  the  ground  and  give  ad- 
vice. After  showing  that  it  was  impossible  to  come  at  that  time, 
the  Doctor  writes: 

"In  regard  to  Waverly  as  a  location  for  a  hospital,  I  am 
not  prepared  to  say  much.  It  would  do  for  a  sort  of  retreat, 
especially  for  female  patients,  if  a  superior  physician  resided 
there.  But  it  might  better  be  the  location  for  a  Deaconess  In- 
stitution of  the  Iowa  Synod,  and  in  that  case  there  would  be  no 
difficulty  in  maintaining  it  or  obtaining  training  sisters  to  edu- 
cate the  young  women  who  would  come  from  the  churches  as  can- 
didates for  Deaconesses.  The  Deaconess  Institution  at  Neuen- 
dettelsau  would  doubtless  be  ready  to  spare  a  superior  old  sister 
to  train  the  probationers  and  with  a  couple  of  nursing  sisters 
and  one  to  take  charge  of  the  kitchen,  it  would  require  only  a  few 
weeks  to  have  both  the  hospital  and  the  training  house  in  run- 
ning order.  That  is  just  what  the  Iowa  Synod  needs  more  than 
anything  else.  Believe  me,  when  I  say  that  a  good  Deaconess 
Institution,  duly  organized  and  active  in  sending  out  well  trained 
sisters  for  hospitals,  orphans'  homes,  parishes  and  parochial 
schools,  would  be  an  indescribable  blessing  to  the  Church  in  the 
West. 

"In  this  way,  before  long,  a  hospital  of  such  Deaconesses 
could  be  established  in  Dubuque.  A  legacy  has  been  left  there 
for  such  a  purpose  and  I  was  approached  by  parties  there  some 
years  ago.  But  I  had  to  write  that  in  our  crippled  condition, 
we  had  no  vocation  to  go  there  or  undertake  an  additional  work. 
In  a  word :  Waverly  may  be  the  very  place  for  a  hospital,  but 
I  am  certain  that  it  would  be  an  admirable  location  for  a  Deacon- 
ess Motherhouse  in  connection  with  it  and  with  the  hospital  un- 
der its  care.  In  time,  there  would  go  forth  from  there  all  over 
the  land  a  band  of  sisters  that  would  accomplish  incalculable 
good  for  the  Church  and  for  suffering  humanity.  I  would  yet 
add  that,  as  at  Neuendettelsau,  other  merciful  charities  would 
grow  up  around  such  an  institution.  The  presence  of  the  col- 
lege in  Waverly  would  secure  to  such  an  Institution  the  neces- 
sary instruction  without  undue  cost ;  for  the  professors  would  be 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC.  537 

able  to  give  one  or  two  additional  hours  along  with  their  college 
work.  In  a  word,  one  hand  would  wash  the  other,  if  something 
of  this  kind,  like  a  training  house,  were  established  by  the  sisters 
in  connection  with  a  hospital. 

"My  judgment  and  experience  would  lead  me  to  advise  the 
organization  of  a  Deaconess  Institute  first,  by  securing  an  incor- 
poration, having  all  the  members  of  the  corporation  members  of 
Synod;  and  instead  of  having  the  property  donated  to  Synod, 
let  it  be  a  separate  corporation.  Take  the  best  laymen  and 
ministers  in  the  Synod  into  this  corporation,  so  as  to  give  the 
greatest  amount  of  activity  with  the  least  possible  friction. 

' '  The  Board  of  Managers  and  indeed  all  the  members,  in  or- 
der to  avoid  parties  in  the  Synod,  should  be  selected  by  the  old 
members  of  the  corporation  who  have  had  experience  in  such  a 
work.  Pardon  my  freedom  in  addressing  you  as  to  details. 
What  we  want  in  Deaconess  Institutions  is  to  have  the  liberty  to 
train  and  send  out  sisters  who  can  go  anywhere  where  the  Lord 
needs  them  to  do  something  for  Him — without  the  tangle  and 
worry  of  ignorant  'krakeelers'  of  which  every  Synod  has  its  own 
share.  Such  an  institution  would  be  an  arm  of  strength  to  the 
Iowa  Synod,  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  overestimate. ' ' 

Here  is  another  of  the  free,  expressive,  open  letters  on 
various  phases  of  church  matters,  in  which  he  opens  his  heart 
to  his  old  friend.  Dr.  Morris: 

"You  wonder,  dear  Doctor,  that  our  papers,  especially  our 
English  ones,  take  no  notice  of  the  slurs  and  sneers  of  Ohio, 
Missouri,  etc.,  against  the  Council.  The' reason  is  an  obvious  one. 
It  is  quite  useless  to  bother  about  them.  *I  doubt  whether  any 
amount  of  noticing  on  our  part  would  change  the  ideas  of  these 
queer  brethren.  They  believe  we  are  'dodging,'  that  we  are  'in- 
sincere,' that  this  is  that  and  that  is  this.  When  men  act  thus, 
we  can  only  let  them  say  what  they  please.  The  Council  has  its 
great  work  to  do  and  our  ministers  think  it  Hot  worth  while 
to  be  always  on  the  defense.  We  have  fairly  entered  upon  the 
education  and  missionary  work  and  the  result  is  most  inspiring. 
So  they  may  write  and  fuss  to  their  heart's  delight. — 'Es  geht 
uns  nichis  an,'  as  the  Germans  say. 

"The  death  of  so  many  of  my  old  friends  here  and  else- 
where has  made  me  feel  as  if  the  foundations  of  life  are  weaken- 
ing. I  have  been  highly  favored  with  health  but  of  late  years 
have  had  unusual  calamities  through  awful  fires  and  consequent- 
ly an  unusual  strain  on  body  and  mind.    The  last  two  years  have 


538  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

made  me  feel  quite  old.  Happily  you  do  not  realize  this,  though 
so  much  older,  and  I  truly  rejoice  in  the  mental  vigor  you  so 
richly  enjoy.  But  what  changes  have  we  not  both  seen  in  our 
Lutheran  Church.  Happily  the  late  ones  are  for  the  better  and, 
though  growing  old,  we  can  calml}'  look  into  the  future  with 
confidence  and  hope.  For  this  we  ought  to  be  especially  thank- 
ful. 

"The  situation  in  the  South  is  'slightly  mixed,'  but  they 
do  well  to  hasten  slowly.  One  of  the  causes  of  the  trouble  is 
Masonry.  This  I  learned  from  various  quarters,  hence  the  racket 
which  C.  and  some  others  are  making.  God  is  in  the  midst  of 
Zion  and  He  will  yet  rule.  Most  of  the  young  men  now  pre- 
paring for  the  ministry  are  in  the  Philadelphia  Seminary.  These 
young  men  are  taking  the  best  places.  In  this  way  time  may 
work  important  changes.  But  enough.  Remember  me  kindly  to 
the  ladies." 

Of  his  own  position  over  against  certain  Synodical  divisive 
and  distracting  tendencies,  he  speaks  freely  and  from  an  open 
heart  to  Dr.  Morris,  in  a  letter  dated,  January  15,  1890: 

"As  to  my  not  being  as  long  or  as  'broad'  as  my  son,  I 
care  not  in  the  least.  Those  ^ho  were  on  the  battle  field  of 
Western  Pennsylvania  and  know  what  radicalism  of  the  lowest 
kind  is  and  jvhat  it  does,  can  not  be  overly  in  love  with  it, 
whether  in  Ben  Kirby  tactics,  or  the  tactics  of  those  who  are 
tarred  with  the  same  stick.  I  fought  them  in  the  old  General 
Synod,  as  you  well  know;  and  you  nobly  helped  me  with  the 
Missionary  over  against  the  Ohserver.  I  opposed  them  in  debate 
at  York  and  at  Ft.  Wayne,  have  done  so  ever  since  and  mean  to 
do  so  in  a  Christian  way  till  I  die.  But  I  have  never  put  a  hair 
in  the  way  of  conservative  men  of  the  General  Synod.  On  the 
contrary,  I  have  always  advised  those  writing  to  me  for  counsel, 
to  stay  where  they  are  and  bear  their  testimony  for  the  truth 
and  do  nothing  to  divide  congregations  or  to  favor  secession. 
Only  last  week  I  did  so  in  the  case  of  one  who  wished  to  come 
to  us  and  so  I  expect  to  do  to  the  end.  In  the  matter  of  Dr. 
R's.  attack  on  the  'Common  Service,'  I  confess  I  feel  no  small 
indignation  that  a  mere  tyro  in  liturgies,  as  his  article  shows, 
should  write  ninety  pages  of  what?  To  encourage  the  use  of  the 
service  which  should  be  'common'  to  the  three  leading  bodies 
and  thus  prepare  the  way  in  our  large  towns  for  a  better  under- 
standing and  the  ingathering  of  our  scattered  people?  No!  But 
the  very  reverse  of  this,  the  raising  of  suspicions  of  Romanism 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAVTE,  ETC.  539 

and  Ritualism  and  the  discouragement  of  young  ministers  who 
attempt  the  introduction  of  the  Liturgy  among  the  people.  Dr. 
G.,  for  example,  has  deplored  the  opposition  of  these  men  at* 
the  convention  in  Allegheny,  as  undoing  all  he  tried  to  do  before 
in  the  improvement  of  his  service.  The  article  of  R's  will  have 
a  similar  effect  every^vhere  and  its  influence  will  be  felt  not  only 
in  Adams  Co.  but  in  our  future  ministry  over  the  land." 

Here  is  a  chatty  yet  weighty  letter  to  Dr.  Morris,  written 
in  1892. 

"Your  letter  of  the  eighteenth  was  duly  received  and  I 
hasten  to  reply.  It  is  so  pleasant  to  hear,  from  one  within  the 
veil,  of  what  is  going  on  in  the  Church,  that  I  could  wish  it  more 
in  my  power  to  write  to  you  about  many  things  and  to  get  cor- 
responding answers.  But  you  see  my  situation.  Alas !  that  I 
have  so  little  time  to  do  what  the  many  duties  of  each  interest 
require !  But  I  console  myself  that  it  is  better  to  put  certain 
ideas  into  execution  so  that  they  may  be  'handgreiflich/  than  to 
sit  down  and  be  satisfied  with  empty  talk  and  abstract  philoso- 
phizing. 

"Dr.  Mann's  death  makes  me  feel  specially  sad.  His  work, 
like  his  life  and  like  ours,  was  only  half  a  life  because  of  a  wrong 
theological  education  out  of  which,  like  so  many  of  us  poor  sin- 
ners, one  has  to  work  his  way  to  the  full  recognition  of  the  truth, 
by  long  and  painful  processes.  Even  now,  as  poor  Dr.  Ziegler 
once  said  to  me,  'I  feel  the  remains  of  the  un-Lutheran  Zwing- 
lian  system  still  in  me'  and  to  be  free  from  that  system  which 
we  imbibed  in  early  life,  in  our  student  years,  is  no  easy  thing. 
In  the  Pennsylvania  Synod,  the  old  ' ScJilendrian'  way  seems 
hard  to  give  up.  But  from  what  I  have  since  heard  of  the 
developments  of  certain  things  in  the  old  Synod,  there  certainly 
will  be  an  early  change.  True,  everything  goes  and  goes  slowly, 
but  a  new  impulse  has  been  given  the  Synod  by  the  discovery 
that  things  did  not  run  themselves  and  that  they  must  one  and 
all  put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel !  God  grant  that  the  con- 
sciousness of  this  may  be  as  life  from  the  dead ! 

*  *  How  I  wish  I  could  have  been  with  you  at  Nazareth !  By 
all  means,  dear  Doctor,  write  out  'A  Day  in  Nazareth,'  for  the 
Workman,  while  the  subject  is  yet  fresh  in  your  mind.  I  visited 
the  old  place  in  company  with  Bishop  Reineke  years  ago  and  was 
specially  edified  with  the  old  Whitefield  House,  now  the  seat  of 
their  Historical  Society,  and  with  the  monument  in  the  old 
cemetery  to  'Die  See  Gemeinde,'  who  came  to  Georgia  in  1742 


540  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  PA8SAVANT. 

with  John  Wesley.  Wesley's  journal  on  the  storm  at  sea,  when 
'the  Germans  calmly  sang  on,'  was  made  a  great  blessing  to  me 
in  calling  my  mind  to  the  privilege  of  knowing  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God  by  faith  in  Christ.  What  you  say  of  the  Mo- 
ravians of  the  present  day  is  only  too  true.  They  are  mostly 
Zwingiians  and' have  lost  the  simplicity  of  the  old  Moravian  faith 
which  drew  its  life  from  Christ  and  made  a  small  account  of 
'symbols'  and  mere  outward  signs. 

"I  feel  very  sad  about  the  College  Board  at  Gettysburg 
and  its  unaccountable  action.  They  mean  it  ill  for  the  truth, 
and  are  ready  to  make  a  constitution  where  none  exists,  in  order 
to  keep  down  and  out  the  Lutheran  faith;  but  all  this  will  avail 
them  nothing,  so  long  as  truth  is  stronger  than  error.  Oh,  how 
shame  will  cover  them  as  with  a  garment  a  few  years  hence, 
when  they  see  the  number  of  students  reduced  on  this  account 
and  that  from  their  leading  churches.     This  is  a  dead  certainty. 

"Still  the  Church  is  moving  onward  and  there  is  more  to 
encourage  us  than  ever  before,  for  sixty  years !  The  development 
of  the  Church  is  hindered  only  by  the  want  of  men  and  women 
and  the  lack  of  funds.  If  we  had  but  ten  thousand  dollars  to 
put  into  more  grounds  and  buildings  in  Chicago,  we  would  be 
able  to  accomplish  a  great  work.  Dr.  Weidner  writes  that 
twenty  students  are  already  enrolled  to  take  the  Post  Graduate 
course  and  are  studying  and  reading  laboriously.  We  think 
there  will  be  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  regulars  in  attendance 
when  the  session  begins  in  October.  Pray  for  us,  dear  Doctor, 
for  verily  the  Lord  hath  need  of  hundreds  of  earnest  men  in  the 
West.    Kind  greetings  to  all  the  family." 

How  highly  he  prized  the  privilege  of  preaching,  is  shown 
again  in  a  letter  of  February,  1892,  to  his  old  friend,  W.  F. 
Eyster : 

"You  speak  of  preaching  the  Word  as  a  'privilege.'  A 
most  blessed  privilege  it  is,  for  time  and  eternity.  When  I  re- 
signed my  church'  in  Pittsburg  in  1855  to  look  after  the  poor, 
I  was  led  by  the  call  of  a  single  lady  who  used  to  attend  my 
church  to  preach  in  Rochester,  Pa.,  twenty-five  miles  from  Pitts- 
burg. In  two  years  I  had  only  hearers  and  not  a  member.  Now 
on  the  territory  where  I  labored  alone,  we  have  four  ministers, 
with  seven  English  and  German  churches,  five  of  which  I  had 
the  happiness  of  organizing  and  also  of  building  five  churches. 
That  period  of  my  life,   living  in  Pittsburg  and  laboring  on 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTE,  ETC.  541 

Sundays  among  the  neglected,  I  regard  as  among  the  happiest 
of  my  ministerial  life,  and  shall  ever  look  back  and  thank  God 
'  for  the  day  of  small  things. '  Those  little  churches  are  often  the 
sources  from  which  the  Church  draws  her  best  ministers.  Such 
a  church  we  have  in  Butler  County,  Pa.,  where  a  few  humble 
people  were  formed  into  a  congregation.  Six  of  our  leading 
preachers  have  gone  out  from  that  one  congregation." 

Here  is  another  word  to  Dr.  Morris  which  incidentally 
shows  how  Dr.  Passavant's  unostentatious  private  charities  were 
helping  young  men  into  the  ministry: 

"Your  late  article  about  Luther  helping  poor  young  men 
who  were  studying  for  the  ministry  greatly  encouraged  me.  I 
have  several  such  on  my  string.  A  friend  today  assumes  the 
support  of  one  of  them,  paying  fifty  dollars  in  advance  every 
quarter.  Had  we  only  fifty  such  noble  men,  I  could  find  fifty 
worthy  students  over  the  land  for  our  different  seminaries. 
Nothing  pays  so  well  as  what  we  put  into  'brains  and  brawn,' 
provided  only  that  there  be  true  principle  and  real  piety  at  the 
bottom.  One  good  man  is  worth  a  dozen  of  institutions  and 
charities  for  the  whole  Church. ' ' 

When  a  change  of  charter  was  contemplated  at  Pennsylva- 
nia College,  and  Dr.  Morris  wrote  to  Dr.  Passavant,  the  latter, 
after  discussing  the  history,  the  men  and  the  measures  of  Get- 
tysburg, closes  a  keen  and  cutting  letter  thus: 

"The  Church  will  demand  an  institution  where  her  sons 
will  be  rooted  and  grounded  in  the  first  principles  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  among  which  baptism  is  first  mentioned.  This  will 
be  the  next  issue,  as  that  part  will  never  stand.  Mark  my  word. 
'Crittenden  compromises,'  like  'the  Missouri  Compromise,'  are 
mere  pontoon  bridges  to  carry  men  over  difficulties  for  a  time; 
but  the  battle  for  'the  Word  of  God  not  boundj  will  surely  come 
sooner  or  later  at  Gettysburg  as  at  Springfield,  and  some  one  will 
be  hurt.  The  Lutheran  heart  is  honest  and  when  once  enlight- 
ened, it  will  be  satisfied  with  nothing  but  the  Word  of  the 
Lord- which  remaineth  for  ever.  For  this  let  us  labor  and  pray, 
even  to  our  life's  ending." 

Here  is  another  chatty  letter  to  Dr.  Morris  full  of  judicious 
and  juicy  reflections  and  characterizations  of  men  and  move- 
ments : 

"Your  favor  came  to  hand  only  today,  or  rather  tonight, 
and  I  read  it  to  the  great  edification  of  the  ladies  of  the  house- 


542  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVA.NT. 

hold  wlio  enjoyed  it  with  keen  appreciation.  Even  the  pleasant 
thrusts  of  your  rapier  which  seemed  to  go  in  between  the  scales, 
created  many  a  merry  laugh.  What  you  say  of  a  certain  class, 
'nine  miles  behind  Reading,'  is  as  true  as  preaching.  Those  min- 
isters were  simply  fossils  and  the  Seminary  in  Philadelphia  has 
done  nearly  all  it  has  done  without  their  aid.  As  the  colored 
folks,  say,  '  They  are  of  no  account ; '  or  rather,  they  were  of  little 
account,  and  happily  most  of  them,  have  passed  away  into  their 
graves,  and  God  will  be  their  judge!  Still,  I  can  speak  of  the 
'undercurrent'  in  the  General  Synod,  for  I  am  in  confidential 
relations  and  correspond  with  quite  a  number  of  leading  men 
among  them  and  they  have  not  kept  back  from  me  their  sor- 
rows and  conflicts  on  account  of  their  own  brethren  'who  are 
ever  learning'  but  do  not  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
Even  in  the  case  of  Dr.  0.,  his  pleasant,  outspoken  and  admirable 
editorials  are  the  result  of  the  reaction  produced  by  the  flitting 
of  that  man,  H. ;  and  what  was  necessary  to  enable  them  to  speak 
boldly,  and  publicly  to  take  a  decided  position  in  the  paper, 
was  the  disgust  produced  by  H.  's  brazen  falsehood,  that  he  left 
the  Church  because  of  its  present  Romanizing  tendencies.  You 
will  notice  that  I  speak  of  this  in  the  last  number,  in  connection 
with  Springfield.  I  could  have  said  much  more,  but  the  praises 
of  the  Workman  would  have  been  embarrassing  to  the  professors 
in  the  Seminary,  and  I  forbore. 

"But  whether  'under'  or  'upper'  current,  the  change  is 
more  and  more  manifest  day  by  day  and  therein  I  rejoice;  yea, 
and  I  will  rejoice.  This  is  not  a  time  for  crimination,  but  for 
humiliation  and  prayer  to  God  for  the  divine  mercy.  "With  all 
our  boasting  in  the  papers,  and  our  complaining  on  both  sides, 
we  have  the  greatest  reasons  for  humiliation.  The  number  of 
our  candidates  is  not  only  miserably  small,  but  their  character, 
in  not  a  few  instances,  is  not  of  the  kind  that  the  Church 
should  rejoice  in.  We  need  not  only  goodish  young  men,  but 
those  who,  like  Luther,  Bunyan  and  Prof.  Walther,  have  come 
into  the  liberty  of  God's  dear  children  out  of  the  very  depths  of 
despair.  Oh,  what  dry  and  tame  and  unevangelical  rubljish  is 
not  preached  in  many  of  our  churches!  I  fear  much  of  our 
English  preaching  in  the  three  general  bodies  is  lacking  in 
direct  earnest  or  evangelical  teaching.  Else  why  this  meagre 
increase,  this  lack  of  conversions,  this  want  of  spiritual  power 
in  our  ministry  and  the  poverty  of  its  results  ?  I  could  tell  many 
things  on  this  sad  subject,  but  'hitherto  they  have  not  been  able 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC.  543 

to  hear  it.'  We  are  suffering  great  losses  on  account  of  this 
in  almost  every  community.  Still  there  is  a  change  going  on 
everj^vhere  for  the  better.  There  is  much  littleness,  much  jeal- 
ousy, much  evil  speaking,  and  a  great  lack  of  love  and  faith 
and  heroic  spirit  in  the  pastors  and  churches.     Come  Lord  Jesus, 

come  quickly,  and  bless  Thy  people  and  save  Thy  heritage ! 

' '  Your  remarks  about  the  Henkels  amused  us  all  very  much, 
and  I  think  you  would  be  surprised  if  you  visited  Newmarket, 
and  saw  those  people  and  noted  how  they  live  and  labor.  Why 
they  have  the  best  printing  establishment  in  the  valley  and  even 
the  ladies  of  Lutherville  got  their  paper  printed  there !  In  fact, 
those  people  are  a  mystery  to  me.  Without  a  Seminary  or  col- 
lege or  high  school  for  so  many  years,  and  with  the  miserable 
anti-seminary  and  anti-missionary  society  imposed  upon  them  by 
their  leader,  David  Henkel,  they  have  not  only  kept  alive  and 
working,  but  have  done  remarkably  well  under  such  discouraging 
circumstances.  There  was  good  blood,  gentle  blood,  in  their 
ancestry  and  'blood  will  tell,  in  cattle  and  in  men.'  Yes!  I 
am- truly  sorry  that  I  could  not  go  there!  It  would  have  been 
both  instructive  and  edifying  to  me 

''Yes,  dear  and  valued  friend,  we  bless  God  with  you  for 
your  remarkable  preservation  and  for  your  continued  cheerful- 
ness and  usefulness.  He  has  done  it  all !  I  was  seventy  in  Octo- 
ber and  you  are  eighteen  years  my  senior,  while  'your  eyes  are 
not  dim  or  your  natural  fire  abate.d. '  May  you  live  many  long 
and  pleasant  years,  to  be  the  solace  of  your  family  and  the 
center  towards  which  its  consolations  shall  flow.  I  would  write 
more,  but  have  just  got  a  dispatch  to  go  to  Zelienople  with  the 
early  train,  to  bury  an  eminent  friend  who  has  been  the  kind 
physician  of  the  Orphans'  Farm  School  for  the  past  thirty  years. 
His  death  is  a  great  loss  to  the  community  and  to  the  institution  ! 
Farewell,  with  the  love  of  the  household  to  you  and  all  yours. ' ' 

Here  is  a  frank  and  free  expression  on  the  state  of  the 
Church  and  the  hope  and  prospect  of  Lutheran  union,  written 
only  six  months  before  his  own  death  to  his  bosom  friend  in  the 
General  Synod,  Dr.  Morris: 

"In  like  manner  I  have  voted  steadily  for  free  conferences 
from  the  very  organization  of  the  Council,  but  the  Missouri 
Synod  as  well  as  the  General  Synod  have  declined  every  effort 
on  our  part  to  bring  about  a  better  understanding.  In  like  man- 
ner, editorially  and  otherwise,  I  have  always  fraternized  with  the 
rapidly  growing  and  conservative  elements  in  the  General  Synod, 


544  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

doing  all  I  could  to  show  courtesy  to  the  many  noble  men  in  it 
who  have  been  led  by  the  study  of  the  Scriptures  to  a  recognition 
of  our  Church's  faith.  I  would  have  published  much  more 
about  the  wonderful  developments  at  Springfield  and  even  at 
Selin's  Grove,  to  say  nothing  of  Gettysburg,  but  the  judicious 
brethren  in  the  General  Sj'nod  wrote  and  said  that  such  notices 
in  the  Worhtnan  would  only  strengthen  the  radicals  in  the 
General  Synod  in  the  conviction  that  they  would  quietly  be  led 
over  to  the  General  Council !  Hence  I  kept  quiet  when  I  would 
gladly  and  thankfully  'have  tallied  out  in  meeting'  about  many 
things  which  from  time  to  time  are  a  revelation  of  new  faith  and 
life.  But  to  be  candid,  I  have  no  heart  for  union  with  un- 
Lutherans.  With  B.,  S.,  A.  and  the  whole  tribe  of  the  Evan- 
gelist men,  east  and  west,  I  am  in  open  conflict.  They  freely 
and  shamefully  confess  their  disagreement  with  certain  doctrines 
of  the  Confession.  They  fill  their  mouths  full  of  all  manner  of 
stuff  against  the  doctrine  of  life  and  the  Church.  In  a  word, 
they  are  Definite  Platform  men  in  fact;  and,  if  there  were  any 
hope  for  the  adoption  of  that  wretched  rag  as  their  Banner, 
they  would  flount  it  to  the  breeze.  Kead  the  last  letter  of  B. 
in  the  Evangelist.  Read  the  trial  of  the  same  set  in  the  case  of 
G.  and  A.  We  have  to  do  with  these  sectarians  and  schismatics 
over  our  whole  Synod.  They  are  simply  shameless  in  their  con- 
duct. I  do  not  care  to  enter  into  particulars,  except  to  say  that 
they  go  into  our  missions  and  parishes  and  divide  wherever  they 
can.  They  build  chapels  of  disaffected  members, '  they  try  to 
steal  our  churches,  going  into  congregations,  once  peaceful,  and 
rehearsing  a  pack  of  abominable  falsehoods,  taking  into  their 
Synod  on  this  territory  unworthy  men  whom  we  have  expelled 
and  wasting  their  money  in  the  establishment  of  opposition 
churches. 

"For  these  schismatics  I  have  nothing  but  aversion  and  dis- 
gust. I  know  them  thoroughly.  They  are  'tarred  with  the  same 
stick'  as  the  men  who  made  the  breach  at  Ft.  Wayne,  and  as 
for  Lutheranism  or  the  Augsburg  Confession,  there  is  not  a 
particle  of  either  in  their  blood.  They  have  another  spirit  and 
they  hate,  abuse,  belie,  betray,  slander  and  raise  injurious  re- 
ports about  the  Lutheran  element  in  the  General  Synod,  just  as 
they  do  about  us  in  the  General  Council.  It  is  because  they  hate 
the  faith  of  their  Church  and,  like  Paul,  verily  think  they  are 
doing  God  a  service  in  their  course  towards  it. 

As  for  union  with  such  men,  while  they  are  in  such  a  state, 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR.  KRAUTH,  ETC.  545. 

personally  I  want  none  of  it.  My  conviction  has  all  along  been 
that  the  Word  of  God  was  doing  its  quiet  and  effectual  work 
among  ministers  and  laymen  and  that  the  conservative  men  in 
the  General  Synod  were  doing  an  excellent  work,  even  among  the 
Ishmaelites,  in  mollifying  them  and  working  for  their  enlighten- 
ment. They  may  be  able  to  influence  them,  but  we  cannot.  At 
least  in  most  instances,  the  passion  and  prejudices  of  the  radicals 
are  such  that,  if  they  cannot  carry  this  point  in  their  own  church, 
they  will  leave  it  on  the  first  opportunity !  So  S.,  two  sons,  0., 
K.,  H.,  H.  R.,  Mck.  and  S.  and  some  twenty-six  men  of  a  smaller 
calibre  drifted  to  their  own  place.  A  multitude  of  others  will 
have  to  follow  them  or  there  will  be  no  peace  in  the  Church.  I 
am  anxious  for  peace,  but  not  a  rotten  peace,  as  they  now  have 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  where  rationalists  like  B.  and  even 
worse,  like  young  S.  of  Cleveland,  cheer  on  the  radical  elements 
in  their  churches  until  the  silly  fools  respond  with  cheers  and 
stampings. ' ' 

On  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  Schweigert,  July  9,  1891,  after  an 
appreciative  biographical  sketch,  the  Doctor  pays  him  this  trib- 
ute: 

"The  limits  of  this  imperfect  notice  prevent  any  reference 
to  the  lifelong  work  of  the  departed  in  behalf  of  the  sorrowful. 
He  was  a  succorer  of  many,  and  a  helper  of  the  poor  in  his 
distress.  The  widow  and  the  orphans  were  special  objects  of  ten- 
der sympathy  and  care.  With  his  excellent  wife,  the  faithful 
co-worker  with  him  in  every  good  work,  the  streets  and  lanes  of 
Kittanning  were  trodden  by  night  and  by  day  during  his  long 
residence  there  to  relieve  the  suffering.  His  unaffected  sincerity^ 
was  such  that  no  one  refused  his  calls  for  aid.  It  was  said  to 
the  writer  by  an  eminent  gentleman  there  that  no  minister  in 
Kittanning  would  have  more  influence  than  this  unassuming 
servant  of  the  Master.  And  this  profound  respect  was  seen  in 
the  character  and  the  number  of  the  citizens  who  followed 
his  remains  to  their  resting  place  in  the  cemetery. ' ' 

Dr.  Passavant  could  deliver  a  telling  rebuke,  could  drive 
it  home  so  effectively  that  it  could  not  be  forgotten.  Here  is  an 
instance  of  how  he  rebuked  mechanical  legalism: 

He  had  a  relative  who  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  a 
Scotchman  of  the  old  type.  Dr.  Passavant  spent  a  Sundaj^  with 
him  and  occupied  his  pulpit.  On  arising  in  the  morning  the  Dr. 
asked  his  host  for  a  razor.  The  dominie  was  greatly  shocked  at 
the  idea  of  shaving  "on  the  Sabbath,"  and  expressed  disap- 


546  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

proval.  Passavant  quietly  told  him  that  he  shaved  his  upper  lip 
everj^  morninar,  that  it  was  a  regular  part  of  his  toilet,  and  pro- 
ceeded with  his  work. 

