A Theological School Wanted

Rev. Henry Tatlock delivered the mnual sermón at the Episcopal diocesan convention this week, in the course of which he referred at length to the church work in this :ity, and an appeal for the establishment of an Episcopal theological seminary here. This part of his address was as foilows : There are many proofs of wisdom in the administration of the church in this diocese. In the laying of the foundation and in the rearing of the superstructure of our city of God, there is abundant evidence of the presence of the spirit of wisdom and understanding. But in recent years, as it seems to me, nothing that the church in Michigan has done gives fuller proof of the presence of that spirit than the establishing of the church hall and guild in connection with our great University at Ann Arbor, and I consider it my duty, in view of my personal relation to it, to avail myself of this opportunity to bear testimony to the inestimable valué and importance of this institution. In the founding of this instrumentality for bringing to bear the influence of the church upon the student community at Ann Arbor, we have, perhaps, the most conspicuous illustration of that prescience' in design ánd courage in execution for which Bishop Harris was pre-eminently distinguished. It is not too much to say that the opportunity for the church at the University of Michigan is unsurpassed anywhere in the United States. Here is a University standing in the first rank in respect of every quality which belongs to a great institution of learning; a university which has sent forth, during the fifty-six years of its existence, eleven thousand and five hundred graduates, and which has given instruction to twenty-three thousand men and women. There is only one other university in the country equal to it in magnitude, while in respect of the extent of the territory from which it draws its students and to which it sends forth its graduates, it stands unequalled in the world. Ia this university our church is nobly represented. In its various raculties there are twenty-five professors and instructors who are attached to the church, and among its students there are upwards of four fiundred who are regular attendants upon the services of the church in Ann Arbor. This number is equal to the combined number of students in attendance at Trinity, Hobart, Kenyon, and the University of the South, the four largest church colleges in the country. The importance of the Harris Hall and of the Baldwin and Slocum lectureships connected with it can hardly be over-estimated; and it would be impossible to speak in too high praise of the men and women through whose generous benefactions this hall and these lectureships have been founded. During the past year, as you are all aware, the splendid bequestof 10,000 was made to the endowment fund of the hall by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Davis; and a few of the friends of the institution, who had before liberally contributed to its establishment and maintenance, raised among themselves the sum of $800 for needed repairs upon the building and the fuller equipment of the gymnasium. Itisgreatly to be desired that other churchmen and church women shoald avail themselves of the rare opportunity here offered of rendering the most signal service to the church by making further gifts or bequests to the permanent endowment of the hall. The church in this diocese owes it to Bishop Harris, owes it to itself, and owes it to the church in America, to place Harris Hall upon an independent and ampie foundation. To this end its general endowment fund needs to be increased by at least $25,000. In the University of Michigan there is furnished to the Church in this Diocese a field for work and an avenue of influence such as the Diocese itself, with the combined wealth of all its parishes, could not créate in a hundred years. This magnificent opportunity is here, readymade, within our borders. The Church has only to embrace it and use it. It was in the thought of Bishop Harris to make larger use of this opportunity than can be made by Harris Hall and the agencies now connected with it. In his visión he saw established at Ann Arbor a school of the prophets. Will the Church fulfill that visión? Already ane Christian body has grasped the situation, and will open its theological school in the coming autumn. Shall the Church which was the first to discover this field ripe for the tiarvest leave others to gather the :hoicest grain? For myself, I believe that a well-manned and well;quipped theological school at the seat of the great University of Michigan would be an agency which tvould immeasurably increase the strength and extend the influence of the Church, not only in this state, but throughout the whole northwest. I have said that it is the office of :he Church to transform the world into the Kingdom of God. The Eact that our University is a state institution, and, therefore, not under the auspices of the Church, is not a reason why the Church should stand aloof from it, or refuse to send her children to it. It is the best possible reason why the Church should do precisely the reverse, why she should bring to bear upon the University, constituted as it is, every high and holy influence which she has within her keeping. It is the duty of the Church to put herself into relation with every institution of human society, in order that she may infuse into them her spirit; but it is pre-eminently incumbent upon her to see to it that her light burns strong and clear where the leaders of the coming generations are trained and prepared for their work.