The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-04


 likely to prove helpful at each subse- quent point of approach to the sacred profession in keeping unsuitable per sons out of it; for then the applicant for admission to the theological semi nary would be required to furnish, not only college diploma or its equivalent, and evidence of church membership, but also an official certificate from some conference witnessing to the fact of his selection by that body as suit able person to be encouraged to study for the Christian ministry, and inVok- ing the cooperating judgment of the Faculty to which it is presented as to the advisability of encouraging the bearer to proceed with his preparation. There is certainly need of more atten- tion to this matter than it now re- ceives. Our theological seminaries could be efficient barriers to the intro- duction of unsuitable men to the Chris tian profession, but they are not at present, for "Whosoever will may en- ter them, and "Whosoever can" may graduate from them. If a young man is respectable in department, fair scholar and a church member, he is eligable for admission. But these quail ifications, important as they are, do not by any means constitute all that should be required in a candidate for the Christian ministry. The history of the profession shows clearly that a man may even excel in scholarship and piety and yet be utterly unfit for the ministerial profession because he can- not preach the gospel satisfactorily. It would be we'll therefore if our theologi- cal seminaries were to take careful inventory of the natural endoWments as well as of the scholastic acquire ments of all applicants for admission. It is no kindness to a young man to permit him to enter a theological school to waste his time and means preparing for profession for which he is utterly lacking in the prime element of natu- ral talent Better, far better be frank with him even at the risk of wounding his pride, and of making havoc with hfs present pet plans. Any temporary pain which saves a man from commit ting himself to a course of life wherein he must be failure, is in reality "a blessing in disguise"
 But the responsibility in this matter does not rest wholly with our theologi- cal seminaries It is possible for our churches in their conference relation to select, and encourage utterly unfit per- sons to study for the ministry, and 1t is possible for the faculties of our theolog- ical seminaries, acting in good faith, to repeat that mistake. For this reason, when the candidate comes before a ministerial association for license he should be put through a searching ex- animation as to his ability to do that which he proposes to do,-preach.
 Our associations could easily improve on their present methods of procedure on this point, for they generally ignore the question of the candidates ability to do what he wants to be permitted to do, viz, preach, and proceed in great haste to find out how much he knows, how smart he is, and whether he is or thodox or heterodox.
 They all practically assume that if the candidate is a good scholar, and a bright fellow he can preach of course. And yet our country abounds in schol- arly men, ordained to the Christian ministry whom the churches will not accept as pastors simply because they cannot preach the gospel in a way to interest and edify the people.
 It would be far better for our associa- tions therefore to waive the customary literary examination of candidates for licensure, accepting the usual certifi- cate from the seminary faculty as sat- isfactory proof of fitness on that point, and proceed at once to test his ability to preach the gospel And if they find that he can preach, give him a license; but if they find that he cannot preach, and lacks natural ability to do so, with hold the license, and advise him to try something else. It is a poor policy to spoil good carpenter to make poor preacher.
 still better way, because denomina- tionally consistent. would be for our churches, convened in council or con ference, to assume exclusive charge of this whole subject of licensure. It logi- cally belongs to them, and to them ex- clusively. Only Congregational church. es convened in council can properly or dain man to the Congregational nlin- istry. Ministerial associations have no right to do it, and they never presume to do it. For precisely the same reason they have no right to license men to