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

kind of fashion; it is regarded as fnishin
an education. And travel is one thing de
sired. DR.. Hodge advised me to let m.
grandson go because the very travel woul
do him good-that association with othe
people, coming in contact with their manner
and customs would be of incompatible value
In great measure, it is foolish fashiol
that takes young men abroad to German ant
European institutions; but in large meas
ure. it is desire on the part of parents tina
their sons may travel far and wide.
Another reason why l do not wish tn,
General Assembly to have anything to de
with this plan for an University is, that th'
question will Immediately come up, where
will you put it? Then there will be sec
tional vote. 1t will not be in operation {
session under the patronage of this Assem-
bly, before you will find parties here, some
for and some against it-some wishing one
man for professor, and some another. AnG
it will be bone of contention" as long az
it exists under the absolute or the qNas
patronage of this Assembly. I know thai
at the close of the paper it is said that it is
not designed to take it under the care of the
Assembly; but as DR.. Kirkpatrick says, il
seems to me that there is an inconsistenct
there-that it does commit the Assembly
and recommends the establishment OF this
University; and then after while, 1 fear
there will be proposition to take it under
our care.
DR.. Kirkpatrick-Dr. Dabney has given
very clear and imposing representation Of
this matter as it lies in his own mind, and
have no doubt that is the representation thai
lies in the mind of members of the Conven
ton; but, sir, he supplied from his OWL
meditatiOns, and possibly from what he ha;
heard from others, great deal that wa;
necessary to the understanding of the paper
Now, one of the objections l made to the
paper was that it was wanting in explicitness
in some points, or in harmony and consist
ency in other points. The paper goes out
without this comment, this parap phrase Of
DIR. Dabney, which would remove a great
many objections; and if we could only put
DR.. Dabneys speech along with it, would
vote for it; but as we cannot "print thu
thunderstorm with the Sermon" therefore
l doubt whether the sermon should be printed
There is my difficulty.
DR.. Dabney referred to the history of the
effect of the establishment of the University
of Virginia upon other institutions near it
| differ from him as to some of the facts in
that case. I was in Virginia at school wher
the University was established; was subse
quently member of one of the colleges tt
which he refers as having been benefited by
the University. Take now Hampden Sidney
College, my alma mater, an Institution that
l love and revere. 1t had over hundred
students when the University of Virginia
was established; in less than five years the
number was reduced to fifty. Twas there less
than ten years after, when the number wa;
not fifty. The College of William and Mary
was broken down by it, and never has recov
cred. Washington College was not so much
injured because it was more remote, and the
Blue Ridge intervened; t; but Washington Col
lege was college long before the Univer
sity was established. 1t was checked in its
career. Its progress had been gradual and
uninterrupted up to that time; it was checked
at that point and never did increase in mum
bers until during the last three or four years
l have often heard that spoken of in Vir
ginia-that the University had broken down
the colleges. Randolph Macon came in
under special auspices, as strictly denomi
national institution. 1t prospered, but purely
under denominational influence, because
there was great zeal aroused amongst those
interested in it, They are an exceedingly
numerous body; they have great deal o.
wealth and energy. They are able to take al
institution and lift it up by force of wealth
numbers and that energy which they infust
into all their enterprises.
Reference has been made to Transylvanis
University as illustrating some of these facts
My impression is, and ask to be corrected
if am not right, that University was es
tablished, and until recent years maintained
as a State institution under the control O.
the State. know that in recent years i
has been transferred, and, l have an i'm
preston, by the Legislature, to one particu
lar body of men in the last ten years. Bu
at the time referred to, it was State insti
tuition. The president and professors were
appointed under those influences that are al
ways connected with legislation. l do no
think that the case is at all pertinent.
DR.. Hull can state the facts in thai
case. 1t was first a State University, ther
transferred to the Methodists, managed by
them for some years, then transferred bacl
to the State, and some eight or ten years
ago transferred to the Reformed o.
"Campbellite Church, and is now under
the influence of that denomination.
DR.. s. j. Baird-I wish to make an ad
ditional statement in the history of tina
matter-a very fundamental one. 1t wa
founded by Presbyterians as Presbyterian
institution. 1t was taken out of their hand
by the Legislature, and it was whilst it wa
in the charge of the State that the institu
tion was perverted.
Reu. r. z. Bery-In justice to tn
unanimous opinion of the Presbytery whicl
represent, and in order to test the senti
ments of this House, l wish to move tina
that clause in the report which holds out tn
concurrence of the Assembly to the estab
lishment of this central University, be strick
en- out. do not wish to argue the ques
ton. The simple scriptural principle, givel
for our guidance as ministers and rulers 0
the Church of God, is to "Keep ourselve
unspotted from the world, hating the gar
ment spotted by the flesh" We are furthe
directed as soldiers not to "entangle our
selves with the affairs of this life, that W
may please him who called US TO be His sol
diers. These principles apply in all thei
force to the Church in an organized capacity
as we'll as to individual ministers and rulers
The Church, as we'll as those called to ad