Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-12-18
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From the Columbia Register, 18th.
THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

twelve or thirteen members being present,
of whom five were new members.
The President stated that the object of the
meeting was to settle the position of the
Seminary in reference to evolution.
The first blow delivered in the contest
came from the disciples of DIR. Woodrow,
who opposed the seating of Rev. DR.. Adams
who had been elected by the Synod of Geor-
gia ir place of DR.. Clisby, the latter having
been displaced by the Georgia Synod, be-
cause 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 protest was entered by three of
the Boari.
The next blow came from the disciples of
orthodoxy, who introduced the following
paper:
Whereas, the Synods of Gorgia, Alabama
and South Georgia and Florida have disap-
proved of the views of Prof. DIR. James
Woodrow, on the subject of evolution, as
contained in the address submitted by him
to the Board of Directors, in response to
their request for him to give fully his views
as taught in this institution, and have also
vent the teaching of such views in their
Seminary; and whereas the Synod of South
Carolina has disapproyed of the teaching of
evolution except in a purely exposltory
manner, without intention of finculcatingit 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 re-
naming as professor in their Seminary,
and thereby rendered incompetent to dis
charge duties in which he speaks in the
name and by the authority of these Synods !;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That this Board, in obedience to the
above instructions, appoint committee consist
ing of Messrs. Stacy, Webb and Sibley, to wait
on Dr. Woodrow and ask for his resignation.
This paper was adopted by the following
vote:
Ayes-Messrs. j. b. Mack, James Stacy,
G.. w. Scott, ID. E. Frierson, F. B. Webb,
H. l.. Mckee, w. B. Sibley, and William
Adams.
Noes-Messrs. T. II. Law, James Hemp
hill, r. B. Frazer and w. j. Mckay.
The Board took recess to await the reply
of DR.. Woodrow.
In the afternoon the following communi-
cation was received from DR.. Woodrow:
"7o the Board Of Directors, etc.
"GENTLEMEN: have received by the
hands of your committee the preamble to
the resolution adopted by you, in which
you ask for my resignation as Professor in
the Theological Seminary.
81 have no desire to continue to teach in
the name and by the authority of the Sy-
mods which control the Seminary, since
they have expressed disapprobation Of my
views but yet am constrained to respect
fully decline to offer my resignation for the
same reason that I would thereby acquesce
in and so to some extent recognize the JUS
tice and rightfulness of the action of the
Synods upon which you base your request,
and which l regard as illegal in form and
incorrect in fact.
"The resolutions adopted by three Of the
Synods to which you refer condemn, with
greater or less clearnesS, my teachings as
unscriptural, and contrary to our standards;
and this condemnation has been expressed
without judicial investigation, by which
alone such matters can be authOritatiVely
determined.
II hold, on the other hand, that my teach
ingS, so far as they are eXposltiOns OF the
Sacred Scriptures, accord perfectly in every
particular with the teachings of the Con
fession of Faith and Catechisrns,' and, so
far as they relate to natural science, do not
on any point contradict the Sacred Script
ures as Interpreted in our Standards.
"In view of these facts, respectfully ask
that you proceed to determine the questions
as to my alleged incompetence and unfaith-
funess in teaching what is contrary to the
Standards, by full trial, as is provided in
the Constitution Of the Seminary, Section .,
Article II. Yours, very respectfully.
JAMES WOODROW,
"Perkins Professor of Natural Science in
Connection with Revelation"
A resolution was then introduced looking
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 fol-
lowing action was taken: That DR.. Wood
row be invited appear before the Board, at
7.30 p. NJ, to show cause why the pending
resolution may not be adopted.
committee, consisting of Messrs. Adams
and Law were appointed to communicate
the invitation to DR.. Woodrow.
The Board then took Il recess until 7.3O
p. NJ, at which hour they re-assembled,
when Messrs. Adams and Law made the
following report:
"The committee appointed to wait on DR..
Woodrow and put into his hands the reso-
luton requesting him to appear and show
cause why the resolution proposing to re-
move him from his profeSsorship should not
be adopted, beg leave to report that DR..
Woodrow replies that he does not desire
to comply with the invitation of the Di-
rectOrS."
After reading the above report the resO-
luton proposing to remove DIR. Woodrow
from his professorship was taken up, amend
ed and adopted, as follows:
"Inasmuch rs the Rev. DR.. James Wood
pear before the Board Of Directors to show
cause why he should not be removed from
his professorship; and inaSmuch as he has
already had a full hearing in person before
three Of the Synods and through his friends
and advocates before the fourth Synod and
inasmuch as these SynOds have already
condemned his views and teachings on the
subject of evolution; and inasmuch as, in his
reply to the committee appointed to wait
upon him, DIR. Woodrow declares his un-
willingness to tender his resignation there
fore,
ReSoircd, l. That he be, and hereby is removed
from his professorship, according to the authori-
" given this Board.
= That the Secretary he directed to officially
notify DIR. Woodrow Of this action.
The following gresolution was alsOadOptcd ::
RcSOiced, That in taking this action the Board
desires it to be distinctly understood that in its
interpretations Of the instructions received from
the Synods it does not understand that any
undue restrictions shall be placed upon any
professor Of our Seminary, or limitation put up
on the discussion Of any legitimate doctrine or
hypothesis nor does this Board itself, desire to
limit discussion on any proper subject; provid-
ed always, that the views inculcatcd shall be in
accordance with the Standards Of our Church.
Immediately after the adoption of the
above resolution ReVT II Law asked if the