I'L .10 .06 1^^ PRINCETON, N. J. ^ // BX 8080 .P37 G47 1906 Gerberding, G. H. 1847-1927 Life and letters of W. A. Passavant, D. D. U REV. W. A. PASSAVANT. 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. THIRD EDITION. ^"^M^" THE YOUNG LUTHERAN CO., GREENVILLE, PA. 1906. Copyright, igod. By G. H. Gerberding. 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 The Author. "Co JLitie, to Hotie, to Hatior/' 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 mass 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. THE PASSAVANT FAMILY:— The Burgundians.— "Burg Passa- vant. " — Anselm 's History. — Eminent Names and Achievements. — Protestant Refugees from Burgundy. — Passavants at Basel. — In Distant Regions. — 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 CHAPTER 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 CHAPTER III. AT COLLEGE:— Jefferson College.— Its Standing.— Its Religious 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 Abrah'am 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. — tassavant 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 Experiences. — 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 CaU 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.— Passavant Missionat- ing. — Preaches in the Jail.— Congregational Missions.— His Preaching. — MeCollough '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:— Preparations.— 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. — Fliedner. — Duesseldorf. — Elberfeld. — 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. — Difiiculties.— Loose Lutheranism.— Wyneken. — TABLE OF CONTENTS. 11 Eeynokls.— Dr. Lane.— Krauth.— B, M. Schmucker.—Seiss.— Spiel- man. — Lehman. — Morris. — The General Synod. — Eeynold's Ad- vice.—Morris. — Eeuben 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 Ofiice. — 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 Evangeli- cal Review.— Opposed by theObserver.—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. — 'EiAiioriaX 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 Esbjorn. — 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 Episcopalians. — Their Schemes Thwarted by Passavant. — Esbjorn and Norwegians Aided. — Welcomes and Assists Hasselquist.— Ole Bull, — Renegades and Defamers 194 CHAPTER X. ORPHAN WORK:— Multiplied Labors.— Counsels.— Material Aid.— Selects Right Helpers.- Beginnings of Orphan Work. — Incidents. — Removal to Zelienople.— 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 Nor6lius.— 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 XI. LIFE AND WORK IN PITTSBURG:— The First Church a Fruitful Mother. — The Birmingham 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 Miss 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. — The Weelly Missionary. — 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 Mother. — 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 CHAPTER XV. WOKK AND INFLUENCE AMONG THE SCANDINAVIANS: — Church Must Occupy Cities. — Rev. Erland Carlsen. — His Labors in Chicago. — The First Norwegian Church.— The Rev O. 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 CEAPTEB XFI. 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 'a 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 Both Sides.— Pas- savant's Faults.— Still Great.— Influence in Reading 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 CHAPTEB 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 CHAPTEE 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 CHAPTEB 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.-JOURNEYTNGS.-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.— Eeflections on Many Subjects. — Tribute to Schweigert. —Wonderful Deliverances 524 CHAPTEB XXIII. THE EDITOR.-CHICAGO SEMINARY.-THE MINISTRY: — Need of New Church Paper. — Starting of the Workman.— its 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 CHAPTEB XXr. 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 Friek.— 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 Shaflfer.— 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 Clje ILitt of aza. 2i. i^assatjant. 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 Roman 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 Passavmit, 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. PAS8AVANT. 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, we read: "Among these refugees from Eastern France, the Passavant family .vas 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 shown 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 PASSAVANT 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 lest 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 and 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 1759. 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 Margaret, 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 Br^utigams. " ^ 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. PA88AVANT. cessfiil merchant. He was attracted by the beautiful, accom- plished and amiable Zelia Basse, born Nov. 20, 1786. * Her father, Detmar Basse, an only son, was a man of wealth and good 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 year" and where his Avifc died in 1800. In the year 1802, possibly drawu 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 Bassenkeim. 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 this they consented and in 1807 they accompanied the father to their nev/ 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 Frederice 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, she 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. PA88AVANT. of the lack of the kind of society in which she had always moved. Her 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 her 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 speaks 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 the 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 TEE LIFE OF W, A. PASSAVANT, CHAPTER 11. THE CHILDHOOD OF WILLIAM A. PASSAYANT.— 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 w^hen 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 PHILLIPPE LOUIS PASSAVANT CHILDHOOD OF W. A. PA88AVANT. 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 w6 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, William 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 inspiration 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 TEE 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 early, 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. PASSAVANT. 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 THE LIFE OF W. A. P ASSAY ANT, 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 THE PASSAVANT HOMESTEAD, Z2LIEN0PL2, 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 THE LIFE OF W. A. PA8SAVANT. the parents as well as the children." In this letter he speaks of. exploring the woods and finding some petrified stnmps 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 hpme 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 wickedness 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 fifty 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 God 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 hc'as wounded by the 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 believeth. ' 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 tJiey 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. PA88AVANT. * 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 you 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 THE LIFE OF W.A. PAS SAVANT. '^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 j^ou 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 eveiy 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 TEE LIFE OF W .A. PA8SAVANT. visited some six of the Missions of Synod, as Mission 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. Farewell. 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 nust go on. ^he 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. P ASSAY 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 management 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. He 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., t)egun 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 insufficient 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. PAS SAVANT. 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, twelve 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 known 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 shows 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, th*e 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 own 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. Passayant. 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 ofi^er 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 fashiou. 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 fof 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 languidly 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 Avas 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 Avas 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 THE LIFE OF W. A. PASSAVANT, 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 in 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 eft'ect 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- where, 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 machcn 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 Him, 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. PASSAYANT. After three o'clock in the afternoon, the people began 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 w^as 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 ]\Ir. Joshua Ilanna 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 enteri)rise 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 XIII. WAR.— VIEWS AND WORK. The later fifties were a period of storm and stress in the State. The nation was ag'itated 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 oiir country, that it may be preserved from the demoralization of the war, and the break- ing down 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 lis, 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 M'ill suffer in Ilis 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 Lo 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 THE LIFE OF W. A. PASSAVANT, "No tongue of man can describe the dreadful demoraliza- tion consequent upon war. Let the Church" put forth her whole influence 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 f 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, whether 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 their 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 silence 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. lier 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 sweep 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 wo might be going before we were called, when an earnest plea 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 oC 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 hou/?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 th^se 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 W. A. F ASSAY ANT. 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 siek in 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 army. 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 cf 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- Jiients had accidentally shot himself that morning and lif(> 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 iriajesty 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 heavy 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 clock struck the hour of midnight before ten thousand troops WAE.-VIEWS AND WORE. 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 w^hich followed was indescribable. Strong men v/ept 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. Who 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 THE LIFE OF W, A. PA8SAVANT. 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 Monroe with Miss 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 Hev. W. A. Passavant. "Your committee also begs leave to add the following lidditional 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 Conunittee of this Synod being authorized immediately to advance 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 TEE LIFE OF W. A. PA88AVANT. 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 ma^^^ n ^ ?P^ ^ DEMCO 38-297