The way in which an unselfish example can inspire a like desire in
others is seen in this incident:
We two students roomed over on the north side of the building
where the sun never entered, and we were often chilled to
discomfort and we would not stand it longer. The bishop beamed
upon us with benevolent surprize, and said:
“Why, young gentlemen, this will never do; you are not going
to leave the school. True, our mission is slow in providing
better accommodations, but they will come soon. Meanwhile, we
are bound to do the best we can for our students. We expect you
young men in the future to become the bishops and leaders in the
Japanese churches. As for yourselves in particular, I’ll tell
you what we can do. I have a good warm room on the sunny side
of the school; now you young gentlemen come over and occupy my
room and I myself will go over and take yours.” “Oh, no!” we
both exclaimed; “we would not have you do that; we did not mean
that.” “But that’s what I mean,” said the bishop; “that’s what
will be done.” We again remonstrated and my fellow student, a
Christian boy, began to weep with chagrin and brokenness of
heart, and soon I found I, too, was weeping. I never before
had seen anything like that and my heart broke under it. Why,
sir, there was a light in that good bishop’s face similar to
that which I think Saul saw on the way to Damascus.--H. C.
MABIE, “Methods in Evangelism.”
(3350)
=Unsympathetic=--See SYMPATHY, LACK OF.