Center for Archival Collections

Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Contents | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Hiram C. Burger Collection (1892-1918) consists mainly of sermons which provide insights into religious and social history. Those sermons were written by Reverend Burger and delivered within communities in eastern Michigan and northwestern Ohio. A few miscellaneous programs and papers of Rev. Burger complete the collection.

This collection was donated to the Center for Archival Collections by Ruth Leady in June 1980. The collection was discovered in Mrs. Leady's mother's attic (Mrs. Vida P. Miller) at 414 North Prospect Street, Bowling Green, Ohio. Property rights have been dedicated to the public and duplication is permitted for the purposes of preservation and research. This collection was prepared by Ira Daly, Graduate Assistant in History, in April 1981.

Biographical Sketch

From Rev. Hiram C. Burger's obituary from the Wayne Observer, September 20, 1918:

Hiram Crowl Burger, son of Samuel and Lavina Burger was born January 30, 1865 near Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio and died September 12 1918 at Prairie Depot (Wayne), Ohio, aged 53 years 7 months and 12 days.

He was a graduate of Mt. Union College and Boston University. For several years he taught Greek and Chemistry in the Missouri Wesleyan Institute at Cameron, Missouri.

On October 31st 1900 he married Nellie A. Burns at Rossford, Ohio. To this union were born three children, Kathleen, who died in babyhood, Merrill Loyd, aged 15 and Dorothy aged 11.

He entered conference in 1896 and has served the following charges: Broadway, Wesley, Marion, New Dover, Rossburg, Bradford, Kenton Circuit, Ansonia, Hardin, Port Jefferson, Pemberville, McClure, Liberty Center, Sylvania, Cygnet and Prairie Depot.

At the time of his death, Reverend Burger was serving the Methodist Episcopal Church at Prairie Depot, Ohio.

Scope and Content

The Hiram C. Burger Collection basically consists of roughly three hundred sermons written and delivered between 1892 and 1918. These sermons pertain to biblical topics and could be of interest to the religious history scholar, especially one interested in the history of Methodism in the United States. Included in the collection are about one dozen sermons pertaining to contemporary issues such as President McKinley's assassination, temperance and immigration, all of which would be of interest to the social historian.

Reverend Burger noted on the back of each sermon the dates and locations at which he delivered the sermon. From this information, it is apparent the Reverend Burger was assigned to preach in several areas of northwest Ohio and southwest Michigan.

Completing this collection are miscellaneous church and musical programs; one letter to Reverend Burger; a eulogy and recommendations written by Reverend Burger; genealogical notes and Reverend Burger's obituary.

Series Description

LITERARY PRODUCTIONS

SERMONS
1892-1918.
Arranged by theme and within chronologically.
The majority of the sermons pertain to religious topics; however, a few relate to contemporary events and issues. On the back of each sermon are listed the locations and dates of each delivery of the sermon along with Reverend Burger's comments on the audience.

Inventory

Box 1

1. "Reward for Following Christ," July 3, 1892
2. "Some National Perils," November 6, 1892
3. "The Inscrutability of Christ," October 6, 1892
4. "Naumaw the Leper," October 15, 1896
5. "The Heavenly Mansions," November 18, 1896
6. "The Cross of Christ," November 13, 1896
7. "The Christian Pilgrimage," November 28, 1896
8. "Success by the Spirit," December 3, 1896
9. "The Conquering Redeemers," December 19, 1896
10. "Is It Well with Thee?" December 26, 1896
11. "The Faith of Our Fathers," January 9, 1897
12. "This is Not Our Rest," January 16, 1897
13. "Christ's Inability to Save Himself," January 24, 1897
14. "On Whose Side?" January 30, 1897
15. "The Abiding Joy," November 3, 1899
16. "Preparation to Meet God," November 9, 1896
17. "Gilead's Balm," November 10, 1896
18. "The Solemn Question," November 16, 1896
19. "Christ's Saving Ability," November 19, 1896
20. "The Fateful Night," November 21, 1896
21. "The Three Hebrew Children," November 25, 1896
22. "Giving Glory to God," November 25, 1896
23. "The Fall," November 30, 1896
24. "The Cities of Refuge," December 2, 1896
25. "The Morning Star," December 2, 1896
26. "God's Proposal to His Enemies," December 3, 1896
27. "The Only Foundation," December 4, 1896
28. "Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones," December 4, 1896
29. "The Wedding Garment," December 7, 1896
30. "Caring for Others," December 14, 1896
31. "Vanity of Vanities," January 18, 1897