At  church  the  Dr.  noticed  that  the  several  women  of  the 
house  were  not  present.  On  returning  to  the  parsonage  he  found 
an  elaborate  feast  steaming  on  the  table,  while  the  busy  Marthas 
were  flushed  from  the  heat  of  the  cooking  and  roasting.  The 
Dr.  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  table  and  served,  but  put  none 
of  the  juicy  roast  on  his  host's  plate.  The  latter  reminded  him 
of  his  omission.  But  the  Dr.  calmly  replied:  "You  certainly 
would  not  eat  this  roast,  prepared  with  so  much  labor  'on  the 
Sabbath  day. '  "  And  then  he  gently  reminded  him  of  the  morn- 
ing incident,  and  showed  how  a  burden  of  unnecessary  labor  had 
been  performed,  and  how,  worst  of  all,  the  house  and  Word  of 
God  had  been  neglected. 

A  young  woman  of  his  acquaintance  once  wrote  him  a  gush- 
ing account  of  a  wonderful  "revival"  in  her  home  church.  After 
narrating  how  this  one  and  that  one  of  her  family  and  kin  had 
' '  become  converted, "  "  got  religion, ' '  and  ' '  was  blessed, ' '  she  con- 
cluded her  letter  with  some  commonplace  news.  Among  other 
things  she  said  that  "grandmother  had  again  gone  to  the  poor- 
house."  The  Doctor,  in  telling  of  this  letter,  said:  "I  tell  you, 
Bro.  G.,  I  took  no  stock  in  that  revival ;  the  kind  of  religion  that 
will  let  grandmother  go  to  the  poor-house,  is  not  the  kind  that 
we  want  our  people  to  get.'" 

As  he  was  walking  down  Fifth  Ave.,  Pittsburg,  one  day  a 
Presbyterian  minister  met  him  and  said:  "Oh,  Bro.  Passavant, 
you  must  come  with  me  to  the  noon-day  prayer-meeting !  We  are 
having  the  most  glorious  meetings !  Come  along  and  enjoy 
them!"  The  Doctor  smiled  and  said:  "Really  you  must  excuse 
me.  I  have  so  many  sick  Presbyterians  at  the  hospital  that  it 
keeps  me  busy  looking  after  them."  It  was  a  merited  rebuke 
to  the  oldest,  strongest,  richest  Church  in  western  Pennsylvania 
which  had  not  a  single  hospital  nor  orphanage  in  all  that  region. 
Doubtless  the  Doctor  would  administer  the  same  reproof  to  a 
Milwaukee  Missouri  Lutheran,  who  might  invite  him  to  a  doctri- 
nal conference,  while  the  Passavant  hospital  was  full  of  sick 
Missourians,  in  all  its  charity  wards. 

Here  are  a  few  of  the  many  special  providences  and  wonder- 
ful deliverances  in  the  Doctor's  long  life  of  trust.  He  was 
averse  to  publishing  remarkable  incidents  which  were  wonderful 


TRIBUTE  TO  DR,  KRAVTH,  ETC.  547 

answers  to  prayer:  and,  did  we  know  them  all,  we  doubtless 
could  fill  a  volume  with  them : 

During  the  cholera  epidemic  in  Pittsburg,  the  Doctor  start- 
ed to  market  one  morning  to  buy  provisions  for  breakfast,  with 
but  a  little  change  in  his  pocket.  On  his  way  down  town,  he 
met  an  Irishman  who  asked  him  where  he  could  find  Passavant's 
hospital.  The  man  had  several  loads  of  provisions,  sent  up  from 
Economy. 

At  another  time,  a  large  note  was  due  which  had  to  be  paid 
in  gold,  and  specie  payment  had  been  suspended.  On  the  day 
before  the  note  was  due,  with  no  prospect  of  money,  the  mail 
brought  a  check,  the  exact  amount  of  the  note,  on  the  Bank  of 
Pittsburg,  the  only  bank  in  the  city  that  was  paying  in  gold. 
The  check  came  from  an  old  miser  who  had  been  nursed  free  of 
charge,  in  the  Infirmary. 

This  he  related  himself : 

"On  Saturday  evening,  on  our  way  to  Rochester,  the  con- 
ductor of  the  train,  brought  to  our  notice  the  death  of  a  pious 
widow,  who,  when  dying,  with  many  tears  had  committed  her 
'two  little  boys  into  his  hands,  with  the  earnest  prayer  to  have 
them  placed  in  the  Home  and  Farm  School.  After  ascertaining 
that  they  were  of  the  proper  age  and  character,  we  cheerfully 
consented  to  receive  them,  and  arranged  with  him  for  their  re- 
moval to  the  Home.  A  gentleman,  sitting  near,  inquired  whether 
we  had  money  to  support  them ;  to  which  we  replied  that,  when 
the  work  was  commenced,  we  thought  it  necessary  to  have  the 
money  before  we  could  receive  the  children ;  but  God  taught  us 
the  lesson  that  the  children  must  be  taken  in,  in  order  to  receive 
the  money ;  that  this  was  the  law  of  Christ,  '  give  and  it  shall  be 
given  unto  you'  and  'whosoever  receiveth  one  of  these  little 
ones  in  my  name,  receiveth  me,'  and  that  if  Christ  were  admit- 
ted into  the  Institution  in  the  persons  of  'these  the  least  of  His 
disciples '  there  could  not  be  any  want.  Leaving  the  train  and  pas- 
sengers a  few  moments  afterwards,  we  quite  forgot  the  conver- 
sation until  the  next  morning,  when  a  package  was  handed  us 
by  a  friend  who  knew  nothing  of  this  occurrence,  which  contained 
five  ten  dollar  gold  pieces !  If  such  coincidences  had  not  occurred 
a  hundred  times  in  the  history  of  these  Institutions,  we  might 
look  upon  them  as  '  accidents ; '  but  happening,  as  they  do,  in  the 
very  moment  of  the  greatest  need,  we  can  regard  them  only  as 
a  delightful  proof  of  the  loving  care  and  providence  of  God." 
Here  is  another  instance  of  how  God  provides : 


548  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT, 

"Just  as  we  were  seated  this  Tuesday  afternoon  to  write  for 
the  Workman,  our  door-bell  rang,  and  a  stranger  introduced 
himself  as  a  former  patient  in  the  Pittsburg  Infirmary.  He 
stated  in  a  few  words  that,  in  the  year  1849,  shortly  after  his 
arrival  from  England,  when  a  young  man  and  a  stranger,  he 
became  very  ill  from  exposure,  and  there  being  no  accommoda- 
tions at  the  brick-yard  where  he  worked,  he  came  to  the  hospital 
of  our  Deaconesses  and  was  kindly  taken  in  and  cared  for  with- 
out money  or  price.  On  his  recovery,  he  vowed  unto  the  Lord 
that  if  he  was  blessed  with  the  means,  he  would  make  the  best 
return  to  the  Institution  in  his  power;  and  now  in  his  old  age, 
forty -five  years  afterwards,  he  had  called  to  carry  out  his  long- 
cherished  purpose. 

' '  We  need  scarcely  say,  that  we  were  deeply  affected  by  this 
interview  with  one  whose  face  and  name  we  had  long  since  for- 
gotten. We  mentioned  that,  at  our  family  worship  this  morning, 
being  in  more  than  ordinary  need,  we  had  sought  to  cast  this 
burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  to  look  to  Him  for  relief.  We  also 
stated  that  much  as  we  needed  money  just  now,  we  needed  the 
sermon  more  which  this  act  of  grateful  recognition  preached 
unto  us,  and  that  this  thoughtful  act  was  a  fresh  evidence  that 
God  had  not  forsaken  the  imperfect  work  of  our  hands.  Asking 
for  a  pen  and  ink,  he  then  quietly  filled  a  check  for  three  hun- 
dred dollars  and  with  much  emotion  placed  it  in  our  hands,  at 
the  same  time  expressing  the  regret  that  the  amount  was  not 
larger  and  that  he  was  glad  he  had  lived  to  be  able  to  make  this 
return, 

* '  This  is  only  one  of  the  many  instances  in  which  our  loving 
Father  provides  for  His  suffering  children.  His  ways  are  not 
our  ways  nor  His  thoughts  our  thoughts,  and  yet  in  all  the  many 
ways  in  which  'He  careth  for  us,'  His  providence  is  so  manifest 
that  the  praise  and  the  honor  alone  belong  to  Him.  But  for  our 
unbelief  and  lack  of  confidence  in  God's  promises,  how  would  all 
merciful  undertaking  grow  and  flourish!  It  is  too  sad,  to  see 
even  the  good  and  the  zealous  so  often  exhibit  the  spectacle  of  a 
distrust  in  God's  promises  which  leads  to  a  resort  to  the  most 
doubtful  expedients  of  a  God-dishonoring  sensationalism.  When 
shall  professed  Christians  in  answer  to  the  question,  'What  must 
we  do  that  we  may  work  the  works  of  God  ? '  believe  the  declara- 
tion of  Christ :  '  This  is  the  work  of  God,  that  ye  believe  on  Him 
Whom  He  hath  sent.'     When  this  is  done,  the  whole  is  done. 


TRIBUTE  TO  BE.  KRAVTH,  ETC.  549 

Human  expedients  and  doubtful  methods  are  not  needed.     The 
Lord  will  provide ! ' ' 

Among  the  men  of  means  and  influence  whom  the  Doctor  in- 
terested in  his  Milwaukee  hospital  project  was  Mr.  J.  H.  Van 
Dyke.  From  the  day  that  he  met  the  Doctor,  he  became  his  warm 
personal  friend  and  liberal  supporter. 

When  the  Doctor  was  looking  for  a  suitable  site  for  the 
hospital,  Mr.  Van  Dyke  told  him  of  the  piece  of  land  on  which 
the  hospital  now  stands.  He  had  his  fine  span  of  horses  ready 
to  drive  the  Doctor  out  to  see  it.  When  they  started  Mr.  Van 
Dyke  told  him  that  it  was  about  two  miles  out.  The  Doctor 
asked  him  what  kind  of  horses  he  drove  and  said  that  with  such 
a  team  four  miles  might  seem  like  two.  The  land  pleased  the 
Doctor  and  the  heirs  were  called  together  to  agree  on  the  price 
for  which  they  would  sell.  The  Doctor  was  present,  listening  to 
the  deliberations,  but  said  not  a  word. 

It  was  agreed  that  one  thousand  dollars  should  be  paid 
down,  to  close  the  sale.  The  Doctor  had  not  a  dollar  in  cash. 
While  the  closing  terms  were  being  agreed  upon  among  the 
heirs,  a  man  came  into  ]\Ir.  Van  Dyke's  office  where  the  meeting 
was  being  held,  and  asked  for  Mr.  Passavant.  He  introduced 
himself  as  a  former  patient  of  the  Pittsburg  Infirmary,  told  of 
the  kind  treatment  he  had  received,  which  he  had  never  forgot- 
ten. He  informed  the  Doctor  that  the  Lord  had  prospered  him 
in  the  West  and  that  when  he  learned  of  the  proposed  hospital 
in  Milwaukee,  he  made  up  his  mind  to  give  one  thousand  dollars 
toward  it,  and  had  now  brought  the  check.  Mr.  Van  Dyke,  who 
is  still  living,  was  a  witness  to  this  incident  and  gave  it  to  the 
writer. 

The  Messrs.  Van  Dyke,  Isham,  Isely,  and  Mitchell,  president 
of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railroad,  with  many 
other  of  the  ablest  and  best  citizens  of  Milwaukee,  assisted  in 
securing  the  charter  and  were  members  of  the  Board  of  Visitors. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  at  which  Mr.  Mitchell  presided,  a  bill 
of  seventeen  hundred  dollars  was  presented  for  grading  and 
paving.  As  there  was  no  money  in  the  treasury,  the  members 
present  made  up  the  amount  and  paid  the  bill.  While  Mr. 
Mitchell  lived,  he  furnished  the  Doctor  passage  over  his  road  and 
in  addition  to  his  generous  and  regular  support  of  the  work, 
gave  thirty  thousand  dollars  for  a  new  building.  Other  good 
men  did  equally  well  in  proportion  to  their  means. 

On  one  occasion  when  the  funds  were  low,  the  Doctor  was 


550  THE  LIFE  OF  Tf .  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

out  soliciting  and  as  he  did  not  wish  to  ask  his  regular  support- 
ers, he  got  nothing  at  all.  Towards  evening,  he  called  on  a 
German  who  informed  him  that  his  cow  had  just  died  but  he 
was  willing  to  give  the  cow's  halter.  The  Doctor  took  the  halter 
with  sincere  thanks  and  wondered  what  he  should  do  with  it. 
The  next  day  another  German  drove  in  a  fine  cow,  a  present 
to  the  hospital,  and  the  halter  came  into  good  use. 

One  of  the  Doctor's  special  gifts  was  that  of  vision.  He 
had  his  eye  on  every  part  of  the  field.  He  seemed  to  know  in- 
stinctively what  was  going  on  in  every  quarter.  His  grasp  of 
the  conditions  in  every  corner  of  the  Church,  whether  out  on 
the  boundless  prairie  or  off  amid  the  trees  of  the  forest  or  up 
in  the  straggling  village,  or  down  in  the  great  city,  was  marvel- 
ous. Before  those  on  the  ground  were  aware  of  it,  he  descried 
the  false  prophet,  the  hireling,  or  the  wolf.  He  was  on  the 
trail  of  the  proselyting  pretender,  the  sneaking  hypocrite,  the 
immoral  masquerader,  and  after  every  form  of  religious  sham 
or  fake  or  fanaticism. 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  551 


CHAFER  XXIII. 

EDITORIAL  LIFE.     THE   WORKMAN.     THE   CHICAGO 
SEMINARY.     THE   MINISTRY. 

Dr.  Passavant  M^as  a  born  editor.  He  spent  almost  fifty 
years  in  editorial  work,  beginning  it  with  his  youthful  efforts 
while  a  student,  and  ending  it  a  few  days  before  his  death. 

His  knowledge  of  the  whole  Church;  of  the  movements  and 
tendencies  in  every  Synod,  nationality  and  neighborhood;  of 
congregations,  their  history,  status  and  spirit;  of  ministers  in 
every  place,  their  antecedents,  characters  and  aims; — this  phe- 
,  nomenally  rare  knowledge  made  him  easily  the  chief  among  the 
editors  of  his  Church. 

From  an  editorial  on  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  volume  of 
the  Lutheran  and  Missionary,  we  take  the  following: 

**At  the  loss  of  a  large  amount  of  money,  we  have  excluded 
the  advertisements  of  medicines,  which  as  a  class  minister  to 
drunkenness,  and  to  the  robbing  of  the  purses  and  the  destruction 
of  the  health  of  the  unwary  in  order  to  swell  the  ill-gotten  gains 
of  quackery.  "We  have  lost  some  subscribers,  for  loyalty  to  the 
Union ;  some,  because  we  have  stood  firmly  to  our  principle  of 
fidelity  to  the  truth  of  the  Bible  in  regard  to  all  moral  ques- 
tions whether  mixed  up  with  political  issues  or  not.  Some  have 
been  offended  at  our  frankness  on  the  great  questions  of  the 
Church,  and  others  haVv.  been  disposed  to  find  fault  with  us  for 
our  convictions  in  regard  to  the  necessity  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Philadelphia,  which  we  have  believed  and  do  yet 
believe  to  be  a  necessary  element  in  the  preservation  and  per- 
petuation of  the  purity  and  peace  of  the  Church.  But  the 
voices  of  true  and  steadfast  friends  have  been  so  many  and  so 
strong  that  we  have  hardly  been  able  to  hear  the  reproaches  of 
enemies. ' ' 

In  another  issue  Dr.  Krauth  writes  thus: 

"Who  has  the  more  laborious  life,  the  editor  or  the 
preacher  ?  If  we  are  to  settle  the  question  by  our  own  experience, 
we  would  reply,  the  editor.  Entering  the  ministry  young,  and 
pursuing  its  work  steadily,  in  positions  and  circumstances  which 
gave  us  an  opportunity  of  fairly  testing  its  laboriousness,  we 


552  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

think  we  know  pretty  well  what  is  its  measure  of  toil.  In  the 
ministry  we  have  had  at  various  times  engagements  not  directly 
connected  with  our  pastoral  vocation.  With  very  little  original 
disposition  to  write  for  the  press,  we  have  been  drawn  in  and 
drawn  on,  to  write  a  good  deal.  We  had  been  a  contributor  to 
the  Review  and  our  Church  Pamphleteer,  have  translated  a  large 
and  somewhat  difficult  work  from  the  German,  and  have  edited 
a  Vocabulary  of  Philosophy.  We  did  a  good  deal  of  work  for 
the  Missionary  in  its  early  life  as  a  weekly,  and  when  the  quarto 
Lutheran  was  started,  we  came  to  be  recognized  as  a  sort  of 
editor  of  it,  on  the  strength  of  the  fact  that  our  lucubrations 
were  set  up  in  leads  where  the  editorial  ought  to  have  been. 
Throughout  these  labors,  which  men  of  the  quill  will  know  not 
to  have  been  light,  we  have  endeavored  to  perform  the  pulpit 
and  pastoral  duties  required  by  large  and  intelligent  congrega- 
tions. We  think  we  may  say  that,  in  all  good  conscience,  al- 
though we  took  from  the  hours  of  rest  and  of  recreation  what 
ought  to  have  been  given  to  them,  we  never  took  from  our  peo- 
ple the  time  which  belonged  to  them.  If  we  did  them  wrong  it 
was  in  this  way  that  excess  of  labor  deprived  us  of  the  elasticity 
and  freshness  which  we  ought  to  have  brought  to  our  work. 
Our  ministry  commenced  with  our  boyhood.  Our  first  effort 
at  preaching  was  made  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  We  were 
licensed  at  eighteen,  and  shortly  after  organized  our  first  con- 
gregation. At  nineteen  we  were  ordained  and  are  now  in  the 
twenty-second  year  of  our  ministry.  Of  these  twenty-one  years, 
the  last  has  been  the  most  laborious.  It  is  true  that  we  have 
voluntarily,  in  some  sense,  enlarged  its  toils.  We  preach  on 
more  Sundays  in  the  year  than  when  we  were  in  the  pastoral 
work.  The  editor  is  a  convenience  for  brethren  when  they  go 
to  the  seaside,  the  mountains,  and  the  lakes.  Our  engagements 
often  run  in  advance  without  a  break  for  more  than  a  month. 
Particular  engagements  reach  forward  for  several  months.  We 
say,  this,  in  some  sense,  enlarges  our  toils  but  not,  we  thank  God, 
in  every  sense.  No  matter  how  wearied  we  may  feel  on  Saturday 
night  we  cannot  be  happy  on  the  day  of  our  Lord  unless  we  are 
permitted  to  speak  for  Him.  It  is  a  privilege  to  plead  for  Christ. 
We  used  to  env>'  those  who  could  constantly  hear  preaching  and 
we  rejoice  now  that  we  can  sit  beneath  the  sound  of  the  Gospel 
more  frequently  than  we  formerly  could.  But  we  found  here 
as  everj-^here,  that  'it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.' 
Happy  is  the  man  who  is  allowed  to  give  his  whole  heart  and 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,   ETC.  553 

soul  to  the  direct  work  of  the  ministry.  He  who  runs  from  the 
ministry  into  any  other  work,  without  the  clear  call  of  God,  is 
indeed  to  be  pitied. 

"While,  however,  editing  is  more  laborious  than  pastoral 
work,  the  labor  is  more  diversified.  The  strain  is  not  so  steady 
on  one  set  of  muscles.  It  is  said  that  a  horse  can  go  farther  in  a 
day  and  with  less  fatigue  over  a  rolling  country  than  over  a 
dead  level.  Even  the  special  troubles  of  an  editor,  if  he  takes 
them  in  the  right  way,  help  to  freshen  him.  He  gets  a  larger 
variety  of  sensations  than  the  pastor  does  and  the  disagreeable 
ones  are  the  second  layer  in  the  cameo  of  his  life.  No  man  can 
be  at  once  comfortable  and  true  to  duty  in  this  life  unless  he 
loves  work.  Without  this  love,  he  will  be  unhappy  anywhere, 
and  with  it,  he  can  learn,  even  as  an  editor,  to  be  content  with 
his  estate." 

After  doing  more  or  less  editorial  labor  for  upwards  of 
thirty-five  years,  there  arose  a  misunderstanding  with  the  man- 
agement of  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary,  and  for  several  years 
the  Doctor  did  no  editorial  work.  With  many  of  the  most  ac- 
tive and  aggressive  men  in  the  Church  he  was  dissatisfied  with 
the  conduct  and  contents  of  current  Lutheran  periodicals. 
Again  and  again,  he  had  been  urged  to  start  a  paper  "like 
the  Missionary."  He  deeply  felt  the  need  of  a  paper  for  the 
common  people.  He  was  now  over  fifty  years  of  age.  His  in- 
stitutions were  all  growing.  His  assistance  and  counsels  were 
more  and  more  widely  and  frequently  called  for.  Should  he 
again  take  upon  himself  this  heavy  burden?  The  question  with 
him  was  not  whether  it  would  be  profitable,  or  whether  it  would 
be  easy  or  not.  "Does  God  want  me  to  do  this,  for  His  glory 
and  for  the  good  of  humanity?"  After  prayer  and  earnest  con- 
sultation with  his  most  trusted  friends,  the  "Worl<man"  was 
launched  Feb.  17,  1881.  Of  his  motives  and  plans  he  says  in 
the  first  number: 

"We  have  no  apology  to  make  for  the  Workman  or  its  ap- 
pearing at  this  time.-  Something  of  the  same  character  has  been 
a  necessity  in  the  Church  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  We  real- 
ized it  sensibly  after  we  had  changed  the  old  Missionary  from 
a  monthly  to  a  weekly,  and  in  common  with  many  pastors  have 
felt  it  ever  since.  Scarcely  one  in  ten  of  our  English-speaking 
families  takes  a  church  paper !  The  sad  consequences  are  ap- 
parent in  all  our  Church  operations.  Ignorance  of  her  needs 
and  indifference  to  their  supply  are  the  result.     How  to  change 


554  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

this  condition  of  things  has  been  the  subject  of  perplexing 
thought,  and  various  plans  have  been  proposed.     As  long  ago 
as  twelve  years,  we  communicated  to  Rev.  Dr.  Seiss  the  plan  of 
such  a  paper,  at  a  price  which  would  be  within  the  reach  of  all, 
to  instruct  our  poor  and  middle  classes  and  bring  up  the  people 
to  the  reading  of  our  more  advanced  weeklies.    We  informed  him 
of  our  purpose  no  longer  to  delay  its  publication.    The  idea  was 
received  with  much  favor  and  we  were  encouraged  to  defer  the 
execution  of  our  plan  until  it  could  be  laid  before  the  Associa- 
tion which  owned  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary,  with  the  ex- 
press promise  of  valuable  aid.    In  a  few  weeks,  without  a  word 
of  explanation  the  Executive  Committee  adopted  both  the  idea 
and  our  plan  and  a  new  paper  appeared.     For   reasons  not 
known  it  lived  only  to  die.    Since  then  we  have  waited  in  silence, 
keeping  back  other  attempts  and  hoping  for  deliverance  from 
other  quarters.     But  the  Church  can  wait  no  longer.     Every 
interest  is  suffering.     Intelligent  pastors  write  and  speak  to  us 
continually.     The   circulation   of  our   excellent  monthlies,   the 
Church  Messenger  and  the  Foreign  Missionary  only  increases 
the  demand  for  more  reading  of  the  same  and  other  kinds.  That 
which  can  be  read  in  an  hour  does  not  satisfy  for  a  month. 
So  soon  as  the  announcement  of  a  cheap  semi-monthly  became 
known,  joyful  and  loving  responses  came  in  from  different  quar- 
ters.    The  president  of  the  Swedish  Augiistana  Synod  imme- 
diately addressed  a  circular  to  the  pastors  and  churches  of  that 
Synod,  recommending  the  introduction  of  the  Workman  into 
all  their  families  where  the  young  were  no  longer  benefited  by 
their  own  periodicals.     A  number  of  ministers  ordered  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  copies  for  their  churches,  and  others  sent 
generous  contributions  for  its  free  circulation  among  disabled 
ministers,  missionaries  and  pastors'  widows.     Others  have  given 
the  assurance  of  their  hearty  aid,  after  having  done  all  in  their 
power  for  the  circulation  of  the  monthly  and  weekly  papers 
of  the  Church. 

' '  The  idea  of  the  Workman  may  be  set  forth  in  a  few  words. 
It  is  to  labor  for  the  reproduction  in  the  Church  of  the  life  and 
works  of  Christ.  The  Church  must  not  only  be  a  witnessing 
Church  but  also  a  working  Church.  If  she  is  not  this,  her  testi- 
mony for  the  truth  and  her  solemn  services  are  in  vain.  Only 
when  the  Church  truly  believes,  is  she  in  a  position  to  teach,  to 
confess  and  to  live  the  life  of  her  blessed  Lord.  Therefore  a 
heartfelt  and  justifying  faith  in  Christ  as  the  Son  of  God,  will 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  555 

be  unceasingly  set  forth  as  the  only  factor  of  a  true  Christian 
life.  And  because  of  such  faith,  bringing  with  it  the  forgive- 
ness of  sin  and  the  peace  of  God,  the  Church  must  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  her  Lord,  and  out  of  the  depths  of  her  grateful 
love  do  His  works.  Having  been  much  forgiven,  she  will  love 
much.  And  to  do  this,  she  must  daily  sit  at  His  feet  and  learn 
of  Him. 

"The  words  of  Christ  in  our  motto  indicate  the  works  of 
Christ  which  we  hope  to  learn  and  to  teach  in  our  colunms. 
They  also  mark  out  the  sphere  of  our  paper  and  determine  its 
character.  Special  prominence  will  be  given  to  the  life  of  our 
Lord  in  the  family  and  to  His  works  there  in  subjection  to  His 
parents  and  serving  them  by  daily  and  common  toil.  The  works 
of  Christ  in  His  public  life,  calling  and  qualifying  a  holy  and 
able  ministry,  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  poor  and  going  about 
doing  good,  these,  in  the  nature  of  things,  will  occupy  a  large 
and  prominent  place  in  our  columns  as  the  true  solution  of  the 
great  questions  of  the  times." 

As  was  to  be  expected  the  new  paper  met  with  opposition. 
It  was  spoken  against  in  some  quarters  where  it  should  have 
been  welcomed  but  it  met  with  hearty  welcome  from  the  best 
men  in  all  parts  of  the  Church.  Its  tone  and  spirit  were  those 
of  the  "dear  old  Missionary."  It  rigidly  excluded  personal  and 
partisan  rancor.  It  won  a  large  circle  of  able  contributors. 
Its  horizon  took  in  the  whole  Church  regardless  of  synod  or  na- 
tionality. While  loyal  to  the  Confessions  it  refused  to  contend 
for  the  faith  with  carnal  weapon.  Personal  and  bitter  polemics 
were  not  admitted.  It  claimed  to  be  a  "Journal  of  Christian 
Activity. ' '  Its  motto  was,  ' '  I  must  work  the  works  of  Him  that 
sent  me  while  it  is  day."  Only  what  ministered  to  edification 
was  admitted,  and  it  won  for  itself  a  warm  place  in  thousands 
of  hearts  and  homes  in  every  part  of  the  Church.  It  became  one 
of  the  most  powerful  agencies  in  that  wonderful  growth,  in  that 
devout  and  churchly  consciousness,  in  that  deeper  love  for  the 
Church  and  her  Confessions,  in  that  enthusiastic  and  aggressive 
missionary  spirit,  in  that  general  forward  movement  and  that 
drawing  together  of  the  better  spirits  that  characterized  the  last 
two  decades  of  the  ninteenth  century. 

