Rev. John Vant Stephens, who has filled the Murdock chair of
Church History in the Theological
Seminary for ten years, is a Missourian. He is a graduate
of Lincoln
University, of the Theological
Seminary, and of Union Seminary. In 1901 he was justly
honored with the degree of D.D. by Trinity
University. Dr. Stephens was for a considerable term of
years secretary of the Board of Missions, and was called from
a successful pastorate at Bowling
Green, Ky., to the position which he how occupies.
His
studies in the special line of church history had begun long before
the time of this call; his library is extensive, and his collection
of books relating to the early history of our own Church large.
He is one of the Church's representatives in the Pan-Presbyterian
alliance, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Western
Section. He never returns to the Seminary from one of this committee's
meetings without some trophies in the shape of rare books, discovered
in out-of-the-way places. His published works include, besides
a number of pamphlets on various subjects, the Following: "Infant
Church Membership" (1897), "The Causes" (1898),
"Cumberland Presbyterian Digest" (1899), "Elect
Infants" (1900), "Evolution of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Confession" (1902). In selecting Dr. Stephens to prepare
that important work, the Digest, our General Assembly found the
man of all our communion most fitted for that important work.
Dr. Stephens' works on our church history and on points of doctrinal
importance are known without our own bounds as well as within
them, as clear and conclusive presentations of the truth. F.
K. FARR.
[Source: The
Cumberland Presbyterian, December 3, 1903, page 714]
John Vant Stephens, D.D., Professor of Church History in the
Theological School of Cumberland
University from 1894 to 1909, was born near St. Louis,
Missouri, September 16, 1857. In his twenty-third year he entered
college, and received the A.B. degree from Lincoln
University, Illinois, in 1884. After completing his college
course he spent a year in Union Theological Seminary, New York
City. he then came to Lebanon, where he completed his theological
course in the Theological School of Cumberland
University, being a member of the class of 1886, and receiving
the B.D. degree.
After graduation he was settled over a mission church in Knoxville,
Tennessee. His success in this field led the Oak Street Church
in Chattanooga to call him there, which call he accepted. Later
he served as Secretary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Board of
Missions, with headquarters in St. Louis. While engaged in this
service he was the editor of the Missionary
Record, improving it and making it a standard publication.
His last pastorate, before coming to Lebanon, was at Bowling Green,
Ky.
In 1909-10 Dr. Stephens taught in the Presbyterian Seminary
of the South, and was its President. In 1910 he became Professor
Church History in Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, which service he
continued until May, 1932, when he retired, rounding out thirty-eight
years of continuous service as a theological teacher. He resides
in Cincinnati.
The following books were written by him: Infant Church Membership,
The Causes, The Cumberland Presbyterian Digest, The Evolution
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Confession of Faith, Presbyterian
Government, The Presbyterian Churches, and The Providential
Purpose of Our Country. For four years he was the editor of
the Teacher's Monthly Sunday School Magazine. Some years
ago he was a member of the Committee which prepared the Intermediate
Catechism of the Presbyterian Church. In 1935 he published
a small but attractive volume, Cumberland University Theological
School.
[Source: The History
of Cumberland University, 1842-1935. By Winstead Paine Bone,
1935, pages 237-238]
Showing posts with label John Vant Stephens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Vant Stephens. Show all posts
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Eulogy for John Vant Stephens | 1946
Our Mr. Valiant
for Truth has crossed the river, and with all the trumpets sounding on the
other side, the thoughts of our hearts and their vocal expression are but an
echo of that approval that he has earned from our Lord, “Well done, good and
faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
I am honored to
speak a word at his funeral, especially as relates to his service to the Church
at large through his ministry in our own Presbytery. Many who knew him before I
did, report the same feeling one sensed immediately in Dr. Stephens, the talent
and the spiritual quality that was the man. Long before I met him face-to-face,
I had heard from his friends and colleagues concerning the “stuff” that was in
him. He never failed; anything that he undertook he carried through to
conclusion. With the high quality of mental and spiritual achievement that were
his, he knew how to coin in proper phrase or resolution or friendly word, and
pass on, his own spirit. He was the embodiment of the law and the gospel; a
rare combination. Always, at the expense of himself, he served his Lord and the
Church.
