The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-06-21
Byron had grown old with disease and dis
sipation, he sat down and wrote,
''My days are in the yellow leaf,
The fruits and flowers of love are gone,
The worm, the csnker, and the grief,

''My days are in the yellow leaf,
The fruits and flowers of love are gone,
The worm, the csnker, and the grief,
Are mine alone;
and then died with the vision of Turkish
scimitar flashing over the field of blood
The other starting in life about the same
time, possessing fine intellectual powers, af-
ter translating the word of God into the
Persian language, and placing copy of it
upon the throne of the King, sat down in
his orchard and penned the words,
GAS sat in communion with God, my
solace and my JOY, then was borne to
heaven in a chariot Of fire.
These cases illustrate the power Of Chris
tian edueation-for education apart from
Christian influences may become the greatest
curse to individuals and to countries. But
hundred years ago President Edwards, if
l recollect Alright, used this language; A
century from this time, a great battle will
be fought in the Valley of the Mississippi !;
and it will be fought not with sword and
cannon, but it will be an intellectual and
moral confict-a conflict between light and
darkness, truth and error, holiness and sin,
Professionalism and Popery. Mind will be
brought to clash with mind, and its highest
powers will be enlisted in the contest. That
is the idea, sir, without giving the language.
Is not that battle being fought to-day =
Whom are we to depend upon to give US the
victory? Is it not our educated young men
The young men in our Colleges and Semina,
freshmen thoroughly imbued with the Spirit
of the Lord Jesus---men developing all their
intellectual and moral powers? And the
grandest thing we can do to-day for this
country and for this Church is to encourage
the education of our young men, to aid them
in their literary and theological course by
every means in our power.
l have but one other remark to make, and
1 make it modestly. In the providence OF
God l have been put in connection with one
of our institutions of learning-an institu-
ton founded in faith and prayer, which has
had in its faculty in past days noble and
cody men, some of whom have won the
throne and the diadem. An institution
which according to an estimate made by the
Rev. Mr.. Lane and published in some of our
religious papers, furnished to the Southern
ministry one-twelvth of its whole number,
and which at a certain period in the history
of the Theological Seminary at Columbia,
had more young men there than all the other
schools in this land combined. That insti-
tuition has been re0rganized, it is looking up,
and we trust that brighter career awaits
it. What | have to say-the earnest request
l have to make, is that you and this Gene.
raj Assembly will remember that institution
in your prayers, as well as all the other no.
| bic institutions in the land which are doing
good work for the Church and for this
generation.
JUDGE W. L. litcheH-Mr. Moderator and
brethren, when DR.. Pryor applied to me to say
something on this occasion, l told him very hon.
estly that was no speaker, for the purpose OF set
| speeches-that most Of the speaking L had done
was such as grew out of the circumstances in which
| might be placed. have no gems, no beautiful
paragraphs with which to entertain you. And
feel particularly embarrassed, having weak voice
| and an humble presence, to follow so magnificent
a person as our brother who has just taken III:
seat, laughter gifted with the most remarkable
voice ever heard. So eminenti is he for his voice
that durin our late war it was said that when the
two armies were up here about Chattanooga, M
could take IS stand ups6s- Lockout Mountain and
make both armies hesI himi Laughter.
| have great personal interest in this subject
of education. When replied to DR.. Pryor that
/ was certainly not the man for this occasion, ne
said, 'sThen be witness for u.s." and | am here
simply as witness to testify to you, If it be worth
anything, in behalf of liberal education. What
mean by,a liberal education is the same old seven
liberal arts and sciences which have been known
| to the Church and to the world for generations
the ancient languages of Greece and Rome, math-
ematies, logic, bellies ettre and the three phloso
plies, natural, moral and mental. When youth
is properly trained in these seven liberal arts and
sciences | hold him to be literally educated.
have for years been an advocate upon that side OF
| the question of education While | have been
willing to see our Colleges and Universities extend
their courses to some extent, | have no sympathy
with those institutions which make education vol
untary Voluntary education is the popular idea
in our day, for the reason that the great mass OF
our parents are utterly incompetent to advise their
sons and lads fifteen or sixteen years old are In
competent TO say what is the proper education for
themselves. Hence | have had for many years
many contests with Boards of Trustees to which !
belong, to keep them to the idea of never relin'
gushing the seven arts and sciences essential to
liberal education.
Now one other idea. | was here on Saturday
night, and heard that extremely interesting and
edifying sermon upon the Sabbath day, but beg in
this presence to dissent from one ideaof the preach
er-that Adam and Eve were created infants, and
knew all the pleasures of childhood. We are taught
in Holy Writ that when our progenitor, Adam,
was created, he was created In the image OF God,
and that image consists in three things, knowledge,
righteousness and true holiness. Now, cannot
predicate knowledge of little infant. That indl.
Gates to my mind that Adam was created full
grown man. Leaving that for the theologians to
settle, have another idea that the only means
under Providence by which that part of the image
which was lost in the fall, designated by the term
knowledge, can be restored is through the agency
of the arts and sciences, that the part denomnated
righteousness can be restored only through society,"
and the part termed holiness only through the
gospel. Hence while as Christian men we are
laborng to spread the gospel, we must OF necessity
if we wish to restore the whole of this lost image
be the advocates of liberal education. Now,
suppose from the report on our table that that
education which we are particularly invited to con-
slider, is liberal education with view to the
ministry That is the education which as a people
we are considering. presume there is no objec
ton to this report need not stand here to advo,
cate what is said in it. suppose it will be adopted
unanimously. Hence l will not consume time
with further remarks, excepting one to my brother
elders. | have been in the practice, for many
years, of calling the attention of young men to the
ministry. have kept and now keep on hand a
supply of DR.. Dabney's Call to the Ministry"
Before it was published [ kept number of tracts
on the same subject. Whenever lad in my Sab
bath School or young person In the congregation,
is brought by Gods grace into the church, l put
DR.. Dabneys tract in his hand make it my
duty to let no one escape, however humble he may
be in his circumstances. What | have to say in
conclusion is to exhort all my brother elders
throughout the broad land to keep themselves sup
Piled with this tract. and put it into the hands of
every converted youth. And then when we pray
the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into
his harvest, if we will furnish the means Of an
education we may expect large accessions. To me
the most imnnrtant work this Church is engaged