In  October,  1887,  Dr.  Passavant  retired  as  responsible  edi- 
tor of  The  Workman  and  gave  the  conduct  of  the  paper  into 
the  hands  of  his  son  William.  We  quote  from  the  Doctor's 
closing  editorial: 


556  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

""With  this  number,  the  connection  of  the  undersigned  as 
its  responsible  editor  ceases.  A  number  of  considerations  have 
led  to  this  step,  prominent  among  which  is  the  necessity,  since 
his  illness  last  winter,  to  husband  his  remaining  strength  in  the 
interest  of  the  various  institutions  with  which  he  is  connected, 
and  which,  owing  to  their  recent  extension,  require  additional 
oversight  and  labor.  The  relief  from  the  exacting  duties  of 
the  editorial  life  will  enable  him  to  write  more  effectually  for  its 
columns,  as  time  and  strength  may  permit.  In  this  way  the 
pleasant  intercourse  of  the  past  seven  years  will  be  continued 
with  the  readers  of  The  Workman,  under  more  favorable  aus- 
pices and  in  more  interesting  and  popular  forms.  Out  of  the 
varied  material,  and  history  of  the  past,  we  hope  to  bring  forth 
both  old  and  new,  to  instruct  and  edify  and  quicken  to  greater 
earnestness  in  the  work  of  Christ. 

"The  experience  of  our  recent  editorial  life  has  convinced 
us  that  the  field  for  Christian  journalism  in  our  American 
Church  is  a  deeply  interesting  one  and  full  of  promise.  While 
individual  or  general  synods  cannot  dispense  with  their  ac- 
credited organs,  there  is  both  need  and  room  for  independent 
journals.  The  spirit  of  candor  is  overcoming  narrow  partisan- 
ship and  a  paper  which  recognizes  the  good  in  all  and  the  prog- 
ress towards  the  truth  by  all,  will  find  sympathizing  readers. 
Nothing  has  so  lightened  the  burdens  of  our  position  and  awak- 
ened such  hopes  for  the  future,  as  the  patronage  and  approval 
of  leading  and  thoughtful  men  in  every  section  and  school  of 
our  American  communion.  It  will  be  the  happiness  of  the 
Workman,  in  the  future,  as  in  the  past  to  welcome  to  its  columns 
all  things  that  are  excellent  and  of  good  report,  from  any  quar- 
ter of  the  Church,  'for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ.' 

"Hereafter  the  responsible  editor  will  be  the  Rev.  W.  A. 
Passavant,  Jr.  He  is  no  stranger  to  the  readers  of  the  Work- 
man, but  few  know  how  much  of  its  character  and  success  has 
been  owing  to  his  unobtrusive  but  unwearied  labors.  There 
will  "be  no  change  of  position  or  purpose.  It  will  speak  the 
truth  in  candor  but  in  love.  It  will  avoid  petty  and  personal 
controversy.  It  will  not  engage  in  guerrilla  warfare.  It  will 
seek  the  things  which  make  for  purity  and  peace.  It  will  be 
just  to  all  and  faithful  to  all,  in  all  that  relates  to  the  Church 
and  the  great  work  which  God  has  given  her  to  do. ' ' 

After  several  years  of  work  in  which  he  had  shown  that 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  557 

he  also  was  a  born  editor,  William  A.  Passavant,  Jr.,  was  called 
by  the  General  Council's  Board  of  Home  Missions  to  become  its 
superintendent.  So  great  was  the  missionary  zeal  of  both  the 
father  and  the  son  that  after  mutual  consultation  it  was  decided 
that  the  call  be  accepted  and  that  the  father  again  take  upon 
himself  the  editor's  burden. 

Dr.  Passavant  had  long  been  convinced  of  the  need  of  a 
theological  seminary  in  Chicago.  He  began  to  pray  and  plan 
and  plead  for  it  away  back  in  the  sixties.  When  in  1869,  the 
General  Council  met  in  Chicago,  he  preached  a  sermon  in  which 
he  pleaded  so  forcibly  for  such  an  institution  that,  at  the  same 
convention.  Dr.  Krauth  was  moved  to  offer  the  following  reso- 
lutions : 

"Resolved  I.  That,  in  the  deliberate  judgment  of  this  Coun- 
cil, the  time  has  come  when  the  wants  of  the  Lutheran  popula- 
tion in  the  Western  States,  require  the  establishment,  at  some 
central  point,  of  a  Theological  Seminary,  where  the  future  min- 
istry of  our  English,  German  and  Scandinavian  Churches  may 
be  educated  together,  in  the  unity  of  the  common  faith,  con- 
fessed and  maintained  by  this  body. 

'^ Resolved  II.  That  the  General  Council  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  in  America,  in  the  humble  acknowledgment  of 
its  inability  to  carry  forward  this  great  and  difficult  undertaking 
to  a  successful  issue  by  its  own  resolution  and  strength;  never- 
theless, in  confident  reliance  upon  Almighty  God  and  His  prom- 
ised grace,  does,  now,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  alone  for 
His  glory,  solemnly  resolve  to  take  the  necessary  steps  toward 
the  establishment  of  such  an  institution." 

The  Council  elected  Dr.  H.  E.  Jacobs  as  its  first  professor. 
Then,  while  the  Church  waited  and  hesitated,  came  the  great 
Chicago  fire.  This  seemed  to  have  consumed  all  hope  of  starting 
the  school.  Other  difficulties  arose.  Some  of  the  eastern  breth- 
ren, who  did  not  know  the  west  as  Dr.  Passavant  did  and  who 
could  not  see  so  far  as  he,  opposed  it.  But  the  Doctor  kept  on 
praying  and  working.  Of  the  ten  acres  of  ground  which  he  had 
purchased  in  Lake  View,  two  were  set  aside  for  the  seminary. 
This  valuable  land  was  several  times  offered  to  the  General 
Council  for  that  purpose.  But  that  body  did  not  see  its  way 
clear  to  accept  it.  The  General  Council  finally  authorized  the 
appointment  of  a  Board  of  Directors,  who  were  to  take  steps 
looking  toward  the  opening  of  the  school.  August  6,  1891,  the 
Doctor  wrote  an  editorial  from  which  we  quote : 


558  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

"As  this  Institution  is  not  a  private  or  a  personal  one,  but 
has  from  the  beginning  received  the  sanction  of  the  General 
Council,  we  bespeak  for  it  the  confidence  and  co-operation  of  all 
who  are  interested  in  the  future  of  the  Church  in  the  Western 
States  and  Territories.  Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  the 
General  Council  decided  that  the  time  had  fully  come  for  the 
establishment  of  such  an  Institution  for  the  training  of  our 
ministry  in  the  west.  The  great  fire  at  Chicago  and  the  need 
of  assisting  our  suffering  churches  and  brethren  there,  delayed 
the  work  for  a  season  and  financial  and  other  causes  have  post-  . 
poned  the  necessary  action  to  the  present  time.  But  there 
dare  be  no  longer  delay.  The  time  for  immediate  action  has 
fully  come.  The  east  is  occupied  with  its  own  Institution  but 
the  west,  which  has  received  thousands  of  her  emigrating  chil- 
dren, must  provide  for  their  spiritual  wants.  And  to  do  this, 
the  west  must  have  the  sympathies  and  prayers  of  the  whole 
Church  and  the  co-operation  of  her  far-seeing  and  benevolent 
men.  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Krauth  saw,  as  in  a  vision  of  the  future, 
the  importance  of  this  movement  and  nominated  as  its  first 
professor  Rev.  Dr.  Jacobs  now  of  the  Philadelphia  Seminary. 
The  doctrinal  basis  of  the  western  seminary  and  the  constitu- 
tion are  the  same  as  the  eastern.  There  is  no  antagonism  and 
no  rivalry  between  them.  The  western  school  will  simply  gather 
up  and  instruct  what  the  seminary  in  Philadelphia  cannot  reach, 
while  those  who  seek  the  superior  advantages  of  the  eastern  semi- 
nary will  continue  to  do  so.  In  this  spirit  of  fraternal  harmony, 
the  two  seminaries  will  work  side  by  side,  and  the  results,  under 
God,  will  indicate  the  wise  policy  of  the  Church  in  seeking  to 
raise  up  a  ministry  from  the  west  for  the  west  with  the  teeming 
millions  of  its  illimitable  territory." 

Again,  on  September  3,  he  writes: 

"It  is  scarcely  possible  for  all  to  see  eye  to  eye,  in  regard 
to  the  commencement  of  any  movement.  We  recall  the  remarks 
of  some  Congregationalists  in  Milwaukee  twenty-eight  years 
ago,  when  an  effort  was  made  to  endow  a  professorship  in  the 
Institution  of  their  Church  in  Chicago.  The  idea  of  a  western 
seminary  was  thought  to  be  'ahead  of  the  times. '  It  was  ob- 
jected, that  the  students  could  go  east  and  study  at  Andover 
or  Yale.  But  the  seminary  could  not  wait  until  all  were  con- 
vinced of  its  necessity.  It  was  begun  and  for  the  first  sixteen 
years  it  struggled  hard  and  patiently  to  prove  its  right  to  live. 
Twelve  years  ago  the  number  of  students  was  only  forty.     Last 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  559 

year  it  had  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  students.  The  faculty 
had  been  increased  from  six  at  that  time  to  fourteen  at  present. 
Contributions  and  endowments  have  since  flowed  in,  so  that  it 
now  offers  advantages  which  Yale  and  Andover  do  not  possess. 
"The  McCormick  (Presbyterian)  Seminary,  which  was 
commenced  a  few  years  later,  has  an  equally  large  number  of 
students,  fully  as  large  as  Princeton.  The  Baptist  Seminary 
is  likewise  numerously  attended  and  so  is  the  Seminary  of  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Evanston,  in  the  vicinity.  Both  of  these 
have  German  and  Scandinavian  departments,  with  large 
numbers  of  students.  The  Episcopal  Seminary  has  a  noble  edi- 
fice, and  a  good  endowment,  principally  the  gift  of  one  wealthy 
man.  The  Lutherans  are  in  the  rear  of  all,  and,  owing  to 
causes  which  it  is  needless  to  mention,  were  bound  hand  and  foot 
to  a  policy  of  inaction. 

"But  the  time  which  the  General  Council  declared  had 
fully  come,  upwards  of  twenty  years  ago,  has  certainly  come  at 
last,  and  in  reliance  upon  God,  the  few  friends  who  have  car- 
ried this  undertaking  in  their  hearts  are  encouraged  to  make 
a  beginning.  It  will  probably  be  but  a  very  little  one,  like  all 
creations  of  God  in  their  small  beginnings.  It  may  attract  small 
attention  and  for  a  time,  perhaps,  be  the  subject  of  disparaging 
remarks  and  even  of  painful  censure.  But  no  difference.  God's 
way  in  nature  is,  'first  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that  the 
full  corn  in  the  ear.'  God's  way  in  the  Church  and  in  all  be- 
ginnings is  'as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed,  which  is  the  least  of  all 
the  seeds. '  It  is  only  afterwards  that  it  becometh  a  tree,  afford- 
ing rest  and  refreshment  unto  many. 

"Already  tokens  of  interest  and  encouragement  are  coming 
in  from  the  western  States.  A  venerable  layman  from  Nokomis, 
111.,  has  sent  us  one  thousand  dollars.  Another,  whose  helping 
hand  has  strengthened  many  struggling  undertakings,  after  vis- 
iting the  site  of  the  seminary,  has  made  his  offering  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Another  on  the  west  coast,  sends 
brotherly  greetings  and  becomes  responsible  for  the  support  of 
a  worthy  student.  Still  another  in  a  distant  western  state 
makes  an  unsolicited  offer  of  five  hundred  dollars  annually  to- 
ward the  support  of  a  professor.  An  Icelandic  pastor  is  cor- 
responding in  regard  to  the  reception  of  two  students  from 
Manitoba,  in  British  North  America.  What  other  good  things 
God  may  have  in  store  for  this  Institution,  we  are  not  concerned 
to  know.     This  only  is  certain:  Where  God  permits  the  need, 


560  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

He  will  create  the  supply.  The  need,  in  all  its  distressing  reali- 
ty, is  upon  us.  Many  are  fainting  by  the  way.  But  the  merci- 
ful One  hath  compassion  on  the  multitude,  and  will  multiply 
the  feeble  resources  at  hand. 

"In  this  spirit  of  implicit  trust  in  the  Lord  Jehovah,  the 
new  Institution  hopes  to  begin  and  to  go  forward.  May  noth- 
ing happen  to  destroy  this  principle  of  faith!  May  nothing  of 
self  or  sin,  of  unbelief  or  of  error,  enter  in  to  prevent  the 
divine  presence  and  the  manifestation  of  His  power." 

After  the  General  Council,  at  its  Convention  in  Pittsburg, 
in  1889,  had  authorized  its  president  in  connection  with  its 
treasurer  and  Dr.  Passavant,  to  appoint  a  Board  of  Directors, 
the  following  were  selected :  Revs.  W.  A.  Passavant,  Sr.,  W.  A. 
Passavant,  Jr.,  C.  Koerner,  H.  W.  Roth,  W.  K.  Frick,  G.  H. 
Gerberding,  S.  Wagenhals,  H.  Merz,  and  the  Messrs.  J.  A.  Bohn, 
M.  L.  Deck,  A.  J.  Detzer. 

These  brethren,  on  Sept.  30,  1891,  met  in  the  German 
Chapel,  on  the  Lake  View  Hospital  grounds.  The  charter  was 
read  and  adopted,  and  Dr.  Passavant  made  a  legal  transfer  to 
the  Seminary  of  two  acres  of  land,  running  along  "VVaveland 
Avenue  from  Sheffield  Avenue  to  Clark  St.  The  Rev.  Dr.  R. 
F.  "Weidner  was  elected  Professor  of  Dogmatics  and  Exegesis, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth,  Professor  of  Practical  Theology 
and  Church  History. 

On  the  day  following  a  little  company  of  friends  met  in  the 
same  chapel,  with  six  young  men  who  were  to  become  the  first 
students  of  the  Seminary.  After  a  brief  service  Dr.  Passavant 
delivered  a  short  and  impressive  address,  breathing  the  yearn- 
ings and  the  prayers  of  a  quarter  century,  and  heartfelt  grati- 
tude to  God  that  the  long  years  of  waiting  were  at  last  at  an 
end.  Tenderly  and  trustfully  he  committed  the  new  undertak- 
ing into  the  hands  of  his  Father  in  heaven  and  earnestly  be- 
spoke for  it  the  spirit  of  the  Master  and  the  prayers  and  bene- 
factions of  its  friends.  And  so  the  Chicago  Seminary  was 
started  on  its  important  career. 

The  following  was  afterward  adopted  as  its  Doctrinal  Basis : 
"This  Seminary  shall  rest  on  the  Divine  Word  of  the  Old 
and  New  Testament  Scriptures  as  the  absolute  Rule  of  Faith, 
and  on  the  Confessions  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  set 
forth  in  the  Book  of  Concord,  as  in  conformity  with  that  Rule, 
and  all  its  teachings  shall  be  in  accord  with  said  Rule.  No 
amendment  or  change  of  the  doctrinal  basis  of  this  Seminary 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  561 

as  set  forth  in  its  Charter,  Article  2,  shall  at  any  time  be 
entertained  or  made." 

It  was  also  enacted  that  every  Professor,  before  entering 
on  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office,  shall  make  the 
following  affirmation : 

"I  believe  that  the  Canonical  Books  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testaments  are  given  by  the  inspiration  of  GOD,  and  are  the 
perfect  and  only  Rule  of  Faith;  and  I  believe  that  the  three 
General  Creeds,  the  Apostles,'  the  Nicene  and  the  Athanasian, 
exhibit  the  faith  of  the  Church  Universal,  in  accordance  with 
this  Rule  of  Faith. 

"I  believe  that  the  Unaltered  Augsburg  Confession  is,  in  all 
its  parts,  in  harmony  with  the  Rule  of  Faith,  and  is  a  correct 
exhibition  of  doctrine;  and  I  believe  that  the  Apology,  the  two 
Catechisms  of  Luther,  the  Smalcald  Articles,  and  the  Formula 
of  Concord,  are  a  faithful  development  and  defence  of  the  Word 
of  GOD  and  the  Augsburg  Confession. 

"I  solemnly  promise  before  Almighty  GOD  that  all  my 
teachings  shall  be  in  conformity  with  His  Word,  and  with  the 
aforementioned  Confessions. 

"I  also  solemnly  promise  that  I  will  be  governed  by  the 
laws  and  regulations  of  this  Seminary,  and  fulfill  all  the  duties 
therein  laid  upon  me,  so  long  as  I  remain  one  of  its  Professors. ' ' 

The  exact  relation  of  the  Seminary  to  the  General  Council 
of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  North  America  was  not 
finally  decided  until  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Council  held 
at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  in  October,  1893. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  General  Council  at  Buf- 
falo, N.  Y.,  in  1891,  to  which  the  whole  subject  of  the  Theolog- 
ical Seminary  at  Chicago  was  referred,  and  which  'was  expected 
to  look  into  the  history  of  this  Institution,  as  well  as  into  the 
relations  which  the  General  Council  sustained  to  it,  so  that  it  may 
be  in  a  condition  to  determine  what  its  relations  to  said  Semi- 
nary are  and  ought  to  be,'  made  an  elaborate  report,  covering 
the  whole  history  of  the  Chicago  Seminary,  from  its  first  men- 
tion in  the  minutes  of  the  General  Council  of  1869,  to  date. . 
This  comprehensive  report  closes  as  follows: 

The  history  we  have  given  establishes  the  following: 

**1.  That  the  General  Council  is  responsible  for  the  estdh- 
lishment  of  a  Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago,  and  has  done 
everything,  except  in  the  way  of  pecuniary  support,  to  entitle 


562  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

that  Institution  to  he  called  the  General  CounciVs  Theological 
Seminary  in  a  sense  in  which  that  title  cannot  he  claimed  hy 
any  other  Institution. 

' '  2.  That  it  originally  contemplated  an  Institution  in  which 
the  ministry  for  the  English,  German  and  Scandinavian  peoples 
should  be  trained,  and  seemed  to  find  itself  exceedingly  embar- 
rassed when  one  of  its  most  important  Synods,  the  Swedish 
Augustana  Synod,  not  only  declined  to  co-operate  with  it,  but 
objected  to  its  establishment. 

"3.  That  it  was  clearly  the  intention  of  the  General  Council 
to  keep  itself  free  from  all  pecuniary  responsibility,  and  that 
the  Seminary  should  look  to  certain  of  the  Synods  of  the  General 
Council  who  might  unite  in  sustaining  it,  for  its  support." 

After  a  full  discussion  the  General  Council  resolved: 

"I.  That  the  General  Council  herewith  expresses  its  ap- 
preciation of  the  importance  and  desirahleness  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  Chicago,  as  well  as  its  confidence  in  the  Board  of 
Directors  appointed  hy  this  Council,  and  that  it  cordially  com- 
mends this  young  institution  to  our  pastors  and  people. 

"II.  That  the  General  Council  in  view  of  the  past,  and  in 
consideration  of  its  relations  to  the  Synods  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed, is  persuaded  that  it  is  not  in  a  condition  to  own  and  to 
manage  a  Theological  Seminary,  and  that  it  will  be  best  for  all 
concerned  if  it  sustains  precisely  the  same  relations  to  all  the 
Theological  Seminaries  within  its  bounds.  Two  of  them,  viz., 
that  of  the  Augustana  Synod  and  the  Philadelphia  Seminary,  at 
]Mt.  Airy,  are  sustained  and  managed  by  certain  District  Syn- 
ods, and  it  is  the  deliberate  judgment  of  the  General  Council, 
that  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Chicago  should  be  controlled 
by  certain  District  Sjnaods,  'uniting  in  its  support.'  For  this 
reason  the  General  Council  declines  to  act  upon  the  confirmation 
of  the  Professors,  and  the  examination  and  approval  of  the 
Constitution  for  its  government,  believing  that  all  this  can  best 
be  done,  in  this  case,  as  in  others,  by  the  brethren  who  have 
taken  the  matter  in  hand,  and  by  the  Synods  that  may  'unite 
in  sustaining  it. '  In  taking  this  action  the  General  Council  places 
all  the  Theological  Seminaries  within  its  bounds  upon  an 
equal  footing." 

In  the  Worlcmaji  of  May  24,  1894,  we  find  an  editorial  on 
the  Chicago  Semmary,  the  next  to  the  last  he  ever  wrote,  giving 
an  account  of  the  third  commencement  of  the  Seminary,  at 
which  the  first  class  was  graduated.     It  was  at  that  commence- 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  563 

ment  that  the  writer  of  this  saw  Dr.  Passavant  for  the  last  time. 
The  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  professors  had 
taken  supper  together  at  the  home  of  Dr.  Weidner.  At  the 
table  Dr.  Passavant  had  asked  for  contributions  toward  buying 
a  hand  Bible  for  each  of  the  graduates.  At  the  exercises  in 
Trinity  church,  after  the  graduates  had  received  their  diplomas 
and  while  they  were  still  standing  at  the  altar  rail,  he  pre- 
sented the  Bibles.  In  the  short  address  to  that  little  band,  the 
first  fruits  of  the  institution  so  near  to  his  heart  for  a  quarter 
of  a  century,  the  Doctor  affectionately,  earnestly,  eloquently 
pleaded  with  the  young  men  to  preach  nothing  but  the  truth  of 
the  Word,  its  whole  counsel,  its  law  and  its  gospel.  He  pictured 
the  beauty  and  the  blessedness  of  him  who  has  experienced 
these  truths  and  is  privileged  to  carry  them  into  the  homes  and 
hearts  of  others,  publicly  and  from  house  to  house. 

We  can  see  him  still,  his  face  shining  like  the  face  of  the 
disciple  whom  Jesus  loved  when  he  pleaded  in  old  age,  "Little 
children,  love  one  another."  We  had  never  seen  Dr.  Passavant 
so  happy  as  on  that  evening.  After  the  exercises  were  over, 
and  we  were  about  to  bid  him  good-by,  he  said.  "Come,  brother 
G.,  walk  up  to  the  hospital  with  me."  As  we  walked  together 
and  he  talked  so  hopefully  and  so  lovingly  of  the  future  of  that 
young  school  of  the  prophets  and  of  our  connection  with  it, 
our  heart  burned  within  us  towards  the  dear  old  saint  and  this 
last  child  of  his  life,  his  love,  his  labor. 

Little  did  we  reckon  that  this  was  to  be  our  last  interview 
on  earth.  The  next  number  of  the  Workman  bore  the  black  lines 
of  mourning  and  told  of  his  triumphant  death,  his  funeral  and 
his  going  to  rest  beside  his  mother  on  the  green  hill  overlooking 
his  cherished  Orphan  Farm  School  at  Zelienople. 

The  editorial  above  mentioned  closes  as  follows : 

"We  forbear  to  express  all  the  thoughts  which  crowd  upon 
us,  as  we  look  back  to  the  closing  exercises  of  the  third  year  of 
this  Seminary.  The  first  is  a  feeling  of  a  profound  sorrow 
that  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  passed  away  before  this  In- 
stitution could  be  commenced !  Had  its  beginning  been  possible 
when  it  was  resolved  upon  by  the  General  Council,  what  a 
number  of  trained  laborers  might  now  be  in  the  field,  and  what 
a  multitude  of  churches  might  now  be  in  its  constituency !  The 
second  is  a  humiliating  thought  that  while  millions  during  this 
time  have  gone  into  buildings  and  endowments  for  the  semi- 
naries of  other  denominations,  m  several  of  which  a  princely 


564  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

provision  has  been  made  for  the  special  purpose  of  evangelizing 
our  Lutheran  people,  this  Institution  is  left  to  struggle  into 
life  and  usefulness,  without  any  endowment  and  with  the  in- 
sufficient offerings  of  a  handful  of  friends  who  feel  its  pressing 
needs  at  every  step,  but  are  without  the  means  to  supply  them ! 
Rome,  with  its  various  European  orders  and  vast  resources, 
transferred  to  our  shores,  and  sectarianism  with  its  unworthy 
propaganda,  work  unceasingly  at  every  available  place  and  in 
every  conceivable  form  while  the  Church  of  the  Reformation  is 
left  to  struggle  on  bended  knees  for  the  perishable  meat  of  each 
new  day ! 

"But  it  has  pleased  God  to  suffer  this  so  to  be.  We  can, 
therefore,  only  continue  to  labor  on  and  'lift  up  our  eyes  unto 
the  hills  from  whence  cometh  our  help. '  An  humble  but  hopeful 
beginning,  however,  has  been  made.  Thirty-one  students  were 
in  attendance  last  year.  In  addition  to  these,  sixty  pastors  be- 
longing to  thirteen  different  synods  over  the  land,  are  pur- 
suing a  post  graduate  course  of  study  under  the  direction  and 
instruction  of  the  faculty.  If  it  shall  please  God  to  bless  this 
undertaking  in  the  future,  as  He  has  done  in  the  past,  the  Semi- 
nary will  have  seventy-five  regular  students  and  one  hundred 
twenty  post  graduate  students  three  years  hence.  But  for  such 
an  increase  there  must  not  only  be  additional  buildings,  but  gen- 
erous offerings  and  substantial  endowments,  and  all  these  only 
God  can  give,  by  the  enlarging  liberality  of  His  people  and  the 
consecration  to  Christ  of  the  means  entrusted  to  them.  For  the 
Holy  Spirit,  who  alone  can  work  such  largeness  of  view  and  the 
grace  of  Christian  charity  we  bespeak  the  prayers  of  the 
brotherhood. ' ' 

Of  the  principles,  spirit  and  aims  of  that  school,  so  dear  to 
the  heart  of  Dr.  Passavant,  we  wrote  in  the  Seminary  Record  for 
April,  1902:    * 

"Our  Seminary  stands,  first  of  all,  for  a  thorough  and 
sound  theological  training. 

"Whoever  will  examine  the  schedule  of  subjects  and  cours- 
es taught  here  will  see  that  we  aim  to  cover  the  whole  field  of 
Theology  in  all  of  its  departments. 

'  "The  criticism  is  sometimes  made  that  we  offer  too  much; 
that  where  so  much  is  attempted  all  will  be  done  hastily  and 
superficially. 

"Now  we  freely  grant  that  no  one  can  completely  master 
all  the  subjects  that  we  offer.   It  is  our  aim  and  our  claim, 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  565 

however,  that  with  the  proper  gifts,  qualifications  and  method- 
ical application,  the  student  can  get  a  general  and  clear  survey 
of  each  department,  master  its  fundamental  principles,  know  its 
most  important  sources  and  authorities,  be  enabled  to  make 
further  original  and  systematic  investigation,  and  have  awak- 
ened in  him  such  love  for  further  knowledge  that  he  will  keep 
on  pushing  his  inquiries  and  researches  as  long  as  he  lives.  Day 
by  day  we  impress  it  upon  our  students  that  their  course  in  the 
Seminary  is  only  the  beginning  of  a  lifelong  study  of  Theology. 

"As  to  the  soundness  of  the  Theology  taught  it  has  never 
been  seriously  questioned.  Our  graduates  have  been  examined 
for  ordination  in  a  score  of  synods,  among  them  the  most 
rigidly  confessional  in  the  land,  and  there  is  not  a  single  case  of 
one  refused  ordination  for  unsoundness  in  the  faith. 

"Our  Seminary  stands,  secondly,  for  an  entire  surrender 
and  consecration  to  Christ. 

"We  are  not  satisfied  with  a  mere  intellectual  and  schol- 
arly orthodoxy.  We  believe  that  every  doctrine  pertaining  to 
salvation  must  become  an  experience.  In  the  alembic  of  the 
inner  spirit  it  must  become  transmuted  into  life.  It  must  be- 
come transformed  into  the  being  and  personality  of  him  who 
is  to  teach  it.  Only  thus  does  it  really  become  his  own.  Only 
thus  does  he  become  a  true  and  living  teacher  of  the  truth.  The 
witness  that  the  divine  Spirit  brings  to  him  in  the  Word  and 
in  a  Theology  drawn  from  that  Word  must  become  a  witness  in 
him.  Out  of  a  heart  moved  and  melted  by  penitence,  soothed 
and  saved  by  faith,  fervid  and  filled  with  love,  he  testifies.  He 
is  a  living  witness,  a  true  prophet,  an  ambassador  who  teaches 
and  beseeches  in  Christ's  stead,  moved  and  constrained  by  the 
love  of  Christ.  Over  and  over  again,  in  Chapel  exercises,  in 
class-room  and  in  private  intercourse  the  vital  importance  of 
the  inner  life  and  of  daily  communion  with  the  Lord  is  em- 
phasized. Our  Seminary  does  not  want  to  send  out  a  single 
minister  who  is  not  in  personal  and  experimental  relationship 
with  Christ  Jesus.  We  believe  that  our  dear  Church  has  suffer- 
ed from  an  intellectual  and  pharisaic  orthodoxism.  We  need 
and  want  an  orthodox  Pietism,  an  evangelical  mysticism,  a  min- 
istry aflame  with  the  love  of  Christ  and  of  souls. 

"We  know  that  the  Lutheran  Church  is  in  her  genius  and 
history  a  liturgical  church.  We  have  a  special  course  on  Litur- 
gies. We  desire  that  our  ministry  should  understand,  appre- 
ciate and  know  how  to  use  our  rich  liturgical  treasures.     But, 


566  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

knowing  that  the  old  Adam  is  a  formalist,  we  warn  against  an 
over-emphasizing  of  forms.  We  caution  against  the  tendency 
to  so-called  "liturgical  enrichment."  We  deprecate  all  borrow- 
ing from  and  aping  after  non-Lutherans.  We  discourage  the  in- 
troduction of  customs  that  are  new  and  strange  in  the  English 
Lutheran  Church,  which  cause  offense,  hinder  and  hamper 
growth,  prevent  uniformity  and  confuse  our  people. 

"Our  Seminary,  in  the  third  place,  makes  special  efforts 
to  prepare  men  for  the  practical  side  of  the  minister's  life. 

