The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-09
Ian Kaclaren on Old clergymen.

The Washington D. c.. Post says :
That the Rev. John Watson, better
known as Ian Maclsren, appreciates
the value Of startling headlines ss
means of attracting attention is shown
by his use of " Should the Old Clergy.
men be Shot ~ as the caption of q
contribution in the current number Of
the Ladies' Home Journal, in which
he discusses In a serious way the
serious problem of how to deal with
aged ministers Of the gospel. A min.
lister of a certain age, says DR.. Wat.
son, is almost impervlous to new
ideas. The age will, of course. vary
with different men, and the Doctor
thinks there is danger in even hint.
ing at it, since the reader will always
be able to mention exceptions. He
tells sand we all know it to be true,
that there are men TO whose minds
no new idea can 6nd access at the
age of thirty-men of hopeless dull
ness, who will be an incubus on q
congregation all their days; and there
are men whose minds will be hospi-
table to the latest ideas at the age of
fourscore-men of unique mental
freshness and vivscity."
Leaving exceptions, and speaking
OF the average man, DR.. Watson
asserts that there comes time
"when his mind crystallizes aud his
beliefs become absolutely fixed. 1"
We do not suppose the doctor means
TO object to fixedness of belief in the
essentials OF what is called orthodox
Christianity. Before candidate for
the ministry can receive ordination
he must avow certain beliefs, and il
he be an honest man he will retire
from the pulpit when he ceases to
hold them.
The doctor says of this average
man with crystalized mind and
absolutely fixed beliefs that, though
he may not resent the discoveries Of
younger men, be certainly will not
assimilate them tnst though be may
not oppose new methods of action, he
certainly will not adopt them that
his preaching may be quite as good
as it was before, because it will be
the same, without any addition of
new thought, but it may be bad com
paratively speaking, because it should
have much new material and should
also be in much closer touch with the
age.
1t will surprise some thousands Of
churches aud congregations that are
prosperous and contented under the
ministrations of revered pastors,
whose gray heads they love to see
bending over the pulpit Bible, to learn
that DR.. Watson fixes the beginning
of decadence half way between the
cradle and the grave. He says that
with middle age there is apt to set in
a suspicion of the rising generation
and q keen resentment Of its stand
point, so that the middle-sged man
falls into critical and pessimistic
mood. And then, we are advised, be
comes to be q brake upon the coach,
and while the brake is useful thing
in its own place it is poor substitute
for horses.
In determining what should be
done with this unfortunate man, DR..
Watson rejects the fscetious sug-
gestion Of "a distinguished divine
OF our dsy-who is now dead
that a minister who is passed
bis prime should be taken out and
shot" He says there are objections
Oh the part OF an interfering Law to
this summary method of disposal,
and one must abandon the idea of
en- ecclesiastical knscker's yard"
After brief discussion of various