The herald., 1894-10-21
The Morning Session.


The Morning Session.
The report OF the committee on theo.
logical seminaries and the adoption OF
its recommendations occupied nearly
ths entire time OF the Presbyterian
synod yesterday morning and brought
some matters OF very grave Importance
before the meeting. The discussions
provoked by the various recommends
tions were very earnest end not infre-
quently tingsd with bitterness.
After the reading OF the report the
recommendation were taken up seri-
atm and acted upon. The frat recon-
mendation. that two more members be
added to the board of directors of the
San Francisco theological seminary, in
cressing the number from "a to 26, and
that the two be elected from the Wash
ington state synod, was adopted with
out opposition.
The second recommendation, that q
quorum OF directors should comprise Is
members OF the board instead of as
heretofore, received some opposition
and was referred back to the committee.
The third recommendation brought
out the first lengthy and spirited argu-
ments. 1t stated first that o large
amount of interest due the school on the
outstanding portions OF ite fund of over
$500, 900, WAS not paid. That the delin-
quency was this year over $1,000. It
then recommended that the money
loaned in the future be placed in inter-
estsbearing bonds. Mr.. Graham, the
only one of the trustees of the college
present, vigorously protested against
passing this recommendation. stating
that the business manager, Mr.. Trum-
bull, was a very careful, conservative
man of wide experience and marked
ability, and that it was a reflection
on his work ard methods to pass such
recommendations. This wac also re-
ferred back to the committee for further
consideration.
The matter of having the financial re-
port of the trustees OF the school sub
mitted to and carefully examined by
the board of directors, which came up
on the fourth recommendation. was the
occasion OF more epirited arguments.
Here the quorum business was brought
up again. The five trustees OF the col
lege being members Of the board of
directors and nine members of the board
being a quorum, when there was only
a quorum present, which is usually the
case. the trustees have things their own
way. The recommendation was. how
ever, passed.
The discussions grew in warmth from
this point on as the recommendation
were for more radical changes. The
fifth recommended that q committee OF
the faculty be appointed to do most OF
the work now done by the business
manager. The committees report
stated that the business manager was
now drawing the large salary OF $500
per year and that the recommendation
was made in the interest of economy
though it did not hint at q reduction OF
the Business managers salary. After
wards the chairman of the committee
stated, when questioned, that the re-
duction OF this salary was the real i'm
port of the recommendation. The synod
found this matter very delicate one
to deal with, and motion that the en-
tire recommendation be stricken out
was carried.
The sixth recommendation for equal
izing the salaries OF the professors was
adopted without argument or opposition,
1t WAS the seventh recommendation that
caused the bitterness. It looked simple
enough on the outside. but there was
lying it. The recommendation was,
frat. that the present department OF
Greek and Hebrew exsgsgia be made two
separate departments, under the charge
Of separate professors. The second part
OF the erecommendation was to the effect
that the directors, in choosing a pro-
lessor for the new department adhere
to their former resolution regarding pro-
fessors not being drawn from the min,
ister5.
Reference was made to a violation OF
this rule. 1t created an intense feeling,
which WAS apparent throughout the
remainder of the morning session. DIR.
ii. O. Mention, the professor OF system
attic theology. stated that If the commit.
tee wished to imply that there had been
any Irregularities in the appointment OF
professors, he would like to call meet
ing of the directors for the purpose Of
handing in his resignation. The mem
bess of the COMMITTEES defended their
position very stoutly, and eome vigor-
GUS words were spoken. One of the
members OF the board of directors said
that if the synod wished to argue the
question all day and take il up again on
Monday, and to rake up the history of
the summary and the work of the direc-
tors, then the resolution should be
voted. but the best way was to have it
stricken out. Il was, however, voted
on and carried, es far as the first part
was concerned, with few dissenting
votes.
The second part was also carried later,
but the opposition to it was kept up to
the very end.
The eighth recommendation was that
Messrs. j. w. Dinsmore, HI. B. Gage,
David Jacks, Edward Leaham, George
y. Gray and Robert Divsn, retiring
members of the board of directors, be
re.eiected. 1t was adopted.
ihe other business accomplished at
the morning session was the acceptance
OF the invitation to visit Redondo on
Monday. over the Redondo Beach rail.
way, and tbs withdrawal of the com.
plaiut OF Rev. J. W. Ellis oi Eaa Erax-