The New York herald., 1922-12-31
Hard to Get Young
M en- Because
They Do Not
Realize the Great
Field of Service
That Is Offered
Finds That M isfits
Give the Man in
the Street the
Idea That All
M inis ters Are
. .Wishy-Washy

Special Co,rsspoxdsxcs TO TIE NEW YoRx
HmAED.
BOSTON. Dec. 81.
<<VTYHAT's wrong with -the
wv ministry" a.,A ,,,,.
rencs of Massachusetts, answers the
question In an interview in which no
says:
ut is about time that the church
wakes up to tho idea that although
there are hundreds Of strong, high
minded spiritual leaders in the min
istry. and thousands on thousands OF
good, faithful, somewhat narrow ana
uninteresting persons-thers ought to
be lift of standard all along the line.
Now that the ranks Of the ministry
have been thinned since the war there
is great danger lest those in authority
call In men Of second and third rate
ability-piors. no doubt, but better as
mechanics and clerks than as parsons.
OF course, the great body of the min
istry must be men Of only middle rate
ability Just like a great body Of doc
tors and lawyers. These positions call
for men of fine and positive charac-
ter. OF good sense and devoted lives.
But there must be certain proper
ton of men Of stronger type who have
been drawn out from the mass by a
process Of selection and have been
given adequate training. What the
world needs to-day. racked and be-
wildered as II Is. is leaders. The min
istry- needs the same.
How are we going to got tho best
young men into the ministry and how
are we going to train them after we
have started them on the way? That
Is the question we have got to an
swer II the church is to be kept<vigor-
GUS, and healthy. In the first place
It Is hard to get young men to enter
the ministry. The reason for this.
believe, Is that people do not realize
that the ministry Is field Of service
that draws out the highest powers of
the finest. most vigorous personalities.
One Of the chief obstacles to many
young men going into the ministry
Is that their fathers do not want them
to go. President Lowell said a few
days ago that In bis opinion the chief
reason for strong men not entering
the ministry is that they do not see
in 1t an adequate bit of work. The
trouble is that young men In college
do not know anything about It and
1t Is difficult TO bring before them a
notion Of how great the work OF a
true minister really is. 1t isn't the
fault of the people that they are
ignorant, but the fault OF the church
and Of the clergy themselves that they
have not taken the trouble to tell the
story. and In such way to get 1t
under the skin OF the young men.
"Once the young men have chosen
the ministry as a career they must
be thoroughly trained for the task, be-
cause this day demands men who arc
not only consecrated, but educated.
The clergy must move in the intel
lectual life Of their day and meet. not
evade. the questions which seethe
about them. 1t is far better to pre-
pare to meet them I'm a theological
school under wise guidance than to
come upon them for the first time in
the loneliness of rectory. That Is
why q school which hopes to fit young
men TO preach in the next generation
must have teachers who. while loyal
to Christ and the church, are In
van of thought: who have tho courage
to move In advance of the ranks. and
who have the certain faith that the
open eyed search for truth win bring
fresh revelations of Christ.
"The man in the street thinks ALI