“`No,\'Isaid;`butIamgoingtogetitto-night。\'
“`You\'llnevergetit,\'hesaid。`He\'snotthatsortofaman。He\'snotevenachurchman!\'
“ButIjustwentquietlyonwiththework,withoutanswering,andafterquiteawhileheleft;buthecalledback,ashewentoff,`Well,ifhedoesgiveyouthathundreddollars,cometomeandI\'llgiveyouanotherhundred。\'\'\'
Conwellsmilesingenialreminiscenceandwithoutanyapparentsensethatheistellingofagreatpersonaltriumph,andgoeson:
“Thosetwomenbothpaidthemoney,andofcoursethechurchpeoplethemselves,whoatfirsthadnotquiteunderstoodthatIcouldbeinearnest,joinedinandhelped,withworkandmoney,andas,whilethenewchurchwasbuilding,itwaspeculiarlyimportanttogetandkeepthecongregationtogether,andastheyhadceasedtohaveaministeroftheirown,IusedtorunoutfromBostonandpreachforthem,inaroomwehired。
“AnditwasthereinLexington,in1879,thatIdeterminedtobecomeaminister。Ihadagoodlawpractice,butIdeterminedtogiveitup。FormanyyearsIhadfeltmoreorlessofacalltotheministry,andhereatlengthwasthedefinitetimetobegin。
“WeekbyweekIpreachedthere\'\'——howstrange,now,tothinkofWilliamDeanHowellsandthecolonel-preacher!——“andafterawhilethechurchwascompleted,andinthatverychurch,thereinLexington,Iwasordainedaminister。\'\'
Amarvelousthing,allthis,evenwithoutconsideringthemarvelousheightsthatConwellhassinceattained——amarvelousthing,anachievementofpositiveromance!ThatlittlechurchstoodforAmericanbraveryandinitiativeandself-sacrificeandromanticisminawaythatwellbefittedgoodoldLexington。
ToleavealargeandoverflowinglawpracticeandtakeuptheministryatasalaryofsixhundreddollarsayearseemedtotherelativesofConwell\'swifetheextremeoffoolishness,andtheydidnothesitatesotoexpressthemselves。Naturallyenough,theydidnothaveConwell\'svision。Yethehimselfwasfairenoughtorealizeandtoadmitthattherewasagooddealoffairnessintheirobjections;andsohesaidtothecongregationthat,althoughhewasquitereadytocomeforthesixhundreddollarsayear,heexpectedthemtodoublehissalaryassoonashedoubledthechurchmembership。Thisseemedtothemagooddeallikeajoke,buttheyansweredinperfectearnestnessthattheywouldbequitewillingtodothedoublingassoonashedidthedoubling,andinlessthanayearthesalarywasdoubledaccordingly。
Iaskedhimifhehadfoundithardtogiveupthelucrativelawforapoorministry,andhisreplygaveadelightfulimpressionofhiscapacityforhumorousinsightintohumannature,forhesaid,withagenialtwinkle:
“Ohyes,itwasawrench;butthereisasortofromanceofself-sacrifice,youknow。Irathersupposetheold-timemartyrsratherenjoyedthemselvesinbeingmartyrs!\'\'
ConwelldidnotstayverylonginLexington。
AstrugglinglittlechurchinPhiladelphiaheardofwhathewasdoing,andsoanolddeaconwentuptoseeandhearhim,andaninvitationwasgiven;andastheLexingtonchurchseemedtobeprosperouslyonitsfeet,andtheneedsofthePhiladelphiabodykeenlyappealedtoConwell\'simagination,achangewasmade,andatasalaryofeighthundreddollarsayearhewent,in1882,tothelittlestrugglingPhiladelphiacongregation,andofthatcongregationheisstillpastor——only,itceasedtobeastrugglingcongregationagreatmanyyearsago!Andlongagoitbeganpayinghimmorethousandseveryyearthanatfirstitgavehimhundreds。
DreamerasConwellalwaysisinconnectionwithhisimmensepracticality,andmovedasheisbythespiritualinfluencesoflife,itismorethanlikelythatnotonlydidPhiladelphia\'sneedappeal,butalsothefactthatPhiladelphia,asacity,meantmuchtohim,for,comingNorth,woundedfromabattle-fieldoftheCivilWar,itwasinPhiladelphiathathewascaredforuntilhishealthandstrengthwererecovered。ThusitcamethatPhiladelphiahadearlybecomedeartohim。
Andhereisanexcellentexampleofhowdreaminggreatdreamsmaygohand-in-handwithwinningsuperbresults。ForthatlittlestrugglingcongregationnowownsandoccupiesagreatnewchurchbuildingthatseatsmorepeoplethananyotherProtestantchurchinAmerica——andDr。Conwellfillsit!
