The Jubilee of Ministerial Education in Primitive Methodism
Transcription of article published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by George Armitage
BY the decision of the Conference of 1865, the Jubilee School at York opened its doors for the admission of about twenty young men who were to receive some theological training preparatory to the work of the ministry.
This step is significant, as it marked a new departure in Primitive Methodism and, outwardly, it was the beginning of our ministerial education as a Church. But it should not be forgotten that, for a number of years there had been a growing feeling that some definite systematic training ought to be given to those men whose lives were to be devoted to the work of evangelising and upbuilding men in the things of God.
As far as our official history reveals, the first indication of this occurred as early as 1844. A far-sighted delegate, whose name will never be known, brought the question of ministerial education before the Conference of that year. Apparently his words were listened to as only a “pious opinion” and no action was taken in the matter. However, in 1854 the question was forced upon the attention of the Conference by several painful cases of ministerial inefficiency, and steps were taken to test the educational qualifications of candidates for the ministerial ranks. Out of this there arose the wholly advantageous practice of examinations for the preachers on entering upon and on completing their probation. After this the question was never fully lost to sight, a few gifted minds, by pen and personal influence, keeping it before the unwilling attention of the Connexion.
In 1864 a new departure of an important character was taken by the Manchester District. It aimed to give a course of instruction to young men in theology and kindred subjects, and it also provided for attendance at certain classes at Owens College. The results fully justified the labour and money expended. There are still a few venerable and honoured ones with us, including the Rev. James Travis, of Connexional fame, who testify to the value of the mental and religious instruction given by the Rev. James Macpherson in the classes he conducted during that period. Of all the pioneers in our Church, “Mr. Mac,” as he was familiarly called, may be regarded as the father of our ministerial education.
Another definite stage was reached in 1865, when the Conference by resolution declared “That the Jubilee School Committee shall prepare room in the Elmfield House at York for twenty students at least.” The charge was fixed at £30 per annum, and the student was required to pay at least one half of this amount. It was also decided to select one student from each district, as far as practicable, and they were to enter into residence on July 25th of that year. A circular was sent to each station, “explaining the design of sending young men to York School to be trained for the ministry.” The Conference Address prepared by the President, Rev. William Antliff, explained the design of sending young men for training to York School.
The saintly John Petty, at that time Governor of the School, was recognised as eminently qualified for the work of instruction and supervision. The trust of the Conference was well placed, for Mr. Petty discharged his onerous duties with great success until his death in 1868. During that period some three batches of twenty young men each came under his gracious influence. The years 1866-7 saw Edwin Dalton, Thomas Mitchell, A.T. Wardle, D.S. Prosser, John Sadler, John Swales, J. P. Osborne, R. Baron and others receiving instruction in the School.
In 1866 the Conference appointed a committee to look out suitable premises for a “Theological Institute,” and at the ensuing Conference it was decided after considerable discussion to purchase the Sunderland Infirmary for the purpose. Dr. William Antliff was appointed Principal, and in 1868 the first students arrived. The Rev. Thos. Greenfield, saint, scholar and expositor, was appointed additional tutor in 1875, and rendered valuable service in this capacity until he became Principal for one year, this brief term coming to an end on the closing of the Institute in 1882.
The curriculum at Sunderland was a great advance on what had been provided previously, but it was still largely of an elementary character. Whilst theology, moral science, Church history, logic, rhetoric, homiletics, and even the elements of Greek had their place therein, it also included such day-school subjects as geography, English history, grammar and arithmetic. The training was but for one year and the fee was thirty pounds. Incomplete and superficial as the training necessarily was, valuable habits of study were formed and the foundations of theological knowledge and of accurate thinking were laid. During its life of about fourteen years some four hundred of our ministers passed through this Institute. In no small degree have they helped to consolidate Primitive Methodism during its strenuous years of chapel building and its period of transition from the old to the new.
