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The Haystack, Williams College.

In 1806 Samuel J. Mills and one or two other students at Williams
College, Williamstown, Mass., resolved to become foreign missionaries.
They were on the campus at the time. It began to rain so they knelt
under the shelter of a haystack for prayer. The site of that haystack
is one of th emost memorable in United States. From that little meeting
or the efforts of Samuel J. Mills, its leading spirit, "arose the
American Board Commisioners for Foreign Missions, the American Bible
Society, the United Foreigh Missionary Soceity, the African school,
under the care of the Synod of New York and New Jersey, besides all the
impetus given to Domestic Missions, to the Colonisation Society, and to
the general cause of benevolence in both hemispheres."

Our emphasis upon memorable places in this country is somewhat
distorted, I think. We frequently honor a man by the position he
has occupied. The birthplace or home of our presidents seem to be
objects of reverence. Yet some of our presidents were not men of highest
integrity and character and their conduct in securing the presidency
and while in office was not commendable. We honor soldiers and daring
fighters yet the little haystack meeting at Williams College had a
profound influence on the uplift of mankind both in this country and
elsewhere.

Our histories usually dwell upon the external facts of public
life but the movements which make history do not receive maximun
attention. Jesus of Nazareth is scarcely mentioned in secular history.

[image of monument, snowcapped, with trees in the background snowcapped]
THE HAYSTACK MONUMENT

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