The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-02-19

Increase in Candidates for the Ministry.-,P
| II ID writes to the ~ e. Presbyterian that
. candidates in Orange Presbytery are lncreas
inc rapidly, and | have no doubt that from
present prospects We shall be able to take care
of every one Of them"
The Merrick Persian scholarship.-The Rev.
| ]. l.. Merriek, who was graduated with the
first class in the Theological Seminary at 70
Iumbia and will be remembered by many OF
the earlier students and friends of the Sem!
nary for his many virtues and missionary Zeal,
has bequeataad So 600 by his last will and teS'
lament, to found scholarship in this lnSutu,
ron to be called HThe Persian Scholarship.
The early associates of Mr.. Merrick will re-
member that he regarded himself especially
called to missionary labOrS among the M0ham-
medanS of Persia and that he spent many
wears at the capital of that country awaiting
an opening for the proclamation OF the gospel
He seems to have intended In the name OF
the scholarship TO direct attention stIl to the
land and people on which his labors were be-
slowed, but the conditions of the bequeSt make
it available for the relief of any student OF pro,
per qualifications who is interested in oriental
studies and missionary objects. 1t is token
of regard for an institution which aided MIN
in his preparations for the ministry, and among
whose patrons he found many warm trends.
The last years of Mr.. Merrick were spent at
Amherst, Mass, his native place. lie has
founded four scholarships, one IN Monson
Academy, one in Amherst. College, one III
Princeton Theological Seminary, and one
here. These we learn will besavaIlable to- the
institutions for which they were designed III
September next Southern Presbyterian.
The Columbia Theological Seminary.--The
Board Of Directors Of this Seminary met on
the 5th and 9th of this month. They make
a statement of its affairs in the Southern Pres
6yterjan, from which we learn that the def
cieucy, which has been accommodating each year
since the close of the war, amounted, over and
above all funds In hand on the LIST of February,
1868, to four thousand four hundred and thirty
dollars and eighty cents.
"Drs. Howe, Piumer and Adger, addressed
a letter TO the Board, expressing their deter
miuatiOn to do all in their power TO relieve the
institution of embarrassment.
They proposed two things: l. To remit the
whole sum due them. p. To ask the Assembly,
through the Directors, to reduce the salary of
each FIVE hundred dollars a year for the time
being. These proposals filed the minds OF
the Directors with deep concern and caused
long and careful elaboration. Finally, in view
of the circumstances Of the case, and especial
~ of the impoverished condition OF our coun-
try and of the depressing influence of a stand
ing debt, it was resolved to recommend the ac-
eeptance of the REIMBURSEMENT Of claim for
back salary so generously offered by these gen.
tlemen, and further to recommend to the next
l. -. L.
hundred dollars year until such time as the
resources Of the churches and the funds of the
Seminary will permit return to the amount
promised In years gone-by.
There are this session twenty-three young
brethren in the institution. 1t is known that
a considerable number expect to enter next
September; and from data In our possession
il Is confidently believed that in the autumn
of 1869, large class will enter-as large a
class as perhaps ever entered the Seminary
during any one year.
Illinois Baptists-A prominent Illinois Bap,
list writes to the Religious Herald: Many
of the BaptiStS in the southern portion of this
State are disposed to subscribe to your paper.
They have become so disguised with the poll
ties of the Baptist papers of this latitude, that
[ may safely say that not more than one Bap-
list family in fifty is now taking a religious
paper. If We pay for politics we prefer to
make our own selection of what kind we are
to have.
Southern Baptist Theological seminary-Rev.
j. A. BrOaduS writes to the Religious Herald
of this city: "There is no present prospect
that any one of the Professors will leave at the
end of the session, or at any time. Our mum
Der of students for the session has reached
thirty, from ten different States. Under all
the circumstances, we think this very encour-
aging attendance.
The New Church in Washington City
The correspondents of the Northern Presbyte-
rian papers keep us well informed of the pro-
gress of this new enterprise. 1t seems to be a
subject of great interest to them, almost as
much so as to ourselves A writer in the
North Western Presbyterian, in attempting to
assign a reason for this new organization, says:
"A clue to the mystery may be found in the
statement made by one of the band, viz: that
there were some in each of our large churches
who were dissatisfied, and it was thought best
that they should separate themselves from
their brethren and form a new organization.
If this is a true account of its origin, would 1t
be very wrong for us to call it 'the church of
the DisSatjsfed?" Another and more sig
ni6cant clue is found, however, 10 the fact that
this organization, though formed within the
bounds Of the Presbytery of the Potomac
10. s, and of the Presbytery Of the District
Of Columbia, IN. S. is attached to NEITHER
but has placed itself Tor is about to do SOY un-
der the care of the Synod of Virginia.
This tells the whole story. What the Pres
bytery of PatapSco, with the churches under
its care, is to Baltimore, that this new church
is to Washington.