The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-10
THE MINISTRY.

In the report on the Board of Educa-
ton presented last week at the meeting
OF the Synod of Philadelphia it appeared
that there was lamentable decrease in
the number of candidates for the minis
try, and the question was repeatedly
raised, What can be the cause?F Vari-
Gus explanations were given by those
who responded, nearly all of which
seemed to locate the difficulty somewhere
within the administration of the affairs
OF the Board The remarks of Rev. E..
Z. Heberton, of Philadelphia, seemed to
present the best answer and most prac-
teal solution. He said he believed it
was not because of lack of aOise pobcg
or Jealous administration on the part
OF those to whom was intrusted the edu-
cation of our candidates for.the ministry
nor to the meagre support afforded such ;
nor to hesitancy on the part of our
youth to consecrate themselves to a rea-
sonable sacrifice; but it was due to a
prevailing notion that the exercise of the
office of the ministry was, nowadays, &C
companied with sufferings, humiliation,
and discouragements which do not be-
long necessarily even to those willing
" to endure hardness as good soldiers, y
and which were clearly within the power
of the church to remedy.
The cry for ministers comes most i'm
Fortunately from our Western missionary
fields. But all the world knows that
while the church is piteously pleading
for more laborers in this harvest, that
he who answers the call is consigned to
privatiors to which the foreign mission
airy is an utter stranger; and that in this
wilderness of temptation there comes no
comforting angel in the thought that this
is incidental to life of ministerial CON
secration; but instead, an irrepressible
remonstrance against the needs-be of all
this privation which spoils the integrity
of his cross bearing, forced upon him by
the simple fact of an utterly inadequate
salary. Is it wonder, in the absence OF
thespirit Of asceticisn, that candidates
are few?
The ministry is further degraded by
the methods in vogue of procuring them
for pulpit service. No undetermined
man can get the full consent of his mind
to enter into competition with place
seekers, or to aim at conformity to the
standards of qualification as established
by the unsanotifed taste of those who
largely control congregational action.
Nor can he view the trials of faithful
minister subjected to criticism, vitupera-
ton and the direction of those who en-
ploy him, without feeling that the Office
of the Christian minister has been degrad-
ed, andno wonder hislonging to work in
Masters vineyard" is repressed, or finds
expression in some other labor of love
Again, our young men hear the shame
full story that is constantly coming from
the Board of Ministerial Relief, of the
pitiful cases Of restitution among the
aged saints Of Christ, left to infrmity
and perjury after years Of self-denyine
service. Is it strange that they should
hesitate to undertake that which seems
from the human side at least, so unat.
tractive2 Here is the answer to the
query, Why are not more young mer
seeking the ministry In view of all
these depressing facts, we feel that it re.
quires an bitterness Of conservation, such
as led Paul to 60 to Rome, before the
ranks shall be filed up; and while we
heartily approve Of the resolutions Just
passed, imploring the church to pray