1906. AGE 18
God has His best things for the few
Who dare to stand the test:
God has His second best for those
Who will not have His best.
I want in this short life of mine
As much as may be pressed
Of service true to God and men;
Help me to have Thy best.
―Selected
“IF ONE WOULD UNDERSTAND the student life of America at its best during the last three decades, he should turn to the student conferences,” wrote the biographer of Dr. Henry Wright; “for there are focused the aspirations of Christian youth in its highest mood of dedication.... Among all the events of the college year making for emancipation of the spirit and dedication of life, he placed the student conferences first.” In the middle and at the close of Borden’s freshman year came two outstanding experiences of this sort.
The first was the Missionary Convention of the Student Volunteer Movement at Nashville, attended by over four thousand delegates. The Yale contingent was a strong one, and the way in which Charlie Campbell came to be included in it was a surprise to himself if not to his friend.
I was not one of those chosen. The last night before the delegation was to leave, I was in bed and almost asleep when a number of upperclassmen filed into my room. I believe Bill was with them. They told me that it was financially possible for them to take one more delegate, and wanted me to go. Of course, I went. I have always had a conviction that Bill was back of that. If not, it was at any rate the kind of thing he was always doing, while keeping out of sight himself.
What a time we had on that long train journey to Nashville! Bill and others of us would adjourn to the baggage car occasionally, to let off steam in games that usually came from his fertile imagination. One of his games went by the name of “hot-hand.” The man who was “it” must face the side of the car, with his eyes closed, supporting his head against the car. The rest would then group themselves behind him, and anyone was at liberty to take a whack. After each impact he had to guess who it was that had hit him. If his guess was correct, the giver of the blow had to change places with him; if incorrect, another whack was in order. Bill shone at this game, in both capacities! Then there would be high-kicking contests and other games, all in the rapidly-moving car.
And so we reached Nashville, full of life and spirits, where we separated for the different homes in which we were to be entertained. Those were the days of wonderful inspiration for us all. If Bill was responsible for my going to Nashville, he was used of God to bring me a step further on in Christian experience, for it was there I gave my life to God in consecration for any work to which he might call me.
Among the speakers, secretaries of boards and visitors to the Convention, of whom there were hundreds, and the foreign missionaries representing twenty-six countries, one man stood out for Borden with a burning message. He was a man with a map. Charged with facts and with enthusiasm, grim with earnestness, filled with a passion of love for Christ and the perishing, Samuel Zwemer made that great map live, voicing the silent appeal of the Mohammedan world. Two hundred millions of our fellow-creatures in the lands colored green on the map―two hundred millions under the sway of Islam, held in a bondage than which none on earth is more relentless, more deadening, and to its womanhood more degrading—what a challenge to the Christian Church! From China to the west coast of Africa and from the steppes of Russia right down to Zanzibar stretched that great sweep of green, sparsely dotted here and there with centers from which Christian light was spreading. Yet, as Dr. Zwemer showed, never before had there been such open doors for the evangelization of the Moslem world. “The hour is ripe” was the burden of his message, and he sustained it with startling facts.
Making full allowance for all that was being done by missionaries in Moslem lands, the speaker pointed out country after country, province after province, still absolutely without the Light of Life, as far as their Mohammedan population was concerned. Some had no missionaries at all, such as Afghanistan with its four million Moslems; some had missionaries among their heathen races but none for the followers of the prophet. In China, for example, with fifteen million Moslems, not a single missionary was set apart for their evangelization. Yet the door was no longer closed to the inland provinces in which most of them are found.
When the door opens [Dr. Zwemer urged] we ought to press in, sacrificing our lives if need be for God, as the Moslems did at Khartum for their Prophet. If the call voiced by those who have already spoken moved us deeply, coming from Persia, from Turkey, from Egypt, from India, if that was a call from God, what shall be said of the mute appeal of the seventy millions of the wholly unevangelized Moslem world? Shall we stand by and allow these seventy millions to continue under the curse and in the snare of a false religion, with no knowledge of the saving love and power of Christ, not because they have proved fanatical and refused to listen, not because they have thrust us back, but because none of us has ever had the courage to go to those lands and win them to Jesus Christ?
