The Baptist
Issued Every Wednssda| and levoteu to
Religion, ' Temperance 1
AND
Education.
Specially Devoted to the Interests
of the Baptist Denomination.
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The Baptist Reporter,
GUYTON GA.
Guyton, Ga., August 15, 18S8.
Entered at the Rost Office in Guyton,
Ga., as second-class mail matter.
EDUCATIONAL,
MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.
Next to a divine call to the
ministry, the most important
thing lor the preacher of the gos¬
pel is learning—knowledge—ed¬
ucation. We do not mean to say
that the only place to acquire
knowledge is in the school room,
nor do we mean to sav that what
might be called a classical educa¬
tion is indispensable to successful
preaching. But we do say that
no man can teach what he does
not know, and that no man can
know what he does not learn.
There are those who hold forth
the doctrine that ministers are
“inspired” to preach; that God
“reveals the truth” to them in vis¬
ions and dreams, independent of
and aside from the Bible. This is
a very convenient doctrine; if the
preacher cannot find exactly what
he wants in the Bible, he can have
a “vision,” a “dream” or a “rev¬
elation” and get just what he
wants. There is one objection to
this doctrine, however: it is not
true. It is a common occurrence
in certain sections of Georgia, to
hear the preacher (anti-mission
ary, of course,) announce that
such and such things have been
“revealed” to him, and multitudes
believe him. This pernicious
doctrine has so wrapped itself
about many that they believe it
matters not whether the preacher
studies or not. These are the
people that utterly ignore the val-
ue of education, and put a
mium upon ignorance. The doc-
trine is very damaging to the
progress of Christianity. When a
people believe this they convert
their pastor into a laborer in the
field, and feel that they have done
their duty when they meet him
once a month at church.
Now let us see what Paul says
about study. Turn to II, Tim.
2:15, and lie says to Timothy,
“Study loshew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that need-
el h not be ashamed, rightly di¬
viding the word of truth.” Study
what? The “word of truth.’’ Why
study it ? In order to “divide it
rightly” Why divide it aright?
To make his work approved unto
God, so saving himself from the
shame of error. Timothy had no
•visions” or “revelations.” Paul
had received the gospel from
THE BAPTIST REPORTER: AUG. 15.
hH A him y lr ’,."'"' I,e,a !f “ ,0
i:i3) “Holdfast the form of sound
words (true doctrine) which thou
m » and
love which is m Gnrist Jesus.
Again he says, (’2:2) “And the
things which thou has heard of
me, the same commit thou to
faithful men who shall be able to
teach others also,” Paul taught
Timothy, instructed him to teach
others, so that the gospel of
Christ should be transmitted from
one generation to another by
teaching.
Peter, speaking of Paul’s writ¬
ing says there “are some things
hard to be understood, which they
that are unlearned and unstable
wrest as they do also the other
scriptures unto their own destruc¬
tion.” (2 Peter 3:16.) Not only
did the unlearned wrest or distort
Paul’s writings from (heir true
meaning, but also “the other
Scriptures, It the reader will
turn to Bro. Geiger’s field notes,
in this paper, he can find an ex¬
ample of wresting the Scriptures
in the “hardshell’s” definition of
the names “Jesus Christ.”
We could multiply quotations
almost indefinitely, but let the
above answer to prove the neces¬
sity of ministerial study. There
is avast difference between tell¬
ing dreams and preaching the gos¬
pel. The Lord says, “Theproph¬
et that hath a dream let him tell
a dream, and he that hath my
word let him speak my word
faithfully. What is the chaff to
the wheat? saith the Lord.”—
Jer. 23:28.
Who is it that raises the cry
against education? The uneduca¬
ted; those who know little of the
real value of consecrated knowl¬
edge. Whence comes the opposi¬
tion to missions, to Sunday-
schools, to education, to temper¬
ance and spiritual and moral ad¬
vancement? From the ignorant;
those who do not know the bene¬
of these things.
Who are the world’s leaders?
who have stored their minds
knowledge. Solomon said,
“Wisdom is better than rubies'
and all the treasures that are to
be desired are not to be compared
to it.”
