, 1881-06-12
THE CHICAGO SEMINARY.

/ CRITICISM on ITS MANAGEMENT III THE
REV. John c. lIlLI~
= HtrdId and Preshmer.
tits very evident that the time has come
fur full discussion of the affairs Of our SEM
mary at Chicago. There is something wrong
No such institution, had it healthy coilsti-
tuition, would be subjected to such revoln-
tious and changes. Look at the condition of
affairs: The alumni with their affections
aIienated; the churches with little or ITO con-
tldcnce in the institution: wealthy men re-
fusing to sustain it; Il green Faculty and no
Professor in Theology; and Board OF Di-
rec,ors that are regarded BY the real friends
OF the institution as an obstacle in the way
Of building up the Seminary in the progress
siye anu liberal spirit Of the great North
west.
The dissensions in the Board are pro-
verbal; the Faculty aud the students have
always been III harmony, but the Board has
always been the very opposit, and what
ever dissatisfaction may have been eN-
pressed by five or six students for the past
twelve years it could be traced to the ill
tluence@ Of the Board. The recent action Of
the Board is the elimination of periodic
rpheayal, and it is regarded BY the
alumni and friends Ut the Seminary as a
piece Of remorseless despotism, and those
vino are influential III the Immediate neigh
borloo.l do hot hesitate to eharacteriZe the
wllDle affair: as aTputraEe. The policy OF the
l;uar.l, to regard the wishes OF a few who arc
generous supporters OF the Seminary with
ont regard To its actual Interests. has led in
Years past TO the retirement of some OF the
DirectrS; and the indications are now that
the remaining Directors who are III favor OF
4 tolerant, generous and progressive I'res3y-
telianisln will retire from their offices.
Tile real causes for the retiring OF the FRO
fassr-S }l3t4s htAnu 1u1Ip nfl}t1f. Members
OF the Bnartl have occasionally given out
hints as To why this action WIS likely to take
place. slich rs lack of funds to support the
full Faculty, Il desire to reorganize the plan
suggest incompetency. Now, the facts are
ali a,.ainst the Board. They have elected as
many as they have put out; they nave uohe
lore,-no reorganization OF chairs has taken
place. and, as for tle last, the testimony OF
the alumni shows that it is the hlnslest eA-
cuse OF all. ~.,
10 cause has been openly shown for put
TIM these Professors out OF their chars. NO
satisfactory. cause coul1 be shoWh. Inc
alumni and the friends of the Seminary,
knowing the spirit that has been exhibited III
The past, know that the cause for the recent
revolution lies lit nothing but the personal;
sectional, and political Wllinls OF the controllI
i1g spirits. The Directors Of this Seminary
will'haytt to learn that this institution belongs
10 the Presbyterian Church, that the Olu
School Church is no more anu that lineage
is not south of the Ohio. They may Imagine
1hat the troubles Of the Seminary are over,
but they will tintl that the, have just begun.
The alumni Of this Seminary, WHO are now
pretty widely scattered over the whole coutl-
uy, and the friends Of the Seminary, WHO are
i'll its immediate vicinity, feel that there Is
great cause for deep Indignation ut the way
these ousted Professors have been treated,
and especially after it was so fully shown
that part of the contemplated action was re-
gart1e,t as :; great injury to the seminary
Protests, petitions. and Testimonials ali %en! ns
tile spirit, and intolerance prevailed.
4 breach is now made between the Board
OF Directors and those who have the SEM
1nary and its efficiency nearest their hearts.
1t is hard to see how it can be healed; ot1l-
dents to form classes may be imported from
the South. and an existence maintained py
the continued donations Of those VINO con-
troll. but there will be no place Tor the oetli-
mary in the hearts of the Presb.teflan
Church Of the Northwest so long as LIE DIES
ellt policy is continued.
file root Of the whole difficulty lies in the
constitution OF the Seminary. Iractlcally,
the General Assembly has no more co1i1lot
ot it than it has Of Cornell UnveISty; a,'s ame
board simply sends III report to the Assem-, EN-,
bly,. nt,lnina1es the Directors for the explleo
term, and no chance, is given to make any
break in the Traditional policy. Tile nroportion
Of alumni OH the Board is so small tnat o!le
terest tin in the Seminary If the Presbyteries
or Sy1lois geographically connected Win
the Seminary had the privilege Of nominating
and electng the Board OF Directors. me oe.!l1
eoa;5c; aay YOU'D @ be t at Sne9 and the Ell Church.
thus being assured of some influence Ill tle
control, there would be no Eesltallcy anont
ut once investing in the institution Which,
ny such manaselnsnt. wouh t pe ,;ch ~ pGiph II the
present policy Of control is con1lnueu' WALL
III time become extinct.