Of course it will cost life. It is not an expedition of ease nor a picnic excursion to which we are called.... It is going to cost many a life, and not lives only, but prayers and tears and blood. Leadership in this movement has always been a leadership in suffering. There was Raymond Lull, the first missionary to the Moslems, stoned to death in Algiers; Henry Martyn, pioneering in Persia with the cry, “Let me burn out for God.” We who are missionaries to Moslems today call upon you to follow with us in their train, to go to these waiting lands and light the beacon of the love of Christ in all the Mohammedan world. Did he not live, pray, suffer for Moslems as well as for us? Shall we do less if the call comes? Let us be like those Scots of Bruce who were ready to falter until that man on the white charger took the heart of Bruce in its casket and swinging it round cried out, “Oh, heart of Bruce, lead on!” As he flung it toward the enemy and bore down upon them you could not have held those soldiers back with bands of steel. Say not it is the appeal of the Mohammedan world or of the missionaries—it is the call of the Master. Let us answer with the shout, “Oh, heart of Christ, lead on!” And we will follow that cry and win the Mohammedan world for Him.
More Moslems in China than there are in Persia; more Moslems in China than in the whole of Egypt; more Moslems in China even than in Arabia, home and cradle of Islam, and no one giving himself to their evangelization―little wonder that with a nature like Borden’s the facts demanded a response. “We do not plead for missions,” Dr. Zwemer is wont to say. “We simply bring the facts before you and ask for a verdict.”
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; if thou sayest, Behold we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Borden went back from Nashville committed in heart to that great enterprise, should the Lord confirm the call. He did not say much about it, but from that time his most intimate friends knew that he was definitely considering work among Moslems in some unoccupied field.
On the return of the Yale delegation, reports had to be given in various meetings, and he wrote about one particular Sunday:
March 26, 1906
DEAR MOTHER―Yesterday was a rather strenuous day and I’m glad it’s over. Our prayer meeting was well attended and the fellows did very well. One fellow’s testimony was especially good. He said he had gone down there [Nashville S.V. Convention) believing that foreign missions were useless, but that he had come back ashamed of himself and thoroughly convinced that they were doing good. Another of the fellows gave a brief sketch of the Student Volunteer Movement. Another told a little about Medical Missions. Harold Stokes spoke on The Inadequacy of the Non-Christian Religions. I followed, on The Adequacy of the Christian Religion, and told the story Dr. Leary of Malaita told us; also I made things personal and hope I hit somebody. Charlie Campbell spoke last on Responsibility, and did splendidly. I am indeed thankful for the way God helped us.
In the evening Ken Latourette, a senior, Charley and myself, spoke at the Calvary Baptist Church. I tried to say too much, as I only had ten minutes, got balled-up and did rather poorly. However, the other fellows did very well, and as I came in between it didn’t matter so much. I’m afraid there was a little pride and ambition inside. The three of us speak again Friday and Sunday evening next, and I’m going to be more careful.
Took some exercise today for the first time. My marks for this term are all A’s except Greek, which is C; my general average is A. We have to pick our courses for Sophomore year soon, and I will send a book giving courses of study so that you and Father can look it over....
Wish I were in Lakewood with you, but―Lots of love, your son,
WILLIAM
He did not mention, in connection with his Greek, something that came out in a letter from his friend, Ken Latourette, now Professor of Missions at Yale.
