THE MAIL

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

As a result of Richard A. Green's article on the Divinity School which appeared last Friday, several people have asked "What's all this about the Divinity School folding up?"

No such prospect is anticipated. The inadequate impression now current which is so disturbing to us may be due to the superficially on the story as printed.

While the story may accurately reflect the reasons for the survey of the School now nearing completion. It implies as criticisms some things which we as students of the School regard as its greatest assets.

1. As a matter of historical fact, the number of students working for the advanced StM or ThD degrees has almost always exceeded the number studying for the initial ministerial degree. This, to us, proves that our advanced training is of a particularly high calibre, and in no way reflects upon the basic theological training we who are "undergraduates" in the School are receiving.

2. The Harvard Divinity School is noteworthy for its strong inter-denominational character. This probably does make it harder to secure endowments, but it certainly makes for better ministers. In these times of diverse Religious and National deliniations our inter-denominationalism helps prevent the Pharisaic self-righteousness which affects so great a part of the American Ministry.

3. Another asset we found at Harvard is the historical approach to Religion. We feel this is the soundest approach, as it prevents hasty crystallization, and permits a critical appraisal of all points of view, including NeoOrthodoxy and "Humanism" which as systems of religious thought cut across denominational lines, but neither of which should characterize our School.

4. The fact that Yale or Princeton or Union offers a different method of training should not cause us concern. We have come from all over the country because Harvard offers the best in a liberal, interdenominational, historically-oriented theological education. We are concerned that it continues in its own unique and valuable tradition. Harvard need never bow to other schools because of numbers, but may rest with faith in that Biblical promise, "Where two or three are gathered together..." Ben Jaffa   Paul Carnes