The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-05-18
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.


exercises and interpreted few paragraphs con-
tanned in a communication for the Central PresJy-
tertan but which came too late to appear in full in
this issue.
The Trustees of the Seminary met at Hampden
Sidney, May 9th, and were in session part of two
days Present from Virginia Rev. Messrs. w.
Brown. PRESIDENT j. j. Bullock, @. White, w.
I. Richardson, FL. M. White. A. Martin, with ell
ders A. G. McIlwaine and y. NJ. Armstrong
From North Carolina: Rev: Messrs. ). RUMBLE
=. H. Johnston, j. M; Atkinson, j. Fl. Smith, E.
Hines, and elders A. L. Summey, h. N. Hutche.
son, and r. l.. Beale.
The librarians report exhibited large and valua-
bic additions both in theological and general lit.
erature, 1926 volumes, made by purchase and dona-
ton during the past year. From the estate of the
late Rev. u. Powers, of Roanoke county, Va,
50, $50 has been received, being about one.thrd of
the beouest of this benevolent gentleman. By
the terms of the legacy the donation must be ap-
proprated to the purchase Of books, and this first
instalment has been expended with great care,
both in this country and abroad.
Plans and specifications for library building
were adopted and building committee appointed.
The introduction of a system of messing Ito re-
duce the cost of board) among the students was
considered and action taken.
During the past year Mrs. DR.. J. W. Alexander
has given repairs Ito the amount in value of S200)
to the dwelling occupied by Prof. II. O. Alexan.
der, greatly adding to the permanent value and
comfort of the building. The Trustees recorded
their grateful appreciation Of the generous dona-
ton of this Christian lady.
The Faculty were authorized to have roll.call
of the students at such exercises as they may deem
proper and to introduce system by which recita-
tons shall be graded the whole results to be re-
ported to the Presbyteres Of the several students
1t will be remembered that memorial was pre-
sented to the Mobile Assembly in relation to ina
portant notifications in the course of theological
study and training: that it was referred to the
Louisville Assembly, and by that body Minutes
page 5l0,) to committee to meet at Greensboro
n c., and incidentally to the Trustees of the Sem.
mary. The Trustees deemed it expedient to remit
this matter to the consideration of the Assembly
which is to convene on the 18th inst, at Hunts
vile, Ala.
They were authorized, in connection with the
neighboring institution of Hampden Sidney Col.
lege, to digest and report land temporarily adopt
some arrangement between the Faculties of the
two institutions which may afford the students an
opportunity to attend lectures and pursue special
studies in each institution.
The treasurer report exhibits the finances as in
a healthy condition. The scholarship funds, given
by enlightened and liberal friends, are accomplish
example of Mr.. c. FL. Mccormick, of Chicago
(who gave the Seminary 100000 since the war;
will be followed by New York merchant, who
knows no North and no South, " in the domain
of learning.
The following officers were elected viz, Rev. w.
Brown, d. D., president; Rev. j. Rumple aud A.
G. Mcllwaine ESD, vice presidents; @. @. Read,
secretary; +. N. Watkins, treasurer and assistant
secretary.
The report to the General Assembly presents
favorable statement of the condition and prospects
of the institution. 1t is expected that sixty stu
dents will be in attendance at the session commence
ing in September.
Several members of the graduating class were
absent the following presented themselves and
received the usual certificates Geo. l.. Browne Of
Roanoke comfy, l.. B. Johnston of Salem, and j.
I. Rothbrock of Tenn. Rev. DR.. Brown, Presi-
dent of the Board delivered an appropriate and
practical address to the graduating class.
The annual report to the Synods and the AS.
sembly closes with these words.
"The Trustees report, with devout thankfulness
to the Head of the Church, that the number of
Students during the past year, was in advance of
that of the previous year, and that they have rea
sonable ground to expect still larger number next
session. The Professors have discharged the du.
ties of their office with eminent fidelity, and the
diligence Of the students generally has been COM
mendabe. The prayers of the people of God, in
behalf Of this institutions have been so signaly an
swered, especially during the past year, that they
ought to find in the blessings already received the
strongest announcement to pray and not to
faint"
On Tuesday evening, Notwithstanding the rain
and the thick darkness which covered the EARTH
and prevented the attendance of many who desired
to be present, good audience from Prince Edward
and other counties assembled in the chapel at night
to hear the address, before the Society of Inquiry
by the
REV. DIR. JOHN HALL.
Of New York. This eminent clergyman 1.-THE sue.
cessor of the late Rev. DR.. j. w. Alexander, in
a New York church. was formerly pastor in
Dublin, and is native of Ireland or Scotland
Coming to America in 1866 Tor about that period
as delegate from the Irish to the American Pres
byterian churches, he made so favorable an impress.
sion, as we'll for his high personal worth as
Christian gentleman as for his scholarly attain
ments and his broad, practical wisdom, that he
was called to the Fifth Avenue one of the largest
Presbyterian churches. His reputation has been
fully sustained as an excellent preacher and faith
full pastor.
1t would be impossible, in the limits of a report
for the press to give the reader any just idea of
the matter OF the discourse, of the unambitious
but attractive manner in which for more than an
hour the speaker held the fixed and interested at
tention of his audience. The discourse was full of
transparently clear truth, and was delivered with.
out one word of defamation, and with freedom
from the gorgeous rhetoric" with which the
platform orator often exhibits his literary wares
1t was delivered without notes, and indeed, while
the thoughts were well considered and digested it
is not improbable that they were never committed
to paper In brief and appropriate introduce
ton he thanked the gentlemen Of the Society for
giving him opportunity of visiting Virginia and
a spot which had been so long associated with hon.
ored names, and noble history with which he was
familiar, and the knowledge of which he had ac-
quired three thousand miles Distant and with an
unaffected modesty he doubted his claims over
others present to occupy the position assigned him
this evening.
The necessity to the Christian Church of def.
mite creed or belief, and of an unfatering MAIN
tenance of that belief, may be stated as the theme
of the address.
When the Church of God was organized it re.
ceived from its exalted Head its distinguishing
doctrines and articles of faith and in every period
of its history its efficiency has been inseparaby in
tertwined with the practical recognition of the
truth that the word of God which is contained in
the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament is
the only rule given. whereby we may glorify and
enjoy Him. The 'Scriptures- not tradition
teach US what man is to believe concerning God and
what duties God requires of man. The Church
must as corporate body, give testimony as
witness to the truth. Nor is it less essential that
protesting Christians should be clear in their COM
prehension and steadfast in their maintenance of
the fundamental articles of their faith. Right
thinking is the basis of right acting Right living
is founded on right believing, while erroneous
principles must ever lead to evil conduct, for as
man thinkeh in his heart so is he.
One of the most interesting portions of the ad-
dress was that in which the speaker exposed the
pretensions of that arrogant, but somewhat tran
scendenta thing, which styles itself :" the thought
full of assumptions substituting its own intu-
tons for written revelation, and ever in sympathy
with any ISM which exalts liberal Christianity"
II r. III. Il.