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324 THE PRESBYTERIA1
5, 6, /. This is printed in four paragraphs with white
paper between each one. By all means, we would avoid
this multiplicity of paragraphs, and put the whole citation
into one paragraph. It would make the work
simpler and make the connection between the answer
and the proof text much more clear.
The work of the Committee is to be commended. If
there is in some places a needless rearrangement of the
old texts, we would fipd in this cyily a matter of taste.
The texts selected will help many a man and woman
to give a reason for the faith that is in them. And they
will make many an objector see that his objections lie
not against our Confession, but against the Word of
God.
There remains one question. After we shall print a
new edition of the Confession and Catechism, with proof
texts annexed, how shall we induce the people generally
to read them?
THE CHURCH'S NEED AND THE NEED OF
THE CANDIDATES.
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joy rcv. rrenry n. sweets, secretary
Since the year 1901, when there were reported 286
candidates for the ministry, there has been a net increase
of 172 in the number, so that there arc on the
rolls of the Presbyteries at this time 458 candidates.
We believe that this much desired increase is the
direct answer to the believing, persistent and intelligent
prayers of our pastors and people. That our people
are deeply interested in the great, overshadowing
need for a larger number of consecrated ministers is
revealed by the fact that for the past four years scarcely
a day has passed that we have not received requests
from pastors, teachings, or parents, for literature on
the claims of the Gospel ministrv. Scores of narents
liave written "I want you to send literature on the call
to the ministry to my boy. We are earnestly praying
that God may guide him to that work if it be His
will."
But the need is still very great; far greater, doubtless,
than when the Master, stirred to the depths of
His being, exclaimed: "Truly the harvest is plenteous
but the laborers are few."
We have now*1,020 vacant churches. Hundreds of
mission fields, white to the harvest, should be entered.
The call from every Committee or agency at work,
either at home or abroad, is for more men. Each candidate
who graduates in May from our Theological
Seminaries may have his choice of scores of needy
fields. Almost as many veterans will drop out of the
lines this year because of old age, sickness or death, as
4.1 --*11 t - -
mere win De recruits mustered in.
It is folly to say because there are some ordained
ministers idle, there is no further need. A very inconsiderable
portion of the ministers of our Church arc
without work?except those who are physically disabled.
A few have been without a charge for many
years?there must be sufficient reason to themselves
and their Presbyteries why they remain so. Do not
be deceived, there is otmi n*?<*< !
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remedy?the Saviour's remedy?"Pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers
into His harvest."
I wish our appeal might end here. But for the first
time since we took charge of this work our treasury
is almost empty, and $7,000.00 is still dfie on our pledges
Sf OF THE SOUTH. March 16, 1910.
to the candidates. We were instructed by the Assembly
to furnish $100 a year to those who needed that
amount. We have been disappointed in our receipts
the last two months. We had applications for 275 candidates,
and promised $27,300 if that amount could be
secured. Many of these young men are receiving this
aid as a loan which they pledge themselves to repay
either in money or by service in mission fields. A few
of them have been accepted as medical missionaries.
We can not go in debt for this money. Unless we
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scale the amounts promised our candidates. Most of
these are boys from poor homes.- Both they and their
parents have recently made great sacrifices. The cost
cf living is very high, as we learn from the papers and
also from sad experience. Surely the Church will come
speedily to our aid at this time. This is the largest
number of candidates ever reported by our Presbyteries
in the history of our Church. This is by far the
greatest number of candidates who have needed and requested
assistance.
The treasurer of this fund of Ministerial Education,
(as well as Ministerial Relief for the infirm ministers
and needy widows and orphans) is Mr. John Stites, 110
Fifth Street, Louisville, Ky. Please remit any funds
in your treasury as soon as possible. Please state
clearly for what your remittance is intended.
Louisville, Ky.
THE BATTLE OF LIFE.
We wage life's battle day by day.
Whether we work, whether we play;
'Tis up or down; not round and round.
Life's battle hath no middle-ground.
A thought, a word, an angry deed;
Each downward step gives greater speed.
A smile, a song, a feeble prayer;
Lifts up the soul where skies are clear.
For nature's law is live or die;
Wither or bloom; be green or dry;
Nothing in life can neutral stav.
Stoppage of growth, begins decay.
He who would win this daily fight,
Must shun the wrong, and do the right;
Must shun the lure of gold and greed;
O'ercome all that retards his speed.
We wage life's battle day by day,
Whether at work, whether at play;
'Tis up or down; not round and round,
Life's battle hath no ? j
iiuuiv*5I l/WIUl.
J. P. Moreland.
Anent the discussion of the high price of foods and
other comforts and necessities, a writer in Munsey's
Magazine gives an estimate" of the average salaries of
ministers in several leading denominations. According
to this authority the average salary of Methodist
ministers is about $480 per year; Episcopal, $600;
Presbyterian, $700; Congregational, $930. The average
of Baptist ministers has been rated at $500 per
year. Some ministers get too large a salary; it makes
them worldly minded. Many ministers crpt tr?r? lit
tie; they can not "be free from worldly cares." Congregations
that do their best on this behalf are to be
.commended; those who say we might do better if we
would, are simply cruel, but the minister will not
complain. He's an expert in making one dollar do
the work of two.