The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-08-11
General prorisionist Baptists.


Quarterly called tho General Baptist Re
pository, Rev. j. n. Bux.ell editor. has been
started in Gorham, which is TO DO the organ o.
new religious denomination Incorporated ny
the Legislature, under the name oil tho 'e"'
eral Piovisionist Bsptists. They arc u" o"-
shoe. FROM the Free Baptists, because that
denomination believes in an educated minis
try. and are anti-slawry. Speaking in gen
eral terms this seems To he the line oil
separation, although their organ denies that
they are opposed to education. except that
obtained from theological schools and far.
Their, that they are anti.slavery except that
they believe their ministers should let the
subject Of slavery alone.
With the utmost Difference to whatever
religious views any denomination may enter
tain, we cannot forbear to express our sor
row that any body Of men should 50 mistake
the requirements Of the age rs to advocate
the first objection named by the Repository.
When it opposes theological schools, it OPP
poses an educated ministry, call such oPpo'
sition whatever the Repository may. Our
education may have been neglected. but
really we cannot see why an advocate OF the
greatest subject the mind can conceive.
should not have all the aids to proper ap.
probation Of his work that can possibly be
obtained. The graduate of our universities,
however brilliant his scholarship may be.
does not attempt the practice of law until
he has made the subject OF law rs written by
the greatest masters study complete and
separate from his other course OF study.
His collegiate course in no way prepares him
for the necessary knowledge Of the law to
enable him to practice in our courts, save
that il educates his mind to he educated by
making his legal studies speciality. And
the SANE may be- said Of every other learned
profession. Still more is there an impera-
tive necessity for the man who contempt ties
entering the ministry, to fortify himself up
on all points to meet the educated or unedu'
Gated objector. Does the subject Of saliva
ton require q less learned advocate than
litigation for the things which do perish ?
Nay. rather, our ministers Of grace should
be the most learned and acute men among
us; for they have the concentrated subtleties
and reasonings which mans sefishness and
wickednes' have for ages produced.
We had hoped that the necessity for advo'
eating an educated ministry had passed.
We believe it has, because the objection to
il is rcpulsivo to the spirit Of the times. Cut
your garment to fit the person who wears it |;
present your teachings in the form that your
hearers will understand and appreciate. II
there be truth in these rules, maniiestly We
Tail when we use the same form OF expressions
to the child or the unlettercd that We do to
the educated and refined. The education
advocated by this new denomination supplies
only ministry for the former class, and just
as last rs our people become properly edu-
Gated 1--WE refer to education in its popular
form), just 80 fast will the members OF this
denomination DO educated out Of il and in
to some other whose teachings tend not back
ward but forward.