The Globe-republican., 1900-10-18
COMMENT ON
CURRENT THINGS


few members of this organization took
any part in the meeting. 1t is true that
only the night meetings were of any ben
eft to the public. The day meetings
were occupied in the examination of the
undergraduates of the Southwestern
Kansas Conference. These young men,
TO the number of twenty more. came
from different parts of the conference
district, and spent three days here in the
course OF the work in which they are en-
gaged-that of more thoroughly fitting
themselves for the ministry All the
young preachers have assignments and
preach regularly, but they are undergo
ing a course of study which will fit them
better for their work. This meeting WAS
practically school of theology; and uu-
der the system of instruction the young
preachers graduate would students in
abe colleges. There four examin-
ers who put the embroyo clergymen
through severe discipline of technical
theology In this Intelligent and
Iightened age all the churches require
educated ministers. The time has past
when any one can mount the ministerial
tripod and discourse on salvation with
out proper credentials. This is right
Jesus took the ignorant fishermen and in
structed them in the knowledge of God;
and through his instrumentality they
We want to say that the meeting of the
young ministers inspiration to the
people who frequent the sanctuary of the
NJ E. church. That it did not inspire the
entire religious community one of
those incidents hich account for on
the lack of opportunity and not for want
of appreciation. Different churches are
-engrossed n the affairs of their churches.
This is probably best III many respects,
he rTI1R of cohesion w
applies to all denominations. 1t is we'll
that this so. No church organization
can maintain itself without that spirit of
tenacity found in we'll constituted and
thoroughly equipped society But clan
ishness is more dominant in the Meth
odfst. church than in other church socie-
ties.
This is not what particularly de-
sired to say The meeting and the
preaching last week left impression
that was an Inspiration to those who
heard the p. eachers. By a wisely direct
ed program the four ministers who
preached had different subjects the
religious questions; but the main thought
OF each subject was the need of an intel
Iectual knowledge of the Bible, and of a
spiritual and Christian life. Our religion
is of the expansive order. The old time
methods do not suit the enlarged sense
of today. The field of operation is broad
err and liberality of thought and work is
necessary. 1t is true that the religious
field has been enlarging for many years,
but each decade opens wider field in
the missionary spirit and work. A more
intelligent knowledge of the Bible is
necessary to fit men for the work of to-
day. We have, as iu were, outgrown the
conditions of a hundred years ago; and
in the diffusion which is progressing
more religious intelligence is desired
People of today are more closely fol-
lowing the precepts of the Bible by
righteous and cultivated methods of Iiv-
ing. The spiritual sense is enjoined as
much as ever. but the simple emotional
character is not regarded as fulfilling the
demand of entire conservation. The
intellectual we'll as the spiritual is to
be cultivated. In this great enlighten-
ment and broad missionary spirit we
must look beyond the horizon of the past
and meet the new requirements Faith.
belief and trust in Christ's doctrine are
the same today, yesterday and forever,
but the more extensive Christian work in
the enlarged field of operation, opened
a broader view of Christian duty And
while Christian principles will not change,
a greater degree of work is necessary,
which be met only in the capacity
found in better and more thorough in
telligenee of Gods word.
THE JOISF DEBATE.-People who