He was the
leading personality in a relatively small denomination. In the beginning of the
century, all his efforts were bent in the direction of union of his Church (The
Cumberland Presbyterian) with the mother Church. He stood to lose everything,
and like those commended by our Lord, he threw away his life to find it in the
joy of a larger service. Having served as the State Clerk of his own
denomination he became a clerk in the larger group, and merged his own person
ad his own work enthusiastically in perfecting the Digest of our General
Assembly (having finished that of his own). To this he devoted days and months
of tedious and painstaking and (always with him) joyous labor, a service of
love.
We owe to him in
this Presbytery and to his colleague, Dr. Parr, a great debt for the spiritual
quality that they brought to us from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. With
James H. Miller and James Clark, they brought into the U.S.A. church a great
heritage of spiritual and intellectual quality that had repudiated one hundred
years before some of the ultra strictness of the “second generation doctrines”
that were never inherited from John Calvin. They brought back not “something
new,” but something older than that which had become accepted tradition in
certain sections of the U.S.A. church.
His work as a
Stated Clerk in our Presbytery was a reflection of that larger and longer
service that he rendered to his denomination in earlier years. When he felt
himself slipping, on his own initiative he resigned (and possibly we were not
too wise in accepting that resignation.)
He never lost
the “spiritual glow” that comes from lasting and deep friendships. He carried
on (beyond his physical abilities at times) a correspondence which is unusual
as one grows older. You may remember your friends, but to include the younger
generations—that is genius; the genius of real friendship!
There are few
living today of his contemporaries and his “fellow soldiers” in other years. We
have heard him tell on occasion of how, as a boy, he carried the brunt of
family responsibility for his father who espoused the Union cause and went at
Lincoln’s first call, and who, years afterwards, came back, not recognized by
his own son when he met him at the gate.
It seems as one
reviews this wonderful life, that from the first to the last, in every
appointment, he has accepted it at the Hand of an always Beneficent Providence,
trusting and unafraid. John Stephens was the faithful servant of his Lord Jesus
Christ, who said, “It is better to minister than to be ministered unto.” Like
his Master, “first he wrought and afterwards he taught.” In all things he adorned
the doctrine of God, our Saviour.
This is not the
time to recount, except in our own hearts, the debt of gratitude that we feel
toward hi and toward God, in the gift of this life. Its blessing, its example,
his contagious spirit, his thoroughness in his work that shamed us in our
shabbiness; his deep purpose, his unfailing zeal, his enthusiasm, his words of
good will and encouragement, and his meticulous care in the performance of
every duty—for these we thank God.
We here echo,
“Well done, good and faithful servant,”—with all the trumpets sounding for him
on the other side!
Let us pray.
Almighty God our
Father, in whose hand our breath is and whose are all our ways, we acknowledge
Thy great goodness in this finished life. We desire to thank Thee for the
friend whom Thou has now called from our earthly fellowship and we rejoice in
the hope of immortality.
For this good
man who, like his Master, went about doing good, the law of kindness on his
tongue, we thank Thee. For his good counsel and brave testimony, for what he
was and what he did; the things that he said; the texture of his mind and
heart; the touch of his sympathy, his wise and ready help—for all we render our
thanksgiving.
O Thou Whose
best gifts come to us in human form, Whose love came to us incarnate in Christ,
we thank Thee for Thy servant, John Stephens, and we ask that we, in our day
and generation, may in some measure, in his spirit, adorn that same doctrine
and follow the same Christ.
To God’s gracious
mercy and protection we commit ourselves yet again, with the whole family of
God in Heaven and on earth: The Lord preserve our going out and our coming in from
this time forth and even forevermore. Amen.
Courtesy of The Jesse Halsey Manuscript
Collection, Princeton Theological Seminary
Libraries, Special Collections.
Lane-McCormick Merger
All these having been satisfied and quit claim deeds to all
rights and claims to the property of Lane Seminary having been obtained by the
institution, the Court granted the petition for the right to effect the merger.
