The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-11-16

The Semi-Centennial of Column
bia Seminary.
This celebration came off according to appoint
ment. and its interesting exercises ended on
Monday night. The Synod of South Carolina
about nine-tenths of whose ministers were for
merly students of the Seminary, assembled in
the Columbia church on Wednesday evening of
last week, November 2d) attended by an un-
usually large number of both ministers and ell
ders. Besides these, alumni of the Seminary from
other States came in considerable number thus
largely swelling the attendance, so that in the
organisation of the Alumni Association ninety.
three actually responded to their names.
The time selected was peculiarly appropriate
This was the fftieth Synodical meeting since
| that at which. in 1881, DR.. Howe was elected
Professor of Biblical Literature in the Theologi-
cal Seminary which had recently been removed
to this city, aud was just then being organised
as a school for theological training. And last
Sabbath, while the celebration was still in pro-
gress, the venerable Professor whose name has
been made specially prominent in it, celebrated
| his seventy ninth birth. day.
The formal exercises of the Semi Centennial
celebration were begun on Friday evening, the
Synod having completed it's business and adj
lJourned that day, SO to leave the way clear to
the services that were to follow The first item
on the programme was an Introductory address
by the Rev. Dr. B. M. Palmer, which was de-
livered in his usual felcitous STYLE. and was
every way worthy the impressive and interest
ing occasion. This was followed by the organ
| isatlon of an Alumni Association, in accordance
with plan adopted by certain alumni of the
institution, who met in Charleston, S. c., during
the Assembly of 1880. After the completion Of
this business, the Rev. J. H. Save, one of the
most venerable surviving graduates of the Sem
mary, delivered apersonal address to Dr. Howe,
who responded to it in appropriate terms Civ
ing brief history of his connexion with this
School of the Prophets" and an expression of
his own feelings in view of this interesting occa
sion. These exercises were attended by large
assemblage of the people of the city, completely
| filling the large church building.
| On Saturday, in the forenoon, the Rev. DR..
Thos. E. Peck, of Union Theological Seminary,
delivered an admin able discourse on Presby-
terianism, which gave great pleasure to his
hearers and the Rev. DR.. Howe followed with
terest to its friends. The afternoon of the same
day was devoted to the reading of memoirs of
deceased Professors, prepared for the occasion.
These were five in number: that of DIR. Thomas
Goulding, prepared by his son, the late Rev.
Francis R. Goulding; that of DR.. A. W. Leland,
by the Rev. Joseph Bardwell, D. D.. that of Dr.
G. Q. Jones, by his brother, the Rev. John Jones,
D. D.; that of DIR. j. H. Thornwell, by the Rev.
]. B. Adger, D. D.; and that of DR.. VIM S.
Plumer, by the Rev. M. D. Hoge, d. D. These
are all excellent papers, and were deeply in
| terestlng to the former students and friends of
| the honored dead. A roll-call of the deceased
students of the Seminary concluded the exercises
of the afternoon. In the evening, the Rev. DIR.
III. M. Smith, of New Orleans, read an able and
valuable discourse upon the Old Testament in
History, or Biblical Criticism and Inspiration
On Sunday afternoon, the exercises of the
Semi Centennial occasion were resumed, and the
Rev. DIR. @. A. Stillman, of Tuscaloosa, Ala,
delivered a discourse upon the Pulpit and the
Passionate, which was strongly marked by its
vlgor comprehenslveness, and practical charac-
ter. 1t was listened to with much pleasure.
That evening" before a we'll packed house, the
Rev. DIR. J. Leighton Wilson read discourse
| upon the foreign missionary work of the South
ern Presbyterian Church, and the connection of
the Seminary with this use. In this instruc-
tive paper, the large share which the alumni of
the Seminary have taken in the work of evan
gelising the world, was clearly brought out
Though not a part of the regular programme,
this discourse was followed By an interesting and
| impressive address upon Missions in China by
the Rev. H. G. BuBose, of the China mission,
and graduate of the Seminary
The exercises OF the occasion were concluded
on Monday morning by discourse on The
ology by the Rev. DIR. Girardeau of the Columbia
Seminary. epatcular theme of this discourse
was The Federal Theology: its Import and its
Influence which was treated with great clear
ness, ability, and force, and delivered with great
energy and eloquence The exercises had been
long and much crowded; and many of the
alumni had been constrained to leave for home
But those who heard this grand discourse felt
amply repaid for remaining behind, and will
not soon forget its powerful argument, its val
liable instruction, and its sublimely eloquent
peroration.
| All these papers, together with sketches of the
deceased alumni, it is the purpose of the Associa-
ton to publish in a Memorial volume at an early
day, so that they will be put into the hands Of
our people, and their value be perpetuated.
Upon the whole, this Semi. Centennial cele-
bratlon proved a most interesting, pleasant, and
profitable occasion. The reunion of fellow
students and former friends was truly delightful.
And all hearts, glowing with fresh love for the
old Seminary, now fondly anticipate its reopen
ing and setting out upon new course of activity
and yet wider usefulness.-SOuthern Rresbyte-
Tidn..
| Light is thrown by an Aramaic phrase