for the sum of $18,000. The corner-stone was laid July 15, 1857.

The preparatory department was opened in October, 1858, and the college proper in February, 1859. The session of 1859-60 opened with 150 students, and during the year the number increased to 175. At the beginning of the Civil War the college seemed firmly established, and its prospects were bright; but the war blighted these prospects. Many of the students enlisted for service in the Confederate Army, and, though the school was kept open, the college was practically broken up. In the summer of 1865 the college building was occupied by a Federal garrison. Owing to damage done by this garrison, and to the inability of Synod to make timely repairs, the building was soon regarded as unsafe and unfit for occupancy.

The last meeting of the Board of Trustees before the removal of the college from Newberry was held on the 25th of June, 1868. The college had been continued with two professors and a tutor, but matters were most discouraging. The building was falling down, creditors were demanding payment of their claims and judgments had been obtained against the property. At this crisis an offer was received from Walhalla, and the college was, by action of Synod, moved to that place in October, 1868.

It did not prosper in its new home; and in 1876 an effort was made by the people of Newberry to bring it back to this place. At a called meeting of Synod, April, 1877, an offer of $15,800 from citizens of Newberry was accepted, and in October, 1877, the college was again opened in Newberry. This was virtually a new beginning, for up to that time its alumni numbered only 22, just the number of the graduating class this year, though the total number is now 280. And its growth and vitality are evidenced by the fact that 140 of its alumni-or just one-half -have been graduated in the last eight years. The main building was ready for occupancy in the spring of 1878. Within the last ten or twelve years three professors' houses, a boarding hall, and the Keller Memorial Building have been erected on the campus.

The accompanying cut gives a fair idea of the new recitation hall, now in process of erection. This building, which is to be completed by January 1, will be 140 by 75 feet, and will contain offices and seven class rooms, 27 by 31 feet, on the first floor, and an auditorium and two large society halls on the second floor. Upon the completion of this hall the old main building will be used as a dormitory, and the first floor of the Keller Memorial will be devoted exclusively

to the science department. The college has a working laboratory and a library of 10,000 volumes..

A theological department was at intervals and for many years connected with the college; but in 1898 the Theological Seminary was removed to Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, S. C. The college is under the control of Synod; it stands for Christian culture, and under the blessings of Providence it is prospering, and its field of usefulness is widening.

It has many faithful friends whose names cannot be recorded here; but it is proper to mention two who, by conspicuous devotion and self-sacrifice, contributed largely to its success, and who now rest from their labors. They are the Rev. J. P. Smeltzer, D.D., President from 1861 to 1877, and the Rev. G. W. Holland, D.D., Ph.D., President from 1878 to 1895.

To George B. Conner, A. M., LL.D., the present president of the college, credit must be given for the great success acheived in the last four years.

The erection of the new building, which is to cost $20,000, exclusive of heating and furniture, will be a heavy tax on the Synod of South Carolina, which numbers fewer than 10,000 communicants. But the Synod is pledged and devoted to the maintenance of its literary institution and the theological seminary, for it realizes that the future of Lutheranism in South Carolina and Georgia is inseparably linked with the future of these two schools. The college is a member of the Association of Colleges of South Carolina, which is composed of the eight leading colleges in the State, and it is highly creditable to the Lutherans of the State that, in the face of great disadvantages, they have successfully maintained a college of recognized worth and standing.

A Prayer for Faith

(Written for the LUTHER LEAGUE REVIEW.) BY ERLE GREINER.

What lies beyond this grinding life?
I've asked it o'er and o'er;
When we are done with toil and strife
Is there a happier shore?

Sometimes the thoughts alluring rise
That this, perhaps, is all;
But then, again, in glad surprise
I see them crumbling, fall.

For in a life so incomplete

'Tis very hard to think

That nothing good and nothing sweet Is found beyond the brink.

O God! I cannot lose my trust,
O help me up, I pray,

And bring me to the light, Thou must,
Unto the perfect day.

