The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-22
BAPTIsTs NEW SEMINARY.
Only Theological Institution West of
the Mississippi River.

| Kansas City, Kan, Oct. 22.-The Kan
| sas City Baptist Theological. seminary,
the only theological seminary of any de-
nomination west of the Mississippi river
was last night formally opened here.
/ This new school starts off under auspic-
ious conditions with the united support
! OF the Baptist churches in Kansas, Mis-
1 souri,, Iowa. Nebraska and other central
western states. 1t will have % stud
ents for its first enrolment. and with
its building half paid for and with $4,000
to defray the running expenses for the
| first year, the seminary's prospects are
/ most fattering.
The building secured for the school is
/ the old Fowler mansion in Edgerton
/ place. 1t was purchased by the Baptists
at cost of $4,000 and $4,000 of this
amount has already been paid. The
/ building is situated in the highest sec
ton of the city. overlooking the Mis-
/ sori and kaw rivers and the territory
| tributary. 1t is modern equipped has
large rooms and plenty of grounds. 1t
has excellent advantages for a theologi-
cal school.
Last night Baptists of the two KAN
saS CltyS and many from out of town
attended the opening ceremonies. Ad-
dresses were made by DIR. Stephen A
Northrop acting PRESIDENT of the board
of trustees. and DIR. W. p. csrannell, of
Topeka. Dr. Northrop talked of THE
Future of the Kansas City Theological
Seminary, and also gave a history Of
/ IL
establishment DIR. Crannell's subject
was Orthodoxy and Evangelism
After a scored song service, which in
Guided choir and solo numbers, recep-
ton was held and then the visitors were
given an opportunity of inspecting the
| building
The movement to establish a Baptist
theological school in Kansas City was
started about five years ago, but active
! plans were not laid until about q wear
I when mr. No,- tT77.,y0 IF ao
| First Baptist church, advocated the es-
| Establishment of the school and made an ar-
peal for $1,000 to further the plans This
appeal met with hearty response on the
part of Baptists throughout the middle
west. The Fowler mansion in Kansas
City, Kan, was decided upon as the home
| of the new institution and negotiations
for its purchase were Immediately entered
into with the result that the transfer of
| the property was made last spring. In the
meantime Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Lovelace
donated rs acres, valued at the present
time at $4,000, to the schools use, so that
this munificent gift gave absolute assur-
| ance of the success of the work begun. by
Dr. Northrop and other ministers of the
tEEo cities The appeal for cash donations
was so generously II sponded to by Bap-
lists generally that it found that the sem
| mary could be established without Tie
necessity of selling either all or a portion
of the land given by Mr. and Mrs. Love
lace and a recent meeting of the board of
trustees it was decided to hold this prop
erty for five years, the belief being that
it will double in value within that time.
The idea of establishing theological
schools in the commercial centers is one
that has found favor in the east. Medical
law and other institutions of learning
along professional lines have operated
successfully in the large cities, because the
students are given the opportunity of get
! ting practical experience along with their
studies. The theory is that theological
students can accomplish much good for
themselves if given these same opportuni-
/ ties.
The constituency of the new seminary
will come from Kansas. Missouri Iowa,
Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma and
already much encouragement has been re-
ceived from these statements.
Baptist congregations have pra ctically
B. w. Wiseman. the financial secretary.
reports that cash donations aggregatinE
states in the Mississippi valley. Within a
radius of IS miles of Kansas City there
are 10000 Baptists, and the board of trus-
/ tees, recognizing this fact. believe that the
location of the new school belonged in
either Kansas City, No, or Kansas City,
Kan.
A permanent president has not as yet
been elected but the faculty has been
chosen and everything is in readiness for
class work which will be begun this morn
ing. Rev. DR.. Rafferty,. who has been as
ISOLATED with Baptist churches in this vi
cinity for the last thirty years. will he
| professor of systematic theology. Rev.
James F. Wells. professor of English
scripture ard church history; Rev. DR..
Crannen, pastor of the First Baptist
church. Topeka professor of homileticis
and pastor theology and the Rev F. l..
Streeter.- professor of New Testament
/ Greek. Lectures will be given by Dr. VIII
liam R. Rowlands of the First Baptist
church, Lincoln. Neb: Rev DIR. Crannell
of Topeka and Rev. DR. Stephen A Nortn>
rop of this city, The regular course fer
students will be three years.
Every state in the west" said DR..
Northrop last evening, has a RantisI
college. and the new school will draw
from these. The institution will belong to
/ the great west and it will stand alone
DIR. NOrthrop was last night introduced
to wire greetings to the Missouri Baptist
! General association, now in session in ST.
! Joseph. and to the Colorado Ba ptist con-
vention now in session in Denver.