The news that The Temple College had enlarged quarters in these halls brought such a flood of students that almost from the start applicants were turned away.  Nothing was to be done but to build.  It was a serious problem.  The church itself had but just been completed and a heavy debt of $250,000 hung over it.  To add the cost of a college to this burden of debt required faith of the highest order, work of the hardest.  But God had shown them their work and they could not shirk it.

“For seven years I have felt a firm conviction that the great work, the special duty of our church, is to establish the College,” said Dr. Conwell, in speaking of the matter to his congregation.  “We are now face to face with it.  How distinctly we have been led of God to this point!  Never before in the history of this nation have a people had committed to them a movement more important for the welfare of mankind than that which is now committed to your trust in connection with the permanent establishment of The Temple College.  We step now over the brink.  Our feet are already in the water, and God says, ’Go on, it shall be dryshod for you yet’; and I say that the success of this institution means others like it in every town of five thousand inhabitants in the United States.”

“One thing we have demonstrated—­those who work for a living have time to study.  Some splendid specimens of scholarship have been developed in our work.  And there are others, splendid geniuses, yet undiscovered, but The Temple College will bring them to the light, and the world will be the richer for it.  By the use of spare hours—­hours usually running to waste—­great things can be done.  The commendation of these successful students will do more for the college than any number of rich friends can do.  It will make friends; it will bring money; it will win honor; it will secure success.”

An investment fund was created and once more the people made their offerings.  The same self-sacrificing spirit was evident as in the building of the church.  One boy brought to the pastor fifty cents, the first money he had ever earned; a woman sent to the treasury a gold ring, the only gift she could make, which bore interest in the suggestion that all who chose might offer similar gifts as did the women in the day of Moses.  A business man hearing of this said, “If a day is appointed, I will on that day give to the College all the gold and silver that comes into my store for purchases.”  Every organization of Grace Church contributed time, work, money, and prayer to the building of the College.  Small wonder then that obligations were met and payments made promptly.

One of the most successful methods by which money was raised for the College was the “Penny Talent” effort in 1893.  Burdette, in his “Temple and Templars” has made a most painstaking record of the various ways in which the talent was used.  He says: