Columbia Theological Seminary Bulletin, 3, number 7, January 1912

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THE FACULTY

Thornton Whaling, D. D., LL. D.

!'(&, and Professor of Didactic and
Polemic Theology

W. M. McPheeters, D. D., LL. D.

Wesson: of Old Testament Literature and
Exegesis

H. A. White, Ph. D., D. D., LL. D.

/< isot of New Testament Literature and
Exegesis

R. C. Reed, D. D., LL. D.

of' ssor of Ecclesiastical History and Church
Polity

R. G. Pearson, D. D.
Professor of English Bible

Patterson Wardlaw, LL. D.

jJttctor in Sunday School Pedagogy and
Organization and Child Study

J. O. Reavis, D. D.
Instructor in Missions

2

OUR SYNODS AND THEIR CAN-
DIDATES

The Columbia Seminary exists for the pur-
pose of training for the ministry the candi-
dates of the Synods of South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The value of
the Seminary depends on the efficiency with
which it trains these candidates and the cer-
tainty with which it returns them to the
Synods from which they came. These four
Synods have founded the institution in order
that they might direct the preparatory training
of their students and exercise some influential
control over the question of their settlement
when they enter upon ministerial work. The
life of the Seminary and the Synods is equally
dependent upon the supply of candidates fur-
nished by the Synods to the Seminary and the
supply of trained ministers furnished by the
Seminary to the Synods; the only difference
being that the Seminary can furnish ministers
only as the Synods develop candidates.

It is, therefore, of supreme importance that
these Synods should keep constantly in prayer-
ful remembrance the vital issue of producing
an adequate supply of candidates, who shall
form the future ministry in their bounds.

The following figures will show the success
with which the issue has been met during the
past forty years, from 1872 to 1912. The
Synods of North Carolina and Texas have been
used as the basis of profitable comparison.

3

In the ten-year period, from 1872-1881, the
Synod of North Carolina had 25.8 as its
average yearly number of candidates, with
16,492 as its average yearly number of com-
municants, or, in other words, had 1 candidate
for every 717 members. The Synod of Texas
had 5.2 candidates as the average per year,
with 4,567 as its average membership per year,
or 1 candidate to every 878 members. Our
four Synods had 45.5 candidates, with 26,358
as the average yearly members, or 1 candidate
to every 579 members.

During the ten-year period, from 1882 to
1891, North Carolina had 35.2 candidates and
22,013 members as yearly averages, or 1 candi-
date to 480 members. Texas had 17.5 candi-
dates and 8,411 members as the yearly aver-
ages, or 1 candidate to 622 members. Our
Synods had 59.2 candidates and 34,984 mem-
bers as yearly averages, or 1 candidate to 5S9
members.

During the ten years, from 1892 to 1901,
North Carolina had 71.6 candidates and 31,754
members as yearly averages, or 1 candidate to
443 members. Texas had 36.4 candidates and
16,156 members as its yearly averages, or 1
candidate to 444 members. Our Synods had
86.1 candidates and 49,189 members as yearly
averages, or 1 candidate to 571 members.

During the ten-year period, from 1902 to
1911, North Carolina had 86.5 candidates and
40,421 as yearly averages, or 1 candidate to
467 members. Texas had 46 candidates and
24,497 as its yearly averages, or 1 candidate

4

to 532 members. Our Synods had 68.5 candi-
dates and 61,120 members as yearly averages,
or 1 candidate to 892 members.

These figures are thought-provoking. The
decline in the number of candidates in these
four Synods absolutely relatively and com-
paratively calls for wise, concerted and prayer-
ful action.

1. The serious study of this problem ought
to mark the ministers, officers and members of
the Presbyterian Church in South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama and Florida, (a) What are
the causes of this decline? (b) What remedial
measures should be adopted to alter the situa-
tion?

2. Earnest prayer stands in the foreground.
Our Lord's prescription is, "Pray ye the Lord
of the harvest that He will thrust forth the
laborers into His harvest." Ought not our
ministers in their public intercessions in God's
House on the Sabbath to constantly lead the
prayers of God's people so as to secure obedi-
ence to our Lord's command? And all prayer
everywhere ought to include this petition for
an increase of divinely commissioned laborers.

3. Our ministers ought to preach regularly
on this subject, presenting the claims of the
Gospel ministry. If they realized the gravity
of the issue there would be no need of exhor-
tation.

4. The Church Sessions should prayerfully
consider the whole matter, and discover if
individually or as a bodv thev can make any

contributions toward this great need of our
Church as represented in these four Synods.

5. The Church Courts, notably our own
Presbyteries and Synods, may assign a large
place on their respective dockets to the con-
sideration of this cause. They ought to plan
to have the claims of the Gospel ministry pre-
sented in every college and university within
their bounds.

It is a fundamental issue. The 70,000 Pres-
byterians in these four great Synods and
States ought within the next ten-year period
to be doubled. Population is pouring in.
Industry is developing. This portion of the
South is growing in population and resources
with a rapidity which arouses the skepticism
of those who do not witness it. But there can
be no doubt that South Carolina, Georgia, Ala-
bama and Florida are today and now under-
going an unparalleled material development.
Shall our Church keep pace with it? If so, we
must see our opportunity and meet it by wise
and masterful methods. What are those
methods? Let Texas and North Carolina
answer. And let Georgia, Alabama, Florida
and South Carolina awake and furnish the
candidates who will do the strategic work in
this new and splendid day.

fir 155

S Vol

Vol. 3. JANUARY, 1912 No."

BULLETIN

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Synods of South Carolina* Georgia
Alabama and Florida, Located
at Columbia, South Carolina

Published Quarterly by the Board of Dir'
tors oi the Theological Seminary of " e
Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Florid'
and Alabama, of the Presbyterian Cb rC

in the United States. t-t

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[Entered as Second-class Matter July u, 1908, at the P'''
at Columbia. S. C, Under the Act of July 16, i8<M >

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