The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-08
THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS
Why Is Their Number Growing
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ming a series Of papers on the decrease in
| the number, of students for the ministry.
The first installment gave the views Of
seminary professors. The second INSTALL
! ment gave the cause, the third the rem
! edy. This weeks Issue contains a SYM
postum in which various clergymen of the
country participate. Rev. G. l.. Morrill,
of the Chicago Avenue Baptist church
contributes this: 49,
The Standard for Feb. l is superb num-
ber. l have enpoyed its symposium, 1.-The
Supply Of Minister'S" and its editorial "More
and Better Men for the Ministry Now give
us one on "More and Better Appreciation for
the Men in the Ministry
From worldly point of view, the ministry
often realizes less for it's Investment OF
money, study and work than any other call
ing or profession. Relgiously, the sacrifice
frequently demanded by the church is not
synonymous with sacrifice for Christ. In the
city there is a wide social chasm between
the large and small churches. In the state
the line Of separation Is clearly drawn be-
tween the pastor Of the metropolitan pulpit
and the little town preacher. Nationally,
when 1t comes to the denomination, the places
Of preferment occupied by men who have
been in office for many years, are in, and
intend to stay in, and whose attitude is,
keep out, no help wanted"
All this l have heard and more from
capable and worthy young men who had dis
cussed this question of supply and demand in
the ministry, and had decided they could
be more and do more good out of 1t than in
1t. I kept still and let them talk, feeling
they were mere than half right and that it
was useless to attempt to argue down facts.
The Standard digests the various opin-
ions and concludes that while there ap-
pears to have been noticeable decrease
| in the ministerial supply, of one Or two
other denominations, the Baptists have
not yet so suffered. The paper accepts
the opinion of DR.. Merrill of Hamilton
seminary as correct to the effect that
there has been an increase, not decrease,
not only at Hamilton but elsewhere.
When all is said, however. there are not
enough hrSt-rate men entering the min
istry. This, the Standard believes, is
denied by few.
The New York Observer says editorial
ly on the subject:
Nearly all religious denominations report
a falling off In candidates for the ministry.
Moderator Minton Of the Presbyterian gen.
eral assembly gives twenty-one reasons for
it, including both hard times and prosperity,
inadequate support, unwise methods of aid
ing students, increased moral teaching
through the printing press, a higher standard
of popular intelligence than in the days when
the parson VAS pre-eminently as we'll as
etymologically the person Of his community
by reason Of superior learning, the prevail
ing theological unrest, and the multiplication
OF agencies for lay work, like The Christian
tIndeavor and Students Volunteer move
ments, the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, etc.
Judged by these influences. some of the
more important Of which causes Of con-
graduation rather than of alarm, we are be-
ginning to turn our social face toward what
Henry Drummond called ''the city without
& church, meaning not at all a state of So
ciety without religious worship, but rather
one in which the worship or .worthship" of
ideals of live pervades all conduct and ex-
presses itself in practical channels that teach
further conduct by action and the uncon-
sclous suggestion of environment. The pre-
vailing theological unrest and the success
OF the laity in doing much religious work
without the aid of education in theological
subtleties point the way to heights Of
Vision from which the mountains of conduct
are to be seen beyond the burrows and fences
Of dogma