officers of these State societies for their helpfulness in many ways; to the Congregationalist and Advance, and other religious papers, for kind references to our work; to the Secretaries of our Congregational Missionary Societies for a place occasionally upon the platforms of their conventions and rallies; to Rev. Drs. N. Boynton, Dana, Quint, and Jenkins for effective speeches before Congregational clubs; and to Wm. Ives Washburn, Esq., for an able and beautiful address showing "How It Looks to a Business Man," which has been published in a neat pamphlet through the generosity of the Brooklyn Congregational Club, at the suggestion of its President, Mr. G. W. Hebard.

There are others whom we would love to thank, but we miss them from our Congregational ranks to-day. Hon. Hamilton A. Hill favored us with a brief but choice address in Boston. He was chairman of the Finance Committee, for the investment of our funds. Mr. Charles H. Johnson, of Montclair, as chairman of the State Committee on Ministerial Relief, was very active and successful in securing invitations for our Secretary to visit some of the leading churches of New Jersey Association.

Besides these honored helpers, two others, associated with us as members of this committee from the beginning, six years ago, most justly claim a moment of grateful recollection. Col. Franklin Fairbanks gave to this new enterprise the benefit of his personal attention, his business sagacity, his sympathetic appreciation of difficulties to be surmonted, and the weight of his honored name. The brief but splendid campaign of Rev. Dr. William M. Taylor gave this new movement an impetus that is felt to-day. Praise God for the help which these good men gave to this and to every other good work, and for the inspiration of their influence, which lives on to bless the world after they have passed into the heavens.

A slight misapprehension seems to have arisen in the minds of some of our brethren, from a phrase in our first printed circular put forth in 1890, viz.: “The aim is to carry the fund up to $100,000 before the Council of 1892." From a dim recollection of this sentence, apart from its connection, the idea has become somewhat prevalent that $100,000 is all that will be needed; that it is the very goal of our ambition, the acme of our hopes. Nothing could be farther from our thoughts. Our idea was simply this: that if a good number of pastors and churches would take hold of

this work voluntarily and heartily, it would be possible to realize that amount within that time, and thus give the work respectability and popularity, so that all our churches would desire a share in it, and so that people of means would feel that it had stability and worth sufficient to warrant a share in their bequests. As Dr. Taylor, with his contagious enthusiasm, expressed it, "That will lift it into visibility." Or, in the words of another of our number, "That is the first landing on the stairway." The simple fact is that no one knew then, and no one knows now, how large a fund will be needed. The veterans of the Lord's army are not vociferously clamoring for pensions. We have had to argue and correspond with one disabled young comrade for three months to get him to accept the help which we knew he ought to have, and by which, now, after two years, his health is measurably restored. Three years ago we heard of an old home missionary who had done pioneer work from Connecticut to North Dakota; who had had a hand in building five churches and two parsonages, to all of which he had contributed according to his means; who was so disabled that he could walk but a few rods. It took him two years to make up his mind to send in an application; and when it came we were able to vote only half of the modest amount for which he asked. Such examples seem to indicate that there are others, not a few, self-respecting, cultivated, sensitive men and women, shrinking from accepting charity (though we assure them that it is not charity but the payment of a debt not only of money but of gratitude and love), whose declining years ought to be brightened by this delicate and substantial recognition of their faithful, life-long services.

After not three years, but six, of steady climbing, aided by the generous help of many pastors and churches, and by the Providential uplift of the Ford bequest, we are thankful that we have reached to-day, "the first landing on the stairway." We cannot doubt that with regard to this as to other great interests touching our Congregational progress and the Kingdom of our Lord, this Council's motto will be, "Excelsior!" and its message, "Speak unto the children of John Robinson that they go forward."

Respectfully submitted,

F. A. NOBLE.

H. A. STIMSON.
F. J. LAMB.
GEO. H. WELLS.

W. A. MAHONY.

W. E. HALE.

E. H. BAKER.

STATEMENTS OF THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES.1

ANDOVER.

REV. PROF. GEORGE HARRIS.

THE number of students is somewhat less than three years ago, but about the same as last year, namely, fifty-four. Only one student is not a college graduate.

One third of the studies are now elective. The elective courses include Exegesis, Old Testament Theology, 'the Life of Christ, Christian Ethics, the Philosophy of Religion, History of Religions, Social Economics and Philanthropy, English Poetry and Drama. This extension of studies makes it necessary for our graduates to take a fourth year of advanced studies.

