Gift for Inspiring Others

THE constant earnestness of Conwell, his desire to let no chance slip by of helping a fellowman, puts often into his voice, when he preaches, a note of eagerness, of anxiety. But when he prays, when he turns to God, his manner undergoes a subtle and unconscious change. A load has slipped off his shoulders and has been assumed by a higher power. Into his bearing, dignified though it was, there comes an unconscious increase of the dignity. Into his voice, firm as it was before, there comes a deeper note of firmness. He is apt to fling his arms widespread as he prays, in a fine gesture that he never uses at other times, and he looks upward with the dignity of a man who, talking to a higher being, is proud of being a friend and confidant. One does not need to be a Christian to appreciate the beauty and fineness of Conwell’s prayers.

Conwell is always earnest and eager to help others whenever he can. This often gives his voice a note of eagerness and anxiety when he preaches. But when he prays and turns to God, his manner changes subtly and unconsciously. It is as though a load has slipped from his shoulders and a higher power has taken it up. Though he was already dignified, he becomes unconsciously more so. Though his voice was already firm, it takes on a deeper firmness. As he prays, he often throws his arms wide in a graceful gesture he never uses at other times. He looks upward with the dignity of a man speaking to a higher being, proud to be a friend and confidant. You do not have to be a Christian to appreciate the beauty and grace of Conwell’s prayers.

He is likely at any time to do the unexpected, and he is so great a man and has such control that whatever he does seems to everybody a perfectly natural thing. His sincerity is so evident, and whatever he does is done so simply and naturally, that it is just a matter of course.

He may do something unexpected at any time. But he is such a great man and has such control that whatever he does seems perfectly natural to everyone. His sincerity is so clear, and he does everything so simply and naturally, that it all seems quite ordinary.

I remember, during one church service, while the singing was going on, that he suddenly rose from his chair and, kneeling beside it, on the open pulpit, with his back to the congregation, remained in that posture for several minutes. No one thought it strange. I was likely enough the only one who noticed it. His people are used to his sincerities. And this time it was merely that he had a few words to say quietly to God and turned aside for a few moments to say them.

I remember one church service when he suddenly rose from his chair during the singing. He knelt beside it on the open pulpit, with his back to the congregation, and stayed there for several minutes. No one thought it strange. I was probably the only one who noticed. His people are used to his sincerity. This time, he simply had a few words to say quietly to God. He turned aside for a few moments to say them.

His earnestness of belief in prayer makes him a firm believer in answers to prayer, and, in fact, to what may be termed the direct interposition of Providence. Doubtless the mystic strain inherited from his mother has also much to do with this. He has a typically homely way of expressing it by one of his favorite maxims, one that he loves to repeat encouragingly to friends who are in difficulties themselves or who know of the difficulties that are his; and this heartening maxim is, “Trust in God and do the next thing.”

His deep belief in prayer makes him firmly believe that prayers are answered. He also believes in what might be called direct intervention by Providence. No doubt the mystical streak he inherited from his mother has much to do with this belief. He expresses it in a characteristically simple way through one of his favorite sayings. He loves to repeat it to encourage friends who face difficulties themselves or know about his own. The encouraging saying is, “Trust in God and do the next thing.”

At one time in the early days of his church work in Philadelphia a payment of a thousand dollars was absolutely needed to prevent a law-suit in regard to a debt for the church organ. In fact, it was worse than a debt; it was a note signed by himself personally, that had become due—he was always ready to assume personal liability for debts of his church—and failure to meet the note would mean a measure of disgrace as well as marked church discouragement.

Early in his church work in Philadelphia, he once needed $1,000 to prevent a lawsuit over a debt for the church organ. In fact, it was worse than a debt. He had personally signed a promissory note, and payment was due. He was always ready to take personal responsibility for his church’s debts. Failure to pay the note would bring him some disgrace and greatly discourage the church.

He had tried all the sources that seemed open to him, but in vain. He could not openly appeal to the church members, in this case, for it was in the early days of his pastorate, and his zeal for the organ, his desire and determination to have it, as a necessary part of church equipment, had outrun the judgment of some of his best friends, including that of the deacon who had gone to Massachusetts for him. They had urged a delay till other expenses were met, and he had acted against their advice.

He had tried all the sources that seemed open to him, but none had helped. He could not openly appeal to the church members in this case. He was still new to his role as pastor. He believed an organ was essential church equipment and was eager and determined to get one. But some of his best friends thought he was moving too quickly. Among them was the deacon who had gone to Massachusetts for him. They had urged him to wait until other expenses were paid, but he had acted against their advice.

