CHAPTER XXI

LEARNING BY EXPERIENCE

"To show men what is good and to make it seem possible make together the moral need of mankind."-PHILLIPS BROOKS.

"Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power."-J. G.

HOLLAND.

THE purpose in this chapter is to give some of the results of Mr. Conwell's experiments which will enable the reader to profit by his experiences. A man of God is always a man of his time and for his time. Such were the prophets of old. While they were the heralds of eternal truth and the mouthpieces of God to kings and people under a theocratic government, the purpose of their sermons was to accomplish certain specific results in those to whom they spoke. Conwell is a man of God. He has done much for his own generation. He has taught much truth his age needed. At the same time he has conformed to and brought into prominence laws of universal application which sweep through all time. The slightest turn in the direction of promise is to be encouraged. It is often the smallest variation from the ordinary that proves to be the precursor of the greatest reform. If the present is properly cared for, the future will take care of itself. lightenment means pure purpose, a holy resolve, and a true standard. These make loyalty to truth and true loyalty.

It would be strange indeed if a man who is at the head of a movement which has developed with such surprising rapidity had not learned something by which his fellowmen could profit. Many experiments have been made and either radically changed, or else abandoned altogether.

Mr. Conwell soon learned that in all movements which have as their purpose the elevation of the masses of humanity there must be frequent siftings and careful discrimination. The Temple College was organized with the idea of giving a free education to any poor person who might desire it. Experience taught him that even students did not appreciate what they did not pay for. Many would begin a course of study and drop it at their pleasure, doing themselves no good and vitiating the efforts of their teachers. It was found necessary to charge a nominal fee to all in order to weed out the unworthy. It was also found in the experience of Samaritan Hospital that people in moderate circumstances went to the hospital for treatment simply because it was free, thus crowding out the deserving poor while undermining the practice of honest physicians. Now those who can afford to pay are required to pay. It is the only just way to do.

One winter The Temple pastor headed a movement to help the poor and unemployed men of the city by running a woodyard. He soon found that there were fifteen hundred honest men in Philadelphia who maintained themselves and their families in decency, contributed to the churches and benevolent organizations of the city, and who were good citizens, who were making their living through the wood business. Benevolence so directed as to bring tramps and lazy idlers helped by charity into competi

tion with honest men, and through shaving competition to ruin their business, was a misdirected charity. It was a waste of money, a great sin. When Mr. Conwell realized this fact he reached down in his own salary to the depth of $2,800, paid off the bills the mission workers had accumulated, and closed up the woodyard; learning by more ways than one that many difficulties beset the path of him whose heart is large and whose faith in humanity is great. Mr. Conwell's experience has taught him that people who make application for help are usually most undeserving. At the time of the death of his wife, as mentioned in another chapter, he resolved to give his lecture fees to the education of poor students. At first he endeavored to help all who applied. Now his rule is to help no student who personally applies. It is absolutely fatal to a student's prospects to ask Mr. Conwell for assistance. He has educated twelve hundred and sixty-one young men in college, and contributed largely toward the education of hundreds of others; but he himself finds the needy boys to whom he gives. He exercises great care and delicacy in giving, aiming to avoid making inroads upon the self-respect of the recipient. A personal knowledge and an active sympathy are necessary to enable one to give most wisely. It is difficult to organize an emotion or an impulse. It is difficult to know, under all circumstances, whom to help and whom to reject; who will use the gift to better his condition and improve his opportunity, and to whom it will prove a curse. In former centuries, when it was believed that poverty was synonymous with laziness and vice, and that the prosperous man was a righteous man, charity was administered harshly. The individual was blamed for his

poverty. Now, the money-earning capacity is by no means assumed to imply the possession of moral excellence. We have learned to judge men by their social virtues as well as by a business ability. A personal experience is a necessary prerequisite to the best administration of charity. Happy the benevolent congregation whose leader has had the personal battle and the open eye; whose discourse is rich with incidents gathered from a wide observation, and has in it the positive element of an intimate acquaintance. Happy the man or woman who is wise enough to profit by the experience of others. In some things we ought to be able to begin where our fathers left off.

After a few years' experience Mr. Conwell was enabled to reverse completely, in the minds of his own congregation at least, the idea of church attendance. He caused them to look upon it as a privilege, and not as a means of gratifying the pastor or pleasing the deacons. Persons were admitted. to Grace Baptist Church only by ticket. Mr. Conwell considers it a great damage to any church to put out such a sign as "All Are Welcome," "Come with Us and We will Do You Good." People do not appreciate a thing that is cheap and something that everybody can have. Many efforts put forth in this day to reach the masses do more harm than good. It is a difficult problem and cannot be settled in a day; but in some way, by some method, the unchurched masses must be brought to seenot that the church and religion need them, but that they need the church, that they need religion, that it is something worth having. After the adoption of the ticket system, standing room was at a premium. "I am glad,"