The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-01-28

For the Central Presbyterian
The Fifth Professorship in Union
Theological Seminary.
1t is rash thing to enter the lists
against an editor. He always has the
last say, and can shut down on you and
choke you off whenever be wishes to
make an end of you. With such con-
siderations clearly before my mind, 1
will yet venture word further. The
Fifth Professorship will bear little more
sitting, and if am not able to sift, con-
tribute to this end by ogitating the
SITTER. Without attempting to Justify the
impressions which | received from the
debate in Synod, proceed to notice one
or two suggestions made by the editor.
" 1t was shown that the establishment of
this professorship has nothing to do with
the question of lowering or raising the
standard" If this Fifth Professorship
has nothing to do with fixing the stan
dard, then no other professorship has !;
and so the seminary course has nothing
to do with it. Is this conclusion true
The book requires that the candidate for
under some approved teacher at least
two years. Our seminary course en-
braces three years, and the book to the
contrary Notwithstanding, this is practi-
cally the standard. Moreover the semi
nary authorities venture to complain
when students leave before the end of
the third year. And they have an ar
rangement that appeals to the students
pride to induce him to stay. AS pre-
MUM for completing the three years
course they give a diploma. In these
recent days the seminary authorities have
endeavored to fix the standard more de-
fnitely by a system of grading. If a
student does not reach a certain mark he
fails to graduate | notice in the gen.
eral catalogue that this failure is set
down permanently against him and
handed down to the latest posterity.
True, this has nothing to do with the
candidates licensure, but it does have
something to do, I think, in fixing the
standard of his attainments Will it be
said that the Presbyteries fix the stan
dard by determining the seminary course.
This comedies the point that the actual
standard is the seminary course. AS
matter of fact, however, the Presbyteries
have little to do in determining the
course at the seminary. They accept
whatever the Faculty and Board OF Di-
rectors choose to give. 1t is not meant
to find fault, but simply to state facts.
A matter more to the point is men
toned further on: TO retain the FIVE
professors now employed the endowment
proposed is essential" Now was not
this the very point made by Dr. Smith
il Synod He asked that the proposed
endowment should not be for the estab-
lishment OF professorship of English
Bible study but just in general terms for
the purpose of "giving increased facili-
ties for instruction at Union Seminary"
The debate on this head was closed by
DR.. McIlwaine who reminded the Synod
that if they were going to make this
change In the object of the endowment
they could only preserve their honesty by
refunding the money that had been given
for the specific purpose of establishing
chair Of English Bible study. The
writer would have 10 objection to an ef-
fort to increase the endowment so as to
cover present current expenses. This
would have nothing to do with new
chair. The present FIVE professors will
not teach anything more nor anything
different in virtue Of better pay. DR..
Smith says they are overworked now.
The point is that unless you add to the
present corps of teachers, you cant add
new chair without cutting down the
present course. If you cut down the
present course, you can add new chair,
without the necessity Of new endow-
ment except to meet present current ex-
peuses. We shall have to come Ground
to DR.. Smith's suggestion yet Increase
the endowment so as to sustain oui pre-
sent teaching force, and if the present
course of instruction is not satisfactory,
change it.
A word about the rich Northern sem
inaries. Long since 1 expressed the fear
that this effort was prompted by desire
to rival Princeton and such. o. this
head, / would say, let us first try to rival
Princeton in the number Of o1r students.
Princeton has this year 145. We are
much more nearly on Level in the mat