The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-04
SHOOTING THE PREACHER.

Ian Maclaren. himself preacher. al
though he has found novels and lectur-
ing more remunerative. and therefore
devotes most Of his time and talents to
them. has recently been writing up one
phase OF the preacher question under
the somewhat striking title Should the
Old Clergyman BE Shot?" AS might be
suspected. Mr.. Maclaren does not mean
that clergyman should be taken out
bodily and filled full Of bullet holes. or
even to have one very large one blown
through his brain. but he intimates that
after Clergyman has reached q GER
tain age he ought to get out Of the
pulpit, and let a more vigorous mind
and body succeed him; and that II he
does not, he ought to be shot. whether
be gets his deserts or not. His conclu-
sion is that there should be compulsory
retirement Of clergymen- at the age Of
sixty.
That is the conclusion Of Mr.. Maclar-
en-, but 1t is not the conclusion u ma
jority of people who have pastors whom
they love. There are many congrega-
lions presided over today by men of
sixty ana past. who are doing the best
work Of their whole lives. not only in
the pulpit, but in their pastoral work.
and It would be folly to replace them,
100 &
by younger and weaker men. On ac-
count Of the existence Of 30 many cler-
gymen Of this kind any arbitrary regu-
lation placing them on the retired list
would be unjust. not to say impossible.
But retiring clause would be OF adj
vantage In great many instances. both
for the benefit Of the congregation and
for that Of the clergymen. There are
hundreds Of clergymen Of sixty who
should have been retired thirty years
ago. but as they DO not seem TO have
been so disposed of, 1t should be done
now that they are at threeseore. There
are many good men Of sixty who by
reason of hard work or i'll health are
not equal to the charge Of a congrega-
ton and they should be put on the re-
tired list In part only. That is to say,
assistants should be provided for them.
and they should be permitted to con-
tinue the work Of direction. With their
burdens lightened, they would have their
strength again. and thus years Of expe-
rience would make them invaluable
trainers for the young men who are
to follow them.
Not one young preacher In a thousand
can have the influence over his congre-
CATION that the veteran has who has
brought his people through trials and
tribulations. and It is for the good Of .
church that the older man be retained
in his relationship of guide and COUNSEL
or. 1t is not necessary that ne be con-
tinued as a beast OF burden when his
years are many. but he should not be
turned adrift when his usefulness has
ripened and he is at his best in wisdom
''Old men for counsel; young men for
war" and the churches should add to
their glory and their power by putting
the young men in harness and giving
the old men the lines. 1t would, no
doubt, be advisable for minister and
people to understand that at q designat-
ed age the minister should be given 2
divided work to perform. because, when
there is no age limit, 1t is a delicate and
difficult duty to inform him that he is
too old and needs help, but he should
not be forced out of his work simply
because he has reached an age at which
the weakest of his kind are considered
by the authorities of church to be no
longer able to fulfil their mission.