Box 2

1. "The Resurrection," April 17, 1897
2. "The Power of the Gospel," April 24, 1897
3. "The Broad and The Narrow Ways," May 18, 1897
4. "Following Peace," May 14, 1897
5. Memorial Sermon, May 21, 1897
6. "The Nature and Advantage of God's Services," June 5, 1897
7. "Missionary Sermons," June 15, 1897
8. "God's Dealing with Our Nations," July 1, 1897
9. "Christ's Humanity and Divinity," July 10, 1897
10. "The Sabbath," July 31, 1897
11. "The Golden Rule," August 14, 1897
12. "Joy Over Repentant Sinners," February 26, 1900
13. "The Sympathy of Jesus," February 28, 1900
14. "Repent or Perish," March 2, 1900
15. "The More Excellent Way," March 2, 1900
16. "The Crucifixion," March 6, 1900
17. "Salvation, Full and Free," March 7, 1900
18. "Prerequisites of Filling," March 9, 1900
19. "The End of the World," March 10, 1900
20. "The Power of Jesus," March 12, 1900
21. "Hearing, Doing and Results," March 13, 1900
22. "The Leper Cleansed," March 20, 1900
23. "Holding the Crown," March 27, 1900
24. "The Peace of Jesus," April 28, 1900
25. "A Cheap Religion," July 7, 1900
26. "Encouraging Assurances of the Power of Our God," July 28, 1900

Box 3

1. "Real Righteousness," March 17, 1901
2. "Lessons for Palm Sunday," March 29, 1901
3. "The Christian Life," March 31, 1901
4. "The Resurrection," March 22, 1902
5. "The Dance," April 13, 1901
6. "All Things New," June 22, 1901
7. "All Things in Christ's Hands," June 30, 1901
8. "A Living Sacrifice," July 7, 1901
9. "What Makes a Nation Great," July 7, 1901
10. "Heaven Open: Our High Privileges," July 11, 1901
11. "Wisdom from Above," July 20, 1901
12. "On Temperance," July 28, 1901
13. "The Benefits of the New Covenant," August 13, 1901
14. "Doing Good," August 4, 1901
15. "Prosperity of the New Soul," August 7, 1901
16. "Ways of Pleasantness, Paths of Peace,"August 31, 1901
17. "The Salt of the Earth," September 7, 1901
18. "God Our Refuge, Strength and Help," September 14, 1901
19. "McKinley--A Memorial," September 18, 1901
20. "Our National Bereavement," September 22, 1901
21. "Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?" March 21, 1902
22. "The Gift of God," March 28, 1902
23. "Absalom the Beautiful," November 22, 1902
24. "Absalom the Plotter," December 2, 1902
25. "Absalom the Conspirator," December 21, 1902
26. "David's Wail Over Absalom," December 31, 1902

Box 4

1. "The Church Above," November 8, 1902
2. "The Christian Race," November 15, 1902
3. "The Message of the Cross," November 22, 1902
4. "Thanksgiving," November 24, 1902
5. "The Bozrah Conqueror," November 29, 1902
6. "Devotion to the Church," December 6, 1902
7. "The Christmas Message," December 25, 1902
8. "The End of the Year," December 27, 1902
9. "Self-Deception in Religion," January 2, 1903
10. "Elements of Paul's Success," January 8, 1903
11. "Ambassadors for Christ," January 12, 1903
12. "The Salvation of a Soul," January 13, 1903
13. "Spiritual Husbandry," January 14, 1903
14. "Directions for a Revival," January 15, 1903
15. "Shining as Stars," January 16, 1903
16. "Knocking at the Door," January 19, 1903
17. "Believe the Dead and the Living," January 20, 1903
18. "A Short Bed and a Narrow Covering," January 21, 1903
19. "Life and Death Set before Men," January 22, 1903
20. "Salvation, the Gift of God, by Faith in Jesus Christ," January 23, 1903
21. "The Overcoming Life," January 26, 1903