"Y

VES, Frank, I knew you'd be surprised. That's why I called you in to tell you before the meeting."

The study was but dimly lighted. Sombre shadows flickered across the dingy book shelves, forming weird pictures on the backs of the well worn volumes they contained. The old pastor was pacing slowly up and down the room, his head bowed, his hands clasped under his long coat tails.

Frank Mercer stood before the fire, nervously toying with the tracts piled on the mantle.

"I must say I can't understand you, sir. You've always been such a League enthusiast. You yourself started our League. We've noticed that you haven't attended lately, but thought it because of the press of other duties. Can't you explain to me why you refuse to speak to-night?" the young man questioned eagerly.

"I haven't refused to speak, Frank. I've simply refused to congratulate the League on the accomplishment of what it has worked for so long. I'll speak if you wish it, but I must be fair and let you know first what I'll say."

A sigh of relief escaped Frank's lips. There was an uncommon bond of affection between the pastor and the president of the League, and the young man felt that anything Mr. Carpenter had to say would be all right. There were people in the League, and also among the older members of the Church, who thought Mr. Carpenter too old-fashioned and shabby for Emmanuel's.

"A growing church needs a growing man," they said. It was Frank Mercer and a few of his influential friends who had kept the good man in his place; and it had required some fencing on their part to have him appointed as the main speaker for the "Jubilee," which was to be held this evening.

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"Å younger man with more life could make us feel more what we have accomplished," said the "advanced" members.

"A more liturgical man would dwell on the importance of church music," said the High Church faction. But the pastor had at last been invited to speak, and now to have him refuse!

"It simply must be avoided," said Frank to himself. He had come into the room a few minutes before with unusual lightness of heart, which showed itself in the buoyancy of his step and the smile in his eyes. His pockets were full of letters of congratulation from neighboring Leagues. In his hand he carried a catalogue of a large organ concern

in Chicago. The great day for which the young people had so long been working was at hand. They had succeeded in gathering together $5,000, which was to buy a grand new organ for Emmanuel's. The pastor's first words had taken away his breath. He could not understand him.

"Please tell me, then, if you think I ought to know, what, you will say to-night," he replied, after a pause.

"Well, my boy, I'll tell you. In the first place, you know I'm getting old, and the folks think I'm not advanced' enough for this place any more. And it may be so-it may be so. Don't interrupt me, please. I haven't the young spirit I once had. I haven't sympathy and patience with the young folks any more. I'm not so pert about the Luther League. In fact, I sometimes wish we'd never started ours-don't interrupt me. I don't see as I used to what good it is going to do. Ours hasn't done much good. I'm sure it was started right. We prayed over it. We've got a good constitution, but some way it don't work. How many members has it brought in to the church? I had my eyes on a number of young people before we started the League five years ago. They've joined the League, but they won't join the church. Perhaps it's not the League's fault.

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'Well, how much money has it given the church? You'll talk about this $5,000 for an organ. A large sum for young people to raise. I'm proud that you could raise it; but here's the point. What good is it going to do? I can tell you some of the harm it's done. You know that sewer pipe they put in along this street last year? Well, it cost a good deal. You know how much. That money had to be collected. The church treasury was low. I spoke to the deacons about it, and they all began to talk about hard times and the railway strike and debts, etc., and every one of them was too busy to go out and collect. I can't beg from the pulpit, so I just put on my hat and started out to get that money. I got $100 from the Squire on Market street (God bless him), and $25 in small contributions. Everyone that I called on mentioned the donation they'd made toward the church organ, and so could not give any more. It wasn't the League's fault they wouldn't give more. These are just the facts. The other $150 came out of this pocketbook, Frank." He drew forth the battered article as he spoke. "It wasn't much. I wish I could always give more; but it meant a good deal just then. Stella wasn't strong and had to do

all her own work; Edith was in school and needed money, and some of the people were complaining that I looked pretty shabby for their pulpit. Yes-but this is the same old suit, Frank, and thank the Lord it's still whole." The old man laughed and the boy smiled uneasily.

