The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-08
por the Farmer ami Mechanic
Union theological Seminary
Richmond and its Glory Hon
ows to the heroes--Our North
Carolina Spirit.


SAY that with Others '.Tru>tees {
"a special meeting in Richmond las
week to elect successor to REV. Dr.
r. l.. Dabney." Then speaking Of Dr
Peck in terms of deserved praise vo
add: Rev. J. f. Latimer. who wa. re
Gently called from Davidson College t,
church in Memphis. was also electe,
to Proiessorship in Hampden Syd
uey >
I The errors into which you have fallel
are natural and familiar. and | woul,
not care to correct them. but that i
gives me pleasant opportunity OF cor
recting some mistakes about an institu
ton which is. though situated in Nir
! sinia. under control in part OF Nortl
Carolina. And if you give me leave
shall say something about that visit t
Richmond to which you referred.
am not trustee of Hampden Sid
ney College (They sIell it Sidney
though the old patriot spelled his with !
y-you would say perhaps ysiy y Bu
situated III the village called Hampder
Sidney. three hundred yards from the
venerable institution known for more
than hundred years as Hampden Sid
ney College, stands an institution con.
trolled equally and Jointly by the
Synods OF North Carolina and Virginia
This is the Union Theological Semi.
nary-the name Union given as a crys-
talization of the agreement on the part
of the two SynOds to conduct its affairs
and maintain school for the training
and thorough equipment OF Pres bvteriau
minis ters. The Synod of North Caro-.
lima has honored me with seat in the
Board of Directors. There are twelve
Directors appointed by each Synod.
eight ministers and four elders The
Directors from this Synod are Rev. DR..
Atkinson ri your city, Rev. DR.. J. H.
Smith of Greensboro. who is the Presi-
dent Of the Board. Rev. DIR. Rumple OF
Sal sbury Rev. Dr.. Johnston of Win
ston Rev. DIR. Hill of Fayetteville. Rev
b. f. Marable of Wayne. Rev Dr.
Pharr OF Mecklenbury, and myself.
ministers. The elders are Col. X.
Mcdowell and DR.. E. \ Hutchinson OF
Charlotte. Alex Sprunt, Esq, British
Vice-ConsuD of Wilmington. and W.
Murdoch, Esq, OF Salisbury.
The recent call to Richmond was as
YOU report - elect successor to Rev
DR. Z, l.. qbpey. who has acceptec
the Protessorship of Moral Philosophy
in the new and splendidlv endowe
University of Texas. DIR. Dabney :
reputation extends not only throughout
the Southern Presbyterian church, in
which he is one Of the most distinguish
ed able and honorable leaders. but
throughout the whole country. and be-
yoHd the great seas. He is the author
81 the accepted Lie Of Stonewall Jack
som is whose Acknowledgement he
served during :; part of the war; of a
g" ".letenrr oi Virginia aud of the South, "
If the al l>t q ~cJI>Slon of The Sen
~ulli>tic Philosophy" perhaps eNtant
md OF pouderous treatise on Theolo-
.y-besidcS many smaller works. re-
views. essays. &c. For thirty years he
laS been 4 Professor at Union. and tOl
twenty three years has occupied th,
chair of theology. with such signal abil-
ity as to make it in the judgment OF
those most competent TO Judge (and
not merely of his devoted and partiai
students) the ablest and completes
theological course III the world. He l.
a man of sturdy stalwart mind. OF fear
less courage, a profound thinker, la
borious student. a man of vast acquire
ment. and with the power to teach
thoroughly. His great name and fame
have been tower of strength in Union
and have attracted students from all
parts OF the country. He is true to the
south. to the issres and glories of the
~ Il ,f II.
right. in these days of gush and senti-
ment.
His removal is a serious loss to the
Seminary. The Board felt the gravity
of the call. But his health demanded a
Southern climate, and his res guatiOu
was imperative. 1t was to live Che
thought) for year OF two at Hampden
Sidney. and then be a helpless invalid
or by the removal TO have usefulness
and health for decade or longer. His
physician, his family. his own judgment
counselled the change.
To fill the vacancy occasioned by the
acceptance of DR.. Dabney sresignation
the Board transferred Rev. Thomas +
Peck, d d.. LID, from the chair o
Ecclesiastical History and Polity to the
chair of Systematic Theology. DR.
Peck has filled with great ability tn,
chair of history for twenty years ant
more He has supplied with cminen
success Or. Dabney's place when he
was inclpacitated by i'll health. He is
as you have said. de.ervedly popular il
North Carolina-a man OF profound anC
! logical mind. most gentle and winning
manners, and great learning a thorough
scholar. an acute thinker, a grand teach
er He was the favorite and most dis
tingushed pupil of the great theologian
| DR.. Thoruwell. One of his daughter
lived for brief while, as YOU hav,
noted. in North Carolina. and anothe
married young esbyterian ministe
from North Carolina, the Rev. Alex
Sprunt, formerly Of Wilmington. now o
Augusta county. Va. Tie promotion
Of DR. Peck was demanded by the who'll
church, and WAS the unanimous decis
ion of the Board.
To the chair vacated by tins transfer
the chair of Ecclesiastical History an,
| Polity, the Boar, unanimously electe,
the Rev. j. F. Latimer, PHI. d.. now 0
Memphis. recently Professor of Gree
IN Davidson College, and at one tim
Professor of Moral Philosophy in tn
same institution. DR. I.atimer is
Young man to have gained so high
reputation snd 10 have been chosen t
:" honorable and responsible a posi-
ton. But his liberal culture. his varie
and extensive attainment, his aggres
sive studousness. his energy, piety an
talent, and his eminent success as
Professor in Davidson College marke
him as well suited for the place. Mort
Carolina thus recalls one whom she ha
tried and honors him with higher sea
These matters may not be of 50 gres
personal interest to all your readers