Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-20
8 81 the Advertiser.
es How to acquire a More Efficient
tet5-9s Hf;n;s+-y,, >,


"HoWstosacquire More Efficient
Ministry"
Thissis q question frequently asked,
but seldom dn my opinion) is it ever
correctly answered. The Christian Re-
liSsi aligion is not spreading. through the land
with that fapiditys that it should. The
ca1seof CKrist is suffering. Sinners are
rushing to everlasting ruin, that would
be WORKING tos;daS' to;d1 for The salvation of
souls, if We Could but have established
more efficient Ministry years ago.
Ministers 651f tlic' Gospel kro% why tits
that our Ministry,is so deficient. Some
Il tile leading members of the Church
Know Why it it IS; !. and really any conscieh-
-tious and thinking man,-can -readilyses,
why tits. It is simply because the Min
istry is not supported; Support the Min
istry7 and then the talented of our coun-
try will seek it. AS it now is, what in
ducemenlts has, collegiate to enter the
Ministry, who:has spent all his property
procuring his education /? He thinks to
himself, I would like to enter the Minis
try but I cannot afford ito do it. twill
not support myself and family. He there
fore seeks some other Profession more
profitable, and the Ministry loses faith
full, Intelligent and Chrishan-hearted
Minister lg379 49, fi',i!.l'.a
Those who don'twantto give anything
to the Ministry will say" If 1 have time
to 60 to hear a Minister, he has time to
preach to me, and should do. it for moth
.ing;" or elsethey #illsay, aThe preach
er needs but little money. He should
plough through the week, and preach on
the Sabbath" When at the same time
they will tell you, they don't care to go
to hear Ministerpreach unless he knows
more than themselves; and frequently
you behold them fast asleep ono their
seats while the Minister is preaching.
This is anSdea, advanced by many, that
I call self.protecting-idea, and it is one
that will not stand a thorough investiga-
ton by moral ;,asonir~ How can q
Minister plough, r., the week and then
attend his appointment on the Sabbath
and preach the Gospel successfully, when
the listener is asleep half of his time on
account of his wearisomeness through
the week.
"A MinistG Of the Gospel should have
no other profession. to bother his mind.
His mind should be wholly centred
upon the Gospel, and nothing else. He
should devote all his spare time to the
reading andpreparingo sermons Then,
if he is an intelligent and Christian
hearted mani he is apt to understand the
Scriptures Alright; and when he gets into
the pulpit toaddress congregation he is
at no loss for!i6ords, and administers the
Gospel to his congregation fluently and
successfully. When q professionals Of
any kind attempts more than the one
profession heis most apt to experience
serious loss from each. Let a. profess
;sionist have but the one profession, and
let him give that profession all Of his at
tention, and he will most assuredly be
successful. 81 49, 81
d Well now, the all and important qnos-
lion arises. to- my. mind, How is the
Ministryto bebetter supported? 1t can
only be done successfully by assessment.
"Thelaborerisworthy of his hire?" This
is portion of Holy writ. that, in my
estimation, points to assessment, How
can the different Churches of our coun-
try dispense with the brass and establish
q pure body, unless it is by assessment?
a Christian-hearted man feels it to be
his duty &c. help all he can for the sup
port OF the Ministry. !imai>cs bat little
maIcr;al difference. how poor he is; he
is going to save his earnings and help
the Ministry The brass hearted wilE1
attend preaching, and have more to say
about the preaching than The believer,
ana will be seen talking here and there
.rying to make themselves conspicuous
in the eyes of men, but when You call
upon them to help support the Ministry,
they at onceTstad poverty, and are mem
bers of the Church too.
How, ask, oan such men be expelled?
1t can only be done by an act of the diff
ferent Associations. Let them unitedly
pass resolution that every member of
the different Churches is srequired to pay
for the support of the Ministry annually
the sum of Two Dollars. Theii, if MEN,
ber wishes to pay more, let him do it,
and the Treasurer make a record of it,
and read it out in his Church Conference
publicly one time.
II member feels that he or she is not |
able to pay the assessment, let them
stand up in Church Conference and make :
known to the body their situation, where
upon the Church can thenact in their case
asit thinks best. Ifamember fails to COM
ply with the assessment, let him or her:
be expelled Immediately.
This is the only way can sec TO estab-
lish more efficient Ministry. think it
will eventually be done, and the sooner
the better This I write expressly for
the Baptist denomination; though all
other, denominations, I think would do
well to establish it. .1 j. Fl. r.
MT- EatontoniSmoraliZin overa snake