The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-11-12

plan proposed was not in accordance with
the principles Of Presbyterianism. he
regarded the appointment of professors Dy
any other than the Synods as entirely
new doctrine here, as In all frotestan1
churches. His most serious, indeed, 81,
most his only objection was that It gave all
the appointments to eight men. lie was
old, and had seen many things. de had
"neyer seen the righteous forsaken, or MS
seed begging breadn; but he had seen
many things in the church of Jesus christ
over which he had been called to lament.
| The right or veto which now rests IN the
SYNOD Of Virginia should never be given
up. .,,
The hour for devotional exercises having
arrived, debate on this subject was post
poned until after the recess.
Before the exercises began, Dr. L. V.
Moore wished to say that he had this morn
ing received few copies Of the works
which the Publication Committee had re-
Gently put out, and he wished the members
of the Synod to examine them.
Rev. Mr.. Johnson, Of the Baptist church
of Portsmouth, and Messrs. Baine, Leroy
NJ. Lee, and Cheatham, of the Methodist
churches in this city and Portsmouth, were
invited to sit as corresponding members.
During the devotional exercises, to which
your correspondent remained, the whole
assembly united in singing, among others,
that grand old hymn "The Coronation"
with much effect, and apparently under a
sense of deep feeling and solemnity.
The Committee on Records reported that
they had examined the minutes of Lexing-
ton Presbytery, and moved they be adopt
ed; which motion was conculrcd in.
The report of the Committee on Bills
and Ovcrtures was then taken up, and the
report upon the overture of Montgomery
Presbytcry regarding the new Presbytcry
was called for. Upon its reading, the Rev.
DR.. Pryor moved its adoption; and upon
the question being put, it was decided in
the affirmative. The further report from
that Presbytery in relation to change of
boundary lines was taken up, and after
some discussion in regard to the practical
blity and usefulness Of the proposed
change, conducted almost exclusively by
those who were most interested in the
| subject, it was, on motion, made the order
| of the day for tomorrow morning. The
remainder of the report of the Committee
on Bills and Overturcs was, on motion, laid
on the table for the present, and the un-
finished business relating to the Union
! Theological Seminary was taken up. Rev.
| DR.. T. Pryor having the floor, proceeded
to address the Synod on the subject. He
commenced by saying that he supposed at
this day no one doubted the propricty of
having 4 theological seminary under the
control of the Church. An objection had
been raised that there was no divine warrant
for such an institution. He did not see it in
that light. 1t was, according to his csti-
nation, capable of great good TO the
| Church and the country at large. His
feelings and inclination would lead him to
leave it Just where it is--under the
management of the two SynodS. The
Board of Directors had, under direction,
made this report. His chief objection to
the plan was that of making the Board a
sclf.pcrpetuating body. We are appoint
ing an organization which we hope will last
for many wears. No one can tell amid the
tumults, revolutions, and confusons with
which the whole country is convulsed,
what will become of us. He would not
like to permanently invest the General
Assembly with the entire control OF TINS
institution for in a few years this assem-
bly, may be in the hands Of persons who
are prciudiccd against us; and all the
legislation in regard to the Seminary may
be utterly opposed to the interests of thi:
SYNOD. An unwisc feature Of the par
proposed was the provision which enabled
the directors to continue in office all then
lives. But though his individual preference
was for continuing the Seminary under
the present management, still he thought
it best, under all the circumstances, Il
vote for the report as it stood.
Rev. Pcyton Harrison had been thinking
on this subject for thirty-fve years, ant
during all this time had seen defects in The
government of the Seminary which had
in every instance, been caused by depart
ing from the rules laid down by DR.. Rice
the founder Of the institution. The cen
tralization of power had caused great dis
satisfaction in certain quarters. Let one
third Of me directors be removed ever!
wear, and then the Synod ~'S5aaald -beeom,
interested in its management. Instead et
having, us formerly, twenty-tour directors
and twenty-four electors, it is proposed to
reduce the number to eight; and thus you
reduce by Just the very same ratio the IN
tcrcst in the Seminary. For himself, he
had thought a great deal of this subject,
and had never been able to devise a scheme
which he considered suitable for its ma
nagement. Human ingenuity could not
devise plan free from objections. lie be-
licved that if they could get back as near
as possible to the original plan, so much the
more good they would be able to accom-
plish. The report of the committee was
an able one, but to his mind it contained
| insuperable objections, and under the state
of feeling which existed here now, no new
plan would be adopted, but he would earn
estly recommend return to first prlncl-
pies. He paid glowing tribute to the pre-
sent faculty of the Seminary.
He would propose that the two Synods (of
| Virginia and North Carolina) hold joint
meeting, and then discuss the questions
fully and freely. He moved that the whole
subject be referred to a select committee,
to report at the next meeting of the Synod.
Rev. John Miller, in rising to second the
motion, wished to ask DR.. Brown if, in the
course of events, it should be necessary to
change the government or the plan of the
Seminary, how it could be done, and also
what rcsiduary rights the two Synods
should retain in the Seminary.
DR.. Brown, in answer to DR.. Pryor, said
that the plan proposed was for the General
Assembly to first appoint the Board of
Directors, and thus get the Seminary en-
tirely under their control. This would be
a starting point for them; and in response
to Mr.. Miller, he said that any alterations
to be done will have to be done by the