The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-06-01


the foremost educators of the land. Second:
Our system of doctrine depends not upon
the passions and emotions, but the intelli.
gence of the people for support; whilst our
Scriptural and simple forms of worship are
addressed, not to the senses, in ritualistic
forms and imposing ceremonies, but to the
cultivated intellect and heart. And, in the
third place, as natural and necessary re-
suit Of this our deficiency, the youth of the
Church and of the South will be drawn to
those institutions, irrespective of section or
country, where they can enjoy the greatest
literary advantages at the least cost. The
number of our youth now in Roman Cath
olic, Unitarian and other institutions, un-
friendly in their influence to what we regard
as evangelical Christianity, is much larger
than is generally supposed, and should be
a matter of serious alarm to every friend OF
a pure and undefled religion. When we
take into consider ton the incffaceable infu-
ence for good or evil, exerted upon the plas-
tic minds of youth, by their teachers and
surroundings, it becomes matter of wise
policy, as we'll as sacred duty, as the guar
dians of the youth of the church, to prevent
them from straying away from our own reli-
gious influence. But how can this be done?
Not by the published warnings and remon-
strances contained in preambles and resou-
tions uttered by ecclesiastical bodies, but by
establishing institutions of our own, of such
high order and superior advantages as that
there will be no just temptation to 60 else
where. Such institutions however, it is
manifest, cannot be established by any
one of our Presbyteres or Synods, even
the largest and wealthiest, from the fact that
they cannot furnish the necessary funds and
patronage. This can be successfully done
only by the united and harmonious efforts of
the whole Church. One great design, as we
conceive, of the corporate character of the
Church is, that she may be able to accom-.
plish that in her collective and concentrated
capacity which she could not otherwise ac-
complish. This, as we understand it, ac-
cords with the distinctive genius of Presby-
terianism Hence the whole Church, in her
corporate capacity, is employed in the work
of Foreign Missions, Sustentation, etc. We
also concentrate the same mighty power in
educating the children of the Church Is
not one great institution of more avail than
many snalt ones we uo 1Vs soai ausGoa,0 raI .I
aoolitlon Oh lresoy'criai anu oynYuiSaL ~
leges' excePs mnere ~ may &c Iaus.a Eo.,. ;nS0r
porate their remaining funds and property
in a great Church institution, rather than to
continue the fruitless and wasteful struggle
IN 10 .1ylng 70 AeeP anIa' S'nHns '. ,Sa o;r
Ooneges. Dus so., VIC w. ,n VIZ" v"nr rsversnd
Iuao'an.eI, ;a.n'sy ;a.n m oonodarot;on tho
,".tos 10y ef E astahl;ob;nn M obould i he found
'0, h"a. sro.. y. Cbnroh ;1st;tnt;on of learning.
I ssI 10 and sucb as in the
sun % ses 70 ,.:sI;a.a ~ - .ho ,s ,,~o.n..;tu
el1 ..,'I's' s,.s
:. s'S' 'o's''se : - - : : = - <
qonssss s1y, Z, :. ;,.s,ss -, ~
Wni'ss tue eseao''s @ ssac'tAe a:Ss
'I.lon as ,s conse%Pia'eu y youi e,
allSts couio not De scccesslye'y enec'ec ~.
any one Synod' OF fragment OF section
OF tne cnurcn, YET IL woula Oe Of compare
lively easy accomplsnmen5' as already n1-
naeeu, oy .ne concentrated anu harmonious
energies OF tne wnoie cnurch' embracing as
1t does, eleven synods, and extending over
the territory OF thirteen OF the falrest States
IN 'ne Union. Desldes tnere are many
others' not organlcaly connected Win us,
VINO "ouiu nevertheless synpa.nse mise VIII anu
aid IN tne grand enterprise WIN sucn
nelu. anu WIN such Doay OF jealous CO.
laoorers as occupy IL, ai, working simui.a-
neously ana systematically through series
Oh IVe yearS-snore enough icr 30 great
work-yVur lne,norlaliS's are Oh 'le opinion
that with the blessing OF 0od, there is no
reasonable doubt that the necessary funds
(say million OF dollars), can be secured,
with which to commence the noble scheme.
1t is not the intention OF your memorial
lists to pray this Assembly to begin at once
the work OF establishing the aforesaid
church university, by celebrating plan and
selectlng Location, etc. In our numoie
Judgment, the church is not yet ready Tor
such action 1t would be premature, nay,
fatal to the fnal success OF the enterprise.
In the event that the Assembly alter deiio'
crate ana prayeriul lnvest,gaton' concludes
to undertake the work, these deiicate ana
tlckllsh questions relating to "plan and
location, SO well calculated 10 become
an apple oi uiscora anu 70 Prouu1e ulv's'oeS,
aau :. oe!'er Ce ,ele 70 Tue WISE alu PIayer,ui
aiscretlon Oh 1ne HHecu'lye connil''ee wno
may pe ih'rus.eu WIN 'ae nnal s:la oCiSanma.
tloh Oh lne enterprise As t1 n,enlofiailsts VIC
only ASK sns present ; ASsemo.y .o 70 appoas
COMMITTEES au iii.erinlIa ,en'a,i'e oonni.'ee'
IL IL may De 80 termed' ciosned "itn au'nor-
ity, ana provided with the necessary means
TO oring tnis matter fairiy oefore tne nina
OF the whole church. In order TO create an