ACCOUNT OF A YOUNG MAN PREPARING FOR THE MINISTRY. To the Secretary of the American Education Society.

REV. AND DEAR SIR,

I AM well acquainted with a clergyman now successfully laboring in the vineyard of our Lord, a brief account of whose past life may be neither uninteresting nor unprofitable to those indigent young men who have commenced, or who contemplate beginning, a course of preparation for the gospel ministry. Such an account I esteem it a privilege to communicate to you; and you are at liberty to secure its publication in the American Quarterly Register, or the Boston Recorder, or to make such other disposition of it as your judgment shall dictate. I believe that many young men of piety and respectable talents, who would gladly be prepared to declare the glad tidings of the gospel to their perishing fellow-men, are deterred from entering upon a course of preparation by the forbidding and peremptory monitions of poverty. And probably not a few who have begun their preparatory education, are often tempted to return to the field or the mechanic's shop, to avoid the painful struggles which arise from the same source. If the subsequent history of one of poverty's children shall tend to encourage the latter to persevere in their course, and determine the former to begin, then will the writer rejoice that he has not labored in vain, nor spent his strength for naught.'

Truly Yours,

E. was born in Massachusetts soon after the commencement of the present century. His parents were poor, both in the good things of this world, and, what was far worse, destitute of faith. Neither of them had made a profession of religion; neither of them was hopefully pious. His father was a mechanic; and, having quite a large family, could barely earn enough in a year to meet his current expenses. His advantages for acquiring what is termed a common school education, were extremely limited. His parents having acquired hardly the first rudiments of learning, were not prepared to feel the importance of giving their son opportunity and means of obtaining much more knowledge than themselves possessed. As soon as he became old enough to handle the hammer and the saw, he was deprived of the eight or ten weeks' summer school, and required to aid his father in mechanical business. After that period, the principal means he enjoyed of obtaining the rudiments of a common education, was the winter school. This generally commenced the first of December and closed the latter part of February. At that time, and in the place of his nativity, he was the schoolmaster usually employed, who would keep the greatest number of weeks for the minimum compensation. And if a scholar then could read with a loud voice, and utter his words with unusual rapidity, he was considered an unusually good reader. If he could "do a sum" in the Double Rule of Three, and spell fluently words of three syllables, and write his name with tolerable legibility, he was regarded as having "finished his education." Having lived the first dozen years of his life in such a place, and in such unfavorable circumstances, it is not to be wondered at if at that age E. found himself not only the son of poverty, but the child of great ignorance. Of English grammar, he knew nothing. Geography, he had scarcely heard named. Of history, sacred or pro

fane, he had read but very few pages. The ordinary rules of composition had never been brought within his reach; so that, had he attempted to write a letter to a friend, the meaning could hardly have been decyphered.

Before E. had entered his fourteenth year, he became hopefully pious. He united with the Congregational church in his native town. The clergyman of the place, after considerable conversation with him, began to manifest an interest in his behalf, and often directed his attention to the ministry. He began to feel, soon after his hopeful conversion, that it would be a great privilege to declare the Saviour to perishing sinners, provided he could only be prepared for the great and responsible work. "But how can I think of such a thing?" he inquires. "My father is a poor man-he needs my help-he cannot and will not permit me to begin a course of study. I dare not propose the thing to him. Besides, who am I-an obscure, ignorant individual-that I should aspire to the honor of preaching to others the unsearchable riches of Christ." Thoughts like these, for a while seemed utterly to forbid his looking forward to so great and glorious a work. Still, he could not long at a time rest easy. Often the work of the ministry would present itself so forcibly to his mind, that he felt as though he must break through every obstruction, and prepare for it. Then again his circumstances all appeared to be so forbidding, that he could not summon resolution to take the first step towards preparation. Thus his mind vacillated between ardent desires to begin the preparatory process to this great work and despair of ever accomplishing the object, for nearly two years. Meanwhile his services were becoming more and more valuable to his father; and of course the difficulty of obtaining his consent to relinquishing future claim upon his son's time and labor, was constantly augmenting. But at length, after frequent consultation with the clergyman above named, and looking repeatedly to God for guidance, E. disclosed his feelings to his parents. His mother objected. His father, who had then become hopefully pious, did not absolutely refuse to listen to him; but gave him no reason to hope that his desires could be gratified. Thus all the expectations which he had permitted himself to indulge, were at once blighted. It was his duty to obey his parents; and besides, they greatly needed his labor. He continued to work with his father-still pondering upon the great object which had for two years engrossed many of his thoughts; and which had greatly increased his love of books and his love of study. When he was sixteen and a half years of age, his father, after many struggles with interest and probably prejudice, and repeated solicitations from some ministers of the gospel, was prevailed upon to yield a reluctant assent to his wishes. This obstruction removed, others equally formidable presented themselves. He had no classical books-and what was worse, he had no money with which to purchase them. He had no friends, or thought he had none, to whom he could repair for the pecuniary aid he needed. But his minister, kindly interesting himself in his behalf, made his case known to some members of the church, and to one or two clergymen at a distance. Through their instrumentality, arrangements were at length made by which he might, if he would go some sixty miles from home and take up his abode as a "charity scholar" amongst entire strangers, receive instruction in classical studies. So with much effort, he obtained money enough to purchase a Latin grammar, and on the 12th of August, 18—, began his journey to W. At that time, he was extremely diffident; or rather, oppressed with bashfulness. He could hardly hold up his head, if he met a man in the street; and, having seen but a little of society, he was not prepared to make a very favorable impression upon strangers. Under all his disadvantages, however, he felt that he must go forward. So, with a pack, the contents of which, together with the clothes upon his back, would hardly have commanded twenty-five dollars, he wended his way towards W- - Now walking, and now riding, he was able to get about one half of the distance the first day. He had a letter of introduction to Mr. Having arrived at Rhe presented his letter. Mr. —, having read it, surveyed him very leisurely, and began to question him. E., unpolished and uncouth as he was, and withal having nothing prepossessing in his external conformation, and nothing in his dress to commend him, but a long, coarse, greyish coat and satinet pantaloons considerably worn, now imagines that he must have made rather a sorry appear

