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 ^3^1 Co(-\-]c^r^£^\ "^cAn neint>e>elc^er. Sept, jS"^^ 
 
 See /. '^-^ o.'^COo-^ Li' ~ ■■ f- 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMIMEY. 
 
 An appeal is now made to the Presbyterian churches to assist in 
 the endowment of the Theological Seminary at Princeton. The 
 Agent feels called upon to give to the public a statement of the ob- 
 jects of the Institution, its history, and its claims upon the Churches. 
 
 I. The great design of the Theological Seminary at Princeton is 
 to train up men for the ministry, who shall understand, love, propa- 
 gate and defend the system of religion which is set forth in the stand- 
 ards of the Presbyterian Church — and thus extend the influence of 
 true evangelical piety and Gospel order throughout the world. 
 
 The objects, secured by the Seminary, are of vast importance to 
 the Presbyterian Church, and to the general interests of religion : 
 
 1. It affords to students, preparing for the ministry, peculiar fa- 
 cilities for the acquisition of Biblical, Theological, and general know- 
 ledge. The instructions at Princeton are thorough and comprehen- 
 sive ; and adapted, as far as human means can go, to educate a 
 ministry in the knowledge and love of the truth.* 
 
 2. It promotes the cultivation of personal piety, by means of the 
 influences brought to bear in connexion with religious studies, devo- 
 tional exercises, exhortations, personal example, and the general 
 training of an evangelical Institution, 
 
 3. It forms and cements friendships among ministers. 
 
 4. It offers to pious and indigent young men the opportunity of 
 obtaining their education without charge ; the instructions in the 
 Seminary being gratuitous, and a number of scholarships being pro- 
 vided for the support of the deservino-, 
 
 5. It keeps alive and fosters the missionary spirit. This is made 
 a prominent subject in the instructions of the Seminary. These in- 
 structions are enforced by the example and influence of students who 
 design to be missionaries, and by the correspondence of those who 
 are already in the field. 
 
 6. It secures a religious literature of great importance to the 
 Church and the world. 
 
 One of the incidental advantages of a public institution is its 
 distinguished authorship. Luther, Calvin, Melancthon, Beza, Tur- 
 
 * As various allusions are made to the Professors in this appeal, it is proper to 
 state that it was drawn up without their knowledge. 
 
retine, Pictet, Witsius, Ridgeley, Brown of Haddington, Dick, 
 Hill, Dwight, Chalmers, Merle d'Aubigne, Gaussen, and a multi- 
 tude of other authors, were professional teachers. 
 
 7. It assists our Churches, when they become vacant, in obtain- 
 inc pastors of the requisite qualifications. Where do our Churches 
 generally look but to the Seminary at Princeton, and to similar Insti- 
 tutions ? 
 
 In short, our Theological Seminaries are the strongest grounds 
 of hope, connected with human instrumentality, in reference to the 
 prosperity of the Church and its extension in our own and other 
 lands. The objects of the Institution at Princeton, it is believed, 
 have hitherto been in a good degree accomplished. To God be the 
 praise for His grace and His goodness ! 
 
 II. History of the Seminary. — Prompted by considerations 
 like the foregoing, the Fathers of the Presbyterian Church founded 
 the Seminary at Princeton. Although there has never been a period 
 when our ministers were not educated men, yet their opportunities 
 for obtaining a professional education have varied according to cir- 
 cumstances. At first. Academies were established with a special 
 view to an adequate preparation for the ministry. Of these the 
 three most celebrated, were the " Log College " of Wm. Tennent, the 
 Academy at Fogg's Manor, Pa., under Samuel Blair, and the Acade- 
 my at Newark, Del., under the care of the Philadelphia Synod. 
 Soon afterwards, in 1746, Princeton College was founded, a leading 
 design of which was to afford the advantages of a full course of 
 studies to candidates for the ministry. An effort was early made to 
 establish a Professorship of Divinity in connexion with the College; 
 but this was unsuccessful. It was the usual custom for students to 
 complete their studies under the superintendence, for a short time, 
 of a private minister. Experience, however, proved that individual 
 enterprise, besides being comparatively irresponsible, was on the 
 whole inadequate for the great work of training up the ministers of 
 the Church. The necessity of a Theological Seminary was felt by 
 many of our wisest and best men, long before it was established. 
 Finally, in 1809 the proposal was made by the Presbytery of Phila- 
 delphia to the General Assembly, to found an Institution for the 
 more thorough education of candidates for the ministry. The As- 
 sembly referred the subject to the Presbyteries, who reported in 
 1810 in favour of the proposition ; and in 1811 the Assenvbly adopted 
 the plan of a Theological Seminary, which in 1812 was located in 
 Princeton,* and immediately commenced its operations. 
 
