第5章

hesays，“fortheyhearmesayiteveryday。\'\'

Buthesaysiteverydaybecauseitmeanssomuchtohim。Itstands，inhismind，asaconstantwarningagainstangerorimpatienceorover-haste——faultstowhichhisimpetuoustemperamentisprone，thoughfewhaveeverseenhimeitherangryorimpatientorhasty，sowelldoesheexerciseself-control。Thosewhohavelongknownhimwellhavesaidtomethattheyhaveneverheardhimcensureanyone；thathisforbearanceandkindnessarewonderful。

Heisasensitivemanbeneathhiscomposure；

hehassuffered，andkeenly，whenhehasbeenunjustlyattacked；hefeelspainofthatsortforalongtime，too，foreventhepassingofyearsdoesnotentirelydeadenit。

“WhenIhavebeenhurt，orwhenIhavetalkedwithannoyingcranks，IhavetriedtoletPatiencehaveherperfectwork，forthoseverypeople，ifyouhavepatiencewiththem，mayafterwardbeofhelp。\'\'

AndhewentontotalkalittleofhisearlyyearsinPhiladelphia，andhesaid，withsadness，thatithadpainedhimtomeetwithopposition，andthatithadevencomefromministersofhisowndenomination，forhehadbeensomisunder-

stoodandmisjudged；but，headded，themomentarysombernesslifting，evenhisbitterenemieshadbeenwonoverwithpatience。

Icouldunderstandagooddealofwhathemeant，foroneoftheBaptistministersofPhiladelphiahadsaidtome，withsomeshame，thatatfirstitusedactuallytobethecasethatwhenDr。Conwellwouldenteroneoftheregularministers\'

meetings，allwouldholdaloof，notasingleonesteppingforwardtomeetorgreethim。

“Anditwasallthroughourjealousyofhissuccess，\'\'saidtheminister，vehemently。“Hecametothiscityastranger，andhewoninstantpopularity，andwecouldn\'tstandit，andsowepounceduponthingsthathedidthatwerealtogetherunimportant。Therestofusweresojealousofhiswinningthrongsthatwecouldn\'tseethegoodinhim。AndithurtDr。Conwellsomuchthatfortenyearshedidnotcometoourconferences。Butallthiswaschangedlongago。

Nownoministerissowelcomedasheis，andI

don\'tbelievethatthereeverhasbeenasingletimesincehestartedcomingagainthathehasn\'tbeenaskedtosaysomethingtous。Wegotoverourjealousylongagoandwealllovehim。\'\'

Norisitonlythattheclergymenofhisowndenominationadmirehim，fornotlongago，suchhavingbeenDr。Conwell\'striumphinthecityofhisadoption，therectorofthemostpowerfulandaristocraticchurchinPhiladelphiavoluntarilypaidloftytributetohisaimsandability，hisworkandhispersonalworth。“HeisaninspirationtohisbrothersintheministryofJesusChrist，\'\'sothisEpiscopalianrectorwrote。“Heisafriendtoallthatisgood，afoetoallthatisevil，astrengthtotheweak，acomfortertothesorrowing，amanofGod。Thesewordscomefromtheheartofonewholoves，honors，andreverenceshimforhischaracterandhisdeeds。\'\'

Dr。Conwelldidsomebeautifulandunusualthingsinhischurch，institutedsomebeautifulandunusualcustoms，andonecanseehownarrowandhastycriticismschargedhim，longago，withsensationalism——chargeslongsinceforgottenexceptthroughthehurtstillfeltbyDr。Conwellhimself。

“Theyusedtochargemewithmakingacircusofthechurch——asifitwerepossibleformetomakeacircusofthechurch!\'\'Andhistonewasoneofgrievedamazementafteralltheseyears。

Buthewasoriginalandhewaspopular，andthereforethereweremisunderstandingandjealousy。

HisEasterservices，forexample，yearsago，becamewidelytalkedofandeagerlyanticipatedbecauseeachsermonwouldbewroughtaroundsomefinesymbol；andhewouldholdinhishand，inthepulpit，thebluerobin\'segg，orthewhitedove，orthestemoflilies，orwhateverhehadchosenastheparticularsymbolfortheparticularsermon，andthatsymbolwouldgivehimthecentralthoughtforhisdiscourse，accentedasitwouldbebytheactualsymbolitselfinviewofthecongregation。Thecrosslightedbyelec-

tricity，toshinedownoverthebaptismalpool，thelittlestreamofwatercascadinggentlydownthestepsofthepoolduringthebaptismalrite，therosesfloatinginthepoolandhisgiftofoneofthemtoeachofthebaptizedasheorsheleftthewater——

allsuchthingsdidseem，longago，sounconventional。

Yethisownpeoplerecognizedthebeautyandpoetryofthem，andthousandsofBiblesinPhiladelphiahaveabaptismalrosefromDr。

Conwellpressedwithinthepages。

Hisconstantindividualityofmind，hisconstantfreshness，alertness，brilliancy，warmth，sympathy，endearhimtohiscongregation，andwhenhereturnsfromanabsencetheybubbleandeffervesceoverhimasifheweresomebrilliantnewpreacherjustcometothem。Heisalwaysnewtothem。

Wereitnotthathepossessessomeremarkablequalityofcharmhewouldlongagohavebecome，sotospeak，anoldstory，butinsteadofthatheistothemanalwaysnewstory，analwaysentertaininganddelightfulstory，afteralltheseyears。

Itisnotonlythattheystillthrongtohearhimeitherpreachorlecture，thoughthatitselfwouldbenoticeable，butitisthedelightfulanddelightedspiritwithwhichtheydoit。JusttheothereveningIheardhimlectureinhisownchurch，justafterhisreturnfromanabsence，andeveryfacebeamedhappilyupathimtowelcomehimback，andeveryonelistenedasintentlytohiseverywordasifhehadneverbeenheardtherebefore；andwhenthelecturewasoverahugebouquetofflowerswashandeduptohim，andsomeoneembarrassedlysaidafewwordsaboutitsbeingbecausehewashomeagain。Itwasallasifhehadjustreturnedfromanabsenceofmonths——andhehadbeenawayjustfiveandahalfdays!

