Religion: Coffin

• Share

The Union Theological Seminary of Manhattan is famed, undominated by any Christian denomination, facultied by men of eminence. It prepares independent young men to become ministers.

This institution of high standing heard last week that it was to lose its President by resignation. Dr. Arthur Cushman McGiffert, who had been President of the Seminary since 1917, and raised its $4,000,000 endowment fund, was obliged to retire on account of ill health.

The trustees of the Seminary announced a few days later that Dr. Henry Sloan Coffin, pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church for 21 years, and teacher at the Seminary for 22 years—yet still on the early side of 50—was chosen to succeed Dr. McGiffert. He is a liberal in the church, with a background of scholarship at Yale, at the Seminary of which he now becomes President, at New-College, Edinburgh, and the University of Marburg.

It is said that no other divine in the U. S. is personally beloved by so many people of intelligence. He speaks with sparkling wit, persuasive earnestness. Once Dean Brown of Yale, hunting for a superlative, termed him "the greatest living Christian."