New-York tribune., 1905-08-26

plain men of practical affairs. Inspiring them
with thoughts which they are bound to apply
to their lives and characters
And not only Is his field broader but higher.
Man is striving after the good that Is higher
and better than ever science or culture can grVe
Convictions and desires for moral ana soclal
betterment enlarge immensely the sphere and
usefulness of the present day Clergyman He
must necessarily, be an interpreter. He prose-
cutes his researches, not for himself alone and
for his own advantage and culture but Tor tne
small public of his parish and the larger
public of the world-for the guidance and the
uplifting of his fellow men,
His learning, philosophy, culture eloquence
and manhood are moulded and refined to be ser
viceable to this, the passion of his life
The ministry is not only profession requiring
special tastes and capacities, but also peculiar
training. learning and discipline. to furnish
which special schools are necessary. The I'M
portance of ministerial provision was made orig
inally among the Jews for the training and the
spirit of the priesthood and various regulations
were designed to secure eminent qualifications
in the sacred office. There were more than fifty
theological schools in the country; no one was
allowed to enter the priesthood until thirty years
of age and large funds set apart for the
maintenance of the priest in both his prepara-
tons and his actual service. And these regula-
tions have been practically retained in every
branch of theological study since, with plans for
broadening and deepening the culture of the pro-
posed ministerial candidate with each succeed
ing generation To-day he must be the leader
of the debate He must be able to thrash out
the old and convince with the new.
And herein lies the power of the younger
thinker. a point in whose favor is the freshness
of his thought and expression. His intellectual
tools whetted during the seven or ten years
of his close study. and the domain of spiritual
truths is discovery TO him. How bright
and attractive it all appears. Henry Ward
Beecher used to say that the love principle in
the Apostle Paul was more enthusiastic than in
the Christ, because ii was novelty to him.
1t was news and vivid news. One utters a truth
with the greatest energy when 1t first crosses
his vision. oliver Wendell Holmes once said
that the young doctor waited for his bald spot
to grow to enable him to get into practice. The
minister would wait for his bald spot-to get
out of service.
The young man is more apt to concentrate his
energies his sermon His audience and his
sermon constitute the world Later on he
broadens and gets what is called worldwide
sympathy; other matters appeal to him and
take his time, and his sermon often becomes
an incident rather than the life and soul OF
his work.
The young preacher is enthusiastic. He ex-
poets to achieve everything Experience has
not taught him his limitations, nor have re-
peated failures chilled his ardor. His earnestness
of manner. well as of spirit, draws the peo-
pie to him. Physical force is needed in the
pulpit and strong, clear voice, vitality, and
an occasional Outburst Of power. With age a
man loses his power of imagination and his
emotional nature. In thought the young man
is not so profound and uses simpler language,
and the themes OF a beginner are always OF
fine and most striking designs. The young man
breaches to the conscience. using the tone OF
authority. offering statements and conclusions
without argument
This, then, is the picture of the present day
nnister-this his position and power-a picture
that cannot but be attractive to the most gifted
and aspiring of the oncoming generation 1t
is profession calling for unbounded animation
stimulating effort and continued hope, a pro-
fession that is being broadened and elevated
and inspired by the best of influences that pene-
trate and surround it. For whatever in learn
ing thought literary power personal favor
can be enlisted in the cause cannot fail TO
yield abundant fruits of good to the community
and be a satisfying inspiration TO him VINO
chooses it for his life work