The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-04-28
Preachers for the Masses.

A movement has been lnau.uratcd
in New York for providing new
class of religious teachers, or mission
aries for the people, that we are sure
will be hailed, by rIght-minded peO-
pie, the world over. The object of the
institution known as the "HOusc OF
the Evangelists," is the training of
young men for the ministry, so as to
adapt them to approach the people on
the ground of common experiences,
tastes. prejudices, benevolence and
brotherhood. The founders and man.
ayers OF the institution are seemingly
guided by two facts, which strike us
with great force, namely: First, while
higher educational institutions and
seminaries bcmoan a deficiency of
students for the regular ministry,
there is large class of young men
ready and desirous to enter upon the
speciality of mission work among the
masses. Second: That through the
labors of such teachers alone is there
reasonable hope of reaching the great
multitude in our cities, who, as gen.
eral rule, stay away from denomina-
tional houses of worship. yy -
We're this movement sectarian in
its purpose, we should pass it over to
the organs of the churches but as 1T
is not it comes within the sphere of
the daily press, and merits our special
attention. AT a meeting of the friends
of the movement, held in Association
Hall, in the city of New York, on last
Tuesday evening, the speakers were
from different denominations, and in
some of their utteranccs indicated dis
tinctly the character of the movement.
DIR. Tyng said that in the education of
the Young men ecclesiastical distinc-
tions would be impertincnt" and that
they "wcre ready to furnish any de-
nomination with missionaries" lie
stated that more than three years ago
the rector of the Holy Trinity church
opened the work by experimenting
tho education of five young men who
were ready to devote themselves to
this particular sphere of work. The
result thus far has vindicated the wis
dom of the effort and the special adap-
tation of the method then accepted.
After such satisfactory experience,
it was determined during last year to
give the effort an organized form. An
act of incorporation was secured and
building rented, and all necessary
appliances secured. The work is now
moving forward successfully. The
Greek language is taught for the in
telligent understanding of the New
Testament. Apart from this, how ever,
the Bible is the principal textbook.
The students are subjected from the
first to experimental training in active
mission work, in Sunday-schools, and
visiting the poor. This kind Of work
they have to perform as rigidly and
Systematically as students in other in
stitutions 90 through their textbooks
on mathematics, geology, astronomy,
or the languages. Now all this looks
like lowering the standard of ministe
rial education, when everybody knows
too well that it ought to be elevated.
But this is not the fact. The gcntle-
men conducting this movement are
providing a class of men to teach the
alphabet of morals and religion TO the
masses seldom or never prcachGd TO
by the regular clergymcn. After
hunting these people up in alleys and
novels, and attending to their wants,
physical as well as moral and intel
lcctual, they are by and by TO be
handed over to the regular churches.
This is Christ-like work. Every
good citizen should be prompt to Of
fer helping hand. 1t is the design
of the originators of the work that it
shall become general. Let every city
take hold of it. Where is there city
at present in which the regular clergy
preach to even quarter of the popu-
lation? Our people are now better
prepared for work of this kind than
ever before. Sectarianism is not now
the dividing element i'm society il
once was. The Young Mems Christ
ian Association has helped largely to
bring about this condition of society,
This blouse of the Evangelists," in
the performance of distinctly differ
ent work, comes just now to reinforce
the liberalizing efforts of the Young
Mems Christian Association.