III
STORYOFTHEFIFTY-SEVENCENTS
ATeverypointinConwell\'slifeoneseesthathewinsthroughhiswonderfulpersonalinfluenceonoldandyoung。Everystepforward,everytriumphachieved,comesnotalonefromhisownenthusiasm,butbecauseofhisputtingthatenthusiasmintoothers。AndwhenIlearnedhowitcameaboutthatthepresentchurchbuildingswerebegun,itwasanotherofthosemarveloustalesoffactthatarestrangerthananyimaginationcouldmakethem。Andyetthetalewassosimpleandsweetandsadandunpretending。
WhenDr。ConwellfirstassumedchargeofthelittlecongregationthatledhimtoPhiladelphiaitwasreallyalittlechurchbothinitsnumbersandinthesizeofthebuildingthatitoccupied,butitquicklybecamesopopularunderhisleadershipthatthechurchservicesandSunday-
schoolserviceswerealikesocrowdedthattherewasnoroomforallwhocame,andalwaystherewerepeopleturnedfromthedoors。
Oneafternoonalittlegirl,whohadeagerlywishedtogo,turnedbackfromtheSunday-schooldoor,cryingbitterlybecausetheyhadtoldherthattherewasnomoreroom。Butatall,black-
hairedmanmetherandnoticedhertearsand,stopping,askedwhyitwasthatshewascrying,andshesobbinglyrepliedthatitwasbecausetheycouldnotletherintotheSunday-school。
“Iliftedhertomyshoulder,\'\'saysDr。Conwell,intellingofthis;forafterhearingthestoryelsewhereIaskedhimtotellittomehimself,foritseemedalmosttoostrangetobetrue。
“Iliftedhertomyshoulder\'\'——andonerealizestheprettysceneitmusthavemadeforthelittlegirltogothroughthecrowdofpeople,dryinghertearsandridingproudlyontheshouldersofthekindly,tall,darkman!“IsaidtoherthatIwouldtakeherin,andIdidso,andIsaidtoherthatweshouldsomedayhavearoombigenoughforallwhoshouldcome。Andwhenshewenthomeshetoldherparents——Ionlylearnedthisafterward——thatshewasgoingtosavemoneytohelpbuildthelargerchurchandSunday-schoolthatDr。Conwellwanted!Herparentspleasantlyhumoredherintheideaandletherrunerrandsanddolittletaskstoearnpennies,andshebegandroppingthepenniesintoherbank。
“Shewasalovablelittlething——butinonlyafewweeksafterthatshewastakensuddenlyillanddied;andatthefuneralherfathertoldme,quietly,ofhowhislittlegirlhadbeensavingmoneyforabuilding-fund。Andthere,atthefuneral,hehandedmewhatshehadsaved——justfifty-
sevencentsinpennies。\'\'
Dr。Conwelldoesnotsayhowdeeplyhewasmoved;heis,afterall,amanofveryfewwordsastohisownemotions。Butadeeptendernesshadcreptintohisvoice。
“AtameetingofthechurchtrusteesItoldofthisgiftoffifty-sevencents——thefirstgifttowardtheproposedbuilding-fundofthenewchurchthatwassometimetoexist。Foruntilthenthematterhadbarelybeenspokenof,asanewchurchbuildinghadbeensimplyapossibilityforthefuture。
“Thetrusteesseemedmuchimpressed,anditturnedoutthattheywerefarmoreimpressedthanIcouldpossiblyhavehoped,forinafewdaysoneofthemcametomeandsaidthathethoughtitwouldbeanexcellentideatobuyalotonBroadStreet——theverylotonwhichthebuildingnowstands。\'\'ItwascharacteristicofDr。Conwellthathedidnotpointout,whateveryonewhoknowshimwouldunderstand,thatitwashisowninspirationputintothetrusteeswhichresultedinthisquickanddefinitemoveonthepartofoneofthem。“Italkedthematteroverwiththeowneroftheproperty,andtoldhimofthebeginningofthefund,thestoryofthelittlegirl。Themanwasnotoneofourchurch,norinfact,washeachurch-goeratall,buthelistenedattentivelytothetaleofthefifty-sevencentsandsimplysaidhewasquitereadytogoaheadandsellusthatpieceoflandfortenthousanddollars,taking——andtheunexpectednessofthisdeeplytouchedmetakingafirstpaymentofjustfifty-sevencentsandlettingtheentirebalancestandonafive-per-cent。mortgage!
