UNSUITABLE LAY PREACHERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 823, 23 May 1910, Page 3

UNSUITABLE LAY PREACHERS.

Sir, —Through , the medium of you paper, I would beg to, draw attentioi to the trend of Methodism towards fro quently filling country pulpits with in competent laymen- While fully recog nising and appreciating the good wor] done- by many of our laymen, the wor] of those, tried Christians who have th welfare of mankind at heart, and ;ir backed with a stable character tha commands the respect of men, oil' cannot help but condemning the. man lier in whicli this essential factor ii the life of country churchcs is beinj abused and over-ridden by the short sightedness of those responsible fo the admittance to the pulpit of man; laymen who are not competent. It i not unusual to have the service takei by two or three individuals, little mor than boys, and quite lacking in th qualifications required. ' Surfcly sue] cheapening of our grand and gloriou Christian organisation cannot' be lc pass unchallenged? In this day, whei the attention of man is being draw to things spiritual, and reason is be ginning to assist itself in this capacit; as it rightly should, do wo not nee< level-headed men to handle the Won of God, and not these mutilators o Holy Writ? Does not the blame, li at the doors, of those who cater fo: such incompetence? Is it for pecuniar; remuneration that services arc ofte: held, irrespective of the comluctinj element? T can't think it. However let us hope not, for such services ar but an injustice to the community, a they aro often the means of prejudiciii] minds against churches, and, in const qucncc, . the casual attendant dis sociates entirely. Would it not bo i tlio interest of tiiis great Christia: movement for the Church not to ope its doors when the services of a suit • able, minister cannot lie acquired, rathe than having the service taken by sonic ' ono who, though perhaps couseicu , tiouslv believing himself to be doim ■ the Master's Will, is unfortunately • proving a hindrance to the Church's progress. —I am, etc., METHODIST.