These events bring us to the interesting period which led to the foundation of the College in Manchester. At the Conference of 1876, a large and influential committee was appointed, with Mr. Thomas Lees Buckley of Woodley as treasurer, and the Revs. James Macpherson and James Travis as secretaries. Of this committee only two members now survive. The members were required to pay their own expenses. Their duties were to secure a suitable suites for a second Theological Institute as proposed at Manchester.”
After a period of incessant toil and daring enterprise, the foundation stones were laid at the Conference of 1878. The buildings were said to have cost eight thousand two hundred pounds, and furnished accommodation for twenty students. Mr. Macpherson was appointed the first Principal. Those were still the days of small things, but the persevering struggles, not too sympathetically received by the Connexion, to provide funds and to give a worthier equipment to young men, are liable to be forgotten. For the complete story of the developments at the Manchester College the Church is indebted to Professor Humphries, who in 1906 produced a souvenir volume at the request of the College Committee.
In 1889 Mr. Macpherson was succeeded in the College by Dr. Joseph Wood. During his term as Principal occurred the Conference of 1892, which invited Mr. A.S. Peake, M.A., then a young tutor at Mansfield College, Oxford, to become tutor at Manchester, and the College term was increased to two years. These two important events were due to the foresight and liberality. of Sir—then Mr.—W.P. Hartley. By his further munificence the College premises were enlarged to accommodate sixty students in 1897. This involved a cost of not less than twelve thousand pounds. Again in 1906 the premises were once more greatly enlarged, and completed with the addition of a handsome chapel, through the unbounded generosity of the same liberal donor. There were then provided separate studies and separate bedrooms for one hundred and seven men. The Conference came to an understanding that it should be a “three years’ College,” ands that it should have adequate financial support. By common consent, also, it became known as “Hartley College.” It is acknowledged to be the largest Free Church College in the kingdom, also one of the best equipped. Its curriculum includes: systematic and pastoral theology, Old and New Testament exegesis, introduction and theology, history of doctrine, Hebrew, Greek, philosophy, political economy and sociology, and comparative religion. Men with special gifts are passed on, in many cases, to the arts and divinity courses at the Manchester University. Truly, this is a marvellous and most gratifying advance upon the advantages offered by the old Sunderland Institute! The College has been fortunate in the strong personality and scholarly attainments of its several Principals. Succeeding Dr. Wood came Dr. John Watson, George Parkin, M.A., B.D., William Johnson, F.L.S., W. Jones Davies. Last, but not least, in his administrative success and in the confidence and admiration of the Church, came Henry J. Pickett. The ministry of our Church owes much to the untiring devotion of these brethren and to their estimable wives who have successively filled the position of matron, while no praise is too high to be given to the unstinted labours and the unquestioned scholastic and spiritual qualifications of the
tutorial staff. In the senior Tutor, Dr. A.S. Peake, the College possesses a scholar and saint of international reputation. In happy partnership with Professors A. L. Humphries, M.A., W.L. Wardle, M.A., B.D., and Atkinson Lee, M.A.—each vigorous home-growths of our own Church—he possesses the entire confidence of the Connexion and the unbounded admiration and affection of hundreds of students who have passed through his hands.
In no church has the advance in ministerial education during the last twenty years been so rapid and yet so solid. For this foresight and enterprise Primitive Methodism is largely, if not entirely, indebted to the statesmanship and munificence of Sir William P. Hartley. His abiding impress is on the ministry of our Church.
We have reason to be filled with devout thankfulness in thus briefly reviewing the course of training for the vocation of the ministry in our Church, from its days of prejudice and feebleness to the present time. The work is now an integral part of the Church’s duty and has won her unchallenged confidence. Vast problems of a social and religious character, undreamt of by our fathers and still only dimly seen by ourselves, await solution. To meet these great days of travail, those who are admitted to the school of the prophets should be men of intellectual strength, and be possessed by a living experience of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But the Church must. also see to it, that they are thoroughly trained in biblical, philosophical and social subjects, that they may speak with conviction and win the confidence of their day.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! ”
References
Primitive Methodist Magazine 1915/738
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