The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-26
HE1IMES DEMAND
An Educated Ministry, Says Rev.
C. NJ. Oliphant in Sermon
STATING TIE QUALIFICATIONS

A Man Must Possess TO do Good Work
In his Sacred Calling-Thc Preacher
i Must be Educated IN the Broadcast
Sense and This age Of Education
Demands a Preacher Mentally
Strons-otllcr Points.
The qualifications for a successful
minister were elaborated on ina splendid
sermon delivered ut the First Christian
church yesterday morning by. the pas
tor. Rev. c. NJ. Ollphant, who held that
the gradual education of the masses re-
quired u high standard in the ministry.
The reverend speakers theme was
"The Educated Minister" and his text
was taken from John viii, 80. Said Rev.
Mr.. ollphant:
Ignorance has no more place In the
pulpit than sin. The gospel appeals 10
mans intelligence as the basis Of NOR
ais and religion. II the higher powers
j OF emotion are to be stirred into activity
and choice fixed on the highest good 1t
must be done by an apprehension Of the
truth. This Is Gods method OF moving
!. the world. The pulpit. then. with its
exposition and enforcement OF truth be-
comes the greatest. factor in the work
of the church.
Something then above good intention
Is the condition OF success. Something
higher than desire to do good Is need
full. Intellectual training there must be
or the church will fail to accomplish Its
high and holy purpose of bringing men
to knowledge OF the truth and leading
them out OF the bondage of sin Into the
liberty of Christ.
There Is necessity of n thorough ed
ucation for the ministry. In great re-
| ligious awakening q few points OF doc
trinc receive exclusive attention, hence
educated and uneducated men are alike
pressed into service Little attention
paid TO mental qualifications; religious
zeal above par. education below. After
the smoke OF battle has cleared away
and there is time 10 contemplate the
| fruit Of victory and adjust everything
| to new circumstances, then can We see
the need of n!cn;al power.
The minister must be educated be-
cause OF the greatly increased intelll-
sence of the people. knowledge Is
more widely diiIused. there Is good
schools; therefore people read more
books and papers. hence are more
thoughtful and cultured. 1t demands a
higher grade of preaching to reach and
influence people than in former times.
Political philosophy demands intelii-
gent treatment. The church and state
are not wholly separate. and the good
| Christian is the best citizen. 1t Is con-
coded that law is no stronger than the
public sentiment which demands Its en-
actment and afterwards secures its en-
| forCement. Whence comes this right
eOus public sentiment to suppose law its
Wv IL Liz IOl-
p. Is one of the strongest factors in
creating. supporting and directing pub
lie sentiment on all the great issues
which affect human welfare. Genuine
a high place in all true religion. The
preacher is not to dabble In low party
politics but he may legitimatcly inspire
In the hearts of co!lntrymen such honor
and virtue that their beneficial effects
| will be felt from the humblest laborer
up 10 the highest councils of the nation.
The plea OF brotherhood demands in
telligent presentation. All great relig-
| ious movements in history have been
begun by men of learning. This is true
of the leaders In the movement of the
Disciples church in its beginning. They
| were men of whom the world was not
worthy. They We're men of learning.
| They fought our battles. they won our
victories. they founded our colleges.
edited our journals, and organized our
benevolent work at home and abroad.
They bclucathed TO us Il great plea-a
plea of the gospel as it was in the be-
ginning. its faith, its purity. Its practice,
| Il plea for Christian union. its basis-thc
Bible. ~ plea that needs no apology, Il
| plea that challenges respect. Should we
not command n large audience for II?
! Ours Is Il remarkable history, made thus
without sacrifice of principle. No time
now for yielding. We need more men
to give our plea worthy presentation.
Shall We have them.
We need more intelligent preachers of
Gods Word. They must, in preaching,
| include the following:
Divisions of the Word.
Apply scriptural names properly to
the church and Individuals us members
Of the body.
Christ and His gospel; its facts,
| promises, etc.
| Terms of salvation.
Prophecies being fulfilled to-day in
religious progress.
Relation of Gospel 10 every day du-
ties.
Social problems relative to teaching
OF gospel.
Study the times and make proper ap-
pication.
Then we need more faithful pastors.
who will have to observe some such
rules as: pastoral work. which becomes
Ia