FROM SISTER MARIE.

Evening Star, Issue 14117, 21 July 1909, Page 3

FROM SISTER MARIE.

A LETTER FROM DRAKE UNIVERSITY.

Writing to the editor of the 'Star' from Drake University, Des Moines, lowa, U.S.A.. Sister Marie, formerly of the Cen. tral Mission and the Church of Christ, in this City, says:

We are now near our commencement season, and great preparations are being made for graduation exercises. Last Wednesday night (June 2) I was present at a very imposing ceremony held in the new auditorium of the University Place Church of Christ, of which I am "a member. The building was packed to overflow. The new electric lights are in, and the fittings are handsome. The seats are red oak, and formed in half-circle. Three high schools had gathered together for the graduation ceremony, and there were 500 graduate?, young men and young women. When I saw them marching in I almost wished that I was a "sweet girl graduate," with a bunch of roses on my arm. Selections of music were given by the orchestras of the different schools. Mr Jerry Sullivan was in the chair, and an interesting address was given by Dr E. A. Steiner, of (irinnell. He in' a Russian Jew, but a naturalised American, who has crossed the ocean forty times, and visited Russia twenty times.' His subject was ' Ideals.' He Is thoroughly democratic, and believes that all men are equal. Ho has no time for exclusive fraternities, and ridiculed one student whom he met on the train who remarked that "no one could. join a certain society unless his people were someone."

I witnessed another pleasing ceremony in the same building—only it was all children this time—nf Church of Christ Sunday School children's day. In the morning at ten o'clock the building was almost fufl for the Sunday school. There were 930 in the school, apart from visitors, and a special collection was made for foreign missions, resulting in 260d0l (£52). At eleven o'clock more crowded in for service, and there were twenty-four fine-look-ing young men and women* student volunteers for the mission field on the platform. Pastor Medbury gave a most impressive address, and announced that the children would take charge of the evening service. In the afternoon I went to the dedication of the Y.W.C.A. in the city. I had to trust to tlie conductor to put me down at. the right corner, and when I arrived at the building I was struck with its imposing appearance. It is a handsome brick structure, costing £16,000, with two entrances. After passing through the doorway and up a short staircase, one finds oneself in a. spacious vestibule, with chairs and rockers all round, and large table in centre, with all the latest magazines handy. A bright young lady stepped forward and greeted * me, and was at once interested when she knew where I was from. She could not leave the door, but told mo just to walk through the building. On the ground floor I found a large dining hall, with a large number of small tables in dark wood ; it was a comfortable looking room, where ono would feel inclined to enjoy a good meal. There was a large library, waiting for more hooks; a cosy rest room, with rockers (you know that no American house is complete without numerous rocking chairs), and other kinds of chaiTS. I went npstnirs, and a lady with white hair and a friendly face stepped forward and greeted we with "Your name?" which is tho way that Americans have of introducing themselves. You say "Smith," and they say "Jones," from Missouri, or any other State. 1 said ".Marie Davies, from NewZealand." At once she was interested, and introduced me to the secretary, who showed me round. The * second floor had three secretaries' offices—real com fort able rooms, I assure yon, with good rugs on the floors, and plainly, but comfortably furnished, some m memory of various young women who at one time were interested in Y.W.C.A. work. The large parlor was not fnrnirhed completely. I went into the hall, whore they have various meetings, to wait for proceedings, and a very impress five dedication service was held. Dr Idlenian. of Central Church of Christ, and Dr Frisbie, of Plymouth Congregational, Church, conducted tha service. Ono thing 1 have noticed repeatedly in the churches and public meetings—that "Old Glory" iis always present, the Stare and Stripes have a place in all the churches. T like that. We don't see much of our New Zealand Flag, mores the pity ! It ought to be introduced into all the schools.

1 returned to University place in time for nix o'clock Christian Endeavor Society, where over ICO young people gather together as a senior society, and you can hoar the loyalties and juniors conducting two other meetings in rooms of the buildin*". The evening service started at 7.30; in the summer it always commences half an hour later. 1 had boon paying a visit to a minister's wife, and the service was well on when 1 got there. About 10(1 children were standing singing on tho platform. It was a pretty sight to sec them going through the vwriotro exercises, marching under arches, doing action song 6, and, pinging all the time. I coidd not help noticing the delighted expressions on tho faces of the parents. They took up a •special offering for foreign missions, and for the day it resulted in 6,215d01, or £1.242. One offering was from a member whose duty it is to collect money found on the floor after Sunday school. Ho sent in « bag of pennies for one year amounting to nearly £l. It w;is " College Xisrht" on Wednesday night, but the students did not make the extensive preP'tTations that onv University students do for the yearly capping carnival. Tho consequence is that the entertainment was not neirly so good. The girls take part in tableaux and vaudeville. One "stunt" was a group of negro girls, with the old negro mammy in the centre. Various jokes went round at the expense of prominent students, and songs woto sung in a most ludicrous manner. I had to laugh, they did the part so well and manipulated their voices in such a marvellous manner. Various side-shows, where the studontu were "stune." but paid their 10c cheerfully, had a- part in the programme. All the same, it did not. enmc near our ~oys' "turn-out" from the Otago University.

Our High Schools graduation ceremony in connection with Drake is over. Thirtyeicht of the boys and girls received diplomas. Next week the seniors appear, and we are losing quite a number of fine classmates thi'6 year. 1 have boon out in the country for several Sundays, and have received "a call" to Washington Chapel, and expect to have full time through the -.limine'- months. In these churches they always speak of mo as "our preacheT." It is a. change after my New Zealand "tiUe"

—of murse. 1 prefer that. 1 can't help remarking that wherever the name of W. •1. H-'stie, of Tabernacle, Dunedin. in brought into conversation he is hold in the highest esteem wherever he ie known. I am constantly coming in con-t->ct with some of his old parishioner*, who evidently think it is worth whilo saying all the rood things now, not leavimr them for the " denr departed," so I render honor to whom honor is due.

I must tell you that this is a delightful time of year, the tree arc- beautiful in. their spring parmont of bright green, and the camp™ is a picture. There is a large elm m front of the main building, called "the chancellor's elm," and it is a tiring of beauty. Towa ie an agricultural State, n-nd one of the richest in the Union. I h;ivp bron on some really fine farms, with all the latest improvements. One farmer's wife had her washing machine worked by electricity, and almost every farmer has a rural telephone. I hearHhem ringing up to ask "if the prea'cher hns arrived yet. T?ut the ronds get into a bad state, and I have hmd some bone-shaking drives' to and fro. However, they have cpmfortnblecarriapeis and firr robes to keep out the cold. T mnrrt clofe now. so that I shnll not niifß this mail. With many thanks, and -11 rood wishes to my Now Zealand friends.