The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-11-11
WEEK or PRAYER
Begun With Sermon by Presi-
dent Purinton Sunday Night.
large Audience in Commencement
Hall-Over s00 students In uuivers-
ity Connected With NO Church-Ke.
ligious Life Among Students. Waning.
Stafe,s Demand For Men.

States Demand For Men.
DR.. d. B. Purinton preached to a
large audience in Commencement Hall
last evening, thus formally opening
the Week OF Prayer for all the Y. NJ
c. AS. OF all the Colleges and Uni
versities In the country. No service
es were held at any OF the churches in
the city Sunday evening, except at
the Christian Church where special
revival services are in'progress. Com
mencement Hall was well filed.
President N. z. Dougherty, of the
University Y. NJ. c. A. presided. He
explained the origin and significance
of the Week OF Prayer, telling how
thirty-seyen years ago a national con-
vention of Y. NJ. c. AS. had set
apart one day in each year as a-day of
prayer, and how with the growth and
development OF the associations this
had been extended to week, during
which special efforts were made for
the spiritual uplifting OF young mel.
Dr. Purinton said he was deeply
and personally interested Ia the spir-
itual welfare Ut every student in the
University. 1t was his desire to see
every student member Of some
church in Morgantown. He deemed
this of the greatest importance to the
individual, to the University and city
and to the nation. He invited all
students who were concerned In such
matters to come to him at any time
for any advice or assistance they felt
in need of, and he would gladly give
it.
There were more than 200 students
in the University who had so far
made no profession OF religion what
ever. An inquiry addressed to %
college presidents had elected the re
ply that religious life among students
Is waning. DR.. Purinton thought it
was high time that something was
done to increase student interest 10
things spiritual. The Week OF Pray
er was step in the right direction,
and he urged its great Importance.
Dr. Purinton reviewed the peculi-
arities, advantages, and dangers of
student life. The average student,
he said, was neither N an nor boy, but
between the two. Ninety-tlve per
cent of college men never changed
their habits nor manner of living af-
ter they left college. "What the
student of today thinks, be said, "the
citizen will be doing tomorrow. There
were still some who would argue that
college education was not necessary
to a successful career, but for all that,
the students always had and always
would solve the problems of each sue
ceeding age.
There was never time in the his
tory of West Virginia when the state
so badly needed strong intellectual,
moral, spiritual men. Great problems
were to ue solved and the student must
solve them.
The speaker concluded his address
by quoting the text us the Young
Man Absalom Safer" This he said,
was the thought behind the movement
known as the Week OF Prayer.
DR.. A. M. Buchanan, preached d
particularly strong sermon on this
same text at the Presbyterian Church
Sunday morning. In answering the
question with the proper name left
out, be attacked all forms of vice in
the city, which seemed particularly
dangerous to young men-the sale Of
Intoxicating drink, gambling in all
forms, card rlaying. dancing and
other indulgences which initiate
against purity in living and against
the cause of Christ.