"Every  subject  taught  among  us  is  given  a  practical  turn. 
The  student  is  reminded  again  and  again  that  all  his  learning 
is  for  use  in  his  practical  work.  He  is  shown  how  he  is  to  fit 
his  exegesis  and  his  dogmatics  into  the  hearts  and  lives  of  his 
people.  We  do  not  wish  to  send  out  either  preaching  exegetes 
or  preaching  historians  or  preaching  dogmaticians.  But  we  do 
desire  to  send  out  safe  exegetical,  correct  and  interesting  histor- 
ical, sound  and  edifying  doctrinal  preachers.  They  are  to  be 
able  to  so  expound  the  truth  of  the  Word  that  it  will  be  help- 
ful to  the  various  classes  of  hearers  in  their  every-day  tempta- 
tions, struggles  and  sorrows.  They  are  to  use  their  knowledge 
of  history  that  their  hearers  will  get  from  it  illustration,  inspira- 
tion, hope  and  comfort  in  their  multiform  lives,  callings  and 
experiences.  They  are  to  put  into  such  concrete  forms,  simple 
and  attractive  language  the  deepest  doctrines  of  Dogmatics  that 
their  hearers  will  see  how  these  doctrines  fit  into  and  give  aid 
and  comfort  in  every  phase  and  vicissitude  of  daily  life.  They 
are  to  know  how  to  make  doctrines  devotional  and  ethical;  how 
to  bring  Theology  home  to  'men's  business  and  bosoms.' 
While  Demosthenes  taught  that  the  three  chief  requisites  of 
good  address  are  action,  action,  action ;  while  Robert  Hall  taught 
that  the  three  chief  requisites  of  good  preaching  t-se  prepara- 
tion, preparation,  preparation,  our  Homiletical  professor  insists 
that  not  neglecting  these,  the  chief  requisites  of  effective  preach- 
ing are  application,  application,  application. 

"Thus  the  practical  side  is  emphasized  in  every  part  of 
the  student's  course.  The  young  men  are  not  onlj  reminded, 
in  nearly  every  lecture,  that  they  must  thus  utilize  their  theo- 
ries, but  they  are  shown  how  to  do  it.  No  less  than  five  hours 
a  week  are  given  to  Homiletics.  Pastoral  Theology  is  not  only 
taught  and  freely  discussed  in  the  class-room,  but  every  student 
is  urged  and  directed  to  do  Sunday  school,  student  and  church 
work  during  his  stay  at  the  Seminary.     The  pastoral  side  of 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  567 

Liturgies  is  made  prominent.  In  Catechetics,  not  the  theory 
alone  is  taught,  but  the  students  are  directed  and  drilled  in 
Catechizing.  In  Evangelistics  the  history,  theory  and  methods 
of  Foreign  Missions  are  taught  and  every  student  is  shown  how 
to  be  a  missionary  pastor  in  his  congregation  and  how  to  enlist 
and  increase  the  active  interest  and  zeal  of  the  Sunday  school, 
the  Luther  League,  the  Congregation  and  the  individual  mem- 
ber. In  Diaconics  the  principles  and  practice  of  Inner  Missions 
are  taught,  and  as  opportunity  is  afforded,  students  are  made 
acquainted  with  the  various  phases  of  the  work  in  our  great  city. 
The  hope  is  that  such  an  interest  and  enthusiasm  will  be  awa- 
kened that  some  of  our  young  pastors  will  do  their  personal  part 
in  solving  the  problems  that  confront  our  Church  in  all  our 
large  cities  and  that  this  sadly  neglected  work  will  be  taken  up 
and  prosecuted  as  it  should  be.  In  short,  it  is  our  one  great  aim 
and  hope  that  we  turn  out  not  only  able  and  earnest  theologians, 
but  also  practical  and  successful  workers. 

"At.  our  two  daily  chapel  services  the  Matin  and  Vesper 
service  are  used.  The  students  conduct  these  services  in  turn 
and  offer  their  own  free  prayers. 

''In  the  morning  our  President  makes  a  brief  exegetical 
and  practical  address.  In  the  evening  the  officiating  student 
gives  a  brief  expository  and  devotional  address. 

' '  And,  finally,  our  Seminary  stands  for  a  better  understand- 
ing and  co-operation  among  our  divided  Lutherans. 

"Our  students  represent  many  nationalities  and  languages. 
From  half  a  score  to  a  score  of  synods  can  be  counted  among 
us  nearly  every  year.  They  come  together,  mingle  with  each 
other,  get  acquainted  with  each  other's  ecclesiastical  bodies  and 
their  peculiarities  and  learn  to  respect  each  other's  convictions. 
The  spirit  of  harmony  and  good  will  that  prevails  among  this 
mixed  mass  is  a  surprise  and  a  delight  to  all. 

"All  this  will  certainly  have  a  tendency  to  remove  suspi- 
cions, prejudice  and  strife  in  the  future.  It  will  play  no  small 
part  in  bringing  about  that  better  understanding  so  devoutly 
longed  and  prayed  for.  We  are  helpful  to  all  Synods  who  will 
use  our  help.  We  desire  to  assist  them  over  that  difficult  lan- 
guage bridge  which,  sooner  or  later  must  be  crossed  if  our 
dear  Church  is  to  have  that  future  to  which  she  is  justly  en- 
titled. It  is  a  strict  rule  with  us  that  every  student,  when 
he  is  ready  for  work,  must  offer  his  services  to  that  body  from 
which  he  comes.     On  this  we  always  insist.     We  are  positively 


568  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

opposed  to  all  proselytizing.  We  insist  that  our  men  shall  al- 
ways observe  the  requirements  of  fraternal  and  Christian 
comity.  We  believe  that  this  is  the  only  proper  way  to  hasten 
the  day  when  our  divided  hosts  shall  understand  each  other  and 
be  drawn  toward  each  other. ' ' 

Of  the  importance  of  supplying  the  ranks  of  the  ministry 
from  the  families  of  ministers  Dr.  Passavant  writes  an  editorial 
from  which  we  quote  the  concluding  paragraphs : 

"  Of  late  this  thought  has  led  us  to  examine  the  clerical 
list  of  our  American  Church,  and  we  are  gratified  to  note  the 
fact  that  many  of  our  pastors  are  the  sons  of  ministers.  In 
numerous  instances,  one,  two  and  even  three  sons  have  come 
from  a  single  pastor's  home.  In  one  instance,  that  of  Rev. 
Pastor  Brauer,  of  Crete,  Illinois,  five  sons  are  in  the  ministry 
and  two  daughters  are  married  to  clergymen.  In  a  number  of 
other  instances,  our  pastors  can  look  back  upon  a  ministerial 
ancestry  of  many  generations.  The  Henkel  family  is  a  striking 
illustration  of  this.  The  Schmucker  family  is  another,  and  the 
Schaeffer  is  a  third.  The  lesson  taught  by  all  these,  is  a  most 
important  one.  It  is  full  of  useful  suggestion  and  holy  inspira- 
tion. Where  there  is  entire  consecration  to  Christ,  where  there 
is  deadness  to  the  world,  where  there  is  self-sacrifice  and  com- 
manding regard  for  duty,  there  is  a  natural  home  and  a 
training  place  of  an  unselfish  ministry.  There,  the  father  rules 
with  Christian  law  and  the  mother  with  Christian  love.  These 
are  the  mightiest  factors  in  the  universe. 

"It  is  in  such  an  atmosphere  that  the  seeds  of  goodness 
and  greatness  spring  up  and  mature  into  pure  and  noble 
characters.  The  Church  needs  such  men  above  all  others.  We 
cannot  do  without  them.  They  are  indispensable  to  her  exist- 
ence. Her  enlarged  efficiency  and  usefulness  depend  largely 
upon  them  and  to  this  source  of  supply  the  Church  must  there- 
fore look  with  increasing  expectation. 

"Our  ministry  numbers  upwards  of  four  thousand.  If 
but  one  fourth  of  these  will,  in  due  time,  send  forth  from 
their  homes  each  one  young  man,  'full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,'  and  thoroughly  qualified  for  the  duties  of  the  ministry, 
what  a  gain  to  the  Church  and  the  nation  would  come  from  this 
source  alone.  While  we  pray  to  God  to  send  laborers  into  His 
harvest,  let  us  not  neglect  the  necessary  training  in  the  family 
and  in  the  school.  Let  our  prayers,  our  aims,  and  our  lives  be 
a  living  testimony  to  our  faith.    Then  may  we  expect  an  increase 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  569 

of  ministerial  force,  such  as  our  weak  faith  scarcely  hoped  for 
hitherto." 

Dr.  Passavant  believed  that  where  the  proper  spirit  and  life 
pervades  a  congregation,  there  young  men  will  offer  themselves 
for  the  ministry,  and  that  congregations  that  produce  no  min- 
isters thereby  confess  to  spiritual  dearth  and  poverty.  Here 
is  an  editorial  on  Fruitful  Churches: 

"It  is  pitiful  that  many  pastors  and  churches  have  never 
been  instrumental  in  bringing  young  men  into  the  ministry. 
It  is  sad  to  know  that  there  are  hundreds  of  such  churches,  some 
of  which  are  a  century  old  and  yet  not  a  single  person  was  ever 
reared  in  their  fold  who  went  forth  to  preach  the  gospel  of 
Christ.  This  indicates  a  state  of  things  which  is  appalling. 
While  the  bridegroom  tarried,  they  all  slumbered  and  slept! 
It  is  very  evident,  however,  that  the  fault  is  not  always  with  the 
people  of  the  churches.  In  most  instances  the  ministry  was 
largely  to  blame.  They  did  little  to  arouse  their  people  or  call 
the  attention  of  young  men  to  the  claims  which  Christ  has  upon 
them.  We  are  glad  to  know  that  there  are  also  many  honorable 
exceptions  to  such  barren  fig  trees.  The  Zeitschrift,  of  Allen- 
town,  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  two  churches  of  Boyer- 
town  and  New  Hanover,  Pa.,  of  which  Rev.  L.  Groh  is  pastor, 
in  the  last  twenty  years  has  sent  forth  the  following  ministers : 
Rev.  Messrs.  H.  S.  Fegley,  Linville;  D.  K.  Kepner,  Pottstown; 
H.  N.  Fegley,  Mechanicsburg ;  J.  N.  S.  Erb,  Orwigsburg;  J.  S. 
Erb,  Slatington;  A.  B.  Markley,  Jonestown;  S.  E.  Ochsenford, 
Selinsgrove;  and  Rev.  B.  G.  Welder,  pastor  of  the  Reamstown 
charge,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa. 

"A  correspondent  of  Our  Church  Paper  likewise  refers  to 
the  church  at  Strasburg,  Va.,  thus:  'This  place  has  furnished 
a  remarkable  number  of  ministers.  The  names  of  twenty-five 
were  given  me.  The  following  Lutheran  ministers  were  either 
born  or  spent  their  early  life  here :  Revs.  Keil,  Hickerson,  Dr. 
T.  W.  Dosh,  and  J.  L.  Sibole,  Dr.  J.  Schwartz,  J.  H.  Barb,  L. 
G.  M.  Miller,  Swisher,  W.  G.  Campbell,  T.  0.  Keister,  and  candi- 
date Chas.  L.  Keller.' 

"We  might  mention  several  other  churches  which  have  an 
honorable  record  in  this  respect,  such  as  the  church  at  Fred- 
erick, Md.,  which  has  sent  forth  some  thirty  ministers;  the 
church  at  Zelienople,  Pa.,  which  has  sent  into  the  field  the  Revs. 
G.  Bassler,  G.  A.  Wenzel,  W.  A.  Passavant,  Lewis  Hay,  and  one 
or  more  others;  the  English  Lutheran  Church  at  Prospect,  Pa., 


570  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

from  which  have  gone  forth  the  Revs.  H.  W.  Roth,  D.  Luther 
Roth,  Theophilus  B.  Roth,  J.  D.  Roth,  W.  P.  Shanor  and  G.  W. 
Critehlow;  and  the  First  English  Lutheran  Church*  of  Pitts- 
burg from  whose  membership  there  have  gone  out  Revs.  M. 
Schweigert,  A.  H.  Waters,  F.  Richards,  James  .Q.  Waters,  G. 
H.  Gerberding,  W.  Siebert  and  W.  A.  Pa«ssavant,  Jr.  There 
may  be  others  which  do  not  occur  to  us,  but  the  'apostolic  suc- 
cession' is  going  on,  and  from  most  of  them  others  are  now  in 
the  college  or  seminary  preparing  for  the  active  duties  of  the 
ministry. 

"  'There  is  a  lad  here,'  in  many  a  church,  on  whom  God 
has  laid  a  heavy  responsibility.  The  multitude  cannot  be  fed 
without  his  'barley  loaves  and  a  few  fishes.'  They  must  be 
taken  by  the  hand  and  led  to  school  as  the  mother  of  Luther  led 
him  when  a  lad.  They  dare  not  be  overlooked  because  they 
are  'a  little  one.'  God  works  by  the  agency  of  little  things 
that  'the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God  and  not  of 
men.'" 

Of  the  kind  of  boys  wanted  for  the  ministry  he  writes : 

"Not  everything  in  the  shape  of  a  boy  or  man  will  make 
a  minister.  Not  scrawny,  scrofulous,  dyspeptic  and  hollow- 
breasted  lads,  unfit  for  the  farm,  shop  and  other  manual  work, 
but  those  who  are  healthy,  sound  and  vigorous,  full  of  all  vitali- 
ties, should  be  encouraged.  Not  morose,  moping,  hang-dog  lads 
without  mirth  and  music  in  their  soul,  but  bright  and  cheerful 
ones,  with  open  countenance,  whose  face  is  sunshine  and  whose 
company  is  gladness.  Not  softlings  nor  idlers  nor  imbeciles,  nor 
drones  who  need  to  be  coddled  and  shamed  and  scolded  to  get 
them  moved,  but  boys  and  men  who  have  life  in  them,  the  best 
at  work  and  play  in  the  neighborhood,  with  the  mental  force 
and  bodily  activities  M^hieh  command  success  in  life. 

"Not  cunning,  tricky  and  lying  boys,  thoroughly  hated  for 
their  meanness  and  deserving  to  be  kicked  by  their  companions. 
Not  'smart  boys'  who  have  every  kind  of  sense  but  without 
common-sense.  Not  conceited  upstarts,  to  whom  the  ministry 
is  a  service  for  self  and  who  hold  it  in  esteem  for  their  own  ad- 
miration. Not  dull  souls  without  power  to  comprehend  truth 
nor  mental  force  to  proclaim  it,  nor  the  natural  capacity  to  be- 
come 'able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament.'  And  lastly,  not 
sordid  souls,  to  whom  the  'priest  office'  is  simply  an  easy  way 
to  earn  a  piece  of  bread,  a  trade  to  make  a  living,  with  the  soft- 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  571 

nesses  and  perquisites  for  good  measure.     All  these  classes  of 
men  are  a  withering  curse  to  the  fair  heritage  of  God. 

"The  Church  should  even  go  back  farther  than  these  mani- 
festations of  unsuitableness.  Hunt  up  the  family  pedigree ;  but 
pay  little  regard  to  humble  circumstances  or  poverty.  Titled 
rank  is  often  only  'the  guinea  stamp,'  but  birth  and  rank  in 
God's  kingdom  are  the  true  nobility.  Paul  beautifully  refers 
to  this  inheritance  of  greatness:  'When  I  call  to  remembrance 
the  unfeigned  faith  that  is  in  thee,  which  dwelt  first  in  thy 
grandmother  Lois  and  thy  mother  Eunice,'  ISIext  to  God's 
grace,  this  is  the  true  patent  of  nobility.  The  apple  does  not  fall 
far  from  the  tree.  The  faith  of  holy  parents  descends  to  their 
children.  This  is  a  factor  of  greatness  and  goodness.  It  de- 
velops a  quality  and  capacity  of  mind  found  nowhere  else.  It 
endows  with  sensibility  and  affection  which  constitute  true  mag- 
netism. 

"Let  the  Church,  then,  inqiare  for  the  parentage  of  her 
future  ministry.  Let  those  who  minister  at  her  altars  be  the 
offspring  of  a  devout  and  virtuous  ancestry.  Look  back  along 
this  line  as  far  as  can  be  seen  clearly.  Blood  tells.  Therefore 
let  the  Church  avoid  a  miuistry  from  a  lowlived  and  sin- 
exhausted  race.  The  taint  of  impurity  goes  down  through  the 
generations  following.  The  tribe  of  Levi  exists  no  longer  in 
form,  but  it  does  in  fact.  Let  our  ministry  be  chosen  from 
this  pure  and  virtuous  ances^'^ry,  young  men  who  have  been 
given  to  God  in  the  speechless  agony  of  faith  as  was  Samuel, 
and  who,  in  a  pure  youth,  as  did  the  Holy  One,  grow  in 
stature  and  increase  in  favor  with  God  and  man." 

The  following  answer  to  Dr.  Morris,  to  a  question  about 
receiving  a  certain  German  body  into  the  General  Synod,  gives 
evidence  of  the  same  knowledge  and  zeal  already  noticed: 

"Away  from  all  my  memoranda,  papers,  etc.,  1  am  not  in 
a  situation  to  write  accurately  but  will  do  the  best  I  can. 

"You  know  there  was  a  synod  organized  in  Ohio  some  ten 
or  fifteen  years  ago  called  the  Augsburg  Synod.  It  was  a 
'Misgehurt'  of  a  number  of  queer  characters,  among  whom  was 
a  man  named  B.  of  the  Western  district  of  the  Joint  Synod  of 
Ohio.  Several  of  the  men  had  been  Reformed;  such  as,  Rev. 
J.  Z.  and  one  P.  who  had  been  a  vaunting  new  measure  man  and 
joined  the  East  Ohio  Synod  of  the  General  Synod.  On  several 
occasions  the  miserable  thing  seemed  ready  to  die  and  yet  by 
some  hook  or  crook,  through  the  management  of  one  H.  it  sud- 


572  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

denly  loomed  up  and  gathered  unto  itself  all  manner  of  charac- 
ters, bad,  worse  and,  a  third  class  who  were,  in  the  judgment  of 
charity,  tolerably  decent.  This  H.  was  originally,  I  believe,  a 
Swiss  school-master,  a  member  of  the  old  Illinois  Synod  of  the 
General  Synod.  Then  he  went  off  to  the  Methodists  and  was  a 
teacher  in  a  Methodist  high  school  in  Missouri.  Then  the  fel- 
low tried  to  get  into  our  Synod  and  corresponded  with  me  but 
I  gave  him  no  encouragement.  Then  he  took  charge  of  a  German 
church  in  southern  Illinois  and  did  his  utmost  to  get  into  the 
Missouri  Synod,  but  failed.  Then  he  split  the  church  and  car- 
ried with  him  a  part  with  which  he  joined  with  a  number  of 
loose  ministers  in  Southwest  Illinois  and  Missouri  and  came 
over  in  a  body  to  the  B.  Synod,  forming  a  District  Synod  of 
that  bod3^  Then  the  fellow  got  himself  into  the  presidential 
chair  and  the  others  rebelled  and  put  him  out,  or  he  put  them 
out.  Then  he  organized  a  new  synod  at  a  union  church  back 
of  Economy,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.,  with  five  or  six  of  his  kind  calling 
it  'The  Emanuel  Synod.'  Having  to  preach  only  every  second 
Sunday  at  that  place,  he  foraged  around  and  gathered  in  all 
manner  of  fishes,  fresh,  foul,  and  fishy,  every  one.  Now, 
whether  the  Emanuel  Synod  of  which  he  is  or  was  the  head 
center  is  the  one  which  wishes  to  come  into  the  General  Synod 
or  whether  it  is  the  original  Augsburg  Synod  of  which  it  is 
the  outspring,  I  am  not  able  to  say.  But  both  bodies  are  so 
low  down  that  no  one  has  any  respect  for  them  who  respects 
either  himself  or  the  body  to  which  he  belongs.  Drunkards, 
lewd  men  and  doubtful  characters  are  in  both.  The  General 
Synod  could  not  do  a  worse  thing  than  to  load  ftself  down  with 
such  thick  clay. 

"Another  wing  of  the  Augsburg  Synod  ceased  to  be  a 
District  Synod  and  became  the  'Synod  of  New  York  and  Ca- 
nada'! But  they  too  capsized  in  the  storm.  L.  of  Utica,  a  drunk- 
ard, expelled  from  the  Pennsylvania  and  the  New  York  Synods, 
was  the  head  man  in  this  body;  but  it  was  too  heavy,  and  sunk 
to  rise  no  more, 

"Such  an  Erscheinung  in  the  way  of  synodical  Misgehurts 
never  before  disgraced  our  American  Church.  The  worst,  be- 
cause the  most  practical  and  tireless  and  dangerous  man  was 
H.  He  must  have  gathered  some  thirty  or  forty  of  these  expel- 
led or  disgraced  or  bogus  fellows  together  and  he  always  knew 
how  to  deceive  and  to  be  deceived,  until  split  followed  split, 
now  on  the  top  of  the  wave,  now  under  and  now,  when  under 


EDITORIAL  LIFE,  ETC.  573 

I  suppose,  he  is  trying  to  hoist  up  this  miserable  collection  in 
order  once  more  to  get  a  longer  lease  of  life." 

Only  a  few  months  before  his  death,  Dr.  Passavant  pub- 
lished his  last  earnest  warning  to  the  Church,  in  a  three-column 
editorial,  from  which  we  take  this  startling  array  of  facts: 

"As  an  illustration  of  the  persistence  with  which  these 
pretenders  follow  up  an  opportunity  to  secure  a  place,  we  re- 
call the  following  incident.  At  a  convention  of  the  Canada 
Synod  at  Sevastopol,  Ontario,  which  we  attended  years  ago  as 
a  delegate,  no  less  than  four  such  characters  were  applicants. 
The  first  was  a  certain  student  named  K.  who  had  been  refused 
admission  at  Thiel  Hall  and  now  applied  to  be  sent  to  Her- 
mansburg,  Germany.  The  revelation  of  his  character  made  an 
end  to  his  prospects,  but  the  same  man  was  unfortunately  after- 
wards ordained  by  the  Ohio  Synod,  only  to  afflict  and  disgrace 
several  congregations,  and  to  be  expelled  for  drunkenness.  A 
second  was  a  poor  victim  of  strong  drink,  but  his  countenance 
told  too  plainly  the  story  of  his  habits  and  after  years  of  wan- 
dering and  beggary,  he  found  a  refuge  in  the  almshouse  of  a 
Roman  Catholic  Monastery.  The  third  was  the  notorious  Rev. 
H.,  once  a  member  in  some  Methodist  body  in  Canada,  then  of 
an  English  Lutheran  Synod  in  Illinois,  then  the  disgraced  pas- 
tor of  several  of  our  English  churches  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  then 
an  applicant  for  a  vacant  church  in  the  Canada  Synod.  He 
had  already  been  admitted,  but  when  our  name  was  announced, 
he  suddenly  disappeared,  though  no  man  pursued.  The  next 
day  the  previous  action  in  his  case  was  repealed,  the  congrega- 
tion notified  and  duly  warned,  and  the  Synod  and  church  saved 
further  disgrace !  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  identical  person, 
years  afterwards,  was  sent  by  the  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.,  as  a  missionary  to  Greenville,  Pa.,  not  only  reor- 
dained,  but  assuming  the  title  of  Rev.  Dr.  The  fourth  candi- 
date was  a  young  Israelite  by  the  name  of  S.  His  examination 
was  sustained,  and  he  was  ordained  on  the  call  of  a  congrega- 
tion. Unfortunately,  like  the  fabled  'wandering  Jew,'  he  has 
been  on  his  travels  most  of  the  time  since  then !  Leaving  the 
Canada  Synod,  he  next  appeared  in  the  German  Synod  of  Illi- 
nois, connected  with  the  General  Synod,  sometime  afterwards 
the  renunciation  of  his  former  faith  appeared  in  the  Luther- 
aner  of  St.  Louis  and  now  we  learn  from  our  exchanges  that  he 
too  has  been  reordained  and  is  employed  in  the  missionary 
work  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 


574  THE  LIFE  OB'  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 

"Another  sad  illustration  of  the  same  carelessness  in  the 
admission  of  men  to  our  Synods  is  the  case  of  Rev.  Carl  0., 
of  Green  Baj^,  Wisconsin,  This  man  who  had  gained  no  small 
publicity  through  the  press  as  the  founder  of  an  Orphan  House 
in  that  place  was  afterwards  expelled  from  the  Wisconsin 
Synod  for  lying.  In  an  evil  hour,  he  too  was  received  into  the 
Ohio  Synod,  collected  large  money  from  some  of  its  churches 
professedly  for  the  orphans  and  had  to  be  expelled  for  valid 
reasons.  In  a  short  time  afterwards  he  turned  up  as  a  most 
zealous  churchman,  having  been  reordained  by  the  Episcopal 
Bishop  and  filled  the  Banner  of  the  Cross  with  glowing  accounts 
of  the  wonderful  trend  among  the  Germans  of  the  Northwest 
to  'the  Church'  and  unnumbered  falsehoods  against  the  Luth- 
eran Sect.  But  this  work  had  no  permanency.  The  so-cailed 
congregations  at  Oshkosh  and  elsewhere  which  he  pretended  to 
have  organized,  soon  scattered;  the  Orphan  Home  was  sold  by 
him  to  the  Odd  Fellows,  and  the  dismal  failure  was  only  made 
more  apparent  when  the  costly  publication  of  the  book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  translated  by  him  into  German,  remained  all  un- 
called for  in  Milwaukee,  with  none  so  poor  as  to  do  it  rever- 
ence. From  a  warning  which  has  just  appeared  in  the  organ  of 
the  Wisconsin  Synod,  we  learn  that  he  is  trying  to  play  the 
same  game  of  deception  in  Manistee,  Michigan,  among  some 
loose  material  outside  of  the  two  German  Lutheran  churches 
in  the  city,  but  the  attempt  is  useless.  The  end  is  not  yet, 
but  it  is  very  nigh." 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  575 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  LAST  WEEK.  —  DEATH.  —  FUNERAL.  —  CONDOL- 
ENCES.—CHARACTER  SKETCH. 

And  now  we  come  to  the  last  sad  chapter.  What  a  beau- 
tiful, blessed,  befitting  close!  Slowly  dying  for  a  whole  week, 
yet  laboring  up  to  the  very  last  day !  Laboring  not  for  self,  but 
for  others.  His  last  service,  a  service  of  sympathy  and  comfort 
for  a  bereft  congregation  and  a  heart-broken  family.  His  own 
fatal  illness  brought  on  by  exposure  incident  to  that  labor  of 
love.  His  last  editorial  breathing  out  prayer  and  sympathy  for 
the  sorrowing  and  calling  in  trumpet-tones  for  more  laborers 
to  take  the  place  of  those  falling  at  their  posts.  His  last  dis- 
appointment that  he  could  not  be  present  with  his  dear  orphans 
and  their  friends  at  the  annual  festival  of  the  Wartburg.  His 
last  private  letter  asking  his  son  to  take  his  place  at  that  feast. 
His  last  words,  uttered  in  the  intervals  of  a  flickering  con- 
sciousness, when  the  light  of  earth  was  fading  and  the  light 
from  the  other  shore  da\^^ling,  words  of  concern  for  the  two 
eastern  synods  that  had  just  closed.  A  fitting  close  to  a  wonder- 
ful career!  Truly  it  was  the  going  out  of  a  great  life. 

We  cannot  write  the  details  of  his  last  eight  days  on  earth. 
His  son  who  so  bravely  took  up  the  burdens  which  the  weary 
saint  had  laid  down,  has  written  all  this.  We  find  it  in  the 
issue  of  the  Workman  on  which  the  dying  father  had  wrought. 

The  manuscript  of  that  issue  was  bedewed  with  the  tears 
of  the  broken-hearted  son  and  its  copies  started  tears  and  sob- 
bings too  deep  for  utterance  in  thousands  of  homes  over  all  the 
land.  Here  is  the  Doctor's  last  editorial,  taken  from  the  last 
issue  of  the  Workman  edited  by  him : 

"A  Double  Bereavement. 

"Just  as  we  go  to  press,  the  morning  papers  bring  the  dis- 
tressing announcement  that  the  Rev.  Enoch  Smith,  pastor  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church  at  Butler,  Pa.,  v/as  called  to  his 
rest  on  j^esterday,  Tuesday  the  22,  after  a  lingering  illness.  We 
believe  he  had  visited  his  eldest  son,  Willard,  at  Minneapolis 
and  fear  that  he  brought  with  him  the  seeds  of  that  fatal  dis- 


576  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

ease  which  only  last  week  carried  to  the  grave  that  devoted 
young  servant  of  the  IMaster.  The  details  of  this  pitiable  calam- 
ity are  not  given  in  the  special  of  today.  We  can  only  unite 
with  the  sorely  bereaved  wife  and  mother  and  family,  as  well 
as  the  congregation  in  fervent  sympathy  and  prayer  to  the 
merciful  Savior  for  sustaining  grace  and  support  in  this  valley 
and  shadow  of  death. 