VI

MILLIONSOFHEARERS

THATConwellisnotprimarilyaminister——

thatheisaministerbecauseheisasincereChristian，butthatheisfirstofallanAbouBenAdhem，amanwholoveshisfellow-men，becomesmoreandmoreapparentasthescopeofhislife-

workisrecognized。Onealmostcomestothinkthathispastorateofagreatchurchisevenaminormatterbesidethecombinedimportanceofhiseducationalwork，hislecturework，hishospitalwork，hisworkingeneralasahelpertothosewhoneedhelp。

Formyownpart，Ishouldsaythatheislikesomeoftheold-timeprophets，thestrongoneswhofoundagreatdealtoattendtoinadditiontomattersofreligion。Thepower，theruggedness，thephysicalandmentalstrength，thepositivegrandeuroftheman——allthesearelikethegeneralconceptionsofthebigOldTestamentprophets。

Thesuggestionisgivenonlybecauseithasoftenrecurred，andthereforewiththefeelingthatthereissomethingmorethanfancifulinthecom-

parison；andyet，afterall，thecomparisonfailsinoneimportantparticular，fornoneoftheprophetsseemstohavehadasenseofhumor!

ItisperhapsbetterandmoreaccuratetodescribehimasthelastoftheoldschoolofAmericanphilosophers，thelastofthosesturdy-bodied，high-

thinking，achievingmenwho，intheolddays，didtheirbesttosetAmericanhumanityintherightpath——suchmenasEmerson，Alcott，Gough，WendellPhillips，Garrison，BayardTaylor，Beecher；menwhomConwellknewandadmiredinthelongago，andallofwhomhavelongsincepassedaway。

AndConwell，inhisgoingupanddownthecountry，inspiringhisthousandsandthousands，isthesurvivorofthatold-timegroupwhousedtotravelabout，dispensingwitandwisdomandphilosophyandcouragetothecrowdedbenchesofcountrylyceums，andthechairsofschool-housesandtownhalls，orthelargerandmorepretentiousgathering-placesofthecities。

Conwellhimselfisamusedtorememberthathewantedtotalkinpublicfromhisboyhood，andthatveryearlyhebegantoyieldtotheinbornimpulse。Helaughsasheremembersthevarietyofcountryfairsandschoolcommencementsandanniversariesandevensewing-circleswherehetriedhisyouthfulpowers，andallforexperiencealone，inthefirstfewyears，exceptpossiblyforsuchathingasahamorajack-knife!

Thefirstmoneythatheeverreceivedforspeakingwas，soherememberswithglee，seventy-fivecents；

andeventhatwasnotforhistalk，butforhorsehire!Butatthesametimethereismorethanamusementinrecallingtheseexperiences，forheknowsthattheywereinvaluabletohimastraining。

AndforoverhalfacenturyhehasaffectionatelyrememberedJohnB。Gough，who，intheheightofhisownpowerandsuccess，sawresolutionandpossibilitiesintheardentyounghill-man，andactuallydidhimthekindnessandthehonorofintroducinghimtoanaudienceinoneoftheMassachusettstowns；anditwasreallyagreatkindnessandagreathonor，fromamanwhohadwonhisfametoayoungmanjustbeginninganoratoricalcareer。

Conwell\'slecturinghasbeen，consideringeverything，themostimportantworkofhislife，forbyithehascomeintoclosetouchwithsomanymillions——literallymillions!——ofpeople。

Iaskedhimonceifhehadanyideahowmanyhehadtalkedtointhecourseofhiscareer，andhetriedtoestimatehowmanythousandsoftimeshehadlectured，andtheaverageattendanceforeach，butdesistedwhenhesawthatitranintomillionsofhearers。Whatamarvelissuchafactasthat!Millionsofhearers!

Iaskedthesamequestionofhisprivatesecretary，andfoundthatnoonehadeverkeptanysortofrecord；butascarefulanestimateascouldbemadegaveaconservativeresultoffullyeightmillionhearersforhislectures；andaddingthenumbertowhomhehaspreached，whohavebeenoverfivemillion，thereisatotalofwelloverthirteenmillionwhohavelistenedtoRussellConwell\'svoice!Andthisstaggeringtotalis，ifanything，anunderestimate。Thefiguringwasdonecautiouslyandwasbaseduponsuchfactsasthathenowaddressesanaverageofoverforty-fivehundredathisSundayservices(anaveragethatwouldbehigherwereitnotthathissermonsinvacationtimeareusuallydeliveredinlittlechurches；whenathome，attheTemple，headdressesthreemeetingseverySunday)，andthathelecturesthroughouttheentirecourseofeachyear，includingsixnightsaweekoflecturingduringvacation-time。Whatapoweriswieldedbyamanwhohasheldoverthirteenmillionpeopleunderthespellofhisvoice!Probablynoothermanwhoeverlivedhadsuchatotalofhearers。

Andthetotalissteadilymounting，forheisamanwhohasneverknownthemeaningofrest。

IthinkitalmostcertainthatDr。Conwellhasneverspokentoanyoneofwhat，tome，isthefinestpointofhislecture-work，andthatisthathestillgoesgladlyandforsmallfeestothesmalltownsthatarenevervisitedbyothermenofgreatreputation。Heknowsthatitisthelittleplaces，theout-of-the-wayplaces，thesubmergedplaces，thatmostneedapleasureandastimulus，andhestillgoesout，manofwelloverseventythatheis，totinytownsindistantstates，heedlessofthediscomfortsoftraveling，ofthepoorlittlehotelsthatseldomhavevisitors，oftheoftentimeshopelesscookingandtheuncleanliness，ofthehardshipsandthediscomforts，oftheunventilatedandoverheatedorunderheatedhalls。Hedoesnotthinkofclaimingtherelaxationearnedbyalifetimeoflabor，or，ifheeverdoes，thethoughtoftheswordofJohnRingrestoresinstantlyhisfervidearnestness。

Howhedoesit，howhecanpossiblykeepitup，isthegreatestmarvelofall。Ihavebeforemealistofhisengagementsforthesummerweeksofthisyear，1915，andIshallsetitdownbecauseitwillspecificallyshow，farmoreclearlythangeneralstatements，thekindofworkhedoes。

Thelististheitineraryofhisvacation。Vacation!

