Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-03-07
For the Vermont Telegraph.

For the VermOnt Telegraph.
Students for the ministry. and churches--
A common-sensc view .--No. 4.
In my last number, promised 10 consider
the influence which an imperfect support
exerts upon students; but before that,
would beg the privilege of making Few
more remarks on the main subject of nv
last communication.
Pious minds are accustomed to admire the
wisdom Of God, as seen in the beauty and
harmony Of his works. Among all the laws
Of matter and Of mind, there Is no collision
each law may be obeyed without interrupt
ing the course Of another. There is also
fitness Of things. His works are in due
proportion, and accompanied by their neces-
sary appendages. He not only made man a
rational being, endowed him with noble
powers, and desires for knowledge, but he
placed him in situation in which these
powers may be developed and these desires
gratifed. He made man a religious being,
and gave him means Of religious improve
ment and enjoyment. And there can be no
doubt that, when be raises up churches in
the world, he will do his part towards rails
ing up ministers for these churches. If he
makes it the duty Of christians to send the
gospel 10 heather lands, he will do his part
towards raising up missionaries. Still, the
| demands Of the church, and of the mission
airy cause are not met. Why is this2 Where
! is the wrong? Not with God most GER
| tainly. There is an awful wrong some
where. Souls are perishing by thousands
! for lack of knowledge, to whom the gospel
ought 10 be sent. But with whom rests the
guilt? Is il with the churches ? ! cannot,
| dare not say that it is all with them. Is
il with the students for the ministry? Ia
part it probably is but TO show that they
| cannot be charged with all the guilt, allow
| me TO add few facts showing what sacrl-
fees many are ready TO make in this cause.
Don't be impatient with me. You will only
read what have seen, and what others
have feK must tell what students are
often obliged to suffer. If individuals and
churches cannot relieve their dstresses,
they will, at least be willing TO know what
they are.
Young men cannot become missionaries
10 foreign station without the aid and
appreciation of a Board OF Commissioners
In order to secure this alG and appreciation
certain terms must be complied with. They
will not send young man till he is edu-
Gated, nor will they send one who is invoIv-
ed in debt. But il has been shown that a
student cannot 60 through a course Of study
with what aid is usually furnished, without
becoming considerably involved. Then he
must teach two or three years in order tO
pay his debts, before he can be admitted as
a missionary. | say he must tedch,-fol
the churches do not give enough, for preach
ing as a general thing, 10 enable a man tc
pay debts. There are students now in a
course of preparation for the ministry, with
the design Of becoming mi: sionaries, and
who in spite Of their best endeavors to kcer
clear Of deb;, have been arrested in their
course, and are liable 10 lose at least one
year each In earning money before they
e can leave their native shores. Some oil
whom, from personal acquaintance, know
2 have made il their constant aim, from frs
TO last. TO live at as little expense as posi-
BILE. They have been accustomed 10 work
[ hard, and suffer want, that they need not be
| hindered in their work; but notwithstand
;. ing all their efforts and economy, debt:
accumulate upon their hands. 1t is often
e the case that by the time students leave
7 college, debts already contracted prevent
5 their commencing theological studies, till
5 they have spent two or three wears in earn
ing money 10 help them on. Who can tell
what may be the consequence of keeping a
D minister, especially missionary, from en-
tII1S uPou uIS IduOIS, IleTe1y because He
: must have a little money which horses
could earn as we'll as he. could name
r several who would be fas: coming into the
a ministry in our own land, but who are kept
{ out in the same way. They are young men
too Of talent and education, and who, could
h they be allowed TO enter the highway to
! wealth and fame, would have fair pros
j pect Of renown. Bot this they are willing
= to sacrifice for the gospels sake; and now
g shall they be driven from the work and lost
II to the church,
= A class-mate Of mine in college boarded
himself more than year; and he did il
e from sheer necessity. II was his only a.
= tentative TO do so or leave college. He
q Sought meal, hired it baked into cease bread
n and ate 1t, sometimes with cold wafer
e sometimes with milk, and sometimes he ate
7, potatoes which he roasted in his own fire
b He lived on Just as little as he could, les
e on account Of the expense be should be
v! obliged 10 lose time in earning money
j. Another young man lived in similar man
n ner, and in addition, went so poorly clothed
81 as TO suffer with the cold during the whole
n winter months. The cold winds would pas
z, through his old and thread-bare clothes al
70 most as easily as through sieve. 1 ven
Of ture 70 say ihat,no one young man in fiy.
II hundred, among laboring men, goes so poor
'ly clothed ~ did this student; nor woul