The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-04-04

DIR. Lane, of Georgia, makes this state
ment upon the authority of an eminent
bishop in the one denomination, and of
distinguished Theological professor in
the other" According to Dorchester
recent work Gables and 5, PIP. 541-544)
we are informed that during the period
(l97O-l890) when our increase was only
one h'e"dred and eighty, that of the white
Southern Baptists was eighteen hundred
and 'aanety-S'r, of the Methodists nine
h'tndred and sirtyJfve. This strange con-
trast has led the "aggressive" men to an
examination of the causes therefor; they
cannot attribute it to a greater consecra-
ton on the part of these denominations,
and hence they are led to seek the cause
In our methods of securing and training
the candidates. As result of their ex-
animation, they argue that we are pur-
suing course which necessarily narrows
our area of supply, limiting us with the
very rarest exceptions:
l. To the youth in schools and COL
leges; the presumption being against any
man over twenty-five years.
2. To that class of the youth SO stu
ated as to 60 through process of pre-
paration, more tedious and expensive
than is required for any other Liberal
profession"
3. To that portion of this last class pur-
suing a full and thorough classical course,
excluding all who elect scientific course,
or the modern, instead of the ancient Ian
guages. 1t matters not what their pro-
ticiency in science, English literature,
History, modern languages, or their
duency in speech and composition, their
aptness to teach and SO forth; if they
have not studied the dead languages, the
presumption is against them.
4. 1t is asserted moreover that for
twenty years there has been a growing
Discrimination towards those very Ian
guages, that census of the universities
Offering elective courses, will prove that
the majority of young men are substitu-
ting other studies for them.
5. In addition to the effect of this sys-
tenn in limiting our supply, it is asserted
That 1t restricts US to an expensive min
lstry entirely and compels our missionary
fields to stand financially on the same
level with our strong churches the evan
gelistic field must be self-supporting from
the start, or it must be supported by the
churches at large the former is absurd
OF course, and they assert that the his
tory OF the work shows that few of the
Presbyteries seem able to support even
one man in strictly evangelistic work.
The remedy proposed is that Greek,
Hebrew, and Latin be no longer required
for Hcensure; that in their stead some
course be substituted which requires as
preparation thereto only good academic
English education, and may be prose
cuted by men of any age and in any
calling, who exercise conscientious dill
genee and faithfulness in the use of the
varied stores of learning accessible in
English dress.
In answer, the opposite side urge all
the manifold evils of an uneducated min
istry, as historically breeding doctrinal
confusion and low standard of practi-
cal piety They point to the horrors of
an illiterate pulpit and Disguised or in
fdel people.
To which the advocates of the change
respond:
/. That this protest begs the question
in assuming that acquaintance with
Greek, Latin, and Hebrew is essential to
an education in assuming that a dill.
gent student of English literature, Church
history, Theology, Hermeneutical, and
Homiletic manuals, the thousands of re-
ligious works, the English Bible, and the
multitudes of popular commentaries,
could not become an acceptable and edi-
Tying preacher to our people.
2. That when our standards were
framed, theology and exposition were
locked in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew,
that there were no popular common
taries, and very few Of any sort, and that
on this account, a knowledge of these
Languages was absolutely essential; but,
that in the tOo centuries that have fol-
lowed our standard, these means and APP
planes Of study have so wonderfully
increased that student, if faithful, even
though ignorant of Greek, Latin, and
Hebrew, yet stands on higher vantage
ground than he of no mean scholarship
IN these tongues at that remote day, so
that such change would not violate the
spirit of our standard.
3. 1t is asserted that, owing to these
vast facilities, the great majority of our
ministers do already get their information
IN this English dress that a very small
percentage keep up" their Greek and
Hebrew, preferring to use the common
taries represented by Ryle, rather than
those Of Ellicott, etc., and, therefore, that
practically we are requiring more from
candidates for licensure than ninetenths