Go home,

"To him that believeth,

able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. bearing your shields or on them.

all things are possible."

THE EASTERN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF

AUBURN SEMINARY

At a recent Sunday-school convention in New York city, President Stewart met a group of Auburn men and a dinner was proposed at which the graduates and friends of Auburn living in and about New York might have an opportunity to hear from the president, of the work he is doing for Auburn and to kindle anew the fires of enthusiasm for the Seminary. Rev. J. L. Caughey, J. B. Ferguson and the writer appointed themselves a committee to arrange for the dinner. Dr. Stewart suggested that it would be convenient for him to be present in New York on May 28 and the dinner was accordingly called for that date at the Hotel St. Andrew.

Invitations were sent to ninety men living in New York and vicinity. Men as far south as Atlantic City; as far east as Boston; as far north as Albany and as far west as Pittstown, N. J., received invitations to be present, although it is not certain that we, in the short time at our disposal, included every graduate living within these limits.

Several graduates of the early sixties were asked, but none responded. Some of the present graduating class were found near New York and invited. When the hour for the dinner arrived, there were twenty men to partake of the good things prepared for the occasion-namely:

President George B. Stewart, the guest of honor.
Rev. Wilton Merle Smith, New York city.

Rev. L. Mason Clarke, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Rev. E. B. Cobb, Elizabeth, N. J.

Rev. Stephen G. Hopkins, Newark, N. J.

Rev. H. E. Mott, Elizabeth, N. J.

Rev. Chas. H. Tyndall, Mt. Vernon, N. Y.

Rev. William A. Rice, New York city.
Rev. D. E. Finks, East Orange, N. J.
Rev. Carlos H. Stone, Cornwall-on-Hudson.
Rev. W. P. Keeler, Madison, N. J.

Rev. Joseph W. Miller, New York city.
Rev. H. K. England, Elizabeth, N. J.
Rev. J. B. Ferguson, Elizabeth, N. J.
Rev. S. Carleton Haight, New York city.
Rev. R. H. Nichols, South Orange, N. J.
Rev. R. W. Anthony, Brooklyn.

Rev. J. Lyon Caughey, New York city.
Rev. Henry Schlosser, Southport, Conn.
Rev. Joseph Taylor Britan, New York city.

When the dinner was proposed no definite plan or object was offered by the committee or by Dr. Stewart; no special theme was suggested to the two or three men who were asked to speak; everything was purposely left indefinite in order that the thought might be spontaneous and the meeting shape itself. We felt that Auburn men could safely be expected to respond ex tempore. At the proper moment Dr. Caughey explained in a word the origin of the Auburn dinner idea and introduced Dr. Smith as toastmaster. Dr. Smith excelled even himself on this occasion. His stories were pointed and apropos; his wit was keen and he proved to be a whole steering committee" in himself.

Dr. Stewart was the first speaker and in his characteristic way, emphasizing his points by clever stories, illuminating them by pleasing incident, he gave to the men present his idea of what a Theological Seminary should be and he confided to them his hopes and plans for Auburn.

The dinner of Auburn alumni in New York was characteristic of Auburn. Grateful for every true light that has shone to illumine the paths of men, Auburn stands for "the faith once delivered unto the saints," yet not at all positive that

the angle of vision will not change with the coming years, but firmly assured that with all the changing views of men, Christ will ever remain the changeless and Divine Son of God.

The practical character of Auburn men was commented on by Dr. Stewart and by those who followed him. Perhaps not many “mighty" giants in scholarship were produced; perhaps not the most noble' of all ministers had their training in her halls, but capable, practical preachers were sent forth to do the world's work-men who were trained to interpret the age in which they lived to their people, who could solve the problems which confronted them and who could meet men to uplift and save them.

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It was along this line of thought, namely, the desire of Auburn to develop the practical minister, that President Stewart made a remark which evoked the prolonged applause of the alumni. We are looking for a successor to the late beloved and lamented Dr. Darling," said President Stewart in substance, and we are looking for a man of vision, of high ideals, of inspiration and teaching ability. When we

have found our man I do not know that we shall ask him what his theological opinions are. We shall be confident when we have found our man that he can be no other than a firm believer in the Divinity of Christ;" no other man would have power with men, no one else could inspire students and offer a remedy for the sorrows and sickness of the world.

Dr. Stewart was followed by Drs. L. Mason Clarke, E. B. Cobb, H. E. Mott, Chas. H. Tyndall, Stephen G. Hopkins and others. All but the last named speaker responded to the theme and suggestions of President Stewart and every word was worthy of a place in the permanent records of Auburn history. Dr. Hopkins varied a little from the others in giving to his remarks a reminiscent tinge. He was "born and bred" on the campus of Auburn and could well remember the days when the students burned wood only and when the woodsheds stood on the campus just back of the present loca

tion of Morgan Hall. Before commencement of each year, they had a cleaning day" when all the chips from the students' axes were raked up and the campus cleaned for the careful inspection of visitors. But even in those days there was present the well defined and unique Auburn spirit to mould and inspire men and the Seminary today is the developed and developing plans, hopes and ideals of those noble men who toiled in Auburn for the coming of the Master's kingdom.

After the addresses were brought to a close, because of the lateness of the hour, the organization of those present into an alumni association to be called "The Eastern Alumni Association of Auburn Theological Seminary" was suggested and, after discussion, effected. Dr. L. Mason Clarke of Brooklyn was chosen president and Dr. J. Lyon Caughey secretary and treasurer.

No definite constitution or by-laws was adopted, but it was suggested that the association meet once a year and that those who had expressed a desire to join the alumni association," if one should be organized," be advised of the action taken and their names enrolled.

With the alumni of New York and vicinity organized and with time for previous notice there is no reason why forty men may not assemble next year to rejoice in the work of the Seminary and to pledge their support in every possible way. JOSEPH TAYLOR BRITAN.

AUBURN MEN AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. ARTHUR A. MCKAY.

The one hundred and eighteenth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. will be recorded in Church history as one of the most important in many years.

To be present at any Presbyterian General Assembly is a rare privilege. To stand as it were on the mountain top of

American Presbyterianism and look out upon the whole field as the reports from each of the great Boards and their departments are presented to us, day after day, gives one an appreciation of the fact that ours is a great Church, a working Church and that she occupies a large and important place in the work of the world today, but to have been present at the recent General Assembly at Des Moines was indeed an inspiration, that should follow one through many years and be looked back upon with pleasure, for that General Assembly marked the close of a most successful year in the history of the Church. "High Water Mark" was an expression used by most of those giving the reports.

It was a great Assembly because of the things accomplished. Among these was the birth of the Presbyterian Brotherhood, a movement which will doubtless have a telling effect upon the work among the men of the church.

Then there was the acceptance of the Book of Common Worship for Voluntary Use. But the crowning act of the General Assembly was upon that historic day, the 24th of May, when the union and reunion of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. was accomplished. To have been present when this took place was worth a trip across the continent.

To an Auburn man there was an added inspiration as he noted the prominence and frequency with which the Auburn men appeared upon the scene; surely Auburn had reason to feel proud of her sons. Prominent among them was W. S. Holt, '73, Synodical Missionary of Oregon, a strong force in Home Missions of the Pacific Coast.

We quote a few sentences of his address on Home Missions : "You cheered when it was reported that $911,000 had been given by the church last year. Stop to think where it came from-$500,000 from live women, $150,000 from the young peoples' societies and $113,000 from dead men, leaving $100,000 to represent the church contributions. Now will you cheer!''