“Anditseemedtomethatitwouldbetherightthingtoacceptthisunexpectedlyliberalproposition,andIwentovertheentirematteronthatbasiswiththetrusteesandsomeoftheothermembers,andallthepeopleweresoontalkingofhavinganewchurch。Butitwasnotdoneinthatway,afterall,for,finethoughthatwaywouldhavebeen,therewastobeonestillfiner。
“Notlongaftermytalkwiththemanwhoownedtheland,andhissurprisinglygood-heartedproposition,anexchangewasarrangedformeoneeveningwithaMountHollychurch,andmywifewentwithme。Wecamebacklate,anditwascoldandwetandmiserable,butasweapproachedourhomewesawthatitwasalllightedfromtoptobottom,anditwasclearthatitwasfullofpeople。Isaidtomywifethattheyseemedtobehavingabettertimethanwehadhad,andwewentin,curioustoknowwhatitwasallabout。
Anditturnedoutthatourabsencehadbeenintentionallyarranged,andthatthechurchpeoplehadgatheredatourhometomeetusonourreturn。
AndIwasutterlyamazed,forthespokesmantoldmethattheentiretenthousanddollarshadbeenraisedandthatthelandforthechurchthatIwantedwasfreeofdebt。Andallhadcomesoquicklyanddirectlyfromthatdearlittlegirl\'sfifty-sevencents。\'\'
Doesn\'titseemlikeafairytale!Butthenthismanhasallhislifebeenmakingfairytalesintorealities。Heinspiredthechild。Heinspiredthetrustees。Heinspiredtheowneroftheland。Heinspiredthepeople。
Thebuildingofthegreatchurch——theTempleBaptistChurch,asitistermed——wasagreatundertakingforthecongregation;eventhoughithadbeenswiftlygrowingfromthedayofDr。
Conwell\'stakingchargeofit,itwassomethingfaraheadofwhat,exceptintheeyesofanenthusiast,theycouldpossiblycompleteandpayforandsupport。Norwasitaneasytask。
Groundwasbrokenforthebuildingin1889,in1891itwasopenedforworship,andthencameyearsofraisingmoneytoclearit。Butitwaslongagoplacedcompletelyoutofdebt,andwithonlyasinglelargesubscription——oneoftenthousanddollars——forthechurchisnotinawealthyneighborhood,noristhecongregationmadeupofthegreatandrich。
Thechurchisbuiltofstone,anditsinteriorisagreatamphitheater。Specialattentionhasbeengiventofreshairandlight;thereisnothingofthedim,religiouslightthatgoeswithmedievalchurchliness。Behindthepulpitaretiersofseatsforthegreatchoruschoir。Thereisalargeorgan。
Thebuildingispeculiarlyadaptedforhearingandseeing,andifitisnot,strictlyspeaking,beautifulinitself,itisbeautifulwhenitisfilledwithencirclingrowsofmenandwomen。
Manoffeelingthatheis,andonewhoappreciatestheimportanceofsymbols,Dr。Conwellhadaheartofolive-woodbuiltintothefrontofthepulpit,forthewoodwasfromanolive-treeintheGardenofGethsemane。Andtheamber-coloredtilesintheinnerwallsofthechurchbear,undertheglaze,thenamesofthousandsofhispeople;
foreveryone,youngorold,whohelpedinthebuilding,eventothegivingofasingledollar,hashisnameinscribedthere。ForDr。ConwellwishedtoshowthatitisnotonlythehouseoftheLord,butalso,inakeenlypersonalsense,thehouseofthosewhobuiltit。
Thechurchhasapossibleseatingcapacityof4,200,althoughonly3,135chairshavebeenputinit,forithasbeenthedesirenottocrowdthespaceneedlessly。ThereisalsoagreatroomfortheSunday-school,andextensiveroomsfortheyoungmen\'sassociation,theyoungwomen\'sassociation,andforakitchen,forexecutiveoffices,formeeting-placesforchurchofficersandboardsandcommittees。Itisaspaciousandpracticalandcompletechurchhome,andthepeoplefeelathomethere。
“Youseeagain,\'\'saidDr。Conwell,musingly,“theadvantageofaimingatbigthings。Thatbuildingrepresents$109,000aboveground。Itisfreefromdebt。Hadwebuiltasmallchurch,itwouldnowbeheavilymortgaged。\'\'
IV
HISPOWERASORATORANDPREACHER
EVENasayoungmanConwellwonlocalfameasanorator。AttheoutbreakoftheCivilWarhebeganmakingpatrioticspeechesthatgainedenlistments。Aftergoingtothefronthewassentbackhomeforatime,onfurlough,tomakemorespeechestodrawmorerecruits,forhisspeechesweresopersuasive,sopowerful,sofullofhomelyandpatrioticfeeling,thatthemenwhoheardthemthrongedintotheranks。Andasapreacherheusespersuasion,power,simpleandhomelyeloquence,todrawmentotheranksofChristianity。
Heisanoratorborn,andhasdevelopedthisinbornpowerbythehardestofstudyandthoughtandpractice。Heisoneofthoseraremenwhoalwaysseizeandholdtheattention。Whenhespeaks,menlisten。Itisquality,temperament,control——thewordisimmaterial,butthefactisverymaterialindeed。
SomequarterofacenturyagoConwellpublishedalittlebookforstudentsonthestudyandpracticeoforatory。That“clear-cutarticulationisthecharmofeloquence\'\'isoneofhisinsisted-uponstatements,anditwellillustratesthelifelongpracticeofthemanhimself,foreverywordashetalkscanbeheardineverypartofalargebuilding,yetalwayshespeakswithoutapparenteffort。
Heavoids“elocution。\'\'Hisvoiceissoft-pitchedandneverbreaks,evennowwhenheisoverseventy,because,soheexplainsit,healwaysspeaksinhisnaturalvoice。Thereisneverastrainingaftereffect。
