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y 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