The record-union., 1899-04-02

New York independent, that q
preacher of the Gospel should become
teacher; indeed, it has hitherto been re-
garded as just what was to be expect
ed. The preachers office and the
teachers office have been regarded as
substantially the same and If there i5
any divorce between them in pubic es-
timation it is new and not an OLD
phase. Not so very long ago the teach-
ing body was mainly clerical and such
is still the fact to a very great extent
The masters of Elton and Harrow are
taken from the ranks of clergymen, ana
they go from the masters desk to the
episcopal bench. In the Roman Cath-
olic Church, which is supposed TO nave
developed the art of ecclesiastical pro
prietieS, the teachers are nearly al
clerics, or members of religious oroers'
whether male or female. Ine JeSui.s
have been models of devotion to their
religious ideals, and they have always
been, and they still are, great teacn-
| ing order. They think they honor re-
| ligion by putting their members TO tnls
| service, and their members are Famous
| in classical studies, in history, science
and literature. Nor is this IDEA tnat
clergyman may best serve God and ms
generation as a teacher connneo 10 the
Roman and Anglican communlons; IL
is similarly prevalent among all the
Protestant bodies"
| II
cit is not according to good Congre-
gational usage" says the "Congrega-
tionalist" of Boston, TO make creeu
test of membership. Our Natlonai
Council has declared that as pasas
of fellowship we have certain creeds Oh
acknowledged weight, to be USED, not
as tests, but as a testimony Men Can 4
testify only to what they know OF Goa
and of His relations With HIS chlldreil
Such knowledge is the fruit OF experi-
ence, and a little of it is Tar peuter eVi-
dence of genuine Christian character
than long creed which mas peeh ohiy
! learned from others A church is q
school. Examination for entrance lh'o
if ought not to be the same as exam
ination for graduation. IL lnVltes in.o
membership all disciples of Christ. It's
one test ought to be a controiiine ue-
sire to learn of Him, that they may
find rest to their souls They are in
vited into fellowship, not for what they
know hut for what they seek to know
of Christ. We should not be alarmed
|
for creeds so long as the covenant eH-
pressed the purpose OF fepehant souia
to live in obedience to God revealed IN
Iosns Christ relying on His forgiving
grace and power to help The testimony
of Christian experience is nooler anu
more convincing than any creedai
| test
the
church" asks the Interior (Pres.) OF
| Chicago, "if her ministry shoulu .oe
trained only by theological professors
who dwell either in the obsolete or IN
the visionary? Who is to guide this
great people in the dark and dangerous
future? The ministry, the prophets'
did it from Moses onward-led them
in some ages and countries up into
light and righteousness and liberty, and
in some ages into darkness and sin and
ruin, but always, led them-led the peo-
ple. the masses Are they leading them
now? In some favored localities, no
doubt-but we fear repelling them in
the great crowded aggregations. OF
| this there is no other explanation than
defective leadership. The common peo-
pie heard Jesus Christ gladly, and they
will hear gladly any minister who
| breaches on his lines and with his con-
| secration. The theological student
| ought to demand release from burdens
of unusable lumber, which he knows
| he can never preach, and which his
| teachers knew he could not preach
without making a failure of both him
| self and of his message. The student
| has a right to training by men who are
| themselves students. The church IS
paying enough and sacrificing enough
| that she may have an educated minis
ttry to get what she pays for and not
| be compelled to fall back upon the
| Moodys, who know nothing but the
Bible and men, but who, knowing these,
are masters of assemblies"