New-York tribune., 1883-06-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE PRESBYTERIAN MINISTRY.

The PRESBYTERIAN mlNlSIhI.
TIE REV. DIR. POOR, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OBJ
EDUCATION, EXPLAINS HIS ADDRESS AT TIE
SARATOGA ASSEMBLY,.
To the Edttor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Out of regard for the religion profess
and wish to honor and the for the represent and
would not have injured and for the many friends whose
esteem desire to maintain and also for all the parties
concerned, wish to correct Misrepresentation made OF
in the report Of the dongs Of the Presbyterian Cen
era Assembly at Saratoga last week. In that report all
that said of a full half hours speech In which aimed
to give for the decline the number OF
candidates for the minstry-a subject which
pying much the attention OF the Assembly-is that
compared President Eliot to jackal and the news
papers that agreed with him to pack OF ackals; and
then that held up and denounced article from The
PreS6vefan Banner whose Editor, Dr. Allison, resented
my personal remark" when In response to repeated
calls for the of the paper in which the article ap
peared, referred to him. My friends astonshed at
such representation OF me. and write to know If was
guilty OF such rudeness.
The simple facts these: In speaking OF the need Of
great on part the Presbyteres In commencing
candidates for aid and In orainng them, referred to
Dr. Eots arragnment OF system Of aiding students
as tending to lower the character OF the ministry and
then added lit wholly mpromptu thoughtl
that the in which the secular journals had taken
and reiterated the charge from end Of the country
to the other, reminded of what used to hear and
sh1dder at when boy in Ceylon, rs at evening time
troop OF ackas swept past the house. The leader woud
start cry and the whole troop would follow In full
chorus, repeating the same. The suggestion was on
single point. Now 1t so happened that when at the
Assembly received by letter two extracts from secular
journals. accompanied with statement OF the injury
such articles doing and with q request that would
reply to them. One was from Kansas, and one from
Utica, n. Y These. with others had uniformly
sustained their attacks on our system on President
Eliots declarations They all the declarations OF
one cry; and tperhaps unguardedy gave uterance 70
the associations which they started up In memory anu
what complained OF that no one OF these Journals
TO have taken the pains 10 verify the assertions
made by adequate inquiry; and yet all seemed very
much concerned the interests of religion which were
seriously damaged by the efforts which the Church
called upon to ordani And really, when / see how
serselessly and how gnorantiy these reflections have
been cast large numbers OF the abes and most la
borous ministers OF our land little Indignation may be
pardoned There senstiyeness on the one side as wei
us on the other. -
Now word on the other point It so happened that
on the day after the Assembly met copies OF Ihe Pres
bBterdn Banner scattered through all the pews,
which paper chanced to contain an article frem cGrre
spOndent purporting describe the manner In which
Presbyeries would examine and recommend or ad anu
then oraiu candidates for the ministry Tue stateents
made seemed TO cOrroborate all that President Eliot
charged II they true, felt just what declared.
that would take part in the miserable business
@ontraseous abomi6able" sianderoGs and was
determined TO get the opinion OF the Assembly on the
# they were true and was responded to by loud No..
member called for the name OF the paper. After
u Dr was PASo
ent that he might give whatever explanations were ne
cessary. II what would have wanted him TO do to
IN like circumstances. IL lie resented the reference
can Only regret that he took it differently from what
expected he would. lie had the advantage Of making
public disclaimer OF responsibility for the article II
went into the paper Il seems, when he was away ana
he had not read IT, For my treatment OF the article
make apology IL cast stigma on the whole Church
Many felt It and thoEked me cordially for the manner
In which held II up to public reproOation.
These the facts am desirOus that they DO rightly
represented II represented at all Fair dealing is what
all good men have a right TO expect and ask for
Yours truly, ID. ". PooR.s
PhHddetphia June 1S. 1888.