"The  sudden  calling  away  of  father  and  son  from  their 
families  and  their  churches  to  their  eternal  reward  is  a  most 
earnest  call  from  on  high  to  our  ministry  to  increased  zeal  and 
watchfulness  in  Christ's  service.  'What  Thou  hast  to  do,  do 
quickly'  is  the  Master's  voice  to  all.  Oh,  may  the  Church 
awake  to  her  mission  and  fill  up  the  vacant  ranks  of  her  min- 
istry !  In  this  time  of  trial  and  fears,  come  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickly  to  the  succor  of  Thy  afflicted  heritage  and  the  consola- 
tion of  the  distressed!" 

And  here  is  William's  story  of  the  last  week: 

''On  Friday,  May  25,  a  raw  and  blustery  day.  Dr.  Passa- 
vant  went  to  Butler  to  attend  the  funeral  of  the  late  Rev.  Enoch 
Smith,  and  to  comfort  the  sorely  bereaved  family.  His  voice 
is  described  as  having  its  usual  musical  clearness,  though  at 
times  he  was  deeply  moved  during  the  sad  services.  At  the 
graveyard,  he  stood  with  uncovered  head  during  the  burial 
service,  having  forgotten  the  skull-cap  with  which  he  usually 
protected  himself  in  inclement  weather  on  such  occasions.  Re- 
turning, he  sat  near  an  open  window  of  the  railroad  car,  con- 
versing with  a  friend  about  the  losses  that  death  had  lately 
brought  to  the  ranks  of  the  ministry,  but  often  remarking  upon 
the  beauty  of  the  Spring  scenery  upon  the  way.  He  arrived 
home  in  the  evening  about  eight  o'clock. 

"Saturday,  just  before  dinner,  he  went  down  town,  stop- 
ping at  the  Workman  office,  but  returning  home  at  the  early 
hour  of  three  o  'clock.  He  complained  to  the  servant  of  feeling  ill 
and  retired  early  to  bed.  Sunday  was  spent  in  bed,  and  on 
Monday,  Sister  Catherine  from  the  hospital  called,  and  was 
told  'that  he  was  better.  About  two  o'clock  on  Monday  he 
•went  to  town  to  attend  to  son\e  money  matters  at  the  First 
National  Bank,  but  appeared  so  weak  that  a  friend  helped  him 
to  Kern's  Drug  Store,  where  he  could  take  the  street  car  for 
his  home.  Here  the  druggist,  Mr.  Kern,  an  old  friend,  struck 
with  "his  haggard  appearance,  said:  'Why,  Doctor,  you  are  ill. 
Let  me  send  for  Dr.  Jones.'    After  some  protestations,  the  doc- 


RiiV.  W.  A.  PASSAVANT.  JR. 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  577 

tor  was  sent  for.  He,  too,  was  alarmed,  and  to  the  remark, 
'Doctor,  you  must  make  me  well,  for  I  must  be  in  New  York  on 
Wednesday,'  said,  'Why,  Dr.  Passavant,  you  are  a  very  sick 
man,  and  dare  not  think  of  leaving  home.'  After  soine  medi- 
cine had  been  prepared,  he  offered  to  take  him  home  in  his 
buggj%  but  to  this  Dr.  Passavant  would  not  listen,  saying  that 
he  would  send  for  the  physician  later  if  it  were  necessary, 
though  he  did  not  think  it  would  be.  To  sister  Louisa,  who 
came  to  the  house  from  the  hospital  that  evening,  he  said,  he 
thought  he  was  a  little  better. 

"On  Tuesday,  when  Sister  Louisa  came  over  to  the  house, 
she  found  him  writing  at  Ms  study  table,  but  very  weak.  His 
voice  could  scarcely  be  heard  above  a  whisper.  He  went  down- 
stairs to  his  meals  but  showed  very  little  appetite.  As  yet  he 
had  not  sent  for  the  doctor,  nor  thought  the  matter  of  suffi- 
cient seriousness  to  recall  his  wife  from  the  mountains,  whither 
she  had  gone  ten  days  before.  What  he  wrote  that  day,  pos- 
sibly the  last  letter  from  his  pen  was : 

'Tuesday  noon. 
'Dear  Son, 

"In  some  way  or  other  I  took  a  dreadful  cold  on  returning 
from  the  funeral  at  Butler.  Since  Saturday  I  have  been  in 
no  small  misery.  Had  to  send  for  Dr.  Jones  and  he  promptly 
put  a  stop  to  the  idea  of  my  going  to  the  Wartburg.  It  is  a 
sore  disappointment  to  me,  and  a  lesser  one  to  the  saints  there, 
but  what  can  a  man  do  when  he  can't  carry  out  his  wishes  and 
plans?  I  am  somewhat  better,  but  am  very  weak,  and  have  no 
appetite.  Some  one  must  have  opened  the  window  in  the  car, 
and  the  draft  came  on  me  with  all  its  force  when  thus  heated 
By  the  crowd  in  the  cars.  The  feeling  which  I  have  is  not  an 
enviable  one,  but  I  must  submit  as  best  I  can,  and  ask  God  for 
His  recovering  grace.  If  you  are  at  the  Wartburg,  you  will 
kindly  take  my  place.    As  ever,  yours  in  Christ, 

W.  A.  Passavant.' 

"On  Wednesday,  Sister  Louisa  came  over  and  found  him 
trying  feebly  to  work  at  his  study  table,  which  was  littered 
with  unanswered  letters  and  the  proofs  which  he  was  reading 
for  the  first  side  of  this  number  of  the  Workman.  The  pages 
one-thirty,  one-thirty-one,  one-thirty-four,  one-thirty-five,  and 
alternate  pages,  his  failing  hand  was  busy  with  only  four  days 
before  the  end.  Sister  Catherine,  uneasy  at  the  pallor  of  his 
face  and  the  extreme  languor  of  all  his  movements,  called  upon 


578  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  F  ASSAY  ANT. 

the  doctor,  who  carne  and  prescribed  that  evening.  A  hot  foot 
bath  and  the  application  of  a  plaster  seemed  to  bring  a  little 
relief.  It  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  Sister  Louisa  left  the 
house. 

"Thursday  at  seven  o'clock,  Sister  Catherine  found  him 
already  at  breakfast.  The  doctor  also  came  in  the  morning, 
but  when  Mrs.  Passavant,  who  had  hastened  to  his  side  at  the 
first  intimation  of  his  illness,  arrived  at  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  he  was  excessively  weak.  The  doctor  visited  him  again 
late  that  evening. 

"On  Friday  he  insisted  that  he  had  so  much  to  do  in  the 
study  that  it  was  impossible  to  pursuade  him  to  remain  in  bed. 
Three  times  during  the  day  he  dragged  himself  down  to  the 
dining  room,  saying  as  he  was  helped  down  to  supper,  'Who 
would  have  supposed  that  I  could  have  become  so  weak?'  In 
the  evening  his  breathing  was  very  heavy,  and  he  said  to  Mrs. 
Passavant,  *My  dear  wife,  I  don't  think  I  am  ever  going  to  get 
well.'  On  Saturday  he  insisted  that  he  was  able  to  go  down  to 
breakfast  and  when  he  complained  that  his  study  chair  some- 
how did  not  feel  comfortable,  he  was  helped  into  a  sick-room 
chair,  and  there  opened  and  read  his  mail.  Very  slowly  and 
feebly  he  tottered  down  stairs  to  dinner,  but  there  the  iron 
will  gave  way,  and  he  was  almost  carried  to  bed.  He  grew 
worse  so  rapidly  that  his  son  Sidney  telegraphed  the  absent 
members  of  the  family.  He  coughed  a  great  deal  in  the  early 
evening  and  was  very  restless.  But  to  the  doctor's  question 
whether  he  had  any  pain,  he  replied:  'No,  no,  doctor,' 

'My  willing  soul  would  stay 

In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
And  sit  and  sing  itself  away 

To    everlasting   bliss. ' 

"To  his  son's  anxious  inquiry,  he  murmured,  'No  pain,  no 
pain,  but  I  want  rest,  I  want  rest.'  But  at  two  o'clock  Sunday 
morning,  after  remarking,  'I've  been  editorializing  and  getting 
everything  mixed,'  he  seemed  to  grow  more  calm  and  fell  into 
a  peaceful  sleep,  though  breathing  very  heavily. 

"On  Sunday  morning  his  son  Harry  arrived  from  Phila- 
delphia and  was  greeted  with  loving  words  of  welcome.  His 
son,  William,  soon  after  arrived  from  Buffalo,  where  he  had 
been  at  the  meeting  of  the  New  York  Ministerium.  After  the 
first  word  of  recognition,  he  said:  'And  did  they  elect  young 
Haas  for  president  of  the  Synod  again?'     And  being  assured 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  579 

that  they  had,  he  added.  'That  is  good.'  His  mind  wandered, 
but  again  he  aroused  himself  to  say:  'Well,  the  brethren  have 
been  having  a  great  time  at  the  Mother  Synod.'  This  was  all, 
for  his  lungs,  congested  with  the  fatal  disease,  made  breathing 
painful  to  hear,  and  for  his  talking  impossible.  The  long  Sun- 
day wore  away,  another  physician,  who  had  been  called  to  con- 
sult over  the  case,  coincided  with  Dr.  Jones  that  there  was 
barely  hope  that  he  would  last  until  morning.  The  tender 
ministrations  of  his  wife  and  the  constant  presence  of  Sister 
Catharine,  with  the  coming  and  going  of  the  doctors,  filled  in 
the  hours  until  evening,  which,  however,  brought  no  thought  of 
immediate  danger.  The  Sunday  paper  had  somehow  learned  of 
his  condition  and  the  rumor  that  Dr.  Passavant  was  dy*ing 
brought  many  anxious  inquiries  to  know  the  worst.  By  seven 
o'clock,  he  was  resting  so  easily  that  Mrs.  Passavant,  overtaxed 
by  incessant  watching  and  heart-breaking  anxiety,  was  pur- 
suaded  to  lie  down  for  needed  rest.  The  doctors  left,  to  re- 
turn at  a  later  hour.  But  by  half  past  nine  a  rapid  turn  for 
the  worse  took  place.  The  family  were  soon  at  the  bedside,  and 
when  a  few  moments  later,  the  door  bell  rang  and  the  doctor 
entered  the  house,  it  was  to  hear  the  words:  'It  is  all  over.' 
The  clock  marked  ten  fifteen. 

"Dr.  Passavant  had  a  vigorous  constitution,  and  up  to 
within  two  years  scarcely  knew  what  protracted  sickness  was; 
but  at  that  time  a  serious  attack  of  the  grip,  followed  by  pneu- 
monia, kept  him  for  weeks  as  a  patient  in  the  Milwaukee  Hospi- 
tal which  he  was  then  visiting.  Very  tender  and  skillful  nurs- 
ing, by  God's  blessing  apparently  restored  him  to  health,  but 
it  was  many  months  before  full  strength  came  back,  and  even 
then  a  slight  cold  always  gave  him  pain  and  great  uneasiness. 
Friends  have  noted  the  slow  failing  of  his  powers  of  endurance 
and  his  family  physician  warned  him  of  the  possible  danger  of 
recurrence  of  the  old  trouble  and  the  peril  of  meeting  it  with 
exhausted  vitality     But  he  did  not  know  how  to  spare  himself. 

"  'The  truth  is  that  he  died  a  martyr  to  his  work.  The 
demands  of  the  institutions,  with  whose  care  he  was  charged, 
were  incessant  and  severe  under  the  most  favorable  conditions, 
but  the  draft  upon  his  energies  and  the  tension  of  anxiety  had 
been  greatly  increased  by  the  embarrassments  felt,  in  common 
with  all  other  philanthropic  and  religious  work,  because  of 
the  current  financial  stringency.'     That  is  the  opinion  of  an 


580  TEE  LIFE  OF  TF.  A.  PASSAT  AST. 

observing  friend  published  editorially   in   an   influential  jour- 
nal.    It  expresses  the  whole  truth. 

"He  died  as  he  had  lived,  'a  workman  that  needed  not 
to  be  ashamed. ' 

"The  death  of  Dr.  Passavant  was  known  through  the  As- 
sociated and  United  Press  dispatches  all  over  the  country  on 
Monday  morning,  and  the  citj'  papers  contained  long  obituaries 
and  editQrial  mention  of  his  life  and  work.  Friends  and  ac- 
quaintances began  to  come  to  the  house  in  large  numbers  to 
look  upon  the  dead;  many,  incredulous  of  the  newspaper  re- 
ports, to  persuade  themselves  that  it  could  not  be  true. 

,  "On  Tuesday  and  "SVednesday,  the  body  lay  in  state  in  the 
parlor  of  his  late  residence,  122  Center  Avenue,  surrounded 
by  choice  flowers  that  intimate  friends  had  sent  to  brighten 
the  solemn  chamber  with  their  resurrection  sermons.  A  con- 
stant succession  of  callers,  poor  and  rich,  the  aged  and  the 
orphaned,  took  their  places  at  the  side  of  the  casket,  and  turned 
away  to  hide  their  streaming  eyes.  Death  was  there,  but  only 
the  sweet  calm  of  sleep  seemed  to  rest  upon  the  face  and  the 
peace  of  God  upon  the  closed  eyelids.  The  left  hand  lay  na- 
turally across  the  breast,  a  position  strikingly  lifelike  and  sug- 
gestive. 

"At  half  past  twelve  on  "Wednesday,  the  family  and  a  few 
near  friends  gathered  in  the  parlor  where  the  Kev.  D.  H.  Geis- 
singer  read  the  twenty-third  Psalm,  and  clo.sed  the  short  ser- 
vices with  a  fervent  prayer.  In  carriages  they  then  proceeded 
to  the  First  Lutheran  Church  which  was  crowded,  many  people 
being  unable  to  gain  admission.  The  funeral  procession  passed 
down  the  middle  aisle,  preceded  and  followed  by  more  than  a 
hundred  ministers  of  the  Pittsbure  S^Tiod  and  vicinitv.  The 
pall-bearers,  John  ^V.  Chalfant,  Alexander  Nimick,  Geo.  A. 
Berry-,  John  B.  Jackson,  James  Sheafer,  John  S.  Scully,  Wm. 
W.  Wattles,  J.  S.  Seaman,  Henrj-  Balken  and  Thos.  H.  Lane, 
placed  the  precious  casket  before  the  chancel,  which  was  hea\a- 
ly  draped  in  black.  There  were  no  flowers.  Two  palm 
branches  lay  upon  the  casket,  one  from  a  beloved  friend,  the 
other  the  tribute  of  his  lifelong  fellow  worker  in  the  New 
York  Emigrant  House.  The  wreath  of  blooming  laurel  which 
rested  at  the  foot  came  from  the  Soldiers'  Orphans  at  Jumon- 
ville,  his  'mountain  home.'  Revs.  D.  H.  Geis.singer,  the  pastor 
of  the  church  and  J.  Q.  Waters,  the  President  of  the  Pittsburg 
Synod,  with  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth,  of  the  Chicago  Theological 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  581 

Seminary,  occupied  the  chancel,  while  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Spaeth, 
President  of  the  ]\Iinisteriimi  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
G.  A.  Wenzel,  one  of  the  most  venerable  members  of  the  S\Tiod 
and  his  intimate  college  friend,  had  places  of  honor  at  the 
chancel  railing.  In  the  places  assigned  them,  were  deaconesses 
from  Milwaukee,  Jacksonville,  111.,  and  Pittsburg  and  Rev.  J. 
F.  Ohl,  the  Rector  of  the  Deaconess  Mother  House,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  prominent  citizens  from  ^Milwaukee,  to  pay  the  last 
token  of  reverence  to  the  founder  of  the  Institution  and  the 
friend  of  their  city's  sick  and  poor.  The  Emergency  Hospital, 
Chicago,  had  also  its  representative,  and  the  Wartburg  Or- 
phans' Home  near  New  York,  had  sent  its  Director. 

"The  services  were  simple  but  full  of  dignity  and  beauty. 
The  choir,  sang  the  responses  to  the  beautiful  burial  service  of 
the  Church  Book,  the  music  of  the  Kyrie  and  the  chanting  of 
Psalm  one  hundred  and  thirty  with  the  antiphon,  being  pe- 
culiarly solemn  and  impressive.  After  the  Scripture  was  read 
by  Rev.   J.    Q.   "Waters,   the  vast   congregation  joined   in   the 

hymn: 

'Jesus,  itill  lead  on. 
Till  our  rest  be  won.' 

"The  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth,  standing  before  the  casket,  in 
a  short  address  dwelt  especially  upon  Dr.  Passavant's  work. 

"The  pastor  of  the  bereaved  family,  the  Rev.  D.  H.  Geis- 
singer,  then  spoke  feelingly  upon  the  resurrection  lesson. 

"The  services  closed  with  the  singing  of  the  hymn: 

'  The  precious  seed  of  weeping 
To-day  we  sow  once  more. ' 

"The  Nunc  Dimittis  and  antiphon  by  the  choir,  and  the 
benediction  closed  the  service,  after  which  in  uninterrupted 
lines,  the  audience  slowly  passed  before  the  bier  to  gaze  an 
instant  upon  the  form  sleeping  beneath  the  palm  branches  and 
the  laurel. 

"After  the  services,  the  funeral  cortege  proceeded  to  the 
station  of  the  Pittsburg  &  Western  Railroad,  in  Allegheny, 
where  a  special  train  was  taken,  a  large  number  of  friends  ac- 
companying the  family  to  Zelienople. 

"Here  carriages  were  taken,  and  slowly  the  funeral  pro- 
ceeded past  the  old  stone  church  where  Dr.  Passavant  had  been 
baptized  and  confirmed,  and  past  the  quaint  homestead  in  which 
he  first  saw  the  light,  up  to  the  graveyard  on  the  hill,  while 


582  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

the  bell  of  the  Orphans'  Home  in  the  distance  was  tolling  out 
the  sorrow  of  the  little  ones  to  whom  he  had  been  more  than 
a  father.  The  children  from  the  homes  at  Rochester  and  Ze- 
lienople,  ranged  in  a  long  line,  were  permitted  to  look  upon 
his  peaceful  face,  and  then  the  crowds  that  had  gathered  slowly 
filed  past  with  tear-dimmed  eyes. 

"The  burial  office  was  read  by  Rev.  J.  Q.  Waters,  and  the 
body  was  then  lowered  into  its  resting  place.  It  did  not  look 
like  a  grave,  loving  hands  having  densely  lined  the  sides  with 
twigs  of  evergreen  and  effaced  every  vestige  of  broken  earth, 
spreading  over  everything  the  sweetness  and  fragrance  of  twigs 
and  blossoms.  The  orphan  children  under  the  leadership  of 
Director  Kribbs  chanted  the  twenty-third  Psalm,  interrupted 
by  many  a  childish  sob,  and  the  benediction  was  spoken  amid 
silence  broken  only  by  the  sighing  of  the  winds  in  the  trees 
overhead,  and  the  plaintive  chirping  of  the  birds.  The  Home 
bell  had  ceased  tolling,  and  the  shadows  of  evening  were  begin- 
ning to  gather  over  a  landscape  that  seemed  too  peaceful  and 
beautiful  for  earth." 

From  the  hundreds  of  telegrams  and  letters  of  condolence 
and  appreciation  that  came  to  his  family  we  select  these  few: 

"After  a  long  journey  I  reached  home  to  hear  with  deepest 
sympathy  that  your  honored  father  had  been  called  home.  In 
the  absence  of  my  brother-in-law,  Pastor  Disselhoff,  it  devolves 
upon  me  to  express  my  brother's  and  my  own  sincere  sorrow 
at  this  event.  Yet  with  all  the  regret  at  this  temporal  loss  I  yet 
rejoice  that  this  true  son  of  God  has  been  permitted  to  pass 
from  the  Church  militant  to  the  Church  triumphant.  Your 
sainted  father  still  appears  before  me  as  in  my  early  youth  I  saw 
him  here  in  Kaiserswerth,  talking  with  eager  enthusiasm  about 
America,  my  father  acting  as  interpreter,  and  upon  his  knees 
praying  with  the  sisterhood Yours  respectfully, 

"Kaiserswerth,  July  18.  Mina  Fliedner." 

"Great  as  his  services  have  been  in  developing  the  Church, 
deepening  an  interest  in  missions  and  in  the  work  of  education, 
and  profoundly  as  his  loss  will  be  felt  in  these  various  depart- 
ments, his  labors  in  moving  the  heart  of  the  Church  to  the 
manifestations  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  works  of  mercy,  long 
ago  gave  him  a  pre-eminence  which  no  one  will  dispute  and 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  583 

his  name  will  be  spoken  of  with  veneration  and  gratitude  for 
generations  to  come. 

"He  surely  did  not  live  in  vain,  and  it  must  be  a  rich 
source  of  consolation  to  you,  the  beloved  and  bereaved  members 
of  his  family,  that  he  lived  and  loved  so  long  and  so  well  and 
that  he  now  rests  from  his  labors.    Yours  in  sincere  sympathy, 

"New  York,  June  5.  G.  F.  Krotel.' 


if 


"We  were  intimate  and  attached  friends  in  college.  Of 
late  years  we  were  brought  again  into  frequent  communication 
and  intimate  relations  with  each  other,  and  I  learned  more 
of  his  noble  nature,  of  his  warm,  loving  heart,  and  of  his  great 
usefulness.  'A  prince  and  a  great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel.' 
No  one  in  his  own  Church  or  in  any  other  would  be  more  missed. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  his  generation.  His 
numerous  institutions  of  learning  and  of  mercy  constitute  such 
a  monument  as  few  men  of  any  age  have  had  raised  to  their 
memory.  To  our  view,  his  death  seems  to  be  premature.  He 
had  so  much  in  hand ;  so  much  depended  on  him,  and  he  seemed 
so  necessary  to  the  advancement  of  the  many  benevolent  insti- 
tutions he  had  in  charge.  But  in  God's  view  he  had  finished 
his  work.  The  time  for  rest  and  reward  had  come.  He  would 
not  have  said  it,  but  we  can  bear  testimony  of  him  that  he 
'fought  a  good  fight  and  kept  the  faith.  Henceforth  there  is 
laid  up  for  him  a  crown  of  righteousness.'    Yours  truly, 

"Saxe,  Va.,  June  9.  Hugh  A.  Brown." 

"It  may  seem  to  human  wisdom  that  he  has  gone  too  soon, 
from  his  family,  from  the  Church  dear  to  him  as  his  own  life, 
yea,  dearer,  from  the  institutions  of  mercy  so  near  his  heart, 
from  the  world  to  which  he  was  a  blessing;  but  truly,  'God's 
time  is  the  best  time,  and  God's  ways  are  always  right.'  I 
know  how  you  will  miss  the  familiar  footfall  and  cheerful  voice, 
but  you  will  not  bewail  him,  for 

"  'He  hath  gone 

To  sit  do-wn  with  prophets  by  the  clear 
And  crystal  waters;  he  hath  gone  to  list 
Isaiah 's  harp,   and   David 's,   and  to   walk 
With  Enoch  and  Elijah  and  the  host 
Of   the    just   men    made    perfect.' 

"Very  sincerely  yours, 
"Des  Moines,  la.,  July  9,  1894.       Samuel  B.  Bamitz." 


584  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

"The  writer  of  this  remembers  Dr.  Passavant  from  the 
meeting  of  the  Augustaua  Synod  in  Andover  in  1870.  Never 
shall  I  forget  how  tenderly  and  lovingly  he  remembered  my 
poor,  sick  mother  at  the  morning  worship.  His  personal  piety, 
his  strong  trust  in  God's  faithfulness,  and  his  consequent  loy- 
alty to  our  Church'  Confessions,  and  especially  his  zeal  for 
its  three  most  important  departments  of  education,  missions, 
and  mercy  would  be,  I  think,  a  remarkable  feature  in  whom- 
soever we  might  meet  them.  He  was  a  choice  preacher  and  an 
able  editor.  Had  great  confidence  in  his  own  judgment  in  the 
practical  business  to  which  he  was  called.  His  life  was  a  series 
of  answers  to  prayer,  and  his  experiences  throughout  bore 
testimony  to  the  living  presence  of  God  among  the  children  of 
men." — C.  A.  S.,  in  Hemlandet,  Chicago. 

"On  the  evening  of  June  3,  Dr.  W.  A.  Passavant  died  at 
his  home  in  Pittsburg.  He  was  one  of  the  most  noted  men  in 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States.  He  was  a  special 
friend  of  the  Icelanders,  and  aided  them  both  by  advice  and  in 
practical   ways." — Icelandic   Paper,   Manitoba. 

"He  it  was  who  suggested  to  our  sainted  Burkhart  to  found 
the  Martin  Luther  Orphans'  Home  (at  Brook  Farm),  and  aided 
him  by  labor  and  counsel  in  the  project." — Lutherisclier  An- 
zeiger. 

' '  Dr.  Passavant  was  a  rare  man.  A  kind  of  man  that  ought 
to  be  far  more  plentiful.  Wherever  there  were  a  few  Luther- 
ans who  ought  to  be  helped  to  get  a  congregation  and  a 
church  of  their  own,  there  Passavant  helped.  Where  a  church 
was  without  a  pastor,  there  Passavant  tried  to  find  the  right 
man  for  them.  How  many  orphanages,  homes  for  helpless  and 
aged  people,  hospitals  and  farm  schools,  for  the  care  of  children 
who  otherwise  most  likely  would  have  gone  to  the  bad,  he  estab- 
lished, I  cannot  now  tell.  Some  of  them  like  the  great  Mil- 
waukee Hospital  are  magnificent  institutions.  Thiel  College, 
one  of  our  really  fine  colleges,  and  the  Chicago  Theological 
Seminary  owe  their  existence  and  prosperity  under  God  to  him. 
He  established  and  edited  the  Workman,  in  my  opinion  the  most 
excellent  English  paper  published  in  the  General  Council.  He 
made  the  Pittsburg  Synod  the  liveliest  missionary  synod,  and 
thereby  did  more  than  he  will  ever  get  credit  for,  to  liven  up 
the  others.     Some  one  who  knows  better  than  I,  will,  I  hope, 


LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  585 

speak  of  his  introducing  the  deaconess  work  into  America.  With 
all  this,  he  was  unassuming,  plain  and  modest ;  as  a  lawyer 
expressed  it  to  me  in  London,  England,  one  day:  'Why,  his 
face  is  a  benediction.'  Altogether,  he  was  a  great  gift  of  God 
to  the  world,  and  a  most  signal  blessing  to  our  Church." — Our 
Church  Paper  (Va.) 

"Exit,  thou  Christian  philanthropist,  thou  genuine  pillar 
of  the  social  structure !  Somewhere  upon  every  institution  that 
he  founded  his  name  should  be  placed,  and  his  life  should  be 
written  from  a  broad,  humanitarian  point  of  view,  not  by  the 
hack  biographer,  the  rigid  theologian,  nor  the  extravagant  pane- 
gyrist, but  by  some  one  with  the  kind  of  genius  for  such  work 
played  by  Dr.  Francis  Tiffany  in  his  'Life  of  Dorothea  L. 
Dix. '  Of  this  book  an  abridgement  should  be  published  in  the 
cheapest  possible  form,  so  that  to  the  end  of  time  in  these 
institutions,  whenever  the  question  is  asked,  'Who  was  Passa- 
vant?'  it  may  be  answered  intelligently." — N.  Y.  Christian 
Advocate. 

"The  honor,  too,  which  we  all  pay  instinctively  to  good 
men  who  have  spent  their  lives  in  unselfish  labor  for  humanity 
is  evidence  that  our  ideal  man  is  of  this  type.  This  is  the 
meaning  of  the  widespread  and  deeply  felt  expression  of  respect 
the  death  of  Dr.  Passavant  has  called  out.  More  noted  men 
have  their  death  more  widely  heralded  ....  but  far 
higher  in  quality  and  more  permanent  in  duration  is  the  homage 
felt  by  the  best  and  the  most  intelligent  of  our  citizenship  to- 
ward this  founder  of  hospitals,  schools  and  asylums.  Long  after 
his  name  has  perished  from  the  memory  of  the  living  race,  his 
work  will  abide.  A  humble-minded  man  like  Dr.  Passavant 
may  not  glory  in  his  works,  but  he  surely  must  have  a  profound 
satisfaction  in  the  assurance  that  his  beneficent  institutions 
were  not  to  perish  with  his  earthly  life." — Dr.  J.  D.  Moffat,  in 
Presbyterian  Banner. 

"Like  all  great  men,  Dr.  Passavant  ever  lived  ahead  of 
his  age.  Had  the  same  progressive  spirit  which  lived  and 
worked  in  him,  animated  all  our  pastors,  far  more  would  have 
been  accomplished  in  the  line  of  mission  activity.  When  we 
think  that  over  forty  years  ago  he  had  laid  plans  and  secured 
lots  for  new  churches  in  Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,  and  worked 
with  herculean  efforts,  toward  their  realization,  and  find  that 


586  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

they  are  not  yet  realized  although  the  city  has  quadrupled  in 
population,  we  surely  must  place  the  blame  elsewhere  than  upon 
him.  If,  then,  during  his  life  we  could  not  advance  our  Church 
according  to  her  possibilities,  may  his  death  speak  to  us  with 
more  persuasive  scents.  .  .  .  May  his  death,  like  the 
death  of  the  martyrs,  quicken  the  Church  to  new  devotion  and 
greater  efforts.  May  he  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance,  and 
be  a  stimulus  to  all  who  knew  his  earnest  zeal." — Young  Luth- 
eran. 