 The Professorships.' — In 1812, the Rev. Archibald Alexander, 
 D. D., pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, was 
 
 * The Seminary is entirely distinct from llie College. It has separate Profes- 
 sors, buildings, trustees, students, &,c. The two institutions are abont a quarter of 
 a mile apart. 
 
inaugurated Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology. In 1813, 
 the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian 
 Church, New-York, was inaugurated Professor of Ecclesiastical His- 
 tory and Church Government. In 1H19, the Rev. Charles Hodge 
 was appointed an Instructor in the Seminary, and in 1822 was inau- 
 gurated Professor of Biblical and Oriental Literature In 1836, the 
 Rev. John Breckenridge was inaugurated Professor of Pastoral The- 
 ology and Missionary Instruction ; and in 1838, the Rev. J. Addison 
 Alexander was inaugurated Professor of Oriental and Biblical Lite- 
 rature. The Rev. Dr. Breckenridge resigned in 1838, and his Pro- 
 fessorship was merged in the others. By an arrangement satisfac- 
 tory to all parties, Dr. Alexander's Professorship was changed to 
 Pastoral and Polemic Theology, and that of Dr. Hodge to Exegetical 
 and Didactic Theology. At the present time, therefore, there are 
 four Professors in the Seminary. 
 
 Buildings. — The Seminary Edifice was commenced immedi- 
 ately after the war in 1815, and was first occupied in 1817. It is a 
 stone building of good appearance, 150 feet long, 50 feet wide, four 
 stories high, and with accommodations for 80 or 90 students. 
 Three houses for the Professors, a Chapel and a Library edifice of a 
 fine architectural character have been erected at different periods. 
 The Library edifice and one of the Professor's houses are the gifts 
 of a well known friend of the Seminary. 
 
 Library. — The books, belonging to the Institution, are about 
 9000 volumes, a considerable part of which were the donation of the 
 Rev. Dr. Green. The library contains many valuable works, but 
 needs a large addition to its resources, in order to make it conform 
 to the general aims and requirements of a central Theological Semi- 
 nary. At present, the most defective part of the Seminary is its 
 library. 
 
 Number of Students. — The Seminary opened in 1812 with 
 three students. The next year it had eight. The number has 
 gradually increased, though with some variations. At the present 
 time, there are 131 students on its catalogue, the largest number ever 
 in the Institution. Since its origin, the number of students who 
 have enjoyed the advantages of its instructions is about 1400. 
 
 Scholarships. — The number of scholarships belonging to the 
 Seminary is 27. These are the donations of various benevolent in- 
 dividuals, whose names they bear ; and constitute a fund, the inte- 
 rest of which assists in the support of indigent students. The sum 
 of $2500 is necessary to found a scholarship. Almost all the 
 scholarships, however, now fall short of the required amount. 
 
 Funds of the Seminary. — Singular as it may appear, it is 
 nevertheless true, that this great and important institution has never 
 yet been adequately endowed. Although established nearly thirty- 
 five years ago, it has had to depend, in a great measure, upon the con- 
 tingencies of annual contributions. Various efforts have been made 
 to secure its permanent endowment ; at first, by raising a general 
 
fund ; then by securing three Professorships from different synods, 
 in 1821 ; and more lately by establishing the additional Professor- 
 ship. During the interval of these various efforts up to the present 
 time, a resort to annu:il collections has been necessary to meet the 
 current expenses. The funds of the Seminary have suffered a con- 
 siderable loss by investments in Southwestern Bank Stock.* The 
 following table shows their present value, and the sum necessary to 
 be raised for the endowment of the Institution : 
 
 TABULAR STATEMENT OF FUNDS. 
 