“Aspeakermustpossessalarge-heartedregardforthewelfareofhisaudience,\'\'hewrites,andhereagainweseeConwellexplainingConwellism。
“Enthusiasminvitesenthusiasm,\'\'isanotherofhispointsofimportance;andoneunderstandsthatitisbydeliberatepurpose,andnotbychance,thathetrieswithsuchtremendousefforttoputenthusiasmintohishearerswitheverysermonandeverylecturethathedelivers。
“Itiseasytoraisealaugh,butdangerous,foritisthegreatesttestofanorator\'scontrolofhisaudiencetobeabletolandthemagainonthesolidearthofsoberthinking。\'\'Ihaveknownhimattheveryendofasermonhavearippleoflaughtersweepfreelyovertheentirecongregation,andtheninamomenthehaseveryindividualunderhiscontrol,listeningsoberlytohiswords。
Heneverfearstousehumor,anditisalwaysverysimpleandobviousandeffective。Withhimevenaverysimplepunmaybeused,notonlywith-
outtakingawayfromthestrengthofwhatheissaying,butwithavividincreaseofimpressiveness。
Andwhenhesayssomethingfunnyitisinsuchadelightfulandconfidentialway,withsuchagenial,quiet,infectioushumorousness,thathisaudienceiscaptivated。Andtheyneverthinkthatheistellingsomethingfunnyofhisown;
itseems,suchistheskilloftheman,thatheisjustlettingthemknowofsomethinghumorousthattheyaretoenjoywithhim。
“Beabsolutelytruthfulandscrupulouslyclear,\'\'
hewrites;andwithdelightfullytersecommonsense,hesays,“Useillustrationsthatillustrate\'\'——
andneverdidanoratorliveuptothisinjunctionmorethandoesConwellhimself。Nothingismoresurprising,nothingismoreinteresting,thanthewayinwhichhemakesuseasillustrationsoftheimpressionsandincidentsofhislongandvariedlife,and,whateveritis,ithasdirectandinstantbearingontheprogressofhisdiscourse。Hewillrefertosomethingthatheheardachildsayinatrainyesterday;inafewminuteshewillspeakofsomethingthathesaworsomeonewhomhemetlastmonth,orlastyear,ortenyearsago——
inOhio,inCalifornia,inLondon,inParis,inNewYork,inBombay;andeachmemory,eachillustration,isahammerwithwhichhedriveshomeatruth。
Thevastnumberofplaceshehasvisitedandpeoplehehasmet,theinfinitevarietyofthingshisobservanteyeshaveseen,givehimhisceaselessflowofillustrations,andhismemoryandhisskillmakeadmirableuseofthem。Itisseldomthatheusesanillustrationfromwhathehasread;everythingis,characteristically,hisown。
HenryM。Stanley,whoknewhimwell,referredtohimas“thatdouble-sightedYankee,\'\'whocould“seeataglanceallthereisandallthereeverwas。\'\'
Andneverwasthereamanwhososupplementswithpersonalreminiscencetheplaceorthepersonthathasfiguredintheillustration。WhenheillustrateswiththestoryofthediscoveryofCaliforniagoldatSutter\'shealmostparentheticallyremarks,“Ideliveredthislectureonthatveryspotafewyearsago;thatis,inthetownthataroseonthatveryspot。\'\'Andwhenheillustratesbythestoryoftheinventionofthesewing-machine,headds:“Isupposethatifanyofyouwereaskedwhowastheinventorofthesewing-machine,youwouldsaythatitwasEliasHowe。Butthatwouldbeamistake。IwaswithEliasHoweintheCivilWar,andheoftenusedtotellmehowhehadtriedforfourteenyearstoinventthesewing-machineandthatthenhiswife,feelingthatsomethingreallyhadtobedone,inventeditinacoupleofhours。\'\'Listeningtohim,youbegintofeelintouchwitheverybodyandeverything,andinafriendlyandintimateway。
Always,whetherinthepulpitorontheplatform,asinprivateconversation,thereisanabsolutesimplicityaboutthemanandhiswords;asimplicity,anearnestness,acompletehonesty。Andwhenhesetsdown,inhisbookonoratory,“A
manhasnorighttousewordscarelessly,\'\'hestandsforthatrespectforword-craftsmanshipthateverysuccessfulspeakerorwritermustfeel。
“Beintenselyinearnest,\'\'hewrites;andinwritingthishesetsdownaprimeprinciplenotonlyofhisoratory,butofhislife。
AyoungministertoldmethatDr。Conwelloncesaidtohim,withdeepfeeling,“Alwaysremember,asyoupreach,thatyouarestrivingtosaveatleastonesoulwitheverysermon。\'\'AndtooneofhisclosefriendsDr。Conwellsaid,inoneofhisself-revealingconversations:
“Ifeel,wheneverIpreach,thatthereisalwaysonepersoninthecongregationtowhom,inallprobability,Ishallneverpreachagain,andthereforeIfeelthatImustexertmyutmostpowerinthatlastchance。\'\'Andinthis,evenifthiswereall,oneseeswhyeachofhissermonsissoimpressive,andwhyhisenergyneverlags。Always,withhim,isthefeelingthatheisintheworldtodoallthegoodhecanpossiblydo;notamoment,notanopportunity,mustbelost。
Themomentherisesandstepstothefrontofhispulpithehastheattentionofeveryoneinthebuilding,andthisattentionhecloselyholdstillheisthrough。Yetitisneverbyastrikingeffortthatattentionisgained,exceptinsofarthathisuttersimplicityisstriking。“Iwanttopreachsosimplythatyouwillnotthinkitpreaching,butjustthatyouarelisteningtoafriend,\'\'Irememberhissaying,oneSundaymorning,ashebeganhissermon;andthenhewentonjustassimplyassuchhomely,kindly,friendlywordspromised。Andhoweffectively!
