The Russellville Democrat., 1880-02-05
YOUNG MEN IN THE CHURCH.
The Drift of Talent is Away From Theol. OEy.

N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
 There are frequent laments over the lukewarmness of the churches and the growing disinclination of young men to enter the ministry. The religious jour. nals contend that the American people are drifting toward rationalism and dis. belief, and that the Catholic church is the only one that shows signs of life and energy. Some of the controversialists argue that the reasons for indifference Tor forms of worship are to be found in the lack of new blood and learning and eloquence i'll the pulpit, and the dissen. slons created by the constant quarrels among the clergy, and the scandals that follow the imposition of heavy church debts. There Is some degree of truth in these and other adverse criticisms, and 1t is useful to consider them. The biclS- erings in the churches certainly excite unfavorable comment among the un- godly; the foreclosures upon the property of over-ambitious congregations do not inspire profound confidence in the wis dom or the humility of the pastors or the people. A good many rascals suc- ceed In using the cloak of religion to hide their iniquities, and so bring discredit upon the churches when their time comes for exposure; and the fact is in- controvertible that the young men in this country are seeking other avocations than that of the ministry, as is shown by the statistics we publish to-day in reference to the three great denomina- tlons of the Methodists, the Presbyteri- ans and the Protestant Episcopalians. It appears that the applications for admis- sion to the theological seminaries are less in number than in former years, al- though the population is increasing rap idly by natural increment and by immi- grafton. Out of 5,415 Presbyterian churches 926 are vacant, and 63S have only from two to fifty members each; and consolidation of weak parishes have been found necessary, as ill Brooklyn two or three years ago. The increase in Pres. hyterian churches on this continent last year was 145, but the increase of minis ters was only 37, and in making even this increase 5S were taken from other denominations. The Episcopalian Church, which numbered 2700 parishes and 2,93S prlests and deacons In 1873, shows a smaller decrease than others, but there is noticeable lack of young men to occupy new fields. Even the Methodists, whose astonishing progress is indicated by the fact that an average of one new church per day-365 every year-is now built by them on this con tinent, made complaint of the difficulty of finding proper persons to fill the pull pits. The aggregate Methodist member ship in the United States is about l,500,- GOO. and but for the system of rotation many of the communicants would be de- prived of the services of spiritual guides. These are facts worth the consideration of Christian people. If the clerical pro- fession has become so unattractive to the aspiring young men of the day there is a reason for it, and the churches must find 1t out for themselves. The bar and the medical profession suffer no lack of re- cruits, though the rewards they offer are rarely great and generally precari- ous. The church ought to be able at least to hold it's own.