New-York tribune., 1892-10-17
UNION SEMINARY AFFAIRS.
WHY 1T LEFT TIE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REASONS FOR THE RITTURE GIVEN DY THE
SECRETARY J.. VI. KINGSLEY.


SECRETARY, Z. NJ. KINGSLEY.
Prior to the campac OF 1870. the Union Theological
seminary unettcrcl by ecclesiastical ties. and the
action OF the Board Of Directors, on Thursday was In
tended 70 restore TO the seminary that freedom which
II formerly possess I'd and which II proposes 10 exercise
from now on said member OF the board Yesterday
afternoon. IN explanation Of III, atud OF the seminary
toward the General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church. " Certain categorical questions were put to
Professor Briggs some time ago. and his answers being
completely satisfactory voted to stand by him
board said f. VI. Kng-lcy secretary and OF
the Board Of Directors OF the seminary, yesterday.
I'VE recognize charter apd the powers 1t give,
cannot therefore. delegate to Others our trust
powers he continued.
The following statements defining the attitude of the
seminarys Board Of Directors toward the General As
senby then made 10 a reporter OF The Tribune
by Mr. Kingsley:
ON Thursday, the 18th Inst. the Beard OF Directors
OF Union seminary held special meeting in the
Morgan Library. In the call for this meeting the oh
ject stated the consideration OF the relations
between Union Seminary and the General Assembly, 20
that director could be ignorant Of what 1t wns
proposed to do. The attendance was large bcyo ond
example. All Of The directors were present, excep,
three. who We're necessarily absent. The official ac-
ton of the Assembly at Portland, In response to the
memorial OF the seminary. read. AMI then the re
port Gf the executive committee was presented In
Guiding the legal opinion Of James G. Carter. and a
paper In response TO the action Of the last General As
scmbly which had been unanimously adopted By the
executive committee. After a free and most har-
moniouS discussion, the vote taken and the fol-
long paper adopted, with only dissenting voice"
The Board Of Directors Of the Union Theological
Seminary the city Of NewYork addressed memorial
to the General Assembly Of tho Presbyterian Church In
the United State, OF America which met at Portland
:iay 49, 1892. paper stated. with the utmost
courtesy Of the practical reasons which render
It necessary. in judgment that the veto power con
the General Assembly in 1870 should longer
reside that body The memorial concluded With this
language There are othci and weighty considerations
whh have preferred not to urge While there exists
the undoubtea right of either party To the agreement OF
1870 alone in ~ abogaton. yet this memorial Is
submitted with earnest hope that your reverend body
NAV cordially concur with Us in annlinr the arrangement
Il 1870 thus restoring unicn seminary TO IT. former
relations 10 the General Assembly" The hope thus ex
dressed was disappointed. with oacal notice
ever Of the assigned by the answer I.
memorial was. That the Assembly declines 20 bc o
party o the breaking OF the compact with Union Thco
logical Seminary" In View & this action OF the late
General Assembly contained now TO uryc those
considerations which had preferred to reserve They
are constitutional and legal.
!. The Constitutional consd' rai.on-.-rhere + M
provision whatever In our charter constitution rjr
1.-THE principle OF synodica o. Assembly supervision. -
The committees reunion and both Assemble, ia 1850
recognized this Important fact advised the
duction Of that principle int Constitution. Upon
this advice nO action The constitution
not changed. Therefore. the seminary could light
fully give and the Assembly coald no; Ichtlu!ll
or exercise the veto power under existing char
tci and constitution.
.. The legal considerations. tho action of The
General Assembly a. Portland. boasd has obtained
best leg, advice 70 the Iolut, betp cen
seminary and the Assembly. This advice leave.
doub: that under the law. ~ the S'as. o'
Ncw-VoK the attempted orrccncn; ~ 1870 Wa, bcyond
the powers u the board OF cc,tos o. the seminary We
'csrno; ahdcatc any ~ Official duties in whole ~
in part"
Therefore tho solo directors Of Union scuir,rv NJ
compelled hy the practical combinations prc-cntcd
In memorial and by constitutional and legal con.
sderotons. maintain right, old funl oui
chartered OBLIGATIONS, which b. neither surrendered
nor shared. In this action We frgrt deeply that We
ben refused Of the Assembly which
we respectfully asked ard which would much
toward sonehing the pat and relieving the piesent.
committed cafe and aetuaed Ly sincere regard
for tn highest hieIcets 10th Of Union seminary and Of
the Church W love, We do
Reso ,c That the resolution passed MAY iG 1870.
adopting the memorial o. The General Assembly ~ ne
Pfeshyteran church IN the thtd Snte~ of Amerct
which provided that all hll~ tmcnis Of professor, sa1l
he reported 10 thr "'neTa Assembly. aud no such sp
pohtmcnt of professor 'ha,i L. CONSIDERED ., CON
pict" cction u disapproved iy majority lo." OF III
Assembly" b.. and The f.i'n~ hereby j.. i"s'ndc1;
Theological >ominlry In the CITY OF NcwNork and the
General Assembly of the pes vtclan Church 10 The
terminated tnys rlnstaiIc the f"iaons bcsween the
Seminary AID the General Assembly they existed prior
And ;has Official action be duy given T.
the Grntrh Assembly. and also 70 the pgblc Will
the doctrine and government Of the Pr'sbvtcrsn
ohur.h IN n Jn,tci stat. o, Ans.ies e. which the
eal ,oW ard Of our o4re, dc.ire for the resor1,on
OF our former relations % the General Assembly.