The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-06

The current Southern Presbyterian
ReUieW has an interesting article by
the Rev. R. @. Reed, of Charlotte C.
H. in this state, on "The Supremacy
of the Ancient Classics" Mr.. Reed all
ludes at the close of his article to the
subject of ministerial education" and
makes some good hits. He remarks:
There is no more Scripture for Latin than
for Sanscrit Latin happened to be in the curri-
culum, and Sanscrit happened not to be- Our
standard is what it is, because the college cur
riculum happened to be Just what it was at the
time the standard was determined. Suppose it
De possible TO change the curriculum so as to
give the student different but an equivalent
course of study to that on which our standard is
based would not the design of our standard be
met? AS a matter of fact, has not such a change
actually taken place in the curriculum of many
colleges?
The article closes with the following
passage, which we commend to those
who do not remember that there was
probably not man in the Apostolic
College who understood Latin, and.
with the exception of Origen, not one
among the Christian fathers down to
the fourth century, who understood
Hebrew
One may now find In our institutions of learn
ing a course Of study lying almost exclusively
out of the line of our standard that will furnish
him all the mental store and mental culture
that are necessary to give him passport into edu.
| Gated circles; that will fit him to grapple sue
cessfully with the most difficult practical prob.
lens In politics, philosophy, theology, and SCI
ence, and that will enable him to attain to emf
nence In any of the learned professions. Yet
we are debarred from utilizing his talents in our
ministry, unless he will consent to accent the
humlllating condition. and come in under the
provision for Extraordinary cas- $685." We still
refuse to admit that nything can give aptness
to teach except the means that were EMPLOYED
centuries ago. We still refuse to acknowledge
culture unless it has been attained in a certain
prescribed method. We prefer little culture
that IS the result of studying Latin aud Greek
to any degree of culture that has been ACQUIRED
without these venerable assistants 1t does seem
that one might reasonably plead for a little more
hexibity, little more adaptabilIty to the
changed circumstances Of the time We are
dropping behind some of the most conservative
colleges. Some of these are yielding to the
growing sentiment against the long supremacy
OF the ancents, to the extent of allowing two
mo Tern languages in lieu of one ancient. They
Will not withhold the badge of scholarship from
one who drops Latin, provided he will atone for
1t by acquiring both French and German. Sup
pose the alumni Of these colleges who take this
course knock at our doors It seems that we
are shut up to the necessity of either sending
them back to learn how to discuss in Latin a
thesis on some common head of divinity" or
Of taking them in as cases extraordinary. +"
Is 1T not better to so modify our standard as to
recognise the fact for fact it is, that there are
thousands of well educated men, apt to teach,
and therefore possessed of all scrptural requisite
who are yet destitute of the ordinary superficial
knowledge Of Latin and Greek upon which we
now insist2 1t is not forgotten that Greek and
Hebrew are defended on the ground that they
are the languages Of the original Scriptures |
We have only time and space to repeat what
has often been truly said, that they are not the
languages through which those who are forced
to study them derive their knowledge Of the
Scriptures.
RORERT TNGERsOTI5s fatbor noe -