LecturingeveryeveningbutSunday，andonSundayspreachinginthetownwherehehappenstobe!

June24Ackley，Ia。July11*Brookings，S。D。

“25Waterloo，Ia。“12Pipestone，Minn。

“26Decorah，Ia。“13Hawarden，Ia。

“27*Waukon，Ia。“14Canton，S。D

“28RedWing，Minn。“15Cherokee，Ia“29RiverFalls，Wis。“16Pocahontas，Ia“30Northfield，Minn。“17Glidden，Ia。

July1Faribault，Minn。“18*Boone，Ia。

“2SpringValley，Minn。“19Dexter，Ia。

“3BlueEarth，Minn。“20Indianola，Ia“4*Fairmount，Minn。“21Corydon，Ia“5LakeCrystal，Minn。“22Essex，Ia。

“6RedwoodFalls，“23Sidney，Ia。

Minn。“24FallsCity，Nebr。

“7Willmer，Minn。“25*Hiawatha，Kan。

“8Dawson，Minn。“26Frankfort，Kan。

“9Redfield，S。D。“27Greenleaf，Kan。

“10Huron，S。D。“28Osborne，Kan。

July29Stockton，Kan。Aug。14Honesdale，Pa。

“30Phillipsburg，Kan。“15*Honesdale，Pa。

“31Mankato，Kan。“16Carbondale，Pa。

_Enroutetonextdateon_“17Montrose，Pa。

_circuit_。“18Tunkhannock，Pa。

Aug。3Westfield，Pa。“19Nanticoke，Pa。

“4Galston，Pa。“20Stroudsburg，Pa。

“5PortAlleghany，Pa。“21Newton，N。J。

“6Wellsville，N。Y。“22*Newton，N。J。

“7Bath，N。Y。“23Hackettstown，N。J。

“8*Bath，N。Y。“24NewHope，Pa。

“9PennYan，N。Y。“25Doylestown，Pa。

“10Athens，N。Y。“26Phnixville，Pa。

“11Owego，N。Y。“27Kennett，Pa。

“12Patchogue，LI。，N。Y。“28Oxford，Pa。

“13PortJervis，N。Y。“29*Oxford，Pa。

*PreachonSunday。

Andallthesehardships，allthistravelingandlecturing，whichwouldtesttheenduranceoftheyoungestandstrongest，thismanofoverseventyassumeswithoutreceivingaparticleofpersonalgain，foreverydollarthathemakesbyitisgivenawayinhelpingthosewhoneedhelping。

ThatDr。Conwellisintenselymodestisoneofthecuriousfeaturesofhischaracter。Hesincerelybelievesthattowritehislifewouldbe，inthemain，justtotellwhatpeoplehavedoneforhim。Heknowsandadmitsthatheworksunweariedly，butinprofoundsincerityheascribesthesuccessofhisplanstothosewhohavesecondedandassistedhim。Itisinjustthiswaythathelooksuponeveryphaseofhislife。Whenheisremindedofthedevotionofhisoldsoldiers，heremembersitonlywithasortofpleasedwonderthattheygavethedevotiontohim，andhequiteforgetsthattheylovedhimbecausehewasalwaysreadytosacrificeeaseorriskhisownlifeforthem。

Hedeprecatespraise；ifanyonelikeshim，thelikingneednotbeshowninwords，butinhelpingalongagoodwork。Thathischurchhassucceededhasbeenbecauseofthedevotionofthepeople；

thattheuniversityhassucceededisbecauseofthesplendidworkoftheteachersandpupils；thatthehospitalshavedonesomuchhasbeenbecauseofthenobleservicesofphysiciansandnurses。

Tohim，ashehimselfexpressesit，realizingthatsuccesshascometohisplans，itseemsasiftherealitiesarebutdreams。Heisastonishedbyhisownsuccess。Hethinksmainlyofhisownshortcomings。“Godandmanhaveeverbeenverypatientwithme。\'\'Hisdepressionisattimesprofoundwhenhecomparestheactualresultswithwhathewouldlikethemtobe，foralwayshishopeshavegonesoaringfarinadvanceofachievement。Itisthe“Hitchyourchariottoastar\'\'idea。

Hismodestygoeshand-in-handwithkindliness，andIhaveseenhimlethimselfbeintroducedinhisownchurchtohiscongregation，whenheisgoingtodeliveralecturethere，justbecauseaformerpupiloftheuniversitywaspresentwho，Conwellknew，wasambitioustosaysomethinginsideoftheTemplewalls，andthisseemedtobetheonlyopportunity。

Ihavenoticed，whenhetravels，thatthefaceofthenewsboybrightensashebuysapaperfromhim，thattheporterisallhappiness，thatconductorandbrakemanaredevotedlyanxioustobeofaid。Everywherethemanwinslove。Heloveshumanityandhumanityrespondstothelove。

Hehasalwayswontheaffectionofthosewhoknewhim，andBayardTaylorwasoneofthemany；heandBayardTaylorlovedeachotherforlongacquaintanceandfellowexperiencesasworld-

widetravelers，backintheyearswhencomparativelyfewAmericansvisitedtheNileandtheOrient，orevenEurope。

WhenTaylordiedtherewasamemorialserviceinBostonatwhichConwellwasaskedtopreside，and，ashewishedforsomethingmorethanaddresses，hewenttoLongfellowandaskedhimtowriteandreadapoemfortheoccasion。Longfellowhadnotthoughtofwritinganything，andhewastooilltobepresentattheservices，but，therealwaysbeingsomethingcontagiouslyinspiringaboutRussellConwellwhenhewishessomethingtobedone，thepoetpromisedtodowhathecould。Andhewroteandsentthebeautifullinesbeginning:

