The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-09
To-Day Will Be Memorable
One at De Panzv Univey1ty
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)

ments of a successful life" said Colonel
Ray. HE was punctuality itself and was
thorough, every avenue of work being alto
gether occupied, and he was spiritual This
is well illustrated by one lecture which DIR.
Simpson gave in chapel in June of 1913. The
trustees, at their previous meeting. had
decreed that each member of the faculty
should lecture in turn, should write their
lectures and should occupy only thirty min
uteS of time. DR.. Simpson was punctual TO
a minute always, the first tap of the col
lege bell always finding him on his way to
the chapel room, but once he failed. and
that breach of his own rule also involved
breaking OF the rule made by the trustees.
The doctor was called to the country to as
sist in dedicating church and was ten
minutes late at chapel. When he entered
the room he was heated from hurrying and
he was also compelled to make an apology
for not having his manuscript all written.
His theme was The Omnipresence OF
Deity. After fifteen minutes of reading
the orator, fully charged with his subject,
like bird let loose from the cage, let the
spirit of eloquence burst forth. AS illustra-
tions. his knowledge of books came in,
foundation. Chemistry, with all its occult
ways, was his handmade. Astronomy, led
from earth to the farthest limits of the uni
verse. The planets, the milky way, the
consultations, were the weaving of the
scene presented by this master of elo-
quence. The Pleiades, one of which was
thought to be the center OF the universe,
with it's millions of miles distance from
earth, and even beyond this stretch of dis
lance, so far. this chosen of God said, 'the
omnipresence of Deity went. filling those
millions well the millions that science
has marked in the domain OF earth's knowl-
edge
Of the stars We're correctly given. Sudden
ly June thunderstorm, darkness over
spread the sky, which was seized upon by
the doctor as an additional Illustration
Grasping the situation, this magician of
words took electricity into his service. The
swift flashes Of lightning served to show
by. The rolling thunder served to accent
uate Gods awful judgments. Darkness
was so manifest that If the chapel had the
means light instead of darkness would have
been had.
lover an hour did this master of words
eloquently portray the omnipresence of
Deity. The rule of the trustees was broken,
never again TO be observed, by the man
standing as the president of the faculty.
Public opinion proved of more potency than
the rule. So grand was the effect of the
lecture that the next morning, at the close
of the senior class recitation, a committee
was appointed to ask DIR. Simpson to avoid
writing his lectures and let the time be un-
limited. His answer was, Il must obey the
resolution of the trustees Quick as a flash
came the reply from the committee: Doc
tor. you can't write; please grant us this
request, as long as this class is before YOU
Needless to add, that petition was granted.
Colonel Ray closed with the following
tribute to De Paw: colleges or high in
precursors of great improvements, whether
in government or in the arts of civilized
life. Having, thus formulated the founda-
ton layers he laid them on Gods holy
Bible. There stands Asbury-De PAW Uni
versity-to-day. The child nurtured by
Matthew Simpson has grown into manhood.
He rocked the cradle to the lullaby of the
songs of Zion.
mo wonder. then. that his oft repeated
petitions, used in prayers. oh, God. we
pray Thee, that these young men who come
here to obtain knowledge of things for
life, may have that higher, better knowl-
edge, the beginning of which is the fear of
God
More than two-thirds of a century has
this fountain blessed Indiana. the United
States and countries beyond the seas with
the blessing of a Christian education.
Christian civilization. 1t is my delight that
1 have known, more or less intimately, the
men who followed Matthew Simpson:
Daniel Curry. scholar. preacher: Thomas
Bowman, St. John of presidents, as well as
of bishops; I Reuben 1 IAN Andrus, Methodist
to the trustees was, The Holy Ghost will
always have the right of way in De Pauw;'
dist preacher. the well =. beloved Sunday
school scholar of Roberts Chapel
''All of them kept in mind the promptness
thoroughness, devotion Of their predecessor,
whose highest boast was: Il am a sinner
saved by grace.
Brother Hughes. you see the men ahead.
May your administration equal the best of
them. If so, then will the prophetic spirit
that rested upon Matthew Simpson in his
inaugural address be fully realized
The other addresses on the
Inns, 40, representing Lucian W. Berry;
Benjamin Wilson Smith, SO, representing
Daniel Curry: William Riley Halstead, II.
representing Thomas Bowman; Jesse Will
liam Halstead Weik, Is, representing
Reuben Andrus; Charles F. Coffin, 81 rep
resenting Alexander Martin; Addison Web
ster Moore, 80, representing John p. d.
John; Franklin F. Lewis, 04. representing
Hilary A. Goblin, William Howard Hickman
and Edwin Holt Hughes
The benediction was by the Reverend
Thomas Jefferson Bassett A. NJ. D. D.
class of 70, president of the Upper Iowa
University.