The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-19

convictions, Every assembly aud conference
is a witness to the contrary. 1t is told me by
men in high positions in the army that,
as class, the bravest of all the army in the
late war were theological students. Theology
does not make towards. So much for your
article.
But have still a few questions to ask you.
Who has helped the scientist to search out
the distant nations of the earth, their habits,
customs and languages that Lubbock,
Wilkinson, Max Muller and that class OF
writer's may treat SO learnedly about the
origin of nations Who, in the last thirty
years, have translated hundred languages,
furnishing for them alphabets and gram
mars and dictionaries? Who have brought
in contact with commerce Central Africa
and the isles OF the seas? They are the mis-
sionaries
You accuse the clergy of being behind the
age, | think the fault is on the other side,
that they are educated above the people.
Look at the Salvation Army, with all that is
repulSive to an educated man, yet they have
a wonderful following Barnes and Harrison,
with jargon and slang brought the gospel
down to the level of the People turned In
dianapolis up-side-down and God blessed
them in the conversion of many souls. 1t is
fact, a discourse of solid thought is
not acceptable. II only a few young men
enter the ministry, it is because they have
no patience to study. For example if a
graduate of our normal schools land a Drawer
class is hard to be found) would regularly
enter the ministry, they would be compelled
to go seven or eight years more to school.
You make comparison between the clergy
and other professions. Very well. Whose
thoughts are cabled at great expense across
the Atlantic? That of a simple CalvaniStc
preacher. Compare them on public Occa-
sions. Did you, in indianapolis, ever know
the clergy to come second best in their
lrrnx lodi nf Of FIJI han,
they stood on common level? You have
in your literary clubs, as | hear, men of all
professions. Are the clergy inferior? You
have in your prayer-meetings lawyers,
physicians, judges and professors Of schools,
Are they fluent in interpreting human ma
ture and the common affairs of life. and
wonderfully prodigious in intellectual fer
tility? Compare Methodist conference, or
Presbyterian general assembly, or a New
England Congregational convention, or of
Baptist with any like body from other pro-
fessions. Compare them in dignity, in intel
lectual appearance and the mode of trans
acting business We love these professions
too well to make the comparisons if you
had not thrown out the challenge.
A brave class of fellows you are, You build
State colleges and make Christians pay for
them; then you man the colleges with the great
lights of modern skepticism. Then you set
them to work upon the Christian faith of unso-
phlollCdlSu boNS Vi ulleeu anu elPllleell. IOI
four years they pour into their ears adulter-
ated science, are not slow, often, to declare as
established what is merely hypothetical and
often, by sneer or contemptuous indiffer-
ence, they succeed in undermining the Chris
tan belief OF the boys. Then they turn
around with derision toward Christians, say
ing See, your boys are educated above the
superstitions of Christianity. They will not
enter the ministry" Bravo bravo! What
a victory, that these young boys have been
conquered by the giants of skepticism!
If the young ministers are "degenerated in
character" as you say they are how is it
that this age is noted for advancement in
missionary work in church organization, in
accession to the church, and in church be-
nevolent work above all ages preceding?
Now, Mr. Editor, give the minister fair
play; give him hearing. If he has spoken
plainly, remember that he learned the art by
reading the Journal. Ifsthe article is long
publish, nevertheless, in its entirety, for /
do not often trouble editors.
TERRE HAUTE June2 THOMAS PARRY,