_Deadhelayamonghisbooks，ThepeaceofGodwasinhislooks_。

Manymenofletters，includingRalphWaldoEmerson，werepresentattheservices，andDr。

ConwellinducedOliverWendellHolmestoreadthelines，andtheywerelistenedtoamidprofoundsilence，totheirfineending。

Conwell，inspiteofhiswidespreadholdonmillionsofpeople，hasneverwonfame，recognition，generalrenown，comparedwithmanymenofminorachievements。Thisseemslikeanimpossibility。Yetitisnotanimpossibility，butafact。Greatnumbersofmenofeducationandcultureareentirelyignorantofhimandhisworkintheworld——men，these，whodeemthemselvesintouchwithworld-affairsandwiththeoneswhomakeandmovetheworld。Itisinexplicable，this，exceptthatneverwasthereamanmoredevoidofthefacultyofself-exploitation，self-advertising，thanRussellConwell。Nor，inthemerereadingofthem，dohiswordsappealwithanythingliketheforceofthesamewordsutteredbyhimself，foralways，withhisspokenwords，ishispersonality。

ThosewhohaveheardRussellConwell，orhaveknownhimpersonally，recognizethecharmofthemanandhisimmenseforcefulness；buttherearemany，andamongthemthosewhocontrolpublicitythroughbooksandnewspapers，who，thoughtheyoughttobethewarmestintheirenthusiasm，haveneverfeltdrawntohearhim，and，iftheyknowofhimatall，thinkofhimasonewhopleasesinasimplewaythecommonerfolk，forgettingintheirpridethateveryreallygreatmanpleasesthecommonones，andthatsimplicityanddirectnessareattributesofrealgreatness。

ButRussellConwellhasalwayswontheadmirationofthereallygreat，aswellasofthehumblermillions。Itisonlyasupposedlyculturedclassinbetweenthatisnotthoroughlyacquaintedwithwhathehasdone。

Perhaps，too，thisisowingtohishavingcastinhislotwiththecity，ofallcities，which，consciouslyorunconsciously，looksmostcloselytofamilyandplaceofresidenceascriterionsofmerit——acitywithwhichitisalmostimpossibleforastrangertobecomeaffiliated——oraphiladelphiated，asitmightbeexpressed——andPhiladelphia，inspiteofallthatDr。Conwellhasdone，hasbeenunderthethrallofthefactthathewentnorthofMarketStreet——thatfatalfactunderstoodbyallwhoknowPhiladelphia——andthathemadenoefforttomakefriendsinRittenhouseSquare。Suchconsiderationsseemabsurdinthistwentiethcentury，butinPhiladelphiatheyarestillpotent。TensofthousandsofPhiladelphianslovehim，andheishonoredbyitsgreatestmen，butthereisaclassofthepseudo-

culturedwhodonotknowhimorappreciatehim。

Anditneedsalsotobeunderstoodthat，outsideofhisownbelovedTemple，hewouldprefertogotoalittlechurchoralittlehallandtospeaktotheforgottenpeople，inthehopeofencouragingandinspiringthemandfillingthemwithhopefulglow，ratherthantospeaktotherichandcomfortable。

Hisdearesthope，sooneofthefewwhoareclosetohimtoldme，isthatnooneshallcomeintohislifewithoutbeingbenefited。Hedoesnotsaythispublicly，nordoesheforamomentbelievethatsuchahopecouldbefullyrealized，butitisverydeartohisheart；andnomanspurredbysuchahope，andthusbendingallhisthoughtstowardthepoor，thehard-working，theunsuccessful，isinawaytowinhonorfromtheScribes；forwehaveScribesnowquiteasmuchaswhentheywereclassedwithPharisees。

Itisnotthefirsttimeintheworld\'shistorythatScribeshavefailedtogivetheirrecognitiontoonewhoseworkwasnotamongthegreatandwealthy。

ThatConwellhimselfhasseldomtakenanypartwhateverinpoliticsexceptasagoodcitizenstandingforgoodgovernment；that，asheexpressesit，heneverheldanypoliticalofficeexceptthathewasonceonaschoolcommittee，andalsothathedoesnotidentifyhimselfwiththeso-called“movements\'\'thatfromtimetotimecatchpublicattention，butaimsonlyandconstantlyatthequietbettermentofmankind，maybementionedasadditionalreasonswhyhisnameandfamehavenotbeensteadilyblazoned。

Heknowsandwilladmitthatheworkshardandhasallhislifeworkedhard。“ThingskeepturningmywaybecauseI\'monthejob，\'\'ashewhimsicallyexpresseditoneday；butthatisaboutall，soitseemstohim。

Andhesincerelybelievesthathislifehasinitselfbeenwithoutinterest；thatithasbeenanessentiallycommonplacelifewithnothingoftheinterestingortheeventfultotell。Heisfranklysurprisedthattherehaseverbeenthedesiretowriteabouthim。Hereallyhasnoideaofhowfascinatingarethethingshehasdone。Hisentirelifehasbeenofpositiveinterestfromthevarietyofthingsaccomplishedandtheunexpectednesswithwhichhehasaccomplishedthem。

Never，forexample，wastheresuchanorganizer。

Infact，organizationandleadershiphavealwaysbeenasthebreathoflifetohim。Asayouthheorganizeddebatingsocietiesand，beforethewar，alocalmilitarycompany。WhileongarrisondutyintheCivilWarheorganizedwhatisbelievedtohavebeenthefirstfreeschoolforcoloredchildrenintheSouth。OnedayMinneapolishappenedtobespokenof，andConwellhappenedtorememberthatheorganized，whenhewasalawyerinthatcity，whatbecamethefirstY。M。C。A。branchthere。Onceheevenstartedanewspaper。Anditwasnaturalthattheorganizinginstinct，asyearsadvanced，shouldleadhimtogreaterandgreaterthings，suchashischurch，withthenumerousassociationsformedwithinitselfthroughhisinfluence，andtheuniversity——theorganizingoftheuniversitybeinginitselfanachievementofpositiveromance。

