The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1906-03-02
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that Of his brother scientist, artist or
} teacher. His profession is for the reo-
pie. He does not meet class, as does
the professor, or the instructor of cul-
ture, who finds his devotees already
refined and matured. He is rather the
teacher of plain men of practical a.
fairs. 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 give. Convictions and
desires for moral and social betterment
enlarge immensely the sphere and use
fulness of the present day clergyman.
He must, necessarily, be an interpreter.
He prosecutes his researches, not for
1 himself alone and for his own advan-
tage and culture. but for the small
public of his own parish and the larger
public of the world-for the guidance
and the uplifting of his fellow men.
His learning. philosophy, culture, elo-
quence and manhood are moulded and
refined TO be serviceable to this, the
passion of his life.
| The ministry is not only a profession
requiring special tastes and capacities.
but also peculiar training, learning and
discipline, TO furnish which special
schools are necessary The Importance
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 We're. more than
fifty theological schools in the country;
no one was allowed to enter the priest
hood until thirty years of age, and
large funds We're set apart for the
maintenance of the priest i'm both his
preparations and his actual service.
And these regulations have been prac-
tically retained in every branch OF
theological study since. with plans for
Broadening and deepening the culture
of the proposed ministerial candidate
with each succeeding generation. To-
day he must be the leader of the de-
bate. Ee must be able to thrash out
the Old ana convince with the new.
And herein lies the power of the
younger thinker, point I'm whose favor
is the freshness of his thought and ex-
preston. His intellectual tools are
whetted during the seven or ten years
OF his close study, and the domain OF
spiritual truths is a new discovery to
him. How bright and attractive il all
appears! Henry Ward Beecher used
to say that the love principle in the
Apostle Paul was more enthusiastic
than In the Christ, because it was a
novelty to him. 1t was news and vivid
news. One utters 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 con-
centrate his energies on his sermon.
His audience and his sermon constitute
the world. Later on he broadens and
ge.s what is called worldwide SYM
pathy: 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 expects to achieve everything. Ex-
perience has not taught him his limi-
tatioEs. nor have repeated failures
chilled his ardor. His earnestness of
manntr. as well as of spirit, draws the
people TO him. Physical force is need
ed in the pulpit, and strong, clear
voice, vitality, and an occasional out
burst OF power. With age man loses
his power of Imagination and his emo
tional nature. In thought the young
man is not so profund and uses simpler |
language. and the themes Of beginner
are always OF fine and most striking |
designs. The young man breaches to
the conscience. using the tone of au-
thority, offering statements and con-
clusions without argument.
This. then. is the picture Of the pres
emf day minister-this his position and |
power-a picture that cannot but be
attractive to tie most gifted and as
piring of the oncoming generation. 1t
Is a profession calling for unbounded |
animation, stimulating effort and con-
tinued hope. a profession that is being
broadened and elevated and inspired |
by the best Of influences that penetrate
and surround it. From whatever in |
learning. thought, literary power or
personal favor can be enlisted in the
cause cannot fail to yield abundant
fruits of good to the community and |
be satisfying inspiration to him who
chooses it for his life work.-New York
Tribune.