The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-12-17

GnCOtAoA SOuAOSS VI SON0 NHS"N
the land. Young men may 60 there Tor
secular education only; yet while there they
are often converted to God, and their lives
are devoted to the work of the ministry. But
whether they do this or not, the chances are
twenty to one that such converts will prefer
to connect themselves with that denomlna-
ton under which their first religious impress
sions were received. 1t may be taken as GER
tain that if Presbyterians depend on unde
nominational institutions, while others are
building up and sending their sons to those
peculiarly their own, We shall wither under
the consequences of such mistaken and IN
furious policy. We shall soon be left sadly
behind, whether we are so now or not. That
result may be set down as inevitable.
Now, it has been argued here that it We
take distinct relation to Hampden Sidney,
we shall be doing a wrong to the University
of Washington and Lee, and that this lnstl-
tuition and its friends will have good cause
to complain of our course. This Is grave
matter certainly, which it becomes US care
fully to examine. AS it has been brought
up let us ascertain, if We can, its form and
pressure" I hold in my hand paper con
tanning the official action of the Board OF
Trustees of that University, at meeting IN
last September which paper is as follows;
"Inasmuch as recent publications, 10 newspapers
both secular and religious, have seemed to call into
question the position and character of Washington
and Lee University, in its relations especially to
the religious denominations, the Board of Trustees
deem it proper to declare:
81. That Washington and Lee University has
no connection With, nor Is 1t conducted Ia the In
terest of, any religious denomination whatever
This University is founded and administered upon
the broad basis OF an evangelical Christianity. Its
peculiar function is to impart high and catholic
scholarship in literature and science 1t aims to do
this consistently with the principles Of true re
gion; but il neither teaches nor pTocrbes the re-
/ ligous doctrines of any sect Of Christians There
is nothing In its charter, Its constitution, or Its
teaching that belongs to sectariansm, or that gives
to any denomination any prepOnderance or lnhu-
ence in the University to the exclusion or Injury OF
any other. ln support Of these declarations, the
trustees can appeal to the history OF their action,
and of the University ITSELF
''2. That in their official appointments the Board
| of Trustees have been aotuated solely by eonsld
eratOns of fitness and usefulness for the trusts H.
yolyed They cannot acknowledge that any pledge
other than their past conduct can fairly be required
as to their future course in this regard The sue
cess of the University under Its present admins
tration, and the unqualified support OF professors
and Students together representing the various re,
| gous denominations, are regarded by the board
as a sufficient vindication of their policy.
80. That in calling General Robert f. Lee to
/ the Presidency of the Institution, the BOARD OF
Trustees meant to set standard for Its conduct nc
less lofty aud broad than his own heroic character
and to offer to the people who reVered his name an
institution OF learning worthy of his fame, and Of
his aspirations for the future of the South. They
have not sWerved from this purpose. In the cleo
ton Of his distinguished son as his successor IL
Office they have emphatically declared their main
tenance OF the same high and catholic policy L
has been their effort to offer to the people OF th
South University, free alike from all compiled
tons of Church or of State which should repre-
sent at once the highest, and largest interest o
education, and the nOblest remembranees or Chris
tan heroism and devotion. On this ground, tn
Trustees have invited, and still invite confidently
the sympathy and support OF patriots and OF Chris
tans of every name.
IF l remember correctly Professor Allan, o
Washington aud Lee University, declared some
time ago in the Educational Journal, published il
Richmond, that said institution and the Unlvers!t!
OF Virginia, occupied, as to this matter, slmlla
ground 1t the paper Of the Trustees just referred
TO is to be understood according to Its most natura
meaning, the Professors view seems to be entirely
correct Both institutions are completely clear
any connection with any church organization o.
any denominatiOnal control, or preponderatlng IN
auence. Very well now, what would be though
and said If the University Of Virginia should rls
I'D and complain that Presbyterians, or any othe
denomination, in proposing to build up college
under their own special patronage, were tresspas
sing upon them. Such complaint would be II
dicuous if raised at Charlottesville; Is 1t any les
so coming from Lexington, if the position OF th'
two is the sameP
Dr. kirkpatrick has asked question which is
fair one, and which propose to answer. He asks
| What is the necessity for the Synod to assume
closer relation to Hampden Sidneyp L give thl
general answer: because before l give my money
to that institution, or recommend others to give,
want the best guarantee of its permanent Presby
terrain character. And just here, sir, We have {
pregnant admonition for caution when we look al
the history of Washington College. Both institu
tions were established by the old Hanover Presby
terry, both were organized at the same time, both
were thoroughly Presbyterian. Have both re
NAMED SOP Let US see.
Here the speaker, taking up Foote Sketches o.
Virginia, tvol u traced the history OF the lnsltu
ton at Lexington from its beginning, OF which the
following is the substance.
To I'LL, the first movement was made IN the
Presbytery OF Hanover, then the only PresbyterJ
in Virginia. The subject was before the body a
its meetings for the next three years, during whct
time they had made considerable progress, and the
school was put into operation under Rev. JohI
Brown, pastor of New Providence and TimbeTridge
assisted by Mr. VIM. Graham, afterwards so wei
known in Virginia In IT'S, Mr.. Graham took
the place of Principal, and the Presbytery ap
pointed agents to collect funds, purchase msthe
matieal and philosophical apparatus ~ In lii6
substantially the same work was carried forward
and this continued for years, the Pres6ytery ap
pointing Trustees, Treasurers, and agents; collect
ing and expanding funds, obtaining lands erecting
buildings, receiving reports, &c, &c All THESE
things were done "iu behalf of the Presbytery.
These and many other things like them completely
prove the thorough Presbyterian origin OF the In
stitution. In l776. after the battle OF Lexington
at the opening Of the war of the Revolution, they
changed the name from MOunt Pleasant AcddeDls
co Liberty Hail. At the close OF the war, I'm
1888 the present charter was obtained, fourteen
of the twenty Trustees under that charter being
the same as those who had been holding that othce
under the Presbytery, and eCeTy one Of them FIRES
blteriaRS OF course, after the charter was OBJ
tanned the control of the institution passed out OF
the hands of the Presbytery into the hands OF the
Trustees. But the moral consideration why II
should continue to be managed by the same class
of men who originated IT, and gave 1t Its first en-
kdOwment (abOut $4,000 when the charter was
obtained, was not diminished. And in fact this
very consideration was recognized by the Trustees.
In 1871 the Synod of Virginia initiated measures
TO establish two institutions, one in Pennsylvania,
the other at Lexington, Va, Ito educate persons
designed for the gospel ministry, iu that way which
may be most suitable to fit them for that office.
The Minutes show positively that these schools were
intended to be both literary and theological and IN
the whole OF their instruction, thoroughly Christian.
They also show that in 1898 "a petition was pre-
seuted by the Trustees of the Academy Of Liberty
Hall" in Which they agree if the Synod would
give its patronage and support, they would " fill
up vacancies lin the Board) "out of these two