“Alifewithoutinterest!\'\'Why，whenI

happenedtoask，oneday，howmanyPresidentshehadknownsinceLincoln，hereplied，quitecasually，thathehad“writtenthelivesofmostofthemintheirownhomes\'\'；andbythishemeanteitherpersonallyorincollaborationwiththeAmericanbiographerAbbott。

Themany-sidednessofConwellisoneofthethingsthatisalwaysfascinating。Afteryouhavequitegotthefeelingthatheispeculiarlyamanofto-day，lecturingonto-day\'spossibilitiestothepeopleofto-day，youhappenuponsomesuchfactasthatheattractedtheattentionoftheLondon_Times_throughalectureonItalianhistoryatCambridgeinEngland；orthatontheeveningofthedayonwhichhewasadmittedtopracticeintheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStateshegavealectureinWashingtonon“TheCurriculumoftheProphetsinAncientIsrael。\'\'Theman\'slifeisasuccessionofdelightfulsurprises。

Anoddtraitofhischaracterishisloveforfire。

Hecouldeasilyhavebeenaveritablefire-

worshiperinsteadofanorthodoxChristian!Hehasalwayslovedablaze，andhesaysreminiscentlythatfornosinglethingwashepunishedsomuchwhenhewasachildasforbuildingbonfires。Andaftersecuringpossession，ashedidinmiddleage，ofthehousewherehewasbornandofagreatacreagearoundabout，hehadoneofthemostenjoyabletimesofhislifeintearingdownoldbuildingsthatneededtobedestroyedandinheapingupfallentreesandrubbishandinpilinggreatheapsofwoodandsettingthegreatpilesablaze。Yousee，thereisoneofthesecretsofhisstrength——hehasneverlostthecapacityforfieryenthusiasm!

Always，too，intheselateryearsheisshowinghisstrengthandenthusiasminapositivelynobleway。Hehasforyearsbeenakeensuffererfromrheumatismandneuritis，buthehasneverpermittedthistointerferewithhisworkorplans。

Hemakeslittleofhissufferings，andwhenheslowlymakeshisway，bentandtwisted，downstairs，hedoesnotwanttobenoticed。“I\'mallright，\'\'hewillsayifanyoneofferstohelp，andatsuchatimecomeshisnearestapproachtoimpatience。Hewantshissufferingignored。

Strengthhasalwaysbeentohimsopreciousabelongingthathewillnotrelinquishitwhilehelives。“I\'mallright!\'\'Andhemakeshimselfbelievethatheisallrighteventhoughthepainbecomessosevereastodemandmassage。Andhewillstill，evenwhensuffering，talkcalmly，orwritehisletters，orattendtowhatevermatterscomebeforehim。ItistheSpartanboyhidingthepainofthegnawingfox。Andheneverhasletpaininterferewithhispresenceonthepulpitortheplatform。Hehasonceinawhilegonetoameetingoncrutchesandthen，bytheforceofwill，andinspiredbywhatheistodo，hasstoodbeforehisaudienceorcongregation，amanfullofstrengthandfireandlife。

VII

HOWAUNIVERSITYWASFOUNDED

THEstoryofthefoundationandriseofTempleUniversityisanextraordinarystory；

itisnotonlyextraordinary，butinspiring；itisnotonlyinspiring，butfullofromance。

Fortheuniversitycameoutofnothing!——nothingbuttheneedofayoungmanandthefactthathetoldtheneedtoonewho，throughouthislife，hasfelttheimpulsetohelpanyoneinneedandhasalwaysobeyedtheimpulse。

IaskedDr。Conwell，upathishomeintheBerkshires，totellmehimselfjusthowtheuniversitybegan，andhesaidthatitbeganbecauseitwasneededandsucceededbecauseoftheloyalworkoftheteachers。AndwhenIaskedfordetailshewassilentforawhile，lookingoffintothebroodingtwilightasitlayoverthewatersandthetreesandthehills，andthenhesaid:

“Itwasallsosimple；itallcameaboutsonaturally。Oneevening，afteraservice，ayoungmanofthecongregationcametomeandIsawthathewasdisturbedaboutsomething。Ihadhimsitdownbyme，andIknewthatinafewmomentshewouldtellmewhatwastroublinghim。

“`Dr。Conwell，\'hesaid，abruptly，`Iearnbutlittlemoney，andIseenoimmediatechanceofearningmore。Ihavetosupportnotonlymyself，butmymother。Itleavesnothingatall。Yetmylongingistobeaminister。Itistheoneambitionofmylife。IsthereanythingthatIcando?\'

“`Anyman，\'Isaidtohim，`withtheproperdeterminationandambitioncanstudysufficientlyatnighttowinhisdesire。\'

“`Ihavetriedtothinkso，\'saidhe，`butI

havenotbeenabletoseeanythingclearly。I

wanttostudy，andamreadytogiveeveryspareminutetoit，butIdon\'tknowhowtogetatit。\'

“Ithoughtafewminutes，asIlookedathim。

Hewasstronginhisdesireandinhisambitiontofulfilit——strongenough，physicallyandmentally，forworkofthebodyandofthemind——andheneededsomethingmorethangeneralizationsofsympathy。

“`CometomeoneeveningaweekandIwillbeginteachingyoumyself，\'Isaid，`andatleastyouwillinthatwaymakeabeginning\'；andI

namedtheevening。

“Hisfacebrightenedandheeagerlysaidthathewouldcome，andleftme；butinalittlewhilehecamehurryingbackagain。`MayIbringafriendwithme?\'hesaid。

“Itoldhimtobringasmanyashewantedto，formorethanonewouldbeanadvantage，andwhentheeveningcamethereweresixfriendswithhim。AndthatfirsteveningIbegantoteachthemthefoundationsofLatin。\'\'

