THEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.
Its Catholicity—Closing Exercises.
The year of the Theological Department of Howard University has just closed. This department is under the joint care and support of the Presbytery of Washington, and of the American Missionary Association. The former sustains Rev. L. Westcott, as Professor of Revealed Theology and Biblical History, and Rev. A. W. Pitzer, D. D., as Professor of Biblical Studies and Moral Science; the latter supplies the instruction given by the President, Rev. Wm. W. Patton, D. D., in Natural Theology, the Evidences of Revealed Religion, and Hebrew, and by Rev. John G. Butler, D. D., in Pastoral Theology, Church History, and Homiletics. The theological students this year have numbered thirty-two. These are in all stages of preparation for their expected work. Several are already ministers, and are preaching, every Sunday, as pastors of colored churches in Washington; but, having had no early advantages, they are making up deficiencies as best they can.
The theological students come from seven different denominations, while their instructors represent four. This is an unusual illustration of Christian union, and shows how much can be done, on a simple evangelical basis, for meeting the pressing wants of the colored population of our land. The work needs to be conducted on a broad, generous basis. We can thus introduce a powerful leaven of truth and righteousness where it is especially needed. The plan of instruction has been, to meet the special wants of each individual according to his age, his forwardness or backwardness of study, the time that he could remain, etc. Such as have enjoyed a classical education, are encouraged to take the regular three years’ course pursued in all theological seminaries. Others are taught what is found to be most needed to fit them for their work, in the form of English studies. Six have studied the Hebrew this year, and they passed a creditable examination in the grammar, and in translation, averaging quite as well as ordinary white students in theological institutions. These students also attend the Bible-class conducted by the president on the morning of the Lord’s day, and his preaching service in the afternoon, in the latter of which he has lately, in a series of discourses, pointed out the weakness and absurdity of modern skepticism, as an antidote to the influence of the infidel lecturer, popularly called “Bob” Ingersoll, who has taken up his abode in Washington.
Although the theological students have numbered thirty-two this year, it so happens that but one has completed his course; and as a distinguished clergyman who, it was hoped, would deliver the address at the anniversary, failed us at too late a moment to substitute any one else, the closing exercises took the form of a debate by eight of the young men, on this question: “Has a church a right to make total abstinence from intoxicating drinks a condition of membership?” This point was debated with much earnestness and shrewdness, and arguments, pro and con, were drawn ingeniously from reason and Scripture in a way which testified favorably to the abilities of the speakers. One of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States takes a deep interest in this department of the University, and lately expressed himself emphatically in favor of encouraging and endowing it, as an important means of elevating the colored ministry and churches of all denominations. Its friends anticipate for it a future bright with usefulness.