My first recollection of Bill is in a Greek class in which we both recited to Professor―Dear old Professor― was a rare scholar and a splendid Christian gentleman, but he had a quick temper and at times was subject to queer dislikes. For some reason I could never account for, he seemed totally to misunderstand and thoroughly to dislike Bill. For one who prepared as conscientiously as did Bill, it was very galling to be systematically, openly and unjustly berated. Although very indignant, he never retorted in any way, and I cannot now remember that he ever spoke of the experience, except when someone else mentioned it, and then he said only a few words of apology for Professor―
Just at this time the course of life in the University was arrested for Borden and his more intimate friends by the sudden death of one of their classmates. How much it meant to him may be seen from the following letter:
April 1, 1906
There was a fellow in our class, from Ohio, who was very bright in his studies but who came here with no reference for moral character. The Faculty let him in hoping it would be all right, but it wasn’t. He got in with the wrong bunch and led a fast life. Last Monday he was taken sick and removed to the Infirmary. It was found that he had pleurisy, pneumonia and water on the heart, the last being the most serious.
Now I had been meaning to try and get hold of this fellow, but had never done anything. Few of us knew his sickness was serious until Wednesday, when it was rumored that he was dying. Charlie, Bill Williams and I went to the Infirmary, to find out for sure. We were told that he was unconscious and not likely to live out the day. Immediately, we came back here to my room and prayed―there was nothing we could do. This was about two o’clock. He died at three, and I don’t know whether he regained consciousness or not.... It’s an awful lesson to me, and should make the whole University stop and think. Yet, already the thing is being forgotten.
The class decided to send flowers for the funeral and to wear mourning buttons for a month, and Borden as chairman of a committee for the purpose was to draw up a resolution to send to the family.
I appointed the committee, consisting of three of his most intimate friends, and Charlie. We did what was to be done, and it was but little. Now, Charlie and I want to get hold of three other fellows, who are all fast themselves. I went up to see them the other night, and found them playing cards with poker chips on the table and the door locked!
And yet, it is not hopeless. Charlie has been working with a fellow who was about the same as these. Formerly he avoided Charlie, but now he looks for him. I can see a change in his face already. I do hope and will work hard and pray for these fellows, one of whom by the way may be rusticated for six weeks. It’s awful―the need for Christ here at Yale! I am thankful for our Personal Workers’ Group, for our Volunteer Band and for friends like Charlie and others.
The current of his thoughts was changed a few days later by an unexpected visit from his parents. It was early in April, and everything was tingling with the new life of spring. To John and William it was a special pleasure to show their father the college campus, and the joy of those hours was unshadowed by any premonition of coming sorrow. Strange to say, it was only a week later that William was writing from Chicago, telling of the grief of their homecoming.
Friday, April 13, 1906
Father and Mother were east about a week ago and had a fine visit with us. First they went to Vassar and heard the debate, in which Mary did very well. This pleased Father immensely. Then they came on to Yale, and John and I had a nice visit with them. It was the first time Father had visited either John or myself at school or college. After leaving us they went down to New York, got Mary and went to Lakewood. There Mary spent a day or two with them and had a fine time....
Back in Chicago, Father was perfectly well apparently, and had nice visits with most of his near relatives and friends. Saturday evening last he was taken sick, and on Sunday became critically ill. It was then we were summoned. Mary got here Monday evening in time to see him, though he was unconscious. John and I arrived on Tuesday morning, three or four hours after he had passed away.
William was only eighteen, but from that time he took more than a son’s place at his mother’s side. With him, love was a matter of deeds rather than of words, and in the midst of his college work he made time to write to her daily, with few exceptions. What that correspondence meant, keeping him in touch with all that concerned her, bringing the strong comfort of his sympathy into her aching loneliness, only a mother’s heart can understand. If it cost some sacrifice, some moments of weariness after the strenuous day, the letters never showed it. They were always cheery and tender, and frequently contained charges not to reply unless she felt equal to writing.
April 21, 1906
DEAR MOTHER―I haven’t much to tell you this evening, but just thought I’d write a little note to send you my love.... The weather continues pleasant and I can literally see the leaves grow from day to day.... I will try and write often, but don’t you try to.
April 24, 1906
Tuesdays are always my hard days, that is, busy ones, as you can easily see when I tell you how my time is occupied.
