New-York tribune., 1886-11-14
NEW.ENGLAND MINISTRY.
CHANGE AND DECAY NOTICED IN THE
CHURCHES.


BosroN, Nov 13-The dedication of new build
ing for the Boston University School Of Theology.
caused by the growth of the Methodist denomina-
ton and the increased desire of young men to enter
the ministry has brought hope to those who have
lately had mournfuI belief that religion Is fast
going into decay throughout New England. Tho
discouraged members of Protestant churches have
certainly plausible grounds for their pespexity.
Any traveller through rural New-Engand will
notice closed and crumbling church buildings and
Indifferent populations together with the presence
OF new Roman Catholic structures which woud
have seemed the strangest Of all changes TO tho
Puritan settlers Where churches are still open no
will be further disprited in witnessing tho
discussions between congregations OF different de-
nominations and the small numbers composed
chiefly of women In the congregations themselves
At the ministers meetings in Boston, where these
facts no longer row discussed with srior. tho
reason Of change of population is the most potent
but hardly SATISFYING answer to the difficulty. The
cities and tho West have attracted the Yankee
population, and the French-Cana1ian provinces
and Ireland have sent their people TO take the
places deserted by the natives. The reason which
causes most trouble to some large denominations IL
the reluctance of young men TO enter the ministry.
A prominent church in Boston where the salary Is
large and the pulpit most honorable has been
searching for three years for a young American
minister of promise and talent. At last, failing IN
the attempt to secure an American, the church has
sent to England and will probably call a young
Englishman of culture and evident promise On
the other hand a large denomination in Boston is
perpexei by superAuous number of young min
listers in the city. prominent clergyman Of this
church said that great difficulty in carrying on q
good work throughout the country was the inn
proper distribution of the ministerial material. Tho
young men wanted soft places aud large salaries.
leaving the poor country churches and small par
ishes neglected. The field is large and the workers
do not decrease in number, but since the Young men
crowd in cities, the opportunities for work seem
small and asprants to the ministry are discouraged
we need more sef-sacrlfcing young men in the
ministry" said the clergyman in rather despond-
ent tone.
In the present discussion of the grave, social
questions of the apparent decay of churches in tho
country and the reluctance of young men to adopt
the minis erial profession, study Of the numbers
in the theological schools Boston give statis-
tics from which approximately correct nferenccs
may be drawn and the views of leading clergymen
add to the interest of conclusions. The Harvard
Divinity School, which is unsectarian In Its
character, has maintained about the same number
of students for the last thirty years. Each year
about twenty students have taken its three yearS
course, but the great advance in its standard dur
ing that time has undoubtedly affected the number
Of applications. Harvard requires that each divn-
ity student shall be a college graduate in order TO
obtain admission, and the special ann OF the
school is a high grade of Christian scholarship
European study being advised a. a postgraduate
preparation for the ministry. Although Harvard
succeeds in maintaining its average number OF
students some professors feel dissatisfaction at the
condition of the school. One scholarly Unitarian
clergyman said Il" 1t is difficult to state the reasons
for the leSsening interest in the ministry without
making special study of many conditions. ono
cause of discouragemcnt to y0 ing men is the IN
security of tenure of position. rs one might
say. 1t has been frequently noticed lately that
the Trinitaran and Unitarian Congregational
Churches are following the Methodist example
in frequent change of pulpit. The average length
of term among Unitarian clergymca might DO
called six years Some young men IN deciding
upon a profession might be influenced by this cir
cumstance aud |, for One would not advise young
to enter the ministry unless he felt that he was
called by God to the work.
The Orthodox Congregationalists have forty~three
students at Andover, according TO published sta
tstics and 1866 students in their schools and
colleges though as this includes secular schools it
does not offer a basis for correct judgment upon
the interest of young men in the ministry At
present, the interest of the body - concentrated
upon the Andover difficulty and attention is turned
from the progress of the school. In the Baptist
denomination there is more cheerfulness
at the condition of theological interest.
In the six schools throughout the country there
are 445 students, but statistics in regard to the
schools of this body of the Methodist are
most misleading, since their graduates by
no means composed the only ministers
of the denominations owing to the practice Of ad-
mitting members to the work who are fitted by
natural gifts rather than by sulct course of theo-
logical study Dr. o. Z. Clifford said that the Bap-
tst churches had difficulty in supplying the
pulpits and that according TO DR.. Robinson, of
Brown, there more young men than ever before
studying for the Baptist ministry. All evangelical
churches gaming, he said There IS something
positive to take hold of aud the people want posi-
tive faiths not mere negations. They are more and
more joining the evangelical bodies"
But the recent report of the president of Tufts
shows that the Universalist denomination is gain
ing strength through the addition of young COLI
legans constant increase is reported by the
Episcopal faculty ut the Divinity School in Cam
bridge. 1t might be truly said that none of these
schools can gauge the increase decrease
of theological interest in New England since
their students come from every part
of the country and 20 to all parts
of the world, yet their success is of great impor-
tance to their immediate neighborhood. There
seems TO be no question that young men Of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination feel called to
the ministry in greater numbers and with more de-
voted zeal than ever before. During the week at
tention has been called to tie School Of Theology
OF the Boston University. Its fine new hall and its
large entering class are worthy OF notice as express
siOns of the energy and success OF the denomination
ffran RIM nA n SflU nnh
filling them with sufficient devotion to carry on
arduous work missionaries III foreign lands, and
circuit preachers IN the rude districts of own
country. The new building is q conspicuous centre
Of life and youthfulness III historic part of Boston,
where age, respectabIlity and past grandeur char
actcriZe spot unique In interest. Although Beacon
Hill has been lie erted by fashion, on Mt Vernon
st. and Chestnut-st. there remain many
families known in literature and art. and