JOURNAL

OF

THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.

FEBRUARY, 1837.

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL OF GENEVA, (SWITZERLAND.)

Founded by the Evangelical Society of Geneva.

The following communication has been received by the Secretary of the American Education Society, for publication.

THE first thing that appeared necessary to effect the object of the Evangelical Society, was to found a school for theology, in which students might be instructed in the orthodox doctrines of the Reformation, instead of those Unitarian opinions which are now spread so extensively in Geneva and throughout France.

The Evangelical Society effected this in the year 1831. Their school reports five professors,—

Rev. T. H. MErle d' Aubigne, Pres. of the school and Prof. of Theol. Hist. Rev. L. GANSSEN, Professor of Doctrinal Theology. Rev. A. GALLAND, Professor of Practical Divinity. Rev. S. PREISWERK, Lecturer of the Old Testament. Rev. S. PILET, Lecturer of the New Testament. The report of the school for Aubigné, on the 2d of June ult.

1836, was presented by Rev. T. H. Merle d' We offer a few short extracts of that report. Friends of the School.

The reverend gentleman, on presenting the report, read to the meeting various testimonies of the interest and affection felt towards the school, which he had received from America, England, Holland, Germany, Switzerland and France.

"Your school," writes one of the devoted friends to the spread of the gospel in France, "your school is the centre of your labors; it is the most important part of your undertaking; it is that which, under present circumstances, can perhaps be done but by you alone; it is that which most recommends your society to strangers; and which, as it appears to me, is one of the necessities created by that awakening of religious feelings, which we witness."

The reverend gentleman, after reading some other extracts, added a few words: "It is, gentlemen, a most touching circumstance, and one that fills us with much joy, to see the churches of the Reformation thus giving us these valuable testimonies of their brotherly feelings towards us. They have understood that our cause is theirs, and theirs ours. They have seen that, weak and unworthy successors though we are of Calvin and Beza, yet that, united with our dear fellow-countrymen of ages long gone by, not only by the ties of the same faith, but of the same views of church discipline, the very end of our existence, as a society, is to maintain, as far as our means and weakness will allow us, the precious heritage of the faith once delivered to the saints, of the light of evangelical truth, of the Christian virtues and Christian graces transmitted to us by our fathers, and thus to prevent the church, led and nourished by them, from being separated by the corruption of its doctrines, from the other reformed churches.

Students who have left the School.

Since the last report, two students, M. M. Martin and Daudet, have passed their great examination, and have been ordained ministers, with the laying on of hands of the pastors of the Established Reformed Church of France. Twelve who had studied either in part or altogether in the school, are now actively employed in the Lord's vineyard. They have therein, different stations and different vocations, but all, as we hope, preach with one heart, the same salvation. Some are pastors of the Established Reformed Church, and one is curate of a pastor of that church. Others again, are pastors of new flocks, the members of which were previously all Roman Catholics; and others, without having any definitive charge, are engaged in the work of evangelists. Lastly, there is a twelfth who is gone out as a missionary to preach the name of Christ in India. Thus, gentlemen, in all the ends which this institution has proposed to itself, there is but one pervading motive-a real catholicism. God has been pleased to imprint this character on our school: our sole end is, by the grace of God, to form ministers to preach the word; but, when formed, we leave them to employ themselves in that branch of the ministry to which their heavenly Master shall be pleased to call them.

Theological Students and their Studies.

If we compare our theological institution with those in the universities of Germany, England, or the seminaries of the United States, the number of our students will doubtless appear but small. But if we look at our institution as but newly established, and if we view it with reference to our present circumstances, or even in proportion to analogous institutions of our own country, we shall understand that, in this respect also, we have many thanks to render to God.

We have, at present, ten students in the Theological School; twelve in the preparatory; twenty-two in all, beside four who are studying to prepare themselves to enter, and one who is preparing to pass his great examination. The course of lectures for the past year, embraces the following subjects,— Doctrines of Christianity.

Morals of Christianity.

Hebrew.

Exposition of the Old and New Testaments.

Critical examination of the Bible.

History of Theocracy, Church History, Archeology.

Homilies, Polemical Divinity.

The students have shown very great attention and application, and the examination on the various subjects, which has taken place annually, at the school, after Easter, conducted on paper, has proved perfectly satisfactory.

Private meetings, confined to the students, have taken place in the evening, at the houses of the different professors.

The attempts of preaching which have been made by the students, prove their progress in that department. Their compositions have been rendered very interesting, from the practical Christianity with which they were impressed, and the knowledge of the word of God, for which they were

remarkable.

With the design of providing for pressing wants, or to improve themselves in the work of evangelists, meetings for edification have been held by the students, in places more or less distant from the town.

Lastly, under the grace of God, our students have made great progress in serious dispositions and in feeling the high dignity of their calling.

Expenses of the School.

During the existence of the school for the two first years, the donations were very considerable. The following are the receipts and expenses of the last three years,

1833, £368

1834, £784

1835, £360

The surplus of the year 1834, above the other two years, is accounted for by the receipt of two extraordinary donations. One of £200 from a friend of the gospel in Geneva, and another of £212 from a friend to the gospel in America. But if these two extraordinary sums are subtracted, there remains a balance of £372 for that year, whence it appears that the average annual receipts of the school for these three years, may be reckoned at £360.

