s when he is sad and doubtful over some particular possibility。 And he intensely believes in prayerfaith 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 comethe 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。
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
‘‘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 depressionChristmas 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。
‘‘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！''
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！
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！
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！
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！''
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。''
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。
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。
‘‘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。''
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 misunder… stood and misjudged； but； he added； the momentary somberness lifting； even his bitter enemies had been won over with patience。
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。
‘‘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。''
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 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 sensationalismcharges long since forgotten except through the hurt still felt by Dr。 Conwell himself。 ‘‘They used to charge me with making a circus of the churchas 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。
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 elec… tricity； 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。
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