The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-27
NEEDS OF THE MINISTRY
Set Forth in a Sermon Delivered BY
Rev. +. d. HOSkinS.
SPOkE IN ST. LUKE'S CHURCH
lie is Secretary Of the Society for tho In
crease OF the Protestant Episcopal
Ministry Outline Of tho Work
1t Is Doing.

A most clear and comprehensive arg
ument of the present day noVitlate vi
the Young ministry was contained III
the address of Rev. F. D. Hoskins In
ST. Luke's Episcopal church yesterday
morning. Mr.. Hoskins Is the corce-
spOnding secretary of the Society Tor
the Increase of the Ministry (Protest-
ant EpiscOpaD and was in scranton
for the purpose of securing 1unds ior
the society. He is no stranger In TINS
diocese, he having been present at the
laying of s.. Luke's corner stone, ana
having at one time been for two years
the rector of the Protestant Episcopal
church at Honesdale.
The purpose of the Society for the
Increase of the Ministry Is to aid can
didates who are making a full prep
aration, by granting scholarships
through the college and seminary
courses. As explained by Mr.. Hos
kins the ministry does not today oner
the Inducements Of earlier In the CEN
tury when Il high secular and social
standing was held out by a community
to any young man who made known
his determination of entering the
priesthood. Today the secular advan-
tages of life offer such great attrac-
tiOns for young men, that they, VINO
espouse to minister to man by bring
ing about a reconciliation with God,
are entitled to unusual aid and sym
pathy, things, however, which are hid
den by the very nature of the age.
ORGANIZED FORTY YEARS.
Mr.. Hoskins stated that the society
was organized forty years ago. In be-
coming u financial help to ministry cam
didates it carefully examines the ply
steal, moral and mental qualities of
each. They are required to write per-
iodical letters to the secretary of the
society and they are regularly visited
ut their schools and seminaries. They
must maintain standing of not less
than 10 per cent. While the major part
of the society's funds are raised in
the Middle and New England states a
large portion of the beneficiaries are
from the west and south.
Mr.. HOSkinS' text was: Corinthians V,
Is, And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ and hath given to us the min
istry of reconciliation"
He cited the fact that religious min
istry has existed for all time and in
this connection referred to 1t as de-
partment of state in the Roman gov
ernment and paid passing mention to
wv liVphVtS, !licSiS, ttlIIlOHtIS, ctC.,
of old. Always the basis of ministry
has been the effort to reconcile man to
| God. Today, when the world is so
| much better and when man Is more dis
posed to do his own thinking fewer
young men. comparatively, have the
inclination to devote their lives to max
| ing disciples in all the world, and the
| encouragement of the world is cOrre-
| spondingly lessened. There was a time
when young man of a household was
set aside to become one of the AL
| mighty's evangelists, when fathers and
mothers moulded the sons life and
| study according to the work he was to
| perform and when his choice won for
him not merely passing notice but
an universal respect and even rever-
ence.
HESITATE NOWADAYS.
Young men nowadays hesitate before
| accepting individual aid or the aid of
| Il congregation. In such cases, too, the
candidate does no. get the practical
and impartial oversight which Is CIV
on by the society. The financial af-
| fairs of the society are managed by
an executive committee on which the
| laity is represented by prominent pro-
| fessiOnai and business men. Every
dollar of the society's funds is draw
| ing interest.
! Mr.. Hoskins' general request for
financial aid was followed by more
energetic but briefer appeal by Rev.
Rogers Israel, rector of st. Luke's.
The offering of the morning service
was for the society and was a generous
|