The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-24
RICHMOND,' va WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER a. 1866.


lar value, as a tract of land would be.
Now the current doctrine of our Boards
of Education leaves the moral sentiments
of the beneficiary in an unwholesome
posture. Is he taught to deny that the
gift is a gift? Here is an odious school
ing in ingratitude. Does he recognize it
as a gift? The personal giyer is un-
known, and gratitude has no object, ex-
cept an abstraction. Thus all that culti-
yation of the heart, which is a chief part
of Gods object in aims giving, is lost.
Moreover, the stimulus to industry and
faithfulness, in improving the Opportuni-
ties thus given is removed, and the Church
loses that valuable guarantee against be.
slowing aims on unworthy objects, which
is created by the personal interest, watch
fulness, and oversight of a personal do
nor. We fear, it must be declared, that
facts bear out this reasoning, by showing
that the beneficiaries of the Board have
more RELAXED conscience, about improv-
ing their opportunity, than the average
of Divinity students. 1t is also to be re-
marked, that, after all the specious JUS
tifcatiOns of the plan, there is usually
lurking feeling of degradation about the
recipients of this aid; they cannot but
feel that, for strong, able-bodied man
to receive public aims in such country
as ours, under the name of getting an
education, makes him sort of pauper.
This humiliation is obviously increased
by the odious system of reports, distin-
gushing them from their richer comrades,
(yet, though odious, necessary corollary
of the scheme,) by which their receiving
their appropriations is made to depend on
the private report of sort of professo-
rial inquisition. But this difficulty would
be removed, by adopting for all students,
system of strict responsibilities, as
above recommended.
Now, there should be means provided,
for aiding, and thus abridging the pre-
paration of meritorious young men, and
where they were already of mature
years, saving their time to the Church.
But this aid should be the exception, not
the general rule. 1t should come from
two sources. 1. The gifts of personal
benefactors, personally interested in the
recipient, so that the whole transaction
would be one of private Christian friend
ship, between man and man. 2. Schol-
arships in our literary institutions. And
these scholarships should be what their
name denotes, aa0ardS Of merit, bestowed
as prizes, on actual examination, upon
such as had won them over their fellows,
by superior diligence, integrity, and ca
pacity. And let not the indigence of
the applicant be named as qualification
for receiving. If the best student is as
rich as a Van Rensselaer,, let him take
the prize, if he demandsit. If the poor
student needs it, let him show his met
tie, and eOm it. Then, instead of feel
ing humiliation in the help obtained, he
will feel elevated and invigorated. The
Colleges should have a few such prize
scholarships, to be bestowed for merit in
the academy, and enjoyed while passing
College. The Seminaries should
have more, to be bestowed on those who
won them by excellence in their College
course, or in the first and second years
work of the Seminary.
For reasons above indicated, it is be-
Heved that the Church should never adopt
it as her established rule, to bear the
whole charge of any candidate education,
in any form. 1t is all important that
part Of this burden be left resting upon
himself, as a test of his disinterested devo-
ton, and a training of his hardihood.
Woe to the purity of the ministry if the
Church ever departs permanently from
this principle. What the INDECENT can
didate needs is help to make his progress
possible; not such helps as supersedes
the necessity of using his own limbs to
walk in that progress. But we freely ad-
NIT that our discharged soldiers consti-
tute an exception to this rule. They
have expended four years in the service
of their country, and have left the army
utterly impoverished. They are too
old to be longer delayed; the Church
needs them now. They should be borne
through their preparation without days
delay. But when this meritorious class
is exhausted, the Assembly should i'm
require all the Seminaries, and
its Committee of Education to return to
the old rule; which extended only help,
and not maintenance.
TO BE CONTINUED.