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8 THE PRESBYTERIA
Contributed
HE LEADETH ME.
He leadeth me, O blessed thought Is this;
That as I travel o'er life's rugged road.
And stagger oft beneath its heavy load,
He holds my hand and keeps it safe in his.
He leaueth me in pastures green, perhaps;
And as I roam beside the waters still
He r.omfnrtc n?. >av. ~i? >?
nuu tucrciui# worus, until
4 He all my heart and soul with' love enwraps.
He leadeth me, when doubts and fears assail
Me, on the upward climb of life's dark path,
And cloud and tempest pour their meed of wrath
Upon me, and in agony I quail.
He leadeth me, when through death's vale 1 go;
And as I feel the chilling waters creep
Upon me, then I ask him please to keep
My Land in His, and lead me ever so.
He leadeth me, till Heaven's bright gates I see;
And as we pass the angel sentrv hv
He'll never stop to ask me how and why
I go within; because, He leadeth me.
G. M. M.
EDUCATION FOR THE MINISTRY.
For the past five years the emphasis of our appeals
for Education for the Ministry has been upon the
need for men. Appreciating the crying need of our
church, the South and the whole wide world, we have
called upon the church to pray to the Lord of the Harvest
for more suitable ministers of the Word.
God is hearing and answering the prayers of His
chiirrVi T vr -? ?
- ? iuay tne i-Yesbyteries reported to the
General Assembly 375 Candidates for the Ministry, an
increase of 40 over the previous year. January 1, 1909,
the Stated Clerks reported to us 422 Candidates, a
further increase of 47 over the report to the Assembly
in May, 1908.
The need is still very great. In 1894 we had one candidate
to every 447 of our members; in 1901, one to
every 797; in 1908, one to every 716. While the improvement
since 1901 is gratifying, it is far from what
is desired or demanded by our ever-increasing responsibility
both at home and abroad.
Forty-eight years ago, at the first General Assembly
of our own branch of the Presbyterian Church, the
Executive Committee of Education for the Ministry was
organized ahd the work of aiding young men to secure
the required education for the ministry was begun.
Sinr?* i#1" '
?c man 1,020 candidates have been aided
to the amount of $525,000.
Many of those who are called of God to^he work of
the ministry are the sons of poor ministers, poor farmers,
or poor artisans. The course of preparation, four
years in college and three in the seminary, is very expensive.
In many cases the father and mother cannot
or will not render any assistance. .
The Church seeks to be a true Mother to her sons.
She has ever said, "We cannot lower the standard to let
f
lN OF THE SOUTH. March 24, 1909.
you into the ministry." She cannot say, "Your lack of
money is evidence that you have not been called." She
must not say to her own sons, "Serve God in another
church where education is not demanded." At this time
of special need, it is not wise to say, "Use your own
endeavor, and unaided, struggle through." The church
says, "You do all you possibly can, and we will render
you a little assistance if it is necessary."
To be recognized as a Candidate, a young man must
have the endorsement of the session of his church, and
stand a ? :?* '
cAdiiuuduun Deiore his Presbytery.
Aid is granted to Candidates who are recommended by
Presbytery, and who sign an application declaring that
they actually need financial assistance. Therefore the
concealment of sufficient income, extravagant use of
funds, and all like abuses are regarded as breaches of
personal honor, as well as the inexcusable deprivation
of other men of the needed aid.
Many of our Candidates, but for this aid, must have
left the college or seminary to earn enough to enable
them to return to their studies. While the church is in
urgent need for capable ministers, this seemed unwise.
They who give, do it for the sake of Christ's Kingdom,
and because they desire these young men to devote
their services to the upbuilding of that Kingdom on
earth. The men who receive the aid are also eager for
the advance "of the K incrrlnm a.^i :
0 cue anxious to prepare
themselves for a life of devoted service to that end.
The real recipient of the bounty is Jesus Christ and His
church.
Some Candidates have chosen to accept assistance
rather as a loan than as a gift. The General Assembly
has instructed the Executive Committee to receive notes
from Candidates who express the desire to borrow instead
of accepting money as a gift. Credit is given on
notes for service rendered in the mission fields of the
church, after graduation, under the direction of Presbytery,
and certified to by the Stated Clerk. The amount
of credit will be the amount the salary falls short of
$800 per year, e. g., if the salarv is $700 n <t.~~
r t , w. VI vull U1 <plW
will be given for each year of service at such salary, or
until the note is cancelled.
The Executive Committee during the year beginning
April i, 1908, has aided 269 Candidates. The maximum
amount of appropriation is $100 per year. Almost all
of the Candidates on our roll requested the full amount,
and as we have handled special funds for some Candidates,
the total amount so far appropriated for the year
is $26,953.
This is the largest number of Candidates assisted in
any previous year. The amount promised is over $2,000
more than in any former year. This is due to the fact
that livino- pvnpncoi! 1 * *
navt uccn greatly increased, and
many of the students were unable to secure profitable
employment last summer.
This Committee has been given the responsible task
of looking after the religious interests of Presbyterian
students in the State educational institutions. In
twenty-four State institutions in the South, there are
now 2,069 Presbyterian students. Some of our Synods
have recently been aroused to deeper interest in this
work, but much yet remains to be done. Some of our