Several students do mission work in Boston and vicinity on Saturdays and Sundays, and nearly all preach occasionally or regularly in neighboring pulpits. The majority of the graduates of the last three years are pastors of New England churches. Others are preaching and teaching in the Western and Southern States under the direction of the Home Missionary Society and the American Missionary Association. Two are foreign missionaries.

One of the recent graduates who obtained the foreign fellowship is instructor in Old Testament Literature in this Seminary, and another is Instructor in New Testament Literature in the Harvard Divinity School.

BANGOR.

REV. PROF. LEVI L. PAINE.

Two somewhat notable events have occurred in the history of Bangor Seminary since the last Triennial National Council.

First, the establishment of the Bond Lectureship. Two full courses of eight lectures have already been given. The first course was given by Rev. W. E. Griffis, of Ithaca, N. Y., on "The Ethnic Religions of China and Japan." The second course was given by Rev. A. J. F. Behrends, of Brooklyn, N. Y., on " The Intellectual Equipment of the Minister." The next course will be given by Rev. Newman Smythe, of New Haven, Conn., on some sociological subject.

The second notable event is, the institution of the English Biblical Course. This course is unique in some of its features, and

1 Page 29.

unlike similar courses in other seminaries. I wish, therefore, to call special attention to it and to its chief peculiarities. For this purpose let me read a part of the account which is given of it in the last catalogue.

"THE ENGLISH BIBLICAL COURSE. Attention is called to the English Biblical Course which has recently been instituted in the seminary as an elective in Junior year. Its special object is to supply the needs of a class of students who are lacking in classical training, or who for any reason prefer a theological education on the basis of the English language. The demands of the churches for pastors have been greater than could be supplied with men of collegiate or classical education. The seminary therefore admits students who are qualified in other respects, but have had no previous classical training, and by reason of age or other circumstances are unable to delay longer their theological studies. It is intended that the English Course shall be as thoroughly scientific and scholarly in its character as the other departments. A comparison of the programs of the two courses, as given on the fourteenth page, will reveal another important aim of this addition to the curriculum. It will be noticed that certain studies are common to both courses. Several of these studies are new and are introduced not only for the sake of the English Course, but also that other members of the Junior class may gain the needed preparation in mental, ethical, and philosophical studies for the departments of systematic and historical theology. The intention is in this way to strengthen all the departments of seminary instruction.

"It is to be observed that the distinction of the two courses is chiefly confined to Junior year; and even here, as was noted above, is not complete. In rhetoric, psychology of the mental and moral powers, history of Greek philosophy, and history of the religion of Israel, the two divisions of the class are united. In the Middle and Senior years the course is essentially one. This is wholly the case in the departments of theology, church history, and homiletics, and also in most of the exercises of the Exegetical departments.

"A distinctive feature of this course is the study of the English Bible, six hours a week being devoted to the subjects of Biblical exegesis, introduction, and history.

"As the course is an elective, it is optional to all students who are proper candidates for the Christian ministry, and those who

enter it are regarded as members of the seminary in regular standing. A full diploma is also given at graduation."

Four things are to be noted in this account.

First. The English course is an organic part of the regular seminary curriculum, distinct from the classical course only in Junior year, and even then not wholly so, while in the Middle and Senior years, the two parts of the class are substantially united, pursuing together the same studies. Thus discriminations are avoided, and none of those irritations arise which discriminations are always liable to develop. As a matter of fact no troubles of this kind have yet occurred.

Second. The English Course is intended to be as scholarly and scientific in its methods of instruction as the Classical Course. This depends, of course, on the character of the instructor; and I can truthfully say that the newly elected professor of the English Biblical Course, Prof. Gilmore, is fully the equal of his associates in scholarly accomplishments, while, for example, his Biblical exegesis is on the basis of the revised version of the English Bible, he himself goes behind that version to the Hebrew and Greek originals, and draws instruction from his classical knowledge, as every true teacher does in any department.

Third. The English Course is made to strengthen the Classical Course, by the addition of several important studies, such as psychology, ethics and the history of Greek philosophy, which have never before been included in the curriculum. Thus it is seen that the general character and quality of the curriculum is not lowered, but rather raised by the new course.

Fourthly, the English Course has been instituted to satisfy a demand that has been growing more and more pressing; viz., to furnish a course of study that shall meet the wants of young men who, for one reason or another, have not been able to obtain a classical education, or who, from lack of classical ability and tastes, prefer to be instructed on the basis of the English language. Hitherto we have been compelled to reject such men or admit them with all their classical deficiency to the classical course. We are no longer reduced to this alternative. The English Course, with studies adapted to their needs, is now open to them.

It only remains to say that the new course has already thoroughly vindicated itself and proved the wisdom of its establishment. It is now entering on its third year and its success is no longer prob