I get up about seven, dress, have my Morning Watch, which I like to call my “breakfast” for “man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” —go to breakfast and then Chapel. From eight thirty until four in the afternoon my studies keep me busy. From four to five I try and get in an hour’s practice (piano) and at five we have our meeting for personal workers. After that, supper and study until nine, when my Bible Study Group meets for about an hour.
This has been the program today, so you see that until now, 10:30 P.M., I have been kept moving. But I sort of like it; it’s just about enough.
Farrand brought another fellow down to my room tonight for our Bible Class. He is sort of an earnest-minded agnostic, and we hope to get hold of him as well as the others.
April 28, 1906
This afternoon Jim Whittaker and I went off on a glorious horseback ride together. We went way out in the country and then struck down to the Sound and came back to New Haven along the shore. The air and everything was fine and I enjoyed it immensely.
May 3, 1906
We had an examination in Ruskin and Byron the other day in which I am quite sure I did well. Also my standing in Analytical Geometry is nearly as good as in Trigonometry. In fact everything goes well but my Greek. I somehow find that hard and tiresome and don’t seem to make a great success of it. But I’m going to work hard these few, for they are few, remaining weeks and see if I can’t get as good in it as in my other subjects.
May 4, 1906
At our last group meeting I asked the fellows what they thought about our present method, and the majority were for continuing it. Some of them are doing work outside (Bible Study).... I gave Tom the name of Dawson’s book, Modern Ideas of Evolution, and think he will get it soon if he hasn’t already done so. I have gotten my skeptical friend a little bit interested on the evolution theory, and may be able to do something with him.
May 5, 1906
Today was the day of the track games and the old Hill distinguished herself by winning the meet with a margin of ten and a half points. I saw Mr. Sweeney and the fellows, most all of whom I knew. It was fine.... After supper Farrand and I went over to Charlie’s room and had a good roughhouse. It was real interesting and amusing. I have to relax Saturday afternoon and evening, but now I’m going to do a little work for Monday.
Tomorrow being Communion, we don’t have any prayer meeting. I think I’ll try and get in a little more Bible study and have a few talks with fellows.... Mother, I know you’re tired. I can see it in your handwriting. You’ve got to get rested and strong. So don’t try and write or exert yourself unnecessarily in any way.
May 9, 1906
I am rather enjoying my track work and as Johnny Mack, the trainer and coach, condescends to say a word now and then, I’m almost getting a “swelled head,” but not quite. I suppose if I work hard, after two or three years I may be some good. I am working with both shot and hammer, each weighing sixteen pounds.
May 12, 1906
Today, Yale distinguished herself in many ways. They easily won from Princeton in Track, won the Inter-collegiate shoot from Penn, beat Holy Cross in Baseball, 10-7 I believe, the Freshman Crew beat out the Columbia Freshmen, and the Freshman Ball team was also victorious. Quite a day, was it not? I relaxed all right!
May 13, 1906
Charlie has just been in and told me some very encouraging things about his work with certain fellows. The more I see of him and the better I come to know him, the more I see to wonder at and admire. He’s taught me more than one lesson. A fellow said to me the other day, “It would be a mighty good thing for the College if there were a few more fellows like Charlie Campbell.” He’s as near perfect as anyone I have ever known. If I’m to be up at six (for their early prayer meeting) I must go to bed. Lots of love.
May 15, 1906
This evening we had our little Bible study group, seven fellows being present. We took up the fifth chapter of John which has important teachings on the Divinity of Christ, the Second Coming and the Resurrection, the Authority of the Old Testament, etc. We had an interesting and I hope a profitable time.
I have a good many openings now which I ought to make use of. You know I said Charlie had taught me a good many things. Well perhaps two principal ones are to have patience and not to waste time. I was up in his room the other day and when he had finished what he was doing he said, “What useful thing can I do next?” With such an example, and there are others, I guess there’s hope for me.
