Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01
IN T H9E &C H U R C H E S

One of the most notable events in the his
tory of sbyterianism in this section will
take place in Richmond, Va, "Wednesday
next. This is the inauguration of Union
Theological Seminary, TO which Mr. VIM.
Wallace Spence, a leading Presbyterian of
Baltimore, and well known in Washington,
donated 5000 The principal address at
the opening is to abe made by Rev. T. l..
Cuyler of Brooklyn MY. The program, as
outlined, will be as follows:
Observation-Disclosures of Watts Hall and
Westminster Hall, Rev. Ct. w. Finley, DID,
president of the board Of trustees, presid-
irg; hymn; statement of building commit
tee by Mr.. S. H. Halves, chairman; re-
Spouse and acceptance by the president of
the board; prayer of dedication by Rev. A.
G. Hopkins, DID,, of Charestown, w. Va.
hymn; address by Rev. T. l.. Cuyler. ID,
| of Brooklyn, n. Y: Doxology.
Observation-Disclosures of Spence Library
and the residences, Rev. l.. b. Turnbull, DID,
vice president OF the board of trustees, pre-
siding; statement of building committee and
presentation Of keys by Rev r. P Kerr,
d. D.; response and acceptance by the vice
president of the board; prayer of dedica-
ton by Rev. p. H. Hoge, DID, of Whining
ton. NC; Doxology.
sion will be formally opened with an ad-
dress by Prof. r. c. Johnson
Friday afternoon the Covenanter boys of
the Richmond churches will present to the
seminary a large Covenanter flag Dr. Rose
boro will present the flag for the Covenant
er societies and DR.. w. W. Moore will ac-
cept it for the seminary The bows will
conduct the singing.
For many years the question of removing
Union Theological Seminary from its iso-
lated location In Prince Edward county to
some city in Virginia had been discussed
by those controlling the institution. The
movement took shape four years ago. when
the trustees voted to consider proposals
from any cities that might offer induce
ments for locating the seminary in their
midst Richmond. as combining more ad-
vantages than any other place, was the
preference Of the faculty and board of
trustees. Rev. Robert P Kerr. D. D., was
requested to take the movement in hand
and. secure from Richmond the best possi-
BILE offer. Lynchburg, Charlottesville DAN
Vile, Roanoke and Norfolk were under
stood as also seeking to get the coveted
prize.
The laborious and unremitting efforts of
DR.. Kerr were successful, and he was able
to offer the trustees splendid site of about
twelve acres. worth $4,000, the gift Of
Major Lewis Gnter, and subscriptions
from Richmond amounting to $4,000 for
the building fund The site. which seemed
an ideal one and the subscriptions were
held in Danville three years ago
In addition to the offer from Richmond
Rev. w. w. Moore, D. D., of the faculty.
presented two magnificent subscriptions for
the building fund-$50 600 from Mr.. George
w. Watts of Durham, N. c., and $50 900
from Mr.. William Wallace Spence of Ralti-
more. So the trustees. with but one dis
sentins vote decided that the wav was
open for removal to Richmond
The institution grew in resources and in
fuence Among its faculty in its earliest
days were men oftgreat learning and dis
Stephen Taylor, DR.. s. B. Wilson. DR.
Samuel L. Graham. DR.. Francis S. Samn-
son and DR.. VIM. ]. Hoge. During the civil
ate states bonds, which proved to be total
loss. After the war generous friends came
to the resue.as Through the agency of DR.,
B. M Smith, professor of Hebrew. 500, 600
amount $4,000 was given by cyrus Fl Nc
Cormick of Chicago. and $50 900 bv Henry
Young Of New York. Smaller amounts
came from friendssin Virginia, $4,000 from
Mrs. Fowle of Wellesley, Mass and 81 OOO
from the Messrs. ELEPHANT of New York.
In August, 1866 Mrs. George Brown of
Baltimore gave $4,000 for library build
creased to $16,OO0. Gifts were made from
time to time. and now the income from the
endowment is more than $2j 900 Der an
mum. Among the names of later professors
stand those of DR.. r. L. Dabney. DIR. r -
Peck. DR.. Henry c. Alexander and DR.. II.
+. Latimer.
Information has been received in Wash
| ington that the proposed national laymen' $
convention of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, which was to have taken place at
Indianapolis next month, has been indef-
nitely postponed on account of the large
vote by the annual conferences in favor of
equal lay and ministerial representation in
| the general conference of the church When
| the spring conference closed, the laymen' S
convention had ia majority over the requi-
site three-fourths vote. The foreign and
fall conferences up to date have increased
l this margin to 396 and it Is believed the