New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MORE CHAPTERS IN THE HISTORY OF
THE UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

cacuest of the directors Of the Union TheoIoglcai
Seminary. will be deeply interesting not ohiy u
the many friends and wellwishers Oh Union
Seminary but 10 the host Of men ana women
IN this country and Great Britain VINO khe"
and honored the late Charles Butler Inc "olA
naturally divides itself into five parts. Inc
first gives a brief sketch Of the causes lha' ieu
% the establishment Of Union Seminary. far'
two is occupied with the relation OF III
Briggs TO the seminary. Part three sets ior'n
the internal development and expansion Oh 'nV
seminary since 1886 Part four gives oograph-
teal sketches Of departed directors and profess
sors and part five is devoted 10 the "ie ""N
career Of Charles Butler.
II is not necessary here TO refer at length "
the circumstances out of which the Union Sem
mary grew into shape II was from the "7s"
ming intended not merely TO be a new school OF
divinity. but to represent distinct type Oh re-
lieious thought 1t meant not so much pro-
test AGAINST the old school theology as declar-
alton that there ought to be room in the Churcn
for men who looked at Christianity from an
other noint OF view The seminary has never
tonight the old school nor any later develop
ments Of the old school II has simply defended
tie eouaI right to live in the Church so long az
a. accents the fundamental teachings or the
Church And in order that it might the better
do this without unwse interference its round
ors among whom Charles Butler stood pre-
eminent gave it complete freedom and SELF
control in the management of its own ahairs'
In noint Of fact II is and always has been In
dependent alike Of Presbytery. Synod or Cen
eraT Assembly. For this reason. while remain
ing loyal to the essentials of Presbyterianisih'
It has been able to teach more comprehensive
scheme of theology than would he possible 10
an institution under the direct control OF the
Church.
That this claim of independence should be an
tagonized by the conservatives is not at an
strange Indeed. the seminary has been almost
constantly compelled TO defend It's positioh'
Then came the question Of Bible interpretation
precptated by the famous address OF froiesSoi
Briggs But the views Of Dr. Briggs were not
then expressed for the first time. In statement
that he furnishes for this volume ne thus oe-
scribes how the famous controversy arose
In the autumn of 1890 enemies Of Union Semi.
nary employed a student in the junior class VI
the seminary to act as their spy ne IlIe '
such false reports OF my lectures that the entire
student body arose in indignation and deinanl I,
his retirement from the seminary. Inc Idcule!'
under the advice Of the Board OF DueC'ois'
called him 10 account and after careful IN
vestigation of the case expelled him from me
seminary for his false statements IN the puohc
press. -. >,orar,
her II 1890 the directors OF Union seminar!
unanimously transferred me to the ohalr OF bipli-
cal theology, Just established. by mi. ShdIles
Butler president of the Board. MY lhHuS SooI
into the chair took place on January ~, 1871
The chair was entitled the Edward Robinson
chair of Biblical Theology. lnasmuch as Ed-
ward Robinson had been my teacher anu ms
name was more Identified with Biblical geog-
,anhv than any other subject, the theme select
ed by me for my address was Biblical ge4srapn ,
The donor OF the chair, who was at the satne
,in,e nresident of the Board of Directors of the
seminary was consulted as to the theme ne
said that under other circumstances the theihe
would be most appropriate but under the CIT
cumstances forced upon us AT the the :. "ao
necessary TO select theme that would NindIcate
the seminary and myself In the matters unue5
debate. | said TO him that the result NouIu
be q very great increase In puphc excitement
and bitter hostility on the part OF the ultra con-
servatves but he replied that II was necessary
to meet the issues forced upon us Whatever tiie
result might be. When one considers that IL
was Mr.. Butler who aided Dr. Robinson IN hls
Journeys in Palestine Ia the investigation ol
Biblical geography, one can UNDERSTAND tne
significance of his opinion that shoulu apaii-
don the theme of Biblical geography ana select
the burning question. Yielding TO MS adVice
which was reinforced by the faculty and other
members OF the Board. the theme selected was
"The Authority Of the Holy Scripture; me
aim OF the address was to maintain ana assert
in the strongest terms the divine autnoIlt! oI
HOLY Scripture. in connection with run Iecoe-
milton ~ the results of modern Biblical criticism
and modern thought in all departments. NO
position was taken in that address whlch mao
not previously been taken IN articles IN me
Presbyterian Review" and In printed DOCKS
many months before. The limits of the dis
course required the condensation OF vast
amount OF material, and the concentration Vi d
very great many points Of difference. which In
the nature OF the case were exceedingly as
agreeable to the ultra conservative section OF
the Church and the situation exacted OF the
speaker that his rhetoric should oe hre sa 10
90 M
of himself and the cause that ne represented
after more than year or unjust attack AlleI
several years Of reflection 90 not see now 1
could have done otherwise but there IL not
word OF the address see any reason TO change'
Charles Butler was born az Undertook Land
ing now stuyvesant. Columbia County, N. Y.
ON February Is, 1902 being the fifth son Of
Medad Butler, who had fought in the Revolu-
ton. and Hannah Tyler Into the details of his
remarkable and varied career we need not
enter here. What he did TO stem the tide of
debt reputation in several States OF the Union
would alone entitle him to the gratitude OF all
good men. In regard to this part OF his career
we quote from DR.. Prentiss
Mr. Rutler's work at Detroit and Indianapolis
attracted wide attention and at once marked
him as man OF extraordinary WISDOM ana
force Of character. This cannot, perhaps, DE
more clearly shown than by referring TO meet
ins NJ the council faculty and friends Of the
University OF the City OF New-York. held on the
evening of December IL. 1856, TO commemorate
Mr. Buffers fifty years of service TO the instl-
tuition Mr. John +. Parsons. the eminent law
YER. delivered an address on behalf OF the couh-
ell and faculties In this address MT PARSONS
thus alluded TO Mr. Buffers legal course:
LAS lawyer you reached distinction among
your compeers at period from when there Is
scarcely a survivor in active life; you had the
holders of the public debt OF the soVereleh
States for your clients, and gained early re,
nown in the settlement of legal and hnanclal
questions by which. IA the result OF your
ability. the rapid progress of those States was
promoted In the development OF the great
West. from highways and waterways to rail-,
ways. you have had conspicuous part and
your craftsmanship gave you great power IN
your constant purpose for the welfare OF the
university. An occasion like this Is rare In
human history. still more unmatched for the
promise your unbroken energy gives us that
YOU will continue to be wise in counses, ana