The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-30
PULPIT AND PEW.
NEWS AND COMMENTS OF INTER
EST TO CHURCH PEOPLE.

Decline OF County Congregations to Wor-
ship ON wheeis-Beriir City Mission-
Wsv Oat Of Agnosticism--The Cultiss-
tsen Of Character.
The problem Of the decline OF country
churches IL considered in an effective
manner by Rev. Dir. A. +. Dunn'ng III
an article in the Andover Review,
With plans for the Reorganization Of
Congregational Churches" as well as
with clear-sighted criticisms OF the
prssent conditions needing improve
ment. The chief defect in church Work
at the present time rises, the writer
thinks, from 1.-The increasing made
uuate supply OF ministers. lie says
"The graduating classes in our seven
theological seminaries are distress
,nely small, insufficient to make
good even the places vacated bS
death" The reasons given foi
the dissemination among young men
10 enter the ministry are interesting
The writer does not believe that young
men are more selfish now than tbey
were in former generations. or that they
arc not willing 10 endure sell 'sacrInce
Tie prominent reason gwen Is Decause'
s'under present c,nditions, the gfea'
majority OF ministers must accept mar
row fields. with bumiliating cohoi
Tins The average church IS small
in the Congregational Church not more
than one hundred members. Inc
PRESBYTERIAN and the Baptist Churches
chow similar conditions. Wltb
the limited chances for growth
offered by the churches there is ADDED
the pecuniary disadvantages by which
TIE minister feels that he is in sense
dependent upon charity for support
too meagre, which in business he could
etsily earn without the sacrifice OF Ms
independence" Anexcellent Criticism
IN the article attacks the evils OF the IN.
crease Of the uneducated ministers ana
the falling off of the college educated
clergy. Fifteen years ago one'ihlrd OF
the ministers of all denominations III
this country were college graduates
but the proportion is now rednceu 70
one-fourth. The results upon the com
nunity, especially in country dlstricls'
are necessarily to be regretted.
To alleviate the present conditions.
Rev. DR.. Dunping proposes church re-
organization, or certain mechanical
chapges. The main idea is the enlarge
ment of country pastorates land par.
fishes, accompanied by the adoption OF
new orders in the ministry, which
would include a bishopric orders oil
pcstors' assistants: a regularly recog
nize1 and defined order of desconesses
and an order of laymen TO conduct re-
lipious services as Sunday school super
intepdents and local preachers. lie
advises a new arrangement OF the par
ishes, so that country district, live OF
six miles in diameter. might contain
one church centering around the largest
building of the principal village
with several branches In charge ol
assistants and deaconesses. but VIII
one pastor. That the plan Is not vision
ary is shown by its successful rum
ment in cities and in missionary worl
mt home and abroad. It's organ II
Scriptural, since in the early Cburci
there were but two orders OF those or
dained in the government oil th'
church, and there were various offices
filled by persons who had peculiar du
ties and responsibilities. The writer hat
firm belief that it lis one, and perhaps
the only, solution OF the pressing pro
blem of pastorless churches church
less pastors; of the way of eyaDgehz
ing the neglected corners and waste
places of both city and country and OF
providing for financial necessities.
Whatever opinion may be held of the
plan, the consideration of the subject II
most valuable.