 Professorships, 
 Scholarships, 
 
 Present value eBtiroated 
 
 60,700 
 38,800 
 99;,500" 
 
 Sum to be raised. 
 
 64,300 
 28,200 
 
 92,500 
 
 When full. 
 
 125,000 
 
 67,000 
 
 192;000 
 
 In addition to the $92,000 required to be raised for Professorships 
 and Scholarships, §5000 are necessary for the current expenses 
 of the Institution during the interval ; and $2500 at least are 
 required to purchase books for the library. This would make the 
 whole amount to be raised about $100,000; which is not a larcre 
 sum when we look at the objects to which it is to be applied. 
 
 The whole sum, necessary for the endowment of the Professor- 
 ships, is stated at $125,000, This, at 6 per ct., including charges 
 for investments, commissions, &/C., would be barely sufficient to 
 yield the stipulated salaries, which amount to $7200 ; or $1800 to 
 each Professor. 
 
 Some persons have suggested that the salaries of the Professors 
 are too large. The agent feels it to be his duty and his privilege to 
 defend the plan of the Seminary against objections, which seem to 
 arise from unreasonable or contracted views ; and therefore submits 
 the following considerations in reference to the salaries tendered by 
 the Institution. 
 
 1. The salaries have been formally and deliberately fixed, at dif- 
 ferent times, for each Professorship, by the General Assembly ; 
 which, embodying the wisdom of the whole Church, has taken ac- 
 tion on this subject, in full view of all the circumstances of the case. 
 
 2. The present Professors, and those who may be called to suc- 
 ceed them, might readily command a much larger sum in different 
 positions of the Church. In a worldly point of view, their connex- 
 ion with the Seminary is a matter of self-denial. If the two senior 
 Professors had retained their pastoral relations, they would have 
 been far better off in their old age, than the Church has allowed 
 them to be. And so it probably will ever be with the Professors of 
 this Institution. 
 
 * All money3 raised by the present efTort, are fo he invested on bond and 
 mortgage. Without this understanding the present agent would never have con- 
 sented to act. 
 
3. The general reputation and credit of the Presbyterian Church 
 are interested in the respectable support of its Seminary. This is 
 not a local Institution, but belongs to a wealthy, numerous and libe- 
 ral Church. 
 
 4. The expenses of maintenance, with the exception of rent, are 
 as great in Princeton as in the neigbouring cities ; and it is well 
 known that the incumbents have never accumulated property from 
 their income. 
 
 5. The labors of the Professors are arduous. In addition to the 
 daily duties of the Seminary, they preach almost every Sabbath ; and 
 are constantly doing important work of a ministerial as well as mis- 
 cellaneous character, in addition to their employments as Professors. 
 
 Besides all this, the salaries are stipulated to be paid; and the 
 Churches are bound in honour as well as in conscience, not to repu- 
 diate the acts of their own General Assembly. The truth is, if 
 there are any men who have claims upon the respect, gratitude, sup- 
 port, and general sympathies of the people of God, they are our The- 
 ological Professors, w'hose persevering, self-denying, and useful lives 
 are devoted in the most effective manner to the advancement of the 
 cause of Christ throughout the world. 
 
 Some persons object to permanent endowments; but if they will 
 ensure the success of any other plan to sustain a Theological Semi- 
 nary, they will do a favour by making it public. It must be re- 
 membered that the instructions in all Theological Seminaries, (it is 
 different in Colleges,) are entirely gratuitous ; and hence the Profess- 
 ors must be supported in some way by the Church itself The plan 
 of annual collections has been proved by experience to be annoying 
 to the Churches, fluctuating, and insufficient. A necessity exists for 
 a more sure method of providing for the maintenance of the Institu- 
 tion. The only feasible plan known is that adopted by all our The- 
 ological Seminaries, of obtaining a permanent endowment. 
 
