of character. This effect will become constantly more prominent; "He is the way, the truth, the life" in the whole matter. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." In other words, to feel his saving power and be transformed into his likeness, "being changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

3. All such experiences are a result of the will, acting with the divine agencies. This is a never-failing test. There is no Christian transformation of character, no divine blessing of any sort, given to man unless it is preceded by some act of volition on the part of the recipient. Others may be accidental, but Christian experiences never are. Conviction, repentance, faith, forgiveness, regeneration, consecration, growth, sanctification, all are preceded by a definite act of will; they are deliberately and intentionally sought. The will does not create them; it only assists the divine agencies; it opens the door for the experience to enter. God always respects man's freedom of choice; to violate the will means to destroy man's character as a moral agent, and Christian experience and character would no longer be a possibility. So these experiences are free and voluntary; we may admit or exclude them at will.

Now let us summarize. Christianity is a matter of experience as well as practice; millions attest the fact; they find joy and comfort in it

and are transformed by it. While we need to be guarded against supposing an ordinary physical or emotional excitement to be a Christian experience, yet we can rely upon the facts of spiritual consciousness; we know that they are true, absolutely so. We have sufficient light to interpret the facts of Christian consciousness and not confound them with anything merely sensational or physical. They become thus not only an evidence of Christianity, but a high privilege of every Christian, an element which gives to life certainty and joy, the glory of which can make luminous the darkest days and sweeten the bitterest sorrows of life. This is the distinctive privilege of Christian life "We know that we know." Yes, thank God, we "know in whom we have believed." We are "persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus the Lord." "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

PRESIDENT, COLLEGE OF PUGET SOUND, TACOMA, WASHINGTON

Edward H. Todd is the product of a Methodist parsonage and a native of Iowa. His father was a member of the Des Moines Conference for twenty-two years and died when Edward was sixteen years of age. Graduated from Simpson College, receiving therefrom the degrees of B.S., M.S., and D.D., and the degree of S.T.B. from Boston University School of Theology.

After graduation from Boston, he served pastorates at Oaksdale and Colfax, Washington. He was then transferred to the Puget Sound Conference and stationed at Montesano and at the same time was the financial agent of Goucher Academy. After four years of pastorate at Vancouver, Washington, and two years at the Epworth Church, Tacoma, Washington, he was made the corresponding secretary of the University of Puget Sound, in which capacity he labored four years, rendering a distinct service, the influence of which is still felt. He was then called to the vice-presidency of Willamette University, and his labor there since June, 1910, again proved his peculiar fitness in educational work.

He rendered invaluable assistance in the raising of five hundred thousand dollars for the Endowment Fund. After this was accomplished in September, 1913, he received and accepted the unanimous call to the presidency he now fills with conspicuous ability.

PERFECTED CULTURE1

PRESIDENT EDWARD H. TODD

"Sir, we would see Jesus."-John 12. 21.

THE words of our text were spoken by devout men who had come to Jerusalem to worship. They were intelligent men and from a race which was then renowned for its intellectual ambitions and accomplishments. Paul stood on Mars' Hill later and gave an account of the Christ and his doctrines to that people which convinced them and did much to spread his gospel. These men were convinced that worship was necessary, and that Jerusalem was the proper place to worship. With all this they were still alert to increase their own religious knowledge and worthiness. Upon hearing of the marvelous words and works of Jesus they were filled with a desire to see him for themselves. They would seek the source of still further excellence and culture.

It is proper that this company of students and teachers should turn aside from their ordinary duties and seek to see the person whom these cultured men ought to see. We are in the midst of a

1 Used on Day of Prayer for Colleges, February 11, 1915, at College of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

great company of students to-day who are observing this Day of Prayer. Besides this, ours is a Christian foundation by Christian men. It would be proper had we not any further reason than to respect our founders' ideals. But these are not the real reason we give for this cause in our studies. This day is observed, and our founders have established this school, because there is a deep and abiding religious demand that must be met in the soul of every man. There is a hunger and thirst in every soul which must be satisfied if that soul is to reach its highest development. The religious nature must be cultured as well as the intellectual. Perfected culture of the soul requires that the affections be directed upward and outward by religious instruction and training. Symmetry and beauty of character are to be gained by a development of all the powers of the soul to function easily and supplementarily. Every man is by nature religious and ought to seek in developing this part of his soul's power. We are not saying that a man is naturally saved from his sins, nor that, he is naturally Christian. Both of these are attainments through the power of the soul to function religiously laying hold of the Saviour through faith. Instinctively men pray, and they ought to strive to cultivate that instinct. In my youth I was tempted to think that it was an admission of weakness to confess that I was a Christian. I trust that the youth of today are above that temptation. There is another