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Kansas University Weekly.
The Chapel Service.
Never perhaps in the history of the University has the chapel service been better attended at the opening of a term than at present; and in consequence there is to be found in it interest and inspiration that come from the respectful presence of so many together, entirely apart from the devotional character of the service itself, or the personality of the leaders. So pleasant is this assembling together of the University body, though for a few minutes only, and so profitable in every way, not only in leading all to think for a time along lines of common interest, but in affording all an opportunity, practically the only one that exists in our University life, to see and to feel what our University really is in numbers and potentiality, and what it really means,--that it seems worthy of a special effort on the part of all to preserve the full and representative character of these gatherings. It is said that opportunities for the development of class spirit are none too numerous among us; but certainly it is true that there are such opportunities; while if we except the chapel gathering, there are practically no other opportunities whatever to develop at its best that broader University spirit, that devotion to the University based upon a right conception of what it is, which means so much to the institution dependent entirely upon intelligent approval for its very existence.
Such considerations as these are certainly not too abstract to weigh with a body of men whose fitness for the work of learning or teaching has brought them here together. But however abstract they may be, the question resulting is a perfectly definite one, though perhaps not easy to answer: How may the chapel meetings be made to retain permanently that representative character which they now possess?
The answer usually given is: Make the chapel service interesting, or entertaining. Let us have fine music, bright speeches on up-to-date topics, as much variety as possible in the order,-and we will all be there.
Yes, but how often? Experience shows that an interesting service, while it does increase the
attendance, does so only in slight degree; those who at first yield to the attraction if it may be so called, for the most part soon tire because the attraction is not greater.
Another answer is: Men, students especially, will go where they get something for their trouble. Make the chapel service valuable, provide speakers who will tell us something that we need to know and do not know already—and we will all be there.
Unfortunately this proposition though plausible is simply not true. It is very doubtful if there is a man or a group of men now living, who if he or they could be secured as leaders in chapel for the rest of the year, would insure a full attendance all that time, simply because of the importance of what was to be said. Such men would undoubtedly increase the attendance; but there are some who would tire after a while, and there there are others who would be careless from the beginning. The distinguished man and his valuable address would soon become an old story, and the chapel attendance would again decrease.
Another answer used to be: Make chapel attendance compulsory. This has also been given up, because while it secures the attendance, it simply incites the spirit of revolt and sacrifices the real object of such attendance, which is dependent upon voluntary assembling.
The fact seems to remain that no device applied from without is likely to secure the desired end, any more than a man's character may be changed by the use of sugar, beefsteak, or a club. The man himself must see the advantage and take voluntary steps to obtain it. Carrying out the analogy, the man is the University body, and the great advantage to be secured is the meeting together of the entire University once each day, that we may know one another, our fellow students and instructors, may feel how great is that whole of which we are a part, and what our individual membership in that whole means, and for a few minutes may think together on subjects of common interest and importance. Unless we are all there, we lose much of this advantage; and