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APPEAL TO THE YOUNG MEN OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA. Extracts from An Appeal to the Young Men of the Presbyterian Church in the Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. By George Howe, Prof. of Biblical Literature, Theol. Sem. Columbia, S. C.'

AMONG the many evidences of a low state of religious feeling in this portion of our church, is the small number of young men of piety who are selecting the ministry as their field of labor. Many of our churches lie waste and unoccupied; a large extent of country in which the doctrine and discipline of Presbyterianism would find ready support, is unvisited by the feet of our ministers; our theological seminary, reared thus far with much labor and sacrifice, is frequented by comparatively a little band of students; our missionary, education, tract, and Sunday school organizations languish, because we have not men coming forward for the ministry in numbers sufficient to meet the demand and to secure the best good of society. While the church elsewhere is instinct with life and action, and is rousing herself with surprising energy to the work of converting the world, a gloomy lethargy has crept over our Southern Zion, which makes the heart sad, and damps the zeal of those in whose bosom the desire of a better day arises. The fathers are passing away, and few, lamentably few are the young Elishas who shall take up the fallen mantle of the ascending prophets and fill the places they have occupied. The American Education Society assisted the last year 1,040 beneficiaries preparing for the ministry, mostly from the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. The Assembly's Board of Education has 600 whom it is assisting to enter the sacred office. The whole number of candidates for the ministry in the Congregational and Presbyterian church receiving charitable aid, is 1,640. Perhaps as many more are pursuing their studies sustained by other means than public charities. The whole number therefore now preparing in these United States for these two churches, is 3,280. But the population of South Carolina and Georgia, at the last census, was 1,098,000, or more than one-thirteenth of the population of the Union. To give us our due proportion of candidates, one-thirteenth of 3,280, or 252 young men ought to be studying for the ministry within the bounds of this synod at the present moment.

Again, there were in the theological seminaries of the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the United States in 1834-5, 608 students. There ought then to have been in the theological seminary at Columbia the last year, one-thirteenth of this number, or 47 students, in order to have the same proportion of young candidates for the ministry within the bounds of this synod as existed elsewhere through our country.

Again, of the 3,280 students preparing for the ministry in the Congregational and Presbyterian churches in the United States, 630 are computed to be in theological seminaries; 1,695 in colleges or elsewhere in the second stage of study; and 943 in academies. In nine years, all these will have passed into the ministry.

More than 400 of these received assistance the last year.
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In the year 1836; 210 will enter the sacred office; 1837, 210; 1838, 210; 1839, 423; 1840, 423; 1841, 423; 1842, 423; 1843, 471; 1844, 471.

If the synod of South Carolina and Georgia had her proportion of young men in training for the ministry, in 1836 she would have 16 assuming the sacred office, and 48 in her seminary.

Even this is measuring ourselves by the efforts of our brethren and the devotion of young men to Christ as they are elsewhere exhibited, and not by the rule of our duty, nor by the pressure of our obligations to advance the cause of the Redeemer.

Two considerations will be thought of which will operate to diminish the proportion of these calculations. Half our population only can furnish candidates for the ministry. Still, though this is the case, the number of our ministers should not be less when compared with the whole population, than in the free States. Our slaves must have the gospel, and as they are more blind and needy, they require more labor to teach them the religion of Christ; and where the labor is greater, more men are required to perform it. So that if one man in 500 ought to enter the ministry where all are free, two among every 500 freemen ought to enter it where half of the population are slaves. Our ability to have a numerous ministry may be diminished in this state of society, our feelings remaining as they are. But we ought to feel a deeper interest in this subject, make greater efforts, and place a greater proportion of our young men in a state of preparation for the sacred calling, than Christians at the north.

Again: Though other denominations are numerous in other States, and ours in some others is small, yet in few of these States is the number of Presbyterians as small as within our bounds. While this is freely admitted, and while it should diminish from the calculations we have made, it is still sufficiently plain that we fall far, far below the measure of our duty, and of our privileges. We should lift up our eyes on the lands stretching far to the south. The newer portions of Georgia; the whole of Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas, are filling up with astonishing rapidity, and by our own sons and brethren. We reside in the midst of the broad stream of emigration setting thither. It sweeps away our neighbors and kindred on the right hand, and on the left. It bears from us ministers, elders, and people. On whom does it fall more than upon us, to supply these regions with preachers of the gospel? And how should our exertions be increased, that we may meet the cry sent back to us for the bread of life!

