A Millionaire’s Text
__________
It was THE TEXT employed by William Whiting Borden as he
sought to lead his classmates to the knowledge of Christ as a personal Saviour.
One of the most refreshing biographies of recent years is
“Borden of Yale ’09,” by Mrs. Howard Taylor. Among many comments upon the Book,
Howard A. Kelly, M.D., L.L.D., of
“When the death of William Borden,” runs the Introduction,
“was cabled from
“It was not the million
dollars that came to this young American,” commented another editor, ”which
made his life a victory and his death a world – wide call to young men and
women to learn the secret of that victory. It was in things that every man can
share that William Borden found the way to the life which is Christ, and the
death which is gain. And
At the age of 17 he entered
Yale, and it was during his freshman year that the text was employed – and not
without blessing – in the life of an ex–Hill man, who was then tutoring in
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“We have just celebrated Omega
Lambda Chi tonight, which is a rather strenuous proceeding. First we all –
the while college – danced around hippity-hop, finally ending up at the
campus. Then there was a race between
the sophomores and freshmen. After this
we had tug-of-war. Nearly the whole
college tacked on, seniors and sophs at one end, and juniors and freshmen at
the other. We just walked it over to
“But there is something
more interesting to tell you.
Charlie has been working with a fellow most of the year. His boast was that He’d broken every
commandment but one. As he isn’t in
jail, I suppose that one is murder.
Well, Charlie and I prayed that he might get a talk with X. The other
day his uncle died, and on returning he nearly went off again (that is, to the
bad), but went up to Charlie’s room instead, and he was there alone, Charlie
told me how hard it was, how he beat around the bush and prayed. But thank God, he won out, and had a fine
talk with X., who has decided to give Christ a chance in his life. Charlie and
I prayed, and took Christ’s words, “Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no
wise cast out.” I feel convinced
that X. is started all right, and what’s more I think he’s going to be a power.
For he is a skilful debater, and if he found Christ, he could have a strong
influence. It’s wonderful – isn’t it? –
and glorious!”
During his Sophomore year,
Borden and John Magee, the graduate secretary of the Y.M.C.A., began to pray
that a
During this time he again
wrote his mother:
“You will be pleased to hear
that X. is getting on very well in every way (the classmate who formerly
boasted that he had broken every commandment but one). He leads a Sunday School
class, and has a
Borden’s Home-call came
during his work in
“The Master said, “Come, Follow”-
That was all.
Earth’s joys grew dim,
My soul went after Him:
I rose and followed-
That was all.
Will you not follow if you hear His call?”