Hestoppedasifthestorywasover。Hewaslookingoutthoughtfullyintothewaninglight，andIknewthathismindwasbusywiththosedaysofthebeginningoftheinstitutionhesoloves，andwhosecontinuedsuccessmeanssomuchtohim。Inalittlewhilehewenton:

“Thatwasthebeginningofit，andthereislittlemoretotell。Bythethirdeveningthenumberofpupilshadincreasedtoforty；othersjoinedinhelpingme，andaroomwashired；thenalittlehouse，thenasecondhouse。Fromafewstudentsandteacherswebecameacollege。AfterawhileourbuildingswentuponBroadStreetalongsidetheTempleChurch，andafteranotherwhilewebecameauniversity。Fromthefirstouraim\'\'——(Inoticedhowquicklyithadbecome“our\'\'insteadof“my\'\')——“ouraimwastogiveeducationtothosewhowereunabletogetitthroughtheusualchannels。Andsothatwasreallyalltherewastoit。\'\'

ThatwastypicalofRussellConwell——totellwithbrevityofwhathehasdone，topointoutthebeginningsofsomething，andquiteomittoelaborateastotheresults。Andthat，whenyoucometoknowhim，ispreciselywhathemeansyoutounderstand——thatitisthebeginningofanythingthatisimportant，andthatifathingisbutearnestlybegunandsetgoingintherightwayitmayjustaseasilydevelopbigresultsaslittleresults。

Buthisstorywasveryfarindeedfrombeing“alltherewastoit，\'\'forhehadquiteomittedtostatetheextraordinaryfactthat，beginningwiththosesevenpupils，comingtohislibraryonaneveningin1884，theTempleUniversityhasnumbered，uptoCommencement-timein1915，88，821students!Nearlyonehundredthousandstudents，andinthelifetimeofthefounder!

Really，themagnitudeofsuchaworkcannotbeexaggerated，northevastimportanceofitwhenitisconsideredthatmostoftheseeighty-eightthousandstudentswouldnothavereceivedtheireducationhaditnotbeenforTempleUniversity。

AnditallcamefromtheinstantresponseofRussellConwelltotheimmediateneedpresentedbyayoungmanwithoutmoney!

“AndthereissomethingelseIwanttosay，\'\'

saidDr。Conwell，unexpectedly。“Iwanttosay，morefullythanamerecasualword，hownoblytheworkwastakenupbyvolunteerhelpers；

professorsfromtheUniversityofPennsylvaniaandteachersfromthepublicschoolsandotherlocalinstitutionsgavefreelyofwhattimetheycoulduntilthenewventurewasfirmlyonitsway。Ihonorthosewhocamesodevotedlytohelp。Anditshouldberememberedthatinthoseearlydaystheneedwasevengreaterthanitwouldnowappear，fortherewerethennonightschoolsormanual-trainingschools。SincethenthecityofPhiladelphiahasgoneintosuchwork，andasfastasithastakenupcertainbranchestheTempleUniversityhasputitsenergyintothebranchesjusthigher。Andthereseemsnolesseningoftheneedofit，\'\'headded，ponderingly。

No；thereiscertainlynolesseningoftheneedofit!Thefiguresoftheannualcataloguewouldaloneshowthat。

Asearlyas1887，justthreeyearsafterthebeginning，theTempleCollege，asitwasbythattimecalled，issueditsfirstcatalogue，whichsetforthwithstirringwordsthattheintentofitsfoundingwasto:

“Providesuchinstructionasshallbebestadaptedtothehighereducationofthosewhoarecompelledtolaborattheirtradewhileengagedinstudy。

“Cultivateatasteforthehigherandmostusefulbranchesoflearning。

“Awakeninthecharacterofyounglaboringmenandwomenadeterminedambitiontobeusefultotheirfellow-men。\'\'

Thecollege——theuniversityasitintimecametobe——earlybroadeneditsscope，butithasfromthefirstcontinuedtoaimattheneedsofthoseunabletosecureeducationwithoutsuchhelpas，throughitsmethods，itaffords。

Itwascharteredin1888，atwhichtimeitsnumbershadreachedalmostsixhundred，andithaseversincehadaconstantfloodofapplicants。

“Ithasdemonstrated，\'\'asDr。Conwellputsit，“thatthosewhoworkforalivinghavetimeforstudy。\'\'Andhe，thoughhedoesnothimselfaddthis，hasgiventheopportunity。

Hefeelsespecialprideinthefeaturesbywhichlecturesandrecitationsareheldatpracticallyanyhourwhichbestsuitstheconvenienceofthestudents。Ifanytenstudentsjoininarequestforanyhourfromnineinthemorningtotenatnightaclassisarrangedforthem，tomeetthatrequest!Thisinvolvesthenecessityforamuchlargernumberofprofessorsandteachersthanwouldotherwisebenecessary，butthatisdeemedaslightconsiderationincomparisonwiththeimmensegooddonebymeetingtheneedsofworkers。

AlsoPresidentConwell——forofcourseheisthepresidentoftheuniversity——isproudofthefactthattheprivilegeofgraduationdependsentirelyuponknowledgegained；thatgraduationdoesnotdependuponhavinglistenedtoanysetnumberoflecturesoruponhavingattendedforsomanytermsoryears。Ifastudentcandofouryears\'

workintwoyearsorinthreeheisencouragedtodoit，andifhecannotevendoitinfourhecanhavenodiploma。

Obviously，thereisnoplaceatTempleUniversityforstudentswhocareonlyforafewyearsofleisuredease。Itisaplaceforworkers，andnotatallforthosewhomerelywishtobeabletoboastthattheyattendedauniversity。Thestudentshavecomelargelyfromamongrailroadclerks，bankclerks，bookkeepers，teachers，preachers，mechanics，salesmen，drugclerks，cityandUnitedStatesgovernmentemployees，widows，nurses，housekeepers，brakemen，firemen，engineers，motormen，conductors，andshophands。