But what are we doing to supply the wants of our own population, and to send the gospel beyond us?

On diligent inquiry, there are not found within the bounds of this synod more than 40 young men in all, in any stage of preparation for the ministry. In our seminary there have been but sixteen this present year, and in the other seminaries of the United States, but six more who belong within the bounds of our synod. Of these twenty-two, eighteen only are natives of our soil.

Massachusetts, with but little more than the population of South Carolina, has 300 preparing for the ministry in her Congregational and Presbyterian churches. And if Massachusetts should not be compared with us, we may find an example to stimulate us nearer home.

North Carolina is said to have 100 in our church alone. South Carolina and Georgia, with a population nearly double, from their Presbyterian and Congregational churches, show but about 40 young men who have answered affirmatively to the call from heaven, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Fifty churches this moment stand destitute of stated pastors, while others are but partially supplied. Our benevolent institutions languish for the want of men to manage their concerns. And what is worse, the destitu

1837.]

OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.

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tions are increasing, and the new recruits for the Master's service apparently diminishing in number.*

Where shall we seek for the causes of this alarming state of our church? Shall we say that the Presbyterian church within our bounds is less pious, prayerful and devoted than elsewhere? Shall we say that she is more strongly bent on the acquisition of wealth? Shall we say that her sons are less self-denying? that she sustains, values, and esteems the ministry less? Or shall we find the reason in the alleged fact that the seminaries of learning within her limits have not heretofore been governed sufficiently by religious principle, and that Christian young men, while members of those institutions, have not felt the claims of religion pressing upon them as elsewhere they do? Or, is it that the wants of the church are not understood, and that the true dignity of the ministerial office is not appreciated? Or is it that mistakes prevail among our pious youth as to the nature of a call to the ministry? We do not assign any of these as the reason. But it is certain, that young men of piety educated in our colleges and academies, turn their backs on the ministry, and assume the law, or medicine, or the occupation of the planter, as their business for life, without the least compunction of conscience, and almost without raising a doubt in the community as to the propriety of their conduct. It is well known that the spirit which actuates the Christian students in colleges and academies elsewhere, greatly differs. That almost every educated youth of true piety, unless laboring under some disqualification for the sacred office, of which he is advised by judicious friends, feels himself bound by his obligations to the Saviour, to spend his life in preaching the gospel. The vow to be entirely Christ's, he feels pressing upon him. The voice "Go preach my gospel," sounds in his ears. The cry, "Whom shall I send?" penetrates his heart, and he replies, "Here, Lord, am I; send me."

us.

Many have deplored the state of things on this subject, which exists amongst We have mourned and prayed over it with brooding sadness, in secret places. We have sought diligently for the causes of the fewness of the ministry in the wide and still enlarging harvest. We have prayed the Lord of the harvest to send forth into it an increase of laborers. And now we lift our voice and call upon the ministry, the eldership, the members, especially the young men of the church, to give this subject a place in their thoughts, their prayers, and labors.

Young men, we speak to you. From you is to come, if it comes at all, the future ministry of the church. If our number is ever increased, the ranks are to be filled by you. You, therefore, under God, are our hope. And, if the church to which we belong and which we love, is to be overshadowed with sad eclipse, and the principles for which our fathers contended are to go down in this community; if Presbyterianism which was conjoined at the reformation with civil liberty, and has ever been united with it, is to fade away, or to be less prominent than heretofore, on you will rest much of the reproach. It will be because you honor not the ministry, you have not devotion and selfdenial sufficient to obey your Saviour and follow him through evil as well as through good report. It is because the world has taken hold of you with a grasp so giant-like, that you will not follow the path of your duty. Yes, young men of the Christian church, we ask you solemnly and earnestly why you are not serving the Master who redeemed you, in the sacred office of preaching the gospel? Pious youth in our schools and colleges, why have you not chosen with your earliest studies the ministry as your profession? why are you not straining every nerve to qualify yourselves for its duties?

That you may be able to answer these questions with your understandings, and with a clear conscience, allow us to present some of the considerations which ought to pass before your mind as you frame your answer.

1. Have you considered what God has done to redeem you? Have you thought of the immense cost of your redemption? Moses was raised up; miracles were wrought; the Jewish economy was established; David and

*The Theological Seminary in Columbia, in 1834-5, had 21 students. In 1833-4, it had 22. And both those years there was a larger number abroad than now.