Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-05-19
TWO REponrs PRESENTED.

49,.
They were Those OF the special Conn
mittee Appointed Two Years Ago
TO Save the Presbyterian Church
From the Loss OF seminaries with
Their Kndowments.
SARAToaA, May 1S.-The special COM
mittes on theological seminaries made its
report to-day. This IL the committee ap-
pointed at Portland, Oregon, two years ago
to save the church from such another ex-
perience as the loss of Union seminary
with Its $4,000. 900 endowments which
withdrew from the control of the general
assembly because of Its dissatisfaction
with the treatment of DR.. Briggs. The
committee has been at work two years try
ing to devise some means Of affecting such
q change In tho differing charters of the
thirteen theological seminariss under Its
control ~ shall prevent the alienation of
their endovments. They have held many
meetings and have listened to much ad-
wise from lawyers familiar with the laws
of trusts and charters. At the Washing
ton assembly last year they presented .
long report which contained no recommen-
dations, but which gave o presentation of
the chartered rights of each of the semi
naries, and of the rights of the general az
sembly in the premises. It was found
that each of the theological Summaries
known as Presbyterian were actually indie
pendent of the church to which they owed
their support. The control over them then
being exercised by the Presbyterian church
through the general assembly was nomi-
nal only and did not in any degree affect
the funds or property. 1t was found that
the diversion or misuse of the wealth in
the possession of the trustees of the semi
might and itself some day without semi
nary in the land in which students could
obtain orthodox instruction.
The committee then set to work to-fnd
q remedy. They reached q conclusion o
week ago at final meeting at Cleveland.
This conclusion was not unanimous and
two reports were prepared. Ex-Moderstor
William O. Young of Kentucky, chairman
of the committee, read the majority report.
This received the approval of ten mem
bers of the committee. Among these were
Dr.. Bartlett of Warrington, DR.. Mutch-
more and DR.. Baker of Philadelphia, Br.
Dixon Of Trenton and Lawyer Thomas Nc
Dougall of Cincinnati. DR.. Blsyney signed
the report, but not until he had recorded
his dissent to Its most vital clause.
The report as read presented as the re-
suits of Its study of the situation that the
church desired to secure q direct control
over the seminaries both as to their prop
erty and as to their teaching, and to en-
force this control when 1t 80 desires. 1t
also found that this control could not be
secured by the church without the consent
and cooperation of the seminaries them
selves. Resolutions to this effect were
thereupon adopted by the committee, and
the latter proceeded to determine the ex-
tent, character and mode of the proposed
control. This should be secured, the re-
port said, in such a way that 1t will be
effective when the boards charged with the
immediate supervision and management of
the property and teachings, disobey the
mandates of the church as expressed by
the general assembly.
1t recommends that the seminsries be
rec uested at the earliest moment practical
BILE to secure amendments to their charters
that all of the funds and property subject
to the terms of existing trusts shall be de-
clared to be held by them in trust for the
Presbyterian church for the purpose of
theological education according to the
standards of the church and that no part
of the funds 30 held In trust shall be used
for any other purpose. The seminaries
are further recommended to amend their
charters so that the election of trustees or
directors governing the property or teach
ing shall be subject to the approval of the
general assembly. The charters are to be
amended further so that all elections, ap-
pointments or transfers of professors or
teachers in any seminary are to be submit
ted to the next succeeding general assembly
nxl hat - N
be ministers in good and regular stsndip.,
of the Presbyterian church.
As fourth recommendation the general
assembly is to be empowered by the terms
of the amendments to the charters to pro-
vide for the enforcement of the charters
and for the protection of the trust. New
seminaries to be founded In the future are
to put these provisions into their charters
before they shall be recognized as connect
ed with the church. A committee of if
teen is to be appointed to confer with the
seminaries with q view to securing this
end. It Is the third recommendation to
give the general assembly power to veto
the election of trustees or directors to
which Dr.. Blsyney dissents.
The minority report opposes the found
ing of the committee at the same point.
but they state their opposition in stronger
t0iuA6 sAnA III. okoyhoy - WiAAA6 W oSs
Their report was read before the assembly
after DR.. Young had taken his seat by DR..
William E. Moore of Columbus, o. This
report is signed by DR.. Moore and four
elders, Editor W. @. Gray of the Chicsgo
Inter Ocean, John q. Osborne of Auburn,
N. Y, James Joy of Detroit and Henry N.
Knox of st. Paul. 1t takes the broad
ground that the constitution of the Pres,
byterian church does not warrant such an
assumption of authority by the general
assembly and that the proposed movement
Ia sgainst the theory of education of the
church which has obtained for a century
and half, which is that all education Il
voluntary on the part of the teacher and
the student.
The minority unite, however, In recon-
mending as a middle course that the semi
naries be advised to adhere to the recon-
mendation of the general synod of 1881, II
the selection for each chair of some minis
| ter of approved character for his skill Il
theology, and to fill their faculties will
men who are under the control of tn,
courts of the church and who will sumbi
to such control. The minority also recon
mend that seminaries be advised to amen,
their charters, whore amendment is needed
so that their property may not be ALLEVIATE,
from its use in supporting Presbyterian in
II