Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-06-04
REV. DIR. THEO. APPEL'S BOOK.

RecolIcctions of College Life, at Marshall College,
Mcrcersburg. Pa, from lS59 to lsib; "a narrative
with reflections. By Rev. 1hco. Appel, u ID.
a1 West James street Lancaster. IL mo. PIP.
SiS. For sale 10y the author. sl2.
The friends of Franklin and Marshall
college, and the constituency of the mother
institution at Mercersburg, are indulging in
many suticipations and making elaborate
preparations for the centennial CelebTs'
ton of lNS1. Next year with due
circumstance it is proposed 10 make the
prolonged aud varied exercises Of cont
mencement week an orcasion to commemor-
ate the hundredth year OF Franklin colleges
history and the semi centennial of Marshall
1t will also have been about a third OF cen
tury, aud the lapse of one generation OF men
since the union of the two institutions IN tue
establishment here of Franklin and Mar
shall orators, poets and historians nave
been appointed To memurialize the occasion
and one notable phase of the celebration Is 10
be the preparation and publication OF a COM
plete history of the institution. This work
is already fairly under way, aud "a valuable
and interesting forerunner Ot ii Is furnished
in the little volume which Rev. pr Then.
Appel publishes, his own personal recollec-
tions of college life, OF his experience at old
Marshall ana OF the men who made IT famous
in the world of letters and of theology AT It's
mountain home.
This volume is purely an Individual enter
prise and is intended only 10 present one
section of the history of the college and sem-
mary, seen from a personal stand
point, aud accompanied with the reilec-
tons of maturer wears aud later deNel-
opments. A native of ElstOu, but born
In the Reformed church, tho author eN-
plains the choice made tor him OF
distant institution of learning. Ihe
| early Journey is invested with special inter
| est by some "reminiscences of Revs. nrs. Al
| bert Barnes and Joseph +. Berg, foremost
| preachers and disputants of that day. Chaul-
| bersburg was then an ecclesiastical centre
| and the church paper WAS published thobe.
| The authors reculleCtluns Ot the good ola
Father Helfensteiu and ut Dr. Schneck 5
| administration OF his editorial functions
| are full of interest, are also his pictures
of the elders, the general organization ana
| the personnel of the Reformed church AT
that time in Cumberland Valley, and III
| Maryland and Virginia where Its services
| were mostly conducted i'll English. Tue
| Scotch-Ir irish a" were the ruling type 10 that
| section and became object OF study to a
stranger from the German counties OF Eastern
| Pennsylvania
| The descriptions of Mercersburg, its sur
roundngs and associations, OF college lite
| and boarding houses, of Buchanans hlrth
| place at /" Stony Batter" of old Parnell and
! | other mountain peaks aud Of the various
: | types of people who dweit III their shadow
| comprises very readable chapter Ihe rare
| negroes whose individuality WAS known u
| all the neighborhood, the slave caIchers anu
3 | kidnappers of that border country are
| sketched in graphic style
, | The history of the establishment of the the
| illogical seminary presents many facts OF in-
| terests particularly the visit OF Rev. James X.
| Rely to Europe TO solicit gifts and money for
the projected institution and his return with
| net collections of 50, 42S and about 1000 vol
umes-a considerable part OF the contributions
| was in lewelry, the gifts OF Christian women,
| eaaily reduced to currency. The transfer
from York 10 Carlisle progress at lork, the
inauguration of Dr. Rauch and the removal
to Mercersburg are all set forth.
Then follows the chapter on MerCersburg's
| high school. removed from York, out %
which grew Marshall college and the literary
, | societies identified so cOnspicuOusly with al
| the subsequent history OF the institutions
| Frays between tOwn-men and gOwn-men
| abolition riots and contemporary incidents o
| the community life OF half a century ago arr
? | noted. The whole routine OF college life
= | hours of study and rules OF conduct, prank'
, | of students, temperance society agitations
, | college papers, duels and reviyals, praye
| meetings and Sunday schools, anniversary
. | celebrations and cOmmeucemeuts, are re
called with many piquant personal reminis
| cences.
: Brief biographical sketches ct the facult,
a | and tutors comprise "A considerable portion u
: | the work aud, i'll the more philosophical
n | vein, the AUTHORS accounts of Rauch's Is
l thetics, Christian Ethics and Moral Philoso
: | phy-all OF which systems have been NOR
. | fully brought out in the later teachings q
: | the institutiOn-are very valuable for theI
| full and appreciative statement Many o
the best thoughts OF these unpublished lee
lures are reproduced with fidelity and ability
, An entire chapter is given TO Rev. DR.
a Nevin-yet happily spared TO us-his con
: nection with the institution his theological
| conflicts, his philosophy and writings and
| his retirement concluding with graceful
| reference To Mrs. Neyiu, faithful hel elp-mee
TO her distinguished husband. The AnN
ious Bench" " controversy and Dr. Schah
form the subjects OF the concluding chap
terS, which might have been prolonged to the
interest Of the general reader.
! DIR. Appel has done a needed work in
ad mirable style. The introduction to his
book by the president OF Franklin and Mar
| shall CommendS 1t none too highly for the
in terest OF its plan, Tor its faithful pOrtrgiturt
| of the men who engaged in the heroic en-
deavOr of founding the literary institutions OF
| the Reformed church, tor the exposition O
| their philosophy, and for the unpretentlous
ness, purity and strength OF style which char.
| acteriZe the narrative.
| a NJ q A.