The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-13
An Open Letter, to the Facul-
ties of Union and Columbia
SeminarieS.

Brethren,-Youa are doubtless holding
under consideration the following action
of the last Assembly, with view to re
port thereon to the Assembly at Vicks
burg.
The standing committee on Theologi
cal Seminaries beg leave to present the
following additional report:
IAN overture from the Presbytery O.
Tuscaloosa, has been placed in theil
hands, praying the Assembly to consider
again the propriety of so arranging the
theological training of our candidates fol
the ministry, that one half the time shall
be spent in active labor, especially in
vacant churches and destitute regions,
under Preshyterial direction. In re-
sponse to this proposition your commit
tee recommend that the Assembly adopt
the following resolution, viz:
Rcsolued, That the Faculties of the Union and
Columbia Seminaries, be constituted a commit
tee, of which the Rev B. NJ Smith, D. D., shall
be the chairman, to consider the expedency and
practicability of the proposed arrangement, and
if they deem the same expedient and practical
ble that they suggest, in detail, the method by
which it can be carried into effect, and report to
the next Assembly"
The report was adopted. See minutes,
page Al.
Confident that you, brethren, are far
from wishing to knife the proposition
in committee" and are ready TO weigh
carefully any suggestions on the subject,
we venture to say some things in favor
of some such plan as that of the Tuska
loosa overture. 1t is believed that an
overwhelming majority of our observing,
rejecting members see and feel that the
want of distinct provision for practical
training, is the greatest defect of the
American Theological Seminary system.
A paper read by a Theological Professor
before the Philadelphia Council, aptly
says, "The practical training is either
wholly wanting now (in the q. States)
or it is held in such loose, indepen-
dent, irresponsible way as to be of little
worth. A wise, practical training would
be of inestimable value in fitting our
young men for the first and trying years
of the pastorate, and would take away
every possible justification for the state
ment recently made in high places, that
the ordinary minister comes out of the
Seminary an imbecile, utterly dazed by
the great realities around him"
AS contribution to the great i'm
provement SO earnestly desired, the plans
of the churches of Scotland are worth
considering. The three great sections of
the Presbyterian Church in Scotland,
viz: The National Church, the United
Presbyterian Church, and the Free
Church, have each of them three years
theological course for their candidates,
(the Free Church four years course) but
the Seminary session in all three of these
great bodies is only FIVE months in each
year. See Catholic Presbyterian, Sep
tember, 1879, page 208.
Now this seven months vacation in
each year furnishes ample time for the
desired practical training under Presby-
terial direction. Prof. Braikie, of the
Free Church, and Prof. Tulloch, of the
National Church, state that their students
spend their long vacation either in study.
ing when behind, or in teaching, or in
home missionary work, etc. Those who
spend it studying are probably in gene
raj, men who have had a goodly measure
OF practical training, somewhat advanced
In years, and behind in studies. Doubt
less some spend it in work, as Livingston
did working in factory, and gathering
practical experience all the time. 1t is
clear that with the short session and long
vacation, the Scottish candidates enter
the University with far more Of practical
training than ours do. AS education for
the ministry is many sided, and practical
training is one very large side, eight or
more months of study per year, form too
long period to give practical training
fair play. Better far than our present
plan, is the four years course OF the Free
Church, with its five months session.
Let us return to the ways Of our fathers
across the sea, and drop the new Ameri-
can plan which is so modern that it is as
yet not three-fourths Of the way towards
its first centennial. We have no suepes-
ton to make about the adjustment in
detail Of studies and work to a five
months session, and seven months va
cation. That is more properly left to
your hands and the Presbyteries.
Other advantages besides practical
flow from the FIVE months ses-
sion. 1t gives the candidate opportunity
to make enough by his labor in the seven
months vacation, ordinarily, to pay his
own way at the Seminary. Suppose we
we're to shorten our seminary sessions
10 five months each, and then conGne the
appropriation Of our educational funds,
except in extraordinary cases, to com
,ovoo 10 oo~J.JoAo~ l. L