Columbia Theological Seminary Bulletin, 38, number 1, June 1945

COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

DECATUR, GEORGIA
Founded 1828

A Program of Advance

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PROPOSED LIBRARY AND CENTRAL TOWER

FOR COUNTRY

FOR CHURCH

FOR CHRIST

PREPARING TO PREACH IN THE SEMINARY CHAPEL

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY
Volume XXXVIII

JUNE, 1945

DECATUR, GEORGIA

No.. 1

Entered as Second Qass Matter May 9, 1928, at the Post Office at Decatur, Georgia,
Under the Aat of August 24, 1912.

CAMPBELL HALL

The Theological Seminary
and the Church

The work of the ministry is the heart of the Church. Every aspect of the
Christian enterprise, as we know it, is vitally affected by the man who
stands in the pulpit. The calling of men to the ministry is an act of God,
through such agencies as He chooses. The responsibility for training these men
rests with His Church.

In the provision of this training the work of the theological seminary is indis-
pensable. It is the West Point and the Annapolis of the Church. Here the
leaders of Christian forces both at home and abroad are prepared for their task.
This is a form of education which cannot be given by the state, and for which
the Church cannot afford to rely on any independent agency. It must provide
adequately for theological education if it is to live and to grow. Nothing less
than the best will be sufficient.

The theological seminary is primarily a place where men are prepared in
mind and in spirit for the preaching of the Gospel. It is more than that, how-
ever. Every seminary is a recruiting agency as well. Its very presence is a
challenge for the young men of its area to face the question of a possible call to
the ministry. As its professors and students go out into the churches nearby,
they are reminders of that call, by their very presence as well as by their words.

It is a significant fact that in a recent year the twelve states of our country
having the smallest proportionate number of candidates were states in which no
theological seminary was located.

Again the seminary is an agency for the strengthening of the Church and the
advancement of the Church's entire program in its area. Its library, its short
courses, and its faculty are a source of strength to ministers in its surrounding
territory. Its professors serve constantly as supplies of vacant pulpits and conduct
special services or training classes as the opportunity arises. Its students receive
their practical training by serving in home mission churches and in religious edu-
cation programs for which workers would otherwise not be available. Its gradu-
ates, for the most part, begin their ministry and remain for a number of years in
the general area served by the institution. Missionaries from the Foreign Field
come to its campus for rest and for study during their periods of furlough, and in
coming they inspire students to volunteer for appointment as missionaries.
Money invested in a theological seminary is truly invested in the whole program
of the Church.

COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Columbia Seminary is rich in the traditions of a great past. More important
far, however, it is blessed with the opportunity for a great future.

Existing primarily to serve the Presbyterian Church and the cause of all the
Churches in the Southeastern States, it is owned by the Synods of Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. These courts of the Presby-
terian Church, U. S., govern the seminary by the election of its Board of
Directors. It is maintained for their benefit and to them it must look for
support.

For a period of 117 years Columbia Seminary has made a contribution of
tremendous importance to the life and thought of the Church. During this
century and more it has trained 1257 men as ministers of the Gospel. Most of
these were Presbyterians but a number have served in sister denominations,
for the institution has always opened its doors and extended its welcome to
candidates of all the Evangelical Churches. Among the outstanding leaders
whom it has trained are such men as Benjamin M. Palmer, James Henley
Thornwell, J. Leighton Wilson, J. B. Adger, Charles Colcock Jones, James
Woodrow, John L. Girardeau, Hampden C. DuBose, C. A. Stillman, C. W.
Grafton, Samuel L. Morris, and many others. Woodrow Wilson was the son
of a professor in the institution, made his first profession of faith in its little
chapel, and enriched his mind by long hours of reading in its library. Late in
his life he declared that he had never heard such eloquence elsewhere as he
heard from its professors in those years on its old campus in Columbia, S. C.

At least 64 sons of the institution have gone as missionaries to the foreign
field, and this number is being increased with every class which graduates. Dr.
C. Darby Fulton, an alumnus of the seminary, is now serving as Executive

A RECENT GRADUATING CLASS

Secretary of Foreign Missions and another alumnus, Rev. Richard T. Gillespie,
has recently been appointed as Candidate Secretary. Hundreds of Columbia
graduates have served in the equally important task of Home Missions. Others
have made their contribution as pastors of all types of churches or as faculty
members in our institutions of Christian learning. Of the 505 graduates of the
seminary who are now in the ministry 78 have served during this war as chap-
lains in the armed forces of the United States. One of these has laid down his
life for his country, and several have been decorated for gallantry.