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PREPARING FOR THE MINISTRY.

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treated him kindly, gave him some good advice, and told him that possibly something might be done for him at R, provided he should not succeed at W Next morning, with no very consolatory forebodings, and leaving no enviable impression behind, he proceeded on his journey. Weary and worn with a long walk over muddy roads, he presented himself in the evening before Mr. In a day or two, appearances were not so flattering as he anticipated, he became homesick, disheartened, and anxious to leave. He felt that he could not remain there; and after expressing in a bashful manner his thanks for favors received, he returned to R—. Mr. greatly surprised to see him, and knew not at first what course to pursue. E. saw the state of things, and proposed, or at least thought strongly of returning to the labors of the mechanic. But through the Christian kindness of Mr. he was induced to stay for a short period. Mr. found in him the power of somewhat rapid acquisition of knowledge, and providing one week for his board the next, and hearing his recitations himself, he had the pleasure of presenting him the ensuing autumn, for admission to college. With all his want of prepossessing exterior, and his uncouthness, E. was admitted a member of the freshmen class. He regrets now that he had not been more thoroughly fitted to enter college; but by studying from fourteen to sixteen hours per day, with a delight that never diminished and a vigor that never flagged, he was so well prepared that he was readily admitted. During his collegiate course, numerous were his struggles with poverty, many were his discouragements. He received occasionally some little charitable assistance. By teaching a school in the winter, he was enabled to meet a part of his expenses. In his dress, he was obliged to practise strict economy, and at times, to say that his dress was decent, would have been stretching that term to its lowest meaning. Still he felt that he must go forward. He can now reflect on many hours of sadness, in which, as he looked over his embarrassments and anticipated the future, he was strongly tempted to relinquish his studies, and give up all thought of ever entering the ministry. Not knowing from what source to derive the means of purchasing needful books, or to procure his necessary raiment, being unable to tell how he should meet the demands of his next bill for tuition and board, and trembling in view of a debt already contracted, and constantly accumulating, it seemed to him at times as though he could not proceed. Then looking again upon the wants of the world, and reflecting that God will provide for him who conscientiously pursues the path of duty, he felt it his duty to trust in God and advance. Thus he struggled along through college. With all his pecuniary embarrassments, together with occasional ill health, he was numbered amongst the first in his class, and left the walls of his Alma Mater with gratitude to God that he had been enabled to persevere thus far. Still his poverty seemed to impede his progress. He was considerably involved in debt. Should he commence the study of his profession, or by teaching a school, endeavor first to liquidate his pecuniary obligations? These were the questions which agitated his mind.

For a season, he engaged in the business of instruction. Having pursued this for nearly a year, he began the study of theology, with a worthy private instructor. He had not the means requisite to study at a theological seminary, as he thought; but the principal reason why he did not resort to such an institution was, he had not been apprised of the advantages which it would afford him. He now regrets on many accounts that he did not pursue the most thorough course of theological instruction, which any of our public institutions prescribe. As it was, he went through the system usually pursued by his instructor's students, and then received approbation to commence preaching. By the Divine blessing he was soon settled in the gospel ministry, and, in a little time, was enabled to pay the debt which he had contracted in obtaining his education. He has continued till the present time, laboring where he was first settled. His labors have been blessed at different times; and there is reason to believe that he will have a goodly number of "souls for his hire." His people appear to be happily united in him, and their attachment to him seems to have been yearly increasing. God grant that his usefulness may be augmented a hundred fold.