"In  the  forms  of  philanthropic  work  in  which  the  Protes- 
tant Churches  in  this  country  have  been  altogether  neglectful— 
the  providing  of  institutions  for  the  care  of  the  sick,  suitable 
homes  for  orphans  and  for  aged  servants  of  God — he  was  a 
pioneer.  To  an  extent  that  is  extraordinary  he  had  the  care  of 
such  institutions  on  his  heart  and  hands,  and  at  the  same  time 
was  busy  in  promoting  the  general  work  of  his  denomination 
throughout  a  wide  section  of  country.  The  truth  is  that  he 
died  a  martyr  to  his  work.  The  demands  of  the  institutions  with 
which  he  was  specially  charged  were  incessant  and  severe  in  the 
most  favorable  conditions,  but  the  draft  upon  his  energies  and 
the  tension  of  anxiety  had  been  greatly  increased  by  the  em- 
barrassments felt,  in  common  with  all  other  philanthropic  and 
religious  work,  because  of  the  current  financial  stringency. 

"Dr.  Passavant  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  splendid  trophy  of  divine  grace.  We  shall  ever 
esteem  it  an  honor  and  a  privilege  to  have  been  permitted  some 
degree  of  familiar  intercourse  with  him." — United  Presby- 
terian. 

"Around  the  grave  of  Dr.  Passavant  a  whole  people,  so  to 
speak,  might  gather  of  those  who  directly  or  indirectly  have 
been  benefited  by  his  untiring  work  of  suffering  humanity.  He 
had,  as  it  seems,  a  partiality  for  the  people  of  the  North  and 
many  are  the  Norwegian  and  Swedish  immigrants  that  have 
received  his  advice  and  assistance,  and  many  also  are  the  Nor- 
wegian and  Swedish  orphans  that  have  found  a  home  in  his' 
institutions  and  that  are  now  independent  and  prosperous  and 
amply  able  to  do  for  others  what  was  once  done  for  them.  Es- 
pecially during  the  memorable  days  when  the  ravages  of  the 
cholera  deprived  so  many  families  of  their  fathers  and  mothers, 
did  this  good  Samaritan  find  a  wide  and  fruitful  field  for  his 


ARE  LAST  WEEK,  ETC.  587 

endeavors.  Passavant  used  this  opportunity  and  did  all  he 
could  to  rescue  the  orphans  from  their  misery.  The  Lord  has 
released  a  true  servant,  a  pioneer  and  a  leader.  Who  will  take 
his  place?  If  the  Lutheran  Church  might  find  many  in  its 
midst  in  whom  a  living  faith  is  united  with  sincere  and  fervent 
love  in  word  and  in  deed  as  was  the  case  with  him,  it  would 
serve  the  Lord  more  acceptably  than  by  all  its  bitter  and  per- 
sonal  controversies. ' ' — FolkeMadet. 

"He  has  gone  away  in  troublous  times.  Through  no  little 
tribulation  he  has  passed  to  the  white  robe  and  the  unruffled 
rest  and  peace  of  God.  When  I  think  of  his  care,  of  his  battle 
for  the  truth,  of  his  agony  of  love  and  prayer  in  behalf  of  the 
Church,  and  of  the  noble  institutions  that  will  so  miss  him,  I 
almost  feel  like  offering  congratulations.  What  a  rest  must  his 
be  in  that  better  home.  Permit  me  to  offer  Mrs.  Passavant  and 
all  the  bereft  ones  my  sincerest  sympathy.  May  that  blessed 
Redeemer,  whom  he  so  loved,  be  your  comfort  and  stay  in  this 
the  hour  of  your  sorrow.    Most  fraternally,  M.  Rhodes. ' ' 

"For  twenty-eight  years  my  relations  with  him  have  been 
most  intimate.  He  has  had  much  to  do  in  molding  my  career. 
He  always  stood  by  me  when  opponents  on  the  one  side  and  on 
the  other  attacked  me.  I  have  differed  with  him  on  some  sub- 
jects, but  it  never  diminished  my  regard  for  him  or  chilled  his 
friendship  for  me. 

"I  often  think  of  a  remark  of  t)r.  Krauth  which  may  be 
interesting  fbr  you  to  recall.  It  was  substantially  this:  'Dr. 
Passavant  is  often  severely  criticised  by  some  most  closely  con- 
nected with  him.  But  after  he  has  passed  away,  all  these  points 
of  criticism  will  gradually  disappear  as  the  years  recede,  and 
his  name  will  live  as  one  of  the  few  great  men  whom*  the  Church 
has  produced.'  H.  E.  Jacobs." 

We  have  now  told  the  story  of  his  life.  Or,  rather,  he  has 
told  it  in  his  own  artless,  unassuming,  God-trusting  way.  We 
stand  amazed  before  him  and  his  achievements.  How  shall  we 
estimate  him?  How  can  we  take  his  measure?  What  is  our 
final  characterization  of  the  man  and  his  work? 

He  was  not  an  assiduous  student,  buried  in  books  or  busied 
with  researches.  He  was  not  the  most  profound  scholar,  not 
a  great  theologian.  From  his  youth  up  it  was  the  practical  side 
of  things  that  appealed  to  him.    He  was  sensitive,  emotional  and 


588  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

scrupulously  conscientious.  Not  clear,  at  first,  as  to  the  founda- 
tion of  the  true  faith,  he  had  tortured  himself  in  turn  with  a 
Calvinistic  legalism  and  a  Llethodistic  emotionalism.  He  had 
thus  had  his  severe  penitential  struggles,  but  found  no  abiding; 
peace.  He  had  studied,  searched  and  struggled  his  way  out  of 
doubt,  uncertainty  and  agony  into  the  clear  teaching  of  the 
divine  Word. 

He  had  become  a  New  Testament  theologian— a  theologian 
in  Neander's  sense,  who  claimed  that  the  heart  makes  the  true 
theologian.  With  his  whole  mind  and  heart  he  had  laid  hold 
of  the  foundations  of  all  true  theology.  He  firmly  believed 
that  the  Bible  is  the  inspired  Word  of  the  living  God.  He  un- 
hesitatingly accepted  its  whole  sad  teaching  concerning  sin. 
He  believed  and  trusted  in  Jesus  as  the  ever-living,  ever-present 
Son  of  God,  who  had  taken  away  all  his  sin  and  justified  him 
freely  by  His  grace.  Having  experienced  the  justifying  power 
of  Christ,  he  believed  unwaveringly  in  all  His  ordainments  and 
institutions.  Because  he  believed  so  fully  in  Christ,  he  had  no 
difficulty  in  believing  in  His  Church  and  Sacraments,  as  treas- 
uries and  bearers  of  divine  gifts  and  blessings.  He  knew  all 
this  by  blessed  experience.  He  had  tasted  and  seen  that  the 
I^ord  is  gracious.  He  had  found  his  own  baptism  a  never-fail- 
ing fount  of  comfort  and  strength,  had  feasted  on  the  glorified 
body  and  blood  of  his  Lord,  and  had  a  daily  experience  of  the 
Holy  Spirit's  presence  and  power  in  the  divine  Word.  And  as 
it  was  his  own  Church  that  had  taught  him  this  comforting 
and  quickening  truth,  he  loved  her  better  than  his  life.  He  was 
a  sound  Lutheran  mystic,  every  doctrine  had  become  an  ex- 
perience with  him,  and  this  was  the  secret  of  his  power. 

Because  of  his  clinging,  trusting,  resting  faith,  he  could 
try  the  spirits,  discern  human  nature  and  select  friends  and 
helpers  with  rare  felicity.  His  own  deep  religious  experience 
was  the  fountain  of  his  wonderful  compassion  and  love  for 
every  form  of  human  misery.  Out  of  the  fulness  of  his  own 
great  heart  he  tried  to  reproduce  the  life  of  Christ  in  His  Body, 
the  Church. 


TEE  FAS.SAVANT  INSTITUTIONS,  589 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS. 

A  Life  of  Dr.  Passavant  would  be  incomplete  without  a 
brief  sketch  of  what  his  various  institutions  have  been  doing 
since  the  time  of  his  death. 

After  his  good  and  gifted  son,  William  A.  Passavant,  Jr., 
had  completed  his  studies  in  college  and  seminary,  he  declined 
a  call  to  a  prominent  Philadelphia  church,  to  become  his  father's 
successor  in  the  widely  scattered  parish  of  four  congregations, 
at  Baden,  Beaver  Co.,  Pa.  While  in  this  laborious  field,  he 
declined  urgent  calls  to  Allentown,  Pa.,  and  to  Chicago.  He 
was  not  serving  for  lucre;   he  was  ripening  for  a  greater  work. 

After  a  few  years  of  faithful  and  telling  work  he  resigned 
the  Baden  parish  in  order  to  lighten  his  father's  burdens  by 
becoming  his  assistant  in  editing  the  Workman.  During  the 
two  years  of  work  on  the  paper  he  became  pastor  of  a  mission 
in  East  End,  Pittsburg,  which  was  looked  upon  as  a  forlorn 
hope,  about  to  perish.  In  a  short  time  he  lifted  it  up  and  made 
it  what  it  never  had  been  before. 

But  he  felt  that  his  life  work  must  be  with  his  father,  not 
only  in  the  conduct  of  the  Workman,  but  in  the  work  of  mercy 
in  tlie  many  institutions  founded  by  him.  He  therefore  decided 
on  a  year  of  travel  and  study  abroad.  He  visited  and  tarried 
for  a  while  in  the  leading  Universities  of  Norway,  Sweden  and 
Germany.  He  became  acquainted  with  the  most  eminent  the- 
ologians and  educators  of  our  Church;  got  an  insight  into  the 
conduct  of  these  great  schools,  and  of  the  student  life  within 
them. 

But  he  was  specially  interested  in  the  charity  work  of  the 
German  Church,  studied  .thoroughly  the  whole  work  of  inner 
missions  in  all  its  ramifications,  saw  its  practical  operation  and 
met  its  leaders  and  workers.  He  spent  considerable  time  at 
Hamburg,  Kaiserswerth  and  Bielefeld,  where  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  large  mercy  work  of  which  these  places  are 
Ihe  fountains.     Thus  he  learned  not  only  the  theory,  but  saw 


590  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

the  practical  working  of  motherhouses,  training  schools,  drill 
and  discipline  of  candidates,  sisters  and  brothers. 

Especially  at  Bielefeld  did  he  see  and  study  inner  missions 
at  work.  That  wonderful  colony  of  misery,  with  its  thousands 
of  epileptics,  idiots,  insane,  tramps,  vagabonds,  drunkards,  mag- 
dalens,  was  turned  into  a  colony  of  mercy.  He  saw  the  hand 
of  Christly  love  helping,  healing,  soothing,  sweetening  and  sav- 
ing this  mixed  mass  of  misery,  sin  and  suffering.  The  intensely 
interesting,  vivid  and  realistic  letters  that  he  wrote  to  the 
Workman  show  not  only  what  these  institutions  of  mercy  are 
end  what  they  do,  but  they  show  also  how  his  heart  was  set  on 
fire  with  a  love  almost  divine. 

On  his  return  to  Pittsburg  he  became  sole  editor  of  the 
Workman  and  conducted  it  with  signal  success  for  several  years. 
His  brief  but  brilliant  career  in  this  field  was  long  enough  to 
show  that  he  might  have  reached  enviable  position  among  the 
religious  editors  of  the  land.  ; 

In  1889  young  Passavant  was  called  to  the  superintendency 
of  the  Home  Missions  of  the  General  Council.  For  the  sake  of 
this  work  the  father  again  took  upon  himself  the  burden  of 
editing  the  Workman,  and  William  threw  his  whole  soul  into  the 
work  of  expanding  the  English  Lutheran  Church.  But  for  the 
unexpected  death  of  his  father,  he  doubtless  would  have  given 
his  life  to  this  great  work. 

But  his  father's  death  called  him  into  new  fields,  to  more 
pressing  duties  and  to  heavier  responsirbilities.  His  father  had 
been  the  Francke,  Fliedner  and  George  Muller  combined.  He 
had  planned  and  prayed  orphanages,  hospitals,  colleges,  theo- 
logical seminaries,  and  countless  churches  into  existence. 

These  institutions  were  now  left  without  a  head.  The 
directors  of  the  Institution  of  Protestant  Deaconesses  saw  at 
once  that  the  gifted  and  consecrated  son,  fitted  for  the  work  by 
his  association  with  his  father,  his  studies  and  his  travels,  was 
the  natural  and  necessary  heir  to  the  responsibilities,  burdens 
and  privileges  heretofore  borne  by  the  sainted  father.  Bravely 
did  the  young  man  take  upon  himself  the  arduous  and  exact- 
ing duties.  With  indomitable  courage,  unwearied  patience  and 
perseverance  did  he  carry  it  on.  The  multiplying  of  the  inter- 
ests and  the  aging  of  his  father  had  left  the  institutions  more 
or  less  embarrassed  financially.    Then  came  the  sore  and  lasting 


TEE  PAS8AVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  591 

finacial  panic.  Surely  these  were  trying  times  for  the  young 
director.  But  he  knew  how  to  plan;  he  had  learned  how  to 
pray;  he  was  ready  for  incessant  toil;  he  hesitated  not  in  the 
face  of  unwelcome  and  distateful  tasks.  He  knew  not  how 
to  spare  himself,  was  instant  in  season,  out  of  season,  ever  about 
his  Father's  business. 

THE   orphans'   homes. 

In  less  than  a  year  after  his  father's  death  Mr.  Passavant 
had  completed  arrangements  to  consolidate  the  Rochester  and 
Zelienople  homes.  In  1895  the  girls  were  taken  from  Rochester 
to  the  big  farm  of  four  hundred  acres  in  Zelienople.  There  the 
buildings  had  been  improved  and  everything  made  ready  for 
their  reception.  Ever  since  then  from  seventy-five  to  one  hun- 
dred orphans  have  been  cared  for  every  year.  Not  only  were 
they  fathered  and  mothered,  housed,  fed  and  clothed,  but  they 
were  also  schooled  for  ten  months  of  each  year.  The  school 
curriculum  is  fully  up  to  the  grade  of  the  public  schools  of  the 
county  in  which  the  home  is  located.  But  in  addition  to  the 
secular  branches  and  in  addition  to  the  daily  and  Sunday  devo- 
tions and  religious  instructions,  religion  is  taught  every  day  in 
the  school.  The  Word  of  God,  books  helpful  to  its  proper  un- 
derstanding, Luther's  Catechism,  the  Church's  history,  her 
hymns  and  prayers,  are  devoutly  instilled  into  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  the  children.  The  girls  are  trained  in  all  branches  of 
domestic  economy  and  needlework,  as  well  as  in  floriculture  and 
horticulture.  The  boys  learn  farming,  gardening,  stock  and 
poultry  raising,  fruit-growing  and  whatever  pertains  to  success- 
ful agriculture. 

All  this  the  girls  and  boys  get  not  only  in  theory,  but  in 
practice,  as  they  are  the  daily  companions  and  helpers  of  the 
managers  and  assistants. 

For  barely  seven  years  were  the  orphans  permitted  to  en- 
joy the  oversight  of  young  Passavant.  On  July  1st,  1901,  the 
Home  was  again  draped  in  mourning,  and  a  funeral,  second 
in  sadness  only  to  that  of  June  7,  1894,  followed.  William  A. 
Passavant,  Jr.,  had  been  suddenly  summoned  home. 

But  the  tried  and  true  Director,  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Kribbs,  and 
his  faithful  wife,  remained.  For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century 
these  good  people  have  borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day. 
Doubtless  they  have  often  been  weary,  sorely  perplexed,  and 


592  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

bitterly  disappointed.  Their  tears  have  often  mingled  with 
tiieir  prayers.  If  it  means  toil  and  tears,  headache  and  heart- 
ache, vexation  and  humiliation  to  rear  a  family  of  a  half-dozen, 
what  must  it  mean  to  mother  half  a  hundred,  or  a  hundred, 
from  every  possible  ancestry  and  environment?  But  Father 
and  Mother  Kribbs  are  there.  And  though  their  hairs  have 
silvered,  and  their  steps  slackened,  the  fatherless  and  mother- 
loss  are  still  sheltered  under  their  loving  care.  And  the  several 
thousand  orphans,  who  have  found  a  home  in  the  Farm  School, 
and  are  scattered  over  all  the  wide  land,  rise  up  and  call  them 
blessed. 

The  cares  and  labors  of  these  good  people  will,  however, 
be  materially  lightened.  During  the  winter  of  1905  the  Board 
cf  Protestant  Deaconesses  officially  constituted  the  Home  a 
Station  of  the  Milwaukee  Motherhouse.  Two  sisters  from  Mil- 
waukee are  now  in  charge,  and  what  the  Passavants  planned 
and  prayed  for  has  been  finally  consummated. 

And  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  the  founder  of  the  homes 
now  merged  in  the  Farm  School,  became,  through  these,  the 
founder  of  several  others.  In  1859  the  directing  sister  went 
from  the  Pittsburg  a.sylum  with  four  orphans  to  open  the  Ger- 
rnantown  Orphans'  Home.  Dr.  Passavant  also  encouraged  and 
assisted  in  the  establishing  and  joining  of  an  Old  People's  Home 
with  that  orphanage.  That  combined  institution  now  has  prop- 
erty worth  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  dollars,  with  an 
additional  hundred  thousand  of  endowment  funds.  One  hun- 
dred orphans  and  about  thirty  homeless  old  people  are  cared 
for  every  year. 

In  1866  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holls,  then  Director  of  the  Zelienople 
Home,  went  to  Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y.,  with  five  boys  to  start  the 
Wartburg  Orphans'  Home.  That  institution  now  has  property, 
clear  of  all  debt,  worth  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Under 
its  efficient  and  enthusiastic  Director,  the  Rev.  Dr.  G.  C. 
Berkemeier,  in  a  certain  sense  a  spiritual  son  of  Dr.  Passavant, 
there  has  been  added  a  fine  Old  People's  Home  here  also. 
Nearly  three  hundred  children  and  from  forty  to  fifty  homeless 
eld  people  are  here  sheltered  and  made  happy.  Further  expan- 
sion and  variation  in  mercy  work  are  in  contemplation. 

As  we  write  this  we  receive  the  welcome  news  that  the 
Board  of  Deaconesses  has  resolved  to  plant  an  Old  People's 


THE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  593 

Home   on   the   Zelienople   grounds   and   that   the    architect   is 
already  at  work  on  the  plans. 

How  the  Passavant  Homes,  through  their  founder,  became 
influential  in  starting  the  homes  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Boston, 
Mass.,  Vasa,  Minn.,  and  in  other  places,  we  already  know.  And 
so  the  little  one  has  become  a  thousand  and  the  small  one  a  great 
nation,  and  the  end  is  not  yet. 

THE  EPILEPTIC   HOME   AT  ROCHESTER,  PA. 

For  many  years  Dr.  Passavant  had  had  a  compassionate 
concern  for  the  epileptics.  Only  his  untimely  death  had  pre- 
vented him  from  founding  a  home  for  these  unfortunates. 

As  soon  as  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Passavant,  Jr.,  had  his  new 
work  fairly  in  hand,  he  set  about  to  carry  out  his  father's  inten- 
tions. He  enlisted  the  interest  of  some  of  his  wealthy  friends 
in  Pittsburg  and  vicinity.  Most  of  these  good  people  had  been 
his  father's  helpers.  We  should  like  to  make  honorable  mention 
of  all  of  them.  The  names  of  many  of  them  appear  in  the 
pages  of  this  book.  ]\Iany  are  unknown  to  the  author.  But 
God  knows  them.  They  are  written  down  in  His  Book.  What- 
ever they  have  done,  in  His  name,  for  the  orphan,  the  sick,  the 
aged,  the  helpless  and  homeless  of  any  class,  the  epileptic,  so 
wretched  and  forlorn  in  his  pitiable  plight,  the  blessed  Master 
knows  and  accepts  as  done  unto  Him.  Besides  the  good  people 
of  the  First  English  Lutheran  church,  Pittsburg,  and  the 
churches  in  the  Beaver  Valley,  especially  Grace  church,  Roches- 
ter, the  German  Lutheran  churches  in  Rochester  and  Monaca, 
and  other  Lutheran  churches,  many  of  God's  dear  children  in 
other  communions  also  have  assisted  nobly  in  all  the  Passavant 
undertakings.  Among  these  we  might  mention  Mrs.  Wm.  Thaw, 
one  of  God's  noble  women,  who  regards  her  riches  as  a  trust 
from  Him,  and  is  quietly,  almost  secretly,  giving  her  life  to  do- 
ing good.  In  her  owti  Church  she  is  one  of  those  who  are 
anonymously  doing  a  large  part  in  the  sustaining  of  struggling 
institutions,  charities  and  boards.  There  probably  would  be  no 
Presbyterian  Theological  Seminary  in  Omaha,  but  for  Mrs. 
Thaw.  And  this  is  only  one  of  hundreds  of  the  objects  of  her 
bountiful  benevolence.  Such  women  as  she  are  the  crowning 
glory  of  their  sex.  How  insignificant,  empty  and  pitiable,  along- 
side of  such,  is  the  society  belle,  the  platform  woman,  and  the 
"new  woman"  in  any  role! 


594  THE  LIFE  OF  ^Y.  A.  PAS8AVANT. 

The  friends  thus  enlisted  by  young  Passavant  formed  an 
association  and  secured  a  charter  for  the  founding  of  ''The 
Passavant  Memorial  Homes  for  the  Care  of  Epileptics."  The 
management  was  vested  in  twelve  trustees,  four  of  whom  must 
be  Lutheran. 

Two  Norwegian  deaconesses  came  from  Chicago  to  take  up 
the  work.  For  two  years  they  bore  the  heavy  burdens  incident 
to  epileptic  work,  especially  burdensome  in  an  infant  institution 
lacking  in  proper  equipment,  dependent  on  inexperienced,  often 
incompetent,  transient  and  ever-changing  help.  Then  their 
health  failed  and  they  resigned,  to  return  to  Norway.  In  June, 
1897,  two  sisters  from  the  Milwaukee  Motherhouse  took  charge 
of  the  work.  These  sisters  also  had  to  learn  the  work  and  sys- 
tematize the  management.  Times  were  often  hard,  money  scarce 
and  provisions  short,  but  the  good  work  never  stopped.  The 
Rev.  J.  Ash,  called  as  superintendent  in  1896,  served  faithfully 
for  two  years,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  a  pastoral 
charge.  In  1903  the  Association  transferred  the  Homes  to 
the  Institution  of  Protestant  Deaconesses,  and  the  Rev.  F.  W. 
Kohler  became  superintendent.  As  the  buildings  on  the  grounds 
could  not  accommodate  more  than  forty  or  fifty  at  most,  appli- 
cants for  admission  had  to  be  refused  constantly  for  lack  of 
room.  In  1903  it  was  resolved,  therefore,  to  begin  to  raise  a 
building  fund  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  an  administration 
building. 

As  a  chapel  and  a  laundry  building  were  sorely  needed,  the 
generosity  of  a  few  individuals  made  the  erection  of  a  commodi- 
ous laundry  building  possible.  The  second  story  of  this  has 
been  arranged  for  a  temporary  chapel,  where  the  first  glad 
service  was  held  on  Easter,  1905.  A  bequest  of  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  from  ]\Ir.  Lockhart,  of  Pittsburg,  together  with 
several  smaller  legacies  and  a  number  of  good  subscriptions, 
make  the  erection  of  the  needed  Administration  Building  and 
a  cottage  possible.  An  architect  is  busy  upon  the  plans.  And 
so  this  youngest  of  the  Passavant  institutions  is  advancing  and 
enlarging  in  its  blessed  mercy  work  for  a  class  hitherto  almost 
wholly  overlooked  by  both  Church  and  State  in  our  land, 

THE   MILWAUKEE   HOSPITAL   AND    MOTHERHOUSE. 

When  young  Mr.  Passavant  took  charge  of  the  various  in- 
stitutions he  found  the  Milwaukee  Hospital  carrying  a  heavy 


THE  PA8SAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  595 

debt,  in  sore  need  of  enlargement  and  without  either  rectory  or 
motherhouse.  Although  a  protracted  panic  had  been  paralyzing 
the  business  world  and  drying  up  the  fountains  of  benevolence, 
he  set  bravely  to  work  to  supply  the  needs.  First  he  made  plans 
for  extensive  enlargement  and  improvements.  These  included 
the  addition  of  a  wing,  with  one  of  the  finest  operating  rooms 
in  the  West;  a  covered  approach  for  the  ambulance  and  car- 
riages, so  that  patients  might  be  brought  in  without  danger  or 
discomfort  in  time  of  storm;  and  the  furnishing  of  the  new 
chapel.  Later  on  a  complete  bacteriological  equipment,  an 
X-ray  machine  and  complete  electric  lighting  were  added.  As 
far  as  all  this  was  completed  before  Mr.  Passavant  died,  it  was 
nearly  all  paid  for.  In  addition  to  all  this  expensive  improve- 
ment the  old,  heavy  debt  was  all  paid  off,  and  a  new,  costly  and 
commodious  rectory  was  built.  The  number  of  patients  has 
more  than  trebled  since  Dr.  Passavant  died.  The  hospital  now 
cares  for  considerably  more  than  one  thousand  every  year.  More 
than  one-third  of  these  are  charity  patients,  who  are  freely 
admitted  without  regard  to  race,  religion  or  color.  For  years 
all  the  poor  who  have  knocked  for  admittance  have  been  re- 
ceived. Not  one  has  been  refused,  though  many  pay-patients 
are  refused  for  lack  of  room.  There  is  about  the  same  propor- 
tion of  charity  patients  in  all  the  Passavant  hospitals. 

One  of  the  many  substantial  Milwaukee  friends  of  the  hos- 
pital is  Mr.  F.  Layton.  For  several  years  he  has  had  a  force  of 
men  at  work  in  beautifying  the  grounds.  First  he  built  a  mas- 
sive, terraced  stone  wall,  with  prominent  pillared  gateways,  all 
along  the  Cedar  Street  front.  Then  a  costly  ornamental  iron 
fence  was  put  on  the  wall.  Driveways  were  built,  and  under 
the  oversight  of  an  experienced  landscape  gardener  the  whole 
beautiful  plot  of  ground  was  laid  out  and  planted  with  orna- 
mental trees,  shrubs  and  flowers ;  so  that  the  imposing  building 
now  stands  in  the  midst  of  a  richly  planted  park,  where  con- 
valescents, and  friends,  and  nurses  can  wander  at  pleasure  amid 
the  variegated  beauty  of  bowers  and  bloom  and  perfume  and 
birdsong  whenever  the  weather  invites  out-doors.  After  the 
death  of  the  founder  this,  as  well  as  each  of  the  three  other  hos- 
pitals, was  called  "The  Passavant  Memorial  Hospital." 

About  a  year  before  the  Doctor  died  the  Rev.  Dr.  J.  F.  Ohl 
was  called  to  be  the  Rector  of  the  Institution.    Before  his  com- 


596  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT, 

ing  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  K.  Friek  had,  for  a  number  of  years,  acted 
as  chaplain.  Ever  since  he  came  to  Milwaukee  to  build  up  the 
lirst  English  Lutheran  church  there  he  had  been  a  warm  friend 
and  a  ready  helper  of  Dr.  Passavant  and  the  hospital.  Dr.  Ohl 
brought  with  him  peculiar  fitness  for  his  position.  He  had  for 
years  been  a  faithful  student  of  the  Inner  Mission  and  Deacon- 
ess Work  in  Germany.  Being  by  nature  and  by  self-discipline 
exact  and  systematic  in  his  work  and  ways,  he  at  once  set  about 
the  organizing  and  sytematizing  of  the  work.  Dr.  Passavant, 
who  lived  five  hundred  miles  away,  had  five  other  institutions 
and  countless  Church  interests  on  his  hands,  was  only  an  occa- 
sional visitor  and  worker  in  Milwaukee.  It  devolved  upon  Dr. 
Ohl,  therefore,  to  inaugurate  regular  daily  and  Sunday  chapel 
services,  to  work  out  a  course  of  study  and  preparation  for  can- 
didates for  the  female  diaconate,  and  to  instruct  and  train  such 
in  the  course  laid  out. 

All  this  he  did  in  that  thorough  manner  characteristic  of 
the  man.  As  there  was  practically  no  English  literature  on  the 
deaconess  office  and  work,  he  made  a  start  in  the  production  of 
it.  He  published  a  number  of  clear  and  comprehensive  tracts 
on  the  nature,  grounds  and  history  of  the  female  diaconate, 
and  had  translations  made  of  some  of  the  best  German  hand- 
books. He  accomplished  much  in  traveling  from  parish  to  par- 
ish and  bringing  this  important  matter  before  the  Church  of 
the  West.  Thus  he  won  a  goodly  number  of  candidates  in  our 
English  congregations  and  during  his  five  years'  incumbency 
had  the  pleasure  of  inducting  some  of  these  into  the  sacred 
office.  It  was  Dr.  Ohl  who  inaugurated  and  set  in  motion  the 
first  real  motherhouse  in  connection  with  the  Passavant  in.stitu- 
tions.  The  regular  deaconess  habit  was  also  assumed  under  the 
rectorship  of  Dr.  Ohl,  who  also  took  a  prominent  part  in  organ- 
izing the  first  Conference  of  Deaconess  Motherhouses  in  Amer- 
ica. 

