New-York tribune., 1905-02-02
SEMINARY GETS 81, 100000.
GIVER,S NAME Il SECRET.
Union Theological to BniId Neso
Home on Part of Gifi.

from the statement that the gift comes from
some one still living, DR.. Hall would not tell
who the giver is
Included in the gift are thirty-six city lots
between 120th and 122d sts., Just off Riverside
Drive.
1t is the intention of the direo tors to utilize
the gift as soon as may be for the removal OF
the seminary from the present cramped quar-
ters to the Riverside Drive site included in the
gift Just what proportion of the gift remains
after the deduction of the land value Dr. Hau
would not say. He did. however. in his state
ment insist that there would have to be other
gifts forthcoming to insure the erection of the
necessary buildings and for endowments-
No plans have yet been matured for the man
ner of putting the gift to the most feasible USE
but the matter will be taken in hand at once
DR.. Halls statement, written by himself. for
the directors follows:
The Board of Directors of the Union Theologi-
cal Seminary met at the seminary, No. 40
Park-ave., Wednesday, February l. 1t was
made generous gift of block of ground. and
S1.100O00 '
Appropriate action was taken by the board
for the acceptance and acknowledgment of the
gift. 1t is understood that this gift, following
other gifts recently announced to the amount of
nearly quarter of a million dollars enables the
seminary to begin the carrying into effect of its
plan of enlarging and enriching it's facilities, as
q oNHOOA IOT lne ministers 10 meet
religious needs of modern life. and for the study
of theology on university lines.
The Union Theological Seminary offers equal
rights and privileges to students of all denom-
nations 1t is not under the ecclesiastical con-
troll of any denomination. 1t is wholly self-gov-
ernlng. Its constitution provides that its di-
rectorS must be members of the Presbyterian
Church or OF some other Evangelical church.
The development of the larger plan of the
Union Theological Seminary will involve its ulti-
mate removal to a block of ground already OBJ
tanned. between 120th and 122d SITS, near River
side Drive, and will call for large additional
glIts for buildings and endowments If the plan
is to be fully realized.
For many years the seminary has enjoyed the
interchange of academic privileges with CoIum-
bia University and New-York University No
change will be made in the present independ-
ent corporate life of the seminary, and its uni
tofore.
PLANS FOR MOVING SEMINARY.
DR.. Hall declared positively that he was not
at liberty at the present time to disclose the
name of the giver.
Although so far as know" said Dr. Hail.
this is the largest gift ever made to any theo-
logical seminary, 1t is not yet advisable to say
from whom the gift comes. 1t is sufficient that
the person who gave this great amount is still
living Plans have not been matured for the
moving of the seminary TO the site 1t was
offered only last week. so there has not been
time 10 perfect anything in tre way of arrange
hand at once.
This is a big thing and cannot be consid-
cred with anything like snap judgment We
have outgrown our present quarters. We have
now 146 StudentS--a very large number for any
such institution. We have been here in Park
ave. since 1886. moving here from No. Uni
versity Place.
There is a narrow strip of ground fronting
in Riverside Drive separating the land included
in the gift from the Drive. One hundred-and-
twenty-frst-st. has not yet been built through.
hTTf1l fnp and
mentS OF course there was another bequest to
the institution some time ago of more than
$250.OO0. and some OF this may be available for
the purpose
Gifts of S24OOOO to the Union Theological
Seminary were announced last November. Mrs.
William Earl Dodge gave $4,000 to establish
a chair of applied Christianity. and Morris K
Jesnp gave like amount 10 found professor
ship of preaching
he could not give out the name of the giver.
Personally l would like to tell the name of
our generous friend. and there is no reason why
should not do so except the fact that he has
requested me to keep it secret. He is a man
who has been interested in the affairs of the
seminary for some time, and all l can say is
that | am Overjoyed at the good fortune that
has come to us. If the selection had been left
to us we could not have chosen a site more de-
srable valuable for purposes. II
is situated one block north of Barnard College,
directly west of Teachers College and very
near to Columbia Universitys extensive library.
This will give our students great advantages. 1
have always believed that it was not desirable
for theological students to be separated 1t is
extremely valuable 10 them to be surrounded
by the atmosphere of a university. Already we
have reciprocal arrangement with Columbia
University whereby we exchange certain free
courses. This arrangement WILL OF course be
greatly facilitated by the fact that we shall now
he next to Columbia.
PRESENT BUILDING CROWDED.
Our present building is extremely valuable
property. but on account of the crowded condi-
ton of property round about it does not admit
of expansion We have 146 students in the SEM
mary to-day. and we already feel the want of
sufficient lecture halls, library and dormtOry
space. We have a valuable library. but 1t is
entirely theological, and in our new building we
shall be next door 20 Columbia Unversity's
valuable library, which will be accessible to our
students. What | want particularly to empha-
size is the fact that by the terms of the gift no
life"
Dr. Hall said that things would so on slowly.
that plans had been made yet 1t would be
at least four years before any consder25ie SeaG-
way was made on the building.
The Rev. Dr. Hastings, eN-president and pro-
fessor of pastoral theology. declined 10 ctv':lge
the name of the giver-
Il am under bonds rot 10 say" he declared
"ITe &c an exDerjenced elvcr and has asked that
his name be withheld that lie viii not be
plagued with begging letters. The gift Will
enable us to remove to an academic centre. but
not until we sell the present building.
1T will mean. toe. that we can make this
real theological university for the first time.
and give theological university lectures
While 1t is positively denied that Andrew
Carnegie is the SivcT. friends Of the seminary
have expressed hope that the iro1rnaster VII /
some tiu9 assist the seminary's library
The block bounded by l20tA and i-2d SITS. I
Riverside Drive and Claremont- 12fst-St. /
has not yet been laid outs owned by various
persons ard estates. the largest owner being the
G.. Post estate The entire parcel contains
about thirty-three lots The holdings of the @.
Post estate in the l20th-st. block and in the
block front the east side OF ClaremOnt ave,
from 122d TO I25th ST., comprise about thirty
six lots. the exact number given TO the seminary
as a gift. Schuyler Schiefteiir is also another
large owner of property in the section The
Post holdings in the blacks named are assessed
LII a q