1915 Cedrus Yearbook

Cedarville Theological Seminary T a meeting of the Reformed Presbytery of North America held in John Thompson's home, Conococheague, October, 1807, a committee consisting of the Reverends Gibson, Wylie, and McLeod, were appointed to inquire into the necessity for establishing a Theological Seminary, if such necessity existed, and to outline a plan for the inspection of the Presbytery. On the following day the committee reported the need of such an institution and presented an outline of the plan. The Presbytery considered the articles of the constitution, and with some amendments adopted them. The Seminary was to be located at Philadelphia. Rev. Samuel B. Wylie of Philadelphia was unanimously elected Professor of Theology and Messrs. Gibson, Black, and McLeod, Superintendents for the first year after its organization. The Superintendents met with the Professors in Philadelphia, May, I 809, to organize the Seminary and make all necessary arrangements. No students had presented themselves. A committee appointed for this purpose reported that the amended draft of the con- stitution had not been published and that they had not made an appeal to the church in general, for pecuniary aid. The suggestion was made that the Seminary be removed from Philadelphia to Walkill, but the opposition of Mr. Wylie was so decided that it was thought best to continue its seat in Philadelphia. The Board of Superintendents were instructed to meet with the Professors in Philadelphia in 1810, and to exert them- selves in behalf of the institution. Mr. Gibson having declined to serve as a Superin- tendent, Rev. Gilbert McMasters was appointed in his stead, and the Seminary was organized May 25, 1810. Rev. S. B. Wylie, D.D., was its first, and for many years, its only Professor. The number of students who attended was comparatively large, but it was not sustained by the church with the interest which it should have excited. It was therefore suspended for several years, but its usefulness being generally acknowledged, it was revived in 1823, and its former Professor appointed 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 1844 it was reorganized with Dr. S. B. Wylie as Professor of Theology and Dr. Samuel W. Crawford, Adjunct Professor. The course of instruction was to occupy four successive annual sessions, each session to be of four months' continuance, from the first of December to the first of April. In 1850, a second Theological Seminary had been organized at Xenia, Ohio, with Dr. McMaster, Professor of Theology, and Rev. Hugh McMillan, Assistant Pro- fessor. When the Wylies, father and son, resigned in 1851, the Philadelphia Seminary was removed to New York and Dr. John N. McLeod was appointed Professor of Theology. In 1854 General Synod decided to unite the eastern and western Seminaries and locate the institution at Philadelphia. In I 863 Dr. David Steele began his con- nection with the Seminary and held it until 1906. Rev. Matthew Gaily was elected Professor of Hebrew and Greek in 1876, and continued to teach until his death in 1902. In I 890, Dr. I. Y. Boice was elected Professor of Homiletics, Church His- tory, and Pastoral Theology. In 1903 Dr. Tames D. Steele was elected Professor of Hebrew and Church History. In 1906, Rev. W. J. Smiley of Sparta, Illinois, was elected Professor of Hebrew and Church History. In 1913 the Seminary was removed to Cedarville, Ohio. Dr. David McKinney, Dr. W. R. McChesney, Prof. F. A. Jurkat, and Rev. Leroy Allen were appointed Professors. In 1914. Dr. McKinney resigned and the work in h;s department wa6 taken tr) by Dr. McChesney. 79