On the other hand, the expenses of the school are £800 a year: the figures speak for themselves. It is evident, that if the receipts continue in their present proportion, the school must fail for want of support. But, whence comes this diminution which we have noticed during the three last years? During this period, two other societies have been formed and nursed in the bosom of the parent society, both of them excellent societies, viz.-one for selling Bibles (colportage), and another for evangelization.

These societies have justly engaged the attention and interest of the friends of our society; and many of our subscribers have divided their donations amongst them all.

Yet, gentlemen, at what moment more than the present, is there so much need of our school; at a moment when, of two venerable institutions analogous to our own, established in two neighboring countries, one is expiring from want of pupils altogether, and the other has but one.* Will not believers, therefore, support our school, counting as it does twenty-two students, whose hearts are set upon Christ? Let not a single penny be withdrawn from societies so valuable as those of colportage and evangelization; but, at the same time, let us call your attention to the necessities of the school, for, would it not be a singular means of advancing evangelization, to withdraw our support from institutions especially designed to form evangelists? and that too, at a moment when we are told on all sides, that the great obstacle in the way of evangelization, is a deficiency of ministers suitable to the work. It would be like digging up the foundations of a tower, under the fantastic notion of carrying them away, to add to the height of it.-Let us call to mind the words of our Lord: "These things ought ye to have done and not have left the others undone." Matt. xxiii. 23.

Since the above report of 1836, several piously disposed youths have presented themselves for entrance into the school. The majority of pupils in the school, being children of the poor, it was necessary to supply them with money; and these stipends amount to £24 per annum.

This support has been granted only to those whose hearts, as far as man can judge, are really turned to God.

The Christians of Geneva are too few, to sustain expenses so large as are those necessary to support the students and professors' expenses (be it observed), not for Geneva, but for the church in general.

It is for this reason, that we say to our fellow-christians beyond the seas: "Come over and help us." Acts xvi. 9.

The above communication was accompanied by the following letter:

Rev. Dr. Cogswell, Secretary American Education Society.

Paris, October 12, 1836.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,-I transmit to you the accompanying letter, which the Rev. Mr. Merle d' Aubigné, president of the new school of theology at Geneva, has addressed to you, and which he has requested me to forward. I know not what use you can make of it, inasmuch as you are restrained by your charter, as it is believed, from undertaking to do any thing for foreign countries. Perhaps a knowledge of the claims of the Evangelical Society of Geneva, and especially of the Theological School under its care, might lead some of the liberal Christians in Boston, to do something to aid that institution, through the

* Missionary Institution at Lausanne, and Missionary Institution at Paris.

medium of the Foreign Evangelical Society at New York, of which the Rev. Prof. Proudfit, of the New York University, is the Corresponding Secretary. That society, it appears to me, is the proper organ for communicating aid from the American churches to the important seminary at Geneva; and I cannot but hope that something efficient may be done. You will see from the letter of Mr. Merle d' Aubigné, that the prospect of that institution is in the highest degree encouraging, as well as that its wants are very pressing. Indeed, it ought to be endowed by the churches in our country. A more important enterprise could hardly be undertaken.

I take the liberty of correcting a statement which Mr. Merle d' Aubigné makes in regard to the Missionary Institution in this city. It was true, that, at the time when the Geneva Evangelical Society held its last annual meeting, (in the summer,) there was but one student in the mission-house here. But the number has since increased to nine, and several have been refused.

I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

ROBERT BAIRD.

The Theological School at Geneva, is vastly important to the interests of Evangelical religion in that country, and it ought to be sustained either by Christians there or abroad. There can be no question on this point. It is probable that the Christians at Geneva will contribute to this object more and more every year. Such have been the operations of benevolent efforts in this country. Till this shall be the case to a much larger extent than at present, the school at Geneva must receive assistance from abroad. And the churches in this country ought to bear their part-perhaps more may be expected, indeed ought to be expected from them. The method of rendering assistance, mentioned by the Rev. Mr. Baird, is undoubtedly the best that can be adopted. The Foreign Evangelical Society, whose centre of operations is at New York, is established for purposes of this kind, and is the right channel through which to afford the assistance desired. We have confidence in the society, and would warmly commend it to the patronage of the Christian community. Should any of the friends of Zion in New England, be disposed to aid in promoting the cause of Evangelical religion in Geneva, they have now a favorable opportunity to do it; and probably their contributions could never be more seasonably rendered, than at the present time. We are authorized to say, that any contributions made for this purpose, if sent to John Tappan, Esq. or Messrs. Edwards & Stoddard, Boston, will be forwarded to the Foreign Evangelical Society at New York, and thence transmitted to the Evangelical Society at Geneva, for the objects stated in the report of the Rev. Mr. Merle d' Aubigné.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "To do good and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices, God is well pleased."

THE LAST THURSDAY OF FEBRUARY.