The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29
SECOND HEAD OF ASBURY.
An Early Indiana Educator Of Whom
Little Seems to be Known.
The Life, Services and characteristics of Rev.
Lucien W. Berry, D. D., Bishop Simp-
sons Successor at GreencaStle.
Written for the indianapolis Journal.

eloquence almost supernatural He was but
/ twenty-three years of age when he came to
Indiana, but his fame as an orator had preceded
him. He came as minister of the gospel of
Christ, and his name and memory still linger
among the people to whom he ministered, though
he has been dead for many years. In this State
| he is best known as the second president of
Asbury University following in that position
the great Matthew Simpson A brief sketch of
| the life and character of this great and good
man will be found interesting to the mem
bers of the church he served, to the
institution of learning over which he presided
and to the lovers of a pure Christian character,
of all denominations To my knowledge, no such
sketch has ever been given to the general public.
In a little volume published some years ago, by
Professor j. H. Smart, now president of Purdue
University, find that in speaking Of the distin-
guished educators of the State, the following is
all the mention made Of the subject of this
sketch
| I'll. W. Berry, D. D., of whom the writer can
learn little. was elected the second president Of
Asbury University in 1849 In 1855 he was
| elected president of the Iowa Wesleyan Univer-
| sity. He died in July, 1853"
| What short and unsatisfactory sketch that
|
greatest pulpit orators of the stime; who as pas
tor Of one OF the leading churches in Indanapo-
lis, divided tho attentions of the people with
Henry Ward Beecher.
| Lucien William Berry was born in Alburg,
Vermont in 1916. His father was a physician
and early gave to his son bent toward the
| acquisition of knowledge, and during the first
few years of his life superintendent his studies
While still a lad his parents moved to Ohio
where Lucien pursued his studies with the ardor
of youth and the judgment of manhood, develop
| ing wonderful talent. When but fifteen years
of age he was converted and joined the Meth
| odist Church. At the early age of seventeen he
was licensed to preach, and entered upon a
course of theological study. He was hard
| student and it is said of him that he learned
! ''Watson's Institutes so well that he could re-
| peat nearly the whole of the two volumes. While
| pursuing his studies he began the life
of an itinerant, as the junior preacher Oh large
circuit Boy though he was in years., his elo-
quence drew large crowds to hear him whenever
| it was announced that he was to preach. After
preaching year or two he enrolled himself as a
student at Miami University. In that famous
school he laid the foundation of an education
that afterwards made him take rank among the
| learned men of the country. As student he
| was always grave, but never melancholy. His
days and nights were given up to study. He
never joined in any of the 6oics of the boys,
| but devoted all his time and powers to fitting
| himself for the profession he had chosen. He
had consecrated himself, with all his talents. to
the service of the Master, and felt that he had
| no right to take any of the time for idleness or
sport. In the college he ranked high in his class
es and as speaker. and was popular with teach
ers and fellow-students.
Upon leaving college he came to Indiana and
was sent to Noblesvlle as the preacher in charge
of that circuit In those days debates between
the advocates of the various creeds were of COM
mon occurrence. In fact good deal more time
was spent in trying to tear down the peculiar
doctrines of opposing denominations than in
winning souls to Christ. The followers of Alex
ander Campbell and the believers in universal
salvation were peculiarly given to this theolog-
ical gadiatorial work. Whenever they caught
new preacher OF any other denomination, they
were almost certain to hurl a challenge for de-
bate at him. Fortunately for the cause of
Christianity, all this has changed, and all
churches now join heartily in singing:
'Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love-"
Before Mr. Berry had been three years in his
pastoral duties in Indiana he received two such
challenges, and, being possessed of combative
spirit and thoroughly in love with the doctrines
Of his own denomination, he promptly accepted
One was with a disciple Of Alexander Campbell,
and the other with Universalist. Those discus
sions are we'll remembered yet by those who
heard them. In them Mr. Berry developed sur
prisng power controversialist, and made
himself known throughout the State and estab-
lshed his reputation. Many people are now liv
| ing in Henry county who listened to the debate
on universal salvation, and who delight to recall
| the incidents connected with it.
| In 1912, when but twenty seven years old, he
was sent to Wesley Chapel, Indianapolis, then
At that time Henry Ward Beecher was pastor
| of the Second Presbyterian Church, and was
| just rising into fame The two churches were
but stones throw apart, and it is just praise to
pulpit orator. During his two years as pastor
of Wesley Chapel his fame widened and ex-
tended, and his mental powers matured. His
denomination at that time numbered among its
| clergy in Indiana many great men. Among
them were Mathew Simpson, Allen Wiley
James Ravens, Isaac Owens, E. r. Ames and
| Calvin Ruter. Mr.. Berry was the youngest of
them, but was the peer Of any His ministra-
GlOnS IN Indianapolis met WIN great success, ana
his congregation was the largest in the city In
those years the pulpits of indianapolis were
strongly served DR.. Gurley, Henry Ward
Beecher, George c. Chandler John S.
Bayless and L. w. Berry filled those
Of the leading churches When among
them, although but little more than
boy, Mr. Berry could hold his large con-
| gregation and increase it, it shows that he must
| have possessed more than ordinary power. But
few Of those who were. members of his church
still live bat they speak of him with love and
reverence.
In ls49, by the unanimous vote of the trustees,
he was elected president of Ashury University,
! to take the place of DR.. Simpson, who had just
been elected to General Conference Office. For
five years he presided over that institution with
| singular ability. He had frmness, combined with
nildness and while he ruled strictly he drew the
| students to him by the strongest cords of af-
/ him for ], and