Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/272

344 church in that city. He was elected in 1861 by the general synod of the Reformed church professor of didactic and polemic theology in the seminary at New Brunswick, which chair he held until ' his death. In the early part of his ministry he preached wholly without notes, and as many as two hundred persons have applied for membership in his church at one time. A challenge was once given the clergy of the city of Philadelphia by George Barker, a noted infidel debater and orator, to discuss the inspiration and authenticity of the scriptures. Two able clergymen had already been defeated in the debate, when Dr. Berg entered the lists. In the discussion, so completely was Barker defeated that he gave up the contest, and, as a result of Dr. Berg's reasoning, shortly after was converted, and became an active advocate of the faith he had so long labored to destroy. Dr. Berg published "Lectures on Romanism" (1840); "Synopsis of the Theology of Peter Dens," translated from the Latin with notes (1840); "Papal Rome" (1841); anonymous pamphlets: "A Voice from Rome"; "History of the Holy Robe of Treves " ; " Oral Controversy with a Catholic Priest" (1843); "Rome's Policy toward the Bible" (1844); "The Pope and the Presbyterians " (1844); "Old Paths ; or, a Sketch of the Order and Discipline of the Reformed Church before the Reformation " (Philadelphia, 1845); "Plea for the Divine Law against Murder" (1846); "Mysteries of the Inquisition and other Secret Societies," translated from the French (1846); "Reply to Archbishop Hughes on the Doctrines of Protestantism " (1850) ; " Expose of the Jesuits"; "The Inquisition"; "Church and State; or, Romish Influence," a prize essay; "Farewell Words to the German Reformed Church," and a vindication of the same in reply to J. W. Nevin (1852); "Prophecy and the Times" (1856); "The Stone and the Image" (1856); "Demons and Guardian Angels." being a refutation of spiritualism (1856); "The Olive-Branch; or, White-Oak Farm," a conservative view of slavery, a novel (1857); and translations of Van Horn's German tales, "Europe and America in Prophecy" (1858).— His only son, Herman Casper, a clergyman of the Reformed church, who was graduated at Rutgers in 1866, was in charge of a congregation at College Point, N. Y., in 1886.

BERGEN, Joseph Young, Jr., educator, b. in Red Beach, Me., 22 Feb., 1851. He was graduated at Antioch College in 1872, after which he spent some time on the Ohio Geological Survey. Later he became professor of natural sciences in Lombard University, becoming, in 1883, principal of the Peabody (Mass.) High School. He is a regular contributor to the "Journal of Education," and has written for the "Engineering and Mining Journal." He is joint author with his wife of "The Development Theory: the Study of Evolution simplified for General Readers" (Boston, 1884).—His wife, Fanny Dickerson, educator, b. in Mansfield, Ohio, 4 Feb., 1846, was graduated at Antioch college in 1875. In 1876 she organized a day-school of individual instruction in connection with the Chicago Athenjeum, which subsequent illness compelled her to relinquish. She also taught in Mansfield, in Cleveland, Ohio, for some time in Antioch College, and afterward in Chicago, where she had charge of the natural sciences in a large private school, but was compelled through illness to give up teaching. Mrs. Bergen has dramatized Longfellow's poem of "Miles Standish " (Boston, 1883). She is a regular contributor to the "American Teacher" and the "Journal of Education," and has written for other periodicals.

BERGH, Henry, founder of the American society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, b. in New York city, 8 May, 1820; d. there, 12 March, 1888. His father, Christian, was ship-builder for several years in the service of the government, and died in 1843, leaving his fortune to his three children. Henry entered Columbia, but, before he had finished the course, made a visit to Europe, where he remained about five years. In 1862 he was appointed secretary of legation at St. Petersburg, and acting vice-consul. Being obliged by reason of the severity of the climate to resign his office in 1864, he travelled extensively in Europe and the east. On his return he determined to devote the remainder of his life to the interests of dumb animals. Alone, in the face of indifference, opposition, and ridicule, he began a reform that is now recognized as one of the beneficent movements of the age. Through his exertions as a speaker and lecturer, but above all as a bold worker in the street, in the court-room, and before the legislature, the cause he had espoused gained friends and rapidly increased in influence. Cruelties witnessed in Europe first suggested his mission. The legislature passed the laws prepared by him, and on 10 April, 1866, the society was legally organized, with him as president. The association moved steadily forward, and by August was in a flourishing condition financially, having received a valuable property from Mr. and Mrs. Bergh. The work of the society covers all cases of cruelty to all sorts of animals. It employs every moral agency, social, personal, and legislative; it touches points of vital concern to health as well as to humanity; it looks after the transportation of cattle intended for market; it examines into the purity of milk; and fixes the times and manner of slaughtering animals for food. The society has a large and influential membership, and it has made many friends and received many gifts. In the city of New York its officers are constituted special policemen, with authority to arrest any person found practising cruelty of any kind to animals. In 1871 a Parisian, Louis Bonard, who lived with extreme simplicity in New York, died and left $150,000 to the society, which permitted a removal to quarters larger and better adapted to the work. A building at the corner of Fourth avenue and 22d street, New York city, was purchased and altered to make it suitable for the purposes of the society. By the courtesy of the district attorney of New York Mr. Bergh was authorized by the attorney general to represent him in all cases appertaining to the laws for the protection of animals. During 1873 he made a lecturing tour in the west, which resulted in the formation of several societies similar to that in New York. He spoke before the Evangelical Alliance and Episcopal convention, and was the means of having a new canon