He had tried such friends as he could, and he had tried prayer. But there was no sign of aid, whether supernatural or natural.

He had turned to the friends he could and had prayed. But there was no sign of help, supernatural or otherwise.

And then, literally on the very day on which the holder of the note was to begin proceedings against him, a check for precisely the needed one thousand dollars came to him, by mail, from a man in the West—a man who was a total stranger to him. It turned out that the man’s sister, who was one of the Temple membership, had written to her brother of Dr. Conwell’s work. She knew nothing of any special need for money, knew nothing whatever of any note or of the demand for a thousand dollars; she merely outlined to her brother what Dr. Conwell was accomplishing, and with such enthusiasm that the brother at once sent the opportune check.

And then, on the very day the holder of the note was to begin legal proceedings against him, a check arrived in the mail. It was for exactly the one thousand dollars he needed. It came from a man in the West who was a complete stranger to him. The man’s sister, a member of the Temple, had written to her brother about Dr. Conwell’s work. She knew nothing of any special need for money, the note, or the demand for a thousand dollars. She had simply described what Dr. Conwell was accomplishing. She wrote so enthusiastically that her brother immediately sent the timely check.

At a later time the sum of ten thousand dollars was importunately needed. It was due, payment had been promised. It was for some of the construction work of the Temple University buildings. The last day had come, and Conwell and the very few who knew of the emergency were in the depths of gloom. It was too large a sum to ask the church people to make up, for they were not rich and they had already been giving splendidly, of their slender means, for the church and then for the university. There was no rich man to turn to; the men famous for enormous charitable gifts have never let themselves be interested in any of the work of Russell Conwell. It would be unkind and gratuitous to suggest that it has been because their names could not be personally attached, or because the work is of an unpretentious kind among unpretentious people; it need merely be said that neither they nor their agents have cared to aid, except that one of the very richest, whose name is the most distinguished in the entire world as a giver, did once, in response to a strong personal application, give thirty-five hundred dollars, this being the extent of the association of the wealthy with any of the varied Conwell work.

Later, ten thousand dollars was urgently needed. The money was due, and payment had been promised for construction work on the Temple University buildings. The final day had come, and Conwell and the few others who knew of the emergency were deeply discouraged. The sum was too large to ask the church members to raise. They were not rich, and they had already given generously from their limited means, first to the church and then to the university. There was no rich man to turn to. Men famous for enormous charitable gifts had never taken an interest in any of Russell Conwell’s work. It would be unkind and unnecessary to suggest why. Perhaps they could not attach their own names to the work, or perhaps they disliked its modest nature and the ordinary people it served. It is enough to say that neither they nor their agents cared to help, with one exception. One of the very richest men, whose name is the most distinguished in the world as a giver, once gave thirty-five hundred dollars after a strong personal appeal. That was the full extent of wealthy people’s involvement in any of Conwell’s varied work.

So when it was absolutely necessary to have ten thousand dollars the possibilities of money had been exhausted, whether from congregation or individuals.

So when it became absolutely necessary to have ten thousand dollars, there were no more sources of money, either from the congregation or from individuals.

Russell Conwell, in spite of his superb optimism, is also a man of deep depressions, and this is because of the very fire and fervor of his nature, for always in such a nature there is a balancing. He believes in success; success must come!—success is in itself almost a religion with him—success for himself and for all the world who will try for it! But there are times when he is sad and doubtful over some particular possibility. And he intensely believes in prayer—faith can move mountains; but always he believes that it is better not to wait for the mountains thus to be moved, but to go right out and get to work at moving them. And once in a while there comes a time when the mountain looms too threatening, even after the bravest efforts and the deepest trust. Such a time had come—the ten-thousand-dollar debt was a looming mountain that he had tried in vain to move. He could still pray, and he did, but it was one of the times when he could only think that something had gone wrong.

Despite his tremendous optimism, Russell Conwell also suffers deep bouts of depression. This is because of his passionate, fiery nature. Such a nature always has a balancing side. He believes in success. Success must come! It is almost a religion to him. He believes in success for himself and for everyone in the world who will try for it. But sometimes he feels sad and doubtful about a particular possibility. He also believes deeply in prayer. Faith can move mountains. But he always believes it is better not to wait for mountains to be moved through prayer. Instead, one should go right out and get to work moving them. Yet once in a while, a mountain seems too threatening, even after the bravest efforts and deepest trust. Such a time had come. The ten-thousand-dollar debt was a looming mountain he had tried in vain to move. He could still pray, and he did. But this was one of those times when he could only think that something had gone wrong.

