The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16

lifetime for the clergyman who does his
duty. There Is the satisfaction of human
ity's battle In the first ranks, and there Is
a mans natural pride In holding a position
OF dignity and responsibility In leading his
fellow men In the march OF spiritual and
social progress, and in earning their esteem
and respect.
THE salary can take care of itself, and
for the clergyman who has lone his work
well the Church will always find a living.
II has many places to all and even when no
Is old and worn out as they say, there Is
always some niche he can fll to the Church's
benefit Inc his own.
Il am an enthusiast In my profession. as
you see ! believe that the best men are
coming to the Church now In the same
degree that they ever did. In fact. as we
approach a more liberal understanding OF
creeds l think the general standard is
higher. And in the colleges religious en-
thusiasm is growing rather than dinin-
ishing among the best men.
1T has been noted that at Harvard there
Ia just now a religious revival as unmistak-
b as any ever experienced at Oxford.
In a smaller degree IL Is the same at the
other colleges. The ministry never stood
30 high. was never so attractive as 1t is
to-day"
The Rev. Or. Charles Cuthbert Hall.
President OF Union Theological Seminary
and the former successful pastor Of ole
OF the largest Presbyterian Churches IN
Brooklyn, may be considered qualified to
speak OF the ministry from the point or
view Of the minister and the instructor also.
DR.. Halls opinion, like the Rev. MIR. Grants
was that the number Of candidates for the
ministry at present Is as large as, II not
larger, than il ever was, and that the mental
standard OF the candidates is higher.
! He did admit that there had been a period
In the last ten or fifteen years when this
has not been so. but he blamed for that the
opposition to critical scholarship as applied
to the Bible, and with the broadening OF
the churches crseds. he said. this has
vanished.
1T is true that there are not such re-
wards In the ministry In this county, as
there are, for instance, In England under q
State Church, with rich bishopries and en-
dowed livings to bestow,' said DR.. Hall.
Therefore the man who seeks worldly ad-
vancement had far better choose another
sphere OF life.
The opportunities don't exist In the
church for the qualification OF that type OF
ambition. I speak Of that with thankfulness.
II Is a FOOD thing that the ministry is not
competing with other professions on ma
terial grounds.
As to the general question OF religious
! interest, during the last five years my duties
have kept me almost continually in college
and university circles and In direct contact
with large bodies Of undergraduates with
out hesitation I can give IL as my opinion
that the state Of religious life In tho colleges
is far more satisfactory than at any time
during the last twenty-five years, the period
covered by my own personal knowledge OF
college life.
In fact, IL may be said Of most OF the uni
versities and colleges in the Eastern States
that the religious life is extremely deep.
earnest and widespread, and that II interests
the best men In the colleges l have alb
solute knowledge in regard TO several uni
yersities that many Of the most conspicuous
men In the college life. social, athletic and
scholastic are among the religious leaders
Il will admit. however that there has been
a period embracing some part Of the last
ten OF fifteen years. during which the min
istry has appeared to present a less attrao-
tive opportunity to the highest and hnest
undergraduate minds. | attribute that
J 10 the uncertainty wv "'e WV
controversy which have disturbed all sec
tons of the Church in view Of the growth
Of critical scholarship in relation TO tie
scriptures .,
A feeling Of alarm due to this critical
movement was widespread throughout
the Church, and the leaders in the move
ment we're represented as hostile to the
Bible and 10 Evangelical Christianity.
srlo -o,nn man pprCaiNinR that the
leaders OF this movement were but pursuing
methods OF scholarship similar TO those in
the universities, and seeing these men per-
secuted bv the Church at large, naturally
began to doubt whether thoroughly trained
and thoroughly educated men would be
welcomed in the ministry and permitted
tn enioy a self-respecting freedom
But that question Is being slowly but
surely answered by the logic OF events.
I know that the alarm Of the Church, which
under the circumstances, was not un-
natural, Is being dispelled as II finds among
the leaders Of Biblical scholarship some
Of the most earnest friends Of the purposes
Of EVANGELICAL and missionary work, And
asa matter Of fact, the demand OF the Church
evervwhere is coming TO be FOR men who
are trained along the lines OF modern
thinking.
This state Of things is having a bene-
hcial reaction upon the minds Of the bright
est and most promising young men now
training in the colleges and universities,
with the result that an increasing number
Of such men are now turning their thoughts
70 the ministry. | have every hope Tor the
future, for | believe that never In tile his
tory Of Christianity vas so splendid an
opportunity offered by this profession as
at the present time, for men who are
thoroughly trained and thoroughly in
svpnatby with the social needs and con-
ditious OF the time and thoroughly con-
secra,ed to religious service
DR.. Hall said that the number OF candl-
dates for tho Presbyterian ministry had
Increased in the last three years, but the
standard Of admission to his own seminary
was being steadily raised with the delib-
ernie purpose OF admitting only the best
We don't want 10 multiply minister's
for the mere sake Of a numerical result"