Hebelievesthateverythingshouldbesoputastobeunderstoodbyall,andthisbeliefheappliesnotonlytohispreaching,buttothereadingoftheBible,whosedescriptionshenotonlyvisualizestohimself,butmakesvividlycleartohishearers;andthisoftenmakesforfascinationinresult。
Forexample,heisreadingthetenthchapterofISamuel,andbegins,“`Thoushaltmeetacompanyofprophets。\'\'\'
“`Singers,\'itshouldbetranslated,\'\'heputsin,liftinghiseyesfromthepageandlookingoutoverhispeople。Thenhegoeson,takingthischangeasamatterofcourse,“`Thoushaltmeetacompanyofsingerscomingdownfromthehighplace——\'\'\'
Whereuponheagaininterruptshimself,andinanirresistibleexplanatoryaside,whichinstantlyraisesthedesiredpictureinthemindofeveryone,hesays:“Thatmeans,fromthelittleoldchurchonthehill,youknow。\'\'Andhowplainandclearandrealandinteresting——mostofall,interesting——itisfromthismoment!Anothermanwouldhaveleftitthatprophetswerecomingdownfromahighplace,whichwouldnothaveseemedatallaliveornatural,andhere,suddenly,Conwellhasflashedhispictureofthesingerscomingdownfromthelittleoldchurchonthehill!Thereismagicindoingthatsortofthing。
Andhegoeson,nowreading:“`Thoushaltmeetacompanyofsingerscomingdownfromthelittleoldchurchonthehill,withapsaltery,andatabret,andapipe,andaharp,andtheyshallsing。\'\'\'
MusicisoneofConwell\'sstrongestaids。Hesingshimself;singsasifhelikestosing,andoftenfindshimselfleadingthesinging——usuallyso,indeed,attheprayer-meetings,andoften,ineffect,atthechurchservices。
Irememberatonechurchservicethatthechoir-leaderwasstandinginfrontofthemassedchoirostensiblyleadingthesinging,butthatConwellhimself,standingattherearofthepulpitplatform,withhiseyesonhishymn-book,silentlyswayingalittlewiththemusicandunconsciouslybeatingtimeasheswayed,wasjustasunconsciouslytherealleader,foritwashewhomthecongregationwerewatchingandwithhimthattheywerekeepingtime!Heneversuspectedit;hewasmerelythinkingalongwiththemusic;andtherewassuchalookofcontagioushappinessonhisfaceasmadeeveryoneinthebuildingsimilarlyhappy。Forhepossessesamysteriousfacultyofimbuingotherswithhisownhappiness。
Notonlysingers,butthemodernequivalentofpsalteryandtabretandcymbals,allhavetheirplaceinDr。Conwell\'sschemeofchurchservice;
fortheremaybeapiano,andtheremayevenbeatrombone,andthereisagreatorgantohelpthevoices,andattimestherearechimingbells。
Hismusicaltasteseemstotendtowardthethunderous——orperhapsitisonlythatheknowstherearetimeswhenpeopleliketohearthethunderousandaremovedbyit。
Andhowthechoirthemselveslikeit!Theyoccupyagreatcurvingspacebehindthepulpit,andputtheirheartsintosong。Andasthecongregationdisperseandthechoirfilterdown,sometimestheyarestillsingingandsomeofthemcontinuetosingastheygoslowlyouttowardthedoors。Theyarehappy——Conwellhimselfishappy——allthecongregationarehappy。Hemakeseverybodyfeelhappyincomingtochurch;hemakesthechurchattractivejustasHowellswassolongagotoldthathedidinLexington。
Andthereissomethingmorethanhappiness;
thereisasenseofease,ofcomfort,ofgeneraljoy,thatisquiteunmistakable。Thereisnothingofstiffnessorconstraint。Andwithitallthereisfullreverence。Itisnowonderthatheisaccustomedtofilleveryseatofthegreatbuilding。
Hisgesturesareusuallyverysimple。Nowandthen,whenheworksuptoemphasis,hestrikesonefistinthepalmoftheotherhand。Whenheisthroughyoudonotrememberthathehasmadeanygesturesatall,butthesoundofhisvoiceremainswithyou,andthelookofhiswonderfuleyes。Andthoughheispastthethreescoreyearsandten,helooksoutoverhispeoplewitheyesthatstillhavetheveritablelookofyouth。
Likeallgreatmen,henotonlydoesbigthings,butkeepsintouchwithmyriaddetails。Whenhisassistant,announcingthefuneralofanoldmember,hesitatesaboutthestreetandnumberandsaysthattheycanbefoundinthetelephonedirectory,Dr。Conwell\'sdeepvoicebreaksquietlyinwith,“Suchanumber[givingit],DauphinStreet\'\'——quietly,andinalowtone,yeteveryoneinthechurchhearsdistinctlyeverysyllableofthatlowvoice。