The dean of the university, who has been closely in touch with all his work for many years, told me of how, in a discouragement which was the more notable through contrast with his usual unfailing courage, he left the executive offices for his home, a couple of blocks away.

The university dean had closely followed all his work for many years. He told me how he once left the administrative offices for his home, a couple of blocks away, feeling discouraged. His discouragement was all the more striking because he was usually unfailingly courageous.

“He went away with everything looking dark before him. It was Christmas-time, but the very fact of its being Christmas only added to his depression—Christmas was such an unnatural time for unhappiness! But in a few minutes he came flying back, radiant, overjoyed, sparkling with happiness, waving a slip of paper in his hand which was a check for precisely ten thousand dollars! For he had just drawn it out of an envelope handed to him, as he reached home, by the mail-carrier.

“He left feeling that everything ahead of him looked dark. It was Christmas, but that only made him feel worse. Christmas seemed such an unnatural time to be unhappy! But a few minutes later, he came rushing back, radiant and overjoyed, sparkling with happiness. He was waving a slip of paper that was a check for exactly ten thousand dollars! He had just taken it from an envelope the mail carrier handed him when he reached home.

“And it had come so strangely and so naturally! For the check was from a woman who was profoundly interested in his work, and who had sent the check knowing that in a general way it was needed, but without the least idea that there was any immediate need. That was eight or nine years ago, but although the donor was told at the time that Dr. Conwell and all of us were most grateful for the gift, it was not until very recently that she was told how opportune it was. And the change it made in Dr. Conwell! He is a great man for maxims, and all of us who are associated with him know that one of his favorites is that ‘It will all come out right some time!’ And of course we had a rare opportunity to tell him that he ought never to be discouraged. And it is so seldom that he is!”

“And it had come so strangely and so naturally! The check was from a woman who cared deeply about his work. She knew he needed money in general, but had no idea he needed it right away. That was eight or nine years ago. At the time, the donor was told that Dr. Conwell and all of us were very grateful for the gift. But only recently was she told how timely it was. And what a change it made in Dr. Conwell! He loves maxims, and everyone who works with him knows one of his favorites: ‘It will all come out right some time!’ Of course, we had a rare chance to tell him he should never be discouraged. And he so rarely is!”

When the big new church was building the members of the church were vaguely disturbed by noticing, when the structure reached the second story, that at that height, on the side toward the vacant and unbought land adjoining, there were several doors built that opened literally into nothing but space!

As the large new church was being built, its members noticed something that vaguely disturbed them. When the building reached the second story, several doors had been built on the side facing the vacant land next door, which the church had not bought. The doors opened literally onto empty space!

When asked about these doors and their purpose, Dr. Conwell would make some casual reply, generally to the effect that they might be excellent as fire-escapes. To no one, for quite a while, did he broach even a hint of the great plan that was seething in his mind, which was that the buildings of a university were some day to stand on that land immediately adjoining the church!

When asked about the doors and their purpose, Dr. Conwell would give a casual answer. He generally said they might make excellent fire escapes. For quite a while, he gave no one even a hint of the great plan taking shape in his mind. He planned for university buildings to stand someday on the land immediately beside the church!

At that time the university, the Temple University as it is now called, was not even a college, although it was probably called a college. Conwell had organized it, and it consisted of a number of classes and teachers, meeting in highly inadequate quarters in two little houses. But the imagination of Conwell early pictured great new buildings with accommodations for thousands! In time the dream was realized, the imagination became a fact, and now those second-floor doors actually open from the Temple Church into the Temple University!

At that time, Temple University, as it is now called, was not even a college, though it was probably called one. Conwell had organized it, and it consisted of several classes and teachers meeting in cramped, inadequate spaces in two small houses. But early on, Conwell imagined great new buildings with room for thousands! In time, the dream came true. What he had imagined became real, and now those second-floor doors actually open from the Temple Church into the Temple University!

You see, he always thinks big! He dreams big dreams and wins big success. All his life he has talked and preached success, and it is a real and very practical belief with him that it is just as easy to do a large thing as a small one, and, in fact, a little easier! And so he naturally does not see why one should be satisfied with the small things of life. “If your rooms are big the people will come and fill them,” he likes to say. The same effort that wins a small success would, rightly directed, have won a great success. “Think big things and then do them!”

You see, he always thinks big! He dreams big dreams and achieves great success. All his life, he has talked and preached about success. He truly believes, as a practical matter, that doing something big is just as easy as doing something small. In fact, he believes it is a little easier! So naturally, he sees no reason to settle for the small things in life. “If your rooms are big, people will come and fill them,” he likes to say. The same effort that brings a small success could have brought a great success if it had been directed properly. “Think big and then do big things!”

