Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-22
PROTEST AGAINST THE REMOVAL,
A Friend Of the Seminary Who Thinks IL
should Remain Where 1t 10.


CRAFTSMANSHIP. VA. July 10Th.
To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
As the discussion OF the matter OF re-
moving the Union Theological Seminary
from Hampden- Sidney is now before the
public. and large number of your read
ers are deeply interested, may l ask a
small space to add few words In the
way OF vigorous protest TO what Dr. NC
Ilwaine has so ably published. l am an
alumnus Of Union Seminary. and also OK
Hampden- Sidney, and have been trus-
tee OF the latter since 1872. 1t is not neces-
sary to add to the statement touching
the location of so many OF our literary
institutions. not I'm large cities. but In
small towns. But my own experience
corroborates the wisdom Of those fathers
who founded them.
Born in the country, as most OF our
ministers were after a four-years ue-
lightful course at Hampden-Sidney, where
| personally knew every professor. stu
dent. white family, and colored servant
In the college and seminary, l was FORCED
against my will to enter Union Seminary
New York. | remained there four months,
when | made a Christmas holiday trip
to 1.-THE HILL" The contrast was so great
that / sat down and wrote for my books.
taking French leave of Union Seminary,
New York, and have never regretted the
change.
In those four months, out OF hundred
or more students, / had "A speaking ac-
quaintance with perhaps a dozen, and was
intimate with three or four. Not having
any fixed place of worship. when Sunday
came, I wandered around from church
10 church, through idle curiosity. j heard
Henry Ward Beecher. then QS)O In the
zenith OF his anti-slavery crusade whose
preaching was splendid oratory, but an
other gospel" from what | heard from
Drs Smith and Dabney. | heard DIR. VIII
liam Adams, Or Cuyler. DR.. |. W. Alex
ander. DR.. Gardner Spring, &c. But l
was so lost among strangers. and 80
home-sick for good square meal in
country church chat. drifting at last
to small church. OF which 1. Parsons
Haney, formerly OF Richmond. was pas
tor l received an invitation TO the only
private house OF preacher or professor
ever entered as a guest
DID NOT SUIT HIM.
1 heard some grand preaching, after
it's kind" but It did not suit country
boy, nor one who, for five years, was to
fiji a country charge. And that is about
the charge OF nine tenths of the Rradu-
ates of Union Seminary to-day. They are
born in the country and villages, and they
are mostly called 10 country or village
churches, and hence ought TO be trained
for that kind of work DR.. McIlwaine and
myself commenced preaching to crowded
audiences OF negroes in the college church
while we were students. and believe that
such practical experience taught me
more genuine homletics than | ever learn
ed from books. Let 1t not be forgotten
that old DR.. Archibald Alexander advised
one Of his Princeton students about In
these words: "When you are invited 10
fill a pulpit in the city wear your best
clothes but when you go 10 preach IN
the country be sure to select your very
| best sermon" That IL just as true now
as il was then, and most of our young
preachers will have to preach not to city.
but to country and village churches.
THE SHORT COURSE.
There is another important point. The
seminary course Is now about twenty
| four months out of three years. In that
short time the average student Will need
| every available hour for mental and spirit
uaI growth. He will lose nothing by be-
| ing shut up to the simple pastimes ana
the hard study OF books and lectures
| during the week, anu Sufiudy VIII diNhJ D
be welcomed as a sweet day or rest.
And when IL IL suggested that in such
city as Richmond the students would have
| the advantage of public libraries 1t causes
| a smile There are more books on Col
lege Hill accessible to students and that
would be healthful and helpful TO their
calling than In all the city libraries or
Virginia and North Carolina combined.
ANY one OF us, young or older men, might
spend the rest Of our days there reading
| in that cozy library. under the fostering
guidance of my dearly beloved brother
DR.. Moore.
POLK MILLER'S GENUS.
Last Saturday night We had the plea
sure OF an entertainment In our Masonic
Hall from this inimitable deiineator Of
the old-time Niger and his banjo.
have heard Joe Sweeny and also DICK
Sweeny, but IL seems to me that Polk
Is what a negro once called 1.-THE com
peer" OF either. After introducing him
| to the crowded audience l sat near him
| on the platform. and 1t was amusing 10
watch the ripple Of merrment on the
faces Of the audience. finally breaking
| into a great wave of laughter and APP
plause. He had to close In time to take
the night train for Blue Ridge Springs
I'm order TO avoid Sunday travel, but We
could have enjoyed him until midnight
He is an old Virginia gentleman, with u
negro and banjo attachment. I. w. H.