The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-05-16
For the Central Presbyterian.
Practical "Aggressiveness"
No 8.

ResotUed, 3. That 1T be recommended to the
sessions to appoint ruling elders and other suit
able persons to conduct worship and give in-
struction from the Scriptures at the places where
the mission schools are held, and at such other
suitable places as are not reached by the regular
preaching of the Word.
There is ground for much that has been
said recently as to the insufficient supply
of ministers for our vast destitutions.
Our Church cannot occupy the land with
out more men to preach the gospel. And
whatever plans we may adopt to increase
the number of candidates and to bring
them more speedily into the gospel min
istry, the Church cannot afford to wait,
whilst men are perishing without the
gospel, when she has under her control
those who can bear it to many of these
perishing ones.
We are blessed with large number of
elders, deacons, and private members,
well educated and capable of conducting
religious services, and of giving most val
liable instructions out of the Scriptures.
Many OF these, both professional men and
business men, to use popular designations,
speak readily and to purpose in political,
social, business, and ecclesiastical meet
ings 1t is proposed that such persons
be appointed to use their gifts and at
tainments in giving religious instruction,
in virtual though informal preaching, at
places that have not regular ministra-
tions of the word, and for which the
Church has at present no licensed minis
ters. We can thus at once largely sup
plement the very insufficient work of our
limited number of preachers Such SER
vices, held at the place where mission
school is conducted, will greatly help the
work, and prove most efficient means of
preparing the way for a church organiza-
ton. Like good may also be done at
other points where there are people des-
titute of regular ministrations of the
word.
To say that our two thousand churches
can furnish an average of one each, capa-
bic of doing this mission work success
fully, is not an exaggerated estimate, and
doubtless it is far short of the fact. For
whilst some of our churches have no one
that could properly be assigned to such
duty, others have. from one to a dozen
suitable men. What large band of
local preachers we might put into the
field
1t may be said in opposition to the
practicability of this scheme, that these
men are occupied with their business, and
that it must not be expected that they
will turn preachers, or do the work Of
preachers, unless the Church is willing to
undertake their support. The plan, how
ever, does not contemplate their aban.
doning their means of livelihood. All
Al,,A L r IL
shall give such leisure time as they have,
or as they may be able to take from their
business, for study of the word of God
and for preparation for instructing others
in gospel truth. But upon the Sabbath
they might be called upon to give up the
luxury of one sermon from their pastor
for the higher privilege of bearing the
gospel to the destitute
Such services, aided by an occasional
sermon from the pastor as provided for in
the next resolution of the general scheme,
would foster many mission enterprise
till it would grow into church. II our
Sessions generally would put those to
work who are capable of this service, and
for whom places could be found, near at
hand, or if need be at points somewhat
remote, So much would be done in reach
ing the destitute with the means of grace.
and in extending the church, that in a
few years our Church in the matter OF
aggressiveness might bear comparison
with the most aggressive.
Another ultimate result of this plan,
in meeting a felt want of the Church al
ready referred to, is not to be overlooked
in estimating its Importance. Many oil
those assigned to the work would soon
show that they possessed gifts for the full
work Of the gospel ministry. This point
is thus happily stated in an editorial in
the Central Presbyterian Of May 3D.
The best test of qualification for the
pulpit is actual preaching We have nc
right to exclude any one who, on extend.
ed trials, is found capable Of performing
the duty to edi6cation." Having pre-
vious mental training, and a good knowl
edge Of the Scriptures, and having proved
by trial their aptness to teach, they could
without going through the full ourricu
lum Of study be licensed under the pro
vision Of extraordinary cases." And j.
after licensure they are not able to affair
a knowledge Of "the Greek and Hebrew
languages, and yet "give evidence o.
their ability to edify the Church - it is tc
be hoped that soon the provision for "ex
traordinary cases" will, by an alteration
OF our Form of Government, be extended
to ordination as well as licensure. Car
we not from our intelligent officers anC
private members soon find from our 2,O0C