New-York tribune., 1903-01-05
Careers for the Coming Men.
Discussions of the Professions and
CaIlines Open to Young Americans. =
The Church.



that ideas are mightier than deeds>and that the
thinker is the most effective of workers.
The cIergyman's tools are all in the sphere OF
thought He has no others. With these he
must do his work, but this is only another way
of saying that he handles the mighsiest imple
r1ents and is in a position to be the m1st effec-
tive Of men To him is given the opportunity OF
moulding thought and directing life. He puts MS
hand on the springs of action in individuals ana
communities and wieIds the forces that deter
mine the destiny Of men and Of nations lie De-
longs to the glorious company OF the worlc
prophets who are set over nations and over
kingdoms, and by their words pluck UP ana
break down and build and plant. For men, ma
tions. institutions enterprises are not built Up
or destroyed by the action and interaction OF
natural forces. but by men whose words are
sacraments divine" and the servants OF the
Church are prominent in this company OF the
prophets who effectively bid earth's glories set
or shine" The clergyman plays with something
far more subtle, far more powerful than the
electric current, something far more influential
in binding the world together and in bearing Its
burdens. II he accompishes but little with IT.
he may better look to himself for the explana-
tion of his failure than TO his Office. The calling
that puts man into the most intimate touch
with the world of thought and allows him Win a
minimum of distraction and the maximum OF op-
nortunity TO utilize the power in ideas Is ono
thar NAV we'll attract the serious young man
who Graves power among men,
But this is not all that can be said for the
strenuousness of the minister's life IL may h00
be denied that it offers fine advantages Tor a
1azv man TO indulge his tastes, but Of course
such a man among the churches. like the BOW
erv good thing" will be pushed along let
it's work is Of kind that is never finished, ana
its fullest reward is hard and unceas1ng TOLL
The man who as looking for Work can ma II
here and in abundance. If he be capable man
and no other need apply-he VIII ma III MS
work and through it growing influence ne
gains skill in managing men and In directing
affairs He gets the power the politician mas III
bossing his party that the general has in con-
ducting a campaign. that the captain mas IN
niIoting his ship along the invisible highways
of the sea The men who have felt the ezhiiara-
ton of spirit which comes with suen power
know that it comes to the hard and uu~eary-
ing worker alone. No other tastes its sweetness
Among these men of influence che clergyman
has an bonored place because Of his office, but
more because of his unremitting labor
The clergyman finds that his work for the
most part is dealing with human nature, and
human nature at it's best is often unlovely. and
AZ ifs worst may easily repel the stoutest OF
heart The diseases of the mind. its ill-temper'
conceit sordidness selfshness. working out IN a
thousand manifestations. are far more repulslVe'
far more intractable than the diseases OF the
bodv These are the diseases with which the
clergyman has to deal. They battle bis Skill ae-
strey his peace of mind. determine the limits or
his success and conspire to secure MS failure.
The game is not worth the candle To ffltter
a1vav his life in bearing with the unreasonable
ness or worse. of parfshioners. in preaching
truths that few believe and fewer still practice,
in irving TO save those who are bent upon 1neir
own destruction-is it worth all that " costs!
Rather let young man go into some occupatioh
more worthy a man and that offers better re-
wards But can hee After all. is there any
more satisfactory activity than just this sans
Of curing the spirits OF men? II that man Is a
benefacter to his race who makes two blades
of grass grow where but one grew before. how
,ncb more is he who is the cup OF blessing to a
so,,I In some great agony who begets the smiles
that have no cruelty. who belongs to the cheir
invisible whose music is the gladness of the
world?
The clergy belong to the great educational
forces of the world. They are among the great
inspirational forces in the life of men They
are set for the enrichment of human llfe Tor the
puriacatfon Of the fountains Of action, for the
1,nrooting of the evils that aff1ct mankind and
for the assuagin of the woe of the world The
man who is looking for the material rewards OF
life will hardly be tempted to join their COM
pany; but he who has a high ambition to spend
himself in noble deeds without thought Of self
will have an ear for the Church's call. To an
sxer that call with all ones heart and life is to
take rank with
.rThese immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence: live
In pulses stirred TO generosity.
In deeds OF daring rectitude; in scorn
of miserable aims tnat end with self
In thoughts sublime that pierce the night Ike
stars.
And with their mild persistence urge mems
minds
To vaster issues.