, 1875-05-23

| without giving equivalent, and ehng out
their support from religious newspapers, hos.
pitfalls, .ssylums, Sunday schools, and othe,
procarious sources Of income. Al this makes
serious tax upon churches, and helps to
place them before the community in the atti-
tuds Of most persistent mendicants. It is
enough, and oftentimes mora than church
can do, to pay its salaries and running ex-
penses and do its proportion Of missionary
work, without being obliged to pay an ad-
didonal tax every year for: the support Of idle
ministers. --:.''. =,
There arc moral as well as pecuniary rea-
Sons why this overplus Of ministers is to be
deprecated. It places the minister. at the
mercy OF his congregation So long as this
enormous disproportion exists, congregations
can treat the clergy as they please. They
are not afraid to lose their pastors, for the
market is full Of them, and they can supply
vacancies with the most perfect ease. In
stead OF being the guide and authority for the
flock, the flock becomes guide and authority
for the pastor. The sheep pay no regard
to the shepherd, but jump fences and
even through other peoples pastures at
will, without regard to tho shepherds
warning. All sanctity and reverence
for the minister are lost. He is made to feel
he holds his place by suferance. II hs wants
to keep it, he must fawn and tuckle to tho
multitude, and, even when he does stir, the
chances arc ten to one that some drons is
plotting to get his place away from him. In
this manner, the church loses its humility.
Having plenty Of ministers to choose from,
It becomes fasidious and even eaucy. The
minister loses his Independence at propor-
houate rate. Whi1s the minister suffers in
tho 1oHs Of reverence and the decline Of his
usefulness, ths church itself grows lax in
discipline and weak in influence.
What is the remedy for al this? Exaot1y
that which poitcd economy supplies. Re
duce the supply: Establish an equilibrium
between, it and tho demand It is better, in
fact, that the dispfopor6on should be upon
the side Of the demand It is not enough
that, because man is good, or is talented,
he should rush pell nell into the ministry.
Tho other professions sadly need good men
and talentsd men. We want good and talent
ed lawyArs, doctors, and authors, even mora
than We want good and talented ministers.
But Is it is now, If young man happens
to bo possessed Of = good moral and
religious character and fair talent, the
fond family immediately consign him to the
theological seminary to go into training for
the ministry and place his less good and tai
ented brothers in some Of the other profess
sions- Upon this point, the Committee ex-
press rome very sensible views: Ct Stand
back and Let God, instead Of doting parents or
ambitious friends, call young men into tho
ministry. Beware Of the spirit Of SAMum's
day when men said, Put me, Ipray thee,
into ono Of the priast'c offices, that may eat
a piece OF bread Let Presbyteries be more
particular and faithful as to qualifications Of
both head and heut, and LAY hands sudden
II on no man, Let us recognize tho fact that
God calls men out Of the preparatory course
and the ministry whom He. never
called into it.. Let VI have no Medo-Peraian
laws, but provide for the da1nisaion Of
the ministry" This is very practical advice,
and, If followed, Will have a healthy in
Guencs in future. But what is to be done
nov1 What is to become Of the 500 id1s
ministers in the Presbyterian denomination,
and the hundreds in other denominations?
Whist other oou1ss is there for them to pur-
sue than to turn thair attention to something
else? II they. havs nothing to do in their
own profession, 1t is pretty evident they were
mistaken IN supposing that the Lord has
called them for His work. II such had been I
the case, work would haTs been provided for !
them II they srs good men, there are plenty |
OF avenues open to them in other occupations,
for good men ara everywhere needed