Columbia Seminary is a member of the American Association of Theological
Schools and is accredited by that body. The ability of its faculty is recognized
throughout our Church. In addition to their work as teachers, preachers, and
presbyters, these men have contributed to the thought of the churches through
many scholarly books and articles. At present the institution is cooperating with
the Navy in the V-12 program for the training of Navy Chaplains being the
only seminary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S., which is included in that
program.

In recent years Columbia Seminary has also instituted a Bible Training Course
for the benefit of prospective missionaries and of teachers in our public schools.
A cooperative agreement with Agnes Scott College makes it possible for a
number of courses to be taken there. The degree of M.A. in Biblical Education
is awarded to college graduates who complete the required work. This depart-
ment of the seminary's work seems destined to be of increasing importance in
the future.

IEW FROM CAMPBELL HALL FACULTY HOMES AGNES SCOTT IN DISTANCE

THE DORMITORY

COLUMBIA'S OPPORTUNITY

Columbia Seminary is strategically located in the very heart of the South
and has easy access to every part of that section. The area embraced in the five
states for which it has an especial responsibility contains 247,785 square miles
with a population of over 10,000,000 persons. Less than one-half of this popu-
lation is affiliated with any branch of the Church. Our denomination in this
territory reports 1,124 churches, 162,469 members, and 721 ordained ministers
and licentiates. Presbyterianism has not done its part in winning the South for
Christ. It can hardly hope to do its part in the future without maintaining a
strong theological seminary in this immediate area. It is vitally important to
our success in this task that our seminary shall be thoroughly equipped for its
task.

The South is still a predominantly rural section. The major part of the farm
population of our country is found in this area of the United States. The im-
portance of this fact will be recognized at once when we remember that this is
the element in our population which is rearing by far the largest number of our
children. The major part of our nation's future leaders will probably come from
our farms, and great numbers of these from the South. Here is one of the
greatest challenges which confronts our Church today. One of the next forward
steps at Columbia Seminary must be the establishment of a Chair of Rural
Church Work and Evangelism.

At the same time the South is almost certainly destined to witness great
industrial developments during the decade following the war. The City of

Atlanta, for example, is basing its plans today upon an expected population of
1,000,000 in the reasonably near future. Other cities of this section likewise antici-
pate rapid expansion. The population of the South may increase very rapidly
with a proportionate increase in the task of the churches.

Even without that increase the post-war years will bring greater problems to
the Christian forces of America. The real danger of America today lies not in
external enemies, but in moral decay at home. The future of our nation will
depend ultimately upon its attitude toward God.

It is time for the Church to sound the advance all along the line. In the
work of the Presbyterian Church for the Southeastern States, Columbia Semi-
nary has an opportunity and a responsibility of inestimable importance. It must
be ready for its task.

RECENT PROGRESS AND A
FUTURE PROGRAM

In 1927 Columbia Theological Seminary was removed from its old site in
Columbia, S. C, to its present location in Decatur, Ga., so that it might more
adequately serve its territory. In 18 years, despite the difficulties of Depression
and of War, it has made remarkable progress.

A beautiful campus of 57 acres and two handsome buildings of modern design,
with five faculty residences, were provided for the seminary by the Presbyterians
of Atlanta. The value of this property is conservatively estimated at $500,000.
For the past 1 1 years consecutively the institution has operated without a deficit,
and in 1936 its total indebtedness of $100,000 was paid in full. During the
past eight years its endowment has increased from approximately $300,000 to
the $734,257.76 reported in its last audit. Its student body had also grown
steadily until the interruption imposed by war, and the seminary was sending
more men into the service of the Church than ever before. It is expected that
there will be a further steady growth when the war is ended.