"Last fall the Synod needed a special offering. Ours was smaller than usual. The home missionaries have been making appeals for the poor out West where the crops failed, but it seemed as if we couldn't help them. Our mite box has been empty for months. Our foreign mission box was almost a fail

ure.

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Now, Frank, I still say I'm proud that the League raised the money. It kept the people united in spirit and it kept up the League meetings. It was something to work for. I believe in young people having some object in view and in working with all their might toward gaining that object. I can say that to-night." He looked at his guest with a twinkle in his eye. "But, Frank, I can't say that Emmanuel's needs an organ. The old organ's good enough. I really like its tone and I'm proud of my choir. But think, boy, of all the missions out West that have no organs! A $100 cabinet would be a Godsend to dozens of them. Think of the chapels and foreign missionaries' homes where an organ would draw crowds of heathen to hear the Gospel!

"Why, think of all we could do with that $5,000! It would be a fortune in the hands of the Synod or the Church Extension Society. And here we're spending it for an organ. Why? Because we want to make a show. We want to "Mr. Carpenter, stop!" cried Frank Mercer, as he stepped up and grasped his pastor's hand. “There's the church bell ringing now, and I want you to go over and tell the people what you are telling me. Tell 'em all of it.

Rub it in hard. It's what we need, and you're the one to tell us."

Mr. Carpenter did tell them-almost as he had told Frank--what he thought. But he told them more. He read them a letter he had received from an old friend on the mission field, telling of the need of funds for chapels, native workers, literature and enlargement in every direction. He told them more of the appeals for church extension in the West, of the seminaries struggling under a load of debt, and of the Church's needs as a whole. His heart was in his words, and he knew well how to plead.

The house was very still as he sat down, and the old organ pealed out tenderly, almost as if involuntarily; and the great throng arose and sang the old hymn "From Greenland's icy mountains,"

As they sang the familiar stanza,

Shall we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
To those poor souls benighted
The lamp of life deny?

It seemed as if a new spirit entered into the people of Emmanuel's. They even forgot that their pastor was old-fashioned.

Then, regardless of the order of the programme, the wise young president called a business session. No matter what they voted to do with the money they did not buy an organ with it.

At the close of the meeting Frank Mercer said, in a happy voice: 'Now that we've shown how much money we can give, we shall expect the same amount regularly from now on."

Then the good, shabby old pastor pronounced the benediction.

Do You Know

That on September 6th, 1711, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the pioneer of the American Lutheran Church, was born, and that on the 23d of the same month, 1742, after a perilous voyage from Germany, he landed in America, at Charleston, South Carolina?

That on September 25th, 1555, a “religious peace" was, at the city of Augsburg (where the great Confession of the Protestant Evangelical Party had been read in 1530), agreed upon between the "adherents of the Augsburg Confession" and Romanism? This gave to each the free enjoyment of his religious faith, and if refused that enjoyment the right "to leave the country with honor, liberty and property."

Show Him Your Fingers

A tender little story is told of a poor woman, who, by reason of her poverty, was kept from many a service for her Master which she thought He might require at her handsand she was dying. She was saying to her young daughter, who stood near the bed, that she regretted her fruitless life. She was wishing that she might have more to show the Master, when she met Him face to face. “Mother," sobbed the daughter, "show Him your fingers!" Her hands were calloused with work she had unselfishly done for others in the Master's name. Shall we dare show our fingers as credentials when we stand before the Judge?- The Lutheran.

Church true to their confirmation vows. The second step was to develop a strong bond of friendship among the members of the various societies. The third, to protect and guard our young people against dangerous and vicious influences of various unchurchly and unbelieving associations surrounding them."

Dr. G. HI. Gerberding, D.D., then delivered the leading address of the evening on "The Two Ministries."

