Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
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Stress and Strain of Modern Pastors Life Caus-
ing Number to Break Down-Fewer
Entering the Ministry.

the church and the university. Frequently
he leaves the train, to enter the pulpit
fifteen minutes later. and preach a sermon
that he has worked out while travelling, or.
spration as he faced his great congre-
cation.
Fifteen or twenty years ago 1t might
have been said that the dominant ambi-
ton of most men in the pulpit was to OBJ
tain fame in preaching. but now preach
ers are generally more anxious to be
known for their deeds than for their
words. There are exceptions, but they
only emphasize the desire .of the majority.
One man seeks to found great insti-
tutional church. He slaves for 1t. An
other puts all his spare time into settle
ment work. Still another turns TO edu-
cational work: The fields are many, the
opportunities large. 4uen in the ministry
are peculiarly fitted to labor in any or all
their own parishes and parishioners. They
break down. Others take their places
If they are men of breadth, they probably
follow in the footsteps of their predeces-
sOrs. and the church loses more capable
workers. with none coming to the front
to take their places.
Shorter sermons were advocated recent
ly as one means of giving relief to the
overworked preacher. To this the Arch
bishop of Canterbury replied that the ten
minute discourse was harder to prepare
than one that required twenty or thirty
minutes to deliver. I'VE hear clergy re-
joicing." he says "in the fact that the
brevity of sermons now enables a man to
say what he has to say In ten minutes.
Rejoice by all means If 1t is really
pithy. pointed. brief bit of message and
teaching which you have been able to
comprise in that time, but 1t requires
three times as much preparation for
thnIIDhff1l1 IN IA
sermon as would be needed for one last
ing twenty or thirty minutes"
More and more the city pastor finds
himself in position akin to that of the
parent In the home the child now re-
ceives little or no religious teaching. The
mother of today in the lower GLASSES is
less able to teach than she was ten years
ago. She lacks training herself. She
cannot give what she does not possess.
The ordinary. unthoughtful theory that
the minister exists to supply parental
deficiencies. among other odd jobs, is
founded on measureless Ignorance. The
city pastor is now SO OverWeighted with
extraneous calls on his time in the shape
Of meetings on every subject and clubs
for every conceivable class of persons. to
say nothing of visiting impossibly popu-
lated areas, that for him to undertake the
religious education of the children of all
ages in his parish. with their varying
domestic and scholastic engagements, is
tesque. But this Is simply another prob
lem that the Woodworking minister must
consider and find some ways to meet.
The churches are driven to all kinds
of extra attractions to win the people,"
declares Rev. r. ]. Campbell. the ia
nous London Free Church preached. He
believes that the keynote of the church,
es today is the brotherhood Of man. He
works necessarily spreading this doctrine.
The religion of Jesus was in it's inception
and essence a social gospel" he says.
Where do you think you would find
ST. John the Baptist were he alive to-
day? You would find him addressing a
labor demonstration or heading a popular
movement for social emancipation. 1t
is our business to realize the kingdom of
God on earth and to preach universal
brotherhood which will sweep away those
conditions which throw a pail over the
lives Of the larger proportion Of our peo-
Pile"
The seriousness of the situation can be
better grasped when it Is remembered
there are scores of great congregations
all through the country seeking capable
men for their pulpits and are unable to
get them. In these days the clergy are
more than ever men of high Ideals, and the
thought of the poverty of living and the
assurance Of never-ending work that is
forced upon them holds them from TAX
ing the high places. They are not afraid
to work but they have limitations the
same as other men.