whisper to the dying, of Jesus? I must contribute my little love of Jesus to the salvation of such souls.

"Let me take my position among our noble wounded and sick. I feel it my duty, and really I ought to go. I do not care where I go-to a city hospital or a hospital transport."

This hastily written pleading of a boy, just become nineteen years old, was much longer and increasingly earnest. Its closing words were "You surely can't say, No!"

But "No!" was the answer I received.

I.

A YEAR AS A SOLDIER.

Soon afterwards I was in Chambersburg;-called home to stay for the remainder of my summer's vacation.

Then came the fateful national crisis which followed repeated disasters to the armies of the Union during that month of July, 1862. My enforced inaction, while I was longing to do something for the country, aroused in me an intolerable self reproach ;-and I began to plead with all earnestness for the privilege of service in, or with, the army. At length, under my persistent pleadings, especially enforced by the portentous crisis of those weeks, my mother's resistance gave way.

The distress of that time can not be told. My mother was seriously a nervous invalid. I learned only in later years that I was not mindful enough, then, of that fact. But, at the time, I felt under compulsion to enter the army that was struggling to save the Union.

So, at last it happened, I was allowed to become one of the volunteers asked for by the President for a nine months service. The immediately deciding fact which

and most complete interpretation of the "Divine Revelation" and of the "Way of God with Man."

II.

ORATION AT GRADUATION.

In 1864, I was graduated from College. The theme I chose for the part assigned me at the "Commencement" exercises was quite characteristic of my mood then.

"A GOOD CAUSE MAKETH A STOUT HEART."

This oration was only a crudely phrased proclamation of the convictions of a very immature youth. It is not worth reproduction as a whole, now. But, as it indicates well the dominant motive force of my youth; and may, more over, be regarded as a way-mark for my conduct in the most important movements that have occurred in an unusually eventful mental and spiritual career, I will quote somewhat from it.

At the outset, I personified Truth and Error as "two elementary, antagonistic Powers, pervading the entire moral creation."

"Their great field of contention," I declared, "lies in the reason and free-will of man." "To-day the conflict wages fiercely. Truth and Error, each mustering mighty armed hosts, are in deadly grapple."

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The cause of Truth is the cause of Good. A good cause makes the weak and fainting human heart strong and invincible. A good cause will make a stout heart."

Then I sought to show why this claim is tenable :1. "A good cause will banish fear," I asserted. "The long roll of heroes and hero-martyrs who have braved even death for Truth's sake shows this."

2. Moreover," a good cause inspires perfect frankness. Error dwells in the clouds of deceit. Truth presents a

"The

bold front in the clear light of frankness. In fearlessness there is frankness; in frankness there is strength." 3. Again, "a good cause arouses earnestness." slave of Error may contend with diabolic desperation for his cause, but heroic earnestness is his alone who defends the holy Cause of Truth."

4. Then," from fearlessness, frankness, and earnestness, springs consistency." "Let a man be absorbed by a desire to promote a good cause, and his life will be ever Onward and unswerving."

5. "Thereby he will be firm." "No gleam of better things may penetrate the gathering gloom of the contest, yet his trust never wavers."

6. And "finally, a good cause makes a stout heart, because it renders its advocate happy. Happiness is an element of strength. Happiness is his only who is conscious of the justice of his cause, and is confident of final success. He looks forward with a joyful heart to the certain time when the victory shall be Truth's."

I add to these fragmentary excerpts the peroration in full.--

"Let us, then, give our powers to some Good Cause. Let us enlist heartily, strike fearlessly, openly, earnestly, consistently and firmly; battling with happy, hopeful hearts. Error will soon lose its vigor. The fearful looking forward to judgment, the deceit, desperation, wavering and misery of its advocates will lead to its complete overthrow. We may not live till this is accomplished: but we can cheerfully, give our weapons to those who follow us, and leave the field with the assurance that all will yet be well. A good cause is the cause of Truth. Truth is omnipotent. It is the very essence of God. Then, let us live and die with perfect confidence that victorious garlands will one day be wreathed around the calm, white brow of Godlike Truth and in a higher and better life we shall share in the rewards of her victories."

With this aspiring declaration of an Ideal, as indicative of personal purpose, my career as a College student was closed.