Hisfundofpersonalanecdote,orpersonalreminiscence,isconstantandillustrativeinhispreaching,justasitiswhenhelectures,andthereminiscencessweepthroughmanyyears,andattimesarereallystartlinginthevividandhomelikepicturestheypresentofthefamousfolkofthepastthatheknew。
OneSundayeveninghemadeanalmostcasualreferencetothetimewhenhefirstmetGarfield,thenacandidateforthePresidency。“IaskedMajorMcKinley,whomIhadmetinWashington,andwhosehomewasinnorthernOhio,aswasthatofMr。Garfield,togowithmetoMr。
Garfield\'shomeandintroduceme。Whenwegotthere,aneighborhadtofindhim。`Jim!Jim!\'
hecalled。Yousee,GarfieldwasjustplainJimtohisoldneighbors。It\'shardtorecognizeaherooveryourbackfence!\'\'Hepausedamo-
mentfortheappreciativerippletosubside,andwenton:
“Wethreetalkedtheretogether\'\'——whatararetalkingthatmusthavebeen-McKinley,Garfield,andConwell——“wetalkedtogether,andafterawhilewegottothesubjectofhymns,andthosetwogreatmenbothtoldmehowdeeplytheylovedtheoldhymn,`TheOld-TimeReligion。\'
Garfieldespeciallylovedit,sohetoldus,becausethegoodoldmanwhobroughthimupasaboyandtowhomheowedsuchgratitude,usedtosingitatthepasturebarsoutsideoftheboy\'swindoweverymorning,andyoungJimknew,wheneverheheardthatoldtune,thatitmeantitwastimeforhimtogetup。Hesaidthathehadheardthebestconcertsandthefinestoperasintheworld,buthadneverheardanythinghelovedashestillloved`TheOld-TimeReligion。\'
IforgetwhatreasontherewasforMcKinley\'sespeciallylikingit,buthe,asdidGarfield,likeditimmensely。\'\'
WhatfollowedwasastrikingexampleofConwell\'sintentnessonlosingnochancetofixanimpressiononhishearers\'minds,andatthesametimeitwasareallyastonishingproofofhispowertomoveandsway。Foranewexpressioncameoverhisface,andhesaid,asiftheideahadonlyatthatmomentoccurredtohim——asitmostprobablyhad——“Ithinkit\'sinourhymnal!\'\'
Andinamomentheannouncedthenumber,andthegreatorganstruckup,andeverypersoninthegreatchurcheveryman,woman,andchild——joinedintheswingingrhythmofverseafterverse,asiftheycouldnevertire,of“TheOld-
TimeReligion。\'\'Itisasimplemelody——barelymorethanasinglelineofalmostmonotonemusic:
_Itwasgoodenoughformotherandit\'sgoodenoughforme!
Itwasgoodonthefieryfurnaceandit\'sgoodenoughforme!_
Thusitwenton,withnever-wearyingiteration,andeachtimewiththerefrain,moreandmorerhythmicandswaying:
_Theold-timereligion,Theold-timereligion,Theold-timereligion——
It\'sgoodenoughforme!_
ThatitwasgoodfortheHebrewchildren,thatitwasgoodforPaulandSilas,thatitwillhelpyouwhenyou\'redying,thatitwillshowthewaytoheaven——alltheseandstillotherlinesweresung,withasortofwailingsoftness,acuriousmonotone,adepthofearnestness。Andthemanwhohadworkedthismiracleofcontrolbyevokingoutofthepasthismemoryofameetingwithtwoofthevanishedgreatonesoftheearth,stoodbeforehispeople,leadingthem,singingwiththem,hiseyesaglowwithaninwardlight。Hismagichadsuddenlysetthemintothespiritoftheoldcamp-meetingdays,thedaysofpioneeringandhardship,whenreligionmeantsomuchtoeverybody,andeventhosewhoknewnothingofsuchthingsfeltthem,evenifbutvaguely。Everyheartwasmovedandtouched,andthatoldtunewillsinginthememoryofallwhothushearditandsungitaslongastheylive。
V
GIFTFORINSPIRINGOTHERS
THEconstantearnestnessofConwell,hisdesiretoletnochanceslipbyofhelpingafellowman,putsoftenintohisvoice,whenhepreaches,anoteofeagerness,ofanxiety。Butwhenheprays,whenheturnstoGod,hismannerundergoesasubtleandunconsciouschange。Aloadhasslippedoffhisshouldersandhasbeenassumedbyahigherpower。Intohisbearing,dignifiedthoughitwas,therecomesanunconsciousincreaseofthedignity。Intohisvoice,firmasitwasbefore,therecomesadeepernoteoffirmness。
Heisapttoflinghisarmswidespreadasheprays,inafinegesturethatheneverusesatothertimes,andhelooksupwardwiththedignityofamanwho,talkingtoahigherbeing,isproudofbeingafriendandconfidant。OnedoesnotneedtobeaChristiantoappreciatethebeautyandfinenessofConwell\'sprayers。
