Taylor University - Ilium / Gem Yearbook (Upland, IN)

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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiii ii by himself and by his first wife. The title is Sunday School Concerts. In 1883 he published a small volume of poems, called, from the chief long poem which it contains, Exodus and Other Poems. He continued to write hymns and poems to the last; these were used in his own publica- tions, in other religious papers, and some were used in hymn and song books. The following hymn was set to music by evangelist C. E. Rowley, at one time Professor of Music in the College at Ada, Ohio. Prof, and Mrs. Rowley, both good singers and musicians, sang this great hymn of- ten, and always to the great delight of their hearers. Notice Dr. Reade ' s fine poetic appreciation of God in nature. SK £5, GOD CARETH FOR ME join with the worshipping angels to sing Of God, our Creator, Preserver and King ; Transcendent in glory, in station most high, He dazzles with splendor the Sun in the Sky. All nature proclaims Him ; the outermost Star That hurries away on its mission afar, Chants abroad, as it flies o ' er the wondering Earth, The praises of God in the song of its birth. The sea shouts aloud to the cloud-cleaving hills, The Vales swell the song with the music of rills, The earth is His footstool, and heaven His throne ; God reigneth forever, He reigneth alone- His breath is the wind, and His robe is the light, His voice is the thunder, His shadow is night ; He rides on the tempest, He walks on the sea, Yet feedeth the sparrows, and careth for me. ii iiiiiiiiiminiiBmngnn p ne5ij™jt

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Mllllillllll Dm[g its Bt m numbers, but real enthusiasm for effective writing and speaking, was part of the Taylor Spirit. But religion — fervent, heartfelt religion, earnest, evangelical, evan- gelistic Christianity, emphasizing the great fundamentals of Christian ex- perience, as conversion and entire sanctification, with the witness of the Spirit — was stimulated. Revivals were frequently held, and evangelists were brought in who would deepen the spiritual life of the school and lead the saved to perfect love. Dr. Reade took the doctrine of Christian Perfection as a matter of course, treated it as that to which a Christian will com if led on to realize his needs and privileges. He was easy and natural in the use of all the Scriptural terms, and was not a stickler for any form of expression- As far as I remember he did not assume either an attitude of apology or controversy in regard to the doctrine of holiness. A Spirit-filled ministry was the ideal. This kept the school largely free from empty dogmatism and from schism. Added was a strong missionary spirit. His attitude on these various subjects, with a faculty and student body largely standing for the same policies, built up during his administra- tion what might well be called the Taylor Spirit, the Taylor Idea. Only a few incidents can be given to show his disposition and char- acter. In his last illness he went to Battle Creek, Michigan, and was there when the Sanitarium building burned. He got out safe in spite of his weakness, and, though he never told it himself, it was learned by his rel- atives, through letters of gratitude written later, that he went back into the burning building and rescued several persons who could not find their way out. The following incidents connected with his last illness show his sense of humor manifesting itself in an effort to create good cheer even to the last. His daughter, Bertha, seeing his failing strength, looked at him with tears in her eyes and said: Papa, are you going to die? He repli- ed, I don ' t know, Bertha, I ' ve never had any experience, and smiled. On one occasion when he had been sitting up in a chair, and had become wea- ry, he said to one who was visiting him: I think I ' d better lie down ; I talk better when I lie. Dr . Reade was a lecturer and author as well as a preacher and edu- cator. Aside from lectures on special occasions, three lectures might be mentioned, which were delivered a number of times : The Hymns We Sing; The Talking Animal; and The Dutch. Three booklets, The Life of Sammy Morris, St. Barnabas the Good and The Elder Broth- er, have had a very wide sale and have done much good. For a number of years before his death Dr. Reade edited and published two papers, the Taylor University Register and Soul Food. The first was devoted largely to the interests of the University and was sent out each month to the friends and prospective patrons of the school. Soul Food was de- voted to the upbuilding of spiritual life. Dr. Reade wrote numerous poems, many being hymns. His first book, published by the Methodist Book Concern, contains poems written

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i The following poem was written in his last days: AT REST In Faith ' s kindly builded palace Standing, I shall soon be blest; If I fail not on the threshold Of my long sought promised rest. God, Thou knowest what befits me; Portion Thou my weight of care ; Fit the burden to my shoulders ; For my heart the grief prepare- Then in Thy dear name I ' ll bear it, For Thou sendest what is best; And when burden-worn I languish Thou wilt send the weary rest. Rest, great soul, in Faith ' s kindly builded palace! We know thou didst not fail upon the threshold of thy long-sought promised rest. But if thou canst know our striving To sustain thy cherished plan, In the name of the true religion To make peace twixt God and man. Wilt thou not implore the Master, Who was poor Himself in life That He raise up friends to help us. Ere we faint beneath the strife? W 3 d iimuuwiii