The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-08
For the Central Presbyterian.
Theological Halls.
No. g..

No. 8.
MeSSrS. EdttorS,-In the two articles
recently published in the Central, the
subject of theological instruction was
considered under the heads of teachers,
sessions, and modes of instruction. The
conclusion to which we arrived after a
view of these, was that our students who
should go either to Scotland or to Ger
many, to the neglect of home instruction,
would be greatly the losers thereby. We
think the same is true, though in less
degree, with the theological schools of
the North. After winter in northern
seminary, and two in the only hall we
now have open, the writer is confident
that he derived very much more benefit
in our own school than in the other, in
proportion to the time spent in it. The
difference lay not in the course of study,
but IN the mode Of instruction. Our own
is more laborious, and the benefit is de-
rived from personal effort. With us the
student must search for himself; in the
other case the student is passive, recep-
tive, the lecture system prevailing This
is the estimate that we feel compelled to
put upon the various theological schools
after a personal experience in eight diff
ferent ones. There is no place where
Southern Presbyterian students can gain
so good and so thorough course of in
struction as in their own theological sem
mary.
But the reader will naturally ask,
Are you not casting reflection upon your
self and upon your brethren who have
studied abroad? Were those two and a
half years taken out of your ministry and
spent in Scotland and Germany thrown
away? These inquiries bring us to the
other side of the question. We think we
have shown that student of our Church
can get better training in three years
at our own hall than he can possibly gain
at any other school of theology whatso-
ever. And besides that, we think it due
to our own school and our home Church
that the foundations be laid here Right
or wrong, the child should hear the views
of his parents and his own Church before
listening to those CT others, because they
are his proper guardians and instructors
For these reasons our students ought to
take their first course and full course
at home, then after that let others be
heard if opportunity is afforded.
1t is here we conceive that the benefit
Of foreign study comes in. The man who
goes to Scotland or Germany to study
theology will find himself looking at
many questions from new standpoints.
The Free Church of Scotland, although
now nearly forty years separated from
the Established Church, still looks at the
question of establishment through the
old glasses. Establishment then, for the
first time in his life, becomes living
question to the American student. And
what is more, the Free Church view has
very little in it that is Objectionable. If
the State would agree to furnish money
to support the Church without debating
what the Church should teach, few con
sciences would be found too tender to &C
cept the money. 1t would then be only
a matter of prudence, policy. This is
only specimen of the questions that will
be started in the mind by getting new
point of observation, but it will serve as
an example of the questions which will
make the American student think But
in Germany there are more questions
started, and more serious ones. Some are
raised by his teachers and some in private.
and the Presbyterian must expect to re-
examine the foundations of his own sys-
tenn and see if they be firm. For the re-
suit there is no ground of fear, but fears
may be often excited at the first presen-
tation of these questions TO his mind. To
any well-balanced mind we Judge such
course as this beneficial, provided that
mind has been well furnished with true
doctrines at home; otherwise it would be
very dangerous. But there is another
privilege that is afforded to a student
who is fortunate enough to get second
course, course of foreign study He is
enabled to hear those extraordinary men
whom God has raised up, one here and
one there. He can attend specially upon
the teaching of such men as Cairns, Lind
say, Alexander, A. B. Davidson, Delitsch
and Darner. If any Of these men are off
the track in anything, as we fully believe
some of them to be, his previous instruc-
ton will guide him as to what he shall
cast away and what he shall retain. One
more benefit alone may be mentioned as
arising from a course in Germany, that
is the language. The Germans have done
an immense amount of intellectual drudg-
cry. This is specially true in the Ian
guages. The student who studies in
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