GIVE THEM AN EDUCATION! 1

We are not against education in general.  We support the growth of knowledge.  But we do not believe that a "theological education" is what makes a person qualified to be a minister of Christ - ed.

CIRCULAR

Dear Brethren: Among the items of benevolence recognized by the Constitution of the State Convention, as reclaiming and receiving its patronage, is Ministerial Education.  Hitherto, little or nothing has been done by the Convention, beyond the appointment of an Executive Committee on Education, in this department.  The urgent calls for ministerial labor, echoing from settlement to settlement, present the Home Mission cause in such an imposing and attitude, that it absorbs the undivided attention of the Churches, Associations, Convention.  The cry. "Send us ministers," thrills through the delicate nervous system of gospel love, awakens to lively exercise the noblest sympathies of the devout mind - the cry is heard - is felt, and nearly our whole pecuniary force is directed towards the relief of the applicants - consequently the operation of the Convention, in the other departments of benevolence, is of an exceedingly restricted character.  We call not upon you, brethren and friends, to relax your efforts on behalf of Domestic Missions.  No; God forbid!  but we call upon you, as God has prospered you, to aid the Convention in their noble purpose, of giving to Michigan an educated ministry.  You will soon be in your graves, and your spirits saved!  saved!! eternally saved, will, in immortal triumph, stand day and night in the presence of Him, who though rich, for your sakes became poor; your offspring will take your places in Zion, and be assured, will long feel the effects which the attitude you may now take, with reference to ministerial education may produce.  Let the sentiment be deeply engraved on every heart - let it be proclaimed from every pulpit - let the Associations, and the Convention take up the sound, and send it on the wings of the wind, through the length and breadth of the peninsula, that an educated ministry is essential, to our ultimate prosperity as a denomination in the State.  In arriving at this conclusion, we do not look back fifty or a hundred years but fix our eyes upon the attitude assumed by the community in 1843. 

Education is now liberally patronized by the State.  The church must keep pace with the march of mind, or sacrifice her dignity, and with it, her moral power over-civilized intellect.  It is, also, worthy of notice, that a large proportion of our Paedo-Baptist brethren, send only men of finished education in the field.  These annihilate one of the Savior's institutions, substitute a rite foreign to the New Testament in its place, and gravely inform the community, that, they are sustained by the Greek.  Such assertions may be, must be, passed by in silence, when there are no kindred resources to meet them; but, "when Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war" - the truth is not prostate without a rational defense; and the Church is, on this point, blameless before God, having "done what we could."  There are several young men in the State, belonging to our denomination, whose souls burn within them to preach the gospel of Christ to their fellow men; but they are poor, and destitute of the requisite amount of knowledge to render them acceptable or useful pastors or missionaries. Brethren, shall we let the internal fires consume them?  Shall we suffer them to pine away in agony and spirit, panting to be good?  Will God bless us as Churches, or as individuals, should we, and the premises, do less than our duty?  Must these brethren enter the field as they are, and, in the mortification of soul, contend with learned opposition all the days of their life?  Or has the Church of God nothing to do with this matter?  I trust that every Baptist in the State understands his duty to God, to the Church, and to his fellow-men, better than to arrive at such a conclusion.  It is sometimes said that uneducated men have done much good in Zion.  True, there have been brethren, there still are, possessing clear heads, war hearts, and the most rigid powers of analysis; brethren of capacious minds, capable of grasping and elucidating the darkest points of revelation, (except when obscured by the Grecian metaphor, or concealed beneath the usus loquendi of eastern nations,). and of making the hearts of their hearers tremble under the awful truth of the Almighty; yet men thus great and useful by nature, must even be greater and more useful still when educated.

As the rough diamond when it leaves the mind

Only in little breakings shows its light

Till artful polishing doth make it shine

So Education makes the genius bright.

The question is solely, what will promote the interests of the Savior's kingdom, but what will most promote it.  It was wrong before God for the Church to attempt to build up Zion by the adoption of measures that she knows to be less efficient than others that might be adopted.  Now ask our aged brethren in the ministry, both educated and uneducated, those who have exhausted their energies in striving to forward the interests of truth - what course shall we take without young men, who, in the judgment of the Churches, are called of God to preach the Gospel, in order that they may affect the greatest amount of good?  With one voice, the veterans of the Cross will say, GIVE THEM AN EDUCATION.  If this is the mind of God, He cannot accept less at our hands - and that it is His will, might be argued from the diversity and complexion of human language - the miraculous bestowment of knowledge, classical and sacred, upon those who were first appointed to preach the Gospel - and the enlightened state of society at the present day.  But our minds forbid our elaborating the subject - nor do we deem it necessary, amid the light of the nineteenth century, to do more than to present a brief ecumenical view of it.

Our object, in writing this circular at the present time, is to call the attention of our brethren to the resolution of the Executive Committee on Education, at the head of this article.  Our beneficiary, Brother Fletcher Marsh, to whom the Board promised assistance six months ago, is pursuing his studies at the University of Ann Arbor.  It is not too much to say to the Churches that Brother Marsh is a brother of great promise.  From the developments which we have witnessed, both in his head and his heart; we believe that he will be a valuable accession to our ministerial ranks; especially should he be permitted to complete his studies.  But he needs assistance; he is already in debt for his last quarter's board; or rather, the Board of the Convention are indebted to him, according to their pledge.  His hope is directed to us as a Board - our hope is based upon the benevolence of the Churches.  Brethren, will you help us?  Will you do it immediately?  Can we not raise six cents from every Baptist member in the State, for educational purposes?  We can; Brethren in the ministry, let us try.  Pastors and Missionaries, attend to it immediately.  Our brethren are liberal - he that gives to the poor, lends to the Lord.  Produce, or any article of family consumption he sent (care of B. Allen,) to Ann Arbor, will be acceptable.  By order of the Executive Committee on Education.

James Pyper, Secretary

Adrian, August 17, 1843

This article came from the Baptist New School paper the Herald.  Now read Elder Gilbert Beebe's response in the next article tomorrow.