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

object again that the effect upon our people,
who might otherwise be generous to this great pro-
ject will be disastrous. 1t will not be mlsunder-
standing; it will be correct understanding. They
will feel that their object is clrcumvented'.-
Whereas they wish their Presbyterian brethren to
give them practical guarantee that something
would be done worthy of the mark they will feel
that by this policy, making the whole enterprise
an appendage to an appendage, that guarantee Is
practically withheld Now, | can understand the
feeling with which those, who might become llbe-
raj benefactors in this enterprise are now watching
the course of this question. Were it proper
could mention names of men who stand in this at
titude when appealed to in behalf of one or an
other Presbyterian college, their answer is in sub
stance Il am not Indifferent to the cause Of
education: am not unable to help am not un-
willing to help Providence has given me means
more than need for the endowment of my own
heirs, l am not unwilling to use those means; but
here is the difficulty: We have seen the means OF
liberal men lavished here and there upon disjolnt-
ed, fragmentary partial local efforts until we are
discouraged. Why put money where it will be
wasted and leave no mark? Where is Tusculum
College? Where is Maryville? Greenville? Old
Washington College? Rogersville? The Unver-
sity of East Tennessee at Knoxville? Oakland?
Lagrange?" They point to these institutions
which have been sink-pockets," and say 1--WE
have no disposition to throw away more money;
give us guarantee that something shall be done
worthy of the mark and you will see that we will
be liberal" The question for this Assembly, or
in other words for the Presbyterian people is this
VIII Won give such guarantee, and thus probably
secure what will be the nest-egg of splendid
institutions or withhold it, and in that way, con
denim education in the Presbyterian Church to
career of partially successful because local, efforts
such as we have seen in the last forty years.
There is the issue before the wisdom of this
Assembly
Now, let me say word as to the fear of this
resulting in an overshadowing institution. have
no such fear. [ do not believe that the Presbyte-
rian Church in the SOUTH rich to be in dan
ger of creating too big thing. That is just my
common sense view of the matter l am not
afraid of the size and domination OF what the ex-
listing Presbyterians in the South may be able to
create with their most generous efforts. But see
that the amount of partial concentration which we
have hitherto exercised has come short OF an In
stitution of the first class These friends see that
hence their mistrust, their difidence [ do not
think that we are giving them too much encour-
agement when we say, Let all combine their eff.
forts at this time to do one work. 1t will not be
overshadowing [ am assured that if it be sue
cess the reflex result will be to improve the con.
dition and usefulness of every College now exist.
pansion of our religion in the Trans Mississippi
department. And do we not know as soon as that
expression takes place. those Synods will be
strengthened, and they will move for similar in.
stitution there? There is no danger Of overshad-
ing. The danger is that we will miss the opportu-
nifty of doing good thing through an ill-judged
timidity.
For this reason, sir, l would prefer that the AS.
sembly should indicate-not the form itself, Tor
which there is no occasion-but indicate and en-
courage method in which complete Board of,
| would say, not more than five of the very first
men in the South. western Church, be presented
to our people as centre of crystallization an OBJ
ject of confdng trust, ralying point for the pub
lie spirit of those who choose to give,-a guarau-
tee that the funds given, will be used with en-.
| lightened wisdom in the right direction.
| DR.. Wills will make an explanation in regard
to the point presented by DR.. Dabney. The sug
gestion was made to the Committee to provide fol-
Board of Regents or Curators to take charge OF
these funds, but the difficulty with them was that
this board would not be chartered body, and there
fore would not have authority to receive and man
age such funds. The Board OF Trustees of the
Assembly being chartered body, and authorized
to receive money to the extent of two millions
would, they thought, be the most suitable body to
take charge of such donations at the present time
In addition, it was thought that it would be time
enough to appoint Board of Regents or CuratorE
after the money should have been received.
Dr. Mller-The brethren who favored thi:
measure assured us at the outset that they did not
contemplate ecclesiastical control and now, ask
what have we but ecclesiastical control here? This
General Assemblyis to appoint Board Of Trustee:
or Regents, whatever you may call them) and
they are responsible to the Assembly Dust the
Assembly appoints its committees who are response
bic to the Assembly, and the Assembly must
necessarily have supervision and control over the
work of these trustees. What is this but eccesi
astical control? You may say that we only advise
our people to do this Why here is a subject
which has occupied more of our deliberations thar
any other. Day after day, the attention of the
Assembly is called to it Are we occupying simply
the relation of an advising body to our people wheG
we undertake to control this whole subject? Are
We to abandon our former distinctive principles
This Church has been distinguished tor keeping
separate what does not belong to us as an ecclesl
astical body, and combining our attention to wha
does belong to U.s. The very first resolution declares
that we have control-ecclesiasti control %
education in all its departments. The word uSeC
was our beloved Zion, not our people, not Pres
| byteranS considered as members OF the community
What is Zion" sir, but the Church in it
organized capacity? |, therefore, protest the
second time against this scheme-against commit
ting the Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church tC
a matter that does not belong to us.
Re-. j. W. Baker-As the chairman Of the com
mittee has already remarked, this paper was {
compromise. 1t does not express all that L wished
| introduced provision in accordance suppose
with the views of DR.. Dabney; but the committee
thought that Board of Regents would have tc
| obtain charter. | will read the resolution In
troduced, in the form in which would prefer it tC
pass the Assembly:
I'm order to give practical effect to the forego
ing action Resolved that the Trustees of the Gen
eral Assembly are hereby authorized to receive
funds and other property given or devised for this
object and that Board of Regents consisting Of
seven persons be appointed by the General Assem-
bio of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States, who shall take the entire control and man
agement of such funds in the manner and for the
purpose thus designated.
That was the paper | laid before the committee
and which | hoped they would accept | am not
sure but that it would be well to offer it as ar
amendment to the pending resolution.
have felt the difficulty of committing this As
sembly to the ecclesiastical control of this nstitu
ton, as much as any one, and have been trying
to avoid it. While have no objection to the
establishment of great University, care not how
great, how towering, how influential it may be;
yet do not wish this Assembly to commit itself
10 Sucn an INSTITUTION IN sucn way as u Jake TIE
entire control OF it. Let it be in the hands OF
Presbyterians for the use and interests of Presby
teranism; let it not be enthusiastically controlled.
But, sir, have come to this oonclusion-that If
we do not 90 so far as to designate in this paper
the manner of holding the funds. we shall be com.
PEELED to abandon the matter entirely. We had
just as well vote for an indefinite postponement OF
the whole subject. We must do this much or
abandon the enterprise. Therefore, while l sym
pathize with the views expressed by DR.. Miller
do advocate with all my heart university in the
highest and largest sense. [ hope sincerely that
we shall arrive at such results as will accomplish
the grand ends contemplated.
DR.. Rch-My mind labors upon one point on
which | should like very much to have some infor-
nation; and that is, the necessity of the Assembly
doing anything at all with reference to this Univer
sity. If this action is intended to result in the