STRAIGHT UNIVERSITY.
Those acquainted with the history of this institution affirm that it has never before been visited by just such a work of grace as is now gladdening many hearts.
The year, unlike some that have preceded it, has been free from serious and protracted interruptions. Neither Expositions nor epidemics have made great breaches in the classes or diverted attention from matters of first importance. Though our classes have been unusually crowded, the amount of faithful scholarly work accomplished has been greatly above that of ordinary years. There has been a quiet, intense determination on the part of pupils to master the subjects in hand, that has greatly encouraged their teachers. Many pupils have expressed a praiseworthy dissatisfaction with their work and a longing to do it better, and have seemed glad to devote recreation and holiday hours to gain a better mastery of difficult subjects.
Accompanying this zeal for the acquisition of knowledge there has been, from the week of prayer, a deep and growing tenderness on the subject of religion.
While there have been no special revival services, the regular weekly religious meetings of the University, both voluntary and those in the regular order, have been attended and sustained with the most earnest enthusiasm and by about the same numbers.
Some four weeks ago a request was made after the Sunday evening preaching service, that those who had lately become Christians would remain. Several who had given good evidence of a change of heart were absent from the service, but fourteen remained and bore glad witness to personal experience of the Lord’s saving power. Since then the work has gone on steadily, and about one soul a day has come into the light. The Spirit is revealing His presence in all grades of the University, and boarders and day pupils are witnessing to His saving power. The work is very quiet, deep and wonderful. There are over forty-five who give evidence of having been “born from above.”
The following incident illustrates the peculiar graciousness of the work as it was modestly related by one of the teachers last evening in Faculty meeting: “Yesterday noon, as my scholars were passing out of the room, a boy stepped out of the line and stood waiting to speak with me. When all had left the room, I said: ‘Well, B., what can I do for you?’ With a voice broken with emotion, he exclaimed: ‘Oh, Miss P., I want to be a Christian; I have wanted to be one for a good while, and I want you to pray for me.’ I was surprised, as he had given me considerable trouble for weeks, and I had not thought him seriously inclined till that morning.
“‘I certainly will pray for you,’ I replied; ‘would you like to have me do so now?’
“‘Yes, ma’am,’ was his earnest response.
“Turning the key in the lock, to avoid interruptions, I knelt with him and asked the Lord to help him give up everything. He tried to pray, but could only say, ‘Oh, Lord! Oh, Lord!!’ and broke into sobs. I then opened the Bible and read, ‘Come unto Me,’ ‘I am the Way,’ and other passages. He having regained his self-possession as I opened to him the Scripture, I said: ‘Now, is there anything you have not given up—anything you are not willing to give up for Christ?’ ‘No,’ he answered, firmly, ‘I do not care for anything; I want to be a Christian.’ I was obliged to leave him here, and did not have a chance to speak with him again that day. This morning he was a little late, but something in his face as he said ‘good morning,’ told me that the struggle was ended. This noon he again left the line, and without waiting for his mates to pass out, held out his hand, joyfully exclaiming: ‘Miss P., I want to tell you that I have found Jesus; I found him last night, and I am happier than I have ever been since I was born; I mean to serve Him as long as I live.’ I never heard a more earnest and hearty confession of Christ.”