1917-1918 Academic Catalog

HISTORY OF THE SEMINARY clined to serve as a superintendent, Rev. Gilbert McMaster was appointed in his stead, and the Seminary was organ– ized May 25, 1810. Rev. S. B. Wylie, D. D., was its first, and for many years its only professor. The number of students was compar– atively large, but the Seminary was not sustained by the Church with the interest which should have been mani– fested. It was therefore suspended from 1817 until 1823, but its usefulness being generally acknowledged, it was re– vived in 1823, and its former professor was reappointed to take charge of it. The controversies that agitated the Church and finally resulted in the division of 1833, affected the Seminary so injuriously that it was again suspended in 1827. From 1817 until 1823, and again from 1827 until 1844, the training of theological students was under the care of the several presbyteries. Dr. S. B. Wylie trained more than any other minister. Doctor Black instructed many in the West, and Dr. James R. Wilson several in the East. Others studied under the direction of their pastors. In 1844 the Seminary was reorganized with Dr. S. B. Wylie as Professor of Theology, and Dr. Samuel W. Crawford as Adjunct Professor. The course of instruction was to occupy four successive annual sessions, each session to be of four months' duration, from the first of December to the first of April. For a number of years Dr. S. B. Wylie was also assisted by his son, the Rev. Theodorus W. J. Wylie, as Junior Pro– fessor. In 1850 a second theological seminary was organized at Xenia, Ohio, with Dr. Gilbert McMaster as Professor of Theology, and the Rev. Hugh McMillan as Assistant Pro– fessor. When the Wylies, father and son, resigned from the Eastern Seminary in 1851, it was removed to New York City, and Dr. John N. McLeod was elected Professor of Theology. In 1854, General Synod decided to unite the Eastern and Western Seminaries and locate the institution at Philadel– phia. The Rev. John N. McLeod, D. D., was elected Profes– sor of Systematic and Practical Theology, and Rev. T. W. J . Wylie was chosen Professor of Biblical Literature. In 1863 the Rev. David Steele, D. D., was elected Pro- - 41-