Box 5

1. "The Unpardonable Sin," January 29, 1903
2. "How Shall We Escape," February 2, 1903
3. "Towards Sodom," February 3, 1903
4. "Shammah the Victor," February 4, 1903
5. "Man's Refuge in Christ," February 13, 1903
6. "Trust in the Lord," February 13, 1903
7. "The Judgment," February 2, 1903
8. "Am I My Brother's Keeper?"April 3, 1903
9. "Death the Gateway to Life," April 15, 1903
10. "Sorrows and Joy," April 18, 1903
11. "The Ancient Landmarks," April 25, 1903
12. "In His Steps," April 30, 1903
13. "Jacob's Ladder," May 7, 1903
14. "Divine Control of Human Sin," May 14, 1903
15. Memorial Sermon, May 18, 1903
16. "The Freedom of Heaven," May 20, 1903
17. "The World-Wide Following of Christ," June 6, 1903
18. "Christian's Warming at the World's Fire," July 11, 1903
19. "The Spiritual Mind in Life and Peace, July 25, 1903

Box 6

1. "The Safest of Investments," September 25, 1903
2. "Some Needs of the Church," October 3, 1903
3. "What Methodism Stands For," October 10, 1903
4. "Hezekial's Sickness and Recovery," October 25, 1903
5. "The Uses of Temptation," November 15, 1903
6. "On Temperance," November 21, 1903
7. "Sowing and Reaping," November 28, 1903
8. "The Life and Adventures of Bewaiah," December 5, 1903
9. "Robbing God," December 31, 1903
10. "The Greatest Ruin," January 2, 1904
11. "Doing a Great Work," January 20, 1904
12. "The End of Our Probation," January 29, 1904
13. "The Flock of the Lord Increased," February 2, 1904
14. "Likeness to the World," February 6, 1904
15. "Likeness to Christ," February 12, 1904
16. "Jonah Asleep in a Storm," February 13, 1904
17. "Jonah Preaching at Ninevah," March 19, 1904
18. "Spiritual Gravitation," April 10, 1904
19. "Jonah Rebuked at Ninevah," April 11, 1904
20. "One Message of Christ to the World," April 30, 1904
21. "The Chambers of Imagery," May 7, 1904
22. "The Hill of the Lord," June 4, 1904
23. "Missions of the Logical Outcome of the Crucifixion," June 11, 1904
24. "Rebuilding Jericho," August 7, 1904
25. "Shaking Off the Vipers," August 14, 1904
26. "The Sabbath," August 1904
27. "How to Conquer Temptation," August 19, 1904

Box 7

1. "Elijah Encouraged," October 16, 1904
2. "Changed by the Word of the Lord," March 4, 1905
3. "The Unavoidable Christ," March 20, 1905
4. "The Inheritance of Hope," March 25, 1905
5. "Today and Tomorrow," April 4, 1905
6. "A Study of the Laodicean Church," April 6, 1905
7. "The Love of Jesus," May 6, 1905
8. "Our Father's Family," May 13, 1905
9. "Not This Man But Barabbas," May 18, 1905
10. "Seeing and Believing," June 3, 1915
11. "The Man with the Withered Hand," June 10, 1905
12. "A Lion in the Way," June 24, 1905
13. "Neglected Revelations," June 17, 1905
14. "The Cost of a Little Honey," July 8, 1905
15. "Jesus Taken Away," July 15, 1905
16. "The Coming of Jesus," July 22, 1905

