The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
GOOD MINISTER'S ARE SCARCE
The Churches Seek Thorn Nowadays, and
In Rather Curious Fashion.

The Churches Seek Them Nowadays, and
In Rather Curious Fashion.
"In choosing a minister the church used to
dictate terms to the minister. now 1t Is the
minister who dictates terms to the church
This was the way in which prominent trus-
tee of Brooklyn church expressed his convic-
ton that the time-honored method OF con-
gregation calling o minister to pulpit and
hearing what he could say for himself was
about done away with. provided the minister
is u flrst-class preacher. This conclusion has
also been reached by the twelve church mem-
bers comprising the trustees and prominent
officials In the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian
Church formerly ministered to by the Rev. DR..
Theodore L. Cuyler. DR.. Cuyer resigned In
April last, and since that time the church has
been casting about for fitting successor. Dr.
Cuyler continues to supply the pulpit. but does
no pastoral work in the parish.
The means taken by the committee to learn
Of the talent and general fitness of a preacher
for the Lafayette avenue church partakes Of
the nature OF detective work; 1T must be
the reason for the change from the old
method of bringing minister before US to our
hunting one up lies In the fact that there are
Congregations grow in size. grow enormously
rich sometimes. but the number OF good
can't get a minister OF any prominence nova
days to submit to the old system where he was
s me he
has been q system always abhorred by minis:
ters. and now that there is such scarcity OF
ED op IN ' way we e Wouldn't forget II we should
summon him to 60 on exhibition for the, BEN
eft Of the people who happened to Do In churcn
on the morn Ing he preached ;,
This tendency in churches" continued the
church trustee. exists not only In Presbyter-
ian and .ConereRations! and other churches
sh9 tho sS
I'M all 9TH tina huFCh OF Roma
pretty, difiicqit for Tho higher powers Of the
' Yin The 81 Lafayette avenue church We have
TO- III ne point. We meet at one Of the com
beSs dao Part Fl
Friday t or SATURDAY We scatter: II "a
Louis or St. Paul he starts earlier in the week.
No one knows when We start Our families
leave town. Our secrecy is maintained in
order that 10 minister may learn We are com
ioF his his ock A ostensiv proachng to them but
really talking for big Increase Of SALARY. ono
Of the to Be cay t6e an 9s pu
extra burst Of speed and the congregation
didn't know how he would turn 9St when ne ne
the church selected slips unperceved Into
seat in the rear OF the auditorium. and uses
his ears and his eyes like reporter.
1.-THE committed. on returning to Brooklyn,
meet and compare notes. and. on very favor
able report Uf u certain minister, several mem-
beers visit the church and hear him. That is as
far as we have got When we are sure we can
recommend minister to the church; meet;
tho Chairman OF the committee will set forth
the reasons for inviting certain minister to
become the pastor. An Affirmative vote OF a
majority will settle it. and he will be invited.
Very likely he will be very much surprised
untrammelled In Its nature as regards any die
tation by the officers OF the church, This was
the course pursued in getting DIR. Meredith OF
the Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church,
and the resul It proves its wisdom, You see.
Craze over In the same time than the old
method. DR.. Cuyler's successor will probably
not be chosen until fall"