Correspondence and requests for Catalogues should be addressed to Rev. P. F. Johnson, Dean, McKenzie, Tenn., or Rev. S. H. Braly, McKenzie, Tenn.

Rev. P. F. Johnson, President, McKenzie, Tenn.
Rev. J. L. Hudgins, Secretary and Treasurer, Nashville,     Tenn.
Rev. B. J. Reagin, Nashville, Tenn.
Rev. H. Clay Yates, D.D., Nashville, Tenn.
W. T. Marshall, Lebanon, Tenn.

 

Faculty.

Rev. P. F. Johnson, A.B., B.D., Dean.
Rev. S. H. Braly, B.D.

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In this, the introductory Catalogue sent out by the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it is deemed proper to trace the various steps which culminated in the permanent organization of the Institution.

1. The Temporary Organization.--When the General Assembly of 1906 adjourned the Educational Work of the Church was in great confusion. When the Assembly of 1907 met, Cumberland University, with the Theological Department, was in the hands of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. All other schools of the Church were at that time controlled by said Church. In this emergency the Board of Education submitted the following recommendation which was adopted:

"The Church is in great need of a school for the training of her probationers. While we are hopeful of success in the final results as to our property rights, yet the situation at present is such that we are not sure of absolute and undisturbed control of any one of our schools this year, and pending the settlement of this question we would recommend that you direct the presbyteries to utilize the best schools in their reach and place their probationers in them, and that the Board of Education be instructed to take steps looking toward the opening of such school, or schools as shall be under the control of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church." (Minutes 1907, page 68).

By reference to the Minutes for 1908, pages 38, 39 you will see that the Board complied with this order by aiding Bethel College, but at the same time without forming any official relation with the College.

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In 1908 the Board of Education made the following suggestion to the General Assembly:

"We suggest that steps should be taken to open a school in which the English Bible, Distinctive Doctrines, Confession of Faith and History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church are taught. Such a school, we believe, would meet present demands." (Minutes 1908, page 41).

On pages 74-75 of the same Minutes is found the report of the Committee on Education in which the suggestion of the Board of Education was adopted, and the work placed in the hands of the said Board as indicated by the following resolution:

"That you place this work in the hands of your Board of Education, that they may do the best they can to bring into existence a school that will meet the present demands."

In compliance with the above recommendation the Board of Education secured a room in the buildings of Bethel College, and on July the 17, 1908, elected Rev. P. F. Johnson, Dean of the Theological School. We quote the following from the report of the Board:

"By this arrangement students preparing for the ministry are to have the benefits of a literary course in the College in connection with the theological course. The schools opened September 1, 1908, with an enrollment that was very encouraging." (Minutes 1909, page 34).

On page 71 of the same Minutes you will find the following action of the Assembly:

"We would recommend that you heartily endorse the action of the Board of Education in employing Rev. P. F. Johnson as Dean of the Theological School

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and that you five him your most hearty support in the work."

Thus it will be seen that the temporary organization of the Theological School was completed in accordance with the direction of the General Assembly, and under the control of the Board of Education, and, independent of any other institution of learning. The only relation the Theological School ever had to Bethel College was that of permission to occupy rooms in the buildings of the College. This Theological School was maintained and controlled by the Board of Education until the recent meeting of the General Assembly which convened at Wagoner, Okla., May 21, 1914, as the Annual Reports of the Board and deliverances of the General Assembly clearly indicate.

2. Permanent Organization of the Theological Seminary.--Preparatory to the permanent organization of the Theological Seminary and for the purpose of taking charge of the Theological Endowment Fund of Cumberland University, the General Assembly of 1910 appointed the Board of Trustees. This appointment was in harmony with the plan or constitution of the Theological Department of Cumberland University adopted in 1852. The Board was instructed to incorporate. The question is reviewed and explained in "Exhibit B" of the report of the Committee on Education made to the General Assembly of 1910 on pages 45-47 of the Minutes.