Most favorite of all maxims with this man of maxims, is “Let Patience have her perfect work.” Over and over he loves to say it, and his friends laugh about his love for it, and he knows that they do and laughs about it himself. “I tire them all,” he says, “for they hear me say it every day.”

Of all this man’s favorite sayings, his favorite is “Let patience do its full work.” He loves to say it again and again. His friends laugh about how much he loves it. He knows they do and laughs about it himself. “I tire them all,” he says, “because they hear me say it every day.”

But he says it every day because it means so much to him. It stands, in his mind, as a constant warning against anger or impatience or over-haste—faults to which his impetuous temperament is prone, though few have ever seen him either angry or impatient or hasty, so well does he exercise self-control. Those who have long known him well have said to me that they have never heard him censure any one; that his forbearance and kindness are wonderful.

But he says it every day because it means so much to him. In his mind, it is a constant warning against anger, impatience, and rushing. His impulsive nature makes him prone to these faults. Yet he controls himself so well that few have ever seen him angry, impatient, or rushed. People who have known him well for a long time have told me they have never heard him criticize anyone. They say his patience and kindness are remarkable.

He is a sensitive man beneath his composure; he has suffered, and keenly, when he has been unjustly attacked; he feels pain of that sort for a long time, too, for even the passing of years does not entirely deaden it.

Beneath his calm exterior, he is a sensitive man. He has suffered deeply when unjustly attacked. That kind of pain stays with him for a long time. Even after years pass, it never completely fades.

“When I have been hurt, or when I have talked with annoying cranks, I have tried to let Patience have her perfect work, for those very people, if you have patience with them, may afterward be of help.”

“When I have been hurt or have talked with annoying cranks, I have tried to be patient. For those very people may later help you if you are patient with them.”

And he went on to talk a little of his early years in Philadelphia, and he said, with sadness, that it had pained him to meet with opposition, and that it had even come from ministers of his own denomination, for he had been so misunderstood and misjudged; but, he added, the momentary somberness lifting, even his bitter enemies had been won over with patience.

He went on to talk a little about his early years in Philadelphia. He said sadly that opposition had hurt him, especially from ministers of his own denomination. They had so misunderstood and misjudged him. But his sadness lifted as he added that, with patience, he had won over even his bitter enemies.

I could understand a good deal of what he meant, for one of the Baptist ministers of Philadelphia had said to me, with some shame, that at first it used actually to be the case that when Dr. Conwell would enter one of the regular ministers’ meetings, all would hold aloof, not a single one stepping forward to meet or greet him.

I could understand much of what he meant. A Baptist minister in Philadelphia had told me, with some shame, how the other ministers had initially treated Dr. Conwell. Whenever Dr. Conwell entered one of their regular meetings, they all kept their distance. Not one stepped forward to meet or greet him.

“And it was all through our jealousy of his success,” said the minister, vehemently. “He came to this city a stranger, and he won instant popularity, and we couldn’t stand it, and so we pounced upon things that he did that were altogether unimportant. The rest of us were so jealous of his winning throngs that we couldn’t see the good in him. And it hurt Dr. Conwell so much that for ten years he did not come to our conferences. But all this was changed long ago. Now no minister is so welcomed as he is, and I don’t believe that there ever has been a single time since he started coming again that he hasn’t been asked to say something to us. We got over our jealousy long ago and we all love him.”

“It was all because we were jealous of his success,” the minister said passionately. “He came to this city as a stranger and became popular immediately. We couldn’t stand it, so we seized on things he did that were completely unimportant. The rest of us were so jealous of the crowds he attracted that we couldn’t see the good in him. We hurt Dr. Conwell so much that he stayed away from our conferences for ten years. But all that changed long ago. Now no minister is more welcome than he is. And I don’t believe there has been a single time since he started coming again when he hasn’t been asked to speak to us. We got over our jealousy long ago, and we all love him.”

Nor is it only that the clergymen of his own denomination admire him, for not long ago, such having been Dr. Conwell’s triumph in the city of his adoption, the rector of the most powerful and aristocratic church in Philadelphia voluntarily paid lofty tribute to his aims and ability, his work and his personal worth. “He is an inspiration to his brothers in the ministry of Jesus Christ,” so this Episcopalian rector wrote. “He is a friend to all that is good, a foe to all that is evil, a strength to the weak, a comforter to the sorrowing, a man of God. These words come from the heart of one who loves, honors, and reverences him for his character and his deeds.”

