Evening star., 1896-10-21


at 10 o'clock, is waited upon by half a
dozen servants, sits in an easy chair.
| moves about a few papers. writes his name
lew times, goes out at o'clock to eat a
big dinner with his friends: for this he
receives S25,tDO per year This seems hard.
But nature insists on it. She says 1t is
just, and so 1t is just. Capital has no con-
science. Business is business. Capital only
wants another quarter of a cent. Now
right behind this president of a road stands
another man anxious to DO his work for
$20,OtU. Capital would take him IN min
ute. if he could do the work. But he can't,
and so he does not secure !he place. Look
at these two mer. The first man simply
sits a board and listens for a whistle.
He can think of his sweetheart, of what
he pleases. The last man has all the trains
and all the engines and all the brakene1
running up and down his nerves; soon he
| is worn out-has softenng of the brain, or
nervous prostration, and dies He earns
all he gets. Nature pays big salaries for
brain power, and asks us 10 build these
universities to fit men for great work.
The university has the right of way, be-
cause it develops the spiritual forces in the
race. Titus had destroyed Jerusalem and
was on his way back to Rome AT Joppa,
while he was embarking his forces, sitting
on his horse watching the moving of the
troops, q poor Jew crept in among the
horses and pulled Titus stirrup, and pre-
senting a paper asked Titus to let him
teach his people in their distress. Titus,
Scorning the wretched Jew, gave his con-
sent. That man by his school saved his
race to outlive the conquering empire by
many centuries. On this spot we shall do
our part Iii saving our race and all races.
When God made man, He took so much
dust and kneaded it up with other elements,
nodded 1t into shape, fashioned the frame
in symmetry. fitted part to part, dug the
arteries, drilled the bones. spread the
nerves. wove the veins, oiled the joints
and completed the entire system with fea-
lures of beauty and form of grace. But
that was not man. That was only a stark
corpse. The great Builder and Architect
and Artist had done His work, but the Di-
vine Father had not touched it. Then He
took up this clay, tenderly, in His hands,
and breathed out of His own soul the
breath of life into its nostris, when, 10! the
dull eyes opened and cleaned with thought,
the dumb heart began its everlasting beat
ing, the warm blood leaped through the
new veins. the obedient muscles caught the
secret of strength, and Adam stepped forth
living soul-an immortal, accountable be
ing. with power to think. with thoughts to
run along Gods infinite thoughts, with
power to feel and act, with heart to beat
responsive to the mighty throbbings of the
Infinite heart, and with will Independent of
His power. and able to treat with Him.
the peer of His majesty. Such it seems to
me is our work here. We are taking our
money. and thought, and our best tudg-
ment. and are compromising them into a
beautiful site. stately edfice. wise and
prudent board, and many hopes for the
future But all this will not make a uni
versity. The brains. and benefactions. and
artiticers of the church are coming here
One thing more is wanting. The church
must come with her active and resjstlcss
sympathies, and bowling over this form of
beauty. breathe into it the breath of life
Then the university will leap to her feet
and. robed In thought and crowned with
power. go forth to the admirfng millions
fair as the moon. bright as the sun and ter
r1ble as an army with banners.
DIR. Payne's Address,,
Rev. c. H. Payne. DID, LID, CORE
spending secretary of the board of ,tuca-
ton Of the NJ. r. Church, spoke as fol-
lows:
The laying of the corner stone of the first
tuilding of The American University marks
an epoch in the history of Methodism The
future historian of the church will desig-
nate this event as one of the great events
in the history not only of the church. hut
or the nation. The institution to he es-
ia abliSEed here viii exert 4 commanding in
fiuence over the whole world 1t will be
beacon light seEding out its beams far and
wide to illuminate the entire race of man.
L. The establishment of this university
at this time marks the Methodist EDYcoDal
Church as a church of progress. Glorious
as its history has been in the past it pro-
poses that it shall be still more glorious
in the future 1t is. and is to be, the
church not only of yesterday, but of today
and tomorrow. 1t understands full well
that the church that would march with
conquering tread through the twentieth
century must keep step with the progress
OF the age; nay. more, must be a leader
in all the progressive moral movements CT
the age.
2. The American University stands for
an intelligent yet evangelical and evangel-
iStic type of the Christian faith. The pro-
jectors of this university recognize the
fact that the present is an age of widely
d!ffused knowledge. of increasing intelli-
gence. of investigation and research. and
this research applies to things sacred as
well as to things secular: applies to the
very foundations of our cherished Chris
tian faith. 1t cannot be otherwise and
we would not have it otherwise if we could.
We hail this awakening spirit of inveStiga-
ton: We welcome all reverent Biblical criti-
cism. This university will give freest scope
and fullest encouragement TO the earnest
pursuit of truth wherever found. AS every
window of this building and of successive
buildings will be open to let in Gods light,
SO 1t is hoped the windows of every soul
among the thousands of students that will
flock to this shrine of learning will ever
be open to let in upon their whole beng
the light of Gods truth. We do .iot be-
ieve and therefore do not fear. that the
most thorough investigation of tru,h-all
truth, inspired truth-will ultimately min
lister to skepticism or tend in the least to
overthrow the foundations of our holy
faith.
We believe rather that it will be the most
strongest defense against the overthrow
of faith. Since the investigation Of ali
that Is most sacred and most dear 10 the
church will go OH and must go o. the
Methodist Church prefers to have ii con-
Quoted under its own imperial watch-care;
not specifically. but thoroughly not with
prejudice, but in the spirit of perfect cam
dor. MIR. Gladstone has acknowledged that
the best thing that he received from Ok
ford University was that he there learned
TO appreciate the value of intellectual truth
That means that he learned to be earnes.
IN the pursuit of all truth: learned to be
honest in the recognition and reception of
all truth; learned to be loyal to the impera-
tive demands Of truth. and to live ever un-
der her regal supremacy. That lofty and
priceless lesson largely made Mr.. Gladstone
what he has been and what he is-the great
scholar, the devout believer, the ircompara-
BILE statesman. That is the lesson which
the intelligent youth of our country tolay
most need to learn. That is the Invaluable
lesson which this university is set to teacn
s. The American University is to stand
for the highest ideals in the life of the in
dividual, the church an' the nation-stan,,
for the highest and the est in attainment
and achievement. The distinguished au-
thor, Max Nordau. says that the one great
trouble with this world today-the one
prime reason why it is doing so little that
is worthy-is its lack of ideals. He par
ticulariZeS as to nations: England France
Germany and the United States have, ac-
cording to his statement, no worthy ideals:
have nothing great to inspire and StimuIa at q