1 
 
 BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 
 
 AT PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 
 
 TOGETHER WITH ITS 
 
 CONSTITUTION, BYE-LAWS, &c, 
 
 PRINCETON : 
 PRINTED BY JOHN BOGART- 
 
 1838. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY, &c. 
 
 The importance of the union of piety and learning in the 
 holy ministry, is one of those radical principles of ecclesiastical 
 wisdom, which the experience of ages has served more and 
 more to confirm. If the priests' lips were of old to keep 
 hnowledge; if the ministers of the gospel are bound to feed the 
 people with knowledge and with understanding; then nothing 
 can be plainer than that ignorance, or small and indigested 
 knowledge is, next to the want of piety, one of the most serious 
 defects in a candidate for the sacred office. It is equally plain, 
 that if this great concern be properly directed, especially if it 
 be directed with order and uniformity, it must be attended to 
 by the Church herself. That which is left to individual enter- 
 prise and caprice, may sometimes be well managed, but will 
 seldom be managed in any two cases alike. Besides, unless 
 the Church take this matter into her own hands, she cannot 
 inspect and control the education which her candidates for the 
 holy ministry receive. Her most precious fountains may be 
 poisoned without her being able to apply an effectual remedy. 
 No Church, therefore, Which neglects the proper education of 
 her ministers, can be considered as faithful, either to her own 
 most vital interests, or to the honour of her divine Head and 
 Lord. 
 
 Impressed with these solemn convictions, a number of the 
 ministers and other members of the Presbyterian Church, long 
 before the establishment of their seminary, deeply lamented 
 the want of such an institution, and saw with much pain the 
 extreme disadvantages under which their candidates for the 
 ministry laboured, in pursuing their theological studies. They 
 saw young men, with very small previous acquirements in 
 literature and science, after devoting only twelve or eighteen 
 
months, and in some instances much less, to the study of theo- 
 logy; and even for that short time, almost wholly without 
 suitable helps, taking on themselves the most weighty and 
 responsible of all offices. 
 
 They saw, at the same time, the " Reformed Dutch Church," 
 the " Associate Reformed Church," and the descendants of the 
 venerable Puritans in New England, all going before them in 
 an honourable and successful career of exertion, to remove these 
 disadvantages, and to establish seminaries for the instruction of 
 their candidates for the ministry: and they perceived, that, 
 unless the Presbyterian Church should imitate their example, 
 while other denominations rose and flourished, and became the 
 means of extensive blessings to their country, she must inevi- 
 tably decline, and fall into a state of discouraging weakness, 
 inferiority, and comparative uselessness. 
 
 Accordingly, after long waiting, and after much counsel and 
 prayer, the proposal to establish a theological seminary for the 
 Presbyterian Church, was first introduced into the General As- 
 sembly, during the sessions of that body in May, A. D. 1809. 
 It was introduced in the form of an overture or proposal from 
 the Presbytery of Philadelphia. This overture was so far 
 countenanced by the Assembly as to be referred to a select 
 committee, who, after due deliberation on the subject, brought 
 in the following report, which, being read, was adopted, and 
 became the act of the Assembly, in the following words, viz. 
 
 "The committee appointed on the subject of a theological 
 school, overtured from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, report, 
 
 " That three modes of compassing this important object have 
 presented themselves to their consideration. 
 
 " Theji7'st is, to establish one great school, in some conve- 
 nient place near the centre of the bounds of our Church. 
 
 " The second is, to establish two such schools, in such places 
 as may best accommodate the northern and southern division 
 of the Church. 
 
 "The third is, to establish such a school within the bounds 
 oi each of the Synods. In this case, your committee suggest 
 the propriety of leaving it to each Synod to direct the mode of 
 forming the school, and the place where it shall be established. 
 
 " The advantages attending i\\Q first of the proposed modes, 
 are, that it would be furnished with larger funds, and there- 
 
fore with a 97iore extensive lihray^y and a greater number of 
 jjrofessors. The system of education pursued in it would 
 therefore be more extensive, and more perfect: the youth edu- 
 cated in it would also become more united in the same views, 
 and contract an early and lasting friendship for each other; 
 circumstances which would not fail of promoting harmony and 
 prosperity in the Church. The disadvantages attending this 
 mode would be, principally, those derived from the distance of 
 its position from the extremities of the Presbyterian bounds. 
 
 " The advantages attending the second of the proposed 
 modes and the disadvantages, will readily suggest themselves, 
 from a comparison of this with the other two. 
 
 " The advantages which would attend the third, to wit, 
 the establishment of theological schools by the respective Sy- 
 nods, would be the following. The local situation of the re- 
 spective schools would be peculiarly convenient for the several 
 parts of a country so extensive, as that for the benefit of which 
 they were designed. The inhabitants having the seminaries 
 brought near to them would feel a peculiar interest in their 
 prosperity, and may be rationally expected to contribute much 
 more liberally than to any single school, or even to two. The 
 Synods, also, having the immediate care of them, and directing, 
 either in person or by delegation, all their concerns, would feel 
 a similar interest, and would probably be better pleased with a 
 system formed by themselves, and therefore peculiarly suited 
 to the wishes and interests of the several parts of the Church 
 immediately under their direction. Greater efforts, therefore, 
 may be expected from ministers and people, to promote the 
 prosperity of these schools, than of any other. The disadvan- 
 tages of this mode would be, the inferiority of the funds; a 
 smaller num,her ofprofessors; a srnaller library, and a more 
 limited system of education in each. The students, also, as 
 now, would be strangers to each other. 
 
 " Should the last of these modes be adopted, your committee 
 are of the opinion, that every thing pertaining to the erection 
 and conduct of each school, should be left to the direction of 
 the respective Synods. If either of the first, the whole should 
 be subject to the control of the General Assembly. 
 
 "Your committee also suggest, that, in the former of these 
 cases, the funds for each school should be raised within the 
 
6 
 
 bounds of the Synod within which it was stationed. In the 
 latter, they should be collected from the whole body of the 
 Church. 
 
 « Your committee, therefore, submit the following resolu- 
 tion, to wit: 
 
 "Resolved, that the above plans be submitted to all the 
 Presbyteries within the bounds of the General Assembly, for 
 their consideration; and that they be careful to send up to the 
 next Assembly, at their sessions in May, 1810, their opinions 
 on the subject." 
 
 Agreeably to this resolution, the three alternate plans which 
 it contemplates, were sent down to all the Presbyteries, to be 
 considered and decided upon by them. 
 
 At the meeting of the next General Assembly, in May, 1810, 
 the Presbyteries were called upon to state what they had re- 
 spectively done with respect to the recommendation of the 
 last Assembly, relative to the establishment of a theological 
 school. The reports from the several Presbyteries on this 
 subject, having been read, were referred to a select committee 
 to consider and report on the same. This committee made a 
 report, which, being read and amended, was adopted, as follows, 
 viz. — 
 
 " The committee, after maturely deliberating on the subject 
 committed to them, submit to the Assembly the following 
 results. 
 
 " I. It is evident, that not only a majority of the Presbyteries 
 which have reported on this subject, but also a majority of all 
 the Presbyteries under the care of this Assembly, have ex- 
 pressed a decided opinion in favour of the establishment of a 
 theological school or schools in our Church. 
 
 " II. It appears to the committee, that although according to 
 the statement already reported to the Assembly, there is an 
 equal number of Presbyteries in favour of the first plan, 
 which contemplates a single school for the whole Church; and 
 in favour of the third plan, which contemplates the erection of 
 a school in each Synod; yet, as several of the objections made 
 to the first plan, are founded entirely on misconception,* and 
 
 * Some of the Presbyteries objected to a single theological seminary, for the 
 whole Church, because they apprehended that, if this plan were adopted, every 
 
will be completely obviated by developing the details of that 
 plan; it seems fairly to follow that there is a greater amount of 
 Presbyterial suffrage in favour of a single school, than of any 
 other plan. 
 
 " III. Under these circumstances, the committee are of opin- 
 ion, that, as much light has been obtained from the reports of 
 Presbyteries on this subject, as would be likely to result from 
 a renewal of the reference: that no advantage will probably 
 arise from further delay in this important concern; but, on the 
 contrary, much serious inconvenience and evil; that the present 
 General Assembly is bound to attempt to carry into execution 
 some one of the plans proposed; and that the first plan, appear- 
 ing to have, on the whole, the greatest share of public sentiment 
 in its favour, ought, of course, to be adopted. 
 
 " IV. Your committee, therefore, recommend, that the present 
 General Assembly declare its approbation and adoption of this 
 plan, and immediately commence a course of measures for car- 
 rying it into execution, as promptly and extensively as possible; 
 and, for this purpose, they recommend to the Assembly the 
 adoption of the following resolutions, viz. — 
 
 "Resolved, 1. That the state of our churches, the loud and 
 affecting calls of destitute frontier settlements, and the laudable 
 exertions of various Christian denominations around us, all 
 demand, that the collected wisdom, piety, and zeal of the Presby- 
 terian Church, be, without delay, called into action, for furnish- 
 ing the Church with a larger supply of able and faithful ministers. 
 
 "2. That the General Assembly will, in the name of the 
 Great Head of the Church, immediately attempt to establish a 
 seminary for securing to candidates for the ministry more ex- 
 tensive and efficient theological instruction, than they have 
 heretofore enjoyed. The local situation of this seminary is 
 hereafter to be determined. 
 
 Presbytery would become thereby bound to send all their candidates to study in it, 
 however inconvenient or expensive it might be. Others were fearful, that the Pro- 
 fessors, in such a seminary, if they were not formally empowered to license candi- 
 dates to preach the Gospel, might be clothed with powers out of which such an 
 abuse would naturally grow, thereby endangering both the purity and peace of the 
 Church, and giving to a few men very dangerous influence. It was for the purpose 
 of obviating these, and other objections to a single seminary, that the sixth, seventh 
 and eighth resolutions, in a subscfjuent page, were adopted by the General Assembly, 
 
8 
 
 " 3. That in this seminary, when completely organized, 
 there shall be, at least, three Professors; who shall be elected 
 by and hold their offices during the pleasure of the General 
 Assembly; and who shall give a regular course of instruction 
 in divinity, in oriental and biblical literature, and in ecclesias- 
 tical history and church government, and on such other subjects 
 as may be deemed necessary. It being, however, understood, 
 that, until sufficient funds can be obtained for the complete 
 organization and support of the proposed seminary, a smaller 
 number of Professors than three may be appointed to commence 
 the business of instruction. 
 
