(ABOVE: J.C. Price (engraver), Eliza Clark Garrett—The Ladies Repository, July 1858 / Wikimedia)

DOES GOD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER at the right moment to accomplish his purposes? To Eliza Garrett it seemed so. In 1853, she was a Methodist widow with a large inheritance she wished to direct toward some noble, Christian purpose. Garrett consulted prominent friends. Her Chicago pastor, Peter Borein, often lamented his lack of formal education. He and others thought perhaps Garrett should endow a Bible institute for the education of Methodist ministers.

At that juncture, Reverend John Dempster appeared. Dempster, who was president of a struggling college in New Hampshire, had come west to further a dream of establishing a chain of theological seminaries. Garrett took the concurrence of events—the advice of her friends and the appearance of John Dempster—as guidance from God. Immediately she set out to turn her vision into reality.

At the time, most Methodists opposed seminaries. They feared that formal education would dry up reliance on the Holy Spirit and that doubts and heresies would follow book learning.

Shrugging aside these concerns, a group of Christian businessmen, pastors, and professionals met in a Chicago church on this day, 26 December 1853, to discuss Garrett’s offer. Although Garrett’s money wouldn’t come to the school until after her death, they agreed to move forward on its promise. They decided to plant the school in Evanston, Illinois, and invited Dempster to head the Garrett Biblical Institute (GBI).

One year and six days later—1 January 1955—the first classes met in a hastily erected building that housed a library, classrooms, dormitories, dining facilities, and faculty quarters. At the end of the first spring term, Bishop Matthew Simpson addressed the seminarians, assuring them of the value of seminary training. However, he emphasized that he opposed the admission of any student who had not given evidence of being called by God. Simpson, who would follow Dempster as president, insisted on educating only young men who were ministers at heart, not those who merely sought a profession.

That same spring, GBI began a women’s college. Garrett did not live to see the first graduation—she died that November. GBI developed side by side with Northwestern University, often sharing faculty and facilities.

Eliza Garrett’s fund was severely reduced by property losses in the Great Chicago Fire. However, the school survived. In the following century, two other Christian colleges merged with GBI. It remains in existence—a testimony to a faithful woman’s vision and determination.

—Dan Graves

For a history of Christian Education, read Christian History 139 Hallowed halls