University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-01-26
Young Men and
the Ministry


Charles M. shapre. dean Of the Bible
College of Missouri, for young men
mot entering the ministry to the same
extent that they go into the other
professions. The chief Of these is
that the world is now in material
lage, contrasted to ages Of art revival
and religious enthusiasm that have
gone before in the civilization of the
world. Man through science and in
vention is drawing all he can from
nature around him, and the present
|day education fits men for this mater
ial work. Good financial rewards are
open to those who go into the busi-
ness field and hence we may expect
to find many there. The luxuries of
life are what the people want, and
what a material calling will give to
them. A proof of this statement is
seen in the large growth Of technical
schools in the present day compared
with the few that existed when the
classical education fitted men for
other fields of labor. Then, too, the
rewards in the ministry are not great,
speaking from a financial standpoint,
la prominent reason directing men
into other channels where more luxury
can be had:
Another reason for young men not
entering the ministry, says Dean
Sharpe, is that religious beliefs have
changed in the latter days. In the
light of new developments of theologi-
cal thought the man that originally
held to the old beliefs has been COM
PEELED to modify his religious views.
Tradition handed down truths which
were accepted from generation to gen.
Grafton. but recently, men studing for
the ministry and others have seen
things in new light. This has af-
fected would-be ministers. for all
would wish to preach what they be-
lieve. yet in doing this they might
bring opposition on themselves, be-
cause loyalty to themselves would de-
mand an honest expounding of the
truths as they are now seen. Thus
the young man has two alternatives;
to preach what he believes and be
somewhat antagonistic to the old
founded doctrines, or preach the old
doctrines and be false to ones own.
convictions. The dilemma is avoided
by keeping out of the ministry.
At one time it was, thought by per-
sons. that the ministry presented the
highest opportunity for altruistic
service. The church and the state
were all-powerful in those days, so to
belong to the former was equivalent
to saying that one was in the highest
places for benefitting ones fellowmen.
Times have changed and instead of
having the church as the only channel
through which to exert altruistic in
iuence We have the other professions
medicine. politics, law and others.
These professions have come under
the inspiration of higher ideals. Men
notice this. also the fact that these
other professions while benefitting
men at the same time bring better
monetary returns, allowing one lux.
uries that would be denied if the
ministry was entered. For this rea-
son some young men of the best type
enter these vocations for the double
purpose of benefitting mankind, yet
in the material rewards of the
present day.
Lack of effort on the part of the
clergy in inducing young men to enter
this profession Is a fruitful cause for
the scarcity of men with leaning
toward the ministry. Those in the
pulpit go on preaching with little
thought of successors. Then, too, in
the home the child's mind is not di-
rected to the ministry as possible
life-work. The parent rather plan an
educational career that will lead to
a material profession, as engineering.
In this again we see the influence of
materialism cropping out in the home.
If the young man from his youth up
has his mind set on commercialism
how can he be expected to turn toward
the ministry?
However the ministry does offer
great opportunities for the man who
Is rightly trained" said Dean Sharpe.
"The people Of today want a man who
thinks, man who can put the result
Of hard thinking into his sermons. ]
For this class of men there Is a fu-
ture. He will be welcomed to the
by the laity and the leaders.
This class of man with the right train.
Ing can be a great success. On the
other hand there is the opposite of
this class of minister; the man who