 " 4. That exertions be made to provide such an amount of 
 funds for this seminary, as will enable its conductors to afford 
 gratuitous instruction, and, where it is necessary, gratuitous 
 support, to all such students as may not themselves possess 
 adequate pecuniary means. 
 
 " 5. That the Rev. Doctors Green, Woodhull, Romeyn and 
 Miller, the Rev. Messrs. Archibald Alexander, James Richards, 
 and Amzi Armstrong, be a committee to digest and prepare a 
 plan of a theological seminary; embracing in detail the funda- 
 mental principles of the institution, together with regulations 
 for guiding the conduct of the instructors and the students; 
 and prescribing the best mode of visiting, controlling, and sup- 
 porting the whole system. This plan to be reported to the 
 next General Assembly. 
 
 " 6. That, as filling the Church with a learned and able 
 ministry, without a corresponding portion of real piety, would 
 be a curse to the world, and an offence to God and his people; 
 so the General Assembly think it their duty to state, that, in 
 establishing a seminary for training up ministers, it is their 
 earnest desire to guard, as far as possible, against so great an 
 evil. And they do hereby solemnly pledge themselves to the 
 churches under their care, that in forming, and carrying into 
 execution the plan of the proposed seminary, it will be their 
 endeavour to make it, under the blessing of God, a nursery of 
 vital piety, as well as of sound theological learning: and to train 
 up persons for the ministry, who shall be lovers, as well as de- 
 fenders of the truth as it is in Jesus; friends of revivals of 
 religion; and a blessing to the Church of God. 
 
 " 7. That as the Constitution of our Church guarantees to 
 
every Presbytery the right of judging of its own candidates 
 for licensure and ordination; so the Assembly think it proper 
 to state most explicitly, that every Presbytery and Synod will, 
 of course, be at full liberty, to countenance the proposed plan 
 or not, at pleasure; and to send their students to the projected 
 seminary, or keep them, as heretofore, within their own bounds, 
 as they may think most conducive to the prosperity of the 
 Church. 
 
 " 8. That the Professors in the seminary shall not, in any 
 case, be considered as having a right to license candidates to 
 preach the Gospel; but that all such candidates shall be remitted 
 to their respective Presbyteries to be licensed, as heretofore." 
 
 The committee appointed to prepare a constitution in detail 
 for the contemplated seminary, made report to the General As- 
 sembly which convened in 1811; which report, after being 
 duly considered, was amended and adopted, as follows. 
 
 PLAN 
 
 OF THE 
 
 THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 IN THE 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Inasmuch as the obtaining of salvation through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord, to the glory of the eternal God, is the chief object 
 which claims the attention of man; and considering, that in the 
 
 * The Plan, as here given, includes all the amendments which have been made 
 in it, by successive Assembhes, from 1811 to the date of the present publication, 
 2 
 
10 
 
 attainment of this object the dispensation of the Gospel is 
 principally instrumental; it is manifestly of the highest im- 
 portance, that the best means be used to insure the faithful 
 preaching of the Gospel, and the pure administration of all its 
 ordinances. With this view, therefore, institutions for the 
 education of youth intended for the holy ministry, have been 
 established in all Christian countries, and have been found, by 
 long experience, most eminently conducive to the prosperity 
 of the Church. Hence the founders of the Presbyterian Church 
 in the United States of America, did, from its very origin, 
 exert themselves with peculiar zeal to establish and endow 
 colleges, academies, and schools, for the education of youth for 
 the Gospel ministry. So rapid, however, has been the extension 
 of this Church, and so disproportionate, of late, has been the 
 number of ministers educated, to the call which has been made 
 for ministerial service, that some additional and vigourous 
 efforts to increase the supply are loudly and affectingly de- 
 manded. Circumstances also do imperiously dictate, not only 
 that the labourers in the vineyard of the Lord should be multi- 
 plied, but that they should be more thoroughly furnished than 
 they have ordinarily been for the arduous work to which they 
 must be called. Influenced by the views and considerations 
 now recited, the General Assembly, after mature deliberation, 
 have resolved, in reliance on the patronage and blessing of the 
 Great Head of the Church, to establish a new Institution, con- 
 secrated solely to the education of men for the Gospel ministry, 
 and to be denominated. The Theological Seminary of the 
 Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. 
 And to the intent that the true design of the founders of this 
 institution may be known to the public, both now and in time 
 to come, and especially that this design may, at all times, be 
 distinctly viewed, and sacredly regarded, both by the teachers 
 and the pupils of the seminary, it is judged proper to make a 
 summary and explicit statement of it. 
 
 It is to form men for the Gospel ministry, who shall truly 
 believe, and cordially love, and therefore endeavour to propa- 
 gate and defend, in its genuineness, simplicity, and fulness, that 
 system of religious belief and practice which is set forth in the 
 Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Plan of Government and 
 Discipline of the Presbyterian Church; and thus to perpetuate 
 
11 
 
 and extend the influence of true evangelical piety and Gospel 
 order. 
 
 It is to provide for the Church an adequate supply and suc- 
 cession of ahle and faithful ministers of the New Testament; 
 workmen that 7ieed not to he ashamed, being qualified rightly 
 to divide the ivord of truth. 
 
 It is to unite, in those who shall sustain the ministerial office, 
 religion and literature; that piety of the heart, which is the 
 fruit only of the renewing and sanctifying grace of God, with 
 solid learning: believing that religion without learning, or 
 learning without religion, in the ministers of the Gospel, must 
 ultimately prove injurious to the Church. 
 
 It is to afford more advantages than have hitherto been 
 usually possessed by the ministers of religion in our country, 
 to cultivate both piety and literature in their preparatory course; 
 piety, by placing it in circumstances favourable to its growth, 
 and by cherishing and regulating its ardour; literature, by 
 affording favourable opportunities for its attainment, and by 
 making its possession indispensable. 
 
 It is to provide for the Church, men who shall be able to 
 defend her faith against infidels, and her doctrines against 
 heretics. 
 
 It is to furnish our congregations with enlightened, humble, 
 zealous, laborious pastors, who shall truly watch for the good 
 of souls, and consider it as their highest honour and happiness 
 to win them to the Saviour, and to build up their several 
 charges in holiness and peace. 
 
 It is to promote harmony and unity of sentiment among the 
 ministers of our Church, by educating a large bod}'^ of them 
 under the same teachers, and in the same course of study. 
 
 It is to lay the foundation of early and lasting friendships, 
 productive of confidence and mutual assistance in after-life 
 among the ministers of religion; which experience shows to 
 be conducive not only to personal happiness, but to the per- 
 fecting of inquiries, researches, and publications advantageous 
 to religion. 
 
 It is to preserve the unity of our Church, by educating her 
 ministers in an enlightened attachment, not only to the same 
 doctrines, but to the same plan of government. 
 
 It is to bring to the service of the Church genius and talent, 
 
12 
 
 when united with piety, however poor or obscure may be their 
 possessor, by furnishing, as far as possible, the means of educa- 
 tion and support, without expense to the student. 
 
 It is to found a nursery for missionaries to the heathen, and 
 to such as are destitute of the stated preaching of the Gospel; 
 in which youth may receive that appropriate training which 
 may lay a foundation for their ultimately becoming eminently 
 qualified for missionary work. 
 
 It is, finally, to endeavour to raise up a succession of men, at 
 once qualified for and thoroughly devoted to the work of the 
 Gospel ministry; who, with various endowments, suiting them 
 to different stations in the Church of Christ, may all possess a 
 portion of the spirit of the primitive propagators of the Gospel; 
 prepared to make every sacrifice, to endure every hardship, 
 and to render every service which the promotion of pure and 
 undefiled religion may require. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Of the General Jlsse^nhly. 
 
 Sect. 1. As this institution derives its origin from the Gene- 
 ral Assembly, so that body is to be considered at all times as 
 its patron, and the fountain of its powers. The Assembly shall, 
 accordingly, ultimately sanction all its laws, direct its instruc- 
 tions, and appoint its principal officers. 
 
 Sect. 2. The General Assembly shall choose a Board of Di- 
 rectors, consisting of twenty-one ministers, and nine ruling 
 elders, by whom the Seminary shall be inspected and conducted. 
 Of this number, one-third, or seven ministers and three elders, 
 shall be chosen annually; to continue in office three years. 
 And if any vacancy shall occur in the Board, by death, resig- 
 nation, or incapacity to serve, the Assembly may annually fill 
 up such vacancies. 
 
 Sect. 3. All Professors of the Seminary shall be appointed by 
 the Assembly. But in cases of necessity, the Board of Direc- 
 tors may employ a suitable person to perform the duties of a 
 Professor, till a meeting of the Assembly shall take place. 
 
 Sect. 4. The General Assembly shall, at all times, have the 
 power of adding to the Constitutional Articles of the Seminary, 
 and of abrogating, altering, or amending them; but, in the 
 
13 
 
 exercise of this power, the contemplated additions, abrogations, 
 alterations, or amendments, shall, in every case, be proposed at 
 one Assembly, and not adopted till the Assembly of the subse- 
 quent year, except by a unanimous vote. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Of the Board of Directors. 
 
 Sect. 1. The Board of Directors shall meet statedly, twice 
 in each year; once in the spring and once in the fall, and 
 oftener on their own adjournments, if they shall judge it expe- 
 dient. Nine members of the Board shall be a quorum; pro- 
 vided always, that of this number, five, at least, be ministers of 
 the Gospel, and the President, or, in case of his absence, one of 
 the Vice Presidents, be one. 
 
 Sect. 2. The Board shall choose out of their own number, a 
 President, two Vice Presidents, and a Secretary. In the ab- 
 sence of the President and Vice Presidents, the senior member 
 present shall preside. 
 
 Sect. 3. The President of the Board, or in the event of his 
 death, absence, or inability to act, the first Vice President 
 shall, at the request of any three members, expressed to him in 
 writing, call a special meeting of the Board of Directors, by a 
 circular letter addressed to each; in which letter notice shall 
 be given, not only of the place and time of meeting, but of the 
 business intended to be transacted at the meeting notified; and 
 this letter shall be sent at least twenty days before the time of 
 said meeting. 
 
 Sect. 4. The Secretary of the Board shall keep accurate re- 
 cords of all the proceedings of the Directors; and it shall be his 
 duty to lay these records, or a faithful transcript of the same, 
 before the General Assembly, annually, for the unrestrained 
 inspection of all the members. 
 
 Sect. 5. Every meeting of the Board of Directors shall be 
 opened and closed with prayer. 
 
