The Democratic advocate., 1907-11-29
Westminster Theological Seminary
Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary.

The silver jubilee. or twenty fifth "a anniVer'
sary of the founding of Westminster Theologi-
cal Seminary was celebrated Tuesday with
appropriate exercises. The chief interest of
the anniversary centered in the dedication OF
the new building and in the announcement OF
the higher curriculum which has been estao-
lished. Heretofore the course has been only
two years for college graduates and three years
for students not graduates of a college. From
this time the former will be required to take
a three years and the latter a four years
course.
After devotional exercises in the morning.
conducted by Rev. J. NJ. Sheridan, president
of the MARYLAND Conference, addresses were
delivered as follows "Orign.' DIR. Charles
BilIingslea, surviving member of the original
committee; Foundation Stones," Rev. DIR.
II. H. Lewis, the first president, 1882 So;
dedicated to the Denomination Rev. DIR.
F. T. Tagg, president OF the General Con.
ference; THE Seminary and Home Missions" !"
Rev. j H. Lucas, Adrian, Mich; The Semi
nary and Religious Education Rev. u. H.
Religious Literature" Rev. DR.. c. E. Wilbur,
Bellevue, Pa; Greetings" Rev. t. G..
Klein, A. NJ, for the Baltimore Methodist
Protestant ministers; Rev. DR.. P. Ell. Miller
for the Westminster Lutheran Church; Rev.
DR.. C. S. Slagle for the Westminster Re-
formed Church; Rev. H. NJ. Rider for the
Westminster Methodist Episcopal Church;
.Dedication of the New Chapel" Rev. DIR.
J. d. Kinzer, president of the board OF gov
ernors.
The seminary had its inception in a reso-
luton adopted by the Maryland Conference IN
March, 1881. Rev. DR.. j. j. Murray, Rev
P. l.. Wilson and DIR. Charles Billingslea
were appointed a committee to mature some
plan for the teaching of systematic theology
to graduates of Western Maryland College who
purposed entering the ministry. This com
mittee reported at the conference March,
1882. Upon their report Rev. L. FL. Lewis
was appointed principal of department to
be established in Western Maryland College,
to be known as the School of Theology.
In consultation with the board of trustees
of the college DR.. Lewis deemed this method
unwise and recommended the establishment
of IL separate school, collecting funds for the
erection of building upon ground presented
, by the college board. The school was estab'
lished in the fall of 1882, and in 1884 incorpo-
rated by the Maryland Legislature. DIR.
Lewis became president of Western Maryland
College in 1886 and was succeeded as presiden,
of the seminary by Rev. DR.. j. Il. Ward, who
served until his DEATH in 1897, since which
time Rev. Hugh La,imer Elderdice has
been its president.
During the 25 years of its existence 2l5
students have been registered and 1O4 grad
:uated Graduates of the institution are
serving the church in Is states. Two are
missionaries in Japan, two college presidents,
four college professors. AT present students
are enrolled from Maryland. Georgia,
Alabama, New Jersey, New York. Ohio
West Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Car
-olina.
The seminary now owns property worth
1926, 900 and is free from debt. The officers
of the present board of governors are: Rev
DR.. j. D. Kinzer, president; DR.. Joshua W
Herring, State Comptroller. elect, treasurer
Rev. DR.. Hugh Latimer Elderdice, secretary
The faculty consists of DR.. Elderdice, presi
dent and professor of Hebrew and practica
theology; Rev. DR.. Henry Caleb Cushing
| professor of systematic theology; Rev; Claude
Cicero Douglas, B. D., professor OF Greek
| and Biblical theology; Rev. Charles Edward
! Fornes, B. D., professor of theism and his
| torical theology; Rev. DR.: Thomas Hamilton
| Lewis, professor of Christian evidence; Joshus
W. Herring, A. NJ, M. D., LII. D., lecturer
on the preservation of health.