To the General Assembly which met in 1911 the above named Board made a report from which we make the following quotation:

"The General Assembly of 1910, which met at Dickson, Tenn., had before it the question of the Theological Endowment Fund of the Church and

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after the necessary preliminary statement of facts appointed Trustees and directed them to take necessary steps to remove said fund and property, real and personal from the control of the present Trustees who are acting under the direction of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.; and said above named Trustees were directed to incorporate themselves for the purpose of securing, holding and administering said trust fund and property."

"At a meeting of the Board, held May the 5, 1911, at which all the members were present except W. L. Danley, the question of incorporation was acted on, and the following charter unanimously adopted, and ordered registered in Davidson County, Tennessee."

For the above quotation and the charter, see Minutes of 1911, pages 22-25. From the charter we quote the following language: "The particular purposes for which this charter is sought are: To establish and maintain under the patronage of that religious society or denomination known as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,--a Theological Seminary." By the appointment of the General Assembly and under the charter obtained the Board was empowered to establish and maintain a Theological Seminary.

From the above facts it is made clean that the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary were to receive and control whatever Theological Funds should be obtained from the Board of Trustees of Cumberland University, and to establish and maintain a Theological Seminary.

To the same Assembly (1911) the Board of Trustees of Cumberland University offered a compromise and proposition by which the question of the Theological Endowment Fund might have been settled. The General Assembly rejected the proposition.

The report of the Board for 1912 gave as reasons

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for not having established a Theological Seminary;
1. No funds with which to maintain the Seminary;
2. Legal uncertainties. It also most earnestly plead for instructions relative to the establishing of the Seminary, to which the Assembly replied as follows:

"It is with pleasure that we report that your Board has made progress, but we are of the opinion that no effort should be made to locate and establish a Theological Seminary until the pending lawsuit is decided." (Minutes 1912, page 135).

To the next Assembly (1913) the Board said: "We await your orders in this matter, and have therefore taken no steps looking to the establishment of a permanent Theological Seminary, but we deem the matter of sufficient importance that your body should duly consider its importance." (Minutes, page 165).

To the General Assembly of 1913 the Board of Trustees of Cumberland University renewed the proposition presented by them two years previous, and the same was accepted by the General Assembly and the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary were to receive the money when collected. For the particulars see the report of the Committee on Theological Seminary and Cumberland University, in the Minutes of the Assembly, 1913 pages 203-204. By this compromise the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary came in possession of $33,750.00, which was originally given as a trust fund for the maintenance of the Theological Department of Cumberland University. That we may fully understand just how the General Assembly intended this fund should be administered and applied, we quote from the Minutes of the Assembly of 1910, pages 46-47.

"Whereas, said fund has always been recognized by the Trustees of Cumberland University as a sepa-

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rate and distinct fund, for the use of the Theological Department; and,

"Whereas, said trustees have denied the right of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to control, manage, or in any way direct the use of said fund, and have submitted themselves to the direction and control of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.; and,

"Whereas, this Assembly believes that said action on the part of said board is a breach of trust upon which said fund is held, it now declares its intention to remove said fund and property representing same and parts of same from the control and possession of said Board of Trustees of Cumberland University, and place it under the control of the trustees provided for in the Constitution in 1852, herein before mentioned and quoted from, with that end in view, it hereby appoints Rev. J. R. Goodpasture, Nashville, Tenn.; Rev. J. L. Hudgins, Nashville, Tenn.; W. T. Marshall, Lebanon, Tenn.; Cap. H. T. Norman, Lebanon, Tenn., W. L. Danley, Nashville, Tenn., trustees, and directs them to take such steps as are necessary to remove said funds and property, real and personal from the control of the present Trustees, who are acting under the direction of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and said trustees herein appointed may incorporate themselves for the purpose of securing, holding and administering said trust fund and property."

The purpose of the above deliverance was consummated when the General Assembly of 1913 accepted the compromise offered by the Board of Trustees of Cumberland University, and as a result the net sum of $33,750.00 was placed in the hands of the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary subject to its control and administration.

