Three Quotes

"I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true; I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have."     ~ Abraham Lincoln

"Courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones; and then when you have accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake."    ~ Victor Hugo 

 "In a sad hour I have seen, through the window, mounted on a rail back of my house, one of those curious-eyed little sparrows.  And he was a better preacher to me than I am to you.  It was winter, and there was not guaranteed to it one days’ food, nor any protection, from any source in their world.  It was wholly dependent upon its God.  And yet it sang --- sang for its own hearing, and sang for my rebuke, saying to me “Are ye not much more than I?  And God thinks of me, and takes care of me,” How much there is in the voice of nature if we only knew how to interpret it!"    ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Stories and Anecdotes - I Am As Happy As You Are

     Helen Keller, though born deaf, dumb and blind, has astonished the world by acquiring a complete education, despite her handicap.


     My story is now told, and I hope, kind reader, you are convinced how little able I was to write it. I live in my own way the life that you do, and I am as happy as you are. The outward circumstances of our lives are but the shell of things. My life is pervaded by love as a cloud by light. Deafness is a barrier against intrusion, and blindness makes us oblivious to much that is ugly and revolting in the world. In the midst of unpleasant things, I move as one who wears an invisible cap.


     Sometimes, it is true, a sense of isolation infolds me like a cold white mist as I sit alone and wait at Life’s shut gate. Beyond there is light and music and sweet companionship; but I may not enter. Fate, silent, pitiless, inexorable, bars the way. Fain would I question his imperious decree; for my heart is still undisciplined and passionate; but my tongue will not utter the bitter futile words that rise to my lips, and they fall back into my heart like unshed tears. Silence sits immense upon my soul, the come Hope with sweet, and smile and whispers, “There is joy in self-forgetfulness.” So I try to make the light in others’ eyes my sun, the music in others’ ears my symphony, the smile on others’ lips my happiness.

Poems by Sue - How So I Know?

How do I know that He is near?

When storms around me blow?

His loving arms enfold me as

In prayer to Him I go.

How do I know that He is near?

His face I cannot see;

Yet when my way is darkest

His face is clear to me.

“Fear not for I am with thee”

These words to me He has given

And though my footsteps falter,

His hand guides me to heaven.

Stories and Anecdotes - Honor is Better than Honors

     The moment was a tense one.  Rosalie Elliott had made it to the fourth round of a national spelling contest in Washington. The 11-year old from South Carolina had been asked to spell the word avowal.  In her soft southern accent she spelled the word, but the judges were not able to determine if she had used an a or an e as the next to the last letter. They debated among themselves for several minutes as they listened to tape recording playbacks.  The critical letter, however, was to accent-blurred to decipher.  Finally the chief judge put the question to the only person who knew the answer.

     “Was the letter an a or was it an e?” he asked Rosalie.  By this time, being surrounded by whispering young speller, Rosalie knew the correct spelling of the word. Still, without hesitation, she replied that she had misspelled the word and she walked from the stage.

     The entire audience stood and applauded, including some fifty newspaper reporters.  The moment was a heartwarming and proud one for her parents.  Even in defeat, she was a victor.  Indeed, more has been written about Rosalie Elliott over the years than about the “unknown” winner of the event!

     Being a person of truth, even when it is against us, will bring great honor.

Poem by Elizabeth F. Guptill - His Offering

‘Twas a common congregation.

            Not many rich or poor,

And they settled back in the places

            When the sermon at length was o’er

‘Twas a missionary sermon,

            And the Pastor tried, indeed,

To touch the hearts of his people

            For India’s great need.

He asked for a large collection

            To send the precious Word,

And He raised the mute petition,’

            “Touch their pocketbook, O Lord”

But “T’was only a begging sermon

            One hears so many no!”

And a lack of saddened patience

            Stole o’er the preacher’s brow.

As they gave their dimes and nickels

            With a have-to-do-it air,

Instead of the look of helpful joy,

            God’s people out to wear.

‘Way down in front, on the free seat,

            Sat a shabby little boy,

No mother’s pet or plaything,

            No father’s pride and joy.

