Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-06-13
CALLING 4 MINISTER.


charity work and mission contributions.
In some instances the calling has
almost reached that dsranged climax
commonly known rs fad. The custom
now j. - ignore the decision OF assem-
bly,, conference and convention II a
minister is wanted he is ''called.p
Perhaps the ministry likes this. or will
learn TO like it in time. Perhaps Ii Is
all for tho best Perhaps this SOFT OF
perpetual motion circulation OF different
brains, ideas and manners through and
through the pulpit will stimulate re-
ligivus growth and eventually produce
a reformation.
Calling" ministers is sort Of
ecclesiastical science with which the
maturity Of church people are mot
familiar. II Is a work OF diplomacy.
1t is costly indulgence, and therefore
10 confined almost exclusively to
wealthy congregations; smaller church
corporations are content with appoint.
ments. To call q minister two Things
are required time and money, the
latter being by far the more potent
There is no limit TO the searo1 for
suitable minister. A rich and broad
minded congregation. possessing
handsome edIfice. wants a man 10
keeping with its idea of the spirit of
progress, aud is willing to spend rlenty
Of money and send its pastoral COM
mittee to numherlsss places in search
OF the proper person. When con-
greRation like that loses a minister it
may be some time before a satisfactory
SUCCESSOR is found. 1t is not always
the money In this phase OF the
operation, but more a case of cum
To-. "a.
all the qualitications-sud they are
legion-necessary in ministering TO the
spiritual needs of a highly aristocratic
and sensible congregation without dis
pleasing one OF its members.
The first move in the calling Of min
lister is the appointment by the church
board Of pastoral committee to look
the field over and determine upon some
one to be considered. The persoD So
lected may be serving a church in a
neighboring city, church half CONT
nebt away, or a church on the opposite
side of the globe. In he ,ast instance the
invitation usually goes by mail. One
notable exception may be cited 10 the
/ calling Of the Rev. DR.. Alexander
Connell OF London, Eng, by the con-
gregation of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church, New York. The committee
crossed the ocean for the purpose OF
waiting on DIR. Conuell with the offer
of the church aud then, in the face OF
the overwhelming courtesy, he declined
the call. -
When a minister answering to the
full requirements is located the COM
mi:tee. or at least its chairman, goes
to hear him preach-that Is, If Mons of
its members have previously had the
privilege. Sometimes word is sent
ahead in u half public way, but this
method is rare. As a rule. the in
vasion OF the sister fold is made with
all secrecy and, IL the minister is not
liked, the retreat is n ade in the same
manner SC that the poor fellow may
not know that he has been weighed In
the pastoral committee balance and
found wanting. 1t often happens that
a minister vel! known to the congre-
\ CATION is secured. but il not the process
| IS pursued from church to church until
| the right man is found.
The mere finding of a minister may
not end all, for at this point another
trouble is apt 10 set 10. He may be
satisfied with his charge, the work be
is doing and the salary be receives,
and if he is, strenuous persuasi0ns
must be put forth to win him. The
entire committee meets him privately
by previous engagement, usually at
some hotel, as In the instance OF the
| committee from the Lutheran Church
in brooklyn meeting the Rev. DIR.
Albert Studebaker, then pastor of
First English Lutheran Church, this
city, at the Stafford Hotel. The con-
gregation of the local church knew not
word OF 1t until all plans we're practi-
cally completed, aud then DR.. Stude-
baker announced that Re had received
a call.
The minister satisfied where be il,
must have the oil of placid argument
poured upon his disinterested dis
position; the members of the com
mittee tell him nov they like him,
how their congregation will like him
for the congregation likes everything
they like and SO on until he yields or
tells them to go hence. In cases where
it is difficult to find suitable minister,
the search devolves principally upon
the chairman of the committee, for
the lessening of expenses, as it is often
a duty OF several months duration.
Again, Fifth Avenue Church. New
York, serves as an example, the pas
| toral committee of which made almost
I
pastor 10 the ranks of the Princeton
faculty. Another example is the First
| Presbyterian Church of this city,
which, with one of the largest con
gregations in the South, was without
pastor for over a year. The CHAIRMAN
OF its pastoral committee heard scores
OF ministers during his search, which
vas extended to all parts of the United
States and Canada 1t is hardly neces-
cary to say that his expense account
was ao object of unpleasant con-
temptation. Still another example is
the Franklin Street Presbyterian
Church of this city. 1t has been
pastorless for nearly Two years, despite
the constant efforts OF skilful pastoral
committee, which has looked far and
near or C man to take the place OF the
lamented DIR. Murkland. 1t has ex-
tended two or three calls without sue
ces;, as the recipients of the calls
seemed to be of those Just mentioned
as being satisfied with their work and
their salary.
That these ministers should have re-
fused such an offer is an occasion for
surprise, rs the pulpit of Franklin
Street Presbyterian Church is one Of
the most honored in the South, and
has been occupied by some notable
diyines. President Patton Of Princeton
often speaks from it and is q great adj
lnirer of the church aud the congro-
CATION. An instance of tactful work
on the part of the pastoral committee
IS that of the calling of the Rev. L. A..
Ferris to the pastorate Of Mount
Vernon Palace Methodist Episcopal
Church. This change was made with
a L. r