New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-19
SEMINARIES AND ASSEMBLY.
TWO REPORTS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF
THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.
THE MAJORITY DESIRES DIRECT CoN1Ro1--THE
MINORITY SATISFIED WITH THE


on Theological Summaries. The majority report
| is in part follows:
After full consideration of the subject assigned
the committee and after a very extended investlga-
, ton of the management by other denominations OF
their theological seminaries and the hSht OF the
experience of Church. your committee
| unanimously agrees the following fundamehtai
principles controlling the future management OF
the theological education of the ministry OF our
Church, and embodies the in two resolutions
follows:
Resolved. That It is the judgment of this commit
tee that the instruction given in the theological
semnares Of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America should be under the conro ana
! direction Of that Church:
Resolved That all funds and property held for the
purpose of theological instruction shall be used only
for theological education in the doctrines set forth
in the standards Of the Presbyterian Cnurch III the
| United States Of America.
| The following are the recommendations sub
mitted:
Frst-That each and all of the semlnaries Of the
Church be requested to secure at the earliest mo-
ment practicable such changes in their charters or
! amendments thereto will provide: (a) That all
of their funds and property subject 70 the terms
! and conditions of existing or specific trusts shall
| be declared to be he'd by them in trust for the
Presbyterian Church in the United States of Amer
| lea for the purposes of theological education ac-
cording to the standards of said Church, and that
no part Of the funds and property so held In trust
shall be used for any other purpose than for theo-
logical education in the doctrines set forth In the
standards Of the Presbyterian Church in the United
States of America %, That the election of the trus-
tees directors or commissioners. whatever the
bodies governing the teaching or property shaH De
named, shall be subject TO the approval OF the
next succeeding General Assembly, and that no cleo
ton shall take effect until approved by the General
Assembly; failure Of the General Assembly to which
said elections reported for approval TO act there
on shall be regarded approval OF said elections
(c) That the election appointment or transfer OF all
professors and teachers in all seminaries shall be
submitted to the next succeeding General Assembly
for its approval; and that no such election appoint
ment or transfer shall take effect. nor shall any
professor or teacher be indicted into Office until
his election appointment or transfer shall have
been approved by the said General Assembly; ran
ure OF the General Assembly TO which the said cleo
TONS appointments. transfers are reported Tor
aDproyal to act thereon shall be regarded APP
prevail thereof and that all of said professors and
teachers shall be either ministers or members In
good standing Of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States OF America I'D That In the event OF
the violation OF any of the terms OF said amend
| ments or the misuse or the diversion Of the funds
or property held by them then the General Assem-
bly, shall be empowered TO provide against such
violation OF the provisions of said charters ana
for the enforcement Of the same, and for the pro
lection of the trusts which said property and
Il
Of such person or corporation II may direct by
resolution certified by its clerk. IN any civil court
| having Jurisdiction the corporations whose
charters amended.
Second-That all seminaries hereafter established
or organized shall contain in their charters the
foregoing provisions as an essential part thereof
before they shall be recognized as IN connection
with the Presbyterian Church Of the United States
OF America.
Thrd-That the General Assembly shall I'm the
event Of the approval Of the foregoing resolutions
appoint a committee OF fifteen persons 10 confer
with the various seminaries. with view to secur-
ing their approval OF said resolutions ana their
consent said changes in their charters. and for
the purpose Of aiding them by counsel and other
wise in securing the necessary changes and amend
ments 20 the respective charters herein recon-
mended: said committee 10 make report 10 the next
General Assembly for final action this whole
subject by the Assembly.
VIEWS OF THE MINORITY.
DR.. Moore read the report of the minority
which was in part follows:
The report OF the majority proposes 10 give direct
control over all the seminares TO the General A.
sembly by providing that the election OF trustees
directors or commissioners. or whatever the bodies
governing the instruction and property be named
shall be subject TO the approval OF the General
Assembly; no election take effect until approved
by the General Assembly. What the General As
sernby Of 1870 said to the unhtness Of the As
gem
terests Of the several seminaries applies with equa
force 10 the exercise Of the power they would give
the Assembly OF approval or disapprovdl Of the
election Of trustees and directors Under the pres
ent wise and benencent System, the Church has
! an Indirect but perfectly efficient authority ana
control over theological instruction, which operates
without friction, without oppression. without re-
pressing individual and local enthusiasm. and with
out interfering with voluntary conservation Of
means and talents.
The instruction given in the theological seninares
is already under the control Of the Presbyterian
Church in the only constitutional way In when
control should be exercised. viz: Through judicial
process by our regular church courts Any attempt
to aside this system In part ana as 10 class or
minister's is rash and revolutionary. Every argu-
nnent that can be adduced In favor OF direct AS
semby control professors would be equally
coeent in favor OF direct Assembly control over
nastors The scheme for direct Assembly control
is without a shadow Of warrant In our form OF
government, and is a severe reflection on. II not
virtual reputation Of the system OF responsible and
representative graded courts which Is at once our
pride and 10y The scheme proposes a practical
subversion Of vested and established rights. first
OF those whose means have founded our seminarles
who gave TO them as they were. based on the his
torc plan; second. Of the ministerial rights or the
professors who would be subjected TO irresponsible
attack In the Assembly. and to trial without
lawful process.
We therefore recommend that change In the
established order be proposed by the Assembly
TO the semlnares except such as may, in some in
stances be necessary 10 strengthen and further
establish It, such these: First. that the semi
naries be advised TO adhere to the recommendation
OF the General Synod of 1851. in the selection for
each chair OF 'some minister OF approved character
for his skill in theology in other words. to fill
their chairs with ministers who under the con-
troll Of and subject 10, the discipline OF the courts
OF the Church. and who Will submit 10 such con-
be lacking
charter Of any seminary by which lack It's property
might be alenated from its use in supporting
Presbyterian theological instruction such seminary
be advised strengthen its charter at that point
clanll Inc