, 1874-08-30


the cornerstone, not only Of their lives but
their laws. 1ts ministers we're regarded Witi
almost BuperBtitious reverence They Va1eo II
years and renown together. Turning then
ad1ift becnuse they were old and replacing then
with infants fresh from theological seminary
was then something unknown.
Second-The ministry was the best-educatee
class in the country. This single fact involved
the exercise Of tremendous power.
Ihird-Oratory was in its glory. In mat
| ters Of religion, it probably e1erted more
wcighty influence than It did in our
politics during the war. Whitfield went
marching through Georgia ~ rictoriously az
| Sherman. Tens Of thousands OF hearers sobbed
and shrieked under the weight of his famous
sentence: II can write damnation in the dust
that covers your Bibles"
Fo,rth-The great liberal movement OF the
| last four centuries Ind then, in early New En-
gland times, only extended, in religion, to q
revolt against Journalism. Tho scalpel Of science
| WAS not at work dissecting creeds. Fervor was
! breaking down barriers. Men left the Gstab~
lished Church, whatever its polity might b$, for
the sake Of being more, not less, Religious The
Church Was therefore aggressive. 1t therefore
thriyed. Its ministers led in tha warfare, and
reaped the glory OF success.
These four causes have lost much OF their old
potency. Some of them have ceased to exist
%3,n Il
class. Instruction inside OF theological semina-
riea has not kept pace with thst outside Cler-
gymen. instead of being the posseseo1s OF all
knowledge, have no longer exclusive possession
even If their Own specially. The laity ,nvades
tho domain Of theology, tries to boldly teach, IN
stead of being reyorently taught and disputes
the dogmas 1t once thought too holy to be ques-
toned. The relative importance OF tho clergy a.
class, arising from their superior education,
exists no longer. Nay, they arc looked upon
by many as behind tho average student.
The decline of orato1y has weakened the powor
of ministers in common With all other speakers.
The average pulpit makes good delivery an ina-
possibility. This apparently insignificant cause
has really had great deal to do with making
ministers, as clasa, Indifferent speakers. When
wooden wall enectually prevents the natural
sweeping gestures. and compels man to gestic-
ulate with his arm On level with bis shoulder,
a6ectstion and forced dgidity become inevita-
Bile. Tho lack Of new, strong religious move
ments has told upon ministerial influence Fer
vor is being ruled out as unredned AL existing
sects are sinking into Journalism Wh1Ie the
high-churchmAn rivals Bone in candles and burn
ings Of incense and genude1ions, the Presbyte-
rian and Congregahonalst adopt printed forms
OF service, responses by the people, and songs
by select few Who praise the Lord at 80 much
consequent dullnesa-
There are two main means Of restoring to the
ministry portion OF its old power. It can never
regain tho whole. It ia veil for the world and
once more guide mankind in matters Of religion,
provided it can carry into effect two changes
First, the preparatory studies must bo greatly
extended 1t would De difficult to nane science
that does not directly or indirectly touch the
dogmas Of religion. Darwin and Tyndal
are as truly writers On religion al
Hodge and PMey. The works Of the |
school they represent should be studied IN the |
semina1y,-not diluted representations Of them |
as theological opponents see them, but the
works themselves. When the ministry once more |
represents the advanced culture Of the day, it |
will onco more find that knowledge Ia power. |
Second, the creeds must be remode1ed- They
are behind the age. Dr.. Pattezson's declaration
during tho Swing trial, that the Westminster
Confession needed to be revised, WAS rs wise Is
it WAS manly Beliefs formulated long years ngo
cannot be implicitly received now creed
must grow with the age or be rejected by the
ice.