The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-27

tive Great objections were raised
to my even joining this society, for II was under
stood among my college mates that believed in
neither the divinity of Christ nor the inspira-
ton OF the Bible. ! said to those who objected,
Isn't this society for inquiry They answered,
Yes Then l told them that | had AS much
right to inquire as anybody. and took the office
to which I'd been elected. AS far as ! had any
religion it was that of q ch~urchwoma
Il was Mt the bottom of another stirring time
that we had at Vassar." she went on, her whole
face lighting up as her mind reverted to her COL
lege days. There were about thirty-ive in my
class. | was brought to believe that the then
system OF awarding college honors WAS unfair,
and that IL invariably led to deception, and
sometimes fraud, among the candidates.; and
so some OF my class and | set ourselves to agi-
tating for a reform. I'm afraid ! wes the
ringieader." alphabetically. Everything was
marked on the scale Of 100. and the ten girls
who stood highest in their commencement year
received the commencement parts and stood on
the platform to represent the class. | wanted
a uniform standard, SO that the fact that
a girl year after year was an honor girl
would stand for something and not merely her
marks in her senior year. ! was urged TO wait
and aGitate this question as n post graduate.
when as an undoubted honor girl | could speak
more dec!slvely. But no. | wouldn't. So con-
sentative Was Nassar in those days 1t almost
meant martyrdom to take that stand. / pushed
my appeal and brought the whole affair to a
crisis before the date for publishing the ten
honor-clsiming positions. What happened l
was marked down from a position second. and
probably Justly so. to the eleventh place, which
just excluded me from the ten. The class as
sembled in great Indignation and pressed
on me everything ut their disposal. |
chose the class history from their offered
opportunities. and on class day told
the whole story OF the honor discussion with a
presentation of the class views on the subject,
and l didn't put. IL into flowing language, either.
but used good old telling Anglo-Saxon words.
The class of 80 fought the same fight, and to-
day dear old Vassar has a fair. honest system,
and a Young Woman Christian Association
has taken the place of the Society for Religious
Inquiry. But that isn't telling you how / got
into the Army. IS It?
Well. the fall after I received my diploma 1
went to MorristDwn. N. j., to teach higher Eng
lish and mathematics In Miss Dana's boarding
and day school. While there was thrown
from "A carriage and injured my spine. The fol-
lowing May my sister. who is also n NnssRr girl.
and now Mrs. BrinEle, took me To England to
see II | could regain my strength. Ella Leonard,
n college chum, went with us. We started out
TO make tho most unconventional Bohemian
tour that ever three girls made. True, we
laid out n programme, but our inten-
ton was to break 1t on every posi-
BILE occasion and do just exactly as
we pleased. Ten days after landing Miss Leon
ard and | decided that one unconventional
thing we would do was to go and see the Saliva
ton Army. We thought the Salvationists
were something like Mormons. We were in
Glasgow. and that very day attended n small
Army meeting In II little dark hall in Sauchie-
hall street. Strange TO say Mrs. Bringlc, Col.
Rremncr, n Toronto University man, and my
self were clinclied for tho Army in that very
little hall, which was considered n failure, as IL
did not support n corps. Miss Leonard and |
were both much Interested in the meeting, and
something in Christianity alter all. since 1t hal
dhe power to lhov1 be"niS 80: ! Icy ,hHt WIN
us to regard life as those people did, but at tho
same time hops was aroused in me- We went
again that night.
They gave u chapter in tho Bible and asked
everybody TO study 1t. Ella ana l went home
This is n chapter written tor the Jews; IL for
them. since IL has to do with moral principles,
we can apply II 70 az nations, and narrowingi II
were intensely honest.
Ny sister took care that we didn't attend
OF on an excursion. on that DAY ] brI6ed the
porter 10 let me out Of the hotel 80 that ! could
attend IN" a; N; meesing' AZ IL Mi1s
too, TO see how those Savationists had hcwitched
us, 20 she said. The leaders OF he meeting in
vited all who were not satisfied with their re-
l!giouS experience to ZONE forward and let them
pray that they would get an experience that
was satisiyinG, Miss Leonard Slipped out "
her seat and went and knclt with them. ! said
To myself:
"'Heavens. II Ella Is not satisfied, | can't
honestly stay In my seat. for ] snow I'm even
less 80 and no went forward AMI RnO.t by her,
They asked Us 10 pray. ia left on PRAYING long
ago, tof was tired u death uf praying for God
TO keep me from doing thing, tHHt | knew l
would do next day. ! was always willing
enough to do any amount Of philanthropio
work In connection with the Society OF Re-