September 28, 1845
On this day, 181 years ago, Ezra Keller was preparing his notes for his first meeting with the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College. He recorded his progress from the prior year.
During the year I traveled three thousand two hundred miles, not including short distances: I preached one hundred and seventy-two sermons, and delivered a number of addresses; organized one congregation; put two churches in progress of erection; collected for college six thousand dollars, for churches one thousand dollars; instructed four theological students two hours each day, during the summer. For strength to perform this labor, I render my thanks to God. The more toil, the more grace.
I read this as Elizabeth and I considered accepting the call to lead Wittenberg University. His closing words inspired us to say “yes.” His life also inspired this curtal sonnet.
Ezra Keller
1812 – 1848
Founding President of Wittenberg College, Springfield, OH.
Snow on the ground, he mounted, followed the call,
west, to Ohio’s wilderness, to clear
a valley of death; a hill would be a birthplace.
Three of his six children in heaven, a pall
hung on his shoulders. He refused to veer
and cleared a wide agora in this space
for Lutherans, founded on faith and the soil
of a cemetery, redeemed, reformed and here
on this hill, generations would see the face
of God, attest, and know that: in more toil,
more grace.