Heislikelyatanytimetodotheunexpected,andheissogreatamanandhassuchcontrolthatwhateverhedoesseemstoeverybodyaper-
fectlynaturalthing。Hissincerityissoevident,andwhateverhedoesisdonesosimplyandnaturally,thatitisjustamatterofcourse。
Iremember,duringonechurchservice,whilethesingingwasgoingon,thathesuddenlyrosefromhischairand,kneelingbesideit,ontheopenpulpit,withhisbacktothecongregation,remainedinthatpostureforseveralminutes。Noonethoughtitstrange。Iwaslikelyenoughtheonlyonewhonoticedit。Hispeopleareusedtohissincerities。AndthistimeitwasmerelythathehadafewwordstosayquietlytoGodandturnedasideforafewmomentstosaythem。
Hisearnestnessofbeliefinprayermakeshimafirmbelieverinanswerstoprayer,and,infact,towhatmaybetermedthedirectinterpositionofProvidence。Doubtlessthemysticstraininheritedfromhismotherhasalsomuchtodowiththis。
Hehasatypicallyhomelywayofexpressingitbyoneofhisfavoritemaxims,onethathelovestorepeatencouraginglytofriendswhoareindifficultiesthemselvesorwhoknowofthedifficultiesthatarehis;andthishearteningmaximis,“TrustinGodanddothenextthing。\'\'
AtonetimeintheearlydaysofhischurchworkinPhiladelphiaapaymentofathousanddollarswasabsolutelyneededtopreventalaw-
suitinregardtoadebtforthechurchorgan。
Infact,itwasworsethanadebt;itwasanotesignedbyhimselfpersonally,thathadbecomedue——hewasalwaysreadytoassumepersonalliabilityfordebtsofhischurch——andfailuretomeetthenotewouldmeanameasureofdisgraceaswellasmarkedchurchdiscouragement。
Hehadtriedallthesourcesthatseemedopentohim,butinvain。Hecouldnotopenlyappealtothechurchmembers,inthiscase,foritwasintheearlydaysofhispastorate,andhiszealfortheorgan,hisdesireanddeterminationtohaveit,asanecessarypartofchurchequipment,hadoutrunthejudgmentofsomeofhisbestfriends,includingthatofthedeaconwhohadgonetoMassachusettsforhim。Theyhadurgedadelaytillotherexpensesweremet,andhehadactedagainsttheiradvice。
Hehadtriedsuchfriendsashecould,andhehadtriedprayer。Buttherewasnosignofaid,whethersupernaturalornatural。
Andthen,literallyontheverydayonwhichtheholderofthenotewastobeginproceedingsagainsthim,acheckforpreciselytheneededonethousanddollarscametohim,bymail,fromamanintheWest——amanwhowasatotalstrangertohim。Itturnedoutthattheman\'ssister,whowasoneoftheTemplemembership,hadwrittentoherbrotherofDr。Conwell\'swork。
Sheknewnothingofanyspecialneedformoney,knewnothingwhateverofanynoteorofthedemandforathousanddollars;shemerelyoutlinedtoherbrotherwhatDr。Conwellwasaccomplishing,andwithsuchenthusiasmthatthebrotheratoncesenttheopportunecheck。
Atalatertimethesumoftenthousanddollarswasimportunatelyneeded。Itwasdue,paymenthadbeenpromised。ItwasforsomeoftheconstructionworkoftheTempleUniversitybuildings。Thelastdayhadcome,andConwellandtheveryfewwhoknewoftheemergencywereinthedepthsofgloom。Itwastoolargeasumtoaskthechurchpeopletomakeup,fortheywerenotrichandtheyhadalreadybeengivingsplendidly,oftheirslendermeans,forthechurchandthenfortheuniversity。Therewasnorichmantoturnto;themenfamousforenormouscharitablegiftshaveneverletthemselvesbeinterestedinanyoftheworkofRussellConwell。Itwouldbeunkindandgratuitoustosuggestthatithasbeenbecausetheirnamescouldnotbepersonallyattached,orbecausetheworkisofanunpretentiouskindamongunpretentiouspeople;itneedmerelybesaidthatneithertheynortheiragentshavecaredtoaid,exceptthatoneoftheveryrichest,whosenameisthemostdistinguishedintheentireworldasagiver,didonce,inresponsetoastrongpersonalapplication,givethirty-fivehundreddollars,thisbeingtheextentoftheassociationofthewealthywithanyofthevariedConwellwork。
Sowhenitwasabsolutelynecessarytohavetenthousanddollarsthepossibilitiesofmoneyhadbeenexhausted,whetherfromcongregationorindividuals。
