The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-25
H. Parshley, E. P. Fuller and D. 7

H. Parshley, 8. P. Fuller and D. 7.
Wymsn Elghty-fve votes were cast.
DR.. Adams offered the following 18th
rule" which was accepted "BenChciar-
les who abandon their purpose to
preach the gospel or early relinquIsh
the work of the ministry for other vo-
cations, are expected to refund the
money, which they have received
DIR. Nathaniel Butler, president of
Colby College, was introduced and
spoke on the subject, Does the mod
ern college do its part we'll in encodr-
aging men for the ministry" He said
in part.
81 should like to know myself whether
the college does its work well in these
directions.
An examination of Amherst address
book shows that in the early years the
ratio Of ministers to not ministers was
1873 to 1871, and from 1890 TO 1895 it was
SO to 3S6. These fl lures appear to
strengthen the opinion that the infiu-
ence Of the college to send men into the
ministry Is waning. The tendency of
college men to pass to the ministry ap-
pears to be diminishing. Is it true?
Does, the college afford
A GOOD EQUIPMENT
for men to enter the ministry? From
in all directions and for preparation
for nearly every vocation men go to
college. The supply of ministers might
not fall off, but the percentage must
necessarily be diminished The convic-
ton remains that numerous college
men who might have chosen the min
lstrT in other days, now choose other
work where educated men are desired.
There are many who believe that God
ma to he.
just as surely as he calls them to the
ministry.
President Harris of Amherst thinks
that it is not lack Of announcement in
the college, but conditions operating
without the college that cause the dim
mutton
The question is still, does the college
encourage men as much as it should to
enter the ministry? A college is a coll
lection Of helps to aid man to affect
a correlation of the moral, mental.
physical and spiritual in his own
nature; to find himself out. But the
college has not to select the work a
man is to do
The college should encourage men to
any employment just so far as it should
encourage them to make the best of
themselves.
SEEKING EDUCATION
To man seeking a liberal education
1t is often found that the path of the
ministeri~l student is a path of least
resistance and is in too many cases put
tlng premium on mediocrity. Beware
OF diminishing the cost of production of
the finished product. The most a college
could be expected to do in this direction
is to present high ideals of life If the
college is pervaded with a pure religious
atmosphere it is encouraging men to
adopt the profession best suited to
them.
The second part Of the question is
whether the college is equipping men
Tor the ministry. I have received a
number of letters from well known edu-
Gators and nearly all of these concur
that the province Of the college is not
to give specific equipment for any pro-
Iesslon. From some sources / hear that
students are now better prepared in
natural science, in philosophy and es-
pecially well prepared in mathematics
and science than formerly They are
deficient in Greek and in logic, and of
the scientific spirit which makes a man
face problem with no prejudice as to
its meaning.
While the intellectual equipment pro-
vided by the college for theological
work is deficient in many points. yet ii
is very good and much better than it
has ever been before.
The ESSENTIAL equipment for the minis
try is not intellectual but spiritual |
truly believe that the conditions never
were so good before for the develop
ment of intelligent piety. The average
level of religious life in colleges is high
er than it ever was before know of no
place where a man who leaves the home
circle is safer and better strengthened
than in the modern college where he is
surrounded by
HIGH MINDED MEN.
The college ought to encourage men
to form high ideals of life, to euuip
men in the fttest way for professional
study"
30 n-atAau u NNnnd ID u nrasi-