May 17, 1906
Thank you for the book, God’s Image in Man, which arrived today.... As I was up at a quarter to six and have been going pretty well all day, I am a little tired. However, it is early yet, and I have my work ready for tomorrow, so I expect a good rest. I’m sorry, but I haven’t anything much to say. I love you very dearly and am looking forward to the time when I shall see you.
May 21, 1906
We have just celebrated Omega Lambda Chi tonight, which is a rather strenuous proceeding. First we all―the whole 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 a 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 York Street when somebody foolishly tried to take it into Pearson Hall. Then the sophs got it going and we couldn’t stop them for quite a while. Had an awful scrap which finally ended up on Chapel Street. I have a small piece of the rope....
But there is something more interesting to tell you. As things have worked out it seems almost providential that I stayed here. For Saturday night Farrand and I went down to Savin Rock, one of those “rotten” summer resorts. They have a lot of merry-go-rounds and such amusements, but also saloons and dance halls. We went to the dance hall and found a mess in the saloon. A lot of college fellows in various stages of drunkenness with a lot of loose women, also more or less drunk. It was positively disgusting. I am thankful to say there were no fellows from our class there.
But there was a fellow there who had been expelled from Hill, whom I knew. He is living here in New Haven, tutoring. Well, I watched him and spoke to him after I saw him go to a couple of these women. But he wouldn’t come away. So we just literally followed them and got on the same car as they did to return to New Haven. There’s no use describing that ride. Finally his girl got off alone and said “Goodnight” very distinctly, for us to hear. I went and spoke to the fellow and he was mad as thunder and a little under the influence of liquor. After a block or two he slipped off and was starting back. I spoke to him but he wouldn’t stop, so Farrand and I had to use a little physical force to restrain him.... We had to stop him. Of course he was very obstinate, but after about half or three-quarters of an hour we won him around and he walked home with us. We said everything we could think of and prayed when we got home. He’s in with an awful bunch and I don’t know just what to do. But we know that “with God all things are possible.”
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 skillful debater and if he found Christ he could have a strong influence. It’s wonderful, isn’t it, and glorious!
Sunday I had another talk with S., my skeptical, indifferent friend, but accomplished very little apparently. The preacher was fine I thought and very helpful.
This morning we met again at 6:30 and had a fine time of prayer.
May 23, 1906
This afternoon I went down and called on my friend whom I was with at Savin Rock, the other night. He was tutoring, but came down and saw me. Later we went to the ball game together. I had hoped to bring him to the Bible class and then maybe have a talk afterward, but I couldn’t do this. However he isn’t mad at me and I’m going to see him again.
May 24, 1906
This was Tap Day, rather an interesting event to witness for the first time. On the first stroke of five o’clock the tapping began, and continued for about three-quarters of an hour. Tapping is rather a misnomer, for they hit the men most tremendously and rush them off to their rooms. B.C. went Scroll and Keys and B.B. was the last man tapped for Skull and Bones. Bill Barnes also went Bones. This is a great honor, as it means he is head of that Society for next year. It’s all very well in a way, but they make entirely too much of it, it seems to me.
Well as a result of this excitement I haven’t done my work as I should, and must get busy now.
May 25, 1906
We have only a week and a half more of recitations now. It is hard to realize that freshman year is nearly over. I have seen nine fellows today about Bible study next year, and have expressed their willingness to join a group. S., my skeptical friend, is one of these, and a fellow who doubts the immortality of the soul is another. I think it is going fine.
May 28, 1906
Farrand is working now with a fellow who has been going with women. He is the son of a Presbyterian Elder, and says his father would be simply dumbfounded if he should hear about it. It’s pitiful and awful. I keep hearing things, and am beginning to realize that it’s much more widespread than I had supposed.
May 29, 1906
We have just had quite a time with a fellow. Charlie, Farrand and I were walking along when a man, a town fellow came up half-drunk and spoke to us. He swore, as they always do, and Charlie asked him if he knew who Christ was, whose name he had just spoken. Well, this started things and I brought him up to my room and we talked things over and prayed with him. He was quite deeply touched once or twice but wouldn’t take any definite action. However, we saw him home after having filled him up with water so that he didn’t want any more liquor. He was quite intelligent and said he would come and see us again. We did what we could and are trusting God for the rest.
