The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-03-14
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Few Questions from Young
Brother Who Wants a Little
More Light.
BLAoKsBURG, VA, Feb. 81. '83.

MeSSrS. EdstorS,-That the Presbyte-
rian Church in the South needs, badly
needs, more laborers in her field, sup
pose no one will question But in the
discussion of this most interesting and
important matter, so far as l have seen
it, another point seems to be entirely
taken for granted, which humbly sug-
gest ought to be proved, viz: The cause
of this want of ministers is the high edu-
cation requirements of the PRESBYTERIAN
Church. Is this a fact? 1 do 6eZie0e it
is, but l do not knoa0 At any rate, it
seems to me, it would be much better to
ascertain with certainty that this is the
cause of the trouble before so much time
and labor is spent in urging its removal.
especially since it is one of the grand old
line trees of our Church which is thus
marked for the axe.
do not know how it may be with
others, but, for myself, 1 am sure do
not know which way to turn in this mat
ter, until have more light on this point
The hope of obtaining this light has in
duced me to throw few modest ques-
tons into the midst of this discussion.
Perhaps 1 ought to be ashamed of nv
questions; perhaps they display an aston
Ishlng Ignorance on my part. If so, all
can do is to remain ignorant, or ask for
what l do not know. | prefer the latter
course.
l. Is it known that any great, or even
considerable number of men have been
turned from the doors of our ministry.
because they would have to "stand there
knocking for seven years before they
could enter Let some one give us
some cases In point, some facts and fig
ures. In my experience, which has been
short, only six years, have met with
only one such person. He did not enter
our ministry, though raised Presbyte-
rian, because too much preparation was
required. l am glad, for 1 know him.
He went to the Methodists, they know
him now and they are sorry. But my
experience amounts to very little. We
may have lost many good men in this
way, but would like to know of some.
Cannot some one tells us distinctly of
such cases? Can any one tell us of ana
Augustines and Bunyans end letters and
Spurgeons who have been driven from
US, though ours was the Church of their
choice, by the prospect of seven years
study In college and seminary?
2. If any man, endowed by God with
qualities which may be trained into an
"aptness to teach" offers himself as
candidate for the ministry to any one of
our Presbyteries, and though he may be
perfectly destitute OF means, will he be
excluded? Will he not be educated by
the Church up to the standard of the
Church? Do we want to fill our minis
try with men who will not receive an
education when it is offered to them?
8. Do not the means by which the
ministers of the Methodist and Baptist
Churches are permitted to procure their
livelihood have much to do with the
great abundance of ministers in those
Churches? They are not required to
live by the gospel" but everywhere
you find Methodist and Baptist minis
ters who are merchants and farmers and
mechanics, and sometimes doctors and
lawyers. Baptist churches and territory
which correspond to our weak churches
and destitute fields, are largely minis
tered to by men who make their" own
living by secular occupations. Is this
the aim of the present move? With the
Metho dists these wants are met by circuit
riders supported, when necessary, by a
tax levied on the more wealthy churches,
while the local preacher is always and
everywhere on hand. Cannot some one
show what these fact have to do with our
trouble?
Right here I will be bold enough to
make one suggestion. Let reform at our
ministry alone, and apply her pruning
knife to our theory and practice of Uol-
U1lt0ry contribution. Let us borrow from
the Methodists few methods of raising
money for the demands of the work be-
fore us; let us 90 little further in the
way in which Lexington Presbytery set
out last fall in order to raise that 81 900
for DR.. McIlwaine, and see if when we
have plenty Of money, we will not have
plenty of men to fill all waste places.
4. Is it not money, more than men,
which our Church needs to meet the de-
mands upon herr Is it not money, more
than men, for which DR.. McIlwaine begs
so urgently in his annual reports and cir
culars? Has he more money than he
las men to receive it2 Do we not cor.
stantly hear of men leaving fields in
which they are willing and anxious to
labor, because the Church mill not sup
port them there Are not very nearly
oil of our vacant churches vacant because
they are not able to support pastor,
and because the Church will not give
IL L