Chicago. Presbyterian theological seminary

INAUGURAL ADDRESSES

AT THE OPENING

OF THE

PRESBYTERIAN

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

OF THE

NORTH WEST,

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHILADELPHIA:

JOSEPH M. WILSON,

No. 111 SOUTH TENTH STREET, BELOW CHESTNUT STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

CHARGE TO THE PROFESSORS

BY

REV. SAMUEL T. WILSON,

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

BY

NATHAN L. RICE, D. D.,

PROFESSOR OF DIDACTIC AND POLEMIC THEOLOGY.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

BY

WILLIS LORD, D. D.,

ROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

BY

LEROY J. HALSEY, D. D.,

PROFESSOR OF HISTORICAL AND PASTORAL THEOLOGY, AND CHURCH GOVERNMENT.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

BY

WILLIAM M. SCOTT, D. D.,

PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE AND EXEGESIS.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the North West having been tendered to the General Assembly, in session at Indianapolis in May 1859, by direction of the Synods having control thereof, the General Assembly passed the following resolution :

"Resolved: That in accordance with the overtures emanating from eight Synods, this Assembly does now accept the direction and control of the Seminary, known by the corporate name and style of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the North West."

The Assembly located the Seminary at Chicago, and in reference to a communication from CYRUS H. MCCORMICK, ESQ., dated, Washington, May 13th, 1859; proposing to endow the Seminary with one hundred thousand dollars, on condition it was taken under the charge and control of the General Assembly and located at Chicago, Illinois, the Assembly passed the following resolutions:

"Resolved: That this General Assembly does hereby accept the donation of one hundred thousand dollars made by Cyrus Hall McCormick to them for the endowment of four Professorships in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the North West, about to be established by this Assembly, and upon the terms and conditions therein mentioned.

"Resolved: That the thanks of this General Assembly be tendered to Mr. C. H. McCormick for his munificent donation; and that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to Mr. McCormick by the Stated Clerk."

(3)

(KECAP)

66415

2527

25

The General Assembly elected a Board of Directors, and four Professors, viz:

N. L. RICE, D.D., Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology, WILLIS LORD, D.D., Prof. of Biblical and Ecclesiastical History, LEROY J. HALSEY, D.D., Professor of Historical and Pastoral Theology, and Church Government,

WM. M. SCOTT, D.D., Professor of Biblical Literature and Exegesis,

and instructed the Board of Directors "to use and take all proper measures necessary to put the Seminary in operation at the earliest date practicable."

The Board met in Chicago, by the appointment of the General Assembly, on the 21st of June 1859, and made arrangements for opening the Seminary on the 14th of September following; and appointed the 26th of October as the time for the formal installation of the Professors.

On the 26th of October, 1859, the Board of Directors met in the North Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and after a sermon by J. H. Brown, D.D., the Rev. S. T. Wilson, President of the Board, read to the Professors the following engagement, ordained by the General Assembly, to which they gave their solemn assent and affixed their respective signatures:

"In the presence of God and of the Board of Directors of this Seminary, I do solemnly profess my belief that the Confession of Faith and Catechisms of the Presbyterian Church contain a summary and true exhibition of the system of doctrine, order, and worship taught in the Holy Scriptures, the only supreme and infallible rule of faith, and my approbation of the Presbyterian form of Church Government, as being agreeable to the Scriptures; and do promise that I will not teach, directly or indirectly, anything contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said Confession and Catechisms, or the fundamental principles of Presbyterian Church Government; and that I will faithfully execute the office of a Professor in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the North West."

Prayer having been offered, the Rev. S. T. Wilson, by previous appointment of the Board, delivered a Charge to the Professors; and the day following the Professors delivered, each, an Inaugural Address; which Charge and Addresses are herewith published, by order of the Board of Directors.