New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-03
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
YOUNG MEN FOR THE MINISTRY
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THEIR OWN
THINKING.

~ ana Editor of Tho Tribune.
Sir. In the recent theological discussions some men
seemed 10 think that there was great danger IN put
nc Young men for the ministry under the instructions
NJ theological teachers whose exegeslS anu ihVer
nretation of Scripture are questionable snoh d
houcbt does not seem to me TO be complimentary TO
ba character and ability Of the theological student
Who are the Young men who expect to enter uhe
ministry Or rather we had better ask, who arc ,ne
young men whom the Church expects to enter INC
mnIstryi Are they not supposed to be graoua'es
~ colecesi Are they not supposed TO have received
a liberal culture7 Is It not high time that tne'
should begin to think for themselves after four years
Of training In that drectoni After studyihs
mathematics science, philosophy, history, the eVi
dences of Christianity these young men ought 10 oo
qualified to begin at least to separate the gram r
the char the truth from the untruth. Afer oil U"'
training to regard II still necessity that 'ou"e
seminary students must be put under the instrucuo
of men who settle things for them, VINO Weiail's
ruard their faith against doubt and unbelef' IS III
large measure to ignore their attachments and an
insult 70 their spiritual and intellectual capacty.
am not now arguing In favor Of theological teachers
In our semnaries whose beliefs must be markeo WIN
interrogation points. l am only saying tav 'o'e
men who expect to enter the ministry should hot oe
compeled 10 be too exclusively under the watcni"'
care of that guardian angel the theological proioSO'
"This Is what my good old professor of theology useu
never questioned any of his statements have AWAY
implicitly adhered TO them" Another pastor puts II
in this way: al wonder what my theological teao,'
would say on this question? / wonder "iao '''o
SYNOD would decldeH Whatever the professor anu
the synod will agree upon, that 1 will SUBSCRIBE "
and will preach with all my power
But there is precious little power In such preacnne
Too many pulps all the country have iost to',
individuality, If they ever had any. Iheoios'',
opinions like the smallpox, are contagious. s'"'
many preachers do just the opposite Oh wha0 ~ -,
man Abbot recommended not long ago. that they snUO
work ont a theological system OF thelr OWL -
usually let some one else do that for then' anu u
religious ideas OF great many resemble each o'ne, %
closely that one must conclude that they "eie WI
rowed from the same source. 1t might be lnieIIeu
that was pleading for that liberty In thinking "ioi
I'm some instances has ceased to be liberty ana
license Far from IT, / believe In an ahchor' ~,
words of Emerson apply too often: l near P'
announce for his text and topic the eXpedehoS " on
~ the institutions OF his church. DO know beiofe
hand that not possibly can he say new ana Spon-
lannon's word7 DO not know that with all tins
ostentaton of examining the grounds Of the lnSuuuoh
he will do no such thing7 DO not Kho" "ide "o 70
n,edred 10 himself not to look but at ono sue VI.
permted side, not as man, bu tas a PARISH h'i"
II Is also a good thing for the young seminary
student to learn very early in MS career 'iuV n.
are two sides even to theological question: anu 'ha'
ber are such things in the world as nfdelty aghoSu
csm He ought to be told Just what these TIMES ,th
are He ought not TO be afraid OF Inger.Vi VI Ia ~.
arnold lie ought TO count it all Joy if ne ials lni9
divers temptations Of doubt lie must not be atr Ssa
of getting his feet wet The Young peaC cy mem and
orthodox professors is just as incompetent 10 s%I
6rrI,, In his pulpit in world Of DOUBT ana uiioels
m 40 yonng hoy who has never been allowed TO 60
ont of the house by himself is incompetent TO walk
inc The old Motley which makes indexes Of forbidden
books says Phillips Brooks can never S DO Seyt anS
for faith. Whatever man can rcad III non Hsirc ~
trnth, let him read IT, and II there he any oea1H
thing in what he reads it shall not harm MN. V J
might add the old policy which malSes indexes OF TOT
hidden men can never do ANYTHING for iaithii ,pcu
0" ~ CHARLES ii. LERCH'
Easton PENN July 90 1891.