The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-19
HA.psuIps OF A MINISTER'S LIFE.
DE-. Alexander Afisen's Sermon at the
Fret Presbyterian Chureh Yesterday.

n
Fret Prssbyterian Church Yesterday.
DR.. Alexander Alison preached yes,er-
day morning at the First Presbyterian
church on the subject, The Hardships of
the Mipister's Life Compared With Those
of the Lawyer, Physician and Business
Man. from the text, "For after that in
tke wisdom of God the world by wisdom
knew not God, 1t pleased God by the foot
ishness of preaching TO save them that
believe" Mr.. Alison SAID substantially:
The general assembly of the Presley
terrain church has requested its ministers
to preach once year on the subject OF
ministerial education. Ii gives me
pleasure 10 obey. The world tried for count
less ages 10 find . God through intel
lectual processes. II did not succeed.
Hence the declaration of the text We
thus observe the great doctrine of the In
spired apostle. 1T pleased God by the
foolishness Of preaching tnot foolish
preachingD TO save them that believe"
The church requires. therefore. preachers.
Ii needs more today than ever before, be-
cause at the present the doors of the world
are open TO the advent of the Christian
minister and teacher. But in this hour of
demand the supply Is not equal From
1855 TO 1870 We had one young man enter
the min stry for every Isl communicate
members and one for every =. 500 of the
population. In is9s we have only one
candidate for every 1000 members and one
for every eo.0o0 inhabitants. This is not
an encouraging exhibit Why Is this
thuS7 DIR. Alison then showed that as
causes there may be the fact that our
publie school system Of education does not
urepare for an entrance upon the course
In arts required OF all students for the
ministry in the Presbyterian church as the
basis of beginning q three years. course IN
theology.
TIE fact that our larger universities aud
colleges are making sspecialty oil scientific
and philosophical courses 10 the setting
aida Of the old classical course. which
was In the estimation Of our fathers. and
should be Of US. the stepping-stone to
xhateser course Of special study student
might elect for his future vocation. Also.
the fact that there is q nervous haste la
these DAYS 90 be rich, tempting the young
man 10 shorten his educational training
.hat he may the sooner enter the channels
~ money making. The defective
family makeup of our time. which
an MANY instances Is caused by
. lack of carefutness in the selection OF
matrimonial partners. The peculiar views
xhieh Parents frequently have OF the min
,..sr'. .xperiencc. DIR. Alison then gave
instance, Of these viewa mentioning the
case of a mother who wanted Der boy to De
. minister. bas complained that the course
,.. too hard. To her be said that IL vas
40 harder than the course for the lawyer
a. any ether professional man Another
-. ~ one who wanted her boy 20 be
,,,ins.t.r n he could make = living after be
haA gone through college. 10 "hotn ne
.nswered that from 8 human standpoint
,he minister i. better of than The lawyer
or nhvsseisn. He instancsd three Young
ran leaving the same nsigheoFaooa
g. college. After they graduate, one
.,t.rs law school. one nediesa eolaege-
,hs other theological seminary. Iafee
-. .f,~r the theological student gets
s.li from the First Presbyterian charcA,
"a Seattle. the others come % ssst''e saa
80. aesce.l The minister Is met ~ sns
a.nat Nv delegation frona bis ehuFS"'
-. in a carriage 20 bis hotel; next saa-
A. =. rreaehe. his flrst sermon, ana :
A. asce a ~elI-knoxn ciHxea- tas 49,
- an. aoctor struggle along as best tasy
Ear ane waiting tor clients aas tae eeAsa
-, ,at,srt.. and few years lister hlAt Ds
heard Of as giving rromass OF fsAAi"s
living. ,a..as tsk~ ia
nv. NV eov a minister II when ne gross
.,,1t ,h.,ass that profession Id