SEMINARY ANNALS.

CALENDAR.

Feb. 26. Rev. C. S. Macfarland of Malden, Mass., “The Content of Revelation."

Mar. 5. Dr. Hoyt, "The Harmony of Law and Life."

Mar. 12. Reports from delegates to Nashville convention.

Mar. 16. Pres. C. F. Thwing of Western Reserve University, "The Qualities of a True Minister.'

Mar. 19. Rev. L. F. Esselstyn of Teheran, Persia, "Practical Missionary Life in Persia."

Mar. 20. Rev. N. E. Clemenson, Missionary among Mormons, 'Mormonism."

Mar. 26. Dr. Dulles, "Christ's Last Message of Good Cheer." Apr. 2. Pres. Stewart, "The Aim of Auburn Seminary." Rev. C. N. Frost, Mr. E. C. Leonard, Mr. C. E. Walbridge.

Apr. 3. Dinner to Commissioners at Silliman Club House.

Apr. 6. Chaplain Herrick of Auburn State Prison, "Prison Conditions and Work."

Apr. 9. Rev. H. B. Stevenson, "The Attractive Power of Christ." Apr. 16. Dr. Beecher, "Esau.' Apr. 17. monism.

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Rev. J. D. Nutting, Missionary among Mormons, Mor

Apr. 23. Dr. Riggs, "The Practical Value of the Thought of God's Immanence and Omnipresence."

The present senior class of the Seminary has exercised remarkable expedition in settling upon fields of labor. Early in the year many had decided on their work and by February more than one-half had come to a definite decision in the matter. We give the names of those now certain as to their plans with the place of their activity in the immediate future.

Manley F. Allbright.

John V. Axtell, Adirondack Mission Work.

Frank O. Emerson, Batanga, Kameroon, Africa.

Isaac F. Fleming, Fair Haven, N. Y.

Henry G. Hanson, Harlen, Montana.

Joel D. Hunter, assistant to Rev. Graham Taylor, Congregational Tabernacle, Chicago, Ill.

Henry P. Judd, Home Mission work at Allanstand, N. C.

Angus J. MacMillan, Lima, N. Y.

Frederick L. Mendenhall.

John W. Neel.

Marion B. Palmer, Prince Royal's College, Chieng Mai, Laos.
Robert B. Reed, Syrian Protestant College, Beirut, Syria.
Norman C. Schenck, Home Mission work at Huntdale, N. C.
John Sharpe.

Arnold Smith, Porto Rico.

Harris B. Stewart, assistant to Dr. Dulles, Second Presbyterian church, Auburn, N. Y.

Elmer J. Stuart, Oneida Castle, N. Y.

It may be of interest to Auburn men to know of the work done by President Stewart in one line. During the month of March the president addressed thirteen colleges in the state of Pennsylvania alone on "Bible Study as a Preparation for Life Work." This subject is one which is too often neglected by college men and to have the subject brought to them in President Stewart's most interesting way, should make many give the subject its proper consideration.

In response to the appeal from the famine stricken district of Japan there came quickly a desire to aid our Japanese brothers in distress. Several plans were discussed which materialized in a free-will lenten offering from its students and certain of the faculty. The resulting contribution of $100 was gratifying. The money was sent to the board of relief, which board forwarded it as a gift from the Seminary to her many friends in Japan now so sorely in need. We hope it may do the poor sufferers as much good as it has those who so freely contributed to the fund.

We have had the good fortune to hear two men of experience speak on the work among the Mormons. The theology of the Mormons is so involved that their present course of life is made not only legitimate but most honorable and commendable. Much of their error is directly traceable to their ignorance of the scriptures.

The problem of the work is to instill into their minds and hearts Christian truth and knowledge of God's word. The people receive the missionaries willingly and give a good hearing. Often those who come

to the meetings to scoff, stay to argue and go away to believe. The best work done so far, is by itinerant preachers. The gospel wagon with three or more preachers goes from place to place on their work. Their efforts lie along two main lines, preaching a series of sermons on the Bible and Christian truths, and house-to-house canvas in which religious literature is widely used.

The most serious draw-back in the work at present is the inadequacy of the working forces. No field in the United States is more poorly equipped with workers, when the area and need of the field are con

sidered. A strong plea was made for men who were willing to make a sacrifice of the comforts and luxuries of the snug country or city parish, to enter the rugged and strenuous home mission work among the Mormons.

The high conception of the Christian ministry presented by President Thwing of Western Reserve university ought to be a keen inspiration to every one. The qualities of the Christian minister were given as characteristics which "I want to find in the man who is my pastor." 1. I want to find my pastor a great gentleman, an aristocrat in his tastes, but a democrat in his sympathies. I want him to embody the greatest and the best that humanity has attained, but in his sympathies I want him to be distinctly human, to possess a great sense of neighborhood, humanity—to hold all men as of one brotherhood-all children of one father. To have a common regard for the opinions and prejudices of other men. To have sympathy with their feelings, to give the man who holds a position opposed to his own a credence and consideration even more sympathetic than to his own self, to have an appreciation of the other man's views. These are the great elements

of a gentleman and an aristocrat.

