The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-01
BY Calvin Dill Wilson, DID.

By Calvin Dill Wilson, DID.
Authqr q The story T q the GIG afa The
s-.>> AM asked to tell young men
l5&IFY "how far a career in the minis,
II try satisfies the ambitions and
kssa4IkAaa1 desires of those who enter II
(ss@ssg f tnated d by a feeling Of personal
- comfort or the gratihcation OF
early ambition rather than the edllca T, tioil
e the in the ee cause 20 viii
quire thoughtful consideration .,,
A number Of ministers have indcpend-
ent means through INHERITANCE or mar mar,
presume that these men are satisfied N
their profession for they could easily
leave 1t; but men of means are me ones
who seldom forsake the ministry. nave
never known one man TO change from the
ministry to another occupation and be
entirely happy afterward. There are
tors, or officers of church, boards. but al Il
preach i Us supplies large proportion
ton, training, character, skill in writing
and in public speaking and dealing with
men, would 'ebe a bly, to pass successfully
ether oGGupatonst ys1 hs maH e WH
exception. The feeblest preacher could
earn as much as his salary at day s labor
There must therefore be satisfacti9n n
this work apart from the llVlhs ooealiieu
1t may be that a few have selfish mo-
tives in entering the church, put the man ma!
who would go into the ministry for per-
sonal comfort would not know what ne
was doing; the average clergyman Woulq
have far more comfort IN other work. !
know young physician, the son of a
minister. who the other day, received for
one surgical operation half AS, much
money as his ia theirs yearly salary. me
49,, 1frt{t lTy
go into the ministry for ambition would
not know what he was doing for the
church affords neither large salaries nor
fame for mediocre men. umG m hn Iii
men / in the ministry to-day who could
have been s 3a hH be noten
manifested in their present profession.
The talk about the lack of strong men IN
the ministry Is nonsense; i me avs anfra ds'
mentally physically and morally as the
average man in any sphere, the .;te o, ~
at least one minister who Is above ,a, the
average OF the mon around him; These
men could, In other spheres, win more
6omfortT ana fatis ssrv Wef 81 he
Many Of the hest educated and most eff
fective mon in America. arc ministers.
we must look 10 the IN
great majority Of cases. We must res
member that young men commonly arc
filled with ere ,,,a e.
anything; they, glye themselves 70 3pattr1o1t,
Ism, to friendship to love, to art. 10
study Why should those Who VI Q, tai take eo1 np
.bloodedly worldly than othe sss
y without assuming more than readers sol. OF
Upon Il thIs-,tiat religion has been a chief
force In history; that our modern civil evil
cation Is nominaly GhriIsttIan; that Am t,e
church is very much, in evidence, and that
many great minds have peen /, peliev wonG
we may agree that right 1t livln NJ h sopa
ipGla't things aFe bound M Win relson
The cold onlooker who wonders how how a.
man. can, be a. preachgr shouid ny nd ne
h hfaisen ffse into civilization that is
where he ehuMHh and rs'e np
Are eGwe reigo rsA' Though eSpeSence
c ein A cvilization, 10 Is oon1veTied
has an n mnkes real 10 him.
the greatest thing In tile world: his heart /
Is t9"shea rs o RsdShs a anpc He fnds
evil evil In" in the he world and wishes TO keep
from 1t, and keep others from u He be-
ieyes that Christ is the Saviour .r,,i from
s ssns sG Ss \ fhfh ne sRs sa srsa
ehoosicai experiences that have eilanged
whole nations; In. his eagerness to -, MAKE u.
he world heller he is y line nI his df,
and spiritual leaders Of men, None Or
this is rational; none Of It is hstor ,,als
and spiritual nature; It is fhe, spirit, g, or
reform In the face of the evils of IRE.
Men generally would grant tho neutral n,d,Iral.
ar and beauty Il ,es eern oae
critics part company With us IS Where
this youth becomes q professlonal teariler
q religion Yet this is o, shalloM VIEW
for war but lie was none the less a trne
patriot Beneath. professionalism there
people overlook, Because 'of want Of IN
sight every little pamphleteer, thinks ne
must glbe at and every flctlonTino.InnlseI
characlerized as the most influential one
of modern times.
college perhaps, before he decides upon
his calling. his religious experience deep
ems; he comes TO look on az things irom
the moral and spiritual point OF view.
Perhaps he is CONCERTED, while az coiieee,
not before, and other plans Eye way 70
his desjra ia ha minister. After COlleEe.