Box 8

1. "Mighty Upon the Sword," September 30, 1905
2. "The New Childhood," October 15, 1905
3. "Our Responsibilities for Lost Opportunities," October 19, 1905
4. "Christ's Call to Busy People," October 20, 1905
5. "Punishment Coming," December 13, 1905
6. "Mockers at Sin," December 15, 1905
7. "The Swelling of Jordan," January 2, 1906
8. "Why Will Ye Die," January 4, 1906
9. "Thoughts of God," January 6, 1906
10. "The Future," January 17, 1906
11. "A Worldly Life," January 18, 1906
12. "The Great Day of His Wrath," January 19, 1906
13. "To Save the Lost," January 20, 1906
14. "Temptation," February 3, 1906
15. "The Unrest of the Wicked," February 7, 1906
16. "The Wine-Cup of God's Fury," February 9, 1906
17. "Why are People Unsaved?" February 13, 1906
18. "Change Necessary at Heart," February 14, 1906
19. "Searching for Punishment," February 17, 1906
20. "Becoming Christians," February 21, 1906
21. "Eternal Life--the Gift of God," March 31, 1906

Box 9

1. "I Am for Men," November 29, 1906
2. "A Religion That Will Hold Water," December 4, 1906
3. "The Reform of Our Winter Evenings," December 10, 1906
4. "New Uses for Old Things," December 15, 1906
5. "God's Presence a Trouble," April 8, 1907
6. "He Knows Where I Live," April 9, 1907
7. "Depart Thou Christ," April 10, 1907
8. "Are You With the Minority or the Majority," April 13, 1907
9. "So-Called Christianity," September 7, 1907
10. "Christianity In Ernest," September 18, 1907

Box 10

1. "Only Wise to Do Evil," May 9, 1908
2. "By Their Fruits," June 14, 1908
3. "Unappreciated Advantages," June 25, 1908
4. "Looking Into a New Year," October 3, 1908
5. "How Shall We Give to the Lord?" September 5, 1909
6. "They Caught Nothing," September 18, 1909
7. "The Character of God as Revealed by Jesus Christ," June 18, 1912
8. "Wounded in the House of His Friends," April 3, 1913
9. "God Can and Does Punish Sin," April 5, 1913
10. "Songs in the Night," April 12, 1913
11. "Approaching God," April 18, 1913
12. "Paul Preaching Jesus," April 19, 1913
13. "The Unshaken Kingdom," April 23, 1913
14. "The Faith of Moses," April 30, 1913
15. "The Church and Human Souls," May 2, 1913
16. "Adolescence," May 9, 1913
17. "The Empty Heart," May 10, 1913
18. "The Coming Kingdom," May 15, 1913
19. "Worldly Things," June 28, 1913

Box 11

1. "Jesus on the Margin of Life," October 17, 1916
2. "Playing the Fool," October 21, 1916
3. "The Profit of Godliness," December 5, 1916
4. "The Unchanging Christ," January 19, 1917
5. "Storming the Kingdom," February 13, 1917
6. "The Final Likeness," February 21, 1917
7. "Spiritual Resurrection," February 28, 1917
8. "The Conversion of St. Paul," March 2, 1917
9. "Conversion of a Good Work," March 5, 1917

Box 12

1. "Our Present Opportunities," October 26, 1917
2. "Food Saving for the Good of Others," October 27, 1917
3. "Resolutions or Actions?" November 1, 1917
4. "Martin Luther," November 3, 1917
5. "Christ's Concept of the Church," November 5, 1917
6. "Getting a Vision," November 10, 1917
7. "The Prince of Life," November 24, 1917
8. "Following Christ," November 24, 1917
9. "The Battle for Bread," November 30, 1917
10. "The Supreme Mistake," December 4, 1917
11. "The Wise Men from the East," December 6, 1917
12. "New Year's Sermon," December 7, 1917
13. "Our Daily Bread," December 12, 1917
14. "Discontent and Progress," December 14, 1917
15. "Our Country," December 21, 1917
16. "Have You Something Worth Living For?" January 10, 1918
17. "The Deceiver," January 11, 1918
18. "No Other Gospel," January 15, 1918
19. "Divine Insight," January 22, 1918
20. "Setting Up Our Banners," January 23, 1918
21. "The Shibboleth of Today," February 18, 1918
22. "Our Father Which Art in Heaven," February 20, 1918

