The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-29
SEVERE TRAINING.
Much Hard Work Must Be Done Before .
Theological Student Graduates.

Much Hard Work Must Be Done Before q
Theological Student Graduates.
You read the other day" said a
prominent clergyman ''of the com.
mencement exercises at Princeton
theological seminary and of the gradu-
alton of fiftyfour students. There
was nothing about that to attract pub
lie attention. and very likely you did
not get further into the article than
/ the headlines. It meant fifty-four
more young clergymen in the world,
that was all, to most people. But to a
man who has been through the train
ing that has just ended for those boys
| it means great deal more. I never
read OF seminary commence
ment without feeling thankful
! that so many more students
have pulled through safely. There
| is not much general knowledge of the
labor required in the making ola clergy
man. People could easily find out if
they chose to inquire, but it is some
thing they do not stop to think Of A
clergyman is supposed to be a BILE to an
swer any biblical question that may be
asked him, but where he gets all his
technical knowledge nobody thinks of
asking. He does not get it from read
ing the Scriptures, certainly. If you
We're to keep on reading Revelation till
you understood them thoroughly, how
old would you be when you fnished2
No, don't ask me whether l think un-
derstand them now. or we may drift
away into theological discussion
which will be very unprofit-
able. What ] started to say is
something about the severe train
ing that a man must go through
theological seminary and so become
clergyman. The training o a clergy
man really begins when he is a six
year old child at his moth knee, sfor
in nine cases out of ten. the parents
decide for him. and decide early. But
start with the boy when he has been
graduated from a grammar school. be-
cause he will probably receive that
much education in any case, whatever
his business or profession is to be. He
should then be in the neighborhoed of
twelve years. He must now begin a
special prepare ton for college, prep
aration that differs from the ordinary
preparatory course OF students not
studying for the ministry. He must
give at least four years to a special
study of Greek and Latin. and at the
same time lay a good foundation in an
Gent history, English composition and
literature and higher arithmetic and
algebra.
The boy then, at sixteen, is ready to
enter college and take the usual four
years classical course. Ip the first
year he struggles with algebra. geome-
try, trigonometry, Latin. Greek, En-
glish history and English literature.
In the second year the same, with the
addition Of comparative physiology,
mechanics. analytical geometry, physics
and rhetoric. In the third year he adds
also chemistry, logic. German. political
science and philosophy. The fourth
collegiate year includes all of these
studies. and geology, consular and in
ternational law. French ethics. as
tronony and botany besides. He is now,
on leaving college. ready to enter a
theological seminary, unless, indeed.
he proposes to GO into the general
theological seminary of the Protestant
Episcopal church. in which case he is
required TO be able TO read the Old Tes-
lament in Hebrew and the New Tesla
ment in Greek, before he can enter.
After his eight wears Of Greek he
!, ~.
ment in the original, bat this does not
always follow It often happens that
a student that goes through his Greek
lessons well enough in college finds on
going into the seminary where he
must actually use the language, that
he knows very little about il.
The course in the theological sem
mary occupies three years-making
eleven years study in all after leaving
the grammar school The studies IL
the theological seminary are theology.
church history, old and new testament
languages. Ceogra ply Of Palestine
moral philosophy and sociology. with
lectures on sermonizing and the duties
OF a minister, and practical examples
in preaching Hebrew Is one ~ the
sticking points for il IS positively
necessary for theological student 10
read Hebrew almost as readily rs ne can
English. II Is 4 grind. terrible GRIND.
this long struggle with Greek and He
brew. II x in the sem mary. Of course.
that the student gets his Theological
training: still each demon nation
has its favorite college. The Baptist.
for instance. favor Madison: the Dutch
Reformed, RUTGERS and Hope. the Pres
bTSerians. Princeton and Inian; the
Metholists, Drew and Wesleyan. and
the Episccpa liaas, ColGm bia. ST Ste
ven : and the University OF the South. !
Theological students freaS>rtlv oc-
eEpy an unpleasant position through
out their collegiate and seminary /
courses The churches help them z-2seri +
they arenot able 20 help themselves. and j
they too often have the calling fee II z
of being ia part charity students All /
OF the colleges make reduction n the /
tuit5on 81 ceEtiiGatt -s for the ministry. +
Princeton gives a scholarship - one
hundred dollars q year aud makes IN i
annual resiuctioH of fraIn thsrtv
dollars 10 fifty dollars IN the tni- !
ton charges Columbia gsges tai
ton free when necessarv Be
sides tbs the CHURCHES give financial
asd and often free tuition IA the semi
nary Some students receive one aur-