The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-28
TIE TRAINING or MINISTERS.
Reform In Theological Beminariss De-
mandod by President Hyde.

From he Boston Globe
Tho feature OF the temple meeting OF the 1n-
ternational Congregational Council yesterday
was the deep aud sharp scoring OF the theoloE-
ical seminaries by President Hyde OF Bowdoin
College. and all the allegations made against
them were heartily corroborated by President
Slocum OF Colorado College. The Education
Of the Minister" was the subject considered by
President Hyde. He said
The things that At man to preach are four.
the call OF God. mental drill. lrst-hand secular
knowledge. individual grasp OF spiritual truth.
"First-The call OF God. Let us have no
nonsense about that 1t is not voice that we
can hear: 1t Is not a sign that We can see
1t Is not a pathological disturbance OF the
nerves which the psychologist can explain
away; 1t is not n sentimental stirring OF the
breast to which effsminate aklings are pecu-
liarly susceptible. 1t 10 the clear conviction
that life. as most men live 1t. is a wicked waste,
burning shame. disgrace to man. an insult
to God. 1t is the equally clear conviction that
life. as man ought to live it and as Christ has
showed us how. 10 pleasing to God, ennobl ling
to man satisfying to the conscience. restful to
Second Mental drill. Enlisting does not
make man a soldier Deciding to be- a sur-
geon does not qualify man to touch, the
the training. Of the man who Il. to apply 70 the
soul that living. active word OF fod which IL
'haTReIr thaP any sw9edsed sword
q little use to preach to world whose ways OF
thinking you do not understand The m mister
must wrest the scientific concepts OF the age
direct from the laboratory. No textbook or
lecturer giving them In finished FORM will
serve his purpose.
Unless a man is kept alive on the living
issues OF the present. he will be utterly unable
to catch tho living spirit from the writings OF
The most ominous sign in American Con-
gregationaism to-day Is the disposition OF
pits OF weak -kneed associations to recognize
OF complacent councils to in stal unframed or
half-trained men from foreign lands. from de-
nominations having lower Intellectual stand
ards. from lay colleges from Christian ASSOC
citation and Endeavor work, simply because
tho plagiarzed platitudes they have bor-
rowed in substance or in form. II not in both.
from pernioious homiletical helps.
We welcome well-trained earnest honest
every form OF Christ an work Against the
IN the name Of our priceless intellectual tradi-
tons. In justice to the sons Of our churches
and our schools yes in sheer self preservation
for continued existence. 1t 10 our duty most
earnestly and Indignantly to protest.
There be radie. and costly T reioTm in
methods OF seminary instruction.
or s s sq ssnIss
worked before. Even the bummers settle
when college graduates go to the seminary
they almost invariably report a falling off in
effort and interest Even those who were dill
gent in college grow lazy and take to loafng.
Hebrew Is the only thing they report as being
hard. and that they say they hate. Theological
instruction is not up to the educational level OF
graduate and professional work in other de,
partments. Men who in college have learned
to investigate and think for themselves when
given dictated lectures to write out and learn
from day TO day as the sole or chief means OF
intellectual growth feel as il they had been put
back into the kindergarten or the nursery. in
| stead OF promoted to professio nal school.
The best men are disguised: the poorest
men are stulthed. Their manhood 10 at the
same time threatened by superfuous eleemo-
synary aid. Requirements are 80 easy that the
lazy and the dull have no difficulty in repeating
enough OF memorized Information to pass
muster at the end.
No wonder that there 10 a dead line OF sc
In tho ministry. For tho man who 10 dead at
so Ia the man who was not intellectually alive
at % The young man who 10 content to tax Q
his views ready made from his teacher at "a
becomes, OF course. at SO the man nobody wants
to hear"