Itwaswhenthecollegebecamestrongenough，andsufficientlyadvancedinscholarshipandstanding，andbroadenoughinscope，towinthenameofuniversitythatthistitlewasofficiallygrantedtoitbytheStateofPennsylvania，in1907，andnowitseducationalplanincludesthreedistinctschoolsystems。

First:itoffersahigh-schooleducationtothestudentwhohastoquitschoolafterleavingthegrammar-school。

Second:itoffersafullcollegeeducation，withthebranchestaughtinlong-establishedhigh-

gradecolleges，tothestudentwhohastoquitonleavingthehigh-school。

Third:itoffersfurtherscientificorprofessionaleducationtothecollegegraduatewhomustgotoworkimmediatelyonquittingcollege，butwhowishestotakeupsomesuchcourseaslawormedicineorengineering。

Outoflastyear\'senrolmentof3，654itisinterestingtonoticethatthelawclaimed141；

theology，182；medicineandpharmacyanddentistrycombined，357；civilengineering，37；alsothattheteachers\'college，withnormalcoursesonsuchsubjectsashouseholdartsandscience，kindergartenwork，andphysicaleducation，took174；andstillmoreinteresting，inaway，toseethat269studentswereenrolledforthetechnicalandvocationalcourses，suchascookinganddress-

making，millinery，manualcrafts，school-gardening，andstory-telling。Therewere511inhigh-

schoolwork，and243inelementaryeducation。

Therewere79studyingmusic，and68studyingtobetrainednurses。Therewere606inthecollegeofliberalartsandsciences，andinthedepartmentofcommercialeducationtherewere987——foritisauniversitythatoffersbothscholarshipandpracticality。

TempleUniversityisnotintheleastacharitableinstitution。Itsfeesarelow，anditshoursarefortheconvenienceofthestudentsthemselves，butitisaplaceofabsoluteindependence。Itis，indeed，aplaceoffargreaterindependence，sooneoftheprofessorspointedout，thanarethegreatuniversitieswhichreceivemillionsandmillionsofmoneyinprivategiftsandendowments。

TempleUniversityinitsearlyyearswassorelyinneedofmoney，andoftentherewerethrillsofexpectancywhensomemanofmightywealthseemedonthepointofgiving。Butnotasingleoneeverdid，andnowtheTemplelikestofeelthatitisgladofit。TheTemple，toquoteitsownwords，is“Aninstitutionforstrongmenandwomenwhocanlaborwithbothmindandbody。\'\'

Andthemanagementisproudtobeabletosaythat，althoughgreatnumbershavecomefromdistantplaces，“notoneofthemanythousandseverfailedtofindanopportunitytosupporthimself。\'\'

Evenintheearlydays，whenmoneywasneededforthenecessarybuildings(thebuildingsofwhichConwelldreamedwhenheleftsecond-storydoorsinhischurch!)，theuniversity——collegeitwasthencalled——hadwondevotionfromthosewhoknewthatitwasaplacewhereneithertimenormoneywaswasted，andwhereidlenesswasacrime，andinthedonationsfortheworkweremanysuchitemsasfourhundreddollarsfromfactory-workerswhogavefiftycentseach，andtwothousanddollarsfrompolicemenwhogaveadollareach。

WithintwoorthreeyearspasttheStateofPennsylvaniahasbegungivingitalargesumannually，andthisstateaidispublicrecognitionofTempleUniversityasaninstitutionofhighpublicvalue。

Thestatemoneyisinvestedinthebrainsandheartsoftheambitious。

SoeagerisDr。Conwelltoplacetheopportunityofeducationbeforeeveryone，thatevenhisservantsmustgotoschool!Heisnotoneofthosewhocanseeneedsthatarefarawaybutnotthosethatarerightathome。Hisbeliefineducation，andinthehighestattainableeducation，isprofound，anditisnotonlyonaccountoftheabstractpleasureandvalueofeducation，butitspowerofincreasingactualearningpowerandthusmakingaworkerofmorevaluetobothhimselfandthecommunity。

Manyamanandmanyawoman，whilecontinuingtoworkforsomefirmorfactory，hastakenTempletechnicalcoursesandthusfittedhimselforherselfforanadvancedpositionwiththesameemployer。TheTempleknowsofmanysuch，whohavethuswonprominentadvancement。

Anditknowsofteacherswho，whilecontinuingtoteach，havefittedthemselvesthroughtheTemplecoursesforprofessorships。AnditknowsofmanyacaseoftheriseofaTemplestudentthatreadslikeanArabianNights\'fancy!——ofadvancefrombookkeepertoeditor，fromoffice-

boytobankpresident，fromkitchenmaidtoschoolprincipal，fromstreet-cleanertomayor!

TheTempleUniversityhelpsthemthathelpthemselves。

PresidentConwelltoldmepersonallyofonecasethatespeciallyinterestedhimbecauseitseemedtoexhibit，inespecialdegree，theTemplepossibilities；anditparticularlyinterestedmebecauseitalsoshowed，inhighdegree，themethodsandpersonalityofDr。Conwellhimself。

Onedayayoungwomancametohimandsaidsheearnedonlythreedollarsaweekandthatshedesiredverymuchtomakemore。“Canyoutellmehowtodoit?\'\'shesaid。

Helikedherambitionandherdirectness，buttherewassomethingthathefeltdoubtfulabout，andthatwasthatherhatlookedtooexpensiveforthreedollarsaweek!

