112 I The Breeze of the Spirit

door had opened yet again, this time admitting four college students—so they proved to be —all from Princeton Theological School. Oh, no! thought Yager. Not Princeton Seminary! The three downright prejudices in my life all stand here together personified in four men not yet dry behind the ears—Princetonians, parsons in the making, and Presbyterians. It can’t be true! Two of the students said little besides giving their names, deferring to their companions, and in the end it was mysteriously decided, Yager wondered how, that only one fellow, a chap referred to as “the Nipper,” would hold forth at the seven-thirty meeting. Yager’s deep-seated antagonism against Princeton men began to melt.

The younger moderator checked his wristwatch. “We’ll break up in ten minutes,” he said, “but do come back to the Great Hall downstairs pronto at seven-thirty. We’ll have some singing; but that’s not really the point. Try to meet people as they come in. This evening is yours and theirs—not Sam’s and mine; and you’ll be surprised at how much can happen both before and after the speaking. If you want to be theological (this to the seminarians), be simple. And don’t think the coffee is waiting just for you! Put a cup in the hand of someone you’ve never seen before. If he’s an old Calvary parishioner, so much the better. Now who’s got something that simply must be said? O.K. Yes. You bet. Now, Sam, who should lead us in a prayer?”

As the team broke up Yager got up and stretched. It had been fun; he felt sorry the meeting was over. In the crowded elevator on the way up to the rector’s apartment for supper he found himself reminiscing: So that . . . that is a team!

Downstairs again after a stand-up supper, they could scarcely open the elevator door, such was the crush in the previously deserted lobby. From the meeting room Yager could hear the sound of music as he kept scanning the crowd for the arrival of his beautiful guest. She finally appeared, but there was no time for briefing the girl as Yager had hoped to do. They slipped into a couple of chairs just inside the door.

The meeting began, and what a chairman Sam turned out to be! Yager hadn’t believed that anyone could keep so good-humored, at least not at a “religious meeting.” Then, almost before he realized what was happening, he heard his own name called and he was on his feet, walking to the platform.