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VOL. LXXXVI. RICHMONt
Union Theolo
The Synod of Virginia took formal 1/" *
action In 1812 for the establishment of ? IV
a Theological Seminary. But Hanover
Presbytery, which then included nearly
all o? Eastern Virginia, in 1806 had al
i cauj yrujwieu sucn an institution and appointed a
committee to "manage thiB business," that is the
collecting "a library to be established at HampdenSldney
College for the benefit of students in divinity,
and establishing a fund for the education of poor and
pious youth for the ministry of the gospel." Rev.
John Holt Rice, as a special agent, began this solicit,
ing of books and money throughout the State. By the
spring of 1807 he was able to report $2,500 secured.
In this year Dr. Moses Hoge was elected President
of the College and became the head also of the theological
school, this being a prime
factor in his accepting the presidency "
of the College.
This he continued till his death in
1S20, having in these years prosecuted
liis work as President and Professor of
Theology with signal ability and sue- |?
cess, sending more than thirty young
men from his classes into the ministry.
Dr. John Holt Rice succeeded Dr.
Hoge, beginning his School of the
rropnets with three students in "one H
end or President Cushrng's kitchen," in
the fan of 1824. I
The endowment in 1824 amounted to
$10,000?with no buildings and no site
even.
Hut students increased in number
year by year and, thanks to the ability, H
energy and heroic faith of Dr. Rice,
within seven years, the institution
secured a fair library, a building for
lecture rooms, chapel and dormitories
and two residences and had nearly
forty students and three instructors.
In 1827 the Presbytery of Hanover H
surrendered the institution to the joint
management of the Synods of Virginia H
and North Carolina?hence the name
Union Theological Seminary.
Dr. Rice dku in 1831. Dr. George A_
Baxter sue i ceded him as Professor or
Systematic Theology, associated with
him an lustructois were the Rev.
Hiram P. Goodrich, D. D., and Rev. H
Stephen Taylor, D. D".
T lien there came twenty years of depression
and trial; the country was
passing through a period of industrial
depression, the Church was greatly
agitated over a controversy, which
finally rent it in twain, and which had
its effect on the Seminary, for the
faculty itself was divided. As a result,
Drs. Goodrich and Taylor retired and Tutor in H
Dis. Sam'l L. Graham and Francis S. 1812; 1
Sampson were chosen to fill these oloot
vacancies.
On the death of Dr. Baxter, in 1841, Eminent an
Dr. Samuel B. Wilson, of Fredericks.
Durg, was elected to the chair of Systematic
Theology, which he held for twenty.elght
years, until his death in 1869.
In 1863 Rev. Robert L. Dabney, D. D., and in 1854
Rev. Benjamin M. Smith, D. D., were elected to
positions in the faculty. Dr. Dabney served the
Seminary thirty years, and Dr. Smith was ta active
service thirty-five years and for four years longer as
professor emeritus; It is impossible to overstate the
), NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA, OCTO
gical Seminai
ia and North Carolina i
Unite in the Celebration
value of these two men to the Seminary during their
long and useful connection. It was to Dr. Smith's
untiring efforts in Virginia and the North before the
dreadful war and after it that the material side of the
Seminary life was maintained and enlarged. Through
the years of terrible strain and poverty just before
BHPSTTerillU Will1, Ikese men bore hardships with
marvellous grace, and with high courage and undaunted
piety worked and prayed, bringing to the
institution by their learning, their ability, and their
consecration not only an increase of students, but the
REV. JOHN HOLT RICE. D. D.
BOB IN IN BEDFORD Oa, VA., NOV. 28, 1777.
ampden.Sidney College, 1797.1804; Pastor Cub Creek Ch
*astor First Church, Richmond, 1812.1823; Professor o,
i in Union Seminary, 1822 to his Death, kept. 3,
d Efficient in Every Office, This Seminary, Founded by I
is His Lasting Monument.
confidence and love of all the people. To this heroic
i J - * - 1 ? ?
uo-uu 01 worKerH nev. Thos. E. Peck, D. D., of the
Central church, Baltimore, was added in 1860 and
proved himself the peer of the great men with whom
he was associated; for thirty years and more "he
taught succeeding classes with a wealth of learning,
a Balntllness of influence and a perspicuity of power
of statement which have never been surpassed."
il Presbyter/an
HFfPA/ P/prcPvrr cz>, >. a /
'k / I' ? >? ? * * 4^ rl / '
BER 16, 1912. NO. 42.
ry Centennial
* -J name ?r Dabney as a great
'Jr "WUd teacher, a profound philosopher, an
accomplished theologian, a forceful
writer and a man of prodigious general
information can never lose its lustre,
nor fade from the memory of the Southern Presbyterian
Church.
Under these great masters, the number of students
increased: the buildings and other equipments for
cood service u-pre oHdnJ
auu cuuunuieui grew
apace, never to any state of affluence, however.
Dr. Henry C. Alexander, "an accomplished scholar
and golden-hearted gentleman," was added to the
faculty in 1870 and continued to All the chair of
"Biblical Literature and the Interpretation of the New
Testament" until 1891, when he was succeeded by
Rev. C. C. Hersman, D. D., L?L. D., then
~~'?""""chancellor of the Southwestern Presbyhh||
terian University. After Dr. Dabney's
H removal Dr. Peck was transferred to
the chair of Systematic Theology and
Dr. T. F. l.atimer was elected to the
<helr of Ecclesiastical History and
Polity. Dr. T. C. Johnson was chosen
to (ill the new "Stuart Robinson ProIfcKsorship
of English Biblical Study
and Pastoral Theology. On the lament,
ed death of Dr. Latimer, Dr. Johnson
was transferred to his chair, and Rev.
Thos. R. English, D. D. of Yorkville, S.
C., became Professor of the English
Bible Course.
H After thirty-three years of conBH
tinuous, devoted service, Dr. Peck passed
to his eternal reward, and his chair
v. as ably filled for several years by
Dr. C. R. Vaughan; in 1896 Rev, G. B.
Stiickler, l)r D., of the Central Presbyteiian
church, Atlanta, Ga., succeeded
to the chair of Systematic Theology.
H For scveniy-eight years the Seminary
H lived, struggled and prospered in old
Prince Edward county, close by the
E| College in which it had in a sense its
beginning and with which it had been
closely affiliated tl.iough all the years;
but for many reasons the time
seemed ripe in God's Picvidence for a
great forward move, and bo niter much
deliberation thu Rnot-a on.......1 1
- - .? ?/ .>u>? i u u(S i CCU IU| ttllU
the controlling Synods ordered, the re.
nioval of the Seminary to Richmond,
Vft.
The munificent gifts of Mr. George
\V. Watts, of Durham, N. C., a member
of the Board of Directors, and of Mr.
W. W. Spence, of Baltimore, together
with the hearty liberality of the people
of Richmond, made the move possible.
itrch, 1804- A surpassingly beautiful site of
f The. twelve acres In Ginter Park, three
1831. miles from Richmond's business centre,
reached by street car, was donated, and
{is Labors, a gtr0ng, sympathetic and capable
building committee, of which Mr. S. H.
Hawes, of Richmond, was the Chair,
man, began the work of construction. Eight sub.
stantial buildings were erected, to which nich?????a
Hall and a sixth residence have since been added; and
in the fall of 1898 the Seminary took up its work in
its new quarters. The parting with the old place,
so hallowed with precious memories, and so
sacred because of the life and work of so many noble
(Continued on page 11.)