The Press., 1888-10-18

Mhs',ss, SOOnhuentAhily III you say bO) Jnnt ih 70
 say-Is he man of deep pietyS & yet a
 social & ready man-an original manY fn
 thought and utterances-a real student of God
 man & nature? Are his Illustrations forci-
 ble and impressive &c. &c. Docs he use a
 msnuscnptp What is his salary2 How much
 family? where did he graduate, in Theology {?
 How does he stand on the Andover question |?
 &c. am satisfied that some are born to be
 Teachers. If my request Is granted and the
 reply is satisfactory feel sure that some of
 our committee will go & listen to Mr......
 These can hardly be termed modest de-
 mands. To say nothing of the requirement.
 that the minister should sdraw a hundred
 more people than the church will accom-
 modate, and also convert and make commu-
 nicants of the exact 1900 which the church
 does accommodate, the particularity of
 some of these questions is certainly inter
 esting. As If minister should be expect
 ed to tell a committee or a church what he
 thought of the complicated phases of the
 Andover matter or was answerable to a
 church committee for the number of his
 children But things still more singular
 are sometimes the subject of criticism.
 "We cannot allow a man to preach as a
 candidate here, said the shrewd deacon
 of New England church. "He must be
 accepted on his record for should he
 preach as a candidate, Dr. Blank might
 object to him on the ground of his lack of
 gracefulness in taking off his overcoat."
 Not long since, in an eastern city, a candi-
 date for pastorate was rejected after be.
 ing heard, and inquiry elicited the fact
 that one of the objections made to him
 was that he wore "fy tie." No defense
 of this hapless seeker for pastorate will
 be here attempted. Doubtless our broth. or was verify guilty in wearing tie that
 fastened itself to the shirt button with a
 bit of rubber; but it ought to be said in partial extenuation of his offense that al- though he had not, like one of whom we have read, given his whole mind to his that he was somewhat preoccupied in the attention bestowed upon the spirituality and helpfulness of his sermon, and the ap. priateness of his prayers.
 When one considers the many different tastes and preferences to be found in a large modern congregation, and remem- bers that these tastes have reference so much more largely than in former years to external and on-essential matters, it will be readily apprehended by those outside the ministry that the business of ''candi- dating" is admirably adapted to strike ter TOT to the heart of a minister of ordinarily sensitive nerves. The radical idea of it is false to begin with. That idea is, when stated in plain words, that church, by hearing a man preach for a single Sunday, can learn sufficiently of his character. and abilities for the work of the ministry to de- eide of-hand whether he is the man they want, or rather, whether he is the man they need, to live with them and be their week after week and year after year. Suppose great corporation should insist that it's employment of a lawyer as it's permanent solicitor should turn, not on his general record as a lawyer, but on the impression he made on the directors by the delivery of a single plea before jury. Suppose medical institution should allow it's action in the appointment of a physi- clan to responsible place to be decided by the management and result of his prac- tlce in single case of fever. The com. parisons are not wholly false or inapt. In many respects the lawyer or the physician put to such test would have the advantage of the minister. The deeper and more subtle qualities of character, the sources of power and influence, the secret foun- tains of social and spiritual strength which are SO largely elements in the success of Q pastor, might manifest themselves but fa1ntly m trial sermon. The candidate in many cases comes to the ordeal a com. plete stranger to the congregation he is perhaps unaccustomed to the order of ser vice, or the pulpit is not of the proper height, or he is not as we'll as usual-has taken cold on the long journey made to keep his appointment, or is suffering from head d-ache. Any one of these may serious. " affect preacher, especially in our non churches, where so much de. pends upon the personal appearance of the speaker and on & critical occasion like this, where success Is likely to turn on ap- pearance, seemingly insignificant circum- stance may disconcert a sensitive man md 1ntit him for his work. A slight physical or the unaccountable loss of the preaching mood which sometimes afflicts minister of nervous temperament. may cripple the mental energies and so abate thatsvigor and alertness of mind which are necessary to the proper outfit of the preach. ar for his work, especially where much of hat work is extemporaneous, that he may lail to show his real power as a preacher. The choice of theme is difficult at such lime, and may be unfortunate for that par lcular congregation or that particular lime, on account of certain local circum. stances of which the preacher is ignorant; or 1t may fail to give a proper idea of the lverage range and kind of his usual dis. 'ourse. But he is here, and he must be heard. No matter what the drawbacks, he must preach; and preach as a man to whom the assembly is looking as their pos. nble pastor. He must make his "impres non, and the action of the parish is to urn on that impression.
 To sensitive man, the whole business 8 repulsive; to a man with a fine moral Iense, there is a certain feeling of tho in- Iincerity of it. It seems to him as much Q performance" as the solo of the gallery Iinger is sometimes said to be. He is here orofessedly to preach the gospel and to do yood to the souls of men he is here really Q showsthese people how gracefully and mpressively and eloquently he can do it. The whole business carries hollow and lnreal look. He feels instinctively that few will be impressed by he depth, beauty, truth, sweetness, or such there be-of his dis 'ourse, or by the simplicity and reverence 'f feeling in his prayers and that the arge proportion of the assembly will be hinking of the manner rather than the natter, of form rather than substance. His face attracts one, his voice another, iis pathetic tones another, his manner" mother, his comments on the Scripture mother, his undemonstrative method m. finer Rut ofhar r.soY,ia ora ro,,slIaa I-