Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18
Proposed Control Of the Presbyterian
Seminaries.
IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY
Effort to Limit Time of Debate
Defeated.
LANE SEMINARY'S CHARTER

PITTsBURG, Pa, March 1s.-The church
where the general assembly is meeting
rapidly filled after the devotional service
of the morning in anticipation Of the re-
sumption of the debate on the proposed
assembly control of theological seminaries
connected with the denomination. The
popular interest in the subject appeared
to have waned, II the vacant seats in the
gallery were any indication.
The first quarter of an hour was given to
miscellaneous business, end at that point
the floor was again accorded to DR.. Nc
Kinney, whose speech last night was inter-
rupted by adjournment. His argument con-
cerned the objection that the plan proposed
to safeguard the property of the church in
these institutions by allowing the assembly
to step in where heresy is taught will act
as a barrier to union with the Southern
Presbyterian Church, and he claimed that
the action of that church had taken more
extreme action than that now under con-
sideration 1t was also claimed that the
plan was fully in accord with the polity
and policy of the Presbyterian Church, and
those who object to having recourse to the
civil courts were characterized as super
Spiritual advocates" The speaker proceed
ed to consider the attitude of the semin-
aries. and regretted their unwillingness or
indispostion to do what the last assembly
suggested and urged by an overwhelming
vote. He closed with plea for the large
majority in favor of the committees
recommendation.
Mr.. e. E. White of Columbus, the new
president of the board of directors of Lane
Seminary, was granted the floor, but before
he began ar attempt was made to limit
the time of debate.
1t was briefly discussed, but overwhelm-
ingly defeated
The moderator announced plenty of time,
TO favor and clear field.
Judge White began in a cool and deEber-
ate way to set forth the position of the
parties to the question. He asked that
the assembly come to a clear understand
ing of the condition of affairs. The last
assembly had sent down overtures to the
seminary directors, and the answers that
came back he regarded as final and con-
elusive, and should be treated with respect
On the contrary, the committee has asked
the assembly to accept its judgment and
diction in place of the mature Judgment
of the directors of the seminaries under
advice of counsel, and acquaint ted with the
facts.
After reviewing the position of the semi
naries, and showing that the plan was I'M
practicable in regard to some Of them,
Judge White urged that the matter be
dropped. He asked what the cause of the
distrust in the church has been, and a
voice from the audience called out Union
Seminary
"Yes," replied the speaker. land because
Union did it, therefore Princeton must give
bonds; but for this reason discredit should
boards"
Lane Seminary.
When mention was made of the reports
that had gone out from Cincinnati with
regard to the Lane Seminary directors, a
commissioner jumped to his feet and made
a point of order against such mention.
The moderator refused to rule on the
question, but requested the speaker to eX-
ercise care in the line of his discourse.
The remainder of DR.. Whites address
had reference to the history of Lane Sem
mary, showing that it's original endow-
ments had been made on liberal basis
and charter, ard stating that there have
been changes in the constitution of Ohio,
which make alterations of the seminary
charter impossible without affecting all the
educational institutions of the state.
Strong objection was made to the ap-
plauded statement of Dr. Young made yes
terday. that no seminary is a Presbyterian
Institution which cannot make the changes
proposed by the committee. Such state
nient was characterized as a new test of
loyalty, which has been at no time author
iZed by the church.
Judge White spoke for an hour and a
quarter and after a brief introduction by
DR.. S. A. Mutchmore, who replaced Dr.
Young as chairman of the committee, Mr..
Thomas MacDougal of Cincinnati was in
troduced as a member of the committee,
advocating the recommendations of the
committees report.
He said that the funds of Union Seminary
in New York are held under a charter,
which is as free from the control of the
courts of the Presbyterian church the
Standard Oil Company is, and that any
type of theology can be taught there which
Is not repugnant to the laws of the state
of New York
The seminaries were said to be civil cor
porat'ons. and. therefore, creatures of
Caesar which may jlVtly be brought be-
lore Caesar for Judgment. The general
assembly Is not legal entity and cannot
nave any standing in the courts of the
country unless the right is given by the
seminaries through changes in their char
terS.
The time of the session was extended
fifteen minutes to allow Mr.. McDougal to
finish his remarks. and at the close. the
floor was given to DIR. w. o. Thompson,
president of Miami University at Oxford,
Ohio.
Just at the time of adjournment tele-
gram of greeting was read from Presby-
terian theological students in the Moody
school in Chicago. and it was referred to
the committee on correspondence for suita-
BILE reply.