To the General Assembly of 1914 the Committee on Education made the following recommendation which was adopted:

"That the work of maintaining a Theological School

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be hereafter placed in the hands of the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary."

This action relieved the Board of Education from further obligation to maintain the Theological School which had been temporarily placed in its hands.

The following quotation are taken from the Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary, and the report of the Committee on Theological Seminary:

"That the General Assembly forever retain its right to appoint all members of the Board of Trustees of the Theological Seminary, and that the control of the Theological Seminary, its property and funds, be vested forever in the Board so appointed."

"That the location of the Theological Seminary be temporarily maintained at its present place of location until sufficient progress shall have been made in collecting funds for the establishment of a permanent Theological Seminary, when the General Assembly shall take such steps to locate the institution as its wisdom may dictate."

"That the General Assembly authorize and instruct the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary to inaugurate a campaign for the raising of the sum of $100,000.00 additional to the $33,750.00, now on hand, one-third of this $100,000.00 to be used for the purchase of grounds and the erection and equipment of proper buildings."

"That the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary shall have power to elect all members of the faculty of the Theological Seminary, subject to the approval of the General Assembly at its next meeting after any member of the faculty shall have been elected."

When the General Assembly of 1914 adopted the above it definitely settled the following questions: 1. That the General Assembly shall appoint all members of the Board of Trustees; 2. That the control of the Seminary and property shall be vested in the

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Board of Trustees; 3. That the Theological Seminary be temporarily maintained at its present location (McKenzie, Tenn.); 4. That the Board is authorized to raise $100,000.00 in addition tot he $33,750.00 now on hand, one-third of which is to be used for the purchase of grounds and the erection and equipment of buildings; and, 5. That the Board shall elect the members of the faculty subject to the approval of the Assembly.

Basing its action on the deliverances of the General Assembly and its chartered rights the Board of Trustees of Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church met in the office of the Editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian, Nashville, Tenn., Monday, June 8, 1914, and did permanently organize the Theological Seminary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church by the election of a faculty, which are as follows: Rev. P. F. Johnson, A.B., B.D., Dean, McKenzie, Tenn., and Rev. S. H. Braly, B.D., McKenzie, Tenn., and adopted rules, regulations and a course of study for the same.

 

Requirements for Entrance.

The faculty will admit to full standing in the Theological Seminary any student who is a member in good standing in any evangelistic church, and who has completed a full high school course, or a course equivalent to it. New students are required to bring with them such letters or recommendation and testimonials as may serve to inform the faculty of their standing.

The privileges of the Seminary are open to students who may desire to pursue some special studies without taking the regular course.

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Course of Study.

First Year.

	Hours per week.
English Bible, History and Inspiration of	2
Sacred Geography and Antiquities	4
Systematic Theology	2
Hebrew	2
Greek	2--12

Second Year.

English Bible, Analysis of the Books or the Old     Testament	2
Church History	4
Systematic Theology	2
Hebrew	2
Greek	1-12

Third Year.

English Bible, Analysis of the Books of New     Testament	2
Comparison of Creeds	1
Preparation and Delivery of Sermons	2
Missions	2
Pastoral Theology	1
Hebrew	2
Greek	2--12

 

Course of Lectures.

The Boards of the Church named below, in accordance with former custom, may send a representative of their several Boards to deliver a course of lectures, not to exceed four in number, to the students of the Seminary on such topics as pertain to the interest of the particular Board which each speaker shall represent. The speaker may select any week during the month named for his Board.
    October--Board of Education.
    November--Board of Sunday School and Young People's Work.

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    December--Board of Ministerial Relief.
    January--Board of Missions.
    February--Woman's Board of Missions.
    March--Board of Theological Seminary.
    April--Board of Publication.

 

Preparatory Course.

Students who have not completed the high school course may receive instruction in the History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Confession of Faith and Government of the Church, and Blake's Condensed Theology.

 

Degrees.

Students who have made satisfactory grades in their studies and have attended 85 per cent of the class recitals shall be entitled, on completion of the full course, to the degree of Bachelor of Divinity.

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