The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-18
THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

volved to be thus summarilyI disposed of.
: THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
Removal OF Professor woodrow on His
y fessors aBoegs and Remphill-The Re-
snit Of Teaching Evolution AsProbably
True"
The Board of Directors of the Theo-
logical Seminary met on Wednesday
morning, twelve of the thirteen members
being present, Of whom five were new
members.
The President stated that the purpose
of thesmeeting was to settle the position
of the Seminary in reference to eyolu.
ton. - - ..s,st,
= The first blow delivered in the contest
came from the disciples Of DR.. Woodrow,
who opposed the seating of Rev. DIR.
Adams, who had been elected by the
Synod of Georgia in place of DR.. ClisbY,
the latter having been displaced by the
Georgia Synod, because he refused to
obey the Instructions Of the Synod to
stop the teaching of evolution in the
Seminary. DR.. Adams, however, was
seated by an overwhelming vote.
Against. this action q protest vas entered
BY three of the Board.
The next blow came from the disciples
of orthodoxy, who introduced the fol-
lowing paper: ~ . -.
Whereas the Synoda Of Georgia, Ala
bama and South Georgia and Florida
have disapproyed Of the views Of Prof.
DR.. James Woodrow on the subject OF
evolution, as contained in the address
submitted by him to the Board of Di.
rectors 10 response to their request for
him to give fully his views as taught in
this institution, and have also instructed
the Directors to take steps to prevent the
teaching Of such views in their semina-
~ and whereas the Synod of South
Carolina has disapproved of the teach
ing of evolution except in 9 purely ex.
pository manner, without intention OF
inculcating its truth; and whereas Prof.
Woodrow has publicly announced that
if he continues to be their professor, he
will hereafter teach as probably true the
hypothesis Of evolution; and whereas he
is thus disqualified from remaining as
professor in their. Seminary, and thereby
rendered Incompetent to discharge du.
ties in which. he speaks ip the name and
by the authority of these Synods; there
fore, be it
Rssoiued, That this Board, in obedi-
ence to the above instructions, appoint a
committee, consisting of Messrs. Stacy,
Webb and Sibley, to wait on. DR.. Wood.
row and ask for his resignation.
This paper was adopted by the follow.
lyes-Messrs. J. E. Mack, James
Stacy, q. W. Scott, D. F. Frierson, F.
B. Webb, 81. L. Mckee, w. G. Sibley
and William Adams.
Noes--Messrs. T.. II. Law, James
Hemphill, T. 3. Frazer and W. J.
Mckay. -
The Board took q recess to await the
reply Of Dr.. Woodrow.
IN the afternoon the following copmu.
nication was, received from DR.. Wood
row: e
s16 the Board Of Directors, etc.
( GENTLEMEN: I have received by the
bands of your committee the preamble
and resolution adopted by you, in which
you ask for my resignation as Professor
in the Theological Seminary.
II have no desire to continue to teach
in the name and by the authority Of the
Synods which control the Seminary, since
they have expressed disapprobation OF
my views, but yet am constrained
respectfully to decline to offer my resig-
nation, for the reason that I would there.
by acquiesce in and so to some extent
recognize the justice and rightfulness of
the action of the Synods on which you
bsse your request, and which regard as
illegal in form and incorrect in fact. 81
"The resolutions adopted by three of
the Synods to which you refer condemn,
with greater or less clearness, my teach.
ings as unscriptural and contrary to our
standards; and this condemnation has
been expressed without judicial investi.
cation. by which alone such matters can
be authoritatively determined.
81 bold, on the other hand, that my
teachings, SO far as they are expositions
of the Sacred Scriptures, accord perfect
ly in every particular with the teachings
of the Confession of Faith and Cate.
chisms,' and, SO far as they relate to
natural science, do not on any point
contradict the Sacred Scriptures as inter-
preted in our Standards.
"In view of these facts, / respectfully
ask that you proceed to determine the
questions as to my alleged incompetence
and unfaithfulness in teaching what is
contrary to the Sacred Scriptures, as in
terpreted in our Standards, by full trial,
as is provided in the Constitution of the
Seminary, Section 2, Article II.
Yours, very respectful,
:JAMEs WOODROW,
"Perkins Professor of Natural Science in
Connection with Revelation"
A resolution was then introduced look
ing to the removal of DR.. Woodrow, in
order to prevent his teachings and thus
obey the instructions of the Synods
which control the Seminary.
Before discussing the resolution, the
following action was taken: That DR..
Woodrow be invited to appear before the
Board, at 7.30 p. m, to show cause why
the pending resolution may not be adop-
ted.
A committee, consisting of Messrs.
Adams and Law, were appointed to
the invitation to Dr.
Woodrow,
The Board then took recess until
I 80 p. M, at which hour they reassem'
bled, when Messrs. Adams and Law
made the following report:
1.-THE committee appointed to wait on
DR.. Woodrow and put into his hands the
resolution requesting him to appear and
,how cause why the resolution proposing
! Ill.,. c.o,, h;o rrnfoaaorahin