The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
MINISTERIAL AND RELIGIOUS.

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT COLUMBIA -
We learn. from the Southern Presbyterian,
that the exercises of this institution were
resumed on the 10Th ult.. four students only
being present. Some others have since
come in, and there will be, it is expected,
twelve or fifteen ere long. All of those
who are here, or are expected here, have
been, for various reasons, exempted or
discharged from service in the army. They
will be, nevertheless. serving their country,
as we'll as the church of God, in the way
Providence opens before them, if they faith
fully devote themselves to preparation for
the gospel ministry. The chair of theology
will be filed Professionally by Rev. DR..
Palmer, who has already commenced MS
labors in this department.
REV. JAS. H. THoRNwELL, D. D. LII.
D.-The following paper adopted by the
Committee of Foreign Missions at its last
meeting has been furnished for publication.
Whereas it has pleased the God W hom
we serve TO remove from our midst since
our last stated meeting our loved and hon
ored colleague, James II. ThOrnwell, D. d
LII. D.. we wonld here record our profound
grief at his unexpected departure from the
Church below, where he discharged with
unparalleled ability such important trusts
and the sense which Expresses us OF our
Town and our country irretrievabie loss.
His Surprising ability in every depart
ment Of labor he ever attempted made MN
an object Of universal admiration his
stores Of knowledge, profound and accurate
learning and retenive memory; bis active,
vigorous, penetrating and logical mind
his refined and classical taste; his power
in argument; the glowing feryor of bis
soul, and the ready versatility Of his genius
fitted him for every emergency that arose
His intuitiye Judgment OF what truth
righteousness and wisdom required in each
critical case; his quick solution Of intrica-
cics which perplexed others; and his ad
ministratiye talent made him the wise coun
sellor, whose presence was invaluable to
those called to act in any deiiberatige or
executive capacity devolved on item by
Church or State. We have lost him from
our counsels, lost the constant stimulus OF
his conscientiousness before God and men,
and Of his deep and unaffected piety; lost
the enjoyment of his cheerful pleasant and
refreshing society, his instructive discourse
and the glowing fervor of his patriot breast.
We shall no more hear from his lips, now
silent in death, those eloquent appeals
which thrilled the sonl when h advocated
the cause of Christian missions, nor do We
expect ever to know more unif1rm and
unobtrusive support than he gave, to the
extent Of his means, to this cause so near
his hear.
We i'm our lamentations with those Of
our sorrosipg Church, whose sons and
aughters as they told the story of his
death, exclaimed: Know ye not that there
is prince and great man fallen in lsreal
this day I"
We do now inscribe with fearful eyes a
page in our records to the memory of our
deceased brother aud friend whose faith
NAV we follow, considering the end of his
conversation Jesus Christ, the same yes
terdaY to-day and forever"
Resoircd. That we condole with the be-
reaved family in their irreParahle loss, aud
that our secretary be requested to furnish
ksbem with o copy of this minute.
REV. S. D. CAMPBELL, writing from &C.
neva, Ala, says ne has been laid aside from
ministerial duties for four months, but is
now conyalescent, and hopes soon to resume
them again.
RELIGIOUS PERIoDICALs-The Southern
PRESBYTERIAN suggests that sit would be an
excellent plan for every church session to
appoint committee charged with the spe-
cial duty of attending to the circulation of
religious periodicals in their congregation.
Such committee should make il their bust
ness to see that every member Of the church
is supplied with religious journal, provid-
ing fund to pay for it for those not abe
to do so for themselves, and collecting and
forwarding the subscriptions puuctually and
regularly. Such an agency should include
our weekly religious journals, the chidren's
paper, and the religious reviews also"
The Synod of Virginia, ia the fall Of 1861,
recommended such a plan, but it has been
carried out in only few instances, SO far as
we know.
"
A feT