 Sect. 6. The Board of Directors may make rules and regu- 
 lations for the performance of the duties assigned them, or for 
 the preservation of order, not inconsistent with the prescrip- 
 tions of this plan, or the orders of the General Assembly. 
 
 Sect. 7. At the commencement of each stated spring meet- 
 
14 
 
 ing, the whole plan of the Seminary shall be distinctly read 
 before the Board of Directors. 
 
 Sect. 8. The Board shall direct the Professors of the Semi- 
 nary, in regard to the subjects and topics on which they are 
 severally to give instructions to the pupils, so far as the same 
 shall not be prescribed by this plan, or by the orders of the 
 General Assembly. 
 
 Sect. 9. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to 
 inaugurate the Professors of the Seminary, and to direct what 
 forms shall be used, and what services performed, on such oc- 
 casions. 
 
 Sect. 10. Every Director, previously to his taking his seat 
 as a member of the Board, shall solemnly subscribe the follow- 
 ing formula, viz. — " Approving the plan of the Theological 
 Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of 
 America, I solemnly declare and promise, in the presence of 
 God and of this Board, that I will faithfully endeavour to carry 
 into effect all the articles and provisions of said plan, and to 
 promote the great design of the Seminary." 
 
 Sect. 11. The Board of Directors shall inspect the fidelity 
 of the Professors, especially in regard to the doctrines actually 
 taught; and if, after due inquiry and examination, they shall 
 judge that any Professor is either unsound in the faith, opposed 
 to the fundamental principles of Presbyterian Church Govern- 
 ment, immoral in his conduct, unfaithful to his trust, or incom- 
 petent to the discharge of his duties, they shall faithfully report 
 him as such to the General Assembly. Or if the longer con- 
 tinuance of a Professor be judged highly dangerous, the Direc- 
 tors may immediately suspend him, and appoint another in his 
 place, till the whole business can be reported, and submitted to 
 the Assembly. 
 
 Sect. 12. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to 
 watch over the conduct of the students; to redress grievances; 
 to examine into the whole course of instruction and study in 
 the Seminary; and generally to superintend and endeavour to 
 promote all its interests. 
 
 Sect. 13. The Board of Directors shall make, in writing, a 
 detailed and faithful report of the state of the Seminary, to 
 every General Assembly; and they may, at the same time, 
 
15 
 
 recommend such measures for the advantage of the Seminary, 
 as to them may appear proper. 
 
 Sect. 14. At every stated meeting of the Board of Directors, 
 unless particular circumstances render it inexpedient, there 
 shall be at least one sermon delivered in presence of the Board, 
 the Professors, and students, by a Director or Directors, pre- 
 viously appointed for the purpose. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 Of the Professors. 
 
 Sect. 1. The number of the Professors in the Seminary shall 
 be increased or diminished, as the Assembly ma}^, from time 
 to time, direct. But when the Seminary shall be completely 
 organized, there shall not be less than three Professors; one of 
 Didactic and Polemic Divinity; one of Oriental and Biblical 
 Literature; and one of Ecclesiastical History and Church Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Sect. 2. No person shall be inducted into the office of Pro- 
 fessor of Divinity, but an ordained minister of the Gospel. 
 
 Sect. 3. Every person elected to a professorship in this 
 Seminary, shall, on being inaugurated, solemnly subscribe the 
 Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Form of Government of 
 the Presbyterian Church, agreeably to the following formula, 
 viz. — "In the presence of God and the Directors of this Semi- 
 nary, I do solemnly, and ex animo adopt, receive, and subscribe 
 the Confession of Faith, and Catechisms of the Presbyterian 
 Church in the United States of America, as the confession of 
 my faith; or, as a summary and just exhibition of that system 
 of doctrine and religious belief which is contained in holy 
 Scripture, and therein revealed by God to man for his salvation; 
 and I do solemnly, ex animo profess to receive the Form of 
 Government of said Church, as agreeable to the inspired oracles. 
 And I do solemnly promise and engage, not to inculcate, teach, 
 or insinuate any thing which shall appear to me to contradict 
 or contravene, either directly or impliedly, any thing taught in 
 the said Confession of Faith or Catechisms; nor to oppose any 
 of the fundam.ental principles of Presbyterian Church Govern- 
 ment, while I shall continue a Professor in this Seminary." 
 
 Sect. 4. The salaries of the Professors shall be recommended 
 
16 
 
 by the Directors; but they shall be fixed only by a vote of the 
 General Assembly. 
 
 Sect. 5, The Professors may accompany their lectures and 
 recitations with prayer, as frequently as they may judge proper, 
 in addition to those daily seasons of prayer in which all the 
 students will unite. 
 
 Sect. 6. Each Professor shall lay before the Board of Direc- 
 tors, as soon as practicable after his appointment, a detailed 
 exhibition of the system and method which he proposes to 
 pursue, and the subjects which he proposes to discuss, in con- 
 ducting the studies of the youth that shall come under his care: 
 and in this system he shall make such alterations or additions 
 as the board shall direct; so that, eventually, the whole course 
 through which the pupils shall be carried, shall be no other 
 than that which the Board of Directors shall have approved 
 and sanctioned, conformably to Sect. 8. Art. II. And as often 
 as any Professor shall think that variations and additions of 
 importance may be advantageously introduced into his course 
 of teaching, he shall submit the same to the Board of Directors, 
 for their approbation or rejection. 
 
 Sect. 7. Every Professor shall, if practicable, have at least 
 one lecture or recitation every day, on which the pupils, in his 
 branch of instruction, shall be bound to attend; and on which 
 the other pupils of the Seminary shall attend as often, and in 
 such manner, as may be directed by the majority of the Board 
 of Directors. 
 
 Sect. S. Any Professor Intending to resign his office, shall 
 give six months notice of such intention to the Board of Di- 
 rectors. 
 
 Sect. 9. The Professors of the institution shall be considered 
 as a faculty. They shall meet at such seasons as they may 
 judge proper. In every meeting the Professor of didactic and 
 polemic divinity shall preside, if he be present. If he be ab- 
 sent, a president shall be chosen pro tempore. The faculty 
 shall choose a clerk, and keep accurate records of all their pro- 
 ceedings; which records shall be laid before the Directors at 
 every meeting of the Board. The president of the faculty shall 
 call a meeting whenever he shall judge it expedient, and when- 
 ever he shall be requested to do so by any other member. By 
 the faculty, regularly convened, shall be determined the hours 
 
17 
 
 and seasons at which the classes shall attend the Professors 
 severally, so as to prevent interference and confusion, and to 
 afford to the pupils the hest opportunities of improvement 
 The faculty shall attend to, and decide on all cases of discipline, 
 and all questions of order, as they shall arise. They shall agree 
 on the rules of order, decorum, and duty, (not inconsistent with 
 any provision in the plan of the Seminary, nor with any order 
 of the Board of Directors,) to which the students shall be sub- 
 jected, and these they shall reduce to writing, and cause to be 
 publicly and frequently read. They shall determine the hours 
 at which the whole of the pupils shall, morning and evening, 
 attend for social worship, and the manner in which, and the 
 person or persons, of their own number, by whom, the exercises 
 of devotion shall be conducted. 
 
 Sect. 10. The faculty shall be empowered to dismiss from 
 the Seminary any student who shall prove unsound in his re- 
 ligious sentiments; immoral or disorderly in his conduct; or 
 who may be, in their opinion, on any account whatsoever, a 
 dangerous or unprofitable member of the Institution. 
 
 Sect. 11. Each member of the faculty shall have an equal 
 vote. 
 
 Sect. 12. It shall be the duty of the Professors, under the 
 direction of the Board of Directors, to supply the pupils of the 
 Institution with the preaching of the Gospel, and the adminis- 
 tration of the sacraments of the Christian Church; if this supply 
 shall not, in the judgment of the Directors, be satisfactorily 
 furnished by a Church or Churches in the place where the la- 
 stitution shall be established. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Of Study a7id .Attainments. 
 
 As the particular course of study pursued in any institution 
 will, and perhaps ought to be modified in a considerable degree, 
 by the views and habits of the teachers; and ought, moreover, 
 to be varied, altered, or extended, as experience may suggest 
 improvements; it is judged proper to specify, not so precisely 
 the course of study, as the attainments which must be made- 
 Therefore, 
 
 Sect. 1. Every student, at the close of his course, must have 
 3 
 
18 
 
 made the following attainments, viz. He must be well skilled 
 in the original languages of the Holy Scriptures. He must be 
 able to explain the principal difnculties which arise in the peru- 
 sal of the Scriptures, either from erroneous translations, appa- 
 rent inconsistencies, real obscurities, or objections arising from 
 history, reason, or argument. He must be versed in Jewish 
 and Christian antiquities, which serve to explain and illustrate 
 Scripture. He must have an acquaintance with ancient geo- 
 graphy, and with oriental customs, which throw light on the 
 sacred records. — Thus he will have laid the foundation for be- 
 coming a sound biblical critic. 
 
 He must have read and digested the principal arguments and 
 writings relative to what has been called the deistical contro- 
 versy. — Thus will he be qualified to become a defender of the 
 Christian faith. 
 
 He must be able to support the doctrines of the Confession 
 of Faith and Catechisms, by a ready, pertinent, and abundant 
 quotation of Scripture texts for that purpose. He must have 
 studied, carefully and correctly. Natural, Didactic, Polemic, and 
 Casuistic Theology. He must have a considerable acquaintance 
 with General History and Chronology, and a particular ac- 
 quaintance with the history of the Christian Church. — Thus he 
 will be preparing to become an able and sound divine and 
 casuist. 
 
 He must have read a considerable number of the best practi- 
 cal writers on the subject of religion. He must have learned 
 to compose with correctness and readiness in his own language, 
 and to deliver what he has composed to others in a natural and 
 acceptable manner. He must be well acquainted with the se- 
 veral parts, and the proper structure of popular lectures and 
 sermons. He must have composed at least two lectures and 
 four popular sermons, that shall have been approved by the 
 Professors. He must have carefully studied the duties of the 
 pastoral care. — Thus he will be prepared to become a useful 
 preacher, and a faithful pastor. 
 
 He must have studied attentively the form of Church Go- 
 vernment authorized by the Scriptures, and the administration 
 of it as it has taken place in Protestant Cluirches. — Thus he 
 will be qualified to exercise discipline, and to take part in the 
 government of the Church in all its judicatories. 
 
19 
 
 Sect. 2. The period of continuance in the Theological Semi- 
 nary shall, in no case, be less than three years, previously to 
 an examination for a certificate of approbation. But students 
 may enter the Seminary, and enjoy the course of instruction 
 for a shorter time than three years, provided they in all other 
 respects submit to the laws of the Seminary, of which facts they 
 may receive a written declaration from the Professors. 
 