To the above brief account, dear Sir, allow me to subjoin a few remarks.

1. I would say one word to such pious young men as may desire to engage in the great work of the ministry, but are deterred from beginning a course of preparation by their poverty. It is true, my young friends, that poverty looks like a poor auxiliary to a course of education; but you should by no means regard it as an insuperable obstruction. E. very serionsly doubts whether he should ever have been a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, if he had been rich. He believes that his poverty served as a needful stimulus to him during all his academical and theological training-it threw around him healthful restraints, excited him to a self-denial which a competency had never dictated, and in fact has proved one of his most valuable preparatives for the peculiar trials and difficulties of the ministry. Let no young man, then, be prevented by his poverty from beginning a course of study for the ministry, provided he have respectable talents and ardent piety, especially as he may now on so favorable terms receive assistance from the American Education Society.

2. Let such as have begun the preparation for the great work and are at times tempted to give it up as a hopeless task, look at the example of E. There were times when he was beset by just such temptations. Suppose he had yielded to them and gone back; Who now had occupied his important station in the ministry? Who had been the instrument of the hundred hopeful conversions which appear to have resulted from his labors? Look then to his perseverance, and go onward. Wait on the Lord, and ye shall renew your strength. Have you occasional ill health? So had E. Are you in debt? So was he some hundreds of dollars before he had completed his preparatory education. Have you scarce a friend to call upon for pecuniary aid? It was thus with him. Are your clothes old and worn? His were at times hardly within the range of decency; and where he should obtain his next supply, he knew not. Can you have none but second-hand books to study; and are you obliged to sell your present classics to obtain those you will next need? He passed through the same difficulty. Are you taunted by the inconsiderate with being charity stu dents? He partook of the same reproach, if reproach it can be called. But after all, he held on "the even tenor of his way," and now he stands high in the affections of a large people, and has been laboring with pleasing success for years in the vineyard of our Lord. "Go ye and do likewise."

In conclusion, allow me to urge upon the attention of every young man who is looking forward to the great work of the gospel ministry, the importance of a thorough preparation. E. often regrets that his preparation was so hurried as to exclude the extended and thorough training which now seems to him invaluable. It is only by hard study that he has been able to make up, in some degree, since he entered the ministry, the deficiency in his preparatory education. Let every young man who would prove as a burning and shining light in some golden candlestick, set his mark high, and aim to be thoroughly trained for the holy calling on which he has his eye. The times-the exigencies of the church, demand a well educated, able ministry. To use the language employed on another occasion, "The ministry should be well educated; mien of sound intellects, clear heads, vigorous thought, and minds well stored with the great truths of the gospel. They should be perfectly at home on all the great points of theological truth; should be able to defend these points against all the open or insidious attacks of the opposer; should understand the wiles and arts of infidelity and false religion; and, clad in the panoply of the truth of God, they should go forth, pulling down the strong holds of error and sin. The enemy is on the alert. He is cultivating his intellect. He is tasking all his resources to build up new defences and safeguards for his errors. He is seeking out the weak and unguarded spots disclosed by the professors and advocates of Christianity, and preparing for a desperate onset. The conflict is, and is to be, between the truths of the gospel of Christ, and the multiplied phases of infidelity. "The devil, knowing that his time is short, has come down with great wrath." He is whetting up the intellects of his followers, and preparing them for the great conflict, preparatory to which, have already taken place a few skirmishes. The victory is not to be won by the sword. The field of conflict is not one of the bayonet, the cannon, the battle-axe. The strife and war are altogether of a different order. Mind is coming, and has come, into contact with mind. There

ABSTRACT OF THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT./

is, and is to be, a grappling of intellectual energy-a trial of moral courage-a battle with bloodless, spiritual weapons, mighty by the power of God, or weak through the power of sin. I say, then, that the ministry must be composed of men of intellect, men of study, men of reading, men of theological learning, thoroughly furnished for the conflict. They should be of this character, whether you retain them here, or send them to the far West, or to the distant islands of the sea, or wherever you send them. Otherwise, they either will not grapple with the infidel intellect, or if they do, they will be discomfited, and become a burden and reproach to the cause which they profess to support. Better have ten men competent and well qualified to perform the duties of an able and faithful minister, than ten times ten "who cannot teach and will not learn."

ABSTRACT OF THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SOCIETY.