The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-11-03

cannot be done if the Colleges were willing,
and ought not to be done if it could be, nor
will it be done, were it possible and obliga-
tory" Now, whether it "can be done, is
just thing the Synods are asked to ascer-
tain and decide; and their responses, each
for its own institution, will be conclusive
more so, we think, than the dietum of any
one man,-and satisfactory, doubtless, to all
concerned. While some Synods may find it
necessary to decide in the negative, others
may in the affirmative, and say that they
''cave." And thus it may be that the As
sembly may have the buildings furnished to
it's hand, in some eligible location, with
which to begin at once.
Perhaps, it will be found that the "insur
mountable legal difficulties created by the
charters of these institutions, "can, in whole
or part, be removed if desired, by amenda-
tory legislation. The power that makes
charters can amend them, or as easily, re-
woke and grant new one. And, as to dis
regarded conditions, violated truths, etc.,
would not the preservation and execution Of
these be attained in accordance with the
wishes of the good and righteous imposing
them, whether they be on earth or in heav-
en-, as well by regarding them in the sp'r1t
as in the letter? But, as to whether the
consolidation Sought to be done, and ''scsH
be done, apart from legal obstacles are
questions for general discussion; and which,
in the light of existing facts-the present
condition of these colleges, their comparative
usefulness, their future prospects, and the
logic of the entire case, call for wisest and
most unseJfsh NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
with an eye single to the good of the Church.
We can't do better in this connection than
to submit the we'll expressed views of Drs.
Lyon and Palmer, favoring, though not an
sisting upon the consolidation. Though be-
Ieving it the better plan, and certainly as
they show, not without reason, we are assured
that neither of them would wish to see the
transfer of any College to the central en-
terprise, without the same could be done
with unanimity and ready acquieScence.
DR.. Lyon says: 1T is humiliating re-
Election that we, as denomination, have no
first class institution of learning, fully up
to the times under our influence and control.
Who has not of late years been painfully
impressed with the dragging and fruitleSs
efforts to establish Presbyterial and Synodi-
cal Colleges in different parts of the Church? !?
The cause of failure in nine cases out of ten
has been the want of funds. These abor
tive efforts have involved great waste both
of labor and money, and are followed by
dependency and prostration of denomina-
tional zeal 1t is literally impossible for a
Synod embracing only a few score of
Churches, most of them small and weak, to
establish frst-class college. They can
provide neither the funds nor the patronage
that will guarantee the success of such an
attempt. Hence it is lamentable fact that
nearly all our Synodical Colleges are in
crippled and dying condition. Some are
already dead With an insufficient endow-
ment, slim patronage, and little to attract
in the shape of the libraries, apparatus, cab
inets, etc.,-it follows that the salaries of the
President and Professors are wholly made
ouate to command the first talent the
country. A clerk in a bank, or a book
keeper in dry goods store, will command a
larger salary than is offered to the president
and professors in our Synodical Colleges.
The honor of being an officer in third or
fourth,rate college struggling for doubtful
existence, is not sufficient to compensate for
the deficiency of salary. Consequently, as
a general thing, the chairs of our colleges
are not filled by the first talent Of the
Church. There ale exceptions of course
We mean no disparagement of present in
cumbents Many of them are noble men,
and worthy of much higher positions and
more generous remuneration than they now
enjoy. But, the fact, nevertheless, is incon-
trovertible. Moreover, this is not the only
evil. The poverty of these institutions ne
cessitates high tuition to supplement made
uuate endowments. The result is, that the
poor of our people are not able to patrOnize
them, but are tempted, in many instances,
to send their children to Roman Catholic
institutions, and to those of other errorists
full of deadly hostility to the Presbyterian
Church.
There is a crying demand, therefore, that
we should have institutions of our own, so
amply endowed that we too could furnish ed
ucational privileges to the poor of our Church
at small cost. Such institutions, however,
cannot be furnished by Synods much less
by ''voluntary associations within the
bounds of Synods, actuated, it may be, by
some local interest But such can be easily
provided by the united and harmonious ac-
ton of the whole Church" So. Pres. Rev.
Vol. Xxx, PIP. 156 and 1856.
DR.. Palmer says: "In like manner most
of our Church Colleges which, before the