 SecL 3. There shall be an examination of all the pupils in 
 the Seminary, at every stated meeting of the Board of Directors. 
 Those pupils who shall have regularly and diligently studied 
 for three years, shall be admitted to an examination on the 
 subjects specified in this article. All examinations shall be 
 conducted by the Professors, in the presence of the Directors, 
 or a committee of them. Every Director present shall be at 
 liberty, during the progress of any examination, or after the 
 same shall have been closed by the Professors, to put to any 
 pupil such questions as he shall deem proper. Every pupil 
 that shall have passed his final examination to the satisfaction 
 of the Directors present, shall receive a certificate of the same, 
 signed by the Professors, with which he shall be remitted to 
 the Presbytery under whose care he is placed, to be disposed 
 of as such Presbytery shall direct. Those who do not pass a 
 satisfactory examination, shall remain a longer space in the 
 Seminary. 
 
 Sect. 4. It shall be the object of the Professors to make such 
 arrangements in the instruction of their pupils, as shall be best 
 adapted to enable them, in the space of three years, to be exa- 
 mined with advantage on the subjects specified in this article. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 Of Devotion, and Improvement in Practical Piety. 
 It ought to be considered as an object of primary importance 
 by every student in the Seminary, to be careful and vigilant 
 not to lose that inward sense of the power of godliness which 
 he may have attained ; but, on the contrary, to grow continually 
 in a spirit of enlightened devotion and fervent piety; deeply 
 impressed with the recollection that without this, all his other 
 acquisitions will be comparatively of little worth, either to 
 himself, or to the Church of which he is to be a minister. 
 
20 
 
 He must remember, too, that this is a species of improvement 
 which must of necessity be left, in a great measure, with him- 
 self, as a concern between God and his own soul. 
 
 It is proper, however, to delineate the path of duty, to ex- 
 press the wishes and expectations of the founders of the Semi- 
 nary, and to make such requirements as the nature of the sub- 
 ject will permit. 
 
 Sect. 1. It is expected that every student in the Theological 
 Seminary will spend a portion of time every morning and 
 evening in devout meditation, and self-recollection and exami- 
 nation; in reading the holy Scriptures, solely with a view to a 
 personal and practical application of the passage read, to his 
 own heart, character, and circumstances; and in humble, fervent 
 prayer and praise to God in secret. 
 
 The whole of every Lord's day is to be devoted to devotional 
 exercises, either of a social or secret kind. Intellectual pur- 
 suits, not immediately connected with devotion, or the religion 
 of the heart, are on that day to be forborne. The books to be 
 read are to be of a practical nature. The conversations had 
 with each other are to be chiefly on religious subjects. Asso- 
 ciations for prayer and praise, and for religious conference, 
 calculated to promote a growth in grace, are also proper for 
 this day; subject to such regulations as the Professors and Di- 
 rectors may see proper to prescribe. It is wished and recom- 
 mended, that each student should ordinarily set apart one day 
 in a month for special prayer and self-examination in secret, 
 and also that he should, on suitable occasions, attend to the 
 duty of fasting. 
 
 Sect. 2. If any student shall exhibit, in his general deport- 
 ment, a levity or indifference in regard to practical religion, 
 though it do not amount to any overt act of irreligion or im- 
 morality, it shall be the duty of the Professor who may observe 
 it, to admonish him tenderly and faithfully in private, and en- 
 deavour to engage him to a more holy temper, and a more 
 exemplary deportment. 
 
 Sect. 3. If a student, after due admonition, persist in a system 
 of conduct not exemplary in regard to religion, he shall be 
 dismissed from the Seminary. 
 
 Sect. 4. The Professors are particularly charged, by all the 
 proper means in their power, to encourage, cherish and promote 
 
21 
 
 devotion and personal piety among their pupils, by warning 
 and guarding them, on the one hand, against formality and 
 indifference, and on the other, against ostentation and enthusi- 
 asm; by inculcating practical religion in their lectures and 
 recitations; by taking suitable occasions to converse with their 
 pupils privately on this interesting subject; and by all other 
 means, incapable of being minutely specified, by which they 
 may foster true experimental religion, and unreserved devoted- 
 ness to God. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 Of the Students. 
 
 Sect. 1. Every student applying for admission to the Theo- 
 logical Seminary, shall produce satisfactory testimonials that'he 
 possesses good natural talents, and is of a prudent and discreet 
 deportment; that he is in full communion with some regular 
 Church; that he has passed through a regular course of acade- 
 mical study; or, wanting this, he shall submit himself to an 
 examination in regard to the branches of literature taught in 
 such a course. 
 
 Sect. 2. The first six months of every student in the Semi- 
 nary shall be considered as probationary; and if, at the end of 
 this period, any student shall appear to the Professors not qua- 
 lified to proceed in his studies, they shall so report him to the 
 Board of Directors, who, if they are of the same opinion with 
 the Professors, shall dismiss him from the Seminary. 
 
 Sect. 3. The hours of study and of recreation for the students 
 shall be fixed by the Professors, with the concurrence of the 
 Directors; and every student shall pay a strict regard to the 
 rules established relative to this subject. 
 
 Sect. 4. Every student shall be obliged to write on such 
 theological and other subjects, as may be prescribed to him by 
 the Professors. In the first year, every student shall be obliged 
 to produce a written composition on such subjects, at least once 
 in every month; in the second year, once in three weeks; in 
 the third year, once in two weeks. Each student shall also 
 commit to memory a piece of his own composition, and pro- 
 nounce it in public, before the Professors and students, as fre- 
 
22 
 
 quently as, in the judgment of the Professors, this exercise can 
 properly be performed, when a due regard is had to the num- 
 bers who must engage in it, and to the other duties of the 
 Seminary. 
 
 Sect. 5. Every student shall not only preserve an exemplary 
 moral character, but shall be expected to treat his teachers with 
 the greatest deference and respect, and all other persons with 
 civility. 
 
 Sect. 6. Every student shall yield a prompt and ready obe- 
 dience to all the lawful requisitions of the Professors and Di- 
 rectors. 
 
 Sect. 7. Diligence and industry in study shall be considered 
 as indispensable in every student, unless the want of health 
 shall prevent, of which the Professors shall take cognizance, 
 and make the suitable allowance. 
 
 Sect. 8. Strict temperance in meat and drink is expected of 
 every student, with cleanliness and neatness in his dress and 
 habits; while all excessive expense in clothing is strictly pro- 
 hibited. 
 
 Sect. 9. Every student, before he takes his standing in the 
 Seminary, shall subscribe the following declaration, viz. — 
 *' Deeply impressed with a sense of the importance of improv- 
 ing in knowledge, prudence, and piety, in my preparation for 
 the Gospel ministry, 1 solemnly promise, in a reliance on 
 divine grace, that I will faithfully and diligently attend on all 
 the instructions of this Seminary, and that I will conscientiously 
 and vigilantly observe all the rules and regulations specified in 
 the plan for its instruction and government, so far as the same 
 relate to the students; and that I will obey all the lawful requi- 
 sitions, and readily yield to all the wholesome admonitions of 
 the Professors and Directors of the Seminary, while I shall 
 continue a member of it." 
 
 Sect. 10. There shall be three vacations in the Seminary 
 every year. The spring vacation to continue six weeks; the 
 fall vacation six weeks; and the winter vacation two weeks. 
 The vacations to commence at such times as the Board of Di- 
 rectors shall deem most expedient. 
 
23 
 
 ARTICLE VII.* 
 
 Of the Librin^y. 
 
 Sect. 1. To obtain, ultimately, a complete theological library, 
 shall be considered as a leading object of the Institution. 
 
 Sect. 2. It shall be the duty of the Directors to present to 
 the General Assembly, a catalogue of the most necessary books 
 for the commencement of a library, and recommend the pur- 
 chase of such a number as the state of the funds will permit. 
 
 Sect. 3. It shall be the duty of the Professors to procure and 
 keep a large folio, to be denominated, The Prospectus of a 
 Catalogue of a Theological Library. In this folio, divided 
 into proper heads, each Professor shall, at his pleasure, enter, 
 in its proper place, the title of such books as he shall delibe- 
 rately judge to be proper for the library. The Board of Direc- 
 tors, or the members of it individually, may do the same. 
 From this folio it shall be the duty of the Directors to select 
 such books as they think most necessary, and as the sum appro- 
 priated for the current year will purchase, and recommend 
 their purchase to the Assembly. The Assembly shall, annually, 
 decide by vote, what sum of money, for the current year, shall 
 be laid out in the purchase of books. 
 
 Sect. 4. A suitable room or apartment shall be assigned for 
 the library. The shelves for the books shall be divided into 
 compartments or alcoves; and if any one of them be filled, or 
 nearly so, by a donor, his name shall be conspicuously placed 
 over it. 
 
 Sect. 5. A librarian shall be appointed by the Assembly. 
 
 Sect. 6. No book shall be permitted, on any occasion, to be 
 carried from the Seminary. 
 
 Sect. 7. A book of donations shall be carefully kept by the 
 librarian, in which shall be entered, by him, the books given 
 to the library, the time when, and the name of the donor. 
 
 Sect. 8. Regulations for the use of the librar}'^, not inconsis- 
 tent with the provisions of this article, shall be detailed in a 
 system of bye-laws, for that purpose; to be drafted by the 
 first librarian, and occasionally modified and added to, as cir- 
 cumstances shall require, by his successors; which regulations, 
 
 * This article is laid over for the consideration of a future Assembly. 
 
24 
 
 after being ratified by the Board of Directors, shall be authori- 
 tative. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 Of the Funds. 
 
 Sect. 1. The funds of the Institution shall be kept, at all 
 times, entirely distinct and separate from all other monies or 
 funds whatsoever; and they shall be deposited in the hands of 
 such corporation, or disposed of for safe keeping and improve- 
 ment, in such other manner as the General Assembly shall 
 direct. 
 
 Sect. 2. The Board of Directors shall, from time to time, as 
 they may see proper, lay before the Assembly plans for the 
 improvement of the funds, and propositions for the appropria- 
 tion of such sums as they may think necessary for particular 
 purposes. 
 
 Sect. 3. No money shall, at any time, be drawn from the 
 funds, but by an appropriation and order of the Assembly for 
 the purpose. 
 
 Sect. 4. A fair statement shall annually be laid before the 
 Assembly, by the proper officer, of the amount of the funds be- 
 longing to the Seminary, of the items which constitute that 
 amount, and of the expenditures in detail for the preceding 
 year. 
 
