“On the spur of the moment, I said that, if they would gather there the
following Sunday morning, I would address them. A few came at first,
then more. We had to rent a hall in another place. I suggested that
they should get a pastor.
“To my surprise, they replied that if I would be their pastor, they
would erect a new church.
“I studied for the ministry. One day, I startled the quaint village
of Lexington by demolishing the little old church with an axe. The
people were aroused by my spirit, and gave donations for a new
church. I worked with the men we hired to construct it, and afterward
attended the Newton Theological Seminary. Seventeen years ago, I came
to Philadelphia as pastor of this church, which then worshipped in a
basement some squares away.”
“But Temple College, Doctor; how was that started?”
“About fourteen years ago a poor young man came to me to ask my advice
how to obtain a college education. I offered to be his teacher. Then
others joined until there were six. The number was gradually enlarged
to forty, when the idea came to me to found a people’s college.
Certain gentlemen became interested, and we erected Temple College,
which was then connected with this church, but now is a separate and
distinct institution. We hope shortly to have it like the New York
University. We have rented a number of outside buildings, and have
a law school and a seminary. About four thousand attend the evening
classes, while four thousand attend the special day classes.”