War of the Words Debate Dominates Wittenberg’s Early History
Phrases such as “contests of superior merit” and “competitive spirit” have described college competitions throughout the years, but these words were first used on Wittenberg’s campus for literary competitions – reading, declamation, oratory and debate – not athletic events.
Literary contests began the year the college was founded at the instigation of seven men. Finding six other students to join them, the group met to adopt a constitution, elect officers and become charter members of Wittenberg’s first literary organization, the Excelsior Literary Society, on Nov. 20, 1845.
They met once a week in the First Lutheran Church in Springfield for “the mental, moral and social improvement of its members.” The group immediately gained popularity and increased in numbers.
On July 4, 1846, six of the Excelsior’s founders withdrew from the society, taking half of the funds and class credits, and joined seven others in forming a rival group with similar aims and programs, which they named the Philosophian Literary Society.
The school now boasted two literary societies, and their public competitions attracted not only students and faculty, but also residents of Springfield.
Both groups were given rooms in the new campus building (Recitation Hall) in 1884, and the names of members and the constitutions of both societies were placed in the cornerstone of the building in a copper box.
The History of Wittenberg College 1887 by G. Gerlaw Clark describes the Excelsior’s new rooms as large, modern and commodious. “The walls are most beautifully frescoed and adorned by pictures of the alumni, by two large steel engravings, one of ‘America’s Statesmen’ and the other of ‘America’s Authors.’”
Gilt and gold frames graced paintings of Wittenberg’s first three presidents. The best plush Brussels covered the floor, and the platform held marble stands. The Philos were similarly housed.
Faculty members could join either society, and honorary memberships continued for about 20 years, as the societies inducted ministers, lawyers, physicians and men of prominence in various callings. Edgar Allan Poe and Henry Clay accepted election as honorary members.
The first paper published by students, The Excelsior Visitor, was printed during the 1851-1852 school year, and both groups donated their large collections of books to the new Zimmerman Library in 1892.
Although other literary groups were formed, The Excelsior and Philosophian Literary Societies dominated the literary scene on campus until speech departments and intercollegiate contests in oratory and debate came into play. Many college literary societies collapsed as a result, and by 1924 the once ornate rooms in Recitation were turned into classrooms.
For the first 78 years of Wittenberg’s 160-year history, the cut-throat competitions on campus were not on the playing field, but waged with words, and at one time, the literary W, a solid gold pin, played on par with the athletic W.
