The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-20
Contests Between Theological scmina-


rics.
Contests between colleges may already bc
regarded as almoet an established institu-
! ton. The learned and venerable Dr. Mo
CosH, President Of Princeton although he
would somewhat change the character of
| these contests, expresses himself strongly
In favor Of them. other eminent scholars
agree with him, and. having been once fairly
started, they seem likely to he kept up.
We think the theory Of these contests
might be carried further and applied To
theological Summaries. Why not have con
tests between thcm2 Let delegates from
Andovcr, Cambridge, Princeton, and other
scminarics Of this kind. meet together, say
i'm New York. and preach sermons for prizes
in competition with each other.
There might bc some difficulty In applying
n test TO their comparative merits, especially
in consequence of their different religious
tcncts; but IL we lay out u general plan for
this new species Of contests, we think we
may fairly leave that embarrassment To bc
d-cu -scd and got over by some OF the
learned dVincs to whom the charge Of the
matter should be assigned.
Preaching, however IL by no means the
only duty Of clcrgymcn one Of their most
onerous tasks nowadays is to raise money
to pay off the large debt which their
churches have incurred; so that In addition
To their sermons, there should be n lively
competition between the embryo ministers
in the art Of drumming for subscriptions.
The recent experiences of ministers who
have employed Mr.. KIMBALL to appeal to
their congregations for subscriptions may
serve to throw a food Of light on the art of
obtaining contributions. Mr. KIMBALL as
Is we'll known, has acquired his skill by
drumming for dry goods dealers. Now II may
bc that the only way for clergyman t. be-
como thoroughly qualified to manage the
pccuniary affairs OF fashionable and cx-
pcnsive church successfully is to practise
for while as a drummer for dry goods men,
This possibility leads us directly to the i'm
portant consideration whether laymen like
Mr.. KINBALL. who have shown themselves
superior to clergymen In this essential
though worldly branch OF clerical business,
should not be permitted to participate in
these new ecclesiastical contests. Great
changes might be wrought by this liberal
plan, and in the course of few years we
might sec established in every Theological
Seminary, Proicssorship of the Art Of
Drumming, with elementary practice in
drumming for the dry goods trade.
Some in-inuations have been thrown out
in reference to the subscriptions obtained by
Mr.. KIMBALL to the effect that part OF
them were not genuine, not really to be
paid by the parties subscribing. But we
have heard OF only one church in which the
entire debt was paid of In cash, and that is
the Rev. Dr. john HALLS. The rich men of
that church need not boast Of their achieve
mcnt, however, as the more difficult task OF
going through the eye Of a needle yet re-
mains for them 10 accomplish.
There are other reasons why in these pro-
posed contests between theological -emna-
rics eymcn ahoud also bc included. In the
field Of preaching, unordaincd men are
now clearly taking the lead. What or
I daincd and salaricd minister in all America
can compete with Mr. MOODY in drawing
, crowds and making converts? In point. at
4 this very time. is the statement Of the Rev
, DR.. CRANE Of Hartford, where Mr. MOODY
. is now preaching, that he has lived eighteen
4 years in that city. and has never seen such
! "A manifestation of religious interest there
4 before. This shows how much Mr. MOODY
alone is superior "a a preacher to all tn,
p regular clcrgymcn of Hartford combined.
4 Let Mr.. MOODY participate in one Of the
= proposed contests Of the theological scmina
2 rics. II he excel all the theological students
as he already exces their teachers, then d
5 | MOODY professorshp might bc established
= in every theological seminary. Mr. MooD,
T. is said TO have been trained in shoe store
= and in making collections OF shoe bills
q Study in shoe stores would seem, from hi
If experience, TO be demanded as an essentia
Il part OF theological education.
n There is another thing to be considered
The establishment Of the MOODY professor
e ship might dispense with the necessity q
II the KIMBALL profcssorship. Mr.. MooD'
n breaches In Kinks and out-Of-the-wa.
f. places, and does not remain very long Il
d one town. Moreover, he breaches gratul
q tously. Ifall the preaching were to he don
% by generous laymcn like him, it might d
N away with the aston for costly churche
;. and regular clergymen with high salaries
- so Mr.. KGMBALLs services would no longe
t. be in rcquisition.
N Some old-fashioncd people good cnoug
:. in their way, may have a prciudc
N against the innovations suggested; bu
Of they will do we'll to consider the sclf-sacr
lie hcing spirit which has been almost univcl
o. sally manifested by the cergymen then
" selves whom Mr.. MOODY Is superscdna
H. one aud ALL almost without exception, the
lie have united in blowing his tuImpr
n. Hence it Il, perhaps in a great mcasur
~ that II sounds so loud.
of Architects and Employers.
he EVcl'v urofos sional man. and for that ma