 Sect. 5. The intentions and directions of testators or donors, 
 in regard to monies, or other property, left, or given to the 
 Seminary, shall, at all times, be sacredly regarded. And if any 
 individual, or any number of individuals, not greater than 
 three, shall, by will, or during his or their lives, found or en- 
 dow a professorship or professorships, a scholarship or scholar- 
 ships, or a fund or funds, destined for special purposes, said 
 professorships, scholarships, or funds, shall forever afterwards 
 be called and known by the name or names of those who 
 founded or endov^^ed them. And if any congregation, presby- 
 tery, synod, or association, shall found a professorship or pro- 
 fessorships, scholarship or scholarships, fund or funds, said 
 professorship or professorships, scholarship or scholarships, 
 fund or funds, shall forever afterwards be called or known by 
 such name as the body founding them shall give. 
 
25 
 
 Sect. 6. After supporting the Professors, and defraying the 
 other necessary charges of the Seminary, the funds shall be 
 applied, as far as circumstances will admit, to defray or dimin- 
 ish the expenses of those students who may need pecuniary 
 aid, as well as to lessen, generally, the expense of a residence 
 at the Seminary. 
 
 After adopting the foregoing Plan, the General Assembly 
 which met in 1811, did little more than take measures for col- 
 lecting funds for the proposed Institution, by appointing a 
 number of agents in all the Synods for that purpose; who were 
 instructed to proceed with as little delay, and as much energy, 
 as possible, and to report to the Assembly of the next year. 
 They also appointed a committee to confer with the trustees of 
 the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, respecting any faci- 
 lities and privileges which the said trustees might be disposed 
 to give to a Theological Seminary, if located in Princeton. 
 
 At the meeting of the next Assembly, in May, 1812, the 
 location of the Seminary was fixed at Princeton, in New Jer- 
 sey; a Board of Directors was elected; and the Rev. Archibald 
 Alexander, D. D., a native of Virginia, for some time President 
 of Hampden Sidney College, and at that time pastor of the 
 third Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, was appointed Pro- 
 fessor of Didactic and Polemic Theology. On the last Tuesday 
 of June following, the Board of Directors held their first meet- 
 ing, at Princeton. On the 12th day of August, of the same 
 year, the Board of Directors met again, and Dr. Alexander, the 
 Professor elect, was solemnly inaugurated, and entered on the 
 duties of his office. The number of students at the opening of 
 the Institution, on the day last mentioned, was three. 
 
 At the meeting of the Assembly, in May, 1813, the number 
 of students had increased to eight. By this Assembly, the 
 Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D., a native of the State of Delaware, 
 and, at the time of his election, pastor of the first Presbyterian 
 Church in the city of New York, was elected Professor of Ec- 
 clesiastical History and Church Government, and was inaugu- 
 rated by the Board of Directors on the 29th of September 
 following. By this Assembly also, the location of the Seminary 
 in Princeton, which had been before temporary, was now made 
 permanent. 
 4 
 
26 
 
 The General Assembly which met in May, 1815, taking 
 into consideration the great inconveniences resulting to the 
 Institution from the want of suitable apartments for the recita- 
 tions, and other exercises of the Seminary; and more'especially 
 the numerous privations, and even danger to their health, to 
 which the students were subjected by the want of convenient 
 places of lodging ; determined to erect a public edifice in 
 Princeton, which should contain all the public apartments in- 
 dispensably necessary for the present, and also lodging rooms 
 for the comfortable accommodation of the pupils. Accordingly, 
 this edifice was commenced in the autumn of that year; was 
 first occupied by the Professors and students in the autumn of 
 1817, when about one-half of the apartments were prepared for 
 their reception ; and was soon afterwards completed. This 
 building is of stone; one hundred and fifty feet in length, fifty 
 in breadth, and four stories hig1i, including the basement story. 
 It has been admired by all who have seen it, as a model of neat, 
 and tasteful, and, at the same time, of plain, economical, and 
 remarkably solid workmanship. Besides the apartments neces- 
 sary for the library, the recitations, the refectory establishment, 
 and the accommodation of the steward and his family, this edi- 
 fice will furnisli lodgings for about eighty pupils. 
 
 During the first year after the establishment of the Seminary, 
 the Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology, besides his 
 own appropriate duties, discharged, as far as practicable, those 
 also, pertaining to the Professorship of Oriental and Biblical 
 Literature. And on the appointment of a second Professor, in 
 1813, they divided the whole course of instruction, prescribed 
 by the plan of the Seminary between them. But the Assembly 
 which met in May, 1820, finding that the health of the Profes- 
 sor of Didactic and Polemic Theology, as well as his other 
 duties, did not admit of his longer continuing to conduct the 
 instruction in the original languages of Scripture, resolved to 
 authorize the Professors to appoint an assistant teacher of those 
 languages. And to this office, Mr. Charles Hodge, a native of 
 Pennsylvania, then a licentiate, under the care of the Presby- 
 tery of Philadelphia, but since ordained to the work of the 
 Gospel ministry, and a member of the Presbytery of New 
 Brunswick, was soon afterwards accordingly appointed. By 
 the Assembly which met in 1822, he was elected Professor of 
 
27 
 
 " Oriental and Biblical Literature," and was solemnly inaugu- 
 rated in the following September. 
 
 Professor Hodge, soon after his appointment to the office of 
 Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature, with the consent 
 of the Board of Directors, visited Europe; and, after spending 
 some time in Great Britain and France, devoted himself more 
 particularly to biblical studies in the Universities of Berlin and 
 Halle. He was absent about two years. 
 
 The General Assembly which met at Pittsburgh, in the year 
 1835, appointed two new Professors, viz.: the Rev. John Breck- 
 inridge, D. D., a native of Kentucky, and for several preceding 
 years Corresponding Secretary of the General Assembly's 
 Board of Education, to be "Professor of Pastoral Theology;" 
 and Mr. Joseph Addison Alexander, A. M., of Princeton, to 
 be "Associate Professor of Oriental and Biblical Literature." 
 Dr. Breckinridge accepted his appointment, and was inaugurated 
 on the 26th of September following. JMr. Alexander declined 
 accepting his appointment to a professorship, for the present, 
 and preferred occupying the place of Instructor in that depart- 
 ment, at least for a time. It is expected that he will, ultimately 
 consent, formally and officially, to occupy, as he does now 
 virtually, the place to which he was chosen. Mr. Alexander 
 enjoyed, prior to his entering on the duties of Instructor in the 
 institution, very gratifying opportunities of extensive travel in 
 Great Britain, and on the continent of Europe; and of study in 
 the Universities of Halle and Berlin. 
 
 The following rules for regulating elections of Directors and 
 Professors of the Seminary, were adopted by the General As- 
 sembly in 1812. 
 
 " 1. When the Assembly shall proceed to the election of 
 Directors of the Theological Seminary, the clerk shall call on 
 the members severally, to nominate any number of persons, 
 not exceeding the number to be elected, if he shall think it 
 expedient to make any nomination. 
 
 "2. When the members have been severally called upon in 
 the order of the roll, to make a nomination agreeably to the 
 above rule, the names of the persons nominated shall be imme- 
 diately read by the clerk for the information of the members, 
 and on the day following the Assembly shall proceed to elect, 
 by ballot, the whole number of Directors to be chosen. 
 
28 
 
 " 3. Two members shall be appointed to take an account of 
 the votes given for the candidates nominated for Directors, and 
 to report to the Assembly the number of votes for each of the 
 said candidates, who have a plurality of votes, who shall be de- 
 clared duly elected: — but if the whole number to be elected, 
 should not be elected, and two or more of the candidates should 
 have an equal number of votes, then, in that case, the house 
 shall proceed to elect from the nomination a sufficient number 
 to complete the Board; and shall continue to vote in this man- 
 ner, until the full number specified by the constitution of the 
 Seminary be completed. 
 
 "4. When the votes shall have been counted, and the requi- 
 site number of Directors shall have been elected, in the manner 
 above specified, the moderator shall announce to the Assembly 
 the names of those persons who shall appear to have the highest 
 number of votes, and are thus elected. 
 
 " 5. Whenever a Professor, or Professors, are to be elected, 
 the Assembly, by a vote, shall determine the day when said 
 election shall be held; which day shall be at least two days 
 after the above determination has been made. Immediately 
 after the vote fixing the day has passed, the Assembly shall 
 have a season for special prayer, for direction in the choice. 
 The election, in all cases, shall be made by ballot. The ballots 
 having been counted by two members previously appointed, 
 they shall report a statement of said votes to the moderator; 
 and in case there shall appear to be an equal number of votes 
 for any two or more candidates, the Assembly shall proceed, 
 either immediately, or at some subsequent period of their ses- 
 sions, to a new election. The choice being made, it shall be 
 announced to the Assembly by the moderator." 
 
 The Theological Seminary, though located in Princeton, is 
 altogether independent of the College located in the same town, 
 and separate from it. No officer of the one is, as such, an offi- 
 cer of the other. There is, in fact, no connexion whatever be- 
 tween the two institutions, excepting what arises out of certain 
 articles of agreement between the Trustees of the College and 
 the General Assembly, formed in 1812; in virtue of which the 
 theological students, for a short time, boarded at the refectory, 
 and lodged in some of the spare rooms of the College: and in 
 consequence of which also, for about four years, the lectures 
 
29 
 
 and recitations of the Seminary were conducted in the public 
 rooms of the College. Every thing of this kind, of course, 
 terminated, when the public edifice of the Seminary was open- 
 ed for the reception of its students. And of these articles, the 
 only one of which the Theological Seminary has availed itself, 
 for several years past, or is likely ever again to avail itself, is 
 that which gives to the students of the Seminary the use of the 
 College library, which consists of about seven thousand volumes. 
 This article is in the following words: — 
 
 " The Trustees grant to the Professors and pupils of the 
 Theological Seminary, the free use of the College library; sub- 
 ject to such rules as may be adopted for the preservation of the 
 books, and the good order of the same." 
 
 There has been a slow but steady increase of the number of 
 students in the Seminary, from the opening of the first session 
 until the present time. It began, as we have seen, with three. 
 It has since risen gradually to one hundred and thirty, which 
 may be regarded as the present average number. The whole 
 number of students who have belonged to the Institution, from 
 its commencement is more than one thousand. Of these Jbrty 
 have engaged in the work of foreign missions. A number 
 more have in view, and are preparing for the same field of la- 
 bour. Considerably above one hundred and fifty have been 
 engaged in domestic missions. The remainder are, or have 
 been, pastors of churches; and a large portion of those who 
 employed the first years of their ministry in missionary labour, 
 have since been settled in pastoral charges. 
 