Box 13

1. "Under the Juniper Tree," February 27, 1917
2. "The Chariots of Iron," March 5, 1918
3. "Bread upon the Waters," March 6, 1918
4. "The Grave in the Garden," March 8, 1918
5. "The Fellowship of Intercession," March 29, 1918
6. "The Patriotism of the Pocketbook," April 12, 1918
7. "Go Across or Come Across," May 16, 1918
8. "The Stewardship of Prayer," May 29, 1918
9. "The Stewardship of Souls," May 31, 1918
10. "The Stewardship of Life," June 8, 1918
11. "The Stewardship of Property," June 13, 1918
12. "The Scriptural Basis of the Tithe," June 15, 1918
13. "Covetousness," June 22, 1918
14. "Stewardship and the World Emergency," June 28, 1918
15. "Present-Day Living," June 29, 1918
16. "Identified with Jesus," July 10, 1918
17. "An Enemy of God," July 27, 1918
18. "The Word of God," July 31, 1918
19. "The Three-Thorn Crown Man," August 1, 1918
20. "They Shall Not Pass," August 31, 1918

Box 14

1. "What We Gain by Death," September 27, 1896
2. "The Glad Homecoming," April 15, 1897
3. "The Blessed Dead," January 21, 1897
4. "Death Only a Sleep," March 30, 1899
5. "Crossing the River," October 23, 1899
6. "The Mortal and the Immortal," November 4, 1899
7. "Faithfulness," November 18, 1899
8. "Thoughts on Life, August 21, 1900
9. "The Angel, The Way, The Prepared Place," February 21, 1903
10. "All Things for Good," November 12, 1903
11. "In the World and in Christ," March 7, 1906
12. "Enoch's Translation," January 6, 1911
13. "Man's Life and Inscription," March 3, 1911
14. "In the Valley of Becca," January 28, 1913
15. "The Last Enemy," January 31, 1913
16. "The Natural and the Spiritual," February 3, 1913
17. "God and His People in Adversity," February 10, 1913
18. "The Judgment," February 13, 1913
19. "Through a Glass Darkly," March 29, 1913
20. "The Desired Haven," April 28, 1913
21. "The End of All Things," July 5, 1913
22. "To Whom Shall We Go," April 7, 1914
23. "Peace I Leave with You," October 16, 1914

Box 15

1. "How to Make Our Work a Power for Good," May 19, 1897
2. Children's Day Address, June 13, 1897
3. Memorial Address, June 25, 1897
4. "The Case of Children and the Church," May 17, 1915
5. "The Story of Gideon," January 4, 1916
6. "Methods of Conducting a Revival," n.d.
7. Welcoming Address, n.d.
8. Miscellaneous sermons (portions), n.d.
9. Obituary of Hiram C. Burger, September 20, 1918
10. Genealogical notes, n.d.
11. Eulogy of Catherine Agle, Stony Ridge, Ohio, October 1906
12. Recommendation for Anna Denister, n.d.
13. Miscellaneous programs, 1897, n.d.
14. Mailing slip and letter of Hiram C. Burger, April 1904, n.d.
15. Photograph of Sang Geli Lui (belongs to pastor of ME Church in Port Jefferson, Ohio), n.d.
16. "The Change of Life" (sermon in deteriorating condition), February 21, 1900
17. "God's Delight in Mercy" (sermon in deteriorating condition), March 7, 1917
18. "The Old Wasters Repaired" (sermon in deteriorating condition), June 29, 1901

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