Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-23
MAY CONTROL SCHOOLS.
Presbyterians Vote to Take Charg,
of DenOminational Seminnries.

Presbyterians Vote to Take Charge
of DenOminatiOnal Seminaries.
By vote Of nearly four to one the Pres
byterian general assembly at Saratoga de-
cided yesterday that 1t would assume direct
control over all the theological seminaries
hereafter to be organized, and called upon
the existing seminaries to place the ap-
prevail of their directors and professors in its
hands. and also to turn over all funds not
held by specific conditions.
This involves 100000 or s, COO 600, 1t is
said. and the entire afternoon was given
10 discussion of the report recommending
this action. which was finally adopted by
the following vote: 437 In favor Of the
recommendation and lie opposed to it.
The complaint was made that in the dis
cussion previous to yesterday all the time
had been given to the conservatives. Yes
terday the reverse was true. nearly all the
time being given to the liberals, but in the
two or three brief speeches made by DR..
Breed Of Chicago, DIR. Ramsdell of WASH
ington. and DR.. Young of Danville. KY,
whole volumes were condensed.
Dr. Breed In a quiet manner. answered
the address of the Rev. N. B. Hills Of his
presbytery, In convincing terms, and DR..
Ramsdell asserted that Union Seminary
had stolen its property from the Presbyter-
ian Church. by its breaking the compact
n
dowment
DR.. Hills called forth from the perma-
nent clerk the statement that Princeton
Seminary and Allegheny Seminary had
written to the committee declaring that
they did not wish to have the control
recommended by the majority, and he ex-
pressed great establishment c'sophism," Dr.
Breed called i) that this fact was not made
prominent in the report Of the committee.
Mr.. Franklin L. Shepperd of Philadelphia
made an earnest plea in behalf of the
minority report and prophesied that 1t
would be adopted. but he evidently did not
understand the temper of the assembly so
well as did DIR. Young, who expressed the
opposite view. and the hope that the ma
tority report would be adopted by three
fourths vote. He was under the figure but
he knew the assembly better than his friend
from Philadelphia.
The committee was discharged with
thanks, and new one will be appointed
which will represent the views of the ma
jority. 1t is safe to infer that the five dis
senting members will not be compelled
to serve on the new committee, but IL is
probable that the ten members who signed
the majority report will be on the COM
mittee. This includes MIR. McDougall of
Cincinnati, DR.. Young of Kentucky, DR..
Bartlett of Washington and others
The vote yesterday probably indicates the
strength of the liberals and the conserva-
tives. and DIR. Smiths chances of being
restored to the ministry are extremely
slight. In fact, 1t Is understood that he
does not expect a reinstatement, but that
he is conducting this case on principle.
The Resolutions.
The resolutions as adopted yesterday are
substantially as follows:
First. That each and all Of the seminaries
of the church be requested to secure at
the earliest moment practicable such
changes in their charters or amendments
thereto as will provide
(ol hot %
subject to the terms and conditions Of
existing or specific trusts, shall be declared
to be held by them in trust for the Pres
byterian Church in the United States Of
education. according to the standard Of
said church.
Cb) That the election Of the trustees, d.
rectors or commissioners. or whatever the
body governing the teaching or property
shall be named, shall be subject to the APP
prevail of the next succeeding general as
sembly, and that no election shall take
effect until approved by the general as
sembly.
(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 it's
approval. and that no such election, ap-
pointment or transfer shall take effect,
nor shall any professor or teacher be in
Quoted into office until his election, ap-
pointment or transfer shall have been ap-
I'D That in the event of the violation Of
any of the terms OF said amendments or
the misuse or the diversion of the funds
or property held by them. then the gen.
eral assembly shall be empowered to pro-
vide against such violation of the proyi-
sions OF said charters and for the enforce
ment of the same and for the protection
of the trusts on which said property and
funds are held, in such manner and in the
name of such person or corporation as 1t
may direct by resolution certified by it's
clerk, in any civil court having Jurisdiction
over the corporations whose charters are
so amended.
Second. That all seminaries hereafter es-
tablished or organized shall contain in
their charters the foregoing provisions as
be recognized as in connection with the
Presbyterian Church of the United States
of America.
Third. That the general assembly, hav-
ing adopted the foregoing resolutions, ap-
point committee of fifteen persons to con-
fer with the various seminaries, with a
view Of securing their approval of said
resolutions and their consent to said
changes in their charters. and for the
purpose of aiding them by counsel and
otherwise in securing the necessary changes
and amendments to the respective charters
herein recommended, 1t being understood
that the adoption of said resolutions is
without impairment Of any of the rights
of the general assembly or of said semi
naries that may have accrued by the COM
pact of 1870. and said committee to make
report to the next general assembly for
assembly.