The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-06
President Eliot on the Ministry.

In an afterdinner speech at New York not
long ago, President ELIOT OF Harvard Col
lege remarked that though far more money
had been given in this country for theologi-
cal education than for any other professional
training, the ministry was the profession
which included the fewcst strong men.
His theory was that the gratultous train
ing in tho divinity schools had worked in
jury to the Protestant ministry. Those
schools, 1t is well known, are generally char
liable Institutions. Their students, in great
part, not only get their instruction free, but
are also boarded and lodged without charge,
and sometimes even their clothing is paid for
by churches or pious individuals.
That does not seem to be the way to get
young men OF the best quality, for under
such system habits OF dependence and sub
serviency are pretty sure to be bred and fos-
tered. Another consequence Is that the the
illogical student is likely to be looked on
with disrespect by tho public. especially
when it is known that the divinity schools
are all the time hard at work drumming up
students by promises OF support tempting
to the weak, but which rcpel the strong and
scf-reliant.
President ELIOT has now followed up his
dinncr-table remarks with paper in the last
Princeton R'riep, ION the Education OF Min
isters,' wherein, among other things. he re-
pcats his charge against tho theological SEM
inarics. The belief prevalent among lay
men that boys are tempted to pledge them
selves to the clerical profession by the attrac-
tive offer OF liberal education, and that in
competent and unworthy persons are drawn
into the seminaries by the standing offer OF
gratuitous board, lodging and instruction"
says President ELIOT, works incalcuable
injury to the Protestant ministry This be-
lief wounds the reputation OF the profession
in its most vital part; for it impairs conf
dcnce in its sincerity"
In the last century one-third OF the gradu-
ates Of Harvard, Yale, and Princeton became
minister's In tho six years from 1871 to 1876
| only one In thirteen Of the graduates OF these
colleges went into the sacred profession. or
1926 recent graduates Of Harvard, two-thlrds
entered the learned professions, but OF these
two-thirds only one man In thirteen became
a minister
century ago, 1t must be remembered, no
public provision was made for systematically
training men FOR any profession except the
ministry Our ancient colleges. indeed, were
| all founded for the benefit Of the Church
| primarily. The Sermon too, was tho great
Intellectual stimulant OF that day, but now
the newspaper has taken it's place. More
over, the present Is period OF criticism OF
rebellion against authority, and OF theories,
widely entertained, which directly antago-
| nize theology and lessen the confidence In
which its cxpounders are held. The min
lister 10 criticised and estimated like any
other man by large part OF the public.
His cloth does not protect him from search
Ing examination as to his right to interpret
the law OF COP. Tho dominant modern
science, also, is hostile to theology, and its
free and unbiased methods Of inquiry are
utterly opposed to those pursued by the
theologlans.
| "The civilized world" says President
ELIOT, has set up new standard OF intel
lectual sincerity, and Protestant theolog,ans
and minister's must rise to that standard II