The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-30


the increase in men who have passed
through both college and seminary
Our colleges are not furnishing ma
terial for the ministry as abundantly
as they did SO years ago. OF the class
of 1901 at Brown University only five
out of more than 100 are looking to the
ministry OF these two are not Bap-
fists. OF the class of 1902 at Brown
Is out of 100 are said to have theology
in view, and II of these are Baptists.
At Colby only two out of 27,the present
year have the ministry in mind.
various conjectures have been
ventured as to the cause of this dearth
of candidates for the ministry, Some
have deposited the blame in the
schools themselves. They affirm
that the atmosphere of the
modern college, both in its manner of
life and instruction, does not en-
courage any latent tendency toward
the work of the ministry.
"Others attribute it to the CONNER
cial and worldly. spirit of the age, and
aver that business ambitions and the
rewards of professional life st!fie the
convictions of duty in religious young
men. Still others believe that the he
role element has dropped out of the
ministerial calling, that the appeal
does not come to the noblest that is In
struck in their hearts.
There may be and doubtless is
truth in all these affirmations. May 1t
not also be true that the word pressure
which once urged men to preach the
Gospel and the profound consciousness
of human need which created the sense
Of obligation may have been weakened
by the theological teachings of both
liberal and evangelical pulpits and
che i,.e tn Nav rn fs1p
settled state of theological thinking in
recent years have bred doubt in the
minds Of college students as to the
real need of their going to men with
a message of salvation?
Possibly they may conclude that
the danger has been over magnified
and that the need is not great enough
to call for sacrifive. If under the
broad church Interpretation of the New
Testament the terms Saved and Lost
have parted with much of their ancient
meaning, what wonder that the moral
pressure on educational youth to enter
the spiritual life saving Is considerably
abated?
Nevertheless we need in this day
as perhaps never before, men of the
highest type of moral and spiritual
character, who are thoroughly equip
ped with the best literary and theo-
gifted by nature with these peculiar
physical Intellectual temperamental
qualities in which hides the power that
makes a man preacher"
How can we secure such men? Can
the churches do anything to produce
them? One thing is certain, these men
do not spring up like mushrooms with
out planting or culture, to be had for
the picking up. 1t is a different class
| IA L. -
room kind. Years of heart culture and
brain culture must go to the production
Of the true ministers. May the home,
the church, the school, the college and
the seminary each with increasing
faithfulness. do their part in raising up
an ideal ministry"
Three addresses followed on the gem
eral subject of "Three essential ele-
ments of success in the equipment Of a
young minister"
Rev. DR.. Emory w. Hunt of Claren-
don Street Baptist Church, Boston,
and president-elect of Denison Univer-
sity, was the first speaker. His sub
Iject was THE Moral and Spiritual Ele-
ments." He said, in part
when we think of the varied and
rich qualifications required to make
!, the most effective minister, we wonder
that God planned to make them OF
men. Consider the varied kinds OF
work they must do-manage the great
business machines to which oul
churches have grown and keep in
mind Mrs. KS need of housemaidi
be ready with an address suited for
the kindergarten and the patriotic
meeting be equally at home by the
side of the sick and the dying, or set
ting forth good cheer at the marriage
feast and doing the proper thing at
the social function. None of us can
do all these things. What among the
specifications is most fundamental and
essential?
THE topic, as stated, proceeds logi-
cally from foundation to finish. Homi-
letical training and exegetical study
are essential to accuracy of aim and
the power of the projectile; but the
moral and spiritual character is the
very material out Of which the gun Is
shaped.
First, IT is the minister's business
to present the highest moral ideal.
This cannot be done rhetorically The
kindergarten method is most effective.
The object lesson is better than the
descriptive Just here the preacher
differs widely from the editor. What
the editor is, is OF little account. His
personality is hidden. The preachers
personality is the mightiest part of
| him He is always before the people
Whether he enjoys 1t or not he is
constantly in evidence. 1t is not
quite accurate to say the man Is more
than his message. In spite of himself
the man Is his message. God took
man to be the vehicle of his message
rs 1t unnecessary to urge upon the
ministry genuineness and sincerity?
Sincerity requires more than we think.
Unreality is insincerity, and unreality
/ is the peril of the ministers. Many a
young man enters the ministry with a
1 false idea of the ministerial character.
He acquired in youth a notion Of what
minister is expected to be- The eff
| fort to reproduce this has given him
a certain professional, ministerial man
ner A false face is perilously near a
false heart. Artificiality and unreality
undermine manhood. The minister's
work consists of two parts; first to
conceive a large moral and spiritual
! ideal, and secondly to present 1t to
others Therefore. he must be in touch
with both God and with man. With
out utter sincerity he is in touch with
neither.
1.-THE basis Of oratory is character.
The secret of eloquence is moral power.
People are often interested and amazed
at cleverness. They are not profound
ly moved except by moral power Sec
ondly, the need of a sturdy moral and
! spiritual character in the minister APP
pears again in view of the resistance
which his message is sure to meet. In
| the discharge of such a message we
ought to expect a recoil. We are GER
tain to experience it. The weapon
which gives it is sure to be dismounted
If It is not upon a firm basis Of charac-
| ter.
1.-The minister needs to be more than
good; he needs to be good for some
thing. The negative qualities Of good
ness will not serve. Again, many a
minister who is only strengthened and
| developed by pressure of opposition. is