The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-09-17

cooperating in the efforts of the whole
Church in building up Princeton, the one
idea of his life, the enterprise to which
he devoted time, property, health, and
influence, was this great work of estab-
fishing a theological school in Virginia
After his settlement in Richmond, in
1912, in the pages of the Literary and
Evangelical Magazine, which he estab-
lished and edited for eleven years, and
then by the Family Visitor, weekly
religious paper, the first in the South, he
aimed to educate the ministers and people
to appreciate the Importance of the en-
terprise in which he was engaged. In the
decadence of an orthodox faith among the
New England churches, and under the
weakest Of all forms of Church govern
ment-the Congregational-he foresaw,
with almost prophetic vision, that ten
denotes, in all parts of the country, under
New England influence, were to that lax
ity of doctrine which our generation has
beheld. THE SOUTH MUST REAR HER OWN
MINISTRY, was his constant decided view.
This was not due to prejudice against
Northern men. Many of his chosen and
tried friends and most beloved sympa-
thizing ministerial brethren were North
ern men. He encouraged and sought
such to come and settle in the South
But still he saw and felt the danger
With charity the fullest for men, he was
intolerant of error. We owe to this one
man, under God, more than to all others,
that this institution is here's supported
and annually sending out its contribu-
tons to fill our pulpits and extend the
knowledge of sound faith and true vital
piety in the world. But for those labor
ers our portion of the Southern churches
would now be dragging along at the heels
of institutions in the North, some of which
have long since given heed to seducing
spirits and the doctrines of devils" Com
paratively few of our candidates could
have been benefited by Princeton, whose
crowded halls were demanding in West
Pennsylvania and Southern Ohio other
institutions to receive the increase of can
didates about the time when this Semi
nary was opened.
This event occurred Jan. l, 1924 DR..
Rice had been chosen professor. DR.. Hoge
having died in 1920, the embryo Semina-
ry was contemplated to supersede the the
illogical professorship in the College. The
funds collected by the Presbytery and
held in trust, with the nucleus of libra
ry, by the Trustees of the College, were
placed under the care of the Directors of
the Seminary DR.. Rice was chosen Pro-
fessor of Theology, and arrangements
made with Rev. James Marsh, Professor
of Languages in the College, to teach the
Hebrew language. On the first of Janu-
airy, 1924, three students, Robt Burwell,
Thos. P. Hunt, and Jesse S. Armistead,
met DR.. Rice in his room, in the house Of
President Gushing, who had succeeded
DR.. Hoge in the College. Mr.. G. was a
man of liberal, generous views. in ply
Gique and mental culture eminently suit
ed to govern, and who, while President
till his death in 1885, with rare ability
as teacher and tact as disciplinarian, as
well as skill and success in eGciting large
contributions in money, had advanced the
institution to higher repute and ability
in the work Of rearing young men in the
walks of liberal and useful culture. He
ever cordially co-operated with DR.. Rice,
and it is credibly said, that only by his
agency was the land to the Semi
nary which we now find, with its increas-
ing growth.
With one professor and Rev. Mr.. Marsh
as qaaSi tutor, the Seminary had placed
in its possession the Theological Library
of the Synod of Virginia The Synod g
enterprises in the establishment Of the
illogical school had been turned over to
the Presbytery of Hanover; under the
auspices of which the institution was
opened. Soon, however, its management
was resumed by the Synod of Virginia,
and that of North Carolina was united
with it, in its care and control.
DR.. Rice had an excellent library, gath
cred with a view to be the basis of pub
lie library for the Seminary, for whose es-
tablishment he had so long labored.-
When he entered on his duties, 1t hlled
two sides of the northwest room lower
floor of the building, now part of the east
wing of this Seminary building. Two
cases, with doors, containing the "Theo-
logical Library Of the Synod, were kept
in the basement room under his study
which last served also as a chapel and
lecture-roon, as we'll as his library. Ad-
ditions were gradually made by purchase
and donation, especially by purchase Of
DR.. R. s library. In 1884, made a
catalogue of the library, then removed ii
to the gallery Of this chapel. 1t was
printed, and still exists There were then
1000 volumes. In 1868 new catalogue
was made by me, and I found, in nece@
Ill, c,o;Dc, o,,ar +ba old ono that IN q