Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-16
CALLS FOR PASTORS
Number Of Ministers Decreasing.
While Members Increase.
HARVEST RICH, LABoRERs FEW
Rev Nathaniel McGtma Lays ON
Parents a 'Duty of Presenting
Thls Matter 30 Their
.ChudFen.


Ths membership OF the Protestant Evan
Felfeal churches OF the United states has
increased % and q fraction OF ! per cent
IN the last twelve years, and the number
Of young msn IN thirty OF the leading theo-
logieah Summaries OF the country preparing
themselves for the ministry has decreased
10 per cent in the same period. during
which tire population OF the United States
has Increased - per cent.
These statistics were presented by Rev.
Nathaniel McGiffin. d. D., at Lowe Ave
nue. Presbyterian church yesterday morning
IN q sermon on The Attitude OF the Church
Toward the Calling OF the Ministry" II
was ths day of prayer for colleges SET
aside by the general assembly Of the Pres
byterian church. when pastors are asked
10 present this question.
DR. McGiffin held up these figures
church membership lincNsse Of 80 per cent
and . population increase Of a per cent
~ answer to the argument that the church
Is not reaching out. He admitted II was
not doing all7it should do, but Affirmed that
It was doing a great deal and was advan-
cling the cause OF Christ.
DR.. MeGiffin based his discourse on the
texts PRAY ye therefore the Lord OF the
Harvest mat He send forth laborers into
His harvest"
He laid upon the church and the parents
who are Members OF the church "A solemn
responsibility" Of impressing the import
ancs Of the ministry OF Christ upon the
young people.
what Of the FutureP
Pointing to the heavy increase in the
church's membership and the significant de-
crease In the number of men entering the
ministry. DIR. MoGIffin said:
Look ahead twenty years. and at this
rate where viii we get men TO fill our pull
pits and preach to our children the I'M
searchable riches Of CHRISTI Who will meet
the challenge Of our fast growing cities,
our frontier towns and villages of the magic
west. southwest, northwest Who will
obey the last command Of Jesus, and carry
the gospel to the whole creation? Who, IL
uot our sons and daughters?
I'VE hear talk OF the church losing its
power. Not sol Never more militant than
today We come short, but. mark you. the
pulpit M pew IN these last twenty-five
years have mortised the truth and love of
God into q hundred forms OF civic and ma
.ional righteousness; of temperance. OF
business of social custom, OF humanitarian
ism, OF real brotherhood. There are over
100000 members OF Christ's church in this
country, and in spite Of their faults Cwho
mas them notD they dominate with per.
suasive truth the press, forum. the halls OF
legislation, the courts OF law, and, yes.
even business. Why not? Business men
are today a vital force in the Christian re-
Iigion. Today, as ever, in the midst OF
these men and forces, stands the called of
God. Called TO what? Issues of the body.
mind and soul.
Cell to Arms.
"A call to the ministry is a call to arms
= prayer OF God TO a son of His image to
meet Him half way. II is a challenge to a
young man OF the church TO put on the
armor OF a Christian knight and enter a
crusade which is afacs 20 every new gen.
grafton OF men. A call to the ministry is
notsa Goody-goody affair. nor a soft spap.
nor a way out OF work. but II is a divine
summons to a mana manly man. an able
man, a man Of heroic tendencies and mar
TYR eyes. a man who has a conscience clear
eut, a courage of his convictions. a burning
pasaiou for lost men, and an unselnsh pun
pose which spells death for all evil and
unrighteous propaganda
ministers of Gods heroic fight. parents
3f w~ell>meanfng sons and daughters, Sab
oath school teachers whose position brings
ydu next to a duty which you must not
neglect, what are we doing to help the
spirit OF our militant God fin up and be-
yond the ranks OF this army OF His fight
ing men7 Aye and women. too2 | mean
ne future ministers and missionaries. too
much needed in these days.
And now. what is the attitude OF the
church-I mean the members-in regard to
this crying need OF special servants for
Code EoEkg 1t In hat OF indifference, and
sometimes hostility. said q rich and prom
inent church member, I am taking my son
round the world TO get the idea OF the min
istry out OF his head shame on himi AND
nity. too, when he comes to the Judgment
seat OF God, We hear Christian parents
say, 4 do not want my son to be a min
Istsr. nor my daughter a minister's wife or
a missionary Cheap talk that. and I'M
worthy q Christian parent.
"A question: Are any OF us parents plac-
ing a stumbling block In the path of the
church,? Have we ceased to pray the Lord
OF the Harvest? And having taken this
selfsh and unworthy attitude. are We will.
ing TO face God and answer whyF'