1918-1919 Academic Catalog

HISTORIC AL SKETCH OF SEMINARY Rev. . B. Wylie, D. D., was its fir t, and for many years its only professor. The ·number of students was comparatively large, but the Seminary was not sustained by the Church with the interest which should have been manifested. It was there– fore suspended from 1817 until 1823, but its usefulness being generally acknowledged, it was revived in 1823, and its former professor was reappointed to take charge of it. The contro– versies 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 instruct– ed 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. \!Vylie 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 Professor. 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 East– ern Seminary in 1851, it was removed to l ew 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 Philadelphia. The Rev. John N. McLeod, D. D .., was elected Professor of Systematic and Practical Theology, and Rev. T. \V. J. Wylie was chosen Professor of Biblical Literature. In 1863 the Rev. David Steele, D. D., was elected Professor of Hebrew, Greek and Practical Theology. In 1868, Doctor Wylie, with his Presbytery, seceded from the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and his chair was de– olared vacant . The Rev. David Steele, D. D., was elected Professor of Biblical Literature in 1869, and upon the death of Doctor McLeod in 1874, was chosen Professor of Theology. The chair of Biblical Literature was filled temporarily by Rev. A. Thompson, Rev. W. J. McDowell and Rev. Matthew 42