NowDr。Conwellisamanwhomyouwouldneversuspectofgivingathoughttothehatofmanorwoman!Butasamatteroffactthereisverylittlethathedoesnotsee。

Butthoughthehatseemedtooexpensiveforthreedollarsaweek，Dr。Conwellisnotamanwhomakessnap-judgmentsharshly，andinparticularhewouldbethelastmantoturnawayhastilyonewhohadsoughthimoutforhelp。

Heneverfelt，norcouldpossiblyurgeuponanyone，contentmentwithahumblelot；hestandsforadvancement；hehasnosympathywiththatdictumofthesmug，thathascometousfromanationtightboundforcenturiesbyitsgentryandaristocracy，aboutbeingcontentedwiththepositioninwhichGodhasplacedyou，forhepointsoutthattheBibleitselfholdsupadvancementandsuccessasthingsdesirable。

And，astotheyoungwomanbeforehim，itdeveloped，throughdiscreetinquiryveiledbyfrankdiscussionofhercase，thatshehadmadetheexpensive-lookinghatherself!Whereuponnotonlydidalldoubtfulnessandhesitationvanish，buthesawatoncehowshecouldbetterherself。

Heknewthatawomanwhocouldmakeahatlikethatforherselfcouldmakehatsforotherpeople，andso，“Gointomillineryasabusiness，\'\'

headvised。

“Oh——ifIonlycould!\'\'sheexclaimed。“ButIknowthatIdon\'tknowenough。\'\'

“TakethemillinerycourseinTempleUniversity，\'\'

heresponded。

Shehadnotevenheardofsuchacourse，andwhenhewentontoexplainhowshecouldtakeitandatthesametimecontinueatherpresentworkuntilthecoursewasconcluded，shewaspositivelyecstatic——itwasallsounexpected，thisopeningoftheviewofanewandbroaderlife。

“Shewasanunusualwoman，\'\'concludedDr。

Conwell，“andsheworkedwithenthusiasmandtirelessness。Shegraduated，wenttoanup-statecitythatseemedtoofferagoodfield，openedamillineryestablishmentthere，withherownnameabovethedoor，andbecameprosperous。Thatwasonlyafewyearsago。AndrecentlyIhadaletterfromher，tellingmethatlastyearshenettedaclearprofitofthreethousandsixhundreddollars!\'\'

Irememberaman，himselfofdistinguishedposition，sayingofDr。Conwell，“Itisdifficulttospeakintemperedlanguageofwhathehasachieved。\'\'Andthatjustexpressesit；thetemptationisconstantlytousesuperlatives——forsuperlativesfit!Ofcoursehehassucceededforhimself，andsucceededmarvelously，inhisrisefromtherockyhillfarm，buthehasdonesovastlymorethanthatininspiringsuchhostsofotherstosucceed!

Adreamerofdreamsandaseerofvisions——

andwhatrealizationshavecome!Anditinterestedmeprofoundlynotlongago，whenDr。

Conwell，talkingoftheuniversity，unexpectedlyremarkedthathewouldliketoseesuchinstitu-

tionsscatteredthroughouteverystateintheUnion。“Allcarriedonatslightexpensetothestudentsandathourstosuitallsortsofworkingmenandwomen，\'\'headded，afterapause；andthen，abruptly，“IshouldliketoseethepossibilityofhighereducationofferedtoeveryoneintheUnitedStateswhoworksforaliving。\'\'

Therewassomethingsuperbintheveryimaginingofsuchanation-widesystem。ButIdidnotaskwhetherornothehadplannedanydetailsforsuchaneffort。Iknewthatthusfaritmightonlybeoneofhisdreams——butIalsoknewthathisdreamshadawayofbecomingrealities。

Ihadafleetingglimpseofhissoaringvision。Itwasamazingtofindamanofmorethanthree-

scoreandtenthusdreamingofmoreworldstoconquer。AndIthought，whatcouldtheworldhaveaccomplishedifMethuselahhadbeenaConwell!——or，farbetter，whatwonderscouldbeaccomplishedifConwellcouldbutbeaMethuselah!

Hehasallhislifebeenagreattraveler。Heisamanwhoseesvividlyandwhocandescribevividly。Yetoftenhisletters，evenfromplacesofthemostprofoundinterest，aremostlyconcernedwithaffairsbackhome。Itisnotthathedoesnotfeel，andfeelintensely，theinterestofwhatheisvisiting，butthathistremendousearnestnesskeepshimalwaysconcernedabouthisworkathome。TherecouldbenostrongerexamplethanwhatInoticedinaletterhewrotefromJerusa-

lem。“IaminJerusalem!AndhereatGethsemaneandattheTombofChrist\'\'——readingthusfar，oneexpectsthatanyman，andespeciallyaminister，issuretosaysomethingregardingtheassociationsoftheplaceandtheeffectoftheseassociationsonhismind；butConwellisalwaysthemanwhoisdifferent——“AndhereatGethsemaneandattheTombofChrist，IprayespeciallyfortheTempleUniversity。\'\'ThatisConwellism!

Thathefoundedahospital——aworkinitselfgreatenoughforevenagreatlifeisbutoneamongthestrikingincidentsofhiscareer。Anditcameaboutthroughperfectnaturalness。Forhecametoknow，throughhispastoralworkandthroughhisgrowingacquaintancewiththeneedsofthecity，thattherewasavastamountofsufferingandwretchednessandanguish，becauseoftheinabilityoftheexistinghospitalstocareforallwhoneededcare。Therewassomuchsicknessandsufferingtobealleviated，thereweresomanydeathsthatcouldbeprevented——andsohedecidedtostartanotherhospital。

And，likeeverythingwithhim，thebeginningwassmall。Thatcannottoostronglybesetdownasthewayofthisphenomenallysuccessfulorganizer。Mostmenwouldhavetowaituntilabigbeginningcouldbemade，andsowouldmostlikelynevermakeabeginningatall。ButConwell\'swayistodreamoffuturebigness，butbereadytobeginatonce，nomatterhowsmallorinsignificantthebeginningmayappeartoothers。

Tworentedrooms，onenurse，onepatient——thiswasthehumblebeginning，in1891，ofwhathasdevelopedintothegreatSamaritanHospital。Inayeartherewasanentirehouse，fittedupwithwardsandoperating-room。Nowitoccupiesseveralbuildings，includingandadjoiningthatfirstone，andagreatnewstructureisplanned。Butevenasitis，ithasahundredandseventybeds，isfittedwithallmodernhospitalappliances，andhasalargestaffofphysicians；andthenumberofsurgicaloperationsperformedthereisverylarge。