The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-10-13
Resignation of DR.. Breckenridge.

Having published last week brief article relating
to this matter it may be only an act of justice to
let DR.. Breckenridge speak for himself. The Phila
delphia Presbyterian of last week gives signif
cant remarks. As they probably foreshadow the
policy to be pursued, it may be well for a right un-
derstanding of the case, to quote portion of them.
1t says concerning DR.. Breckinrdge's letter OF res
ignation.
1T will be recognized at once as the letter of a
man who surrenders one position only to fall back
in order upon another, which he means to hold
with determination, and defend at all hazards
DR.. Breckenridge, however, has already damaged
his cause by the words which he has chosen to use
concerning the General Assembly and its acts
We can hardly conceive why he should wish to re-
tain any office in the gift of body which he con
siders as the victim of "delusions, leading it to
the commission of acts which are deplorable. u
The resignation Of Drs. Yerkes and West we re
gard as wise and proper. The promptness with
which they came forward, to remove all difficulties
out OF the Assembly's way, merits hearty common
datiou, and we presume that by the time the Gen
eral Assembly meets, the way will be open for the
entire reorganization of the Faculty.
The Assembly's Committee was in session at
Danville hut one day But its members had pre-
vviously consulted with number Of the ministers
and elders in Kentucky, and conferred also with
seminary
while in Danville. The members of the Commit
tee expressed themselves as surprised at the unan
unity OF sentiment existing in Kentucky in regard
to the Seminary, its present condition, and the
measures necessary to give it renewed and perma-
nent prosperity.
This unanimity will greatly assist the Assembly
in the plans it may adopt for the reGstablishment
of this Institution, and especially in the choice Of
the gentlemen whom it will elect to fill the vacant
chairs The men who have adhered to our Church
through all the years Of conflict in Kentucky de-
serve the confidence and love of the entire Church,
and their counsels in regard to the course to be
pursued by the Assembly, should be listened to
with the utmost respect
After administering caution to Theological
Summaries in general, as to the behavior becoming
them, it gives this somewhat ominous utterance: :,
but our Theological Summaries must be care
full not to surrender themselves to the rule Of
cliques or to form cliqueS within themselves
They must not nourish any sectional or local spirit,
but be in ready sympathy with the general aims
and purposes of the Church. We do not want
Danville theology, or Princeton theology, or a
Northwestern theology, and we want no politics OF
any kind"
One canreadily understand that the Presbyterian,
after long and sad experience of all sorts of poll.
ties in its Church and in its columns, should come
to exactly such conclusion, that it wants no
politics of any kind" But that is "no concern
ment of ours, as John Owen says; so let us hear
what DR.. Breckenridge has to say for himself. 1t
is mentioned in the newspapers that the Board
of Directors on the 18th OF September, accepted
his resignation to take effect on the lst of Deem
Der next" That will be after the meeting and
union of the two Assemblies in Pittsburg.
LETTER.
DANvILLE, KY, Sept Is, 1862
To the Board OF Directors Of the DaaUiue Theo-
logical Seminary, noo0 concerned:
Dear Brethren-I avail myself of one of the
provisions of the plan for the government of this
Seminary-to resign into your hands the Professor
ship which have held in it, since its establish
ment
This resignation may, at your choice, take effect
at the end of this Seminary financial year March
lst, 1900 or at the end Of this Scholastic year
December lst, 1869; or immediately-say on the
adjournment of your present session. 1t is to be
understood however, that my service for single
day after you adjourn, will depend upon my hold
ing my situation Of Senior Professor, with its en-
tire rights, dignites and responsibilities up to the
moment that my resignation shall take effect.
You are aware that | am Trustee of the Semi
nary and also member Of this Board Of Directors
and you may not have forgotten the extraordinary
circumstances under which | was appointed to
both Offices. propose to hold them both, and
continue in the diligent discharge OF their duties
until they are taken from me. Nor ought | to
conceal that while forbear to state more than is
necessary to explain clearly and to Justify my re-
signation to my friends and to the Church, [ re-
serve the right if should see fit to exercise it, on
my own responsible discretion, of indicating and
enforcing the principles and policy, the covenants
and the charters, the acts and delverances, under
which sixteen General Assemblies Immediately |
the last one, have conducted the affairs
of this Institution.
The General Assembly of 1869, whose organic
existence has been continued in manner so ex-
appears to me to have violated, under
the decisions practced on it, all the most impor-
tant principles heretofore adopted for its inter-
course with this Seminary. AS Trustee | cannot
its right to dispose OF the funds over
which it has no power, and to dispose of them to
uses destructive of the character Of this Institution
As Director | cannot recognize its right to set
aside its covenants and deprive the Board Of Direc
tors of its constitutional right to decide question
1t once moral and statutory, then pending before
t. in the case of a Professor. AS Professor |
,annot recognize the justice, the prOprety, or the
awfulness, of the Assembly sending committee
If gentlemen of whom but two were members of
hat body, with powers of inquest the most various
md enormous, and requiring months to execute,
directed against this Seminary, and every one con-
lected with it "aad other persons (page $50