The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-10
DIR. SMITHS THEOLOGY.
ONE or THE PROFESSORS AT RAN
D0LPH-MA con HAS RESIGNED.
He Holds Religious Views Which Are
Not Considered Orthodox-The POSI-
tion II the President

One OF the chairs at RandOlph-MacOn
College will be vacant after the close Of
the present session.
For the past ten years DR.. Richard NJ.
Smith has held the chair OF ancient Ian
giiages-Greek, Hebrew and Sanskrit--ln
the Ashland institution. and while pos
sessing some peculiarities. DR.. Smith has
performed his duties as an educator in a
manner that has reflected credit on him.
self as a man OF profound learning and
on the college as well.
Now, however DR.. Smiths views on the
subject of religion have undergone such a
decided change that his connection with
this Methodist institution and with the
Church of which he is a member will
naturally end.
NOTHING NEW.
For the past two years DIR. Smith
friends in the faculty have seen that his
views were drifting further from ortho-
dox lines and for some time past he has
felt that he was entirely out OF harmony
with the accepted theology as taught in
the college.
Therefore at a recent called and in
formal meeting OF the board OF trustees
OF that institution Dr. Smith submitted
his views and at the Same time an in
formal resignation. While the meeting
was only informal IL was fully under
stood that the resignation was accepted
TO take place at the close OF the present
session, at which time IL will be formally
acted upon by regular meeting OF the
board.
DR.. Smith is a brother OF DR.. w w
Smith. president of Randolph Macon
College. at Ashland, Randolph Wo-
mans College, at Lynchburg, and Of
the Randolph Macon Academies. at Bed
ford City and Front Royal, Va. He is
a Nirginian by birth. and is an NJ. A. Of
the University Of Virginia and Phi. d.
OF Leipsic.
HIS VIEWS
IL is difficult to state exactly what DR..
Smiths Views really are, as he admits
himself that he Is I'm state OF great I'M
certainty. He is inclined to doubt the
inspiration of certain portions OF the
Scriptures, and where he grants the In
SEPARATION at ALL II is not I'm any special
sense. That is to say, he believes the
Bible TO be inspired. just as the Church
hymn-book Is inspired, and that St. Paul
and other Bible authors were inspired
men. just as Martin Luther and John
Wesley were inspired: they were just
and good men, but not especially filed
with the inspiration of the Creator.
1t is also stated that DR.. Smith doubts
that he believes that Gods infinite JUS
tice VIII save man from eternal pun
ishment.
His Views on the divinity of Christ
are. TO say the least peculiar. and far
from orthodox. While he does not alb
solutely deny the existence OF the dual
nature of the Savior, his ideas are at
considerable variance with the accepted
belief of the Church.
SOURCE OF REGRET.
The views held by Dr. Smith are we'll
understood by his colleagues in Ash
land, and are a source Of deep regret 20
them, for he is a man OF excellent char
acter and unusually popular. both with
the profession and the students. He Is
frank. open-hearted and generous to a
fault. but is possessed OF certain eccen-
tricities, the very presence of which pre-
vent his friends from feeling the shock
Of his present convictions.
DIR. Smith is not connected in any way
with the biblical department of the col
lege. further than. that the Greek Tos-
lament Is used as a historical text book
IN his classroom, and he has studiously
avoided the propagation OF his religious
views in his contact with the boys.
He has written several times on the
subject and at least one communication
from his pen appeared recently in a
Chicago publication. but the Christian
Advocate. the Methodist Church organ. In
this section, refused to publish anything
from his of an unaothordox nature.
The faculty Of the college all express
deep regret on account of the necessity
of Dr. Smiths withdrawal and earn
estly wish IL was so that he could re-
main in his old position. He, however,
has already arranged 10 accept a position
as associate principal at Bethel Academy,
I'm Fauquier county which, by the way,
is Professor Smiths native county. He
is fully determined not only TO leave the
college but to withdraw from the Metho-
dist Church.
TIE PRESIDENT HAS NOT RESIGNED.
1t was reported I'm Ashland yesterday
that not only had DR.. r. NJ. Smith re-
signed, but that his brother. President
Smith. had also offered his resignation. In
fact, such a publication was made last
week in the Ashland paper the Hanover
Herald. This report. however was an err
ror, and the He raid will correct the pub
lication this week. The facts in the case
are these: At the last session OF the Cen
eral Conference President Smith was
elected Secretary OF the Board OF Educa-
ton of the Methodist Church. South a
position of great responsibility, and one
which will require a large amount Of
work, and which will give the incumbent
much influence throughout the South.
President Smith accepted the trust, and
agreed to discharge the duties for the
first year without salary, Now. the ques-
ton arises, and that is what gave color
to the rumor, can President Smith per-
form the duties OF both Offices each OF
which Is laden with work and respon-
sibility? His hands were already quite full
as president Of four large educational in
stitutions, and his friends believe That he
will have to choose between the two.
He Is under obligation to the college to
give them six months notice OF any inten-
ton to sever his connection with the In
stitution. AS yet he has intimated no such
intention. and the authorities hope some
ARRANGEMENT can be made whereby he can
continue in both capacities.
The Board Of Education controls
large fund, which is distributed among
the Methodist schools of the South, part
Of which goes to the Randolph-Maeon in
stitutions.
ANOTHER REASON.
Another reason why It was rumored
that President Smith had resigned was
that II was said that he felt that II he
continued in both positions he could not
give TO the Randolph Macon schools
their Just proportion of this fund without
nerhaps the insinuation that he was do-
ing too much for hts own institutions
Captain Irby, the secretary OF the col
lege. told me yesterday that Randolph
Macon and all her branches were In
better financial condition than ever be-
fore. The bonded de0t has been conssd-
erably reduced during the past two years
and the outstanding bills will not amount
TO $50 all told.