The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-20
For the Central Presbyterian.
Is Highly Educated Ministry
Necessarily Out of Sympa-
thy With the Masses?

|
thy With the Masses?
During the last few weeks there have
appeared in the Central several articles
upon the subject of Presbyterian Pro-
gress" by I'D. w. S." which have doubt
less been read with close attention by all
to whom the welfare of our beloved
| Church is dear. Like many others, the
writer of the present article is by no
means welded to any particular system
| of education, but is anxious only to arrive
at the truth. The articles of ID W. S."
are strongly put, and in some points the
writer agrees with them, and yet the
tone of them is certainly not calculated
to conciliate or to convince. He speaks
of arousing the conscience of the
Church as if he and those who agree
with him are the only conscientious per-
sons in it II But the object of this article
is not to take I'D. w. S." to task for the
spirit of his communications, but to take
issue with him in regard to matters of
fact. Two weeks ago there appeared an
admirable article from the pen of Rev.
Hugh Henry, suggesting that want of
sympathy with the masses was due not
so much to the education man received
as to his previous training and associa-
ton. This proposition ID. w. S." dis
tinctly refuses to accede to, save in the
case of few and rare instances, and by
this refusal reiterates an assertion, pre-
viousl y made, that our method of educa-
ton removes our ministry from sympa-
thy with the large mass of those to whom
it is our duty to preach the gospel Is
this true? The question is one to be set
tied by the logic of facts, not by that of
theory, and the writer here records the
results of his own experience and obser-
walton that we may have something be-
sides fervid defamation upon which to
base our conclusions.
The writer was for over seven years a
laborer in destitute field of South-side
Virginia, as licentiate, evangelist, and
pastor, in the bounds of West Hanover
Presbytery. During that period he was
thrown with all classes of people, had
opportunities for observing the results of
the efforts of other churches, and above
all was assisted from time to time by be-
loved brethren whose memory is preci-
Gus, and the fruits of whose labors eter-
nifty alone can reveal. The following re-
suits are to be noted, and can be Substan-
tiated
l. Just as large numbers Of the masses
came to the protracted meetings of the
Presbyterian church as to the meetings
of other denominations, and from this
class souls were converted to God. AS
the writer's memory reverts to crowded
churches, where the poorest and plainest
sat side by side with the educated and
refined to hear the truth as it is in Jesus
from the lips of highly cultivated men,
he asks himself where ID. w. S." got
his picture that Presbyterian ministers
were out of sympathy with the multitude,
and were adapted only to the favored
few?
2. In the regular n1ini8trotion8 Of the
Presbyterian church this very class came
day after day, just as it went to other
churches.
3. Not only so, but many of those pre-.
sent day after day at Presbyterian SER
vices were members Of those very church
es which we are exhorted to initiate.
4. There was never the slightest diff
Guilty in getting congregation for a
Presbyterian minister from Just the
classes we are constantly said to be out
Of sympathy with.
5. This very class, which we are said
to have no sympathy with united NTH
the Presbyterian church. Could this be
it the masses felt that the ministers Of
that church we're out Of sympathy with
them2
6. Nay more, several instances occur
red where members left these other church.
e8, supposed to be peculiarly adapted to
them, and united NTH the Pres5yte1ian
church.
7. The brethren who did this preach
ing, and were thus instrumental in gath
ering in precious souls to the fold Of
Christ, who have left memories which are
to-day cherished with sincerest affection