 Library. 
 The Library of the Seminary was commenced soon after 
 the commencement of the Institution. One of the earliest and 
 most liberal contributors to its formation, was the Rev. Dr. 
 Jlshbel Green, the first President of the Board of Directors, 
 and one of the most prominent and active of the original foun- 
 ders of the Seminary. As a memorial of his zealous and emi- 
 nent services, it was called the Green Library. This collection 
 of books may now be estimated at about six thousand volumes, 
 and is annually increasing. When the Synod of the Associate 
 Reformed Church, a few years ago, voted to become united 
 with the Presbyterian Church, it also voted to deposit its library 
 
30 
 
 in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, for the use of that 
 Institution forever. That library having been chiefly collected 
 in Great Britain, by the Rev. Dr. John M. Mason, one of the 
 most distinguished ornaments of the Associate Reformed 
 Church, and, for many years, the principal Professor in her 
 Theological Seminary; — it was thought proper to give this 
 collection of books his name. Accordingly, soon after it was 
 deposited in Princeton, it received, and has since been known 
 by the name of the Mason Library. The number of volumes 
 in this library may be estimated at x\%zx four thousand. 
 
 These two libraries have ever been kept perfectly distinct. 
 This is proper in itself; and is the rather necessary, because 
 that portion of the Associate Reformed Church which refused 
 to acquiesce in the union with the Presbyterian Church, several 
 years since, commenced a suit at law for the recovery of the 
 Mason Library, which has been lately decided in favour of 
 that Synod; so that it is expected that that collection of books 
 will be, in a few months, removed from Princeton. 
 
 Funds. 
 
 Thefu?ids of this Institution have never been adequate to 
 its support. It has been necessary to have recourse, from time 
 to time, to annual collections; and this necessity still exists. 
 Measures have been taken for the endowment of three p?'o/es- 
 sorships, and considerable progress made in the enterprise. 
 But no one of them has been completely filled. There is a 
 prospect that, before long, these endowments will be completed. 
 The number of scholarshijjs endowed by different liberal indi- 
 viduals, for the support of as many students in the institution, 
 is twenty-six. 
 
 The following is a catalogue of both these classes of funds. 
 
 Professorsh ips. 
 
 In 1821, it was announced to the General Assembly that 
 foundations for three pjvofessorshijjs had been commenced by 
 the following bodies. 
 
 The two Synods of North Carolina, and of South Carolina 
 and Georgia, resolved to raise ^15,000 each; so as to constitute 
 a fund for a joint professorship of ^30,000. 
 
31 
 
 The Synod of Philadelphia resolved to endow a professor- 
 ship with a capital sum of ^25,000. 
 
 The Synod of New York and Neiv Jersey resolved to en- 
 dow a professorship with a capital sum of ^25,000. 
 
 No one of these professorships has been fully completed: 
 though much the greater part toward the completion of each 
 has been actually paid. It is due, however, to the Synod of 
 New York, which since the date of the resolution above alluded 
 to, has been erected into a separate Synod, to state, that her 
 portion of the promised endowment has been fully paid. 
 
 Scholarships. 
 The scholarships which have been founded are the following. 
 
 1. The Le Ror scholarship, founded in 1816, by Mrs. 
 Martha Le Roy, of the city of New York. 
 
 2. The Banyar scholarship, founded in 1816, by the same. 
 
 3. The Lenox scholarship, founded in 1816, by Robert 
 Lenox, Esquire, of the city of New York. 
 
 4. The Whitehead scholarship, founded in 1817, by John 
 Whitehead, Esquire, of Burke County, Georgia. 
 
 5. The Charleston Female scholarship, founded in 1817, 
 by the Congregational and Presbyterian Female Association of 
 Charleston, S. C, for assisting in the education of pious youth 
 for the Gospel ministry. 
 
 6. The Class scholarship, founded in 1819, by the First 
 Class in the Seminary of that year. 
 
 7. The Nephew scholarship, founded in 1821, by James 
 Nephew, Esquire, of M'Intosh County, Georgia. 
 
 8. The WooDHULL scholarship, founded in 1823, by Mrs. 
 Hannah Woodhull, of Brookhaven, Long Island, N. Y. 
 
 9. The Scott scholarship, founded in 1823, by Mr. William 
 Scott, of Elizabethtown, N. J. 
 
 10. The Van Brugh Livingston scholarship, founded in 
 1823, by Mrs. Susan U. Neimceiuiez, of Elizabethtown, N. J. 
 
 11. The Augusta Female scholarship, founded in 1823, by 
 Ladies of Augusta, Georgia. 
 
 12. The Jane Keith scholarship, founded in 1823, by Mrs. 
 Jane Keith, widow of the late Rev. Isaac S. Keith, D. D., of 
 Charleston, South Carolina. 
 
 13. The Gosman scholarship, founded in 1825, by Robert 
 
32 
 
 Gosman, Esquire, of Upper-Red-Hook, Dutchess County, 
 New York. 
 
 14. The WicKES scholarship, founded in 1825, by Eliphalet 
 IVickes, Esquire, of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y. 
 
 15. The Othniel Smith scholarship, founded in 1825, by 
 Mr. Othniel Smith, of Jamaica, Long Island, N. Y. 
 
 16. The John Keith scholarship, founded in 1825, by Mr. 
 John Keith, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 
 
 17. The Hester Smith scholarship, founded in 1826, by 
 Miss Hester Smith, of Carmel, Mississippi. 
 
 18. The Anderson scholarship, founded in 1827, by James 
 Anderson, Esquire, of the city of New York, 
 
 19. The Kennedy scholarship, founded in 1827, by Mr. 
 Anthony Kennedy, of Frankford, Pennsylvania. 
 
 20. The Colt scholarship, founded in 1829, by Roswell L. 
 Colt, Esquire, of Baltimore, Maryland. 
 
 21. The BouDiNOT scholarship, founded in 1830, by the 
 Hon. Elias Boiidinot, LL.D. of Burlington, New Jersey. 
 
 22. The Ed scholarship,* founded in 1830, by Mr. Robert 
 Hall, and his sister, Mrs. Marion Hall, of Newburgh, N. Y. 
 
 23. The KiRKPATRiCK scholarship, founded in 1830, by 
 William Kirkpatrick, Esquire, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 
 
 24. The Stille scholarship, founded in 1834, by John 
 Stille, Esquire, of Philadelphia. 
 
 25. The King scholarship, founded in 1835, by Mr. Gilbert 
 King, of Newburgh, Orange County, New York. 
 
 26. The Benjamin Smith scholarship, founded some years 
 since, by the will of Mr. Benjamin Smith, of Elizabethtown, 
 New Jersey, deceased, and the sum bequeathed expected soon 
 to be actually paid in. 
 
 Rules of Decorum, Order and Duty for the Students. 
 
 1. It shall be the duty of every student to attend pimctually 
 at the hour appointed for each recitation or lecture to begin. 
 
 2. Every student who shall be absent, without leave, from 
 the recitation or lecture of any Professor, shall assign to such 
 Professor, the reason of his absence. 
 
 * For an explanation of this name, which was selected by the founders, sec 
 Joshua xxii. 34. 
 
33 
 
 3. It shall be the duty of every student, when, in the course 
 of recitation, he shall be addressed by the Professor, to rise, 
 and remain standing, while he is answering the questions, or 
 performing the part assigned him; unless the Professor shall 
 particularly request him to remain seated. 
 
 4. If any student desire to obtain leave of absence, if he con- 
 template absence from only one recitation or lecture, it shall be 
 his duty to apply only to the Professor who is to conduct the 
 recitation or lecture in question. But if it be his wish to be 
 absent from two or more recitations, it shall then be his duty 
 to apply to all the Professors from whose exercises he wishes 
 to be absent. 
 
 5. No conversation shall be allowed during any recitation 
 or lecture, nor any reading, excepting that which relates im- 
 mediately to the subject of the lecture. This rule, however, 
 shall not be considered as prohibiting any pertinent questions 
 which any student may be disposed to ask respecting the sub- 
 ject at any time under consideration. 
 
 Rules for the regulation of the Students in the Public 
 Edifice. 
 
 1. Morning and evening prayers shall be attended by the 
 students of the Seminary, at the hours appointed by the Pro- 
 fessors. 
 
 2. In conducting the devotions of the morning, the students 
 of the First Class shall preside in rotation, except when one 
 of the Professors Is present. 
 
 3. Evening prayers shall be regularly attended by one of the 
 Professors. 
 
 4. It shall be left to the Professors to accompany prayer 
 with such other exercises as to them may seem proper. 
 
 5. From morning prayers until breakfast; from 9 o'clock 
 until 12; and from 2 o'clock, P.M. until 5, shall be hours of 
 study. 
 
 6. In the hours of study, the students shall not be unneces- 
 sarily absent from their respective rooms; nor shall there be 
 any passing from room to room, unless on special business. 
 
 7. It shall be the duty of the students to preserve their rooms 
 neat and clean, and carefully to d%oid defacing or injuring any 
 part of the edifice. 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 8. All unnecessary noise within the edifice, is prohibited at 
 all times, but especially in the hours of study. 
 
 9. It shall be the duty of each student to spend some portion 
 of each day in wholesome exercise. 
 
 10. The Professors shall have a general power to preserve 
 order and decorum in the house; to inspect the rooms of the 
 students; to appoint monitors or censors; to direct and govern 
 any person or persons, who may be employed as servants in 
 the house, and to dismiss the same whenever they shall judge 
 it proper. 
 
 11. It shall also belong to the Professors to prescribe rules 
 for the preservation of order and decorum in the attendance of 
 the students at their meals. 
 
 12. The students shall, at all times, treat the Steward of the 
 Seminary with respect; and they shall not, on any occasion, 
 infringe on the regulations which, with the approbation of the 
 Professors, he may make for the government of the servants, 
 or the refectory, or kitchen. 
 
 13. It shall be the duty of the Professors of the Seminary to 
 enforce these rules; and to exercise such discipline, in case of 
 an infringement of any of them, as to them may seem proper; 
 not inconsistent with the Constitution of the Seminary. 
 
 Rules for the regulation of the Studejits in the Dining 
 Room. 
 
 1. The students shall, at the proper signal, assemble in the 
 dining room, in as quiet and orderly a manner as possible. 
 
