The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-15
STUDENTS ON STRIKE.
Love and Piety Parted at North
western University.
The Boys and Girls Must Not Meet
Any More at Prayer Meetings.

Scores OF Northwestern university stu
dents are on strike. Their pleasures have
been restricted and their rights abridged,
and life generally at the big Methodist
school does not seem half so rosy as 10 has
always been.
The contention has arisen from change
of rule concerning the place Of holding the
regular Wednesday evening college prayer
meetings. For period so long that the
memory Of man runneth not TO the con-
trary" each class has held its own service
In one of the recitation rooms at University
hall. The new requirement ordains that
hereafter the young men shall hold stag
service at University hall, and that the
varsity girls do their praying alone at
Woman's hall Many girls object, the
boys kick, and already religious zeal at the
university is at low ebb
The Wednesday evening meeting has
been feature Of college life at North
western. 1t has been at once religious
service and social function. It has been
common ground where the young men and
women OF tho school have met for the ex-
change of thought concerning heaven
above, and it has offered TO many oppor-
tunity for arranging temporary heaven
here below 1t has been, in short, not
only place Of worship, but a trysting
place, where Pyramus and Thisbe have
evolved numberless schemes that have oc-
casioned hutter among the old heads and
set the gossips of the town TO chattering.
The prayer meeting rooms have always
been full Weather could not keep the
young women away, and tho presence OF
the gallant youth could always be counted
upon. Whilo the service lasted he would
sit with his eye intent on the leader and
his heart a-throb for the girl who sat just
in front When the hour bell had rung
and the meeting was over, the important
features of the evening would be inaugu-
rated. 1t had come 10 DC recognized as the
choicest opportunity Of the week In which
TO make engagements, and all knew their
opportunity, and seized it.
The authorities of the school in recent
days, however, have kept pace with the
progress of their pupils. They began to
see how large "a role as a matrimonial
agency the service was playing, and wish
ing To eliminate all sensational features
and make the institution serve simply Its
proper purpose they concluded to shift
the scenes. In their new plan they have
had the hearty cooperation of the officers
and other leaders of the Young Mems and
Young Women's Christian associations.
While the result will prove beneficial to
the school, no doubt apparent interest In
religious matters will flag in many hearts.
Meetings last Wednesday were not as
largely attended as usual, and some stu.
dents who have been regular in their at
tendance have no hesitancy in denouncing
the childishness of the rule.
The social instinct is as strong and as
proper as the religious, " vehemently de
clarod one young fellow, whose plans have
been materially affected by the deal.
THE old maids and sticks of bachelors
can run things that way If they want to, >
said one of the girls, 'but I'll not be II
it. " And her sentiment was vigorously sec
ondcd by coed, who is taking specia
work in, who said;
Its positive cruelty to animals
don't believe in such dainty, overparticu
lar kind of prayer meetings. They re con
trary to Scripture. I'm not going any
more.
SO the pot brews. But the rule is mex
orable. The old regime has passed away
and IL will not be restored. Chicago Intel
Ocean,