New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-07

ministry the Protestant Episcopal Church Of tho
United States to-day. To educate these men, sup
posing them all 20 DO In theological semi
nsries wo have some 10 or u semnare. Most OF them
ave only handful OF students some have respects
BILE number; none have as many as should give them
proficiency every one OF tbe canoaaaes or me m
Do better The vast extent OF our territory, irue
dic5t for ali the candidates for orders 10 gather IN
one central seminary. But then thefe are many evils
~ these institutions In the rst place link ra now much
only 10 or n In Institution. just think or tue in-
mense amount OF money W. Ten Ts,nS sgs" ~
the immense loss OF clerical force involved I'D TINS FORM
Of tuition. There are some inst.u.ons T,ns hon
the loss the students themselves-ioss OF the hnu
ence OF greater number OF minds. and loss of
valuable intercourse between greater number OF stu
dents as and man. Think, again OF tue depressing
influence Of this system students IL there were
crowd of 20 or 100 they would be stimulated each 10 10
their very best. / merely throw out these hints for
But as against all this the fact that where there ara
students 20 each professor u gives the pros .Or
personal oversight each individual, ought TO-
and that Is, of course measure beneficial Bat 1t
does by means c0unterbalance the eviIs. ~ -
unfortunately fact that TO great extent these small
Institutions have q party character Nov. IN thIs
respect they contradict the principles Of the Church
bensiye and real Catholic Church In Chrstendom IL IA
marvel. and has been for years marvel, that 10 any
such rigid and east-lron organization as we nave we
have been able TO keep within the Church greater
variety OF, will not say creeds, theological opniona
than exists Ia any other church
There is one thing further must he allowed to saw
Honorable has been made Of the books Tor
study recommended by the Bishops OF 90 or 10 years
ago-an honor to them for their wisdom AMI virtu'l-
but suppose that I'm school OF science they continued
to Roger Bacon as an authority IN the matter Oh
chemistry, IL would be an absurd thing Theology,
you say, is fixed science Well. the fundamental prn
cipes. 1t Is true, know no change, because
they represent the attributes OF God; bGt the
forms are always changing. Philosophy Is oh.nslns
and human dgests of theology are only rendering OF
divine truth into philosophical system Now we muss
theological training recognize the thought OF the
age II would raise up ministry competent 10 meet
the ipfdety and errors and lies OF the age and so
say there for great Improvement In all our the0
learned men. but as q class they have not mixed
much In the world. IL is not expected that
they should, but II we had three or
four great institutions, don't think We
could have greate- than we have now for pro-
fessOrs, but we Should have more VI the organic lie
Young men could come In contact with one another.
When man goes into parish he does not know now ~
reach the people He does not know how TO put the
truth to get hold Of the congregation tnnk wa
on ght to be taught how to read. (Applau,e.l
Notwithstanding all have said against theological
ss.ainares, what have spoken OF IL the difficulty
Growing ON. 81 their number and not their clergy. We
arc In every respect zip class of clergy on
a higher plane than we have ever known before. "hy
IL we should be called upon to listen 10 the sermons
that were preached fifteen or sixteen years
ago we would nnd the congregation IN very
somnOlent condition. BE virtuous II you would %
could you list of men In our church that would
considered giants 90 years ago Stl there I.
for further Improvement and Is one OBJECT OF
tns Congress to improve things IN general ana ahOJs
them tho educatiOu OF the ministry.
The discussion this paper was sustained by tho
Rev. DIR. George ii. Norton OF Virginia. the Rev Dr
Richards Of Providence the Rev. r. Is Morgan tue k3V
DIR. Thompson, and Bishop Wbippe.