Poor child! He had no mother,

            And he was a drunkard’s son,

Known to the congregation

            As “Drunken Lady’s John.”

Of course, he had no offering,

            So the deacon passed him by,

“Let us ask a blessing on it,”

            Said the pastor with a sigh.

“Oh wait,” said the barefoot laddie,

            As he started to his feet,

“And ask one on my offering, too!

            The deacon passed my seat.”

So back went the good old deacon,

            And his face wore a friendly smile,

As he passed the box to the little lad,

            Who was standing all the while.

“I haven’t much to give,” he said,

            “But I’ll give Him all I can,

And I’ll go out to India

            And preach when I’m a man.

And from his ragged pocket

            He drew his treasured pence,

And carefully he counted them---

            Just twenty-seven cents!

“There, that is every bit I have!”

            Said the shabby little lad.

“But I know that God’ll bless it,

            ‘Cause I gave Him all I had!”

“Here, Deacon, pass that box again!”

            Called honest Farmer Dorr

“We haven’t done the best we could,

            We want to give some more!”

And so the contribution box

            Went round the church once more,

And dollars now went dropping in,

Where nickels dropped before.

Men all unused to giving,

            Gave now, and softly smiled,

For now they gave to Jesus,

            Led by a little child.

And the pastor asked a blessing

            On a sum that made him glad.

And because one little boy

            Gave Jesus all he had!

                        Elizabeth F. Guptill.

Story and Anecdotes - School Rules

Harvard Rules for Students 1643

     “Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3).” (The purpose was to lead student to know God the Father and to know His son, Jesus Christ.)
     The rules go on to stipulate that students were required to read and study the Bible at least twice a day. They were to show the utmost respect to God’s ordinances, to memorize the Scriptures and be able to recite these publicly if called upon by their teachers. God’s Holy Name was to be used reverently. No profanity was allowed. Students were to attend their classes and chapel services “without any disturbance by word or gesture.” Furthermore, the rules continue: “None shall under any pretense whatsoever frequent the company and society of such men as lead and unfit and dissolute life.”
The students were expected to know Latin, the language of most theological writings at that time. They were also expected to know Hebrew and Greek in order to translate the Scriptures from their original languages.

Statutes of William and Mary 1727

     “There are three things which the Founders of this College proposed to themselves, to which all its Statutes should be directed.

1. The first is that the youth of Virginia should be well educated to learning and good morals.
2. The second is that the churches of America, especially Virginia, should be supplied with good ministers after the doctrine and government of the church of England, and that the college should be a constant seminary for this purpose.
3. The third is that the Indians of America should be instructed in the Christian religion, and that some of the Indian youth that are well behaved and well inclined, being first well prepared in the Divinity School, may be sent out to preach the gospel to their countrymen in their own tongue, after they have duly been put in orders of deacons and priests.”

Regulations at Yale 1745

     “All scholars shall live religious, godly, and blameless lives according to the rules of God’s Word, diligently reading the Holy Scriptures, the fountain of light and truth, and constantly attend upon all the duties of religion, both in public and secret.”
     Furthermore, there was a penalty imposed for denying the faith. “If any scholar shall deny the Holy Scriptures or any part of them to be the Word of God, or be guilty of heresy or any error directly tending to subvert the fundaments of Christianity, and continuing obstinate therein after the first and second admonition, he shall be expelled.”

Columbia 1754

     “The chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ.”

Story and Anecdotes - Hancock the Patriot

     During the siege of Boston, General Washington consulted Congress upon the propriety of bombarding the town of Boston.  Mr. Hancock, a distinguished merchant, was the President of Congress. After General Washington’s letter was read, a solemn silence ensued. This was broken by a member making a motion that the House should resolve itself into a committee of the whole, in order that Mr. Hancock might give his opinion upon the important subject, as he was deeply interested, from having all his estate in Boston, which estate was very large and valuable.

     After Mr. Hancock had left the chair, he addressed the chairman of the committee of the whole in the following words: “It is true, sir; nearly all the property I have in the world is in houses and other real estate in the town of Boston; but if the expulsion of the British army from it, and the liberties of the country, require being burnt to ashes---issue the order for the purpose immediately.”