The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-03
a View of the Clergy,

A View of the Clergy,
President Elliot, of Harvard, has an arti.
Gle in the Princeton Review on the Eau.
cation of Minister'S in which he says:
The education OF the clerical profession
has fallen so far behind the age as to be out
OF relation with it, and to have consequent.
ly lost It's ancient commanding influence,
and even resulted in the degeneration of
the clerical character
He then gives rs the most potent cause If
this change in the relative postum OF the
ministry within the present century, the
rise and development of physical aud
natural science" in regard to which We
quote him as follows:
The immense acquisitions of actual
knowledge which have been amassed in
this new field, the great increase OF mans
power over nature, the consequent
changes in each mans relations to
his iellow-men and to the physical
earth, including the wonderful ex.
pansion OF bis interests ana sympathies,
his emancipation from superstitions, and
the eNaltation OF his prospects and hopes,
are all facts OF the utmost moment to the
race; Dut it is not these facts, tremendous
though they are, which most concern us in
the present discussion. The important
point Tor us now TO observe is that, during
the growth of natural science, a new method
or spirit OF inquiry has been gradually de.
veloped, which is characterized by an alb
soute freedom on the part Of
the inquirer from the influence
OF prepossesslons or desires
as to results. This spirit seeks only the
tact without the slightest regard to conse-
quences; any twisting or obscuring OF the
fact to accommodate it TO preconceived
theory, hope or wish, any tampering with
the actual result of Investigation, is the un.
pardonable sin. II is spirit at opCe
humble and dsuntless, patient OF details,
drawing indeed, no distinction between
great and small, but only between true and
false; passionless, but energetic, venturing
into painless wastes to bring back fact
caring only for truth, candid as q still lake,
expectant, uniettered and tireless.
The achievement of scientific enQurers,
animated by this spirit of sincerity and
truth, have been so extraordinary within
the past sixty years, ana this candid spirit
is in itself so admirable that the educated
world has accepted it as the only true in
spiration of research in all departments of
learning. No other method of enquiry
now commands respect. Even the ignorant
have learned to despise the process of
searching for proofs OF Il ioregone conclu-
sion. Apologetics have ceased to
convince anybody, ii they ever
did. Thus the civilized world
has set up new standard of
Intellectual sincerity, and protestant theo-
| lOgians and ministers must rise to that
standard if they would continue to COM
mand the respect OF mankind. How diff
ferent was the situation OF the profession
when diplomacy was the only other learn
Ell calling! Even the legal profession, rs 1t
was gradually differentiated from the cleri-
cal made no such sharp requsition OF men
| tai honesty and Independence. 1t is the
electric light OF science which has maze
white and transparent the whole temple OF
| learning. These remarks imply that
ministers, as class, and as
u necessary consequence of the ordinary
manner of their education and induction
into office, are peculiarly liable to be def
Client in intellectual Candor; and that is
what |, in common with millions OF
thoughtful men, really think and | think
further that this belief on the part of mul.
titudes of educated men, most of whom are
silent on the subject is potent cause OF
the decline of the ministry during the pas,
forty years. The fault is quite as much
that of the churches or seCts as the
individual ministers; for almost every
church or sect endeavors TO II,
its members, and particularly
its ministers, to a creed, Il set of aricley or
a body of formulas These bonds are nut
on by most ministers at an early age. and
must be worn all their lives, on peril OF
severing beloved associations, or, perhaps
losing a livelihood. The study, reading,
and experience Of fifty years are supposed
to work no essential change in the opinions
of the youth. The creed or the articles
| 4. l,n, aNl 81
cannot honestly be stretched much. Now,
the lay world believes in the progress OF
knowledge, because it has witnessed pro
gress and It is persuaded that there must
ba incessant progress in theological
science as well as in all other branches Of
| learning. l. does not see metaphysical n 8
| ply sicans, historians, chemists, biologists,
or biologists, committing themselves in
youth to set OF opinions which IS to last
them lifetime, or even a day; on the con-
trary. they see all these classes of scholars
avoRe lily holding their present opinions
subject to change upon the discovery 1
new facts, or better light upon all facts,
and, as a rule, actually modifying their
opinions in important resi- &c 3 between
youth and age. Indeed, tixity of opinion is
hardly respectable among scholars. /,
it be said that there can be no pro.
greSS in theology, because revelation was q
fixed historical quantity, the answer is, that
revelation, like creation must be fluent; or,
in other words, that the Interpretation OF
revelation to the mind of man must be
like the Interpretation of creation, ever
flowing, shifting, and, il the mind OF aman
improves, improving, No other profession
is under such terrible stress of temptation
to intellectual dishonesty as the clerical
profession is. and at the same time the pub
lie standard of intellectual candor has beer
set higher than ever before. This is tn,
state of things which deters many young
men of ability and independence from en-
,eriug the profession, and causes the &c
knowledged dearth OF able ministers"
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