New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-18
NOT TOO MANY MINISTER'S.

cLERGYMEN HERE TAKE EXCEPTION no THE
. REV MAGE PRATrs STATEMENT
Considerable discussion has been aroused by me
article IN which the Rev. Magee Pratt, or the Con
gregational Church. has pointed out that there "
an oversuppy of ministers. -
With view of ascertaining how far Mr. Pfats
statements borne out in the opinion OF o'ner
persons identified with church work. reporter
for The Tribune called on number OF ministers
and others yesterday, and IL was touno tha' IN
everv case exception taken to the somewhat
swe apng statements set forth
r was generally asserted that at no time mas
there been so great need for ministers Oh .he
r,ob, kind and while II was freely admitted mat
there are ministers who are lacking IN cohsiesa
tons Il was pointed out that this was prihcipa'y
| due 10 two facts. namely. unitness FOR the WORN
~ rnwlIngness 10 accept positions where they arc
obtainabe.
II was asserted that there are at present many
,,,rs,ors idle In New-York and in other large cit
los who could have pulpits at fair remuneration u
thew were willing to leave the congested districts
and go to cities and towns In new or outyihs 'e''
tory where their services would be usetuI
In discussing the subject several ministers ci'eo
large dioceses where there are no churches' Simply
because the right sort OF were not ootainaoe
| for the pulpits
1t was generally observed that II Is ms'ane
to suppose that any sort Of man would 90 TOT the
outlving doceses and the fact set forth that IN
| the Far West and newer territories the oemaho -
| for the best material available.
In tho oplnion OF a well known bishop or the
Episcopal Church who presdes over diocese OF
sixty thousand square mesIaGdserb nS IL aSun
dant room for ministers OF the right knd W ns,,
asked for his views e hut was emphatic
in his assertion that there is no such thihs as d"
ove rSappa he ssid in the ministry, in every
other sphere OF activity large number 81 VIVA,
nbsr Words men Who are not fitted for the profes
sion and in instances they are inc kho S VIA
would fail in any work in life. They are tne kna
| ~ mon who would not succeed as merchants or
mechanics and they also fail as ministers. IL
certainly mistake TO speak OF an ,Ss n5p ~
lated sections which are without that there is
Seenc Demand f for mnsters 81 that mssn of
'c The Rev S Edmund NJ Mills formerly Prs',%d,nE
elder OF the Emira District Centrai ., N ,ss New.
York CITY Church Extension and Missionary Society
Of the Methodist Episcopal church. ssd was see" ~
NE There is certainly no oversuppy OF minister
and any assertion 70 the contrary Isir, d,s,ret is
true that l received applications for places from Sn
more than fifty men for church positions
revealed the fact that they were persons ~np mem
failed in other fields There ss asO cSarses and do
! good work where II is really needed IN tne num-
s eeT Of mnsters"tSat is the kind Of who
are capable and willing to do good ~o Tx worh Is
hardest and the salary small OF the best men
are at work. II is mistake TO suppose th h ZIG
college men are unwilling 10 accept sucn chaIsss
In nv experience | have observed that these youns
mon are doing hard and useful work IN places
where some of the older men refuse TO go -.
The Rev. DR. Charles /: Thompson, sesre,ary NJ T'
tho PRESBYTERIAN Home Missions, was SHOWN UT
Pratts statement but like others, he took excep-
tion 10 much that II contained: $500, ,,., =.
- ike most overloaded opinions OF this KIM, ne
said 1T is largely untrue There Is plenty OF roGm
for clergymen. and. in fact. there Is a srowtHS
need Tor them More money Is, OF course, neeoeo
also 10 carry on the work and II had the lunds
7 could place many ministers at once There -
room for them in Alaska and on the PACING CoasI
IN Porto Rico and Cuba, and II Is not necessary
ayen m 60 so far II is a mistake to think that
, weak men will do in the Far West At our church
in Skaguay | saw compensation that wou'H We
; In Intelligence and culture with those In new,
" York OUT there church going is not yet well
formed ha bit When people attend service they ex-
nsrt N hear n minister who is capable, otherwise
they are apt call i lead that didn't pan oJi
n,anv IDLE ministers in New-York. but II is largely
due 10 their unwlingness to accept places at dis