Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-11


Of instances, be llled with due credi, and
ability, coy more thnn Improves that all
teachers aro Dr. Thompsons Bot II this
connection the greatest ground Cor compaini
lies in the fact that 40 many preachers are
taken from ihcir regular work and quietly
imprisoned Within tho marrow confines OF
little ncademies. These are not our weak
or ordinary men who are thus disposed Of.
bat the strongest and most accomplished
pulpit orators in the several conferences
Let but the citizens Of some country village
take i into their heads to open out a female
seminary, and the very best talent of the
conference is at command, while the great
thoroughlares and crowded churches in our
'citIes and tnB waste piroes Of Zion, are de,
MED suitable supplies. Those things call
for and will doubtless receive serious
consideration from all our conferences.
The almost exclusive employment of Of
iective ministers to manage the Book Com
Germs, and TO control the Bible and Missions
ary Societies, is still more open to criticism
and objection, II would be difficult, we ap.
prehend, to give nny good reason why
preacher should be selected to manage Ind
fnancier great book and publishing estab,
lishment Surely not on account Of his SUI
perior business character and financial able
ity2 Preachers, as class, from their edu-
cation, mode Of thinking, and professional
engagements, are peculiarly disqualified for
such business as managing a great pub
fishing house, requiring an investment and
return Of hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
annually Nor can they, who are truly
called to the work Of the ministry, discharge
their duties by thus locating themselves aud
hiding their preaching talent under such a
bushel If they are supcrannuated or worn
out, then, as a matter Of policy, the course
pursued is erroneous. II would be far bet
ter 10 give them some suitable employment
or support them at leisure than to thus set
them over business establishment, requi'
ring financial talent and tact of the highest
order, when they, from the very nature Of
things, must be to a great extent, incompe
tent to the task. These considerations, let
it be borne in mind, don't in the least de.
tract from the zeal energy, ability and in
fluence Of the Methodist pulpit On the
contrary, their profession requires them to
grope, not after the things Of earth, but to
look upward for grace and guidance, and to
be filed with longing desire, alone, for
the salvation and care of immortal souls
Then, in all reason and sincerity, why not
allow tine laity to manage these temporal
therefore call for a change Of policy to a
prompt and prudent extent
The extent to which the changes should he
carried, we have already indicated in the
argument, Let Laymen be chosen to mans
age all the important financial concerns of
the church Laymen OF undoubted charac-
ter ability and experience could be found
who would carry on our enterprises much
more cheaply and proftably to the church
than could be expected of preachers. Let
laymen, where It can be done advantageous
ly, be employed to teach In our Colleges and
academies, then our ministers Of the gospel
may devote themselves moro especially to
the salvation of souls
g. The third proposition is as to the expe.
diency of petitioning the General Confer
ence for change, NC. On this point we
shall likely differ from our Brethren, who
think we ought to ask for great deal, in the
hope of getting a little. Now, whilst we adj
NIT fully the necessity for some change in
these practices, we very much question the
propriety Of peutioning for it at this time.
The Committee believe that the matters
referred to are purely questions of policy
and economy, and as such should be regula
ted by the circumstances under which they
exist The changes suggested, will commend
themselves to the prudence and wisdom Of
the several Conferences, and will, in due
time, be effected to the satisfaction of ALL
We therefore, deem it the part of prudence
and sound policy not to petition the General
Conference on the subject We recommend
for adoption, the following resolution -
Resolred, That we are fully convinced of
the necessity for some change in the usage
of the church, in the appointment of efficient
ministers to the positions of professors, edi-
tors, agents &c, and that such positions as
do not specially require clerical talent, nor
permit the occupants to exercise fully their
talents, as christian ministers, should, where
practicable, be filed by competent laymen