1896.]
Christianity and Our Colleges
them: "As far as it rests upon me, I will give you the next
month's time, although I have important duties elsewhere, and
if in that time we can raise means enough to pay off the present
indebtedness I will give myself to the work." On the spot
these men raised their heads, and before passing the doors they
had subscribed $5,003 of the money needed. Within four weeks
the subscription was raised to over $30,000 by a Christian people,
and most of it from people without any wealth at all save the
cabins they lived in and the little farms they had cleared from the
forests. We may never see again in this country heroic deeds like
these, gifts like these, sacrifices like these.
Now turn to the motives that led these old college builders to
their work. They were not mean nor selfish nor ignorant. They
were the highest and noblest motives that ever actuated human
beings.
First. The love of God inspired them. They had sought a
country where they might worship Him according to the dictates
of their consciences and they knew that for His sake there must
be schools of learning.
Second. There was the service of Christ and His cause. We
know very little of the deep, heroic devotion inspired in the hearts
of these pilgrim fathers and mothers by the Man of Galilee.
Jesus of Nazareth was the great Teacher of mankind. God be
thanked! humanity itself stands indebted to Him, not only for
His sacrifice and for the scenes of Calvary, but for the educa
tion He inspired and made possible.
77tird. The salvation and elevation of mankind these people
had also in view. Educated preachers must first win souls to
Christ and then educate them in the soul-lifting truths of
Christianity.
Fourth. The good of the country and the preservation of
liberty. There on the border of the great forests, there in their
cabins, they looked forward and out to a future for their children
and their country. Read Washington's writings and you will see
how they dreamt of the greatness of the coming time when. the
continent, all still in its virgin freshness before them, should be
the home of a great people, a Christian nation. They knew
that this continent would need statesmen, would need scholars,
would need preachers of the Gospel, would need lawyers and
physicians, would need men in all the educated walks of life;, and
they meant that when the teeming population should gather here