“But do we not remember the instance of the attempt to arrest him while he was speaking in the Temple? And do we not recall the astonishing fact that the Roman officers themselves dared not touch him, and came back to those who had sent them, giving as their excuse, ‘Never man did a man speak like this man’? I do not believe the world has ever given Jesus credit for overpowering eloquence as a public speaker. But I do know that, during those first ten minutes, there was not a person of the thirty-five hundred present who did not feel moved as he had never felt in all his life by a public speaker.

“Suddenly, Jesus turned to the Chancellor and asked him a question concerning the habits of a certain number of the students in the University. The Chancellor was simply dumbfounded. I sat where I could distinctly see him, and I think I have never observed on any man’s face such a look of anger and conviction combined. It was as still as death all over the great hall. The voice of Jesus—have we not all spoken of its marvelous power and beauty?—thrilled every one.

“And I think what I felt, what we all felt, was a real fear, such as no human being ever inspired—at least I never had such a feeling in the presence of anyone as I had today—the fear of a sinful man in the presence of perfect righteousness.

“Jesus’s question was one he had a perfect right to ask. If the National Education Association is right in saying, as it did two years ago, that ‘the great end and aim of all education is character,’ then surely Jesus has a right to call the Chancellor to account for his tremendous influence in the matter of his own example before his own students.”

“In the matter of the liquor and the tobacco?” Virginia said eagerly.

“Yes. In the plainest language, he called the Chancellor to account for the personal example he was daily living before his own students, an example so contrary to that of a great educator of youth that no excuse could be offered, and the only reparation he could make would be to repent and cleanse his physical life of all such habits.

“Then came the scene which the papers no doubt will emphasize the most. And, by the way, there must have been over twenty press representatives there from all over the country.”

“Yes,” Dr. West said. “Norman tells me the town will be full of them by tomorrow. This scene at the University will bring many more.”

“But this is only the beginning. As I was saying, the Chancellor sat there, white with anger and conviction, while Jesus was condemning him. Suddenly, he stood up and exclaimed in a terrible voice, ‘Leave the platform, you insolent—’

“I did not hear the word that followed, but after one tremendous moment of deathly stillness, the students all over the Assembly Hall raised a cry of rebuke. ‘Fair play! Fair play! Let him finish!’ Then, to my mind, followed what seemed to me the most remarkable scene of the entire day.