The San Francisco call., 1908-09-07
WHY GOOD men
QUIT THE PULPIT
Rev. w. E. Tanner Secures a
Symposium From Many
Ex-Ministers
Fear of Poverty in Old Age and
Restricted Opinion Are
Among Causes

6oou dnu tiiiCleut lIleu dlc iCoNiHo e4Ao
ministry" was the subject of an inter-
esting sermon by Rev. Waiter E. Tan
ner at the Melrose Baptist church this
morning In order to obtain diversity
of opinion upon the subject he had
chosen, Rev. Mr.. Tanner sent out let
ters to score of former clergymen,
who are now engaged In secular pur-
suits in the bay counties, requesting
statement of their reasons for dis
carding the cloth. Eighteen replies
were received and extracts from a
large number of these were read by
Rev. Mr.. Tanner during his discourse.
For various reasons a number of the
former clergymen requested that their
names be withheld If their statements
were made public, but numerous others
imposed no such restraint upon the
preacher.
MANY EX-MINIsTERS REPLY
Among the latter were Rev. Thomas
Baldwin, d. D.. formerly one of the most
prominent Baptist ministers on the
coast. and at one time pastor OF lead
ing churches in Los Angeles and Seat
tie; Rev. j. c. Allen, at present
businessman of San Francisco, who was
formerly pastor of one of the leading
Presbyterian churches of Worcester,
Mass; Rev. E. b. Bloom, former pas
tor of the Christian church, now In
business in San Francisco; A K. FARMS
worth, a former Congregational minis
ter, who is practicing law in Fruit
vale; Rev. William c. Whitaker, an
Elmhurst businessman, who was for-
merly pastor of one of the Leading
Baptist churches in Pasadena.
Rev E. e. Baker, who retired from
the pastorate of the First Presbyterian
church of Oakland, promised to send
Rev. Mr.. Tanner statement or the
reasons for his retirement, but his let
ter did not arrive in time to be used
in the sermon.
WRITER'S GIVE REASONS
The principal reasons which the
writer's gave for their retirement were
as follows:
Seventeen specified curbed pulpit ut
terances.
Sixteen specified poor financial sup
port.
Thirteen referred to the difficulty of
exercising independent manhood.
Twelve specified short tenure of Of
fee.
Twelve specified fear of poverty in
old age
Twelve specified Independent thought.
Ten specified lack of appreciation
by the church.
Eight specified lack of loyalty by the
church.
DANGER OF IMPOvERISHMENT
After reading the various replies the
preacher quoted statistics gathered by
himself which, he said, indicated that
the ministry was in grave danger of
going out of existence from impoverish-
ment of its ranks both by retirement
of members and by the difficulty of
securing recruits to take their places.
He said:
There never was "a time in the history of
the church when the theological schools had 50
few students in proportion to the membership
of the church today. This year 1T is esti-
mated that It's men in California have retired
from the ministry while only s5 young mel
have entered the schools of higher learning to
prepare for the ministry during the same time.S
Statistics show that only one man In every
100 who have entered our great universities
and colleges throughout the country recently
is ministerial student. Thirty years ago the
schools one in every three. Today some OF
our largest universities are graduating whole
classes without a single man who expects TO
enter the ministry These facts show that IL
the present ratio continues, In 90 years there
will be no men preaching.
The two great reasons which couspire to pre-
vent men from entering the ministry ana wnicn
causes them to leave It are the feenhg ,in tna5 d
speech to which ministers are entitled, and
the inadequate financial support which a great
number of churches extend to their pastors.
Many men who come e>out OF the theological
schools today moral towards The sys
tenn OF training IN vogue radsfes dioIomstie
rather than fearless and outspoken prophets of
God ofmss the 81 systn n gens nam
what little personality ana Independence ne
possessed before he entered lie Is placed In
the mold OF the school and goes fcrth an echo
of the professors by whom he is trained.
KNOWS FROM EXPERIENCE
Rev. Mr. Tanner prefaced these re-
marks with the statement that ne was
col hirr,-
self and that his conclusions were part
ly the result of personal experience and
partly of study and observation. AS
result of his conclusions he offered the
following advice to young men:
"Unless the theological schools
change their methods and the churches
take better care of their young preach
ers do not propose to urge young men
to enter the ministry.
ministers should stand for justice,
for free speech, should stand by one
another as men and should give the
men of the pew to understand that they
are not mere hirelings and nonentities,
but public servants and ministers of
the gospel"
TOO MANY CHURCHES
Following are extracts from several
of the replies received by Rev. Mr.. Tan
ner from former ministers about the
bay.
A. K Farnsyorth of Melrose-Following
few of nv reasons for leaving the ministry:
One-Too many churches In the average town.
My first pastorate was in city OF $4,000. with
2S churches two Presbyterian within three blocks
of the Conversational y where was stationed
soon discovered that / was not making any sacr-
fee for the great spiritual and moral personality
known Jesus Christ, but for a sect and was
human effort Two-The minister Is usually
bird Of passage and does not exercise the infu-
ence In civic affairs that other and far less
worthy citizens do because or the uncertainty OF
his residence Three-The small salaries paid.
Four-One of the reasons for my leaving the
ministry was that was tired OF preaching to DO
women and 10 men. I did not Ike to see the
small attendance OF men at church services.
especially in California. Five-The fact that
minister's usefulness is considered over at about
so years Of age when, In my opinion. he ought
to be worth more to the church than In his
younger years The average church Is demanding
young men: the church should not be made
calf pasture Six--When clergyman moves
away from his charge he has no assets but the
businessman the doctor and the lawyer have
larger assets the longer they remain In the COM
munity- Lastly the minister dare not preach
what he honestly believes whether IN the realm
OF theology or morals II he does ne IS given
marching orders
FEARS POVERTY IN OLD AGE
Rev Thomas Baldwin, D. D.---I left the min
istry because / had reached the time in life
where felt that IL did not turn my attention
TO other directions l should starve IN my Old age.
Men are leaving the ministry because they re-
ceive ineonsiderate and inadequate support from
the church Not one minister IN hundred re-