The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-02
YOUNG MEN In THE CHURCH.
The Drift Of Talent No Longer Toward
Theology.
New York Commercial Advertiser.l

New York Commercial AdvertisarI
There are frequent laments over the luke
garmuess of the churches and the growing
disnclinattun of young men To enter the min
istry. The religious journals contend that the
American people are drifting toward rational
lam and disbelief, aud that the Catholic
Church is the only one IN this country when
shows sirns pf life and energy. Some OF the
rontrDverslalists argue that the reasons for
indifference wv forms Of Worship are TO be
found In the lack 81 new blood and eloquence
and learning in the pulpit. and In the dissen-
siors created NV the constant quarres among
fhe clergy, and the scandals that fol-
low the imposition oil heavy burdens of
church debt. There is some degree OF truth
In these and other adverse criticisms, and 1t
ia useful to consider them. The chickering's
IN the churches certainly excite unfavorable
comment among the nngodly; the fore
closures Hpon the property Of over-ambttiots
congregations do not Inspire profound con-
iidenee In the wisdom or the humility OF the
pastors or the people; good many rasoals
succeed I'm using the cloak Of religion 70 moe
their iniauities. and 50 bring disereulg upon
the churches when their time comes iof eX-
pusure; and the fact In incontfovertple tnat
yo,,nr men In this country are seeking other
avoeations than that OF the ministry, as IS
shown by the statistics we publish to-day ~
reference to the three great limitations o.
The Methodis ,ee a6sSeye"I
that the applications for admission
TO che theological seminartes are less In
number than In FORMER years, although Tn
population IL increasing rapidly by natural
Increment and by Immigration. Out OF the
b4i5 Presbyterian churches PIG are vacant,
and s3s have only from to 80 members each
and consultations Of weak parishes have
been found necessary. as In Brooklyn two or
three years ago. The Increase In Preshyte-
rian churches on this continent last year wae
las, but the increase of ministers was only 81
and In making even this increase 58 were
taken from other denominations. The
Episeopalau church, which numbered 27ot
marshes and 2p3S priests and deacOns In 1878
shows o smaller decrease than others. hut
there is a noticeable lack OF young men to
occupy new fields. Even the Methodsts,
whose astonishing progress is Indicated
by the fact that an average of one new
chuch per day-965 every year-is now built
by them On this continent. make complaint
of the difficulty of finding proper persons tx
fill the pulpits. The aggregate Methodist
membership Id the United States s about
100000. and but for the system Of rotation
many of the commandments would be. de-
prlved of the services OF spiritual guides
These are facts worth the serious consldera
ton OF Christian people. Ii the clerical pro
fesBIon has become unnttraetive to the aspir.
Ing young men OF the day, there Is reason
for IL, and the churches must find 1t out fo
themselves The bar and the medical pro
fcsHion suffer no lack OF recruits. thougk the
rewards they offer are rarely great and gen
orally precArious. The church ought TO b.
able at least TO hold It's own.