New-York tribune., 1890-05-26
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
" VACANT PULPITS."
AND THE LACK OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MIN
1sTRY IN THE PRES BYTEEIAN CHURCH.

'''D IHt' LACK OF CANDIDATES FOR THE MIN
1sTRY IN THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sr; In your issue Of last Saturday there appears
'ne synopsis Of report to the General Assembly
no" sitting at Saratoga. setting forth two facts :
mat NTH Of the pulps were vacant. and that one
great need of the Church more ministers.
Undoubtedly there are many vacant pulpits a. weu
as great lack Of candidates for the ministry the
Presbyterian Church; aud there would lie very much
more OF both if the truth IN certain matters were
fully known.
Whatever may be the explanation of the vacant
puipHs' the principal cause of the lack Of candidates
'or the ministry is simply this: The lack of security
pcrhanchcc-of what may be termed the average
minister in his home and pa,toratc: the wrong OF
thiS' together with the distress OF mind in knowing
'hat' AT any time and for slight causes. he is liable
!" nave his home broken up and he, with his family,
be forced 10 seek another residence: thing - ter
rlple To minister with a family dependent upon him
n II would he 10 other As evidence in support
OF the above, l only refer to the statements Of
the Secretary ot the Board of Educaon, the Rev. DR..
Poor, that this instability Of the pastoratc the main
mlirancc to young men entering our ministry. and
tlat the whole subject Of the relations Of churches
ana pastors calls loudly for wise counscls and careful
management. The evil here i, 50 great that It is
hsh time the truth was plainly spokcn-the more 50
rs many persons have The impression that policy
of the settled ministry affords the greatest security
10 ministers in their homes aud fields What arc the
facts
Every Church must necessarily have two classes
OF mlni>tcrs-thc comparatively few able or el'c1
men, who naturally frayitatc the large cities, and
Inc great mass Of plain. humble average men. the
very men led into the ministry 10 supply tie average
churcli-tho village and country churches.
b"t the people Of these rural churches quite ~
difficult to satisfy a. are those Of city churchc> and,
~ matter Of fact. except in that they
do not affect the rule The average minister in any
church. our, the Methodist. has not the ability the
heavenly gift. to continue to sat~f, the people.
After f"w years the people, usually with the kndc>t
Feelings toward the minister personally. Will become
dissatisfied; Will come 20 where they want and DE-.
mand, and pcrhdp, need, % change Of pastor Tor
this condition u thing, pol.ty. which, the Rev.
Dr. Cn>lF puts 1t, "contcmplatcs pcrmancncy Of
settlement make, 10 provision. There is. pac-
ucdlj, 10 management or oversight touching what
d. Poor calls hc relations of chur. hc, and pa-tor7
50 that church must either keep an unacceptable
pastor OF force him To resign 10 usually doe the
latter. and - consequence these men are bcus
unualy forced Qua of their pastorac, and having their
homes broken up Ia one Wori. with our average
chuFchos pcrodiciy ia the pastorate has become tie
rule. with no provision 10 meet Il.
Nov. let any man ry to imagine the state Of mind of
hen u thi' condition. Men with iauili', dependent
o." them, WIN rep atOns 10 sustain. with the soul
s'hrIh- feeling that there j, ia, lion I iIcir
tAut'At~. knowing fifrr - desire thc} should leave
did determination THAT they -hau leave before long.
Win N' nome Or Lcd li aud Nay Of ootaln..,
ulch d" ou! ,ar'n Dlt 10y iI" "umg % !eti"Fe AID
h"-rll- a "Iuhtctoc' or ty tie humilauue prD,"s,
~ 'Alo0ttlus exhibiting ones ELF from rhurt Do Go
'hhltH where Iir luI Mail j. SD heavy hearted Doe
can hardly keep tlc f'tlr bach. a. Be t.cr % lF
"cl"IucNt' enough fo cNtpGt call II" NrfludI-.
'hui'l may have an liIrluLcy bat ~ a home AID
icd secured 90 tl" AuDirs pastor s. not Method
l,t UIgucy heaven ,0u.ral,d O. fIc horrors 10! tlc
iie '>rI,Hu 'i Ia.-iho in.' iDi4il of ii' pi,.
tofHt" Hf t.e home oi the average minister lu the
Pie-h' r1u Church coupled with the ftct that Founs
u"l al br.llr.Le CO. ird out the tuth !u Iceafu &"
IL tbs n tAr ,f-c - tIo la,h 81 ea'ldatc- - hrr
ministry That what have -td +. far within tAr truth
Will H. evident rum thr following facts.
Ilrt--I That lY d" The 81" ior, Evangelist 81 jan
uary - The Key. ]. J. tu,cr ID. D.. uA- 900 article
iully ,e forth This. together with t.c further i.t
mat iu ue neat issue of u.s' Iai"r. January "o. %
eminent cirftf man fN. i.rt. Di. frutaf- -
Nor.~tIWu. u,f our fllb rdYreo. Dr tuflrl. paper.
lut -hr- Ut - itf. htr" t"ft -'ruur evil not f0
,ay horrible lr u.ti,o ln fhe wofhug ~ oIr Prs
hytor.lu p'ic;." NpIld These men have tAIs written
ver" Tie 'vl not cN nE one
secoHe- hat ~ the lasi moetus Of the synod 81
New Jcrry. al A.hury PdlA q pee al committee made
q report ou this vcrH matter th" insiabih'! "i the
Pastofae' which report va, not only a'c"ptcd. but.
by an ovtrs heuluc vote" ordered tp hr printed on the
minutes. Nolld tlc -i nd 4 NcH icr-o have placed
such report ola o., record, II uo ground g.. such
and a lack oi candidates for the ministry b. the
Pr, ,bytcriau Church when ~ D.. tufl"r says we
have the vices without tie virtue ~ an luucrancy'
'HNHIE~ p. NOIT
Fret Prcshytra Church, Washington y. j.,
May -, 1850.