New-York tribune., 1905-06-18
COMHERCE AND THE CLERGY

At one of the numerous commencement gath
| erings of last week two men of long experience
as both educators and clergymen We're discuss
| ing what they described as the dearth of really
able candidates for the ministry. In their view
of the situation few young men of intellectual
parts were studying for clerical careers, and
of those who were only a small proportion
would actually enter pulpts, the majority being
at some point diverted from their original pur-
pose Meantime pulpits were vacant or We're
perforee. being filled with mediocrities 1t may
be that the men referred to took a too pess-
mistic view of the case. and that the ministerial
candidates of to-day are more numerous and
more able than they gave them credit for being
but there unquestionaby some truth in
their complaint. There has been in recent
wears distinct decline in the clerical power
of the churches, and that decline has not yet
been checked.
The causes Of the trouble were described by
these men as various, but as chiefly twOfold.
One was the rivalry of commerce Business
houses are necessarily upon the lookout for
Young men of parts and promise. They watch
the commencement platforms and offer to the
best graduates inducements to enter their SER
vice such as it is scarcely in human nature to
refuse Many a young man of ministerial in
tentions is thus called upon to choose between
the nrecariOus quest of q cali at few hun
dred dollars a year and certain engagement
at thousand or more, with the prospect of
promotion to affiuence. 1t requires an uncOm-
monty strong conviction of duty to incline
man 10 the former choice. Supplementary to
This esuse is this, also, that the young man
+hus tamnted to prefer commercial to clerical
Hfa has dispIayed before him the possibility Of
doing much religious work while engaged i'll
business through certain lay organizations He
saws to himself: Il can be Christian in busi-
..ness life and exert religious influence there,
s.and can Join such or such an organization
..and through it do perhaps as effective work
.as 7 could in the pulpit" So he makes his
choice of commerce rather than the church.
The other major reason given was the lack
If or the decline of spirituality and the domi-
noroa o4 commercialism and materialsm in the
nonulsr mind The opportunities for making
money are so many and so great that men
are dazzled by them and lose sight OF the Old
.1andmarts of faith" This cause was, indeed,
.graed upon as paramount to the other, since
;+ was only through decline OF spiritual FER
vor that a young man could be led TO fersake
tb ministry for business. In both there Is
doubtless much truth. This is not spiritual
oue and # is quite conceivable that the great
iso.oosa of wealth and the facilitation of proc
saS of acquiring it have had much to do with
+ba decline of spirituality. That is the con-
d;tion-not q mere theory-that eonfronts the
church.
what the church will do about it, or can do
obout II is an interesting problem whlcn was
- .olvad in the discussion which we have
cuoted 1t may be said there must be re-
yiyal of spirituality. But howf If spirituality
has declined because of prosperity and wealth.
we can scarcely expect it to be restored through
return to poverty. Wealth has been devei-
oped. and will not be destroyed. 1he church
must find a way to develop Spirituality among
the rich as well as among the poor. ln't mas
been done, and it might De doie asaii- ~ lisst
also find q way TO develop among men de-