The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-17
ADDRESS
On the Laying Of the Corner Stone of
the Library Building Of Union Theo-
logical Seminary, September LIST, 1879.
BY Rev. B. M. Smith D. D.

BY Rev. B. M. Smith, D. D.
We assemble, to-day, Christian friends,
in accordance with long established
custom. The remarkable or interesting
events, in the history Of States, communi-
ties and institutions, are very properly
marked by appropriate observances. The
event which has called together this au-
dience has Just now been witnessed The
corner stone of building, for the library
of this Institution, has Just been laid, by
the Masonic Lodge of Farmville, with the
cooperation of sonas of their Masonic
brethren. This crosdea chapel evinces
the interest felt in tsis Seminary by this
community, in degfee highly gratifying
to those more specially connected with its
management and those to whom has been
entrusted the erection of the building.
In the name Of all, ! tender you hearty
thanks
Invited by the bilding committee to
deliver, an address rtinent to this in
teresting occasion, propose one histor-
ical and instructive To brief sketch
of the history of the Seminary, and espe-
cially of the origin and growth of its Ii
orary and the inception and progress of
measures for the preparation of suitable
building, there will be added notices Of
he purpose and advantages of such a
library and the suitableness of the pro-
posed structure for its accommodation.
I. Early in this century, many distin-
guished ministers and elders and laymen
Of our Church became interested in the
enterprise of providing increased facilities
for the training of pious and well edu-
Gated ministry. Cut off by the Atlantic
almost wholly from the enjoyment Of
privileges afforded by the eminent liter
ary institutions and learned men of the
mother country, our forefathers, except
in rare instances, had been dependent on
institutions, generally known as the Log
Colleges, (from one Of that NAME estab-
lished under the auspices of the Rev.
Messrs. Tenants for the instruction and
training in literature and science, which
the Government of the Presbyterian
Church in Scotland and in the United
States, required. The deliberations and
discussions of leading minds, both in
church courts and by personal intercourse,
finally resulted in 1909 in action by the
General Assembly, overturing the Pres
byteries, to give decisions on the question
of having one Seminary for the whole
Church, or having Synodical Summaries
The vote for one for the whole Church
predominated and Princeton Seminary
was founded.
But the preference for Synodical insti.
buttons was so decided in Virginia, that
it had been already determined by the
Presbytery of Hanover in 1903, to con.
meet theological department with Hamp
den Sidney College; an institution which
with Washington College, first known as
Liberty Hall Academy had been found
ed by Hanover Presbytery, during the
period of the Revolution. This theologi
cal department was placed under the care
of the Trustees Of the College, the incum
bent of the Office of the teacher being
nominated by tne IfesUytery ana elected
by the Trustees DR. Hoge, who, in 1907
succeeded DR.. Alexander in the Presi
dency of the College, was at once elected
by the Trustees, and the scheme Of thu
providing for fuller theological training
of candidates was at once set in opera
ton
In those deliberations on this subject
now mentioned, Drs Alexander, J. H
Rice, Specie, and Messrs. Lyle, Lacy
and VIM. S. Reid, had prominently par
ticipated. After DR.. Alexanders remova
to Philadelphia IN 1905, and then t
Princeton as Professor Of Theology in tn
Assembly's Seminary in 1912, DR.. Ric
became the prominent and active leade
in the work Of increasing the means 70
thao1Ooical aducation asDaciall1, for VI,