Six  months  after  Dr.  Ohl  had  resigned  and  left  Milwaukee, 
^Ir.  Passavant,  the  Director  of  all  the  Passavant  institutions, 
v/as  elected  Rector  of  the  Milwaukee  Motherhouse,  and  took 
up  his  abode  there.  He  was  permitted  to  hold  this  office,  in  con- 
nection with  the  general  directorship,  for  only  one  year  and  a 
half,  when  he  was  suddenly  summoned  to  come  up  higher.  The 
Sisters  and  probationers  who  were  under  him  never  weary  of 


TEE  PA8SAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  597 

speaking  of  the  spirit  of  harmony  and  happiness  that  prevailed 
in  the  motherhouse  and  hospital  during  his  short  incumbency. 
During  his  term  of  office  the  spirit  and  language  of  the  mother- 
house  and  hospital  became  more  English  than  it  had  ever  been 
and  more  girls  than  ever  before  came  from  English  congrega- 
tions to  prepare  themselves  for  deaconesses.  Mr.  Passavant  had 
the  rectory,  so  beautiful  for  situation  and  so  cheerful  in  all  its 
appointments,  transformed  and  consecrated  as  a  motherhouse. 
This  has  been  the  peaceful  abode,  the  resting-place  as  well  as 
the  place  for  study  and  recitation  ever  since.  Here  the  Sisters 
receive  their  friends  and  meet  for  recreation.  This  is  their  real 
home  from  which  blessings  follow  them  to  their  various  fields 
of  labor,  and  to  which  they  return  to  be  lovingly  cared  for  when 
sick  or  when  too  old  for  active  service.  Here,  if  the  good  Lord 
spares  them  to  die  of  old  age,  they  expect  to  have  their  eyes 
closed  by  loving  hands,  and  out  of  its  doors  they  will  be  carried 
to  their  final  rest  amid  the  tears  and  benedictions  of  their  sisters 
and  their  spiritual  guide.  Happy  Sisters!  They  need  never 
have  care  as  to  what  they  shall  eat,  what  they  shall  drink, 
wherewithal  they  shall  be  clothed,  who  will  find  for  them  a 
Christian  home,  take  care  of  them  in  sickness  and  give  them 
Christian  burial  when  dead. 

It  was  no  easy  matter  to  find  a  successor  to  young  Passa- 
vant. After  more  than  a  year  the  Rev.  H.  L.  Fritschel  was  in- 
stalled as  Director  and  Rector,  August  18,  1902. 

Under  his  leadership  the  work  goes  steadily  forward.  The 
number  of  patients  in  the  hospital  constantly  increases.  The 
income  is  steadily  growing.  But,  best  of  all,  the  largest  class 
of  candidates  in  the  history  of  the  institution  was  instructed 
last  year,  and  the  largest  band  of  Sisters  was  consecrated  a  few 
weeks  before  this  writing.  The  motherhouse  is  being  enlarged 
to  double  its  former  capacity,  and  a  fine  rectory  was  built  dur- 
ing the  past  year  and  is  now  occupied  by  Pastor  Fritschel  and 
his    family. 

The  capable  and  greatly  beloved  Sister  Catharine  Denzer 
is  doing  most  excellent  work  as  teaching  sister.  She  throws  her 
whole  heart  into  the  development  of  each  pupil.  What  wonder 
that  her  students  cling  to  her  with  such  beautiful  affection! 
Surely  hers  is  a  blessed  work,  a  rich  and  fruitful  life. 

Looking  over  the  beautiful  hospital  grounds,  recalling  the 


598  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A,  PASSAVANT. 

small  beginnings,  the  early  struggles,  the  bitter  losses,  we  may- 
well  say :  What  hath  God  wrought !  And  looking  at  the  moth- 
erhouse  may  we  not  confidently  hope  that  it  will  do  its  full  part 
to  make  the  female  diaconate  one  of  the  coming  glories  of  our 
dear  Church? 

THE    PITTSBURG    HOSPITAL. 

This  porch  of  mercy  had  been  closed  for  several  years  dur- 
ing the  lifetime  of  its  founder.     During  this  time  it  had  been 
remodeled  and  improved  throughout.     It  had  been  refurnished 
and  reopened  several  years  before  Dr.  Passavant's  death.     It 
was  filled  to  overflowing  when  young  Mr.  Passavant  took  charge. 
He  found  a  considerable  debt  on  account  of  recent  improvements,, 
but  he  began  at  once  to  plan  for  further  improvements  and  for 
enlargement.    On  account  of  the  consolidation  and  reorganizing  of 
the  Orphan  Work,  the  founding  and  organizing  of  the  Epileptic 
Homes  and  the  improvements  in  Milwaukee,  he  could  not  at 
once  carry  out  his  Pittsburg  purposes.    As  soon  as  other  under- 
takings were  safely  out  of  the  way,  he  turned  to  Pittsburg. 
Here  was  the  city  of  his  own  birth  and  the  only  home  he  had 
ever  known,  for  he  was  never  married.    In  sight  of  the  parental 
home  stood  the  old  Infirmary,  the  first  Protestant  hospital  in 
America,    founded   by   his    sainted    father   when    considerably 
younger  than  he  now  was.    In  that  old  Infirmary  was  the  cradle 
of  the  American  female  diaconate,  and  the  germ  from  which 
had  grown  all  the  Passavant  charities  and  many  others.     Here 
was  the  venerable  First  church,  brought  out  of  the  wilderness, 
and  made  to  bear  such  rich  fruitage  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
his  father.    And  it  was  now  fifty  years  since  that  hospital  was 
'Started  and  stoned  and  driven  out  of  Allegheny  as  a  ''pest- 
house."    Should  not  his  sainted  father  have  a  special  memorial 
here?    He  set  to  work  to  build  a  fifty  thousand  dollar  wing  to 
the  hospital ;   and  in  the  face  of  financial  stringency,  the  predic- 
tions of  failure,  and  the  warnings  of  many  good  people,  he 
ceased  not  to  pray  and  to  labor  until  he  had  the  project  com- 
pleted and  practically  paid  for.    It  was  a  memorial  to  his  father 
and  a  fitting  commemoration  of  the  first  half  century's  mercy 
work  in  the  Lutheran  Church.     It  was  dedicated  with  appro- 
priate services  December  7,  1900, 

The  Passavant  Memorial  Hospital  in  Pittsburg,  standing  on 
a  commanding  eminence  from  which  it  overlooks  a  large  part 


THE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  599 

of  the  busy  city,  is  now  second  to  none  in  arrangement,  equip- 
ment and  appointments  that  go  to  make  a  first-class  hospital. 
Like  the  Milwaukee  Hospital,  this  Bethesda  receives  and  cares 
for  more  than  one  thousand  patients  every  year.  The  propor- 
tion of  charity  patients  is  not  quite  so  large  as  that  of  Mil- 
waukee. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Roth  is  Director  of  the  Pittsburg 
Hospital.  He  has  been  more  or  less  intimately  associated  with 
the  Passavants  and  their  work  ever  since  he  entered  the  ministry 
nearly  half  a  century  ago.  He  was  one  of  the  tried  and  true 
helpers  of  Dr.  Passavant  from  the  beginning,  on  whom  the 
Doctor  could  depend  for  assistance  at  any  time  when  it  was 
needed  and  could  by  any  possibility  be  given. 

When  Dr.  Passavant  was  pastor  of  the  First  church  and 
was  starting  the  many  mission  points,  the  young  Mr.  Roth  was 
the  ready  helper.  He  became  the  first  pastor  of  Grace  church 
on  the  South  Side,  built  the  first  church  and  parsonage  for  it, 
assisted  Dr.  Passavant  on  the  Missionary,  and  later  on  with  the 
hospital  and  orphan  work.  At  Dr.  Passavant 's  earnest  solici- 
tation he  took  charge  of  Thiel  Hall,  at  Monaca,  and  became  the 
first  President  of  Thiel  College.  During  all  this  time  he  was  the 
ever  ready  helper  of  the  Doctor  in  church  and  charity  work. 
He  carried  a  number  of  churches  over  trying  vacancies  and 
kept  them  from  disbanding.  While  he  was  pastor  of  Wicker 
Park  church,  Chicago,  he  was  regularly  at  work  for  the  Chicago 
and  Milwaukee  hospitals.  When  Dr.  Passavant  died.  Dr.  Roth 
took  temporary  charge  of  all  the  institutions  until  W.  A. 
Passavant,  Jr.,  was  elected  Director.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
has  been  at  the  head  of  the  Passavant  hospital  in  Pittsburg 
and  assists  in  the  oversight  of  all  the  institutions.  Under  his 
oversight  the  grounds  at  Pittsburg  have  been  greatly  improved 
and  beautified. 

The  directing  Sister  at  Pittsburg  for  many  years  past  has 
been  the  active,  alert  and  untiring  Sister,  Katharine  Foerster. 
Small  in  stature,  but  wiry  and  full  of  energy,  she  seems  to  be 
everywhere,  laboring,  leading,  encouraging  and  directing  the 
manifold  interests  of  the  institution.  She  was  a  comfort  to 
Dr.  Passavant  in  his  day,  to  W.  A.  Passavant,  Jr.,  during  his 
directorship,  and  to  Fritschel  and  Roth  since  then.    She  has  the 


600  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PASSAVANT. 

confidence,  the  esteem  and  love  of  the  best  people  in  Pittsburg 
who  are  friends  of  the  hospital. 

Among  the  many  valued  and  substantial  friends  of  the 
Pittsburg  hospital  we  must  make  special  mention  of  the  recently 
deceased  Miss  Sarah  Shaffer.  This  good  woman  was  a  life  ong 
friend  and  helper  of  the  Passavants.  She  was  with  the  Sisters 
who  went  from  the  young  Pittsburg  Infirmary  to  nurse  our  sol- 
diers during  the  Civil  War.  She  was  one  of  the  excellent  women 
who  found  their  greatest  joy  in  ministering  to  others.  Whether 
in  the  Passavant  family  or  in  the  Passavant  hospital,  whenever 
a  special  helper  was  needed,  Miss  Shaffer  was  there.  She  had 
long  set  her  heart  on  a  rest-house  for  the  sisters  and  nurses. 
Toward  this  she  gave  all  that  she  had  left  of  earthly  possessions. 
She  pnent  time  and  effort  without  stint  in  securing  subscriptions 
for  U  erection  of  this  building.  Aj  a  result  of  her  gifts  and 
efforts  there  now  stands  on  the  beautiful  grounds  a  "Sister- 
house"  that  cost  over  thirty-two  thousand  dollars.  A  suite  of 
rooms  was  set  apart  for  Miss  Shaffer  and  a  companion,  and  here 
she  spent  her  last  peaceful  days,  happy  in  making  others  happy, 
A  fitting  bronze  mural  memorial  tablet  is  to  be  placed  in  the  new 
building.  She  has  gone  to  a  better  rest-house;  but  for  years  to 
come  those  who  become  tired  in  making  sufferers  comfortable^ 
will  find  a  rest-retreat  in  this  Sisterhouse.  Surely  here  is  a 
better,  more  fitting,  more  precious  monument  than  the  costliest 
shaft  in  Allegheny  Cemetery. 

The  Chicago  Hospital. 

This  institution  whose  providential  and  ofttimes  romantic 
history  we  have  traced  up  to  the  founder's  death,  was  familiarly 
known  as  "The  Emergency  Hospital."  Its  name  has  also  been 
changed  to  "The  Passavant  Memorial." 

When  young  Mr.  Passavant  took  hold  of  this  institution 
it  was  not  in  prosperous  condition.  On  account  of  the  large 
proportion  of  charity  patients,  even  now  larger  than 
that  of  Milwaukee,  and  the  small  numbc  of  rooms  for  pay- 
patients,  there  had  been  a  growing  deficit.  On  account  of  the 
great  scarcity  of  deaconesses  there  had  been  too  many  changes 
in  the  head  of  the  institution.  Since  its  reopening,  after  four- 
teen years  of  interruption  on  account  of  the  great  fire,  no 
permanent  sister  had  been  at  its  head.  It  was  one  of  the  sore 
disappointments  of  both  the  Passavants  that  they  had  not  been 
able  to  maintain  it  as  a  real  deaconess  hospital.    It  is  still  the 


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THE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  601 

earnest  prayer  and  fond  hope  of  the  Sisterhood  and  Board  of 
Deaconesses  that  the  Chicago  hospital  may  soon  become,  what 
its  founder  intended  it  should  be  a  deaconess  hospital  in  fact 
as  well  as  in  name. 

In  lieu  of  a  trained  sister  Mr.  Passavant  was  glad  to  avail 
himself  of  the  assistance  of-  the  capable  and  energetic  wife  of 
Dr.  0.  J.  Waters,  the  house  physician.  As  she  had  lived  in  the 
hospital  with  her  husband  for  a  number  of  years,  Mrs.  Waters 
had  become  familiar  with  its  life,  its  work,  its  management  and 
its  needs.  Mr.  Passavant  was  quick  to  note  her  efficiency,  apt- 
ness and  executive  ability,  and  was  willing  to  give  the  inner 
management  into  her  hands.  Together  they  planned  for  more 
room  for  pay-patients,  and  to  this  end  rented  outside  rooms 
for  the  helpers  and  nurses.  This  increased  the  income  without 
diminishing  the  charity  work.  Then  the  well-to-do  women,  who 
were  friends  of  the  institution  were  organized  into  a  Hospital 
Aid  Society  and  have  ever  since  done  effective  service.  A  little 
later  the  Lutheran  women  organized  a  similar  society.  In  all 
this  Mrs.  Waters  was  very  helpful.  On  account  of  the  scarcity 
of  deaconesses  a  training  school  for  nurses  was  opened  here  as 
well  as  in  Pittsburg  and  in  Jacksonville.  A  number  of  valuable 
legacies  made  it  possible  to  enlarge  the  building.  A  new  wing 
was  added  and  a  new  story  put  on  the  old  building.  Thus  were 
added  a  new  ward,  a  nursery,  a  laundry  and  a  boiler-room,  to- 
gether with  eighteen  rooms  for  private  patients.  Later  on  the 
inside  was  renovated,  an  X-ray  machine  and  other  equipments 
were  secured.  And,  best  of  all,  during  the  past  year,  a  three- 
story  brick  house  and  lot,  next  door,  has  been  unconditionally 
donated  by  one  of  the  early  co-workers  of  Dr.  Passavant.  After 
this  has  been  remodeled  the  hospital  will  be  among  the  best  in 
the  city.  The  number  of  patients  admitted  last  year  was  over 
a  thousand.  Since  the  death  of  William  Passavant  Mrs.  Waters 
has  been  the  superintendent  of  the  hospital.  It  might  be  hard 
to  say  what  would  have  become  of  this  charity,  but  for  her  faith- 
ful, patient  and  loving  service. 

The  Jacksonville  Hospital. 

The  history  of  this  institution  is  the  strangest  of  all  the 
Passavant  foundations. 

After  the  Doctor  had  reluctantly  taken  the  porperty  from 
the  persistent  donor  for  the  second  time,  it  was  opened  as  a  hos- 
pital.   Shortly  after  its  opening  Sister  Caroline  Ochse  took  charge 


602  THE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  PA8SAVANT. 

and  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  was  faithful  at  her  post,  until 
the  incessant  labors  at  last  broke  down  her  weary  frame.  In 
the  beginning  the  large  house  with  its  sixteen-foot  windows  was 
illy  suited  for  a  hospital.  There  was  no  heating  plant.  The 
furniture  and  equipments  were  scant.  For  years  Sister  Caroline 
slept  on  a  cot  in  the  end  of  a  hall  curtained  off  with  calico  hang- 
ings. 

In  1897,  Mr.  Passavant  had  the  whole  building  altered,  a 
large  and  commodious  wing  added,  and  everything  modernized 
and  beautified.  Standing  in  its  beautiful  park,  in  a  city  filled 
with  rich  state  institutions,  this  modest  Christian  hospital,  with 
its  doors  open  for  the  humblest  and  most  unworthy  sufferers, 
with  its  warm  hearts  and  loving  hands  ready  to  minister  to  all 
in  the  spirit  of  its  Divine  Master  is  a  standing  sermon  to  the 
whole  community  on  His  words:  "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done 
it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

Sister  Caroline  gave  her  life  to  this  work  of  love  and  is  now 
a  battered  and  broken  invalid  in  the  motherhouse  in  Milwaukee. 
But  while  her  body  is  broken,  hundreds  of  others  are  well,  be- 
cause of  her  Christ-like  ministrations. 

The  Chicago  Seminary, 

Of  this  last  foundation  of  the  sainted  Dr.  Passavant,  tne 
one  for  which  he  had  planned,  prayed  and  pleaded  for  more 
than  a  quarter  century,  the  one  that  had,  if  possible,  an  even 
larger  share  of  his  love  than  any  other,  we  must  say  a  few 
words. 

This  school  of  the  prophets  is  now  thirteen  years  old.  Dur- 
ing these  years  it  has  been  the  earnest  endeavor  of  those  who 
have  had  the  conduct  of  its  inner  workings  to  keep  alive  in  it 
the  spirit  of  its  founder.  The  school,  as  we  have  seen,  started 
with  no  capital,  except  the  two  acres  of  ground  donated  by  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Passavant,  and  faith  in  the  good  Lord  and  in  His 
people.  There  has  been  neither  endowment,  nor  guaranteed  sup- 
port from  any  synod  or  body,  during  all  these  years.  The  work 
has  been  carried  on  entirely  by  voluntary  contributions.,  nearly 
all  gathered  from  year  to  year  by  the  professors.  The  trials, 
testings,  anxieties  and  hardships  that  have  been  borne  are  known 
only  to  God  and  themselves.  Their  faith  and  labor  have  not 
been  put  to  shame.  Their  reward,  their  crown  of  rejoicing,  they 
have  in  the  signal  blessing  with  which  God  has  owned  and 
crowned  the  work  of  this  institution. 


TEE  PASSAVANT  INSTITUTIONS.  603 

One  hundred  and  seventy-nine  men  who  have  studied  within 
its  walls  are  now  preaching  the  old  Gospel  which  is  still  the  only 
solvent  for  the  ills  that  afiflict  our  sin-stricken  race.  With  few 
exceptions,  as  far  as  man  can  judge,  they  are  witnessing  out  of 
their  own  inner  experience  the  truth  that  God  gives  them  out 
of  His  Word.  They  have  come  together  from  almost  every  Luth- 
eran Synod  in  our  land.  Every  one  for  whom  his  own  synod  has 
a  place  goes  back  to  that  synod.  These  zealous  young  men 
are  helping  the  whole  Church,  so  far  as  she  will  use  their  help, 
across  the  language  bridge.  They  are  winning  candidates  for 
the  ministry  of  the  Word  and  for  the  ministry  of  mercy.  They 
are  going  to  introduce  the  Inner  Mission  work,  which  is  so  great- 
ly blessing  our  Church  in  other  lands,  into  every  prominent  city 
of  America.  They  are  thus  doing  their  full  share  in  solving  the 
social  problems  that  confront  our  age  and  land.  Other  Seminaries 
are  doing  better  work  because  the  Chicago  Seminary  is  here.  The 
benediction  of  the  Passavants  seems  to  be  upon  our  school.  To 
the  Sainted  Father  Berkemeier  we  remarked  a  short  time  be- 
fore his  death,  that  Dr.  Passavant  would  rejoice  to  see  the  good 
that  our  Seminary  is  already  doing.  He  smiled  and  answered: 
**Ja,  der  weiss  schon  bescheid." 

The  story  of  that  wonderful  Life  is  now  finished.  During 
its  writing  again  and  again  arose  the  question.  Why  are  such 
men  so  rare?  Why  has  our  Church  in  America  produced  but  one 
Dr.  Passavant? 

We  need  such  men.  The  Kingdom  of  God  needs  them. 
How  sadly,  how  sorely  they  are  needed.  Where  are  they?  Are 
they  in  our  seminaries?  Are  they  in  the  ranks  of  our  younger 
ministers  ? 

Dr.  Passavant  had  extraordinary  gifts  and  endowments. 
Doubtless  in  our  seminaries  are  young  men  equally  gifted  and 
endowed.  He  possessed  unusual  opportunities.  The  youth  of 
today  have  advantages  unknown  a  half  century  ago.  Before 
him  were  open  doors  and  ripe  fields.  Before  our  youth  are 
wider  and  richer  spheres,  promising  results  incalculable.  And 
certainly  the  good  Lord  is  no  less  willing  now  than  then  to  own 
and  crown  like  labors  with  like  liberal  and  luminant  love. 

Why  then  has  our  Church  produced  but  one  Dr.  Passavant? 
Why  are  no  such  men  now  looming  into  view  ?  The  Church  needs 
them.  And  she  can  have  them.  Let  our  young  men  in  college, 
in  seminary,  in  the  active  ministry,  make  the  same  unconditional 
surrender  of  self,   self-seeking,   and   self-glorying.     Let   them 


604  TEE  LIFE  OF  W.  A.  P  ASSAY  ANT. 

empty  themselves  of  all  reliance  on  the  arm  of  flesh;  submit 
themselves  under  the  Word,  will,  and  leading  of  their  Lord; 
let  them  feed  upon  that  Word  and  lean  upon  that  will;  let 
them  trustfully  follow  that  leading;  let  them  hold  mystic  fel- 
lowship and  communion  with  Him;  trust  Him  as  implicitly, 
love  Him  as  ardentlj^  and  love  their  fellow  men  with  the  same 
abandon  as  did  this  saint  of  God,  and  the  Church  shall  have 
other  Passavants. 


INDEX. 


Abroad,    Passavant,    141    ff. 

Academy,    103,    147,    197,    361. 

Advertisements,    551. 

Afiaictions,   42,   68,   73,   289. 

Africa,   Passavants   in,    19. 

Akron,   514. 

Alexander  Campbell,   89. 

Allegheny,    249,    280. 

Almanac,   Lutheran,   40,   55,  56,   89. 

Altenburg    Seminary,    197. 

American   Bible    Society,   376, 

American  Deaconesses,    250. 

American   Lutheranism,   327,   347. 

American   Tract   Society,   23,   88. 

Anopstors     1 

Anderson,'  Eev.  Paul,  211,  216,  218, 

224,   358,   362. 
"Anglo-German,"    170. 
Anniversary  sermons,   273. 
Anxious   Bench,    The,   85,   115,   164, 

166,   339. 
Anselm's    History,    1. 
Apostolic   Epistles,    138. 
Appearance    of    Passavant,    114. 
Ash,   Rev.   J.,   594. 
Assassination    of    Lincoln,    324. 
Associated  Press,  446. 
Asylum ; 

Colored  Orphan,  197. 

Magdalen,   175. 

Orphan,   173. 
Army   Nurses,    306. 
Augsburg  Confession,   56,   115,   119, 
127,    344,    347. 

Articles    on,    332. 

Defined,   336. 

Errors   in,   327. 

Friends   of,   344. 

Interpretation   of,   345. 
Augustana    Seminary,   562. 
Augustana   Synod,    206,   373f,   379f. 
Auricular  Confession,   337. 
Ayers,  Mrs.,  484. 


Baccalaureate    sermon,    351f. 
Bachman,  Dr.,  100. 
Baker,   Dr.,   104f. 
Baltimore,   257f. 
Barbara,  Sister,   315,   318,  424. 
Barmen    Mission    House,    146. 
Baptism,    337,    344. 
Of    Negroes,    87. 
Baptismal    regeneration,    327,    337. 


Baptist  Seminary,  559. 

Basel   Missionaries,    153. 

Basel   Missionary   Seminary,    152. 

Basel,   Passavants  in,   19. 

Basse,    Detmar,    20,    21. 

Basse,  Zelia,  20. 

"Bassenheim,"    20,    21. 

Academy    of,    26. 
Bassenheim  Furnace,  21. 
Bassler,    Rev.    Gottlieb,    35,    38,    39, 

62,  116,  121,  122,  124,  167,  198, 

203,    226,    237,    241,    392,    400, 

417,    437,    465. 
Baugher,   Dr.,   52,   82,   200. 
"Begging,"  281,  283. 
Belgium,  149. 
Belgium  Priests,  149. 
Bethel   flag,    204. 
Bethel  Norwegian  Church,   361. 
Bethany,   English   Lutheran   Church, 

249. 
Berkemeier,    Rev.    Wm.,    250,    495, 

522,    525. 
Berkemeier,    Rev.    G.    C,    592. 
Beyer,    Anthony,    26. 
Bielefield,  492. 

Bible   Society,   The   Penn.,   56. 
Binding  out  children,   233. 
Book  of  Concord,   341,  560. 
BoAven,    Rev.,   433. 
Boys   for   ministry,   570. 
Braun,  Rev.,  401. 
Brauer,    Rev.,    568. 
Bremen    Missionary    Society,    147. 
Bridal   trip,    131. 
Brobst,   Rev.   S.   K.,    28,    37. 
Brown,    Hugh    A.,    23,    33,    35,    46, 

514. 
Brown,    John,    301. 
Brown,  Pres.  Matt.,  28,  32,  46,  131. 
Bryan,   Rev.,   128. 
Buchanan,    Pres.,    301. 
Buffalo  furnace,   135f. 
Chapel    at,    136. 
Congregation   at,   136. 
Fruits  of  labor  at,  138. 
Passavant  at,  136. 
Bull,   Ole,   218. 
Butler,  541. 
Burrit,    Elihu,    8. 


Call,  81,   297. 
To    Canton,    81. 
To  New  York,   172. 
To  Pittsburg,  109,  110,  112,  113. 


607 


608 


INDEX. 


Called  of  God,  296f. 
Campbellism,  44. 
Canada,    261. 

Synod    of,    371. 
Canton,  79,  90,  98,  99. 
Canvassing   tours,    37,    43,    54,    56f. 
Carlsen,  Rev.  E.,  355,  419,  421,  429. 
Caroline,   Sister,  488. 
Catechism,    32. 

Luther's,   212,   341,   347. 

Pontoppidan 's,    211,    212. 
Catechetics,    567. 
Catechetical   instruction,   114f. 
Catherine,    Sister,    495,    576. 
Change  of  pastorate,  296,  297. 
Character   sketch,   582ff. 
Charity  hospital,   429. 
Charity    of    Passavant,    30,    39,    69, 

71,   72,   74,   134. 
Charity  patients,  417. 
Charity    work,    162ff. 
Chaplain,  249.  ' 

Chicago ; 

Cholera  in,   225. 

Lutheran    Churches    in    216,    431. 

Relief  Fund   for,   428. 

Roman  Catholics  in,  429. 

Passavant   in,   210f,   214,   419. 

Swedes    in,    210,    355. 
Chicago   Fire,   427f,    431,    557,    558. 
Chicago  Hospital,  Passavant,  416ff. 

Beginnings    of,    420,   424f. 

Deaconesses  in,  421. 

Nurses   in,    426. 

Opening    of,    422,    435,    516,    528. 

Patients  in,  421,  422,  425. 

Ruins   of,    432. 
Chicago   Seminary,   448,   557ff. 

Aims  of,  564ff. 

Augustana   Synod  and,   562. 

Board   of   Directors  of,   557,   568. 

Charter  for,  560. 

Doctrinal  basis,  560. 

Donations   for,   559. 

First    professors,    560. 

First   students,   560. 

Ground    for,    557. 

Homiletical    professor    in,    566. 

Krauth,   Dr.   and,   557. 

Location,    560. 

Professors,    560. 

Resolutions    concerning,    557. 

Third    commencement,    562,    563. 

Workman,    The,    on,    562. 
Childhood    of   Passavant,    24ff 
Cholera,   186,   225,   229,   264,   389. 
"Christian    Coffee,"    399. 
Christian    Education,    501. 
Christian    Experience,    516. 
Christian   Inn,   496. 
Christmas,  252,  287. 
Church    Councilmen,    291. 
Church    extension,    135. 


Church    debt,    114. 
Church    fairs,    197. 
■  Church   funds,    197. 
Church    in    cities,    354. 
Church   lawsuits,   448. 
Church    lots,    362. 
Church    Messenger,    The,    554. 
Church    of    Mercy,    425,    429,    430, 

432f. 
Church    Pamphleteer,    552. 
Church   wars,   448. 
City   hopitals,    262. 
Classmates,    26,    33,    46,    57. 
Clausen,    Rev.    204. 
"Clapboard    -    staedtle"      Sunday- 
School,    512. 
Co-editor,    342. 
College    life,    30ff. 

Estimate    of,    46. 

Dominant   features,   46. 

End    of,    45. 

Resolutions    of,    30. 

Societies,    29,    37. 
Colony    of    Mercy,    378. 
Colonizftion    Schemes,    378. 
Colored   Sunday-school,   71. 
Colored  People,   71,  88,  95. 
Colporteur,   57,   134f,   150,   222. 
Colored   People,   95. 
Commencement  oration,  45. 
Communion,  32. 

Colored  people,  work  among,  529ff. 
Common  Service,  The,  538. 
Communion  seasons,  503. 
Confessions,   31. 
Confessioualism,  172. 
Confirmation,  32,  33. 
Congregational    Seminary,    559. 
Consubstantiation,   337. 
Contagious  diseases,   190,  262. 
Controversies,   36,   331. 
Congregationalists,     207,     208,     217, 

382f. 
Congregational  meeting,   455. 
Conservatives,  The,  449. 
Continental   Sunday,    148. 
Copp,   Rev.    W.,   506. 
Correspondence,    138,    165. 
"Cottage    Hymns,"   70. 
Cow-halter,    550. 
Contrabands,   310,   313. 
Crimean    war,    307. 


Dahl,  Jacob,  517. 
Deaconesses,  177. 

Consecration   of,   250. 

History   of,   176f. 

In  America,   176,   188. 

In  army,  306,  308,  312,  315,  317. 

In    Chicago    Hospital,   421. 

