Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-25
PRESBYTERIANS
PUT OFF ACTION
ON SCHOOL CASE
Committee Named to Report
in 1917 on Faculty Con-
troll Question
SPEED AvERTs DEBATE
BY FRED E. BAER
Evenino Ledger star Correspondent

| ATLANTIC CITY N. j., May 25.-The
| easiest way out OF trouble was chosen again
! today when the General Assembly of the
| presbyterian Church took a step toward
solving Its vexatious seminary problems
lt instructed Moderator MARQUIS to ap.
point committee of four elders and three
ministers who are directed to study the
question and advise the 1917 assembly
what should be done.
This is really step forward Every Gem
eral Assembly since 1892 has considered
this seminary problem and has passed II to
me succeeding convention and so for these
"a years nothing has been done The stu.
alton had become intolerable and promised
trouble at this years meeting This trouble
Is averted. but It Is reasonably sure that
today's proceeding makes conclusive action
next year n certainty.
Whether the leaders in this assembly felt
than an additional years study was neces-
sary or whether they just wanted to slide
through smoothly as they did yesterday on
the heresy proposition, only they know,
and they aren't telling, but one must be lost
In admiration OF the mechanics of the as
sembly. How they avoided debate on the
heresy affair yesterday no one pretends to
know; how they did It today is hardly short
of marvellous
There wasn't even n suggestion of a
speech today. DR.. j. Ross Stevenson simply
read his committees report and did It SO
nicely that one felt 1t would be highly i'm
to adopt 1t was put and carried without
even n sign of dsapproval
IL mad been expected that Judge j.
Dewitt Andrews, of New York. would plead
earnestly for immediate action. but as It
happened, the business was put through
before he arrived.
STEVENSON A POLITICIAN.
One commissioner said. admiringly not
sarcastically, that politics certainly missed
hty lnttts
Stevenson enter the ministry. He added:
There never is a debate when he handles
the situation; he doesn't allow it."
This seminary problem began with the
Union Theological Seminary. and now en-
braces every other theological school,
A glance over the names OF these semi
naries shows how widely spread the prob
lem is. Here is the list
Princeton Theological Seminary
Auburn Theological Seminary. New York
Western Theological Seminary, Allegheny,
Pa.
Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati
Kentucky Theological Seminary, Louis
vile. Ky
Mccormick Theological Seminary Chi
cago.
San Francisco Theological Seminary. San
Anselmo, Cal
German Presbyterian Theological School
of the Northwest Dubuque.
Lincoln University Theological Depart
ment Lincoln University, Pa.
Biddle University Theological Depart
ment Charlotte. n. C.
Omaha Theological Seminary Omaha
There is represented in that list property
worth about twenty-five millions, which
would be in dispute sooner or later II the
General Assembly should rule wrong. The
matter comes down to this:
BY what they call the compact of 1870"
all these theological seminaries are bound
to have the General Assembly rule over
their faculties veto by the General AS
sembly means that n professor mus. go or
be prevented from taking chair in the
first place,
The Union Theological Seminary threw
off this restraint in 1892, and ever since |
then the General Assemblies, one after an |
other, have been simply passing the issue |
on to the succeeding body. The issue in |
Its particular case centres around almost |
50 100000. which the seminary collected |
while under the protection of the General |
Assembly and which the Presbyterian |
Church thinks ought to be taken away from |
1t. now that it Is no longer a strictly Pres |
byterian institution.
1t is the only such college which has
acted. But all the colleges are getting |
ready so to act. Auburn, a little more for
ward than the rest, has had the nerve to
ask this General Assembly to rule; 1t |
wants to know what will happen to 1t If 1t |
does what Union did "a years ago, because
to continue forever,
DIR, w. ii. McKibben. president of Lane
Theological Seminary. said today that
what the seminaries want is to get away
from the Assembly control of their facul- I
ties but not from the other influences. He
that what they rather hope for
Is to find that the compact of 1870" is not
binding. and that will solve the problem
right there.
Whatever is done there is sure to be a
spirited debate the floor. 1t won't be
he honeyed affair the heresy report was.
Judge Andrews, of New York. Is pretty
sure to have something TO say from the
seminary camp, and he won't have to look
.or some one to take up the cudgel against
him, They'll be around,
The most likely action is appointment of
committee to find the best solution and
eport to the 1917 convention, which will
rave to act, That will make the settlement
IF the problem only one year eff and the
delegates think they can stand that, having
tood 1t for years.
If they don't do that they will have to
'roceed against Union In law and bring |