The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-01
Az uNFouNpEp srATEMENT.


The declaration that the ministry no
longer offers attractions to educated men
because few preachers are wanted who are
past forty years OF age is made by a wom-
an who is herself a minister. Her aim
seems to have been to show that IL men
fail TO meet the demands of churches when
they past forty years of age, why should
not the work Of the preacher be turned over
TO women? There would be something in
the point If women had shown that they
are better qualified for the work of the
preacher than are men, and If it had been
demonstrated that the churches will have
none but young pastors.
Ii has caused much surprise that church
leaders have not questioned the frequent
assertion that only young ministers are ac-
ceptable to the churches generally. for the
reason that such a condition would imply
that those who support the churches have
faith so superficial that the smartness and
possibly immature eloquence of the young
man just out of the theological school are
preferred to the efforts of the man whose
vealed the wisdom and the power Of the
Christian faith. The eloquence of the early
orator and the enthusiasm of the young
preacher not to be undervalued, but
will not that eloquence be more effective
when years of experience and study shall
have ripened the judgment and matured
the life? 1t will be a serious day for the
Christian faith when 1t can be said that
the Rev. Creame Cheeses and the sensa-
tional young man who is more actor
than a preacher are the preferred preach
ers and pastors by the great body of peo-
appears to be true that service resembling
the vaudeville is often resorted to to crowd
churches, is ii not fact that those
churches which resort to such devices soon
lose their power?
In the law. in medicine and in other pro-
LESSONS, even in literature, age and ex-
perience with ability receive the greatest
rewards. AS a rule the lawyers who are
called to the greatest causes are men on
the shady side Of fifty and often beyond
the limit of sixty. He is the physician of
years who has the wide reputation. Even
the greatest actors have achieved their
greatest renown after passing the meridian
of life. And so in the church: the men who
have made reputation as preachers are
those who are fifty years of age older.
If one should name the leading preachers
and divines in all the denominations the
best of those most distinguished and who
are regarded the abest preachers are
men who have passed the age of fifty. AS
rule the men who grow to a wide repu-
tation as preachers are those who develop
with the study and experience of years.
while the man who leaps to prominence in
early life suddenly lapses. In the min
istry, as in other professions. there are
many men who are not fitted for the work.
| Many lack the necessary ability and are
naturally at their best early in life. when
they have enthusiasm The exactions of
churches have prevented the growth of
many preachers, yet the churches which
have name and are force in the religious
world are those. in many cases. with which
the pastors have grown old. There are the
| frivolous congregations who go to church
for the same reason that they go to the
theater-to be interested or amused. Such
churches change preachers frequently for
the same reason that they would become
weary of the best actor should they see him
every week for a year. Such churches are
not the centers of religious power and
should not be taken into consideration
Generally, however. the churches which
| are a force in the community are those
which keep the pastor series of years
| ness and sacred memories.