Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-14
rHEoLOGICdL SEMIN4RIEs.


Our good Presbyterian brethren united in
a union meeting on Sunday evening, the
purpose of which was to give encouragement
to the scheme of the establishment of q
theological seminary or college in this State,
devoted to the training of young men for
the ministry of that denomination. There
was the usual number of speeches, and the
promoter of the enterprise received many
encouraging words, which may be supple
mented with more substantial tokens of the
interest of the people in the proposed work
of the institution.
The GLOBE. views with pleasure every
movement calculated to increase and i'm
prove the educational facilities of the State,
and would not withhold from any project
having for its object the mental development
of the rising generation all encouragement
possible. Yet it is inclined to doubt the
expediency of at this time entering
upon such an undertaking as is proposed.
The great fault of our educational system
is that we have too many weak and too
few strong colleges, and the tendency is
to increase the number of the former with
the result of preventing the growth Of the
latter. Each State in the union has from
three to score Of theological seminaries,
some of them non-sectarian, but the maj ri-
ty under the especial patronage of some one
of the various religious denominations. As
a rule they drag out but feeble existence,
their curriculum is limited, and their faculty
of but an Indifferent order. Students who
attend receive only the rudiments of CLASH
cal education, aand are obliged to attend
some of the Eastern universities if they de-
sire to complete their course. Even in
theology the course is imperfect, though
the dogmas of the church assuming con-
troll of the institution are pretty thoroughly
inculcated.
We would suggest that the cause of educa-
ton, both general and theological, might be
best advanced by consolidation of the eff
forts of several of the churches that adhere
to nearly the same religious belief, and the
establishment of a non-sectarian college un-
der their general supervision. The Presby-
terrain, Baptist and Congregational churches
are substantially one. They differ only in
minor points of discipline and doctrine.
We see no reason to hinder their
union in support of a college that shall
possess high order of excellence and at the
same time be non-sectarian yet orthodox.
By such a union an institution could be
built up that would be credit to the State
and relieve US of dependence upon the East
for completing the education of our young
men.
In Minnesota We have already the nucleus
for such an institution in Car4ston college,
located at Mortified. Though nominally
under the care of the Congregational churo h
it is practically unsectarian, members Of
several denominations being represented on
the faculty. But it might be reorganized On
basis which would make it acceptable to
all orthodox churches, and transformed into
university that shall be the peer of any at
the East. But in order to make it or any
other college successful it must have large
constituency-larger than any single denom-
ination can command. In no other way can
a strong and creditable educational institu-
ton be placed on a substantial basis.