The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-10
ESPON NOE.
Letter from Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 4th, 1886

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 4th, 1880.
Messrs. EditorS,-The meetings of the
various Synods have been engrossing &C.
clesiastical attention amongst us during
the last week A feeling appears to be
developing in the Northern Church that
the Synod, as now organized, is "sort
of fifth wheel in the machinery. When
meetings happen to be cold and unspirit-
ual, the brethren feel this more emphat-
ically and dispense with pretty strong
conviction that a great deal of precious
time has been wasted in much ado about
nothing [ do not wonder, therefore, that
this feeling has already shaped itself in
an overture from the General Assembly
to the Presbyteries respecting the reor-
ganization and enlargement of Synodical
powers. We are not in sympathy with
any of these radical changes, and espe-
cially are we sensitive to anything that
looks toward limitation Of the represen-
tative idea or Capitalization of power,
but feel acutely, nevertheless, that some
iudicious increase Of the work of the
Synod, by which it will accomplish some
thing more than simply a presentation of
the work of the several Church Boards,
is required if it is to enjoy the estimation
which should characterize so imposing a
court of the Church.
The chief point which came out in the
discussions of the Philadelphia Synod was
The Alarming Diminution of Can didates
for the Ministry.
At time when social and political revo-
lutions have paved the way for the spread
of the truth to degree which has had no
parallel since the first Christian ages, this
ian exceedingly serious matter. Thirty
years ago our laborers were confined
to the borders of heather lands, but war
and revolution, diplomacy and commerce,
discovery and invention, have contributed
to open up these lands to the heralds of
the cross almost without exception. In
our short memory, China could be ap-
preached only by Hong Kong, Japan was
closed against us, and no man dreamed OF
opening it. Africa was an unknown Jun
gle, and her historic rivers were hidden
in the depths of her unexplored regions
The islands of the South and West, with
few exceptions, were unknown and mac
cessible to the messenger of glad tidings
Lol what change. The whole heather
world is open from sea line to mountain
basel Japan, Siam, China, India, Africa
welcome the missionary. Within the last
quarter Of century the Papacy has ex-
perienced stupendous changes on the con-
tinent. Austria has burst the fetters OIL
her concordat, and wrested the control
of education from the priests. Italy has
broken the temporal power, and the Wal
denses bear witness that the prosecuting
Church is disarmed by preaching in the
eternal city. And France has trampled
into the dust the yoke of Ultramontan.
ism, and by insisting that her sons and
daughters shall be educated, takes pre-
caution against all future fetters Of super
stition. Now with such openings the
world over for the progress Of the gospel
surely the Church will be multiplying
her exertions. With such universal i'm.
portunity for laborers the number Of men
In preparation for the ministry will GER
talnly show great increase. Instead oi
this being the case, however, the aged DR.
Bushnell must needs return to Africa
and die on the voyage, because none Of
fer, and the Secretaries of the Foreign Mis-.
slonary Board ask in vain for workers in
the foreign field, commensurate with the
demand. In the last ten years the stu.
dents under the care of the Church have
decreased from little over 800 to lit.
tie over 400 Union Theological Semi
nary begins the year with a decreased
attendance. Princeton Seminary woulc
also show g marked difference but for the
accession Of Southern theological students
owing to the arrest Of the Seminary a.
Columbia.
The cause Of this state Of affairs is no
!alfhc9ult to discover. 1t began years agc
IN the writings of j. G.. Holland anc