The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-24

difference IS. that TINS second TRIP Is stolen
time.
But the one session and the long vaca-
tions are now the fashion; and return tC
old usages would be unpopular with stu.
dents. How far the general spirit of our
candidates is from the proper one, is be
trayed by this; instead of prefering that
plan of study which promises best econ
Omy of time and powers, and most pre-
paration made for Jesus Christ precious
work, they prefer that one which promises
them most play and least work; and
would probably threaten to punish that
/ Seminary, by deser6ng it, which should
call them to the more Christian and pro-
ftable method. Here again, the general
legislation Of the Assembly should be
invoked: but it will not be rendered;
there will not be enough moral courage.
V. Another important point in which
our training for the Ministry needs ad-
iustment, is the form in which aid should
be extended to meritOrious young men of
scanty means. The present plan, of
making them benefciaries of Board of
Education, has been advocated by vene-
rable names, and has produced some good
fruit But "One swallow does not make
a Summer" The -propriety of the plan
is not proved by some exceptional results,
which may be accounted for by other
causes, but by fair general view of its
working upon the whole. The writer
freely confesses, that his dissatisfaction
with the plan has been radical, it has
usually succumbed partially, to the mere
authority of such names as the elder Alex
ander, without ever being nationally re-
moved / once made Just this statement to
DIR. Addison Alexander, a very wise and
practical man, despite his recluse habits, J
and he replied that had expressed pre-
cisely his state of mind. And he con-
Cured, in the main, in all the views which
l am about to state.
Notwithstanding the plausible justif-
cation which is made of the attitude of
the benefciaries, the instincts of good
many of our ministers have obstinately
dissented; and they have refused to ac-
cept such aid Now it is of some weight
to remark, that this class of our minis
ters is certainly not behind others in evan
gelical spirit and character. 1t was the
emphatic testimony of DR.. Addison Alex
ander, that these benefciaries seemed to
him to be worse strung, and toned to a
lower key of effort, than the young men
who supported themselyes-that there
was a sort of Indifferent and cowed spir-
it about all they did. 1t is now manifest
the character of the Presbyterian minis
try in the Northern States has deteriora-
ted, for some cause; andmany judiciOus
men account for it by the introduction of
so many persons of lower breeding, and
mercenary views. Jeroboam corrupted
the religion of Israel partly By making
priests Of the lowest of the people, Now
the ministry, especially in the South,
mugt be gentlemen in bearing and princi-
pie. Mere conversion, while it may make
a peasant Christian, confessedly does
not make him a gentleman. Hence, any
plan which contemplates rearing the bulk
of the ministry out of the lower classes,
must produce deteriorated class. When
we say this, we by no means claim mon
opoly Of all the honor and principle for
the upper classes; nature has her noble
men of all classes. But these men of
innate nobility born in the lower classes,
will raise themselves by an invincible
energy, to the grade they deserve, and
the effort of doing so will be the needful
test and discipline of their character.
Where a wholesale provision is made for
elevating men of that class promiscuOus
ly, without subjecting them to that test
and discipline, the inevitable result will
be the introduction of majority of sour
w characters, who should have remained
in the rank they were born in. The plan
of our Board of Education in connection
with other Church machinery, prepared
a way by which aRgmaR could be tOdted
into the ministry and a living, without
anv special effort. Hence, the temptation
to merceuary men to seek this aid is made
too strong. 1t is looked to as mere
living. The safeguards of Presbyterial
examination will never be sufficient. The
Church must have a practical test of the
manifest mettle, capacity, and disinterest-
edness. As was remarked to me by Dr.
Alexander, in the case of young men of
wealth and worldly prospects, of your
c. G. Jones, Van Rensellaers, and Samp-
sons, this test is given, in their sacrificing
a brilliant worldly future, and adopting
profession whose worldly emoluments are
to them unimportant, and rather loss
than a gain. But the young mechanic
has no sneh worldly prospects; a minis
ter's worldly compensation is to him an
important gain, as compared with day la
bor. And, if the test of devotion pre-
sented by strenuous exertiOn to overcome
his difficulties and educate himself, be
wholly removed by the Church's aims,
there is no practical guarantee left that he
is not mercenary, and that he is not a
feeble, inefficient person. Hence it is a
fatal mistake for the Church, in it's gene
rosity, to lift all the difficulties out of
such a mans way.
It has been often argued, in defence of
our education aims, that they were not
aims at all, but fair debt; that in ex-
pending money to educate poor and
pious youth for usefulness, the Church
was not giving to him, but to herself;
that when he had given himself to the
work, it was nothing but right the Church
sbould rive the filthy lucre. We believe