After this address came the reception in the auditorium of the Sunday School. The was draped profusely with Luther League colors, golden rod and potted plants, and made a very beautiful appearance.

room

On Wednesday morning Rev. A. C. Anda led the devotional services.

Mr. William Passavant Christy, of Janesville, then read a paper on "Our Historical Topics," which was an elaboration of the following thoughts: "The condition of the Lutheran Church in America at the present time is not unlike that of the American Colonies previous to their revolt against European sovereignty. For centuries the mothercountries have been sending Lutheran colonists to our shores, but as yet they have . not been united under a federal form of government. As Lutherans we must adopt our nation's motto, E Pluribus Unum,' before we can use our strength to the best advantage. How is this unity to be effected? A spirit of loyalty must be installed in the hearts of our young Lutherans. Loyalty to the Church must be preceded by love for the Church, and love for the Church depends upon a knowledge of the Church.

The Luther League recognized this sequence, and devotes fully one-third of its Topics to historical subjects. Here the growth and development of the Church is traced from the time of the Apostles, and a knowledge of the Church Fathers is obtained that will make subsequent reading intelligible. The student learns to know the desires and proceedings of the Great Councils. He becomes familiar with the saints who for their efforts to rid the Church of sinful superstition suffered martyrdom. He learns to know these whom the Almighty had chosen to be the instruments by which the Church was restored to its Apostolic purity, and when he contemplates their lives and the purity of the principles for which they strove he cannot help but feel that it is a blessed privilege to be a Lutheran. The subsequent history, the labors and sufferings of missionaries, and the great religious wars, in which perhaps his fathers shed their blood, will inspire in his soul a loyalty for the principles they established.

"In short, to be a good Lutheran we must know Lutheran history. To be an intelligent

Christian we must know Lutheran history, for although salvation does not depend upon the knowledge of the Reformation, it does depend upon the knowledge of the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ, which but for the Reformation would still be hid under the bushel of Roman superstition."

A lively discussion followed, showing that the Historical Topics were very well liked by the different Leagues.

Rev. W. K. Frick, D.D., then discussed "The Biblical and Doctrinal Topics," saying among other thing the Lutheran Church is a biblical and doctrinal Church. For tradition, as the Rule of Faith, Luther led the Church back to the Bible; and the faith, or doctrine, which he drew out of this Rule was "justification by faith" in Christ. Hence every true Lutheran must ever be a student of the Bible and of its doctrines. Nor are such studies either beyond the ability of our young people, or uninteresting. In Sunday school they begin the study of Bible history and in the catechetical class the study of Bible doctrine, but there, under the guidance of others. In the Luther League they work more independently, and by the aid of the "Topics," their Scripture references and doctrinal remarks, dig out the material for themselves. What we do not use, we lose. Hence if we stop short with the catechetical classes our religious knowledge will in a few years grow indistinct and fade. If our Lutheran Church is to stand firm in these heretical times, the rising generation must look to their doctrinal foundations, otherwise the Church is lost. The aids at hand for the study of these topics are notes and papers in the LUTHER LEAGUE REVIEW, The Christian Youth, The Young Lutheran and The Christian World. Also Dr. Gerberding's "Way of Salvation," and, for one distinctive doctrine, Dr. Whitteker's "Baptism."

At the Wednesday afternoon session the discussions were on "The Luther Leagues: " 1, At Worship; a, In Private; b, In Public. 2, At Work; a, In the Church; b, In the World.

Rev. G. I. Kluxdahl of Neenah read a paper on the "The Luther Leagues in Private Worship," of which the following is an extract:

As a branch of the large family (the Lutheran Church), the Luther League is fitting itself as a body and as individuals to put forth every effort to reap in the rich harvest of souls that is already ripe and ready for the reaper. With this aim in view he is constantly, found at the feet of Jesus in humble acknowledgment of his own unworthiness and Christ's superiority and sole authority as a Teacher, Sanctifier and Redeemer.

Consciously or unconsciously, the prayerfui