Dr. Conwell is admired not only by clergy in his own denomination. His success in his adopted city has won admiration from others too. Not long ago, the rector of Philadelphia’s most powerful and aristocratic church voluntarily paid high tribute to him. He praised Dr. Conwell’s aims, ability, work, and personal worth. “He is an inspiration to his fellow ministers of Jesus Christ,” the Episcopalian rector wrote. “He is a friend to all that is good and an enemy of all that is evil. He gives strength to the weak and comforts those who grieve. He is a man of God. These words come from the heart of someone who loves, honors, and respects him for his character and his deeds.”

Dr. Conwell did some beautiful and unusual things in his church, instituted some beautiful and unusual customs, and one can see how narrow and hasty criticisms charged him, long ago, with sensationalism—charges long since forgotten except through the hurt still felt by Dr. Conwell himself. “They used to charge me with making a circus of the church—as if it were possible for me to make a circus of the church!” And his tone was one of grieved amazement after all these years.

Dr. Conwell did some beautiful and unusual things in his church. He also introduced some beautiful and unusual customs. One can see how narrow-minded, hasty critics accused him long ago of sensationalism. Those accusations have long since been forgotten, except for the hurt Dr. Conwell still feels. “They used to accuse me of turning the church into a circus, as if it were possible for me to do that!” Even after all these years, his tone expressed hurt and amazement.

But he was original and he was popular, and therefore there were misunderstanding and jealousy. His Easter services, for example, years ago, became widely talked of and eagerly anticipated because each sermon would be wrought around some fine symbol; and he would hold in his hand, in the pulpit, the blue robin’s egg, or the white dove, or the stem of lilies, or whatever he had chosen as the particular symbol for the particular sermon, and that symbol would give him the central thought for his discourse, accented as it would be by the actual symbol itself in view of the congregation. The cross lighted by electricity, to shine down over the baptismal pool, the little stream of water cascading gently down the steps of the pool during the baptismal rite, the roses floating in the pool and his gift of one of them to each of the baptized as he or she left the water—all such things did seem, long ago, so unconventional. Yet his own people recognized the beauty and poetry of them, and thousands of Bibles in Philadelphia have a baptismal rose from Dr. Conwell pressed within the pages.

But he was original and popular, and as a result, he faced misunderstanding and jealousy. Years ago, for example, his Easter services became widely talked about and eagerly anticipated. Each sermon was built around a beautiful symbol. In the pulpit, he would hold a blue robin’s egg, a white dove, a stem of lilies, or another symbol chosen for that sermon. The symbol gave him the central idea for his sermon, and the congregation could see it as he spoke. Other features of the services seemed unconventional at the time. An electrically lit cross shone down over the baptismal pool. During the baptismal rite, a small stream of water flowed gently down the pool steps. Roses floated in the pool, and he gave one to each person upon leaving the water. Yet his own people recognized the beauty and poetry of these things. Thousands of Bibles in Philadelphia have a baptismal rose from Dr. Conwell pressed between their pages.

His constant individuality of mind, his constant freshness, alertness, brilliancy, warmth, sympathy, endear him to his congregation, and when he returns from an absence they bubble and effervesce over him as if he were some brilliant new preacher just come to them. He is always new to them. Were it not that he possesses some remarkable quality of charm he would long ago have become, so to speak, an old story, but instead of that he is to them an always new story, an always entertaining and delightful story, after all these years.

His independent mind, freshness, alertness, brilliance, warmth, and sympathy always endear him to his congregation. When he returns after an absence, they overflow with excitement, as if a brilliant new preacher had just arrived. He is always new to them. Without some remarkable charm, he would have become an old story to them long ago. Instead, after all these years, he is still a new story to them, always entertaining and delightful.

It is not only that they still throng to hear him either preach or lecture, though that itself would be noticeable, but it is the delightful and delighted spirit with which they do it. Just the other evening I heard him lecture in his own church, just after his return from an absence, and every face beamed happily up at him to welcome him back, and every one listened as intently to his every word as if he had never been heard there before; and when the lecture was over a huge bouquet of flowers was handed up to him, and some one embarrassedly said a few words about its being because he was home again. It was all as if he had just returned from an absence of months—and he had been away just five and a half days!

It is not just that crowds still come to hear him preach or lecture, though that alone would be remarkable. They come with a delightful spirit of delight. Just the other evening, I heard him lecture in his own church, soon after he had returned from a trip. Every face beamed happily up at him, welcoming him back. Everyone listened to his every word as intently as if they had never heard him there before. When the lecture was over, someone handed him a huge bouquet of flowers. Someone else said a few embarrassed words about how the flowers were to welcome him home. It was all as if he had been away for months. He had been gone only five and a half days!