Let the churches loose their
pastors’ hands from the plow and
the plane, give them a gen¬
erous support, put good books in
their hands and tell them to give
themselves wholly to the ministry.
Don’t throw your pastor away;
help him to do his duty. Nothing
so cripples our cause as the want
of a well informed ministry, able
to teach the people and combat
error. And the reason why there
are 80 many ministers unable to
meet the requirements made of
them, is because they have to
spend their time in the field or
the shop when they should be in
the study. Poverty without, ignor-
ance within; surely Ihe pastor’s
0U P Latter and his cross is
heavy. God bless the preachers
who are trying, in the face of dif-
Acuities almost insurmountable,
to lead souls to Christ and the
churches (o a higher plane of
Christian activity.
Pastors, preachers, apply your¬
selves with all diligence to study
—to preparation for your work.
Yon hold the highest office ever con
fered on a mortal; strive with all
your might to till it. The eyes of
two worlds are upon you; a crown
awaits you. Let your motto be
d and upward.
Young men prepare for useful¬
Be content with nothing
L se Lhan n finished education,
ministers, there is a Mer
cer University, a Seminary, wait¬
ing with open arms to receive
you. There are a thousand fields
white unto the harvest; sharpen
your sickles and reap. Yours are
glorious opportunities.
Ministerial Education in Mercer Uni¬
versity.
It is encouraging to know that
the Baptists of the State are more
deeply interested in ministerial
education, and are more willing
to aid in the good work, than they
have been m the past. Every
year brings an increase of
butions for this purpose.
There have been forty
rial students the past Collegiate
year. This was a small increase.
We expect more the ensuing
session. The Exeeutive Commit¬
tee have been able to meet all ex¬
penses of board, and are out of
debt, with an empty treasury to
begin the approaching year. Last
term we had $144 in bank to be¬
gin with.
The amounts contributed came
from Associations, Churches, So¬
cieties, Sunday-schools and indi¬
viduals.
Three ladies, one in Atlanta,
one in Macon, one in Rome, sup
ported each a minister. Two So¬
cieties, the “Willing Workers,”
in Atlanta, and the “Willing
Workers,” in Rome, supported,
each, a minister; the later, has, for
the past five years, been unwear¬
ied in this good work. Their grad¬
uate, is now taking a course in
the Seminary. They have proved
themselves to be preserving, as
well as willing, Workers. One
Sunday-school class, in Macon,
has paid the way of a minister.
One of the ladies above alluded
to, is 83 years old, but still has a
heart to love, and hands to labor
for Missions and Ministerial Edu¬
cation. Six Associations or more
have engaged to sustain ministers
while in Mercer. Some of these
have managed their finances well,
and have complied with their
promises. It is hoped that a
much larger number of them will
enter upon this good work. These
bodies, however, should be very
careful not to encourage their
young brethren to come to Mercer,
depending on them, when they
have not perfected their arrange¬
ments to raise the needed funds.
A failure just at this point, will
greatly discourage the student,
and burden the Executive Com¬
mittee. One brother, in Macon,
has sustained two, by paying their
board. The balance of the mon¬
ey necessary for our work has
come in, in larger or smaller
amounts from Associations,
churches and thoughtful, gener¬
ous saints, from various parts of
the State.
Now, what of the future? Judg¬
ing from the past, there will be an
increase of funds just in propor¬
tion to the increased necessities.
The Denomination is stronger
than it was last year. We have
lived another year upon the boun¬
ty of our beneficent Father The
riches of grace, through which we
hope and expect to be saved, have
not been diminished. Temporal
blessings have been abundant.
Large harvests have rewarded
our labors. Our young brethren
have had another year of expi
rience and successful work in ihe
churches and desitute places.
Now, let “the love of Christ con¬
strain us” to enlarged liberality in
Ministerial Education, as well as
in Missions.
I will he greatly pleased andj
encouraged to hear from Associa- !
lions, Societies,Churches, Sunday-
school and individuals, who will
promise to aid in this good work.
E. W. Warren,
Chairman Ex. Com.
Macon, Ga.
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