Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-03-22
RELIGION In COLLEGES.
NOT SERMONS ONLY BUT DIRECT,
PERSONAL, CHRISTIAN WORK.

Through All the Christian Ages Evan
geIists Have Considered 1t Imperative
That Learning and Piety Should Go
Together.
1t was wise and timely for DR.. McCosh
to call the attention of the representa-
tives of the middle state colleges, assem-
bled recently at Princeton, to the i'm
mense Importance attached during
thousand years from the reign Of Charlie
magne in the universities of Europe to
the morals and religious training of their
students. There is no doubt a growing
tendency in some quarters to neglect the
spiritual side of education. 1t seems TO be
the aim of certain institutions to divorce
intellectual culture and scientific attain
ments from those pious offices of prayer
and Scripture reading and preaching
which used to be deemed an essential
part of collegiate life. In other institu-
tons it appears, to quote the sarcastic
remark Of another, that while gyinnas-
tics are made compulsory attendance
upon religious services is optional!
Nor are young men, as DR.. McCosh
very justly concludes, to be redeemed by
brilliant sermons from celebrated di-
vines. Such sermons are good enough
as far as they go, but they can never take
the place of personal Christian work by
the professors themselves among those
over whom, from the very closeness Of
their relations, they might and ought to
exert the happiest as well as thestrongest
influence
A conscientious and ardent teacher,
who loves Christ and longs to see his
kingdom extended, can find many fitting
opportunities not only to illustrate the
principles Of Christianity for his own
character, but to enforce them upon his
pupils, as guiding and practical precepts
1t was the intention Of the founders Of
our colleges, as their history amply shows,
that the men Of God occupying the pro-
fessorships should thus supplement and
carry forward the home religious nurture
and inspiration. And the venerable ex-
president Of Princeton is, without dis
pute, correct in saying that such pains
taking, active and fruitful work for the
Master win form the most satisfactory
part Of the memory and retrospect of all
who engage in it. Every man has many
things 10 regret, but surely no man can
regret any honest attempt which he has
made TO do good. On the contrary, he
will feel peculiar and Astounding joy in
the thought that he has turned many a
student-if such be the case-into the
4
especially if he has caused that student
to become a herald of divine truth and
y blessing to a lost race Nothing, in fact,
can be devised, either in college or out
of it, as a substitute for this consecrated
and loving personal influence. "Ye, "
said the Lord TO his disciples, care the
light Of the world" There is no other
light than that which streams from the
regenerate and Christ like soul as its
fountain, and which God designs to il
lumine and save the wandering.
In the same line Of personal activity
the members in the Christian association
in the college are to be encouraged to
labor The power for good or evil Of
one student over another is often greater
than that Of a professor over a student.
The very intimacy Of friendship, the
familiar knowledge Of one anothcr's
habits Of thought peculiar ways and
temptations, doubts and difficulties
serve to link classmates together with a
chain Of reciprocal influence that may
be used to the highest advantage by the
skillful servant Of jesus. 1t is believed,
% also, that if the English Bible were more
more widely taught and practically APP
piled TO student life the most beneiceni
results would follow. The Word of God
is the sword Of the spirit, and is, there
fore, the chief medium TO be employed
in Transforming and elevating men. II
has been found, after repeated expert
ments, that every legitimate mean.
should be brought into play to render
worship az little irksoms as possible, ant
at the same time attendance upon il
should be required as much Us upon any
other regular exercise. The time hs
not arrived for throwing down the BAR
so as to allow immature boys away from
parental and family restraints to DO JUS
as they please in the matter of attending
or absenting themselves from the ser
vices of the church. Christian at Work