Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/336

* CONGREGATIONALISM. 284 CONGREGATIONALISM. systematic theology from 1871 to 1S95; Timothy Dwight, professor of New Testament Greek from 185S to 1880, and president of Yale University from 1888 to 1000: and George Park Fisher, its professor of Church history from 18G1 to 1901. The differences of opinion awakened by the theology of Nathaniel W. Taylor, already alluded to, led to the foundation of a school at East Windsor. Conn., in 1834, then called the Theo- logical Institute of Connecticut, but much bet- ter known as Hartford Theological Seminary since its removal to ITartford in 1865. Its founder and first professor of theology was Ben- net Tyler, who occupied its most conspicuous chair till 1857. Its chief leader among its later instructors has been Chester D. Hartranft, its present president, who has been connected with it since 1878, and under whom its curriculum and its equipment have been greatly developed. Almost contemporary with the founding of the Hartford Seminary was the establishment of a theological department in connection with Ober- lin College, opened under the title of Obcrlin Theological Seminary, in 1835. Its most distin- guished instructors have' been Charles C. Finney, the eminent revivalist, whose services to it con- tinued from 1835 to 1875; and, since his death, dames H. Fairchild, who was connected with Oberlin College, as an instructor in various de- partments, from 1838 to his decease in 1002, and held the office of president from 1866 to 1889. Oberlin is at present distinguished by the hearty reception there given to the theology of the Kitschlian school. The growing needs of the Sliddle West led to the organization, in 1854, and to the complete establishment in 18,58. of Chicago Theological Seminary, an institution prevailingly conserva- tive in its broader evangelical type of theology, nf which it has long been a leader in a region which looks to Chicago as its centre. Con- spicuous in its teaching force have been Samuel C. Bartlett, its professor of biblical literature from 1858 to 1877, when he became president of Dartmouth College : Franklin W. Fisk, its pro- fessor of sacred rhetoric from 1859 to his death in 1001; and George N. Boardman. its professor of theology- from 1871 to 1893. The youngest of the Congregational theological schools is that known as Pacific Theological Seminaiy. which was established at Oakland, Cal., in 1869, and is now located at Berkeley, in the same State. The Congregational College of Canada was founded in 1830 as a 'Congregational Academy.' at Toronto, and was removed to IMontreal in 1864, where it is now located as a theological school in affiliation with McGill University. It will thus be seen that of the American Con- gregational theological seminaries, Yale and Oberlin are dci)artments of a university or a college; two others, Montreal and Pacific, are affiliated or in close geographical connection with universities; and four, IJangor, Hartford, Andover, and Chicago, are independent founda- tions. While some of them originated in doc- trinal discussion, and they still represent in sev- eral instances somewhat dissimilar points of view, the general tendency of modern Congrega- tional development has been to an increasing similarity in doctrinal position and in methods of instruction, so that good fellowship instead of schism e.xists among all these theological sem- inaries at the present time. In Great Britain, as in America, theological education has long commanded the attention of Congregationalists. Soon after the passage of the Toleration Act by the English Parliament, Congregational and Presbyterian Dissenters about London established a "fund' to aid feeble churches and to educate candidates for the pas- toral office (.July 1. 1600). The union of repre- sentatives of the two polities proved but tempo- rary, and in 1095 the 'fund' was divided, and a 'Congregational Fund Board" organized. This board still exists. By its influence, and that of eminent Congregationalists like Philip Dodd- ridge, many 'academies' and 'colleges' were or- ganized in the eighteenth centurj'. These had, at first, the twofold object of training an edu- cated ministry and of providing a general educa- tion for lay students who were debarred from university privileges by their 'dissent' from the Establishment. To some extent these two aims are still sought by the Congregational 'colleges' of Great Britain ; but with the removal of dis- abilities from the pathway of Xonconformists who are seeking a general education these 'colleges' are laj-ing increasing and in some in- stances exclusive emphasis on ministerial train- ing. They correspond to the 'theological sem- inaries' of the United States. The Congregational 'colleges' of Great Britain, at the present time, are the following: (1) yew College, London, tracing its origin to 1696, and now affiliated with the University of Lon- don. (2) Western Collei/e, Bristol, founded as the Western Academy, in 1752. (3) Yorkshire United Independent College, Bradford, dating from 1750. (4) Cheshnnt College. Cheshunt, founded by the Countess of Huntingdon at Tal- garth in 1708, and now affiliated with the Uni- versity of London. (5) Hacknci/ College, founded by Rev. IMatthew Wilks and Rev. George Collison at Hackney in 1803. and now at Hamp- stead. It is affiliated with the L'niversity of London. (6) Lancashire Independent College, Manchester, founded at Blackburn in 1816. (7) Mansfield College, Oxford, foiuuled as Spring Hill College at Birmingham in 1838. and greatly strengthened bv its significant reestablishment at Oxford in 1886. (8) The Congregational In- stitute, Nottingham, opened in 1861. (9) The Congregational Memorial College, Brecon, com- bining a number of institutions, the oldest of which dates from 1755. and giving special atten- tion to Welsh students. (10) Bala-Bangor In- dependent College, Bangor, dating from 1843 and largely Welsh in its constituency. (11) The Theological Ball of the Congregational Churches in Scotland, Edinburgh, tracing its origin to the Congregational Academy founded at Glasgow in 1811. Congregational students are also sup- ported by separate funds in the Presbi/terian College at Carmarthen. In 1901-02 the students in the various institutions numbered 361. Historg. — Modern Congregationalism had its rise in the discussions consequent upon the Eng- lish Reformation. Its earliest advocates may properly be described as forming the radical wing of English Puritan Protestantism. But, besides the characteristics which they shared with the Puritan party, they showed several non-Puritan peculiarities. They denied the existence of a National Church ; they denied that church-mem-