New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-13
LETTERS TO THE EDl1OR.
THE ovERsupPLY OF MINISTER'S.
Asr,E MEN CROWDED OUT OF THE CHI -
SEMINARY GRADUATES.

To the Editor OF The Tribune. obot
Sir: The pressure of work has peen 81, .or,
large lately or I would ere THIS nave 80 So, -
YOU little space TO comment upon Inc -,
my statements in relation TO tho oNe'S"lp''
ministers In your issue or Aubus' 10
things should be answered ,,.
The mos, important. personally is ina. - -
only Of the condition in the Congregd"on" -
know II pretty well. and Will prove ',"' -" ,ho
sertlons were within the truth Inc Po'''' -,
Methodist Episcopal Church Is a'ose'' 80
chile 40 far as It touches the supply ana u''''a.'D
:, .,n,s,ors ord the evils that threaten 10 desuoS
~. CONGREGATIONAL Church cannot exist III ''"'
hotv while all that is said OF the rP'' ~
church may also be strictly correct ai'''oUe',
nv memory does not play me 1aIse' VIM a., a
wear hardly one bishop in the country Cou'u I,.'
narisb having 81 900 a year 10 quaii"eI p9
But the concerns or tnose OO"
score Of my present work , - IVA
Tbere is nothing hate quite so hlu0" no - -,
verhial philosophy. II men want ~ man
90 long way they dress It up IN the ea'o u
dom Turn a fasehood into an apho'lsin' anu
o,, ,,snre II immortality and the oft maze state
49,. .ha, IN .be CONGREGATIONAL ministry there IS
,na,e roon, at the top is the most pitiful chea'
Lrow Young men are turning mature ones OUT
~ the ministry and the reason Is mat 'he Gnu W
can hire them cheaply. The most H'00'p
youth stands to-day better chahce OF Se0u'i"e ."
narish than the ablest preacher necauso ne co."
more readily turn nlinSe!l III" " 0''V''''
inc n neglect his pulpit work. with Its intense
aoroard unon brain and life. to see TO what Is
called the social life Of the church. real gooo
thing IN It's way. but IN any true mans esuina-
ton quite subordinate TO '"e 'o"s
Gospel. - .
u tho last four or five years I have known at
,oos, dozen able men, or two OF them
reanv great and they have been without engage
,Arts for from two to three years. while the SEMI
nary graduates drive them out Of the churches IN
tho CONGREGATIONAL Church in three years there mas
heen an addition Of 292 preachers. mostly from 'le
seYn,naries decrease in the demand OF D. ana IN
the out Of work ranks 30 men were added II
cause and effect can he more closely related ran
70 see where and how. Room AT the top? NeH' II
one space gets vacant there is the most uhhoIy'
Indecent struggle from men all over the lana TO
secnre # for themselves. Every semblance or
nanliness seems forgotten IN the race for place ana
bread know churches paying from SlV" 10
81 800 year and the applicants for each place
are fourscOre or q hundred.
There are seven seminaries 10 provide ministers
for . church that employs only about three thou.
Ind i've hundred ali told. with a death rate or
about twenty a year The seminaries turn OUT an
nuallv about one hundred and twenty students
from the senior classes ana neSnH s or ,I
cials. What be the result nui an oEersFEl'if5 .
with all IFS horrors Of starvation and waste OF ne
II may suit the various faculties pnt II Is nlIl
to the minister, and ] use the "orn kho"l'S "''''
Then The Church has no power In the premises
TO- eerinar ies re independent ORGANIZATIONS, ana
can min the Church at their pleasure. unless me
thing happens that wait and Work foI. ildl i,
conference or association IN the whole Chur'n VIA
ton The need shall be seen. and MI that ume
about $3.50 N. that is annually worse than wasted
by the seminares could be used Il W9Tk pa ,TT
honor God and help man. .o. MA'hh fi'A -
Hartford Conn. Sept. !, lSHS