Gratifying as its recent progress has been, however, Columbia Seminary has
now only reached that stage of stability at which long range plans for the future
can be made with confidence. Its endowment is still small as compared with that
of most similar institutions. Its Board of Directors is convinced that its mini-
mum endowment in the early future should be $1,000,000, so that two full
professors may be added to its faculty. A new library building should be
erected at a cost of $150,000. This would enable the seminary to serve its
students and the ministers of its area more effectively. It would also make
possible a larger contribution to the Greater University Center of Georgia, a
cooperative educational enterprise in which the seminary has been included from
its inception some years ago. There is also need for the erection on the campus
of a number of apartments to provide living quarters for missionary families on
furlough and for married students of the seminary. The need for these latter will
be especially great just after the war, when a number of men from service will

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A CAMPUS SCENE

be returning to study for the ministry, many of them having already established
their families.

The growing student body which is expected will also call for an increased
number of scholarships. Ministerial candidates usually come from homes of
moderate financial means. Their own resources are often exhausted in providing
for the four-year college course which is a prerequisite for admission to the
seminary. They will receive small salaries when they enter the ministry. It is
important that they should not be heavily burdened with debt when they enter
upon their work. The seminary should be able to provide them with financial
aid when this is needed.

THE NEXT STEP FORWARD

In recognition of its need to prepare for the future, friends of Columbia
Seminary in Atlanta have recently promised a gift of $50,000 for its endow-
ment, upon condition that $100,000 be secured from other sources by January
1, 1946.

Columbia Seminary has learned through experience that a quiet campaign
which does not involve high pressure methods and heavy expenses is most
desirable from every viewpoint. It has found its friends ready to respond to
such an appeal in the past, and their loyalty has made possible an amazing record.
In 1940 a total of $200,000 was secured for the institution at a cost of $6,764.13.
In 1943, $100,000 was secured at the even lower proportionate cost of $1,166.73.

Of all pledges made in these campaigns 99.3% have now been paid in full.

The fact that Columbia Seminary has had two campaigns recently makes its
present task far from easy. Nevertheless the opportunity and the need before us
are so great that we must not be turned aside by difficulties. Of the $100,000
which is necessary, approximately one-half has now been raised in cash or is
already promised. Less than six months remains for the raising of $500,000. Every
dollar which is given now will be the means of bringing another dollar to the
institution. Columbia Seminary appeals to its friends to help it meet this chal-
lenge, as it prepares for a future of larger and more useful service.

Gifts of United States Government bonds for the seminary's endowment
provide an excellent opportunity for a dual contribution to the welfare of our
nation and of the Church at this time.

GIFTS OF MEMORIAL AND
OF GRATITUDE

As a result of the most awful war the world has known, countless homes
have been bereaved. Many individuals and families will wish to establish lasting
memorials to loved ones who have made the supreme sacrifice for country and
for humanity. What memorial to a Christian soldier could be more appropriate
than an endowment fund to prepare men for preaching the Gospel of the
Prince of Peace?

Equally appropriate and timely was the action of a father who recently sent

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MEMORIAL TABLET, CAMPBELL HALL

a generous gift as an expression of gratitude to God that the life of his son had
been spared throughout the dangers of conflict in Europe. Such gratitude is too
rare a quality in Christians, and needs to be cultivated by us all.

A full scholarship at Columbia Seminary may be endowed for $2500.00.
Smaller gifts for the endowment of scholarship aid or of the general expenses
of the seminary will be gratefully accepted. Any memorial endowment gift will
be recorded permanently on the books of the seminary and will be administered
as a trust fund. The name of every such endowment fund amounting to as
much as $500 will be printed in the catalogue of the institution.

For those who would prefer memorials in the form of buildings a number of
excellent opportunities will be available in connection with the proposed library
and central tower, and with the erection of missionary apartments. The presi-
dent of the seminary will be glad to confer or correspond concerning these pos-
sibilities with any who may be interested.

PROVISION THROUGH WILLS

One of the greatest possibilities for the future of our Presbyterian institutions
lies in benefits which they may receive through wills. In this way a man may
perpetuate and enlarge his influence long after his earthly life is ended. There
are probably many who cannot give a large sum now, but who could afford
to provide generous amounts out of their estates. Columbia Seminary earnestly
requests the Presbyterians of the Southeast to include its work in their wills.

INVEST

for

The Future of Church and Country

Through

Columbia Theological Seminary