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

parted from these sacred scriptural princi
pies, she has corrupted herself, has disownet
her head and stained the robe of Christ''
Bride. Had not the Presbyterian Church
in this country been guilty of this transgres
sion, the whole of that Church throug hout
the length and breadth of this land, would
have been represented here to-day. And ii
behoves us especially, who profess to have
lifted up our testimony in other respects and
on other occasions against such conduct, to
be extremely cautious and guarded.
[ am satisfied from the discussions this
morning, that it will be impossible for this
Assembly to undertake the scheme proposed
without entangling herself in the affairs OF
this life, without defling her garments. AS
has been we'll said, wherever secular insti-
tutions are involved, then comes contention,
strife, confusion and every evil work. We
see it in the Methodist Church. They are
now. and for months have been, contending
over mere secular busness-their publishing
concern. fear we shall have some difficulty
with our publishing concern. Ihave always
doubted whether it was legitimate for us to
undertake that work. My individual i'm
preston is that it will be far better for US
to employ agents outside of the Church to
do the work of the Church, as far as it needs
to be done in that department. So sure as
we undertake to establish great secular in
stitution, directly or indirectly under eccle-
siastical control, we shall have trouble in the
future. We run the risk of involving our
selves'in entanglements from which it will
be extremely difficult to extricate ourselves.
[ therefore move that that portion be stricken
out.
Rev. M. NJ Marshall, D. D.-If it is i'm
proper for the General Assembly either di-
rectly or indirectly to have anything to do
with University, if that would tend to
"soil the garments of the Church" surely
for Presbytery to give any countenance,
or to have anything to do with a Seminary
of learning, would have the same effect. So
you may 60 down to the parochial school.
If it soils the garments of the Church to
give attention to education, in one depart
ment, surely it will in another. The broth.
er's argument destroys itself.
Strike out, sir, the idea of University some
time in the future, and, you disappoint many
individuals in our Southwestern country. |
agree with my worthy brother Dabney that
Virginia can take care of herself appre-
cate the spirit with which he meets this
question. We need something more than
we have in the Southwest. There is de-
mand upon US from the people. If we do
not have something more than we now have,
we must retrograde as denomination
There is no doubt of that fact. We must
meet the demands of our Church and the
people. We have to do not only with the
Church ip our covenant relations to our chill
dren, but with the world, in regard to edu-
cation. If as Presbyterians we honestly
believe that religion as presented by us is
nearest to the Bible, that we come nearest
to the truth, we are under solemn obligations
to use all lawful means in our power to i'm
press our doctrines upon the world.
That paper, as l understand it, does not
contemplate war upon any existing institu.
ton. No, sir. If we should prove to be
able to establish University of high or
der, that University would foster every good
College in our bounds. The unworthy only
would go down. 1t has always proved thus,
sir, in the shadow of good University. 1
do not deny that 1 am very denominational
in my feelings. While profess to have as
large charity for other denominations as
any individual in this house, 1 desire to
make that impression upon the world that
an educator always makes upon those brought
under his influence Unconsciously to him.
self, and imperceptibly even to the youth
under his care, he impresses himself upon
them; he impresses his religion upon them.
Let us then take step in advance. | do
not contend for ecclesiastical control; but
want an institution of the highest order un-
der Presbyterian control absolutely. If [
can get that, l am satisfied strike that out,
and you disappoint all that have been inter-
ested in this great matter.
Rev. r. Mclnnis-I wish to call atten-
ton to the wording of this report. l am
satisfied that it is not understood by the
brethren. There are some documents that
can be adopted article by article; others
must be taken as whole. If the brethren
had been in the Convention and seen the
great diversity of opinions expressed by al
most evey speaker, they would have wondered
that report could have been drawn up
which would have been unanimously adopted
by the Convention. The report commits this
Assembly to but one thing-a Christian
education. The mode of that education,
whether by colleges or University, it leaves
to the future-to the developments of Provi-
dence. If Providence so indicates by the gifts
of our people desiring University, then
this Assembly is willing to go forward and
establish it. Although the paper in some
parts may seem inconsistent, yet taken as a
whole it commits this Church to this one
single great truth-a Christian education for
our children. Hence the Chairman of the
Committee of the Convention in drawing up
this report, carefully avoided all questions
upon which we were divded-the question
of Church control and others. If the Chair.
man of that Committee could speak in this
Assembly, he would say that that is the
design of the report.
DR.. s. j. Bard-If there be anything in
the proposition before the Assembly that in
wolves the defling of the garments of the
Church of Jesus Christ, hope it will be ut
terly repudiated. But there are some prin
ciples in the Scriptures that throw light
upon this question. Says the Apostle
"Give aims of such things as ye have, anG
all things are clean If the aims given tc
| e Il l.. r.
all of our possessions, surely those aims art
sauctifed; and the Church of God, in ac
cepting them, does nothing inconsistent witt
her purity or conservation to the work o
Jesus.