Lane Seminary has had a faculty of four full time
professors, Dr. John Vant Stephens, Dr. Frank Granstaff, President R. Ames
Montgomery, and Professor John Adam Garber. Dr. Paul E. Davies of the Chicago
seminary has been special lecturer in New Testament literature and Dr. George
W. Osmun, instructor in Hebrew.
President Montgomery and Professor Garber will continue
their work in the Chicago institution which they have already begun in the
field of Religious Education and Sociology. Dr. Stephen, who has been professor
of History at Lane for twenty-two years and Dr. Granstaff, professor of
Homiletics, will retire with pensions provided by Lane.
The decision of the Court in this case is regarded as of
great importance, not only as affecting the program of the Presbyterian Church,
U.S.A., for the consolidation of educational institutions, but for other
organizations contemplating similar action.
The Lane Seminary property will be held for the use of the
merged institutions. The present policy of the Trustees of Lane contemplate a
regular summer session at Lane for the instruction of ministers and lay church
workers.
Lane Seminary Abandonment
Blocked by Court
Blocked by Court
LANE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
which has been located in Cincinnati, Ohio,
for more than 100 years, will continue t()
function as a seminary, if an opinion handed
down in Common Pleas Court by Judge
Charles S. Bell on April 21, is not upset by
appeal.
for more than 100 years, will continue t()
function as a seminary, if an opinion handed
down in Common Pleas Court by Judge
Charles S. Bell on April 21, is not upset by
appeal.
Judge Bell held that as the result of testimony
adduced before him in a hearing, several
months ago, the seminary had not failed'
in its original purpose, and that it had 'not
become extinct, despite contentions to the
contrary. He also ruled that the court had
no jurisdiction to authorize the seminary
trustees to abandon it and endow scholarships
in the Chicago Theological Seminary.
The institution dates back to 1829, when
the Legislature of the State of Ohio created'
the theological institution "for the education'
of pious young men for the gospel ministry ... ·
In December of that year Elnatban Kemper"
James Kemper, Sr., Peter H. Kemper and
David R. Kemper and their wives deeded the'
property to the seminary.
This deed provided that, if the purpose of'
the seminary failed, or if it became extinct,.
the property was to revert to the American
Board Society, the American Tract Company,
the American Colonization Society and the
American Education Society. In the event
that any of these societies) were extinct,
the property then was to revert to any charitable
religious institution selected by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church.
Board Society, the American Tract Company,
the American Colonization Society and the
American Education Society. In the event
that any of these societies) were extinct,
the property then was to revert to any charitable
religious institution selected by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church.
For many years the seminary flourished,
and men who carried the gospel to the four
corners of the world were its graduates. Of
late years the enrollment has fallen off and
bad times have overtaken the school.
About a year ago the trustees filed a petition
asking for instructions as to what they
were to do. They favored abandonment of
the school and the establishment of scholarships
in the Chicago institution which was
formally known as "McCormick Seminary."
It was claimed on behalf of the American
Colonization Society, that the seminary had
failed in its purpose and that therefore the
property should be turned over to the other
societies mentioned in the deed.
Discussing the matters that were brought
to its attention during the hearing, Judge
Bell wrote: "Since the .establishment of this
institution in 1829, there has been a great
increase in the number of theological institutions
available to students preparing for
the Presbyterian ministry, and there has
been a proportionate decrease in the past
twenty-five or thirty years in the number of
enlistments of young men for such training.
A number of such institutions in the country
have become more efficient for the purposes
for which Lane Seminary was created, and
this has been due largely to the fact that certain
other colleges have received large incomes
and generous gifts, which have been
denied Lane Seminary.
"By reason of curtailed revenue, this institution
has reached a financial status
where there is in the neighborhood of about
$20,000 per annum for its upkeep; and because
thereof the institution has generally
deteriorated until the buildings are out of
repair, the professors are underpaid, and the
student body has decreased greatly. At the
time of the hearing, there were less than 20
in the student body at the seminary. The
future prospects of the institution presents a
dismal picture; the institution probably will
have fewer students and less money than at
the present time.
has reached a financial status
where there is in the neighborhood of about
$20,000 per annum for its upkeep; and because
thereof the institution has generally
deteriorated until the buildings are out of
repair, the professors are underpaid, and the
student body has decreased greatly. At the
time of the hearing, there were less than 20
in the student body at the seminary. The
future prospects of the institution presents a
dismal picture; the institution probably will
have fewer students and less money than at
the present time.