 III. Claims of the Seminary upon the Churches. — The 
 time has arrived when the Churches must decide whether this excel- 
 lent but long-harassed Institution shall be sustained or not. A few 
 motives to enforce the claims for its endowment are herewith pre- 
 sented. 
 
 1. Our Seminary at Princeton, in connexion with kindred In- 
 stitutions, is the 7)iai7i reliance of the Presbyterian Church. If we 
 undo the work of our fathers by suffering this School of the Prophets 
 to decline, w-e shall bitterly lament the short-sighted policy which 
 dictated its overthrow. To you, who enjoy the blessings of an 
 educated ministry — who love the doctrines taught in the Confession 
 of Faith and Westminster Catechisms — who prize the simplicity of 
 a Church Government which gives pastors and elders to the people — 
 and who rejoice in the heritage, which your fathers transmitted in 
 the Gospel succession of truth and piety — to you is the appeal made 
 to come to the rescue of Presbyterian Institutions. The Seminary 
 
is identified with all our hopes and prospects, as a Church of Christ. 
 Sustain it, and, with the blessing of God, our congregations will be 
 supplied with a ministry, qualified for and devoted to their work — a 
 ministry such as is demanded by the wants of our own people, the 
 exigencies of threatening times, and the interest of evangelical reli- 
 gion, " always, every where, and by all." 
 
 2. The character and reputation of the Presbyterian Church are 
 more or less involved in the issues of the present appeal. Shall it be 
 said of us, " They began to build, and were not able to finish" ? It 
 would be a sad reproach to a Church as wealthy as ours, to refuse 
 to endow the Institution which trains up its ministers. We have 
 already the reproach that our Seminary, although founded thirty- 
 three years ago, is still begging around tlie Churches. Let this 
 painful stigma upon our denomination be removed by a general and , 
 successful response to the present effort. '* 
 
 3. Presbyterians have ever borne their testimony to the importance 
 of education in this country, especially the education of ministers of 
 the Gospel. Our Seminary is a witness of our opinions on this sub- 
 ject. It contains all the substantial elements of a comprehensive 
 and wisely planned Theological Institution. It shows what our fa- 
 thers thought and what they did in behalf of learning and religion. 
 If all was not done that might have been done, it is high time it 
 should not be left undone any longer. Other denominations are 
 advancing rapidly in their zeal and interest in the cause of educa- 
 tion. This is not the period for Presbyterians to falter. If our des- 
 tiny is onward, our Seminary must not be downward. How can 
 we, as a Church, very consistently profess to be in favour of an edu- 
 cated ministry, if we at the same time refuse to place our Theologi- 
 cal Institution on a basis of permanent prosperity ? 
 
 4. To endow the Seminary would really be a relief to the Chur- 
 ches. While it would be their privilege to establish the Institution 
 on a permanent basis, it would also be a gain to themselves ; for an 
 endowment would supersede the necessity of annual collections, and 
 reiterated demands. Our annual contributions for the Seminary are 
 becomiij^g more and more unpopular ; and it must be so as long as 
 they are mementoes of neglected duty. If the effort, now made 
 throughout the Churches, be successful, there will not only be satis- 
 faction in being relieved from a yearly appeal, but a much deeper 
 and truer interest for the Seminary will exist than formerly. Duty, 
 rightly discharged, brings its own reward ; and a successful effort in 
 a good cause is the stimulant of true devotion in the hearts of its 
 friends. The Churches, on the other hand, must remember that, if 
 they now fail to endow the Seminary, they will be called upon by 
 the General Assembly, year after year, and will have to discharge in 
 another form an unwelcome duty, which would be a pleasure if 
 done at once. 
 
