The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-21
UNION PSYCHOLOGICAL SEM
INA RY

-A'NViOio VI VIC SIuueHGS, Uue meeting OF
the Board of Trustees, and the anniver-
sary exercises at the close of the session.
A detailed account of all the proceedings
of the Board of Trustees will be found
IN the report of Judge F. N Watkins,
secretary, published on the next page of
this paper, and to this we refer our read
ers.
The Seminary was never in more
prosperous condition, nor has. it at any
time offered greater advantages to the
illogical students. The new library build
ing is not only beautiful structure
and an ornament to the public grounds,
but it furnishes accommodation which
was greatly needed for the large and
well selected library, which has off late
been greatly increased.
There is only one cloud that darkens
the prospects of the institution. 1t is
caused by the fact that the interest on
the Y rginia bonds due on the first of
January last has not been paid. But
hopes are entertained that when the
county treasurers pay in their taxes in
May this interest, which constitutes a
large portion of the income of the Sem
mary, will be paid An Act of the Vir
ginia Legislature of 1872, which is still
IN force, directs the Auditor to pay, till
otherwise ordered" the interest on State
bonds held by seminaries of learning.
This institution, like many others in the
State, with patriotic love invested the
funds, generously contributed by the
churches and by friends for its support,
IN the securities of our own State, in the
full confidence that under all circum-
stances these investments would be secure,
as the State would never allow her insti-
tutions of learning to suffer by confding
their funds to her care.
On Tuesday night the annual address
before the Society of Inquiry was deliv-
cred by the Rev. ]. Henry Smith, of
North Carolina. The address was very
able one, and will add to the well Learned
reputation of DIR. Smith. His subject
was, the lessons taught By the silence of
the Scriptures on many themes, about
which men are full of curiosity, and full
of speculations The reticence of the
inspired writer's was not accidental or
undersigned They said so much and
no more, because more fullness was not
needed, and because they had no com
mission or permission to speak. Men,
instead of reverencing the silence Of
God S word, have in too many instances
regarded and treated this silence as an
incentive to curiosity and speculation.
They fill up the blanks until the empty
spaces and silence have become volumi
nous and the little things of Christianity
and other things not of Christianity have
been made the great things that divide
the churches, and define and describe
large bodies of nominal Christians. For
lustration he referred to
]. The silence of the New Testament
IN regard to the infancy and youth of
our Lord.
3 Silence as to the personal appear
ance of Christ.
3. Silence as to Mary the mother Of our
Lord
4 The silence Of the Evangelsts re-
speeding themselves and respecting one
another
,. Silence as to the day, month or year
Of our Lords birth.
8 Silence as to sacred places and OBJ
jects.
T. Silence as to prescribed forms or
formulas for prayer, singing, baptism, etc.
The address Of DR.. Alexander Martin.
OF Danville, Va, to the graduating class
was well adapted to the occasion and re-
ceived the marked attention, not only Of
the theological students, but Of the large
audience assembled. His aim was to
show the demands Of the age for moral
courage in the ministry in dealing with