Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-31
REV. DR.. GEORGE q. BARTLETT
On Training Ministers to Meet the New


THE solution of the social and economic
L unrest of today lies very largely in the
proper selection and training Of the minis
tprs Of the Christian Church. according TO
the Rev. DR.. George G. Bartlett. dean OF the
Divinity School Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in Philadelphia. -,
There is a great deal of talk these days,
said DR.. Bartlett. "about the breakdown OF
civilization and the approaching ruin OF those
nations which have played the chief parts
in history in recent centuries. turlouSi!
enough. this gloomy and forbidding cry has
been heard generation after generation, anu
often the men who have uttered It have becn
conspicuous among their contemporaries TOT
eXcentional knowledge and thoughttulncsS
"No one, however. be he ever so optlmls-
tic. can fail to realize that we IRE hvins
today in difficult even a crucial PERIOD;
The old familiar ways. the conventlonhl
manners and morals, the accustomed nrln-
ciples that have governed conduct and busi.
ness, seem to have lost their adequacy Ana
what Is to take their placer
The Real Danger
'~rbe danger Of the situation does NOT
In nv opinion. lie in the fact that we are
in transitivc period: rapid change may
mean rapid progress. The peculiar danger
Is that we may not find the constructive
leadership we need: n leadership that can
meet todny's perplexities and that can re-
stote in broad convincing terms the prln-
oimIos that make for sound progress and for
decent, joyous, prosperous human lie OH
earth.
| is ;nmenselv pressing in all our political
md Industrial life. don't deny or under
volue this, vet ] am convinced that back
| of these spheres Of human EFFORT lies r SIM
| deoper sphere and that our convictions with,n
| this sphere unconsciously To us ALL con-
| trol md guide our more ordinary actlohs'
,l,,t nplpNe
right md wrong. as to the relations or men
| n men. na to the real meaning and purpose
| Of this life of man on earth that rehIiy
| determines all our conduct what we nctuaiiy
hcliove In our inmost hearts. not whht we
| nrofess in conventional terms with our lips.
| IA to sov this IA To say nothing but that
| reIipion is the most intimate business or hu-
| r,onitv the ultimate controlling power over
| all our affairs. ,
| "Jt is for this reason that I am concerned
most of all today about just one thing, whlch
| NAV seem, at first thought. remote and I'M
| rrnc,irohIe And thnt ono thing IS the
charncter and training of men for tho minis
| trv of the Christian Church. Some one per-
hans will say. why such concern over min
istcrs, why not over the rank and ME or
mcmbers?' The answer surely is plain II we we
| think moment Whatever progress we
make Is made by individuals first and be-
comes common property through our capnr-
;tv for nssmilatng dens. for learning from
| otLers In n word We depenG absolutely
wnon leaders. And the Church, like the
stotc, is confused and helpless without such
leadership.
Providing for the Future
| $50 the solution to all the mi sery and
| ,ornIexity Of our day lies ultimately in the
| hopds of those who think deeply, persist =
| nntiv truthfully and all the time on the
nndcrlying moral principles Of human life
and human relationships. And herein lie
NJ once the appeal and the responsibility OF
| Tho ministry as life work, To win the
nohlest and finest of our young men TO this
| ministry to train them so that the tullness
| % their power and insight may be free and
| strong and skillful for guidance and leader
| sbin~to do this adequately is 10 do the
| biggest thing that can be done today for the
worlds future.
| 'And. in order to do this, In my judg-
| mont, three things must be emphasized in
| those schools whose business 1t Is to win and
| rain Young men for the Church's ministry
| "First. more than ever, there must be in
! tense and unresting wrestling after truth
| tho truth that saves. The technical re-
| sources of modern scholarship have increased
| in the last two generations quite ms amnz-
| inuly as have the technical resources of other
| nrofcssions These must be further de-
yeloped and brought to bear upon their one
great objective. of making clear and forcibl'
| that living truth which saves and sets men
free.
"Asain, this training OF men for fruit