 . 5. The permanent endowment of the Seminary is due to the Pro- 
 fessors themselves. Called as they have been by the voice of the 
 
Church to superintend its most important trusts, they have a right to 
 the maintenance pledged by its highest ecclesiastical authority. In- 
 stead of being subjected to the humiliation of annual appeals in their 
 behalf, which vary like the rise and fall of stocks, they ought to have 
 the certain and comfortable prospect afforded by the provision of a 
 permanent endowment. The Presbyterian Church ought surely to 
 discharge its temporal obligations to men who have educated 1400 
 ministers — who have themselves been engaged unremittingly in 
 preaching the Gospel — and who have given to the world the addition- 
 al benefit of their labours, in the form of various treatises, tracts 
 and commentaries on the most important topics in the word of God. 
 
 The power of our Church in the evangelization of the world, as 
 well as its fame at home and abroad, is in a good degree due, so far as 
 instrumentality is concerned, to our Seminary at Princeton. The 
 honoured names of its Professors, who have assisted in producing 
 these results, ought to rally the Churches, with a hearty effort, to 
 sustain the Institution over which they preside. 
 
 6. One more motive to assist in the present undertaking, is the 
 blessing of God upon the Institution and its Ahunni. Few institu- 
 tions have probably been more useful, in any land or in any age, 
 than the Theological Seminary at Princeton. Its students have oc- 
 cupied prominent positions in our country. They are now engaged 
 in preaching the Gospel in most of the principal cities, towns, vil- 
 lages, and neighbourhoods, in the Middle, Southern, and Western 
 States. Their voice is heard in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, New- 
 York, Brooklyn, Paterson, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, 
 Richmond, Petersburg, Fayetteville, Charleston, Mobile, New-Or- 
 leans, Natchez, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, &c., &c. Princeton 
 ministers have organized and built up many hundreds of Churches. 
 They have been the means of saving many thousands of immortal 
 souls. They have been the friends of pure revivals of religion and 
 of benevolent enterprises. They have been the opponents of error, 
 and especially of Popery, in all its forms and modifications. They 
 have exerted an extensive, salutary and evangelical influence upon 
 the general interests of religion throughout our own and other coun- 
 tries.* Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and the islands of the sea, 
 can all bear some testimony to their enterprise and zeal. The hea- 
 then can rise up and call them blessed. Princeton students are mis- 
 sionaries in many lands. The sun of heaven never sets upon their 
 labours. The great Head of the Church has owned and blessed 
 their work in a manner that demands devout acknowledgment and 
 praise. 
 
 In conclusion, the hope is entertained that the friends of learn- 
 
 * Some of the most useful ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church received 
 their instructions at Princeton. For example. Dr. Hoie, Dr. Stro7ig, Dr. Vermil- 
 ye. Dr. Bethune, Dr. Huttoit, the llev. Duncan Kennedy, the JRev. John M. Mac 
 Auley. Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio, T\m} Bishop Johns, of Va., were also members 
 of the Seminary. 
 
8 
 
 ing and religion will not allow this important Institution to decline. 
 It is the largest Theological Seminary in the United States, and 
 with the exception of Andover, it is the oldest. Whilst Andover 
 has permanent funds to the amount of nearly half a million, shall 
 Princeton be denied its far humbler endowment? Shall it, or shall 
 it not, be sustained upon a basis of permanent prosperity, corres- 
 ponding to its character, its importance and the obligations of the 
 Church ? Presbyterians, the answer is with you ! 
 
 NOTICE. 
 
 Some who have subscribed largely to the Seminary, have pre- 
 ferred to pay the interest annually, reserving the privilege of paying 
 the principal at their convenience. Others have paid at the time 
 of subscribing. Subscribers will, of course, do as they deem best; 
 but where the subscriptions are not large, immediate payment would 
 facilitate the objects of the agency. 
 
 When the work of the agency is completed, a catalogue of the 
 names and donations will be sent to each subscriber. This will be 
 equivalent to a receipt from the Trustees, and an acknowledgment 
 that the various sums have been applied to the purposes intended. 
 The sum proposed to be raised being large, such a course is due to 
 the Agents and Trustees as well as the donors. 
 
I 
 
'^ATE DIJP" 
 

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