The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1883-03-21

eral OF It's correspondents, we must hum
bly, ask if the fault be in our system. or
in the lack of cases that wonId teot ito
elasticity, and whether it be not better to
spend our strength in prayer and action
to obtain new life for the system. and to
raise up laborers to test it, than in pull
ing down and destroying it, not for its
defects, but for our sins Is it not better
to cling to the methods which we inheri-
ted from our fathers, and for which we
have ever claimed that the PRESBYTERIAN
Church is primitive and apostolic, be-
cause 1T recognizes that its mission is in
imitation of our Lord and his earlv fol-
lowers, to teach as well as to preach the
truths of the Gospel?
The General Assembly approaches the
subject with extreme caution-creat de-
terence to our present system, and re-
spectfnl regard to the opinions of the
Church. 1t suggests the change which
ID. w. s. proposes, with this important
exception: whereas he would lower the
standard, and abolish the collegiate
course OF Hebrew for candidates of all
ages, the Assembly's plan will dispense
with the collegiate course and Hebrew
only Tor those over twenty-five years
modify it, it is true for those under that
age and over nineteen but for those I'M
der nineteen, and not yet entered upon
their collegiate course, the present curri-
culum will still be in force-there will
be no change.
DO brethren seriously propose to take
eager sons from academies and high
schools, and after a brief theolopical
course in English, grated upon such
crude and imperfect training, send them
into the field? Let them consider for a
moment what are the real opportunities
for education afforded by the present
state of academical learning-the diff
culties entailed upon our professors at
the college and seminary in consequence
OF the low grade of elementary scholar
ship with which they have to contend,
and upon which they are called to build
up an eloquent literary and theological
structure to charm and edify the Church.
And let 1T be remembered that many of
these students, most worthy young men,
have been called from families where
they never heard, from day to day, the
music of cultivated speech. Inveterate
habits IN conversation are to be over
come; absolutely, articulation, not to
speak OF pronunciation and grammar, are
to be practically taught; and l know not
how many other faults are to be eradi-
Gated to fit them for the decent and re-
spectacle performance of their public and
social duties, and to shield them from
contempt and ridicule in any class of
society. For it is a mistake to suppose,
as seems to be assumed in this discussion,
ttrat those whom we call the masses are
prepared to receive, as teachers IN reli-
gion, awkward, ungainly, and illiterate
men. They are better judges of sermons
and all the graces of manner and express
sion than it is thought they are, by some
who do not know them; and it cannot be
expected to welcome preachers whose
very presence among them implies their
own inferiority and their incapacity to
rise above their present condition.
But the preparation needed by candi-
dates for the ministry is not only social,
Intellectual and theological. 1t is, with
all these particulars, and as indispensable
in all, religious; and after all that NAV
be said concerning love for souls among
those who have never lived in the atmos.
phere of our venerable college and semi
nary, it will not be denied that those who
enjoy this privilege there obtain, with all
their mental requirements, mora exalt-
ed view of the Christian ministry. and a
deeper baptism in all the elements of sim
cere and unreserved conservation to the
holy Office: visible stamp known and
read by all men.
The examples of eagerness to enter the
ministry, already afforded, are not favor
able to some of the plans proposed. A
gift of ready utterance, popularity as
preachers at the seminary, superficial
study, the clamors of the field, and the
Partially of Presbyteries to their eloquent
sons have set at naught the labors and
the counsels of learned teachers, defeated
their hopes, entailed upon the Church
and the pulpit some splendid failures in
men whose fluent speech has run aground
for want of something to sustain It and
given ample occasion to repeat the sar-
casm of William Jay to certain of this
order Of novices, DO you think that peo-
pie have nothing to do but to listen to
your emptiness by the hour?"
P. B.P