The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-07

Saviour mean that they should be cherished
and trained by the Church when he com,
manded the Apostle Peter, as pledge Of
his love and repentance: "Feed my lambs?
What means. that? Suppose I take my
child and carefully instruct him in the Cos
pei of Jesus Christ. But concerning the
mathematics, the natural sciences, philoso.
ply and the various branches commonly
called secular, I put that child out of my
charge, and leave the care of these things to
others not having the same obligations, not
fulfilling their duties by virtue of those OBJ
legations to that child; am faithful to that
child's soul? Further, what means educa-
ton? AS commonly apprehended it means
filing the mind with so much knowledge, in
structing them in so many facts. But that
is not what is meant by education. That is
not the main intent of our schools and COL
leges. Years ago, so long since that | have
forgotten even the definition of the science,
I studied the calculus and the various
branches of higher mathematics. l cannot
remember enough of them to be able to make
definition, perhaps; and yet, sir, whilst
pursuing those studies, it was not my inten-
tion to acquire so much mere knowledge of
the facts of mathematics and the manipula-
tions of figures and numbers. The design
was to develop that immortal spirit within
me, to expand and train its powers and fac
ulties to qualify it for wrestling with the
great doctrines of Gods Word. And when
[ stand now in the presence of Gods people
and world of sinners, and preach Jesus
Christ, am l not fulfilling the very thing for
which that training qualified me?
And what is meant by secular education
in this connection? 1t is science developing
the immortal spirit; it is science expanding
the immortal powers for Gods service; it
is science engraving upon the soul under its
training, line by line, the image of that God
whom we are to serve, and whose image is
the perfection of our being.
Then, sir, look at it in another aspect
What are the sciences-astronomy geology.
mathematics, physics and other branches
but various branches of Gods revelation of
Himself? Do "the heavens declare the
glory of God and the armament show His
6andywork ?" Does not the science of
mathematics constitute the elements Of that
great problem. "Who by searching can find
out God, who can know the Almighty to
perfection 1t is as high as heaven; what
canst thou do deeper than hell; what canst
thou know?" Why, sir, as Agassiz sits in
the chair of science, and by the deductions
of his philosophy Z" falsely so called, spurns
Gods Word, have I no concern? Is that
science? Is that truth? Does not science
teach the truth concerning God? When a
man from the pulpit descants upon the tes-
timonies of Gods Word as in connection
with the sun, moon and stars, and othe'
fields of science, is he not teaching theology
in teaching these things? There is not
branch of truth that is not testimony of
God-not an element of science which in
its proper proportions and place is not the.
ology. And there are, therefore, none of
these things that are not committed to Gods
Church for the training of Gods children
our children, for His service.
I am therefore clear and strong in the con-
viction that Gods Church in some form Il
do not insist that it shall be by the immedi-
ate administration of our Church Courts
that would be an unwise mode) is bound in
fathfulness to the souls of her children, in
faithfulness to the cause of Jesus Christ, to
God, and 1 will add, in faithfulness to the
State, to cast the salt of divine truth into
the waters But whilst hold these views,
and whilst | was exceedingly delighted at
the results to which the Convention came, |
confess that my mind has hesitated over the
report of the Committee. Some of the objec-
tons urged. l sympathise with; others, as
already indicated in my remarks, | repudiate.
When 1 was about to be delegated by our
Presbytery as member of the Convention,
it was desired to know my sentiments upon
this subject. My answer was that l was in
state of ignorance was looking to the
coming Convention for light, and therefore
had no opinions formed. The response OF
the brethren was "that expresses our posi-
ton" Can it be right for me to consent
that my Presbytery, without an opportunity
to examine the details of the plan, should
be committed to the specific line of policy
there set forth, or that the Church (for l
believe it is generally in the same position)
should be so committed? l apprehend from
the reading of the paper that the plan is not
fully adjusted in the details as it ought to
be before it should receive such sanction
from this Assembly. My impression is that
the wisest thing that could be done would be
to refer this paper back to that Committee,
with the addition of the Senior Professor of
Theology in Union Seminary, as he was the
first to originate the plan set forth by the
Convention, with instructions to mature the
plan in its details, and report to this Assem-
bly,; the report to be spread upon our minutes
for the next Assembly, without any committal
on our part, leaving the matter to the re
Elections of the Church For it is most
interesting fact that, whereas we all contem-
plated this meeting with reference to the
idea of magnificent scheme requiring the
collection of million of dollars, brethren
in Christ are ready to furnish largely the
means for the endowment of such an insti-
tuition. While on the one hand, it would
be utterly improper to leave this interest to
secular and irresponsible institutions of any
kind, it would be unwise and improper in
the impoverished state of our Church, and
in view of other interests of the cause Of
Christ, to call upon our churches for so large
contribution; and on the other hand, it
would be equally unwise and improper to
fail to provide for making available the char.
tiles in the hands of those whom God has
blessed with the means, and induced to con-
secrate them to His service. The sugges-
ton may have entered the minds of some,
that such parties ought to give their means
to other objects-to impoverished churches
and other necessities. But, sir, those hav.