The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-29
rHE EPISCOPAL SEMINARY.
Suggestions a. to the seiectisu o. . Dear
70 Succeed Dean Hoenaau.


To THE ERIToR OF THE srS-Sir: Many a.
have been the suggestions offered TO the
trustees regarding the qualifications for new
dean OF the General Theoloeical Seminary
Of the Episcopal Church. I venture to think
there Is SIN room for realizing the ideal.
All must admit that the exigendes ofthe
occasion demand great things. Now. II Is
manifest that so far as the qualification OF
scholarship Is concerned II 10 the accepted
opinion that no presbyter Of the American
Church IL ft to occupy this exalted place,
and for various reasons. First, having been
trained in this country. OF course he is not
fitted to know the real genius OF American
Christianity. That could only be gained from
German or English University point OF view.
His contact with his environment is too I'M
mediate to permit Of any large vision
Again. his qualifications must pass the Keen
scrutiny Of board Of trustees composed OF
bishops. priests and laypen. who. modestly
laying no claim to scholarship because OF
their multifarioua engagements IN otheI
pursuits. are the better fitted 10 cnooee
scholar than the members Of the faculty whose
advice they decline to ask.
Moreover. scholarship. az we know. 10 now
vitality connected with. and the peculiar pos
session Of, one special type OF churchman-
ship. commonly known as the school OF ND
eral thought: not that It really thinks deeply
or widely. but only thinks II thinks. Do
scholarship must stand before the bar OIL
party feeling and prejudice. or course. II
man has actually made a study OF theoiosy
proper and not spent days and nights IN
socioIogica, psyohol LOGICAL and pedagogical IN
vestigations, IL he really believes that there
Is an article Of the faith which may not DC
held to he still open to question 40 10 its real
truth tfor It Is the search for truth that IA OF
value. not truth ITSELF; n he IL not modern
enough to believe that the Bible 10 only a
book like ell other books regarding which
nothing can be absolutely proved ~ to It's
origin or the truth Of its contents. such
one, It In clear. cannot ~ a scholar In any
real sense Of the word, No man can oe
scholar who believes In the Church a. divino
truth or That the faith was once for all deliv.
cred 10 the saints, for that 10 to challenge the
results Of future SaS een founded
by divine ordinance. and truth 10 as eacn
man trowcth It and the faith Is impossible OF
As Tor other qualifications many are held
to be necessary. but for training students Tor
the sacred ministry least OF imp9Sr.amItt ,,r ~
Of the spiritual life aud knowiedse OF g,id.
Of souls The TSTs o. n sns Ths
n social S" problem is the thins to pc dealt With
finance a large settlement work. lead crussdes
aaaipst vice and preside over municipal
Now. W. are firmly CONVINCED that such .
man is not to be found In the ranks OF INC
f1rtmnsto but IN the opinion Of Others Il may
be something to he thankful for " has pee en
that u. sS 2: s Ss sA rsntar
no opinion Flexibility and adaptability Of
climatic Influences and even a measure 70
i hx membsrs Of that august body. but AGAIN
I decline TO recommend that the experiment
ne u'aue. A.o,,,t.iv sur. bowever TINT the
RIGHT man can be found IN the ranks OF the
iaity without accusing them OF undue con-
c is quite certain they ne m SGGT 1S San sny
Of the three orders; they know what the are
demands. which is Of course an sdy9ntare
which the clergy nre so deficient. as may be
seen from the able management Of many
d ,hs aT *. Tnssr tcSc
would be lowered 20 the proper standard, the
students would waste TO time IN retreats and ,d
he paid 10 bookkeepipg and visits to the
-slnrs" for training w social uplifting Now
Ia the opportunity TO place the seminary w 'hc
van of really progressive ipstitutiors, III
oSiv n Iavman IS nut At the helm we can be
sure that the ship will be steered into REGIONS
and nothing binders It's swift PASSAGE to total
'' NEW Yonx. March %
TO rpr Ep,roE or THE Sun Sir: The col
lection In a single volume OF the series Of
ess,ys and reviews which MIR W W. Mallock
has Of late contributed TO an eminent British
monthly calls forth three searching criticisms
by as many mon. the Very Rev. John 7 Drs-
coll 8 T l.. Of the Cat holic Diocese Of Albany.
who contributes q paper to the March Norm
iusyiran RcricV; the Rev. Michael Maher.
j Lit D, who gels a hearing in the Feb
ruary Fortu iahuY Rsri'n and Father Timothy
Brosnahan, \. J., who publishes an essay In
,la ra,boI,c Mfssen1fr for March
A care full reading OF these criticisms reveal
first of all. the fact that the Jesuit fathers are
as yigilant as ever In guarding their own
tepets and scholastic positions: but In Father
Driscoll's paper the student OF the times
comes across a clear exposition OF the relation
of the Catholic Church with the SCREENINGS
Of the scientist and a refutstion OF the breach
Mr. Mllock would endeavor 70 widen and
intensIiy. Father Maher introduces some
personal grievances In ms essay but his eS-
cellent posltion as n psychologist and his
raception Of the degree Of doctor of htera-
,ure from the board Of the University OF
Iopdon rive him every claim ia the ewes OF
the British prblic To an audit In reiutation oil
Mr. Mallotk's cancellations
tina, not n solitary line comes from the pen Of
n Protestant scholar in defence Of this recent
barr cnde against Christianity. or. !: You prefer
theisms Mr. Mallock delights In the meta:
nbo that he propTsss TO sum up the oeDit
and credit Sides Of the Fundamental dimculty
and present an accurate record Of esits and
I1s-es lie thus appears N the humble roe
OF -intellec'uai accountant But as he .ends
al, hls balance sheet not a Protestant vcies =.
yesrI This time u IL tho Catholic apologi-t
piaying the Protestant 40 Que else .ro'ss's.
v.i In New Norg we have been pro,'d To hook
uoen the General Thenios.cal seminar, W
1hels.a satar. - tho temple ri Protestant
TplseopaI soholsr-hip Hundret- q ,ouns
mon Iook 10 d a. alma mater do they look
~ h ~ fh. powerful tsAohiIg oen,re ~e be-
il.,c IL 20 be, Protestant scholarship was
never At such q low ebb The letters sent 70
The editor Of the 'ssrrhms. wees after vess
shaw mo feeling Of these Who think serouay
about the matter ard some of the writer's are
men p,o,ninsut IN the eleriosture Of the die-
".-s of New ,ork n their Anonymity 10
Tie sheio. ~ d-sn for the General Theo-
iosiSrl fsntnsry ~ti urdonbsedly have
'aseh Co do With riaseeesl We've Of rsi,si"ss
az M the ace thai sgssssisd this community.
ton sspo.ii1 ll,sra'ss. The rrnaeff, mods
| 10 nlalsta,n tkefoasi S.rsss ia rhi,esoph,
= careful sslOsiilas ~ X sntian philosophy
.nd ths sa.lilei-n ~ Hans W par ls0isf
Al ,nofs saTnssi ssafslnafioh ef the fundss
Inenial asns~Tss ef ihfeiesy sod aba, !. pass.
naosinf today. q tsgciirs 'hai w,ii rhes ne.
The Necessity OF dlsatirg Ia so.s r'n'sh's