A SECRET MEETING.



SOME time ago, the Rev. Dr. Hill, of Virginia, related the following story: 

In his youth he entered Hampden Sidney College, where, at the time, Christianity was little respected among the classes, and the institution did not contain a single Christian student.

Young Hill did not live a religious life, but he retained religious impressions from the teachings of his mother, who had but recently died. The memory of her life and words thrust itself upon him in all his associations, and the scoffing and profane fun of his classmates at serious things disturbed his conscience.

He endured this for a long time, till it became a question whether he would quite give himself up to the influences, which surrounded him, or make a serious effort to resist them. He had no Bible. He did not like to procure one for fear he should be ridiculed. At last, from a friendly family in the neighborhood, he borrowed a religious book. It was the work of a Scottish minister, and full of plain and holy truths.  Young Hill took his first opportunity to read it, locking his door, and hoping he should not be disturbed. 

Before long a student clamored so boisterously for admission that he was obliged to let him in. The book lay on the bed, and the visitor took it up and looked at it in surprise.

"Hill, do you read such books?" Momentary cowardice made the young man hesitate, but he mastered himself, and replied, "Yes, I do."

"Well," said the fellow-student, with unexpected emotion, "you may be a Christian, but I can't. I came here a professor of religion, but I struck my colors, and went over to the enemy."

They had some further conversation, and Hill learned that there were two other well disposed fellows in the college who might welcome his confidence, and finally it was decided to invite them to his room.

The four young men met and tried to hold a religious meeting. It was a new thing to them all. Their efforts were crude and incoherent enough, but they were sincere.

Their attempt to sing attracted listeners, and then the storm burst. A mob of students crowded the hall, and the uproar was such that the college officers had to come and disperse them.

That evening at chapel prayers the President inquired the cause of the disturbance, and learned the truth. He assured young Hill and his three friends that they should be protected.

"You shall hold your next meeting in my parlor" said he, "and I will be one of your number."  Saturday came again, and the meeting at the president's house was attended not only by the four students, but by half the college. That was the beginning of a work that swept through the institution. Ridicule and. reckless impiety were silenced, and scorners became worshipers.

The influence of the new religious life in the college spread through all the town and into the surrounding country; but its most interesting results were in the young men who first felt its power, and who had their long future before them. Some of these, like Dr. Hill himself, became clergymen, and the student who interrupted Hill in his reading, became president of a college in the West.

So did one good old book, cherished in secret by a single hungry heart a little good amidst a great deal of evil make itself felt and prove a seed of large blessing.




 Youth's Companion