The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1873-12-17
DEBATE IN THE SYNOD OF VIRGINIA
On the Relation of the Church to
Secular Education
CONTINUED,

CONTINUED.
REV. j. r. Bowman had an objection
the proposed substitute The first question
was this: Has the Church a right to assum
this relation to an institution like Hampde
Sidney, for instance. There are some VIII
say 1t is not matter properly belonging t.
a church court, and yet are disposed to do
in an indirect, doubtful manner. For him
self he held firmly to the right. When
is argued that the Church is represented il
Scripture as the bride of Christ and there
fore must not soil her pure garments b,
contact with secular things, he assented t.
the truth, but dissented from its application
here. Was not the Head of the Church per
fectly pure and holy? and his Kingdom wa
not of this world And yet he went abou
healing all manner of sickness and diseas,
among the people," He not only commits
stoned his disciples to do this, but authorized
them to give this power to others. Time and
again, in our own day, it has been judge,
expedient for some of our ministers under
particular circumstances, and especially oul
foreign missionaries, to acquire knowledg'
of medicine. Now, as of old, skill in min
istering to the diseases of the body, open
the way for applying the remedy of the gos
pei to the soul. Yet, is not the science o
medicine universally recognized as one tina
is secular? Buff our church found it fo
any reason necessary to do SO, it would hav
a perfect right to provide school for tn
medical instruction of such of its minister
as ought to be engaged in dispensing th'
healing art" 1t is said the Synod ough
not to engage in the work of education be
cause the Synod is the Church-that it be
longs to the people. But are not the peo
pie part of the Church? If right for then
it is right for the Synod.
The second question was as to the expe
diency of our undertaking this work, anc
that was question he did not care to dis
cuss at present.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
REV. DR.. KiRKPATRIcK, of Washington
and Lee University, having the floor when
the discussion was resumed on Friday after
noon, made speech of which the following
are the prominent points:
The resolution appended to the report oi
the Committee, now before the Synod, pre-,
sents what is little more than a bald truism.
1t asserts that the Church may found and
control educational institutions, wheneve,
they are required for the full performance
Of her spiritual functions. This is, in fact
a limitation on the powers of the Church
If such institutions are not necessary to the
proper spiritual work of the Church, then
by implication they are forbidden to her
The proper question-and the only one that
creates any difficulty is, :" Is it necessary fol
the discharge of her spiritual functions thai
the Synod of Virginia should now assume
the control of Hampden Sidney, or any
other College," The advocates of the
measure which it is proposed to make the
practical outcome of the resolution, have not
the speaker insisted, established such neces
sity. They have scarcely attempted this,
but have INDUCED in vague jeremiads over
the decay of the Influence of Presbyterians
in the matter of education, and vaticina
tions as to its utter overthrow. He main
tanned that the facts they relied on, were
deceptive. The influences referred to might
now be less concentrated than in former
years, and thus might be less conspicuous
but it did not follow from this that it is less
powerful. Its diffusion may have increased
it's effectiveness, just as the dispersion of our
Church members by emigration to the South
and West, whilst producing the appearance
Of decline in the older parts of the country,
resulted in the establishment of Churches in
the newly settled regions and in the enlarge
nent of the Church as whole
Another fact prominently brought for
ward as though it proved the necessity for
colleges under ecclesiastical control direct
Or quasi, is the larger number of students
to our Theological Seminaries from
such institutions than from others. When
colleges are founded by the Church and
are claimed as hers, it is to be expected that
they will receive the patronage of large
of the members of the Church,
and of that class especially from which the
great body of our ministers are TAKEN
Strong appeals are made to the people to
encourage their own institutions. Presby-
:eries, having the control of candidates, di-
rect them to such colleges. The speaker al