The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-23
PRESBYTRRIANISM,

PRESBYTERIANISM.
Is 1t DeClining ?-AnSwer to the New York
Times Article,
CiHeiRHGti Commercial Gazette,
The New York Times had labored
editorial undertaking to show that Pres
byterianism in the United States is de-
cliniug. There is never an effect with
out a cause. 1t found the latter in doc.
trines-that is to say, in Calyanism.
But the fact Is that Calvinism Is taught
mainly in Theological seminaries. There
is very little Of doctrinal teaching in the
pulpit Of any church in these days. The
Gospel Is preached more than 1t ever
was before. AS u result, the Church is
advancing and becoming more powerful.
There never was q time when the
Church, regardless OF UNCONVENTIONAL
division, was stronger numerically and
financially than 1t is now, and when
Christians could come together and fra
ternize more cordially than at this time,
The time has gone by when people
believe to any great extent that there Is
only one way to future happiness; or
that there Is only one line Of doctrine
that It Is safe To follow. It Is rather
believed that the way 10 future happl.
ness Is in an upright life. This does not
belong to any particular denomination.
It is common TO all. This Is the feeling
that peryades all denominations in this
country.
This Is where the New York Time,
fired wide Of tue mark. It's premise
probably justified It's conclusions, but It's
premise was not correct. For this, how
ever, the Times was hardly To blame, In.
asmuch as 1t was based upon report
made TO the General Assembly OF the
Presbyterian Church, in session in New
York, by one OF It's foremost theologians,
who Is at the head Of one Of It's semina-
rles. In this report strong appeal was
made for more laborers, and by way Of
fortifcation II was stated that there are
five hundred vacant pulpits In that
branch OF the Presbyterian church. We
are not prepared To dispute the state.
ment. The figures are no doubt correct
But 1t Is only half the truth, and by this
Withholding OF half the facts the Times
was misled. It rushed to the conclu.
sion that, because there are five hundred
vacant pulpits, the Presbyterian Church
Is declining.
Had Dr.. Morris told the whole story
the Times would have reached very
different conclusion. The fact Is, there
are more unemployed ministers In the
Presbyterian Church than there are va.
cant pulpits. This is not true Of the
Roman Catholic or Methodist Church.
In these there are no vacant pulpits or
idle priests or ministers. Able or In.
different, the latter are all employed,
and We never hear Of a scarcity OF labor.
ers. However ripe the harvest may be,
and however white the fields the men
are found to 90 in and do the work.
The Presbyterian policy Is different;
hence vacant pulpits and idle ministers.
II 10 not our business to criticise this
policy. This 10 for others 10 do. Our
purpose Is 10 slate the facts. But there
Is no decline In the church. II Is grow.
ing in strength and influence, and all
the more because It Is less sectarian.
There ore no doCtrinal fights now such
as there were fifty or even twenty-five
years ago. There Is fraternity rather
than bitterness. The Church-steeple In.
dicates more than II has in this country
in half century. The call Of the
church bell Is more neutral than II ever
was before. The grand army Of Chris
tianity is more powerful because 1t d
more united than In former times. OF
course denominations are maintained
and will be maintained because there
are many roads leading TO the same des'
tination.
To say that the Presbyterian church Il
declining, therefore, would DO 70 soy
thSt ali denominations arc declining
and that religion and morality arc retro
grading
But The real cause OF vacant churchel
and unemployed ministers Is 10 be tount
in an excess Of theological seminaries
which leads 10 begging Tor Btudent
J rather than the operation Of Q slitini
process. Seminaries want 10 keep "
appearances, and, therefore, accept stu
! dents who ought To BIO rejected-studentI
who have call from the cornheld rathei
than the pulpit. While the standard o
the peys has been largely increased, thu
standard Of theological Beminaties haI
not been. Men are ground out ANNUAL!
that the pews do not want or, they
try them, do not care 10 keep. Henet
vacant pulpits aud BufpluB Oh preachers
This ID evidenced, too, by o discussion
I iakhlv In nhnFhh nAnbfa al tile Dfonfiet,