The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-12

IN fnllaueIpnla. w nile yet young
man, he had exemplified the adage con-
corning minister's sons aud deacon's
to an eminent degree, being
the ring-leader in all mischief, to the
daily sorrow of his mother and the
stern reprobation of his father.
During the revival which swept
over the land many years ago, he ex-
perienced religion, and, like young
converts, saw nothing but perfection
in the lives of professed Christians,
Under this state of mind he entered q
Theological Seminary, of which his
father was a prominent Director. and
patron. The Faculty were very in
dulgent to this favorite son of favor,
ite sire, and during the single year of
his sojourn winked at many an irreg-
ularity of their impulsive and eccen-
trio portage. The bane of young AS
Seminary life was his entire want #
discretion, and false estimate of regen.
crate character He had never dreamt
that 'Theologues' could sin. He sup
posed school of the prophets must
needs be a very heaven begun of love
and purity. How sadly, yet slowly
did he come to understand the treas
ures in the earthen vessels Toward
the close of his first and only year, his
eyes got fairly opened SO that he be-
gan to put just estimate upon hu-
man frailty in young ministers and
theological professors. So bold at
last did his Jeremiah-like zeal become
in denouncing their frailties that even
the Faculty began to fear him.
1t was at the close of one of those
Enthusiastically dull, Seminary pray
er meetings in which the Faculty and
students were accustomed once q
month to meet. As usual, the Presi-
dent of the institution eat in the Bis
hops seat with the Faculty, according
to grade, seated on the right and on
the left. The usual set prayers, cold
as the everlasting SHOWS of Nova
Zembla, had been repeated, inter-
spersed with long. drawn and drag
ging hymn. Professor B. had spoken
his piece. promising student c. had de-
livered his essay. There was At length
the usual pause, and q sigh or two for
volunteers, when our youthful Luther
rose uninvited, and began in voice
such as l imagine John Knox must
have had when laundering anathemas
at the Queens Of England and Scot
land, to pray, as follows:
Let us pray. Oh, Lord, Thou
knowest the dreadful mockery and
wickedness of this assembly. How
the fear of man brings Z snare to all Of
us. o, Thou that seest the hearts of
every one now before, TheeI Thou
knowest all the lifeless souls before
Thee. We do now most penitently
confess our several and individual
sins. Grant, we pray Thee, forgiv-
ness for all the mean rivalries, the
petty strifes and animositles of these
Thy young servants. May the stu
dents Of this Seminary cease from the
attempts to over-reach and supplant
one another. May the INDECENT stu
dents think of something else than the
miserable pittance the Education So
ciety gives them, and the gifts of be-
nevolent societies. Deliver US from
pedantry, scholastic pride, fastidious
exclusiyeness, selfish partialities, and
mean jealousies. May we live SO that
we shall be as fearful of Gods wrath
as that man may come to knowledge
of our true lives and character. God
grant that Thy servant, Prof. w. may
haye more of the Grace of God given
him, and less of the ambition to ap-
pear learned. May he love souls more
and the dull dogmas of Scientific The
ology less. We pray Thee, o Lord,
to breathe life into the dry bones Of
this Seminary. Give to the Professor
of Hebrew some little idea of the SOL
emn and awful charge committed to
him, of rendering faithfully and most
considerably the true meaning of Thy
Word. May that spirit of cold criti-
cism be taken from him. May he
sink his faYorlte theories, and remem-
ber that Thou art God and he a worm.
And now, o Lord, we do pray Thee,
especially for Thy servant, the Presi-
dent of this institution. Thou know
est his violent and abusive manner,
often exhibited toward students of
this Seminary. Thou knowest all the
hatred manifested by students toward
him whom they ought to love and re-
we're. Teach him first of all the grace
of good manners. May he not forget
that he must give an account of the
solemn and awful trust of these souls.
We revere his learning and his tireless
diligence in behalf of Biblical knowl-
edge, but, oh, grant him more of the
Spirit of his Master, and take from
him, we pray Thee, that overbearing
disposition and tyranny toward the
pupils under his charge; all of which
We pray, remembering that Thou art
God, and we are all Thy children, and
need Thy daily chastisement. through
Christ Jesus, ou: Lord, Amen
There was much more of the same
practical character, and not q student
or member of that Faculty ever for
got that prayer. His ministry has
ever been success from that hour