May 30, 1906
Today we have had a holiday. In the morning Mitch, Jim, Whitaker, Farrand and I went off for a horseback ride. The horses were frisky, the country beautiful and the air fine.... In the afternoon we went down to the harbor and got a motorboat, which I ran, being the only one who had had much experience with engines. We had some good fun and I enjoyed being on the water, the first time since last summer. Altogether it has been a day of pure sport, and I guess it has done us all good.
Borden’s freshman year came to a wonderful climax in the Yale Summer Conference that followed Commencement. Debarred from the Student Conference at Northfield on account of its early date that year, they arranged for a gathering of their own under the leadership of Dr. Henry Wright, availing themselves of the grounds and buildings of the Hotchkiss School at Lakeville, Conn. One feature of the conference was a special course of training given to men who were to be leaders of voluntary groups for Bible study in the following year, for Borden’s plan of small separate groups was to be extended to all the classes. A canvass had already been made, and out of Borden’s class alone more than a hundred and fifty men were reported as willing to take up regular study in this way. This meant the preparation of a large body of leaders, who were keen to get all they could from the full program of the conference.
Half the substantial reporter’s notebook Borden had had with him in London is filled with jottings from this Lakeville Conference, showing how very much it meant to him. Even in those full days of meetings, sports and personal work―for he was leading one of the daily groups for Bible study―he found time to write with the same loving thoughtfulness to his mother.
July 3, 1906
Whom do you suppose we had with us Sunday? S. D. Gordon! Before breakfast a few of us met in Henry Wright’s room for prayer—our personal workers’ group. Afterward we met with Mr. Gordon. At 10 A.M. he gave us a talk on Power. It was wonderful. I will tell you more about it later. In the afternoon, down by the brook, he spoke on John 7:37-3937In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37‑39) in his quiet way.
Monday our regular Bible study groups started. The subject was Jesus and the Father. Beginnings are all hard, and possibly this was a hard subject to draw the fellows out on.... Today the subject was Jesus and Sin, a splendid one indeed, and we all got along much better. In my group is a Chinese nobleman’s son. I’m not sure but that he is a Viceroy’s son. He is one of our classmates, and is interested, as is shown by the fact that he is here.
In the course of study on Student Summer Missions, Henry (Dr. Wright) is outlining for us ten studies on Traits of Manhood. We had “Honesty” this morning, and it was splendid. I must get some boys together as soon as I get back to Camden.
Charlie and all the rest are here, and it’s fine! I am rooming with Farrand and think he may come to Camden with me.... Charlie, I am afraid, can’t come. I must close now, as I am to play on The Hill team against the Grads. Until just a moment ago I forgot that you were praying for me. The recollection has given me strength.
I am remembering you. Don’t be lonely.
In his notebook Borden had written after Sunday’s talks:
Say “No” to self, “Yes” to Jesus every time. A steep road—hard work? But every man on this road has One who walks with him in lockstep. His presence overtops everything that has been cut out....
In every man’s heart there is a throne and a cross. If Christ is on the throne, self is on the cross; and if self, even a little bit, is on the throne, Jesus is on the cross in that man’s heart.... If Jesus is on the throne, you will go where He wants you to go. Jesus on the throne glorifies any work or spot....
If you are thirsty and He is enthroned, drink. Drinking, the simplest act there is, means taking. “He that believeth on Me, out of him shall flow rivers of living water. This spake He of the Spirit.” To “believe” is to know, because of His word. How shall I know that I have power to meet temptation, to witness for Him? Believe His word: it will come.
Lord Jesus, I take hands off, as far as my life is concerned. I put Thee on the throne in my heart. Change, cleanse, use me as Thou shalt choose. I take the full power of Thy Holy Spirit. I thank Thee.
May never know a tithe of the result until Morning.