The Board of Theological Studies.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 22, 25 January 1877, Page 1

The Board of Theological Studies.

The Board of Theological Studies has held two examinations since our last meeting, and the interest taken in them, as may be seen from the reports, has not been limited to candidates for Holy Orders. They have given in other instances a stimulus to the study of theology and will, I hope, eventually be extended to the more advanced scholars and teachers also in our Sunday schools. Their importance, as helping to raise the intellectual standard of clerical attainments can hardly be overrated. The working of the statute has hitherto devolved upon the Bishop of Nelson, and our best thanks are due to him for his unremitting exertions in carrying out its provisions, and I trust that he may still be able to give us the benefit of his services. It has been suggested that the General Synod should testify their satisfaction in the case of those who have passed so creditably in Grade IV. by a public presentation of their certificate of proficiency, and I cordially approve of this suggestion. There can be no question that it much concerns the welfare of the Church that those who are admitted to her ministry should be apt and meet as well for their leaniiu-r as for their godly conversation to exercise their office duly. °Too much .attention, indeed, cannot he given to intellectual culture iv all branches of knowledge, secular and sacred, provided that the study of the former does not draw the mind away from that of the latter and the work connected with it. But the supply of a sufficient number of persons to serve in the' ministry of the Church is of equal, perhaps of greater, importance, and it is quite possible that without a large amount of theological knowledge and geueral culture men may be found by no means unfitted for the work of evangelists aud pastors. The want of men to meet the present exigencies of the Church is felt and acknowledged on all sides, aud there can hardly be a question of more vital importance for our consideration than how to provide them, aud the sanction of the Synod to auy plan devised for the purpose would, no doubt, much contribute to its success. The expenses of maintenance during the period of preparation for Holy Orders will necessarily limit the number of candidates^ We may succeed in keeping young persons under instruction in oiu- Grammar Schools up to the age of seventeen ■ or eighteen, and among these there may be some who have a

desire to serve God in the ministry of His Church, but they are compelled for their support to have recourse*to a secular employment, and so in too many instances the desire passes away, or is overbalanced by the interest which they have learned to take in their employment. It has been suggested that on leaving school they should register their names with some official of the Church, aud in the hours unoccupied by business, receive such instruction as may keep before their minds theu- higher calling, and assist in preparation for it. This, I thiuk, is a suggestion that should not be overlooked, but it is only likely to be successful in the case of those whose hearts are really fully bent on offering themselves for the ministry, and Avho haA r e strength of will to withstand, during the first years of manhood, the attractions presented by secular employment. But God may, and I believe often does, incline the hearts of men of mature age and judgment to offer themselves for His service, men whose qualifications have beeu derived from personal communion with Him, and their own hearts rather than from any special training ; such for instance as those to whom, humanly speaking, the world is indebted for the knowledge of Christian truth. But here again the difficulty of maintenance meet us. Assuming their fitness for Holy Orders, eau we with our limited resources hope to obtain men in numbers equal to our requirements if on theh admission to Holy Orders the Church becomes responsible for their maintenance.