Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-14
THEOLOGICAC SCHOOL.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
.Wcrnniifin. .infr,Lst g. lANI

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
.Ncrandria, .iugstst 3, 1921.
GENrLEMEN-ita appears tn me tina; noth;n:.
is wanting To hiring the controversy now pend
ing IN your paper, between the Episcopa,
Church and the Dissenting Farmer" TO a
speedy and amicablc issue, but a proper un-
Outstanding of the point in question The oh
lection OF " the Dissenting Farmer is found
ed entirely Oh the superstition, that the boon
ol gratuitous instruction prolfered b. the Col
lese of William and Mary was confined ercla-
surely to the Episcopa! Church. This suppo-
sihon IS erroneous. Being one of those who
first correspondent with the college upon the
SUBJECT OF the contemplated professorslip,
take IL upon me To say, that it was the inten-
uon oil that institution, to extend the benefit
proposed, 10 bona fife students of any other
respectable denomination of Christians that
might choose TO plant theological seminary
ut Williamsburg. And, in fact, it appears, by
the communication from Williamsburg in your
paper OF the 9th inst. that overtures to that
effect had been made tn others. If this be
the fact, land If it be not, the college will disa-
Vow III put II to the good sense which the
I" Dissenting Farmer" evidently possesses, 10
say, whether there be not {; manifest Injustice
IN denying to one denomination of Christians.
the advantages proposed by the college,
y
to avail themselves of the Offer The other
points In the question are inc0nsiderabe, and
nave been sufficiently replied to by others
Inc charter Of the college, and the original
design ofits establishment, not only autho-
rize such an appropriation of the rooms and
books of the college, but evidently seem TO
require such a use of them as is proposed by
the college The only objection to which this
opinion can be liable, and the only one that
has any weight in the dissatisfaction express
ed by the Dissenting Farmer" is built upon
the suppostlon OF favoWitsm shewn by the
college to the Episcopal Church. This hav-
my been dlsproved, then, that falls to the
ground. With respect to the phrase band
OF antl-christian philosophers" / may be per-
mltted as one ofthose whose names are signed
TO the address containing it, TO say one word
IN It's defence, though IT appears scarcely wor-
my oil the grave subject principally concern
ed, TO connect with il mere criticism about
words 1t is, in my humble Judgment, I'M
candid Ill the advocates of christianity, not to
admit, that not only such soi d,Sani philoso-
phers as Paine, Diderot, sc. have been found
IN the antl-christian hand, but also some who
were, IN reality, philosophers, in very res
pcctable sense of that term. Hume, Gibbon
and Voltaire were philosophical men, though
they dId not, like Newton, carry the line and
theruIe To the utmost barriers ofcreation. and ::
there have been others, whose physical phi
los0phy rested Ike his, on the basis OF mathe-
mates, who, Yet in their moral philosophy.
abandoning all the established axioms of mo-
raj evidence, fell into an universal pyrrho-
nlsm. The" Dissenting Farmer" cannot sup
pose the trainers of that address as being gno-
rant that the greatest philosophers that ever
lived, were found in the ranks OF Christianity.
n o. al, f,i,o 4
OF the celebrated Erskine, that " all that is
great, or wise, or splendid, or illusirious a.
monSst created beings, all the minds gifted
beyond ordinary nature, if not inspired by
Their universal author for the advancement
and dignity of the world, have Joined, as il
were, in one sublime chorus, to celebrate the
truths oi christianity, and to lay on its holy
affairs the never fading offerings oftheir imnof-
tai wisdom" Nevertheless, as candid adj
vocate, not less than firm believer, OF Inc
divine truths Of christianity, am constrained
also to admit that some philosophers have
been anti-chrlstians. And because there are
still such iii the world, as well as for other
reasons, feel deeply soIicitous for the issue
oil those eXertions now making by the friend
OF the church of which | am member to af-
lord her students all the aids of philosophy and
science, that they may be enabled TO meet
|
weapons, and to defend the citadel of our
common faith, against every form of attack
and every form of adversary. And | cannot
but hope, that, as friend TO the common
cause of that faith which ought to be dearer
To us than all sectaran interests, the Dissent
Ing Farmer will, upon more mature delibe-
ration, see more cause of rejoicing than of re-
greet, IN the measures now adopting by the
friends ofthe Episcopal Church TO place her
on that vantage ground of literature, whereby
she may unite with all the band of Christians
of every name, in those common efforts that
are necessary to put forth against the subtle
attacks of modern foes.
If the church or the college had any sinis-
ter design, or if the plan itself had any ten
dency to produce the bad result which is APP
pretended, there is redeeming principle in
the republican genius of our civil Institutions
ana VI the diversified characterize the religious
sentiment of the community. sufficient TO guard
| against even the possibility of the evil. But
IN the circumstances of the present case, there
is not even the colour of pretext for surprising
that such design or such a tendency exists.
The church proposes simply to provide funds
among her friends TO pay professor who is TO
instruct her students in Theology. The pro-
fessor and students are to reside al Williams
burg, where they will have the benefit of lee
lures rom the literary professors i'm the college,
who are charitable enough 10 afford them era
tmtlousiy to such rs are not able TO pay
This they are willing to do, under similar cir
cumstaDces, TO students of every respectable
society Of Christians. Ii they do not choose
10 accede TO the offer, can conceive no pos
sible reason why others should not accept it,
and why the measures now pursuing by the
church in relation to il, are not consistent with
every principle of equity aud cxpediency, AS
well as with the rights and interests of every
other religious denomination.
JITCVITIN