Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-19
THE COM MITTEES.
CONTINUED from Third Pdge.)

Presbyterian. The church Of which these
donors were members, and in whose interest
the donations were made, affords the money
contributed little or no protection and would
seem to be practically powerless to preserve the
greater part Of this money for the uses for
which it was given. The burden Of this pro-
lection Is cast ON the donors and their legal
Representatives.
THE TRUST FUNDS.
How far the church may, through any OF its
agencies, in q civil court interfere with any d.
version Of these trust funds or any misuse Of
the property, apart from the terms Of the char
ters your committee does not deem 1t neces-
sary to express any opinion. 1t simply calls the
attention Of the church to the present legal
status and ownership OF the property held in
trust for the various seminaries, to the end that
the church may take such action a. it may
see 1T to give to itself a more effective control
of the property heretofore donated, il such con-
troll il desired and can be secured, and to the
end that property hereafter given may DO Sc
cured for the purposes of the donors in such
manner as the church may determine through
its supreme authority and along constitutional
lines
The control OF property already given, in
order to secure it permanently for the pur-
poses for which it was given, presents ques-
tons that may not arise in regard to money
hereafter given for q like purpose. The ques-
ton Of control and method Of management
separates itself into two divisions, one Of which
is, How can the church acquire q more
direct and effective control over the
property heretofore given for the purposes
Of its theological ssminaries SO as to
secure its permanent application to that eud?''
The other is, How will the church. guided by
the experience OF the past, direct and control
the money which will hereafter be given for the
same purposes. so that it may be permanently
preserved and applied to the purposes for which
it is giveu?''
How far present methods may be improved.
to the end Of greater economy and larger net
results, the committee is not prepared to say.
Whether we have too many seminaries, main
tanned at too great cost, or whether
fewer seminaries could do the work, and
how existing methods affect the quality OF
the product, are subjects on which this COM
mittee is not now prepared to express an opin-
ion further than to say that they merit careful
consideration by the general assembly, to the
end that the greatest possible economy and bes
results may be attained.
THE CONTROL OF TEACHING.
By the terms Of the compact Of 1870 and thu
plan Of reunion the supervision and control ex
ercised by the general assembly over the various
theological seminaries, it is claimed. is linn
| tied to the exercise Of the right Of APP
proval or veto Of the appointment Of pro
fessors. In addition to this, each seminary re-
POi bs W tuc ScHcTdl doScuuAy TO
ceipts, disbursements, the number of students
and the number Of graduates. with such specia
| information as the various boards in charge Of
| these institutions may see fit to communicate
The foregoing, however, is not all Of the con
| troll possessed by the general assembly over thu
| teaching of the theological seminsries. 1t ha,
| greater power which it may exercise, il
occasion arises. unless by the terms o.
reunion and the compact OF 1870 it ha
| surrendered the same. According to tn,
plan Of government of Princeton. Western, Nc
Cormick. Danville and Omaha, the gen eral as
sembly has the right to control the election o.
the boards Of Directors. to whom are intrustet
the appointment of professors and the manage
ment of the seminary generally. save and excep
the holding of the title to property, its manage
ment, sale. disposition and investment.
| Under the first division of this report, Il
wit. the present legal status Of the seminaries
the different methods of control and the extern
| of the jurisdiction of these boards have been Sc
| forth. The general assembly has the power Il
change the plan of management OF some Of the
| aforesaid seminaries to the extent herein in.
Dictated. but control is now limited, BY the
| compact OF 1870. to the veto of the election oil
directors in certain seminaries and to the veto
OF the appointment of professors in all Of the
seminaries