In    Germantown    Orphanage,    290. 

In  Holland,  175. 

In  Hospitals,  179. 


INDEX. 


609 


In  Holy  Land,   182. 

In    Kaiserswerth,    177f. 

In    Pittsburg,    180. 

Investment   of,   465, 

Inner   Missions   and,    195. 

Marrying,   258. 

Principle   of,   177. 

Salaries  of,   178. 

Work   among   orphans,    260. 

Wor]<  among  prisoners,   260. 
Deaconesses  from  Kaiserswerth,  255. 
Deaconess  Institution,  390,  391,  465, 

■  483. 
Deaconess  Motherhouse,  389. 
Deaconess   Work; 

Editorial  on,   181ff. 

Principles    of,    177. 

Report  of,  259. 

Rules   of,    177. 
Death     of     Passavant,     563,     575ff, 

579. 
Debate,  38. 
Debt,  church,  277. 
Defense   of   Lutheranism,   271f. 
"Definite    Platform,    The,"    544. 

Adopted,    328. 

Defended,  328. 

Defense  against,  332. 

East   Penn.   Synod   and,   328. 

General  Synod  and,  347. 

Passavant  and,  328. 

Pittsburg  Synod  and,   335f. 
-Demme,    Dr.,    101. 
Denzer,    Sister    Caroliiie,    597. 
Desertion,   417. 
Destitute,   The,  263. 
Devotions ; 

Books   of,    18,    64. 

Hours  of,  94. 
Devotional  meetings,   62. 
Dialogues,  332. 
Dickson,    Cyrus,   23. 
Diedrichsen,   Rev.,    204. 
Diehl,  Dr.,  459. 
Directing  sister,   192. 
Director,   192. 
Director's  Cottage,  226. 
Discontented,  The,  417. 
Dix,  Miss  Dorothy  L.,  306,  307,  310, 

312,  314,  316,  317,  396. 
Doctorate,   289. 
Donations,     254,     255f,     258,     263f, 

268,    282. 
Douglas,   Martha,   309. 
Dred   Scott   Decision,   307, 

E 

Earhart,   Rev.   David,   124. 
Enst    Penn.   Synod,   101. 
Editor,  assistant,  78, 
Editorials,    87,    341,    575. 
Editorial   life,   87,   201f. 
Egede,   Hans,   272, 
Ehrenfeldt,   Rev.,   124. 


Elizabeth,   Sister,   318. 
Ellsworth,  CoL,  309f. 
Enimaus  Institute,  56. 
Emigrant   House,  497f,  498. 
Emigrant  House  Board  ,499. 
Emigrant  Mission,  152,  497. 
Emigration,    204. 
Engagement,  100,  109,  552. 
English  Catechism,  209. 
English   Lutherans,    167. 
English   Lutheranism,   435. 
English    Lutheran    Churches ; 

In  Chicago,  197.      (See  church  of 

Mercy. ) 
In  Cincinnati,  69. 
In    Omaha. 
In   St.   Paul. 
Epileptics,   493f. 
Epileptic  Home,   593. 
Episcopalians,    205,    212,    214,    215, 

216,    459,    460. 
Erie,  371. 

Erickson,   Rev.,   430. 
Esbjorn,  Rev.  Lars,  Paul,  207,  208, 

215,   217,   256,   374,   423. 
Evangelical  Alliance,   139,   144,   148, 

160. 
Evangelical    Lutheran,    The,    328. 
Evangelical  Review,  326. 
Ewing,  Hon.  John,   29,   41. 
Experience  meetings,  99. 
Eyster,   Rev.,   57,   61,   522,   540. 


F 


Family  system,  235. 
Faith,  personal,  84. 
Farewell    sermon,    276f. 
Farm    school,    222,    225,    229,    236, 
281,    422. 

Begging    for,    281. 

Burned,   241,   534. 

Cost  of  keeping,  244. 

Collections  for,   287. 

Commencement  of,  226. 

Difficulties  of,   226f, 

Director  of,   236. 

First   inmates,    226. 

House  Father  of,   237. 

Journal    of,    227. 

Location   of,   226. 

Principal    building    of,    227. 

Rebuilding   of,    243. 

State  aid  for,   245  . 
Farm  school  bell,  469. 
Female    day   schools,    179. 
Female   Diaconate,   175,   176. 
Female  prisoners,   260. 
"Festivals,"    281. 
Fever   sheds,   262. 
Financial  crisis,  229, 
First   charge,   81, 

Fliedner.    145,    174,    188,    222,    251, 
272. 


610 


INDEX. 


Foerster,    Sister    Katherine,    599. 
Foreign    Missions,    196,    333, 
Foreign    Missionary,    The,    554. 
Foreign   Missionary   Society,    196. 
Form    of   Concord,    168,   450. 
Foster  parents,  233. 
Franklin   Society,   29,   37. 
Frankfurt,    19,    145,    151. 
Francke,    272. 
Franckean    Synod,    272. 
Fraternal   convention,    450. 
Fraternities,    College,    513. 
Free  conferences,  543. 
Free   seats,   285. 
Frey,    Rev.    E.,    113. 
Frick,  Dr.  W.  K.,  596. 
Friendless,   260. 
Fritschel,    Eev.   H.   L.,   597. 
Froebel,    492. 
Fruitful  churches,  569. 
Fry,   Elizabeth,   175,   272. 
Ft.  Sumpter,  302. 
Ft.   Wayne,   370,   443. 
Funeral  of  Passavaut,  580ff. 


G 


Gansewitz,   Rev.,    399. 
Giese,   Prof.,   506,   507. 
General    Council,    121,    360,    443ff, 
450. 

Call  for,  447. 
"Generalists, ''   85. 
General    Synod,    49,    54,    100,    123, 

129,   165,  326,  346. 
Gensike,    Sister    Martha,    407. 
Germans; 

In  Canada,   198,   202. 

In  Texas,   198. 

In  the  West,  363. 

Passavant  Interested  in,  363. 
German  Catechisms,  313. 
German   Methodists,    363. 
Germany,     religious     condition     of, 

151f. 
Gettysburg,   51,   53. 
Gettysburg     Theological     Seminary, 
26,   481. 

Arrival  of  Passavant   at,   51. 

Denounced,  97. 

First   Professor,   49. 

Missionary   societies   in,   52, 

Professorship   in,   327. 

Passavant   in,   256,   516. 

Revival  Spirit  in,  83,  85,  340, 

Students   at,   52. 
Girls'   Orphan   Home,    240,    289. 
Goethe  and  the  Passavants,  19. 
Good   Shepherd,   The,  393f. 
Gospel,  in  life,   284. 
Gospel  ranger,  95. 
Goettman,   Rev.,   249. 
Grace     English     Lutheran     Church, 
249. 


Greenville  Hall,  505. 
Greenwald,    Dr.,    526. 
Greensburg   Academy,    197, 
Gunn,  Rev.,  62,  71,  130. 
Gustavua  Adolphus  College,  379. 


H 


Habit,   of   Deaconesses,    192,   596. 

Halburton  's  History,  143. 

Halifax,    142. 

Harless,    Prof.    165. 

Harms,   Pastor,   298,   326. 

Hartmau,  Rev.,  421. 

Hartwick   Seminary,    56. 

Hasselquist,  Rev.,   218,  369,  533. 

Hatlestadt,   Rev.   O.   J.,   358,   39'3. 

Hav,  Rev.   Chas.  A.,  52,  106. 

Helena,   534,   535. 

Helpers,    416. 

Henilaudct,    373. 

Heukels,   31,  543,  568. 

"Herald     of    the    Prairies,     The," 

207. 
Herron,  Dr.,  116.  132,  188. 
Heyer,   Father,   113,   198,   367. 

In   St.   Paul,   367. 
Higher  Education,   519. 
Hillsboro     College     and     Seminary, 

197. 
Hindrances   to   church   work,   274. 
Historical  Society,   87. 
Hodge,  Dr.,  326. 
Holls,   G.   C,   237,  320,   592.   . 
Holy    Trinity    Church,    425. 
Home  affections,   87. 
Home    Missions,    63,    106,    196,    206. 
Home   Mission  Board,   135. 
Home  Mission  Society,  207,  433. 
Home   Mission   Superintendent,   590. 
Home,  Orphan,    (See  Orphanage.) 
Housekeeping,    132. 
Hospital ; 

Army,    319. 

Chicago, 

Helpers,    416. 
Jacksonville,   250. 

Pittsburg,  259. 
Hospital,    Deaconess,    183. 

Admittance    to,    189. 

Beginnings  of,   185,   187. 

Establishment    of,    184f. 

Christmas  in,  252. 

Consecration  of,  189. 

Contagious   diseases  in,   190. 

First   donation,   186. 

First    patients,    184. 

General    principles   of,    171. 

Location   of,    187. 

Religious   services   in,    191. 

Removal   of,    186. 

Pecuniary  difficulties  of,   186. 

Pittsburg,   183f. 

Work   of,   259. 


INDEX. 


611 


Hospital    Kaiserswerth,    178. 
Hospital,   Protestant,    185,   250. 
Hospitality,    252. 
Huth,   Wm.,  Sr.,  397. 
Hiith,   Eev.   Wm.,   397. 
House    rent,    132. 
House  servants,  132. 
Human    nature,    222. 
Hymn  Books,   70,  108. 


Kirkpatiick,   Geo.   A.,    120. 
Kohler,   Eev.   F.   W.,   594. 
Krause,   L.   F.   E.,   204. 
Krauth,   C.   P.,   Sr.,   52,    131. 
Krauth,  Chas.  P.,  52,  106,  110,  166, 

252,    330,    332,    335,    524f. 
Kribbs,   Rev.   J.   A.,   27,   591. 
Kurtz,  Dr.,  60,  70,  82,  86,  107,  115, 

166,  194,  326,  328. 


Icelanders,  386. 
Illinois    College,    483. 
India,   19,   197. 
Indian   Massacre,   375. 
Immanuel   Lutheran    Church,   356. 
Incorrigble,  The,  417. 
Indigent   church   members,    133f. 
Infant   schools,   179. 
Infirmary,   221,   222,   251,   256,   284, 
516. 

Chaplain   of,   249. 

Cholera  in,  264. 

Collections    for,    287. 

Donations   to,   254. 

Fine  nurse,  250. 

Matron,  270f. 

Out   of  debt,   268. 

Eeport  concerning,  267. 

Support   of,   265f. 

Trials    of,    253,    254. 
Inner  Missions,   195. 
Institutional  life,  416. 
Insurance,  429. 


Jacksonville  Hospital,  250,  601. 

Beginnings,    484f. 

"Work  of,  490. 
Jacobs,   Dr.  H.  E.,  48,  49,  50,   175, 

201,   501,   503f. 
Jails,   work   in,    118. 
Jefferson  College,   28ff,  48,   166. 
Jewish    Orphan    Asylum,    27,    173f, 

222. 
Johnstown   flood,   554. 
Journal,   Seminary,    25. 
Justification  by  faith,  68. 


Kaag,     Sister     Barbara,     315,     318, 

395,  396,  424. 
Kaehler,  Eev.,  189. 
Kaiserswerth ; 

Fliedner  in,   145. 

Hospitals  in,   177. 

Jubilee,   181. 

Orphans'  Home,  179. 

Passavant  in,  145,  154,  174. 
Keller,   Dr.,   171,    200. 
King,  Dr.,  488. 
' '  Kirchenzeitung, ' '  36. 


La   Crosse,    362. 

La  Cote  Passavant,   1. 

Lane,   Thos.   H.,   113,    285. 

Last  letter  of  Passavant,  577. 

Last  week  of  Passavant 's  life,  575. 

Layton,  F.,   595. 

Leechburg  Academy,  197. 

Lecturing,   96. 

Legacy,  288. 

Legalistic   spirit,   92. 

Lehman,   Dr.,   326. 

Lemonowsky,   106. 

Letter  of  introduction,  141. 

Libby  prison,  322. 

Licensed,    82,    552. 

Lind,    Miss    Jenny,    215. 

Lincoln,  301,  324. 

Liturgy,    347. 

Liturgies,  565. 

Loehe,    Rev.,    326. 

Loudon,   144,    159,    173f. 

Louisa,   Sister  488,  490,  577. 

Louisville,  96. 

Lunenburg,   143. 

Luther,   18,   58. 

Luther  Chapel,   81-,   82,  89,   99,   110. 

Luther  College,  523. 

Luther  League,  525. 

Lutheran,  The,  342,  343. 

Lutheran      Association,      Periodical, 

341. 
Lutheran  Diaspora,  122,  202,  206. 
Lutherans    and    Episcopalians,    460. 
Lutheran  Literature,   59. 
Lutheran  Manual,  50. 
Lutheran  and  Missionary,   319,  326, 
342,    344,    349,    359,    389,    420, 
428,  448,  454,   463,   497. 
Lutheran  Observer,  36,  40,  169,  194. 

Definite    platform    and,    328. 

Hostility   of,    332. 

* '  New    measures ' '   and,    186. 

Eadicals    and,    327. 
Lutheran  Eevivals,  53. 
Lutheran  Standard,  103,  201. 
Lutheran  Union,  49,   543. 


M 


Manchester,    249. 
Mann,  Dr.,  539. 

Marthens,    Sister    Louisa,    224,    239, 
250. 


612 


INDEX. 


Marshall   Academy,   361. 
Marriage,   The,   131. 

Of  Deaconesses,  258. 
Mechanical  legalism,   545. 
Medals,   19. 

Melhorn,  Rev.  J.  K.,  28,  45,  133. 
Memorial    Lutheran    Church,    250. 
Methodist   Seminary,   559. 
Methodistic  Theology,  339. 
]\Iexican  war,  184. 
Ministry,   351. 

Milwaukee   Hospital,   370,   389,   418, 
515,   549. 
Burned,    403, 
Donations   for,   389. 
First   patients,   393. 
Opposition  to,  402. 
Ministerium  of  Penn.,  49,  449. 
Minnesota  Lutherans,  361,  364,  368. 
Missionary,  The,  130, '133,  22L 
Beginnings    of,    195f. 
Character  of,  "195,  198. 
Early  Volumes,  197. 
Expenses   of,   331. 
Jacobs    and,   201. 
Krauth  and,  199f. 
New  management,   331. 
Eeception  of,   198f,   208,  215. 
Weekly  edition  of,  331,  332. 
Mirror  of  true  repentance.  The,  18. 
Missions,    291f. 

Among  Indians,  197. 
Foreign,   196. 
Home,   196. 
Inner,   195. 
Mission    Committee,    436. 
Missionary  boxes,  221. 
Missionary    chaplain,    214. 
Missionary  Sunday-schools,   29,   249. 
Missionary  societies,   52. 
Missionary       superintendent,       221, 

288. 
Missionary  tours,  135,  138,  261,  290. 
Missouri   compromise,   301. 
Mite  societies,    114. 
Mixed   communion,    141. 
Mock   communion,   453. 
Moravians,  272. 
Motherhouse,   154,   188,  489. 
Mountain   home,    522. 
Morris,  Dr.,  60,  78,  81,  82,  90,  107, 
131,    167,    194,    254,    326,    537, 
538,   539,   571. 
Mt.    Zion    Lutheran    Church,    249. 
Muelhaeuser,  Rev.,  389,  398,  401. 
Mueller,   Geo.,  254. 
Muhlenberg,   52,   101,   104. 
Muhlenberg,    Prof.    F.   A.,    29,    257. 
Muhlenberg   College,   197,   511,   513. 
Muhlenberg  Sunday-school,   95,   112. 
McAfee,  59. 

McCagg,  E.  B.,  427,  431. 
McChesney,   Eev.   M.   R.,    78. 


McCormick  Sem.,  559. 
McCron,   Dr.  John,   113,  277. 
McCoUough,  A.  W.,  119. 
McKee,  D.,  507. 
McMiUan,   28. 

N 

Napoleonic  wars,  20. 

Nelson,  Dr.   J.,   265. 

Negro,    313. 

New  Measures,   53,   83,   85,  97,   106. 

Baker,   Dr.   and,   104f. 

General  Synod  and,  85  . 

Indiana  Synod  and, 

Ministerium   of   Penn.   and,   85. 

Pittsburg  Synod  and,   123. 

Passavant  and,  99,  101,  111,  137. 
Nevin,  Dr.  85,   115,  326. 
New  York,   262,  469f. 
Nightingale,  Florence,  272,  307. 
Norelius,    Dr.    206,    363,    373,    375, 

379. 
Northwest,   Synod  of,   380. 
Norwegians,    204f. 

In   Chicago,   211,   358. 
Norwegian    Augustana    Synod,    358, 

360. 
Norwegian  Church,  211. 
Norwegian  Church  paper,  217. 
Nova  Scotia,   143. 
Nursing  Sisters,   154. 

O 

Oakland,   Isabella,  423. 

Oberlin,    153,    298. 

Ochse,    Sister    Caroline,    601. 

Ogden,   Mr.,   438. 

"Old  Adam,"  124. 

Old  Lutherans,   172,   208,  338. 

Ohl,  Dr.  J.  F.,  595. 

Ordained. 

Our  church  paper,  569. 

Orphans,    134,    263,   417. 

Orphan  boys,  245f. 

Orphanage,   222,   224ff. 

Age  limit  in,   232,   234. 

All  received,   230. 

Beginnings,  223,  224f. 

Catechism  taught  in,   223. 

Children   indentured   to,    231. 

Collections   for,    283,    287. 

Constitution   and   rules   of,   229. 

Deaconesses  in,  236. 

Director   of,   225,   241. 

Entire  orphans  only  received,  230. 

First   inmates,   224,   241. 

Friends   of,   256. 

Matron   of,   250. 

Need  of,   223. 

Religious  instruction  in,   234. 

Soliciting  for,  283. 

Vicious  not   received  into,   235. 
Orphanage,    Girls ',    240. 


INDEX. 


613 


Orphan  Asylum,  colored,  197. 
Orphan    Asylum,    Jewish,    173. 
Orphans,    War,    320. 
Orphan   work,   221ff,   228,   240. 
Orthodoxy,    172. 
Quid,    Gen.,    322,   517. 


Passavants,    The ; 

C.  S.,    22,    97. 
Detmar,    39,    42,    43. 
Emma,    38. 
Fanny,    19. 

D.  L.,  46. 
Henrietta,   156. 
Jacob,  19. 
Jacopo,   18. 
Jean  de,   18. 
Johannes,   19. 
Johann  David,  1. 
Johann   Ludwig,   19,   21. 
Johann   Ulrich,    19. 

Johann  Ludwig,  Mrs.,  21,  22. 

Louis   de,   18. 

Nicholas,   18. 

Peter   Frederick,    19. 

Philip  Theodore,  19. 

Philip,    221,    255. 

Rudolph   Emmanuel,    19. 

Sidney,  44,   61,   258. 

Virginia,  39,  59,  60,  97,  109,  120. 
Passavant,     William     Alfred.      See 

table    of   contents. 
Passavant  Memorial  Home,  494. 
Passport,  141. 
Pastoral   experience,    91. 
Pastoral   visits,    79f,    88,    90f,    277, 

280,    294,    295,    314. 
Pastoral  work,   117. 
Patriot,    302. 

Patterson,    Prof.    Robt.,    28. 
Parent    Deaconess    Institute,    420. 
Parent  Education  Society,  41,  56. 
Parent  House,  192. 
Parke,   Dr.   N.   G.,  46. 
Payne,  Eev.  D.  A.,  529. 
Philadelphia     Seminary,     538,     551, 

562. 
Paris,    148f. 
Pedigree,   571. 
Penitentiary,   260,  449. 
Pennsylvania   Bible    Society,    56. 
Pennsylvania    College,    35,    56,    289, 

541. 
Pennsylvania  Synod,  311,  327. 
Personal  salvation,  93. 
Pest  house,  250. 
Pestalozzi,    147,    156. 
Peters,  Eev.  H.,  294f,  562, 
Petersen,    204,    421. 
Pets,  fondness  for,  26. 
Phoebe,    260. 
Phrenologist,   42. 


Physical  suffering,  284. 
Pittsburg,   Pa.; 

Father    Heyer,    113. 

Fire   in,    130. 

First    English    Lutheran    Church 
in,   113,   114,   130,   250,   273f. 

Passavant    in,    108,    llOf,    116. 

Passavant  leaving,   141. 

Writes   to   church,    147f. 

War   times,    303,    310. 

Pittsburg   Chronicle,    310. 
Pittsburg  Synod; 

Academy   of,   126. 

Bishops  of,  127. 

Conference  relative  to,   122. 

Constitution    of,    127. 

Definite   platform   and,   335f, 

First   president   of,    122. 

General  Synod  and,  327. 

Organization    of,    124f,    250. 

Purpose   of,   126. 

Passavant,  President  of,  311. 

Kesolutions    of,    125. 
Pigeon    Creek,    S.    S.,   44. 
Plitt,  Rev.  J.  K.,  249,  253. 
Poem,   18,    163. 
Popular  Theology,   50. 
Pounding  party,   299f. 
Praxton,   111.,   377. 
Prayer  meeting,  41,  45,   134. 
Praying,    94,    302f. 
Prince,    Dr.,    488. 
Probationer,    416. 
Prison   Association,    175. 
Private  Journal,   63ff,  88,  90f. 
Protracted   meetings,   99. 
Prussian   Union,  48. 
Public  reception,   162. 


E 


Rationalism,   334,   519. 

Rauhe  Haus,  235,  492. 

Reading,  Pa.,  447. 

Eeal   presence,   327. 

Rebukes,    545f. 

Reck,   Rev.   A.,   54,   71,   73,   83,  465, 
486. 

Reck,   Rev.   H.,   237,    241,   249,   251, 
299,331. 

Red  Wing,  363. 

Refugees,  18. 

-Regulations    of    Deaconess    Associa- 
tion,  192. 

Religious  experiences,  33,   64ff. 

Removal    of    Orphans '    Home,    463. 

Resignation   of  Passavant,   280f. 

Retrogressionists,   327. 

Revivals,  83f,  87,  338f. 

Review,   The,   194,   552. 

Reynolds,  Dr.  W.  M.,  166,  167,  194, 
200. 

Rhine,    The,    150. 

Rhine   wine,    150. 


614 


INDEX. 


Richards,    Eev.    Frank,     425,     436, 

483. 
Eeminiscences   of  Passavant; 

By  Author,   25. 

By  Beyer,   Anthony,   25. 

By  Bishop   Whitehead,   120. 

By  Eyster,  Dr.,   57f,  61. 

By  Erhardt,  David,   124. 

By  McCoIlough,   A.   W.,   119. 

By  Lane,  Thos.  H.,  113,  119. 

By   Waters,   A.   H.,   115. 

By  Wenzel,  G.  A.,  25. 

By   Ziegler,   Dr.   H.,   62. 
Renegade  preachers,   218,  573. 
Reports  to  parents,   30. 
Resolutions,    30,    64,    77. 
Resignation,    280,    281,    285. 
Rockford,    111.,   379. 
Rochester,   Pa.,   290,   292f,   331. 

Epileptic   Home   at,   494f. 

Orphan   Home   at,   463. 
Rochester  Orphans'  Home,  463f. 
Romish  confessions,  327. 
Romish   wars,   327,   332,   337. 
Roseland,   Rev.   J.   C,   359. 
Roth,    Rev.    H.    W.,    143,    425,    507, 

560,    599. 
Euthrauff,  446. 


S 


Sabbath,  327,  332. 
Salary,    81,    108. 
Salzburgers,  92. 
Sartorius,    169. 
Scandinavians ; 

American  Church  and,  214. 

Colonization    of,    378. 

Emigration   of,   204. 

Episcopalians  and,   203,   217. 

In   Minnesota,   376. 

In  New  York,  234.  •    . 

In    Wisconsin,    207. 

In  the  West,   204,   206f,  362. 

On   the   Delaware,   203. 

Passavant  interested  in,  202,  205, 
209. 
Scandinavian   Synod,   208,   215. 
Scarlet   fever,  ^89. 
Scientific   congress,   436. 
Scott,   Gen.,   309. 
Schack,  532,  536. 
Sc'haffer,    Sarah,    600. 
Schismatics,  544. 
Schladermundt,   Rev.,   390,   418. 
Schmidt,   Dr.   H.   J.,   50. 
Schmidt,    Dogmatics,    169,   326. 
Schmucker    B.    M.    167. 
Schmucker  Dr.  S.  S.,  50,  56,  328. 
Schoenberg — Cotta    family,    38. 
Schwartz,   272. 
Sehweigert,  Rev.,  37,  545. 
Schweitzerbarth,  Rev.,  23,  32,  61. 
111. 


"Seelsorge,"  285. 
Seiss,   Dr.   Joseph,   167,   375. 
Secession,    305. 
Semi-centennial,   181. 
Seminary ; 

At  Gettysburg,  48ff. 

At  Columbus,  197. 

Presbyterian,   133,   280. 

Princeton,    50. 
Shaflf,    Dr.,    326,    332. 
Shouting,   95,    120. 
Sieveking,  Amelia,  175. 
Silent   Christianity,    152. 
Silent   prayer,   148. 
Slavery,  42,  304. 
Smith,   Rev.   E.,   576. 
Smith,    Rev.    W.    H.,    113. 
Smith,  Rev.  C.  A.,  54. 
Socialism,   334. 
Society,  55. 
Spielman,   Dr.,   167. 
Sprecher,    Dr.,    172,    443,   446. 
Special    Providences,   546f. 
Squatter   Sovereignty,   301. 
Statistics,  41. 

St.    Ansgar    Movement,    359. 
St.   Ansgar  Academy,   361. 
St.    Ansgarius    church,    213,    216. 
Steck,   Rev.   M.   J.,   127. 
Stephen,    Rev.    Dr.,    122,    124,    127, 

528. 
Stevenson,  John  M.,   23. 
St.   John's  Minneapolis,   381. 
St.    Paul,   Minn.,    364,   366,   367. 
Street    preaching,    87. 
Stone   church,   22. 
Student  work,   63. 
Sunday-school    Herald,    341. 
Sunday-school,   Hymn   Book,    103. 
Sunday-school      teachers'      meeting, 

341. 
Sunday-school  work,  "2i9,  41,  44,  95, 

100,   118,   250. 
Super,   Caroline,  424,   425,  426. 
Supply   preachers,    139. 
Synod   of   the   West,   54,    106. 
Swedes ; 

Congregationalists    and,    207. 

Evangelization    of,    209. 

In  Chicago,  207,  429. 
Swedish    Lutheran    Church    in    Chi- 
cago, 305. 
Swedish   Missionary   Society,   215. 
Swedish    Publishing   Society,   372. 
Swift,   Rev.,   155. 


Tenn.  Synod,  85. 
Texas  Synod,  250. 
Theological  Seminary; 

Columbus,  85. 

Concordia,   353. 

Gettysburg,    49. 


INDEX. 


615 


Philadelphia,  349,  459. 

Swedish,    376. 
Thaw,    Mrs.    Wm.,    593. 
Thiel   Hall,   448. 
Tholuck,   Dr.,    141. 
Time,   use   of,    251,    266. 
Tract,   209,   214.   312. 
Tract  Distribution,  88. 
Transubstantiation,   337, 
Trinity    English    Church,    249. 

U 

Ulery,  W.   F.,   507. 
Underground   railway,   301. 
Unity,    333f. 

Under  two   captains,    107. 
Union,   loyalty   to,   551. 
Unonius,  Kev.,  205,  212,  215. 


Vacation,    113,   419. 

Vacation   to   Europe,   139,   141,   142, 

145,    162,   163. 
Vigilance    committee,    303. 
Visiting  the  sick.   269f. 
Voyage    to    Europe,    144. 


W 


Waldenstrom,   Eev.,   381. 

Wallace,    Eliza,   21,   22. 

Walter,   Miss,    109f. 

Walther,    Dr.    C.    F.    W..    326,    499, 

50P. 
Waters,    Rev.    A.    H.,    15,    115,    184, 

226,   256,   320. 
Waters,    Dr.    O.   J.,    601. 
Waters,    Mrs.    O.   J.,   601. 
Wartburg,   496. 
War,   The; 


Church  in  time   of,   307. 

Demoralization   of,    304,   306. 

For    conquest,    306. 

Penn.  Synocl  and,  311. 
War   Spirit,   302. 
Weddell,  Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  98,  198. 
Week   of   prayer,   160. 
Weidner,   Dr.   R.   F.,   540,   560,   563. 
Weiser,   Rev.   R.,   170,   171. 
Wenzel,   Rev.,   28,   36,  425. 
Western   Missions,   89. 
Wheefing,   78. 
Wichern,   Dr.,   272, 
Widows'    Home,    287. 
Wilberforce   University,   530. 
Wittenberg   College,   197,   210.    . 
Wirz,  A.   H.,  489. 
Woman 's   Relief   Association,   175. 
Work  of  Deaconesses,  259f. 
Workman,    The,    27,    121,    122,    353, 

432,  497,   589,  590, 
Wylie,    Dr.   A.,    28. 
Wyneken,   Rev.   F,   C.   D.,   165,   326, 
371. 


Yellow  Journalism,   301. 
York,    Pa.,    443. 


Z 


Zelienople ; 

Academy  at,  147. 

Church  at,  121. 

First    Church    in,    22. 

Name,    20. 

Orphans'   Home   at,   467f,   516. 

Philip   Louis   Passavant   at,   22. 
Ziegenfuss,   Rev.,   459. 
Ziegler,  Margaret,   19,  62,  172. 


,.A