 2. A member of the First Class, in alphabetical order, shall 
 preside at each meal. The presiding student shall ask a bless- 
 ing, and shall call upon any other whom he may think proper, 
 to return thanks. 
 
 3. The members of each class, as far as circumstances will 
 admit, shall sit together at table. 
 
 Rules for the preservation and secu7nty of the Public Edi- 
 fice, Si'c. 
 1. Every student, at the commencement of every session, 
 shall contribute to the " General Expense Fund," the object of 
 which is to clean, light and warm the public rooms, and to keep 
 in repair tho public edifice. Those who occupy rooms in the 
 
35 
 
 public edifice shall pay ten dollars per annum, and those who 
 room elsewhere, nine dollars, to this fund. Of this sum six 
 dollars shall be paid by all the students, in advance, at the 
 commencement of the winter session, and the balance, also in 
 advance, at the commencement of the summer session. This 
 payment to be made to the Treasurer of the Trustees of the 
 Seminary, and the receipt for the same produced to the Profes- 
 sor who officiates as clerk of the faculty of the Seminary. 
 
 2. If any student shall, accidentally, or from any cause what- 
 ever, injure any part of the public edifice, or its furniture, he 
 shall immediately report the same to the Steward of the Semi- 
 nary, who shall cause the injury to be repaired, at the expense 
 of him who caused it. 
 
 3. If any student shall desire to alter the fire place, or any 
 other fixture in his room, or to fix a grate, or introduce a stove, 
 he shall inform the Steward of his purpose, and obtain his per- 
 mission to execute it; and no stove shall be set in any room 
 without placing it on some metallic, or other incombustible 
 substance. 
 
 Admission into the Seminary. 
 
 The Plan of the Institution requires that ''every student 
 applying for admission, shall produce satisfactory testimonials 
 that he possesses good natural talents, and is of a prudent and 
 discreet deportment; that he is in full communion with some 
 regular Church; that he has passed through a regular course of 
 academical study; or, wanting this, he shall submit himself 
 to an examination in regard to the branches of literature taught 
 in such a course." 
 
 " Every student, before he takes his standing in the Semi- 
 nary, shall subscribe the following declaration, viz. — 'Deeply 
 impressed with a sense of the importance of improving in 
 knowledge, prudence, and piety, in my preparation for the 
 Gospel ministry, I solemnly promise, in a reliance on divine 
 grace, that I will faithfully and diligently attend on all the 
 instructions of this Seminary, and that I will conscientiously 
 and vigilantly observe all the rules and regulations specified in 
 the plan for its instruction and government, so far as the same 
 relate to the students; and that I will obey all the lawful requi- 
 sitions, and readily yield to all the wholesome admonitions of 
 
36 
 
 the Professors and Directors of the Seminary, while I shall 
 remain a member of it.' " 
 
 When a student has been received under the care of a Pres- 
 bytery, and has passed his examination on the studies usually 
 pursued in Colleges with approbation, a certificate from the 
 Presbytery declaring this fact, is received as sufficient to an- 
 swer every requisition in regard to testimonials. 
 
 When a student, who has been connected with any other 
 Theological Seminary, seeks admission into this, he must pro- 
 duce testimonials of his good standing, and regular dismission, 
 before he can be received. 
 
 The proper time for entering the Seminary, is at the com- 
 mencement of the winter session, which begins early in No- 
 vember. It is important that students should be present at the 
 opening of the session. 
 
 Vacations. 
 
 There are three vacations in the Seminary every year. The 
 spring vacation of six weeks; the autumnal vacation of six 
 weeks; and the ivinter vacation of two iveeks; — to commence 
 at such times as the Board of Directors shall deem expedient. 
 
 The Board have accordingly ordered the following arrange- 
 ment: — the spring vacation to commence the first week in 
 May; the fall vacation the Monday evening preceding the last 
 Wednesday in September; and the winter vacation on the 
 first day of February. 
 
 Course of Study in the Seminary. 
 
 First year — Hebrew Language; Exegetical Study of the 
 Scriptures; Sacred Rhetoric; Biblical Criticism; Biblical An- 
 tiquities; Introduction to the Study of the Scriptures; Mental 
 and Moral Science; The Evidences of Natural and Revealed 
 Religion; Sacred Chronology; Biblical History. 
 
 Second year — Exegetical Study of the Hebrew and Greek 
 Scriptures continued; Didactic Theology; Ecclesiastical His- 
 tory; Missionary Instruction. 
 
 Third year — Exegetical Study of the Scriptures continued; 
 Didactic Theology continued; Polemic Theology; Church Go- 
 vernment; Pastoral Theology; Composition and Delivery of 
 Sermons. 
 
37 
 
 Members of the first class are required to exhibit original 
 compositions once in two weeks; those of the second class once 
 in three weeks; and those of the third class once in four weeks. 
 
 Necessary Expenses of the Seminary. 
 
 There is no charge made either for tuition or room-rent; but 
 each student pays ^10 per annum to the " General Expense 
 Fund," the object of which is to defray the contingent expenses 
 of the Institution. Students who may prefer rooming out of 
 Seminary building, can be accommodated in the village and 
 vicinity. 
 
 Indigent students are aided either by the General Assembly's 
 " Board of Education," the " American Education Society," or 
 the Funds of the Seminary. 
 
 The expense of board in the Commons varies from ^1 25 to 
 ^1 75 per week. Board may be obtained in private families 
 at from ^1 50 to $2 50 per week. Expense of fuel from %Q to 
 jglO per year. Washing ^8. 
 
 The students, in addition to the libraries attached to the 
 Seminary, have access to that of the College; and, on application 
 to the several Professors of that institution, can have the privi- 
 lege of attending lectures on Natural Philosophy, Chemistry 
 and Natural History. 
 
 Gentlemen well qualified to teach the German and French 
 Languages are resident here, and will give instruction in those 
 branches to such students as desire it, at their own expense. 
 
 Wants of the Seminary. 
 Although this Institution has been in operation for more than 
 twenty-five years, yet a variety of circumstances have served 
 to show that the public are very imperfectly informed of its 
 situation. That its friends may be the better able to judge of 
 its wants, and of the various ways in which the wealthy and 
 the pious may contribute to its benefit, it may not be improper 
 to exhibit, in detail, the following items, with a distinct expla- 
 nation connected with each. 
 
 I. The supjwrt of the Professors. 
 This is mentioned first, because it is the most vital and indis- 
 pensable part of the whole. A Theological Seminary without 
 
38 
 
 adequate Instructors, would, of course, be a name without a 
 reality. It would be possible to get along — Inconveniently and 
 imperfectly, indeed ; but still to get along, without public build- 
 ings, without a public library, and without funds for the sup- 
 port of the students. But without Instructors, nothing, it is 
 evident, in the form of a Seminary of learning, can be carried 
 on at all. And it is equally evident, that capable Instructors 
 can not be expected to quit other important stations, and de- 
 vote themselves, for life, to ihis object, without some good 
 prospect of a comfortable and permanent support. Yet it has 
 been, for some tim.e, a matter of wonder and regret to the 
 friends of the Seminary, that it has been, for so many years, a 
 candidate for the favour of the religious public, without obtain- 
 ing a single permanent and adequate endowment, for the sup- 
 port of even one Professor. Almost all other institutions of a 
 similar kind have been built up by the large donations of libe- 
 ral benefactors. Toward some of them there has been a libe- 
 rality of this kind displayed, which reflects the highest honour 
 on a number of distinguished individuals. The names o[ Ho II is 
 and Boyhton, oi Hancock, Hersey and ^rt'/;?.^, designating so 
 many different professorships in the University oi Cambridge, 
 m Massachusetts, have long been monuments of splendid muni- 
 ficence, and will be transmitted with honour to the end of time. 
 And in the Theological Seminary at Andover, the professor- 
 ships of Christian Theology, of Sacred Rhetoric, and of ^SV^- 
 cred Literature, confer on the names oi Bartlett and Jlhhott, 
 oi Brown and Norris, an illustrious immortality. But, while 
 so much has been done, by Christian liberality, for other insti- 
 tutions, it is a humiliating fact, that no individual has been 
 hitherto found, in all our large and wealthy bounds, who has 
 manifested a disposition to endow a single professorship. Can 
 the thought be admitted that there is less enlightened attach- 
 ment to the Church of Christ, or less disposition to exercise 
 munificence in the best of all causes, in the bosom of the Pres- 
 byterian Church, than among our Congregational brethren of 
 New England ? May we not rather hope, that the deficiency 
 hitherto acknowledged and lamented, has been owing to a want 
 of acquaintance with the necessities of the Institution, rather 
 than to the want of a disposition to patronize it ? May we not 
 cherish the hope, that when the object is fairly presented, and 
 
39 
 
 the urgent necessities of the Seminary fully made known, there 
 will also be found among Presbyterians an amount of Christian 
 liberality and public spirit, commensurate with the demand for 
 its exercise ? 
 
 It will be observed, that the Plan of the Seminary provides, 
 that " if any person or persons, not exceeding three, shall, by 
 will, or during his or their lives, found or endow a professor- 
 ship or professorships, said professorship or professorships shall 
 forever afterwards be called and known by the name or names 
 of those who founded or endowed them; and also that Presby- 
 teries, Synods, or associations of any kind, may enjoy the same 
 privilege." And in connection with this, the General Assem- 
 bly of 1815, resolved, "that a sum not less than twenty-Jive 
 thousand dollars should be considered as requisite to endow a 
 professorship." 
 
 Wealthy individuals, by coming forward and endowing one 
 or more professorships themselves, may not only endear their 
 names to Christians of the most distant posterity; but may also 
 render it unnecessary for the Synods, who have resolved to 
 endow professorships, to collect monies for the accomplishment 
 of their purpose from the poor as well as the rich, within their 
 respective bounds. Or those whose pecuniary means do not 
 allow of so large an enterprise, may, by throwing in a few hun- 
 dreds, or a few thousands, into the Synodical appropriations for 
 this purpose, happily assist in expediting the attainment of their 
 object. 
 
 II. The support of Students. 
 A number of the students belonging to the Seminary are 
 unable to provide the means of their own support; and unless 
 these means were furnished from other sources, would be 
 obliged to withdraw from the Institution, and from all the ad- 
 vantages which it affords. This generally has been, and is 
 now, the case with a majority of the whole number. But, 
 after all that has been done in this way, many pious and pro- 
 mising young men, in different parts of our Church, who de- 
 sired to come to the Seminary, have been prevented from en- 
 joying the privilege, because no encouragement to hope for 
 adequate support could be held out to them; and, in some 
 cases, it is feared, the Church has been altogether deprived of 
 
40 
 
 the services of precious youth, who might have adorned her 
 ministry, but who saw no door open for pursuing the studies 
 necessary to qualify them for the sacred office. 
 