"Disposing first of the disputed fact in the
case, the court has concluded that Lane
Seminary has not failed or become extinct."
Taking- up the second matter before him,
Judge Bell said: "The trustees propose to
sell the property; create a legal entity to be
known as the Lane Seminary Foundation;
with the funds establish proper endowments,
scholarships and fellowships in the Chicago
Theological Seminary.
"After a careful consideration, the court
has concluded that it has no authority -or
jurisdiction to authorize these trustees to
change the name or abandon the theological
institution in Hamilton County," the opinion
concluded.
jurisdiction to authorize these trustees to
change the name or abandon the theological
institution in Hamilton County," the opinion
concluded.
Following the receipt of the judgment of
court, it was announced that Lane Seminary
would re·open in the fall as usual.
Lane Theological Seminary
from Wikipedia
Lane Theological Seminary was established in the Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829 to educate Presbyterian ministers. It was named in honor of Ebenezer and William Lane, who pledged $4,000 for the new school, which was seen as a forward outpost of the Presbyterian Church in the western territories of the United States. Prominent New England pastor Lyman Beecher moved his family (including daughter Harriet and son Henry) from Boston to Cincinnati to become the first President of the Seminary in 1832. During this time, the family lived in what is now known as the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.[1]
Lane Seminary is known primarily for the "debates" held there in 1834 that influenced the nation's thinking about slavery. The event resulted in the dismissal of a group of students, a professor and a trustee and was one of the first significant tests of academic freedom in the United States and the right of students to participate in free discussion. Several of those involved went on to play an important role in the abolitionist movement and the buildup to the American Civil War.
Following the slavery debates, Lane Seminary continued as a "New School" seminary, cooperating with Congregationalists and others in mission and education efforts and involved in social reform movements like abolition, temperance, and Sabbath legislation. The seminary admitted students from other denominations and pursued educational and evangelistic unity among Protestant churches in the West.
At the end of the 19th century, Lane Seminary was reorganized along more conservative lines. In 1910, it became affiliated with the Presbyterian Seminary of the South, and the Seminary continued as a small but respected school, though financial pressures continued to increase. Following a brief period of growth in the 1920s, it became apparent that Lane could no longer survive as an independent school. In 1932, it became part of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. While a permanent Board of Trustees for Lane Theological Seminary remained in service until the Seminary was legally merged out of existence in 2007,[3] the faculty, library collections, and students were transferred to Chicago, and the last remnants of the Cincinnati campus were destroyed in 1956.
Lane Theological Seminary was established in the Walnut Hills section of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1829 to educate Presbyterian ministers. It was named in honor of Ebenezer and William Lane, who pledged $4,000 for the new school, which was seen as a forward outpost of the Presbyterian Church in the western territories of the United States. Prominent New England pastor Lyman Beecher moved his family (including daughter Harriet and son Henry) from Boston to Cincinnati to become the first President of the Seminary in 1832. During this time, the family lived in what is now known as the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.[1]
Lane Seminary is known primarily for the "debates" held there in 1834 that influenced the nation's thinking about slavery. The event resulted in the dismissal of a group of students, a professor and a trustee and was one of the first significant tests of academic freedom in the United States and the right of students to participate in free discussion. Several of those involved went on to play an important role in the abolitionist movement and the buildup to the American Civil War.
Following the slavery debates, Lane Seminary continued as a "New School" seminary, cooperating with Congregationalists and others in mission and education efforts and involved in social reform movements like abolition, temperance, and Sabbath legislation. The seminary admitted students from other denominations and pursued educational and evangelistic unity among Protestant churches in the West.
At the end of the 19th century, Lane Seminary was reorganized along more conservative lines. In 1910, it became affiliated with the Presbyterian Seminary of the South, and the Seminary continued as a small but respected school, though financial pressures continued to increase. Following a brief period of growth in the 1920s, it became apparent that Lane could no longer survive as an independent school. In 1932, it became part of McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. While a permanent Board of Trustees for Lane Theological Seminary remained in service until the Seminary was legally merged out of existence in 2007,[3] the faculty, library collections, and students were transferred to Chicago, and the last remnants of the Cincinnati campus were destroyed in 1956.
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