RussellConwell,inspiteofhissuperboptimism,isalsoamanofdeepdepressions,andthisisbecauseoftheveryfireandfervorofhisnature,foralwaysinsuchanaturethereisabalancing。Hebelievesinsuccess;successmustcome!——successisinitselfalmostareligionwithhim——successforhimselfandforalltheworldwhowilltryforit!Buttherearetimeswhenheissadanddoubtfuloversomeparticularpossibility。Andheintenselybelievesinprayer——faithcanmovemountains;
butalwayshebelievesthatitisbetternottowaitforthemountainsthustobemoved,buttogorightoutandgettoworkatmovingthem。Andonceinawhiletherecomesatimewhenthemountainloomstoothreatening,evenafterthebravesteffortsandthedeepesttrust。
Suchatimehadcome——theten-thousand-dollardebtwasaloomingmountainthathehadtriedinvaintomove。Hecouldstillpray,andhedid,butitwasoneofthetimeswhenhecouldonlythinkthatsomethinghadgonewrong。
Thedeanoftheuniversity,whohasbeencloselyintouchwithallhisworkformanyyears,toldmeofhow,inadiscouragementwhichwasthemorenotablethroughcontrastwithhisusualunfailingcourage,helefttheexecutiveofficesforhishome,acoupleofblocksaway“Hewentawaywitheverythinglookingdarkbeforehim。ItwasChristmas-time,buttheveryfactofitsbeingChristmasonlyaddedtohisdepression——Christmaswassuchanunnaturaltimeforunhappiness!Butinafewminuteshecameflyingback,radiant,overjoyed,sparklingwithhappiness,wavingaslipofpaperinhishandwhichwasacheckforpreciselytenthousanddollars!Forhehadjustdrawnitoutofanenvelopehandedtohim,ashereachedhome,bythemail-carrier。
“Andithadcomesostrangelyandsonaturally!
Forthecheckwasfromawomanwhowasprofoundlyinterestedinhiswork,andwhohadsentthecheckknowingthatinageneralwayitwasneeded,butwithouttheleastideathattherewasanyimmediateneed。Thatwaseightornineyearsago,butalthoughthedonorwastoldatthetimethatDr。Conwellandallofusweremostgratefulforthegift,itwasnotuntilveryrecentlythatshewastoldhowopportuneitwas。
AndthechangeitmadeinDr。Conwell!Heisagreatmanformaxims,andallofuswhoareassociatedwithhimknowthatoneofhisfavoritesisthat`Itwillallcomeoutrightsometime!\'
Andofcoursewehadarareopportunitytotellhimthatheoughtnevertobediscouraged。Anditissoseldomthatheis!\'\'
Whenthebignewchurchwasbuildingthemembersofthechurchwerevaguelydisturbedbynoticing,whenthestructurereachedthesecondstory,thatatthatheight,onthesidetowardthevacantandunboughtlandadjoining,therewereseveraldoorsbuiltthatopenedliterallyintonothingbutspace!
Whenaskedaboutthesedoorsandtheirpurpose,Dr。Conwellwouldmakesomecasualreply,generallytotheeffectthattheymightbeexcellentasfire-escapes。Tonoone,forquiteawhile,didhebroachevenahintofthegreatplanthatwasseethinginhismind,whichwasthatthebuildingsofauniversityweresomedaytostandonthatlandimmediatelyadjoiningthechurch!
Atthattimetheuniversity,theTempleUniversityasitisnowcalled,wasnotevenacollege,althoughitwasprobablycalledacollege。Conwellhadorganizedit,anditconsistedofanumberofclassesandteachers,meetinginhighlyinadequatequartersintwolittlehouses。ButtheimaginationofConwellearlypicturedgreatnewbuildingswithaccommodationsforthousands!Intimethedreamwasrealized,theimaginationbecameafact,andnowthosesecond-floordoorsactuallyopenfromtheTempleChurchintotheTempleUniversity!
Yousee,healwaysthinksbig!Hedreamsbigdreamsandwinsbigsuccess。Allhislifehehastalkedandpreachedsuccess,anditisarealandverypracticalbeliefwithhimthatitisjustaseasytodoalargethingasasmallone,and,infact,alittleeasier!Andsohenaturallydoesnotseewhyoneshouldbesatisfiedwiththesmallthingsoflife。“Ifyourroomsarebigthepeoplewillcomeandfillthem,\'\'helikestosay。Thesameeffortthatwinsasmallsuccesswould,rightlydirected,havewonagreatsuccess。“Thinkbigthingsandthendothem!\'\'
Mostfavoriteofallmaximswiththismanofmaxims,is“LetPatiencehaveherperfectwork。\'\'
Overandoverhelovestosayit,andhisfriendslaughabouthisloveforit,andheknowsthattheydoandlaughsaboutithimself。“Itirethemall,\'\'