 It is of the utmost importance, then, that funds be furnished 
 for the support of indigent students; for the entire support of 
 those who need it, and for tlie partial aid of those whose cir- 
 cumstances are straitened. Indeed, the Seminary cannot be 
 considered as accomplishing all that it is intended to accomplish, 
 until it shall be able freely to open its doors to all the youth of 
 piety and talent, who may desire the holy ministry; affording 
 gratuitous instruction to all without exception, and gratuitous 
 boarding to all who may need such assistance. 
 
 For this purpose, it will be observed, that the Plan of the 
 Seminary provides for the endowment of scholarships, that is, 
 devoting a principal sum, the interest of which shall be sacredly 
 applied, forever, to the support of an indigent student. These 
 scholarships, it is further provided, shall forever bear the name 
 of their founders respectively. A number of scholarships have 
 been already founded, by distinguished friends of the Seminary, 
 as has been seen in the preceding history; and it is earnestly 
 hoped that their number will be increased. Can a Christian of 
 wealth and public spirit devote a portion of his property to a 
 more interesting purpose ? While so much pains and expense 
 are bestowed on sending the Bible, in all languages, to every 
 part of the world; can it be forgotten that the living teacher 
 is an appointment of God, for converting the nations, no less 
 important than the written word ? And can any one, who has 
 eyes to see, and ears to hear, fail of knowing, that while Bibles 
 are multiplying rapidly, there is not a corresponding multipli- 
 cation of ministers of the cross 7 Is it not an object, then, 
 worthy of the best efforts of every believer in Christ, to do all 
 in his power to add to their number ? And how can he do it 
 better than by founding scholarships in Theological Seminaries ? 
 To establish a fund for the education of one minister of the 
 Gospel after another, in an unbroken succession, to the end of 
 time, is surely one of the most desirable achievements of Chris- 
 tian charity which a pious mind can easily contemplate. Per- 
 haps there is no other object to which such a sum can be appro- 
 priated, that will be likely so extensively to promote the glory 
 
41 
 
 of God, the good of souls, and the eternal reward of the pious 
 donor. 
 
 The General Assembly have determined, that a sum not less 
 than two thousand and Jive hundred dollars shall be consi* 
 dered as requisite to endow a Scholarship. It is evident, how- 
 ever, that the annual interest of ^2,500, especially at the present 
 low rate of interest, is not sufficient for the entire support of any 
 young man, in a Theological Seminary, even in themost economi- 
 cal manner. It is desirable, therefore, that a few scholarships of 
 higher amount, say of ^3,000 and ^3,500, be established. For 
 while some students are able to furnish a part of what is ne- 
 cessary for their own support, others are totally destitute, and, 
 of course, must be furnished with z full support, if any. 
 
 For a number of years after the establishment of the Semi- 
 nary, a large part of the support furnished to indigent students 
 was derived from Female Cent Societies, and other Female 
 Associations, in different parts of our Church. For seven or 
 eight years past, these societies have, in a great measure, ceased 
 to furnish their wonted supply. Either from a decline of their 
 zeal, or from an impression that their efforts were no longer 
 needed, but few of them are any longer in the habit of trans- 
 mitting the fruits of their annual liberality. Only two or three 
 of all the former number continue to transmit their contribu- 
 tions. This decline is deeply to be lamented. These contri- 
 butions are greatly needed. It would gladden many a student's 
 heart, and prevent many a painful privation, if they could be 
 resumed and continued. And if one or two ladies, in each 
 church, who take an interest in the welfare of Zion, and who 
 desire to see the number of pious and well furnished ministers 
 greatly increased, would undertake to manage the affairs of 
 these associations, to recollect the return of their anniversaries, 
 and to collect their dues, they might, with very little effort, be 
 kept in regular and most useful operation. 
 
 III. The Purchase of an adequate Library. 
 A good library is a matter of vital importance in a Theolo- 
 gical Seminary. Without it, both Professors and students are 
 subjected to privations and embarassments of the most serious 
 kind, at every step of their course. There ought to be in every 
 such Institution, a library of sufficient extent to furnish every 
 r. 
 
42 
 
 standard work which may be quoted or recommended on every 
 subject which may become matter of discussion in the Institution. 
 Compared with what it ought to be, the library at present pos- 
 sessed by the Seminary, is very small and imperfect. Many 
 of the most important works recommended to the pupils are 
 not to be found in it, and are, of course, beyond their reach. 
 Instead oi one hundred thousand volutnes, which the Institu- 
 tion ought to possess, it has less than a tivelfth part of that 
 number. And now that the library of the Associate Reformed 
 Synod is no longer ours, the scantiness of our supply in this 
 respect must strike unfavourably every beholder, and give pain 
 to every friend of the Seminary. 
 
 There certainly ought to be placed, in some such central 
 situation as that of Princeton, a great library, to which students 
 and writers on all subjects might resort; and where might be 
 found every important work needed, either for perusal or re- 
 ference, in all departments of literature and science. And of 
 some works recommended to the perusal of whole classes of 
 students, instead of 07ie, there ought to be, on the shelves of 
 such an institution, several dozens of copies. This object ought 
 to engage the immediate attention, and the efficient liberality of 
 every friend of the Seminary, and, indeed, of every friend of 
 literature. A few thousand dollars devoted to the enlargement 
 of the library, would be most usefully bestowed. Donations 
 in books, or in money to be appropriated to the purchase of 
 books, would be gratefully acknowledged by the Directors and 
 Officers of the Seminary. 
 
 The apartment in the public edifice, destined for the library, 
 is entirely too small for the reception of such a collection as 
 every Theological Seminary ought to possess. Nor is this all: 
 an extensive and valuable library ought never to be deposited 
 in any other than a fire-proof huWtXiu^. It is exceedingly de- 
 sirable, therefore, that some individual or individuals, friendly 
 to the Seminary, should erect a suitable building, for the recep- 
 tion of a large library, in the vicinity of the main edifice, and 
 constructed, as nearly as possible, upon the principle of being 
 proof against fire, while it should admit of being comfortably 
 warmed. The destruction of the greater part of the library of 
 Princeton College, by the memorable fire which consumed the 
 public edifice of tliat institution in 1S02, furnished a very in- 
 structive admonition on this subject. 
 
43 
 
 The Officers of the Seminary in January^ 1838. 
 
 Directors. 
 
 MINISTERS. 
 
 Gardiner Spring, D.D, 
 William A. M'Dowell, D.D. 
 William Neill, D.D. 
 William Latta. 
 William D. Snodgrass, D.D. 
 Joseph M'Elroy, D.D. 
 George Musgrave. 
 
 nutING ELDERS. 
 
 John T. Woodhull, M.D. 
 Hugh Auchincloss. 
 Alexander W. Mitchell, M.D. 
 
 Benjamin H. Rice, D.D. 
 
 John M'Dowell, D.D. 
 
 William B. Sprague, D.D. 
 
 Cornelius C. Cuyler, D.D. 
 
 George Potts. 
 
 Elias W. Crane. 
 
 John N. Campbell, D.D. 
 
 Benjamin Strong. 
 Samuel Bayard. 
 Ambrose White. 
 
 Ashbel Green, D.D. 
 William VV. Phillips, D.D. 
 John Johnston. 
 Asa Hillyer, D.D. 
 Robert M'Cartee, D.D. 
 Henry A. Boardman. 
 Nicholas Murray. 
 
 Alexander Henry. 
 Moses Allen. 
 James Lenox. 
 
44 
 
 Trustees. 
 
 Samuel Bayard, Esq. President. 
 
 Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Vice-President. 
 
 Rev. John M'Dowell, D.D. Secretary. 
 
 Alexander Henry, Esq. John J. Bryant, Esq. 
 
 Benjamin Strong, Esq. Rev. Ashbel Green, D.D. 
 
 John T. Woodhull, M.D. Rev. William W. Phillips, D.D. 
 
 Solomon Allen, Esq. Rev. David Comfort. 
 
 Lewis W. R. Philips, Esq. Rev. Nicholas Murray. 
 
 Jabez G. Goble, M.D. Rev. Isaac V. Brown. 
 
 James Lenox, Esq. Rev. James Carnahan, D.D. 
 
 Job Squier, Esq. Rev. Joseph M'Elroy, D.D. 
 
 Henry W. Green, Esq. Rev. Eli F. Cooley. 
 
 James S. Green, Esq. Treasurer of the Board of Trustees. 
 Josiah Gary, Esq. Steward. 
 
 Professors. 
 
 Rev. Archibald Alexander, D.D., Professor of Didactic and 
 Polemic Theology. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History 
 and Church Government. 
 
 Rev. Charles Hodge, D.D., Professor of Oriental and Bibli- 
 cal Literature. 
 
 Rev. John Breckinridge, D.D., Professor of Pastoral Theo- 
 logy and Missionary Instruction. 
 
 3. Addison Alexander, A.M., Associate Professor (elect J of 
 Oriental and Biblical Literature. 
 
45 
 
 Form of a Devise or Bequest for the Seminary. 
 
 " To the Trustees of the General Assembly of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church in the United States of America, 1 give and be- 
 queath the sum of (here designate the property, personal or 
 real), to be added to the Permanent Fund of the Theologi- 
 cal Seminary, at Princeton, New Jersey, under the care of 
 the said Assembly; Or to the Contingent Fund of the said 
 Seminary; Or toward the establishment of a Professorship, 
 or Scholarship, in said Seminary; Or toward the increase of its 
 Library, Or the support of its indigent students, &c." according 
 to the wish of the donor; — and the corporation are bound by 
 charter to apply the donation accordingly. 
 
 The above form may be used by a Testator residing in the 
 State of Pennsylvania, where the Trustees of the General As- 
 sembly have been incorporated; but, in the other States of the 
 Union, the following form is recommended, viz. 
 
 In Cases of Real Estate. 
 
 " I give and devise unto A. B. and C. D. the survivors and 
 survivor of them, and the heirs of such survivor (describe the 
 real estate), for the use of, and in trust for, the Trustees of the 
 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, to be applied to 
 the use of the Theological Seminary of the said Church, now 
 located at Princeton, New Jersey," &c. &c. 
 
 Li Cases of Personal Estate. 
 " I give and bequeath unto (as above, excepting instead of the 
 heirs of such survivor say,) executors, administrators, and as- 
 signs, of such survivor."