The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-27
10 WILL l-Sna D .ii,n,ls
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POAe~AS o~SJSS NA5~5SN-'
H@MC it vii, l-cSs N e 9
ia, that 40 bts.Stsg - "a
SSSfegarde5 as more worthy Of the earnest
and wise elaboration of our Church Courts
than the method of training our future min
listers. And it is interesting to notice that
this matter has excited marked interest in
the sister Churches of our faith, both in the
United States and in Europe.
The special form in which Theological
Education was brought before the Assem-
bly,, has some bearing on the value of the
conclusions reached. In 1874 the Pre8by-
terry of Augusta overturned the General As
sembly, suggesting the disturbances of some
action of that body, looking to the regulation
Of the employment of our candidates in Home
Mission and ColpOrtage work, during their
vacations, and distinctly advocating the ex-
tension of vacations, in the Seminaries, to six
months. The Assembly Of 1874, after some
discussion of the subject, raised committee
to consider, "Whether any, and if any, what
notifications of our methods of training can
didates for the ministry might be desirable. -"
The committee never met, owing mainly to
the difficulties Of fixing on q time and place
convenient to its members, scattered as they
we're at great distances from each other. A
report, however, was prepared and presented
to the Assembly of 1876, setting forth on all
important topics, the views Of a majority Of
the committee, asoertained By personal con-
ference or correspondence. The cOnsidera-
ton of this paper, referred to the Assembly Of
1877, was regarded as improper, at this time,
by the Presbytery of New Orleans, which
accordingly overturned the Assembly, pro-
posing a re.commitment to the same commit
tee or to another, of consideration of the
subject, with directions to report to the As
sembly Of 1878. The Committee Of Bills
and OVertures reported adversely to granting
this proposal and presented q paper, drawn
up by the chairman of the committee on
Theological Education, as an answer to the
suggestions of the overture. This paper
with few verbal amendments and the ennis
sion of the first resolution, as q mere repeti-
ton of the action Of the Assembly Of 1876,
was, after full discussion, adopted with an
apparently heavy majority. It proposes a
series of most important notifications Of
our methods of training candidates for the min
istry and submits them with solemn recon-
mendstiOns, that the Presbyteries and author
tiles of the Theological Seminaries adopt
them. They propose no amendments in our
Form of Government, respecting the exami-
nation and ieensure of candidates, and, Of
course, are not sent down to the Presbyteries
for acceptance, as possessing the authority
of " constitutional rules"
1. To the Presbyteries, the Assembly re-
commends several modification" of exist
ing methods, the scope of which is to Sc
cure greater care and watchfulness over can
didates. In 1876. the Presbyteries were ad-
Vised to defer acting on an application of a
candidate to be taken under their care, for a
period of "nOt less than three months" so
that the members of Presbytery might have
full opportunity of learning enough Of his
character, to enable them to act with clearer
convictions respecting his proper quali6ca-
tiOns. This preliminary part of their duty
having been diseriminatingly performed, it is
now recommended, that to avoid the danger
Of hurried and insufficient examination, the
candidate shall remain on a probation for a.
eensgre, at least one year; and that the times
co. bis trials shall be so arranged, as to In
FolEe his attendance on, at least, t5g0 meet
ings of Presbysery, at each Of which parts
of his examinations shall be held. In no
case, are the examinations of the Seminary
to 8upersede those of the Presbytery.
Not only are Presbyteries advised to re-
quire of candidates the successful prosecution
of the fill scholastic course, both academical
and professional, directed in the Form of
Government, but under the provisions Of that
instrument that, "as their discretion, other
evidences of piety, learning and "aptness to
teach, shall be furnished by the candidates
The Assembly wisely considers the times
to which We have come, the advanced grades
Of academieal and secular professional edu-
catiOn-as well as those of Theological edu.
cation in other churches, in our country and
in Europe; and the peculiar nature Of the
efforts of an Infdeli:y, which has grown up
in scientific circles and been very much de,
velOped, in many nominal and some real
Christian oommunions. This is no time to
relar Our efforts to secure a ceH educated
ministry, but rather one for doubling our dill
igence, to aaganee on the grades adopted by
our Fathers. The special request of the
Augusta Prasbytery in 1874 is answered in
this paper, by proposing to the Presbytegies,
0 establish well considered regulations and