The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-17
For THE CEsrR1. PRESBYTERIAN.
Candidates as Catechists.

S"S eioeion VA DLSeEtNh - '-~''
preaching meetings IF Pf,sbyteries OF course,
this is not done in any presumptive spirit OF In
structng them 1t is rather in the.way Of opening
an inquiry
l. Chapter XIV of out "Form of Govern
ment," provides the out la. of the method by
which Presbyteries are to candidates. On the
admitted proposition. that some trial of candi-
dates is required by ''the Holy Scriptures the
"Book" proceeds to indicate the methods deemed
BEST This is evidently conventional, and not
asserted to be of final and positive authority, In
all its details. This is clear from the use of such
phrases as I" it is recommended" "f for the most
part, IF the Presbytery think proper" and the
like, and shows, that while the general principles
are accepted as Of Scriptural origin the details are
matters of agreement and much left ito the dscre
ton of the Presbytery" The Presbytery is en-
trusted with the training of the candidates, so that
while other agencies, as Literary Institutions and
some approved divine" or Professor of theolo-
gy'' are to conduct candidates through the usual
course of academical studies" and the "study
Of Divinity for, "at least, two years, the Presby
terry retains the power of judging finally Of the
candidates acquisitions. For aught that appears
to the contrary, the phrase 'at least, two years.
leaves to Presbytery the power to require longer
course and the usual course Of Observation-Disclosures,
is endowed with such wonderful elasticity of appi-
cation, that it may, in one region, describe the
"currculum" ofthelowest grade of College or High
school, or in another, the highest scale of acqusi
| ton in the highest.
Q. OF all the subjects of satisfaction" to Pres
bytery on which the candidate is to be tried,
| form of Government XIV. ". W it must be
conceded none ranks higher than ''aptness to teach
in the churches" and talent to explain and vim
dictate and practically enforce the doctrines of the
Gospel" Now it is respectfully submitted for in
quiry, whether the average results of the part of
trials, involved in the exhibition Of an 'exege-
| sis, - "a critical exercise, I" lecture and a
popular sermon" are sufficient to give ''satisfac-
ton" on the subjects above mentioned. How
much satisfaction on 'aYtness to teach, can
be gathered from hearing tie reading of these pa
pers, which the student has had full leisure and
long time to prepare, and which do not afford the
best evidence that 'he has something to say, ear
nesty desires to say it, and can SPEAK it to the
edi6cation of his hearers" A great and constant
outcry Is raised against "bcok-men," mere stu
dents, - " sermon or 'vssse' ~rEzders, c:7tCc-
With what justice or injustice in particular cases
on an average, this is no place to discuss. But
really the wonder is, not that with candidate
listing opportunities and disadvantages of secluded
lite and study, SO few attain excellency but that
SO many succeed. AS Presbytery has authority to
prosecute the trials till satisfaction" of the can
didates, "pety, literature and aptness to teach"
shall have been obtained, may not our Presbyte-
res well address themselves to the question,
whether there is not some ground for the 'out-
cry" alluded to, and whether it is not incumbent
on them to adopt some means for abating the
evil?
3. In conducting such an inquiry, it is we'll to
consider the history of ministerial training in our
Church. Before the organization of Theological
Seminaries candidates, studying with approved
divines," had constant opportunities of engaging
in some of the elementary duties of the work of
the Holy Ministry. 1t is in the memory of many
now living, that such opportunities we're not cut
off from all those who were gathered under PRO
fessor of theology" in some college, or who were
in Theological Seminaries. And it will be conce-
ded, that whatever may be said of the comparative
"piety and literature of men so trained, their
''aptness to teach,' and to explain and vindicate
and practically to enforce the doctrines Of the Cos
pel'' have not been exceeded, if actually equaled,
by their successors, trained without any, or with
but severely limited opportunities of the kind in
H. IL kolr kop, Il
cases of either class but contempates the Average
as to both.
4. The abuse of the privilege in question, by
imprudent young men, injury to them by injudi-
cious compliments, and the neglect of PresbyterieS
to take proper 'care" of their candidates. practi.
cally renting this work too much to Seminaries,
have all together occasioned reaction. Till with.
in few years, engagement in an elementary work
of the ministry, beyond occasionally conducting
prayer meeting when no one else could be had,
was, with the bulk of candidates, the exception
There had come time, when the pendulum had
swung too far one way, and in endeavoring to
check the vibration too hard stroke was given,
and it swung too far in the other way.
The trouble has ever been that the whole matter
oas left to ITSELF Enthusiastically, the candidate is
under double sovereignty. As member of the
church and in all judicial relations he is response
Bile to the Session of the church, of which he is a
member; but officially as candidate, he is respon
sibe to the Presbytery. The Session has oversight
of his Christian character, the Presbytery of his
course and competency as candidate. Now why
may not the Presbytery assign him "other parts
of trial. than those already specified until they
shall have obtained satisfaction" as to. capt
ness to teach," "talent to Defend" &c., and in
struct him to spend his v4ation or part of it, un-
der supervision of its Committee of Missions, or
commencing him to another Presbytery, under its
supervision or that of its committee? The Pres
bytery would give no license to preach the gospel
wherever he may be orderly called, but only with
in specific sphere and for specific time The
public opinion of the candidate, favorable or the
contrary, would soon transpire If the former,
the Presbytery could not only allow the candidate
to persegere through the time appointed, but re-
curing him to repair promptly to the Seminary,
would assure him Of similar employment for an
other vacation. Should the opinion be unfavora.
BILE, the Presbytery, suspendng any final decision,
but using all possible methods to secure his i'm
provement, might "at its discretion" require
longer time of scholastic training as well as farther
exercise of his gifts and acquisitions. Doubtless
some few cases would arise, in which the carefully
instituted inquiries of Presbytery might develop |
total unftness as public speaker or incorrigibly
unsuitable manners, or some other of those dis |
qualifications, which have now and then been but 4