The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-19

myself to publish the fact, for 1t seems like pro-
the stress the case compels me to state that while
our last minutes report 4le1 ministers and 1880
stated supplies or without permanent engagements
and nearly 500 are wholly unemployed, and less
churches are served by stated supplies and nearly
1000 have NO regular supplies Of any kind Suppose
that one-half OF these unemployed ministers are
aged innrm, or otherwise incompetent for pulpit
and pastoral labor, we then have 400 ministers quail
parishes. Most OF the 1000 vacant churches are
small and feeble but the greater their need Of care
and with 400 abe-bodied and well-trained minis
tiers sisengaged in our bounds they ought to be
served.
ters these 1000 churches Is not the of their
being unemployed, for longcontinued experiment
nished. What is needed, though not all that is
needed, is an accepted medium OF communication
to bring them to terms. Left a. each church SO
much is left to provide for ITSELF and left as each
minister So SO much Is left to settle himself our
tale. And is it not distressing to think OF this
amount Of cultivated ana consecrated power lying
there NOS be something faulty or wanting in the
administration that admits Of it?
Changes in our methods and modes, however, will
rot adequately help The Spirit is Otrgreat need.
However perfect machinery It is of no avail with
machinery II only there be propelling force OF
all Christian organizations, ours depends most on
! emotion sectaranism work it. The Spirit
is its sole motive power Not for the sake OF Pres
it, we must make sure OF its presence. Holy Spirit,
let us live beneath thy rays Be the light and heat
Second, the reunion lays upon an enlarged
work OF evangeization.
Think OF forty-two hundred ministers, and forty
| four hundred churches, and half million OF COM
municants. What host is here Estimating our
obfgationsl Think too, Of our means No body OF
church members in our land approach ours in
enterprising and thrifty portion Of the community,
they principally possess its competency. Our people
bone and sinew 81 society," OF just the character and
In Just the position TO De relied uponfor the interests
Think Of our ministry as well as Of our member
ship. 1t is delicate subject for remark, and yet we
cognize in our ministry what IS universally accorded
to it, learning, principle, and piety. The schools
have tried it. Literature science and theology have
Think Of the magnitude Of the work of evangel-
zation, and Of the pressure and opportunity forIt
Never was it so displayed to the Church What was
the world as known to the apostles and early Chris
tians, compared with the world as known to us?
And how universally and easily accessible II has be-
Foreign missions have ceased to be an open ques-
ton. The churches that were slowest to recognize
them zealously prosecute them. Comparatively
early as in them, and comparatively active and
more than our deings. We have fallen far below the
scale OF our duty to the heather world. We must be
more earns st. Let our reunion be the doubling at
There is difference in the degrees of attention
lie to us, the " more Claims they have upon us. Our
principal work OF evangezation is at nome. It is
and there an mmensisy Of it, and the present is
criticaltime with it.
The work Of evangelization turns attention to the
traningof the ministry that is the great agency
for promoting it. Are we rearing preachers and
duate the best Of their kind but does their edaca
tion develop class Of gifts particularly adapted to
with wit people more freely than formerly They are
members OF the community and meet all who belong
to it on the terms of common citizenship. The
|
1he pulpit is bat one OF its posts Elaborate preach
speaking. We need to be well furnished for the
sanctuary aud ready for the steamer and the street.
Something of the manner Of the apostles is called
for again.
And much as the question has been discussed
should we not continue 70 ask @ rs there not less
ministry or commissioned for quasi ministry? Our
students are sehooled beyond humble parishes They
are not suitable to them, and cannot be contented
with them. And If our style of the ministry was
adapted to the entire field, It cannot be multiplied
unequal to the nesdfal supply.
And has net the time come for organizing womans
work? 1t is invaluable now but 1t Is not systematic.
Each does what her heart prompts ana what her
immediate circumstances permit. No schemes OF
service are constructed by us and no special train
ing furnished. She teaches when SO inclined, in
Sunday and industrial AID other charitable schools
and visits the neglected. and relieves the needy and
suffering, but it is only incleent in her life and
her personal notion and according to her conye-
anS IN or as are may
general preparation as she may happen to have or
| acquire. 1t Is wonderful tnat with sQch dcsult0ry
modes she should have accomplished so much. The
| Church is full of women signing for work. They
| need occupation and desire usefulness But they
know not what to do. There is no employment open
to them, except Of occasional and casual charac-
ter-nothng to keep them steadily engaged and that
taxes their powers and principles and raises their
ambition They need q species OF profession soae
arrangement by which they shall be prepared for
labors Of love. and introduced into them, and made
regular and persistent In them.
The support of the ministry deserves considera-
tion. The nrst question that presents itself is, how
1 a
with it is the question how to make IL ample con-
sistenty with the best sentiments OF the ministers
and the people. The mode OF IL should be means
| OF grace to both.
Dinerent denomin ations cooperate in the general
work OF evangelization but there is part to which
each is especially adapted, and to which each is
especially assigned. There is no doubt about por-
tiOn OF what belongs to us. 1t lies in the three
spheres ei taeoogy PletS s ,sds ana ars mors 70
stewardship 1t devolvcs on us to keep and dispense
them. II CalYinism is cared for, 1t must be by as
and care for it we will. With all our hearts we en-
brace it. II not the whole OF Christianity nor the
whole OF the substance OF Christianity, Ii is indls-
pensable to Christianity. And never was Cavinism
effeminate and fimsy. We must give it backbone.
Our type OF piety is distinctly defined Intelligence
principle, and depth OF experience constitute its
distinguishing traits. Its emotions stir the SOUL and
too profound always to appear 1t is conviction
rather than excitement. Truth is its inspiration
and supply. And is not this just the piety demanded
by the times? Human thought is chaotic. Society
is surgng. The light and floating must he shattered
The staunch alone can live. No open persecution is
waged, and yet witness bearing is required. Pres
byterian piety Is heroic IL can face prisons and
racks and stakes.
The popular judgment denies us the aesthetic, but
accords us the ethical. Sturdy principle appears IN
the portrait drawn OF US. And what description no ol
OF the day. The foundations OF society are snaAen
by it, The insane love OF money, the haste 70 get
rch the spirit OF extravagance, the passion Tor ad-
| ! fha fran fashion