The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-08-10
For the Central Presbyterian.
Christian Education.

Christian Education.
We who were reared on the soil of Old
Virginia have known from early boyhood
that the old State is "the mother of States
and statesmen" We all know too that
she has been, in the South, the leader in
the cause of liberal education. Some of
her sons and others, in the Southwest
would like to speak few words in her
ears to tell her what we are doing in
the way of Christian education, and to
ask for sympathy and help. The war
closed, leaving all Presbyterian schools
and colleges in the Southwest PROSTATE.
Of the colleges, several tried to rally, but
our denomination not being strong in
these States the effort with one or two
very limited exceptions, wholly failed.
Under these circumstances the six South
western Synods Of Nashville, Memphis.
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tex
as, united and determined, if possible, to
establish one frst-class University at
Clarksville, Tenn. We succeeded in pro-
curing. the buildings of Stewart College,
a Presbyterian institution of that place.
and now have very handsome, commo-
dious University building, "a acres of
ground, splendid, healthful location, in
town OF 5000 inhabitants, in the midst
OF intelligence and refinement, on the
Louisville & Nashville Railroad, easy of
access from all parts of the country. We
have also Faculty composed of men of
the very best character and all of them
accomplished in their several DEPART
ments. The chancellor, Rev. J. N. Wad-
dell, D. D., LID. was for nearly twenty
five years Professor in or chancellor of
the University OF Mississippi, and is known
all over the Southwest as a scholar
teacher, and disciplinarian, equal to the
best. Of the other Professors. the Rev
DIR. j.: b: Shearer, Prof. S. j. Coffman,
and Prof. b. B. Massie, are Virginians,
we'll known to many of your readers;
and they, as well as Dr. Caldwell in the
chair of Natural Sciences, and Professor
Hemphill in the chair of Ancient Lam
guagess, give every guarantee for the
best of work in the way of educating the
youth who go to their care. Now, wish
to emphasize ve'y important point. Our
main object in founding this institution
was to give the usual education to be
had In first-class colleges, and along with
this to
Teach the Bible.
We have come to the conclusion that
real Christian education can be given in
no other way. We are not satisfied with
bringing general religious influence to
bear upon the students; nor with having
chapel prayers morning and evening, to-
gether with Bible class on Sabbath.
We hold that if young men Git matters
not what vocation they follow in life), are
to be able to contend earnestly for the
faith once delivered to the saints thew
must be made so by their study and
knowledge of the word of God itself.
Hence every student who goes to Clarks-
vile, Qt matters not what other studies
he may pursue,) is required to study the
Ba6te course. This course begins with
Genesis and extends the first year as far
as Kings, the second year through the
Old Testament and over the intervening
history to the coming of Christ, and in
the third year through the N Testament.
After going thus once thoroughly through
the Bible-by reciting three times each
week upon its lessons-separate topics,
such as the Sabbath, the Family, the
Covenant with Abraham the Priesthood,
&C., are studied specifically. Then fol-
lows on course Of history from the close
Of the New Testament to the present time,
and thus every student who goes through
this institution must go away with
knowledge of the Bible account of crea-
ton, of mans ruin in sin, of the promised
Redeemer, and of the history of the work
Of Redemption SO far as it has been car
ried on, and of the prophecies which re-
fer to future developments. And thus
each graduate must have correct un-
derstanding of the history Of this world
as it gathers around and radiates from
its central point, the cross of Jesus Christ.
Such an education is the best that earth
can give. This, and l do not hesitate to
say, this only, fits educated young men
as they ought to be fitted for work in
the Masters cause. It is not surprising
that we have adopted this course at last !;
the wonder is that the Church has ever
supposed that it could properly give a
Christian education in any other way.
This course is taught at GAINESVILLE by
Dr. Shearer. see that an address on
the subject, delivered by him recently
before the Hampden Sidney trustees, led
that institution to take steps to move into
line. No Christian college in the country