The New York herald., 1874-06-16
CLASSICAL VS.. COMMON SCHOOLS
The Methodist Ministers on an Educated
and Uneducated MinIstry-Theological
Doctors Differ.

The Methodist Ministers ON an Educated
and Uneducated IinIstry-Theological
Doctors Differ.
An interesting discussion was held yesterday by
the Methodist preachers at No. sos Broadway. The
subject under debate was substantially the pro.
priety OF founding here, in or near New York, an
institution akin to Dr.. Tyng's House Of Evangelists
or DR.. Talmages Lay College in Brooklyn. But 1t
should have larger field and wider scope than
these, since 1t would be denominattonal institu-
ton and would probably draw It's support from the
whole Church. DR.. Curry, In an editorial in the
Christian Adpocate a lew weeks ago, suggested
that such theological school is among
the greatest needs of the Church to-day. AS
this topic was adopted for discussion at the
instance Of Rev. w. McAster he was requested to
open debate on 1t. The necessity for such school
exists and the want arises from the fact that there
Is great lack Of ministers for the work Of the
Church-not only In the Methodist Episcopal
Church. but in ali other denominations. The theo-
logical institutions that they have fail to give the
Church all the ministers 1t wants. This need is
not felt, Of course, here in New York. but it is
deeply felt in the West. And he would say, in the
language of the venerable Horace, to candidates
for the miuistry:--"Young man, 90 out West; you
are needed there" Mr.. McAIster illustrated
THE DIFFICULTIES or YOUNG MEN
trying to enter theological schools as these are at
present constituted. In MS own charge three
young men were converted who felt that they we're
called TO the ministry. One OF them was twenty
one years OF age. He had an ordinary English edu-
cation. He was sent to Drew Seminary, but before
he could euter the ministry ne must 20 through a
collegiate and theological course which would take
him nine years. The time and cost were more than
he could give to this study and he turned away In
pair. He went to tne Middetown University
and the sane dlriculties stared him IN the lace.
He took Mr. McAlister's advice and hIreu private
as were most convenient to him, ana for which he
could pay out of MS weekly earnings. That young
cess In the New York East Conference efhe other
two VINO were younger are also nlling appoint
ments under the Presiding Elder, and are doing
efficient work. Now. what Is needed Is an inst-
tuition that shall give young man all the instruc-
tlon ne needs TO make preacher OF aim in two
years and then send him out to Work. He goes to
college and the irst thing that is put into his hands
IL smathematlcs-somethlng that, as a minister OF
the Gospel, he is never likely to need. The next
thing is the poems of
LicENrloUs HEATHEN AUTHOR,
and he must go through these during course Of
touched on the shelves Of the college library. The
very thing that he Is expected TO know something
about does not enter into the curriculum Of study
No wonder then that SO many young men come
out OF college highly educated but thoroughly back
sldden and UNIT for the work TO which they intend
TO devote their lives. Some young men are apso-
Iuteiy injured by college training. He (McAlister)
AN am American Cariye without Carlye,s natural.
ISM mad not Wesleyan University put c,unps on
his mead aud repressed his aspirations. He (the
speaker) would have young men study anatomy
aud physiology and the laws Of evIdence-not
merely evidences of Christianity-bat none OF
these are text books in our colleges. Drs. Talmage
and Tying, Jr., nave discovered that the Old Metho
dist way was Gods way TO lit men for the ministry,
but Methodists are going back to the oder way
which leaves God out OF the account and prefers
Homer or Horace to Moses or Paul.
DR.. Curry, being called upon TO speak, remarked
that the Methodist Episcopal Church receives an
nually 500 young minister's and by and by 1t VIII
receive l,0o0 ihe schools and seminaries give be-
Drew gives about twenty Evanston, Ind, five;
Wesleyan University, ten or twelve, and other
scnoois ABOUT MY. ana WIN accesslohs IRON
other denominations ana from educated profes-
sions the
NUMBER OF EDUCATED MINISTER'S
received every year Is about $50. The remaining
$50 are the product OF our best class OF English
schools, some 0, them going very low down. We
have talked, said the Doctor for a long time about
an educated ministry for tue Churcn, but we nave
made no progress towards IL. The New YORK and
New Yo.k East Con ere nces have made very little
progress ana the colleges actually graduate fewer
ministers now than they did ten years ago. Let
any one examine the minutes Tor the last three or
different story he VIII lift, said the Doctor, great
burden rom my shoulders. The Doctor sand he
had written evidence of lamentable ignorance IN
every rank OF the ministry except Blshop, and
where IL should not exist, in coiege-Dred men,
Ana now seeing tnat The chnrcn las here is there
not lie asked some way OF bettering ourselves.
Young men IN towns ana cities, at fifteen or six
teen, want TO get out OF scnool aud 90 into bust
ness. The consequence Is that this city gives in
proportion To her population more TO tue Metho-
DIST ministry THAN any equal number in any other
part OF the Church territory. Hence we nave
lailed 10 grow III cities. ~ IL well known that
/ MethodIsm does not prosper here a. In other
/ places. The Doctor recommended Young men TO
] read history as of TAR more importance than
mathematics. And no man can he sdd TO be an
i educated Dan WAC has not read at least
ritE ELEMENTS OF MEDICINE
end the elements oi law. And such reading re-
qGifes only pam English. We want an institution
/ iof grown boys ana young men tnat VIII give tnem
the knowledge tney need 0r int WORK oi the niin-
istly 81 less cost ~ time tnan nine years and IN
money than from $1,000 to 5000, winch ieW 0i our
/ yonhg men eaB afford 10 pay. Bat ne wouid pro-
biQit such Students from gong ont 10 preacn De-
/ TN next week.
Dr. Deyinne made % fe remarks concerning the
eminent ABILITY as preachers Of tue men VINO llVcd
hafi century agu and VINO were not at alt OF
I very llttle educated.
Mr. Eidrldge, oi Wyoming Conference, made an
T appeal lol aid TO rebuild his new church at Great
bend.