The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20


assumption that the sham which was then
called "Virginia" had any real or solid exist
ence, or could give proper assent to the
erection of new State within what had been
the boundaries of the old State of Virginia.
The Deorth Of Ministers, and Its Causes.
TIE decrease in the number OF persons enter
ing the Christian ministry is fact which is
beginning to attract general attention. We
find It O matter of complaint on the part OF
all the denominations. An increasing mum
Der of churches are unsupplied with pastors,
and the catalogues of the theological semlna-
ries present meagre lists of candidates for the
sacred office. So general an effect must have
a sufficient cause. What is ftp
We cannot suppose that religion itself is
losing its hold upon the popular mind. Such
a fact would be one of the gravest signi6-
cancy. But we see no reason TO suppose that
it exists. On the contrary, we see many
things which lead us 10 believe that Christian
ity never had more power over the masses Of
the people, never more thoroughly pene-
trated all the avenues of society with its influ-
ences, than now.
Nor do we believe that there is any real
diminution of respect for the Office or func-
tions of the ministry. Good preaching is as
much in request now as it ever was. Able
and talented ministers find no difficulty in
securing hearers and the truly conscientious,
faithful, and devoted pastor is still looked up
to with reverence by the community.
We should be sorry to ascribe this decrease
OF candidates for the ministry to any fault of
our voluntary system Of religious support.
The experience of this country as to the
effects of the separation of Church and State
has not hitherto seemed to initiate against
the best interests of Christianity. On the con-
trary, it has built them up and strengthened
them. Nowhere has the Church been more
active or aggressive; nowhere has it more
thoroughly reached the masses; nowhere has
it more successfully carried forward those
great enterprises of Christian benevolence
that are distinguishing feature of our times
than in the United States, and under the
voluntary system.
What, then, is the cause of the decrease of
ministersP The most obvious reply is that
the ministry is poorly paid. 1t is fact that
no class OF professional men, of equal talents
and cultivation, are so poorly paid as minis
ters. Aside from the salaries of few pastors
OF the weather. churches in our cities, the
support afforded to ministers is of the most
meagre and unsatisfactory character. II is
no uncommon thing to find faithful, earnest,
and talented clergyman, who has spent seven
or eight years of his life, and small fortune,
in preparing for his profession, working on a
salary smaller than that received by
bankers clerk. 1t should be remembered
that the most of ministers at the present day
are men of education; and in many of our de-
nominations preparation is required OF
them, embracing course of study, additional
to that required for business career, of at
least seven years. We estimate that there
are but few Of our thoroughly educated min
listers who have not spent in addition to these
seven years OF time, from three thousand to
five thousand dollars in getting their educa-
ton. 1t is quite evident that their pay is not
at all proportionate to this outlay; but
that, perhaps, is not to be looked for. The
ministry is not expected to be a lucrative
profession. Motives of gain to induce men
to enter it would not be desirable. But
neither, on the other hand, ought the
minister to be expected to sail all
MS life along the desert coasts of
poverty. If he is not to be a mil
lonaire, certainly he ought not to be pauper.
He has right to demand, and the nature of
mis- work requires, that he shall have fair
and reasonable support-such one as shall
relieve his mind of all undue anxiety for the
of himself and family. How
can any minister compose eloquent and in
structive sermons when his four-barrel is
empty, his coal-box unsupplied, and his chill
dren's shoes out at the toes? How can he
soar to things heavenly, when things earthly
are SO persistently and unpleasantly thrust
into his face? To expect eloquence, depth
OF thought, patient research, or any great
degree OF spiritual-mindedne under such
is to expect impossibilities.
Everybody knows that during the past five
years the cost OF living has doubled. How
many ministers have had their salaries
doubled? And how can those who barely
made both ends of the year meet before the
rise, get along and support their families
nowP Many churches are guilty of an inius-
tice towards their ministers that the members
themselves would be slow to perpetrate in
their own private business.
One reason for the meagre support of min
isters, especially in our country towns, is the
and