The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-01-18
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.


Whilst secular education in its primary
aud uore advanced sections il making rapid
progress towards perfection, whilst Sabbath
School instruction is beginning to move to
the front line of modern reforms, is it not
possible to introduce notifications of decided
value into our course and methods of theo-
logical study? One gifted and earnest Pro
fessor evidently has deep convictions on the
subject, as his memorial to the Assembly on
the reconstruction of our seminary plan in
dicates. 1t is greatly to be desired that his
views in the premises, be set forth in our re-
ligious newspapers, and considered by our
people at large, as well as by the Assembly s
Committee, that is to meet at Greensboro,
N. G.
Without discussing these suggested changes,
there is single change of our Seminary
Sessions, which may yield the happiest re.
suits, and powerfully affect for our good, the
character of our future ministers and theo-
logical professors. The Seminary course
now extends over three years, eight months
of each year being the annual session.
That is, our seminary course now fills twen-
ty-four studying months. Suppose that we
still retain this twenty-four months of study,
but distribute them equally over four years,
instead of three, as at present. We thus
give the students and faculty six months of
Seminary toll in each year, leaving, say one
month for vacation, and five months annually
to students and faculty for evangeistic labor.
The eager anxiety of the candidate to be
engaged in his life work, and his impatience
at the long delay for preparation are partly
met by the plan proposed. Whilst, at first
blush, the plan seems to delay his entrance
upon active work beyond the requirements
of the present system, it in reality hastens
his beginning to labor in the vineyard.
TIE following, among other advantages,
it is hoped, would accrue from this change.
1st. Our seminaries would then be not
only great centres of light, but also great
centres of evangelistic work. They would
thus in this last feature resemble the noble
Irish schools, of the Prophets of the fifth
and sixth centuries, whose history has been
partly exhumed of late, by DR.. Anderson,
in his work on Foreign Missions. These
schools were "sanctuaries for scriptural in
struction and scholarship in the intellectual
night that followed the downfall of the Rom
ish Empire. They were also the source of
Gospel missions throughout Europe, which
sowed the seeds of reformation in Germany,
England and Scotland, that came as bless
ing to the world, eight or nine centuries af-
terwards." Scriptural scholarship, and
missionary VOrk were the twin facts in their
history. The latter as prominent and strik-
ing as the former.
And better still, our theological seminaries
will then more closely resemble that Theo-
logical Seminary with its dozen students, of
which the Lord of Glory was the Professor,
in which the best kind of instruction was
combined with active missionary work in the
preparation of the students for their minis
terial office. Notice, that whilst not yet half
educated and still in process of training, the
apostles, as part Of their training, labored
in the home missionary field. Christs mode
of training ministers is to weave instruction
and evangelistic work together in the pre-
paratory period.
2. There will be no need of the student
consuming several years after he enters the
ministry in semi-efective labor, because the
seminary crust is not rubbed off. Under
this plan it is rubbed off as fast as it is
formed There may be something of exag-
geration in the saying that under the pre-.
sent system, a deposit of common sense, the
slow accumulation of years, must form over
seminary stratum in the theologians char
acter, before he can make that lofty attain,
ment that "the common people will hear
him gladly" and before he can wisely fill
the sacred office; but it is not altogether
fancy.
8. Evangelistic work among destitutions
is absolutely necessary to the formation of a
vigorous ministerial character. The vener.
able DR.. Alexander got half his power and
JUNCTION under God, as minister and profes.
sor, from his extensive work as an evangel
ist. The Free Church of Scotland employs
to some extent, at least its theological stu
dents, in home missionary work during va
cation. A recent writer says, "before any
Prussian, be he prince or peasant, can enter
upon the active service of life, he must have
spent three years in camp and soldierly
drill" This thorough training, practical as
well as theoretical, accounts for the marvel
Gus success of Prussia, in the war now un
fortunately raging. In deep, wide sense
of the words, it is true that the church