New-York tribune., 1869-05-26
SEMI CENTENNIAL or THE PRESBYTERIAN
BOARD or EDUCATION

The preparations made by the officers Of this
Board and their friends In the General Assembly 10 enst
public interest and sympathy, by marking with due oh
servauccs the 5Oh year Of the founding Of the Board
were rewarded With success large audience united
was coinmcmorated The Brick Church was well hlled,
and all the friends Of education manifested their interest
in tho cause which convened them.
The Rev, DR., Jacohus presided. The exercises were
opened with prayer by the Rey Wm. Speer, d. ID the
Corresponding Secretary Of tho Beard The same gen
tlema also explained m few Introductory remarks the
objects Of the meeting and called attention 10 the deepy
made by the Rev Dr. Magil of Princeton Theological
Seminary His subject the begehts rendered 10 MN.
steria education 10y the fostering care aud sympathy OF
ths Board The speaker handled this subject in clear
and practical manner For many years ne has watched
over students under the cara or the Board III the IN
sttons Princeton aud very few are better qualhed
TO give an opinion this subject than he HIS approval
OF work In which he has taken lifelong lnterests
sncent guarantee OF its excellence The next speaker,
the Rev Willis Lord d. d., is professor In the NORTH
Western Theological Seminary at Chicago. leDoring IN
tho great center OF influence for the North h,Wesern
States his position prepared him TO judge OF thc lnnu
ence o this Board upOu the field OF Domestic MsslOns
The next address delivered by the Rev Dr Bradle
OF Phadelpns La an animated r9Pa manner Sng tb tbe
past 80 years The present occasion is one OF he cn
landmarks IN the history Oh the ehHrCr SS DS0 of
over tho 80 years past simply as years they may nos
seem long; but counting these years Dy tue aStIVns
performed IN them they may Ge Sonhten p
in room In Yale College, rejoieed That tney had
founded our church among the heather and estaOshed
successful mission. Now the American Board reports
over two hundred churches gathered ir0m auohg tue
lpaf hen.
Held Fifty years ago and less college in It's infancy
Now behold Nassau Hall and maay other nOuflshlhg
institutions giving to the education OF our land
The ork Of thus Board In raising up minister's mission
aries professors and teachers cannot be estimated we
look the future and ask whab Is 10 De the
work OF this society IL will DO to seek out
men and tram them for the ministry TO bring back the
old days OF conservation when mothers gave thef ehl
dren 10 It Is great privilege to live III these
days and what God is doing and to be h0nored our
aeyos I'm doing sOmething for something worthy OF
our opportunities aud age Tho Rev. Dr. McCosh Pres
dent OF Princeton College, was next introduced The
speaker felt no had an Important, ulnlcut
and delicate subject to present-the rela'
tion OF tho Church to Elementary Educau0n
rope can throw light this subject for II is Ia trans
ition state from the old efee condition To new hnd
unTed state. IL Is necessary for US TO come down 10
first principles. After laying down the aNoms that pa
pants OF the responsibility Of educating youth the speaker
proceeded TO elaborate his view that the Church should
not engage In tho work OF elementary education.
dreotly-but only by indirect influences. The speaker
to nculcate upon the Church tho necessity OF establish
ing secular business aud setting up manufactures Nor
did the Injunction, "Fred my lambs meau that We
should teach arithmetic or unsecular studies The ex-
undertaken 10 teach science through their
schools has not been satisfactory. The Church
is to that people arc tanght-that schools
uDproyded placed under proper Dhuenoes-to instruct
tho youth through the pulpit well "a the school He
thought there great error In not preaching In a
simple way TO children ana the poor One.thlrd OF
all congregations not reached by ~ the present
style Of preaching, and he regarded this serious evil
which greatly needed reformation Through the pulpit
and the SabbathSchOOl and tho family directly, ana
through controlling influence over schools ana systems
Of instruction. and by raising up Christian teachers
schools and colleges Church discharge her duty
In educating tho young ~, ---.,...
At the conclusion OF the Doctors address the services
closed with the doHology and benedetion