2. I want him to realize that the permanent value of his sermon never rises above the respect paid to his character as a man and as a gentleman.

3. I want my pastor to help me unto my God through worship and prayer. The sermon may be a message of intellect to intellect and as such play a most essential part, yet for me I want to be helped to my God through a great sense of worship.

4. Also I want him to have in mind that he is to cultivate himself and not his individual sermon. To cultivate a sermon is like pushing up waves that soon fall back and fall the deeper as they have been pushed the higher. The truly great sermon comes out of a great character—a great soul. Let him fill himself full, be enriched, full of all good here below and from heaven above. There is nothing that so enriches as biography. Poems foster sympathy and inspiration; but for enrichment, first and foremost is biography. The story of life enriches life; a great life, told in a great way, makes the reader great.

5. I want him to have a noble and godly conception of the value of the church as a great organization for helping humanity. It is the greatest and most moving power in the last 2,000 years. He should realize the majesty, dominion and power of the church universal. He should make the local church a powerful agency for doing a worthy work for his people. There is more to be done than the giving of two sermons a week and making a few social calls. The neighborhood and the church are to be the two forces working for the universal kingdom.

6. I want my pastor to have a high and noble conception of the satisfaction which belongs to him as a Christian minister. He is the one who is to be the great friend to the boys and girls, the one to bring comfort to his people in their diverse necessities. He should be thankful that he has the right of going to people in their darkest hours and standing by their side, sharing with them their sorrow and distress. I want him to embody greatness of contentment as a Christian minister, to be a glorious and happy man, the best friend to people in their need.

A man who is all of these in the greatest degree is the one whom I want as my pastor.

The Student Volunteer conference is now a thing of the past, but the spirit which was quickened and the missionary zeal which was aroused will perpetuate its memory for years to come.

Among the varied impressions received during those few days, we can mention but a few. We shall never forget the enthusiastic welcome and still more cordial entertainment, which we received from the people of Nashville. "Southern hospitality" we found to be something more than a name; it is a fact.

The personnel of the assembly was a feature most impressive. Over three thousand students from seven hundred institutions of higher learning in the United States and Canada were gathered to hear the claims of Christ's kingdom in distant lands. And as one looked out over that vast audience, which we may safely say never numbered less than five thousand-five thousand eager, zealous and earnest young men and young women-it seemed as though God meant to work mighty things through that gathering.

The discussions of the various fields were led by men direct from the fighting line. The men were those, in every instance, who have made their work count, by applying those means best suited to meet the peculiar demands of the individual field. The whole range of missionary activity was presented in the most telling form. Besides the needs and opportunities of the mission work at large, and those of the particular fields, the relation of the home church to the missionary campaign was handled most skillfully. Another feature among the addresses was that of having laymen give their view of the work. This part of the program included such men as Sir Mortimer Durand, Gen. Foster and many others of like renown.

One may easily see that the whole convention was conducted on a grand scale. There was nothing commonplace or second class. Yet, on the other hand, it was not a flight into the clouds. At no time did the work leave the firm basis of practical idealism to soar into the

idealism of the theoretic. The influence of Nashville is of the kind that endures-the kind which generates action. We only regret that all men could not secure a share of the spirit which was manifest throughout the conference.

Rev. Cordello Herrick gave a most interesting talk at the club house about his work as chaplain of Auburn prison. He entered this work "because of the joy of helping those who are the farthest down and his years of service have proved to him that there is no limit to the grace of God." At the present time there are about 200 women and 1,220 men in the prison. These men come from 267 different lines of employment which proves, contrary to the widespread opinion, that there is no distinct criminal class. Of the inmates, five per cent. are college graduates, seven and one half per cent. have had academic training, and only about ten per cent. are without an ordinary education. Roman Catholics form about one-half of the population of the prison, although in the state they form much less than one-fifth. Many Jews are transferred to Auburn from Sing Sing; the charge is usually arson or receiving stolen property; a Jew as a murderer is almost unknown. Of the Protestants, ninety-eight per cent. claim to have had religious training in their youth. Many were brought up in orphan asylums where their whole life was institutional and mechanical, so that they gained no self-reliance. About 80 per cent. of the general population were formerly intemperate. The chaplain conducts a regular Sunday service in the chapel and although they have no church society, he baptizes and administers the sacrament to any who profess belief in Christ. At the last communion service, about 165 were present and all but fifteen partook. In general, the prisoners are more to be pitied than censured; their lack of self-control makes prison detention a blessing to them. Some men are hardened in crime by prison life and some are embittered by the injustice of "justices," but more are helped than are harmed. A library of 5,500 books gives them access to the latest and best thought along mechanical and electrical lines, so that many a man has made his prison hours a means of preparation for a good position after his release. Many have been converted, so that they have risen from their debased life and gone forth not merely reformed but regenerate.