The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-11-09
South Carolina Lutherans
Meet IN Newberry College


loyalty more than one time in its his
tory when the institution needed
friends.
Then, in looking over the records,
one is struck With the fact hat only
three regular Sessions of the synod
have been neld in Newberry. 1t would
seem that the synod should have met
more frequently in Newberry, when its
importance as the educational center
of the synod is considered.
Two of these regular conventions
were thirty years apart-1S6O and 1890.
TIE synod had just begun to grow
numerically in 1860 Tlirty-eight min
listers were enrolled, besides three
licentiates. Political conditions were
so disturbed by the sound of the tocsin
Of war that the synod did not hold its
next convention at the regular time,
but meeting in January 1862, regular
convention was also held in November,
1862.
The synod had more than 1000 white
communicates in 1860, besides nearly
thousand negroes. The war decimated
the membership largely of the men,
even the preachers and candidates for
he ministry volunteering in the Con-
federate service.
The third time when the synod held
a regular conH ention in Newberry was
in November, 1911.
Two extra conventions have been
held in Newberry. Both Of these con-
ventions were assembled to consider
the interests and welfare of Newberry
college.
The extra session of 1867 met in
September. 1t was called to consider
the financial condition of the college.
The wreck of war had left the college
ncumbered with debt incurred in the
erection Of the building. Also, the
building had been damaged by the fed
eral troops which had occupied 1t as a
garrison three months during the sum-
mer of 1865. DR.. Smeltzer, the presi-
dent, reported at this convention that
it would take $4,000 to repair the dam
age which had been caused by the Fifty
sixth New York regiment, under Brig.
Gen. Van Wyck. The claims Of the
contractors were satisfactorily adjust
ed, and efforts were made to repair
the damage to the buildings. The lat
ter effort was not successful, and the
building gradually fell into decay. 1t
was a beautiful building, and was we'll
constructed. Better material had never
been put into any building of its class
anywhere. A proof of this statement
is the fact that Smeltzer hall was re-
Quilt on the foundations of the first
building.
The synod did not meet at Newberry
when it was decided to remove the
college to Walhalla. The synod thought
al the extra session in 1867 that the
damage to the building could be re-
paired readily, and since the contract
ors to whom the synod was indebted
had so considerably reduced their
claims to a most reasonable basis OF
settlement, the prospects were propi-
tious for the college to take on new
life. 1t was sad news to NeWberry
when, at St. Paul's church, near Po-
maria, at the session in 1868, it was
decided to remove the college to Wal
halla. But the name was never
changed. This retention of the name,
Newberry college, was adopted at the
suggestion of DR.. Smeltzer, the presi-
dent of the institution, who had stood
so Loyalty by the college. After the
Federal soldiers evacuated the college
the latter part of September, 1865, he
and Capt. A. P. Pifer were the only
professors to take up the work. Prof.
D. Arlington and Prof. D. B. Busby
were members Of the faculty subse-
quently before the removal to Wal
halla.
1t is quite a remarkable coincidence
that not quite ten years afterward the
synod met in extra session in New
berry to consider the relocation of the
college.
The extra convention of 1877 was
held in April-just month after the
fire of March II, 1877, which inflicted
loss of S175,OO0 in the main business
IL. ha