Article August 17, 1899 Issue

Problems of Orthodox Churches

Periodicals of the leading Protestant denominations and the public press have recently published many articles and editorials in regard to the growing number of empty pulpits, the unsatisfactory standard of average ability among preachers, the insufficiency of the right kind of men now preparing for the ministry, the apathy of the members of large city churches. etc.

Some of the problems now pressing for solution seem to be organic—that is. they signify the existence of inherent errors of organization. The problem of assigning the right men to the right pulpits is simply impossible of solution. even if it be assumed that the clerical ranks contain enough suitable men for the places to be filled,—an assumption which does not seem warranted, judging from the frequent complaints about the inferior grade of men turned out by the divinity schools. Church organizations which embody the system of personal preaching by professional clergymen. will always have a good many churches without pastors, and pastors wanting churches.

The denominational authorities quite generally agree that the growth of scepticism concerning the truth of the Bible bred of so-called higher criticism, and the widespread practice among ministers of preaching on political and social topics instead of adhering to the sincere and fervent expounding of the simple Gospel truths, are the principal causes of the present unsatisfactory conditions. A return to the plain. earnest preaching of the Gospel is advised: but then another difficulty is seen, namely, the lack of agreement as to what is sound doctrine. Higher criticism has tinctured the thought of the professors of the divinity schools so thoroughly and their influence upon the minds of the younger men in the pulpit is so potent that unity of doctrine seems to be a thing of the past among the clergymen of all the leading denominations. They cannot agree as to what is inspired truth and what is error of translation in the Scriptures.

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