This story proves the truth of that old saying ' Where there's will, there's a Way ' . It was told to me by that beloved educator and clergyman, Frank W. Gunsaulus, who began his preaching career in the stockyards region of South Chicago.
While Dr Gunsaulus was going through college, he observed many defects in our educational system, defects which he believed he would correct if he were the head of a college. His deepest desire was to become the directing head of an educational institution in which young men and women would be taught to 'learn by doing'.
He made up his mind to organize a new college in which he could carry out his ideas without being handicapped by orthodox methods of education. He needed a million dollars to put the project across! Where was he to lay his hands on so large a sum of money? That was the question that absorbed most of this ambitious young preacher's thought.
But he couldn't seem to make any progress.
Every night he took that thought to bed with him. He got up with it in the morning. He took it with him everywhere he went.
The natural procedure would have been to give up and quit, saying , 'Ah well, my idea is good one , but I cannot do anything with it because I never can procure the necessary million dollars.' That is exactly what the majority of people would have said, but it is not what Dr Gunsaulus said. What he said, What he did, are so important that I now introduce him, and let him speak for himself.
'One Saturday afternoon I sat in my room thinking of ways and means of raising the money to caryy out my plans. For nearby two years, I had been thinking, but I had done nothing but think!'
The time had come for action!
'I made up my mind, then and there, that I would get the necessary million dollars within a week. How? I was not concerned about that . The main thing of importance was the decision to get the money within a specified time. The moment I reached that decision, a strange feeling of assurance came over me, such as I had never before experienced. Something inside me seemed to say, "Why didn't you reach that decision a long time ago? the money was waiting for you all the time!"
'Things began to happen in a hurry. I called the newspapers and announce I would preach a sermon the following morning , entitled, ' What I would Do If I Had a Million Dollars '.
I went to work on the sermon immediately. I must tell you, frankly, the task was not difficult because I had been preparing that sermon for almost two years. The spirit of it was a part pf me!
'Long before midnight I had finished writing the sermon. I went to bed and slept with a feeling of confidence, for I could see myself already in possession of the million dollars.
'Next morning I arose early, went into the bathroom, read the sermon, then knelt and prayed that my sermon might come to the attention of someone who would supply the needed money.
'While I was praying I again had that feeling of assurance that the money would be forthcoming. In my excitement, I walked out without my sermon, and did not discover the oversight until I was in my pulpit and about ready to begin delivering it.
'It was too late to go back for my notes, and what a blessing that was, instead, my own subconscious mind yielded the material I needed. When I arose to begin my sermon, I closed my eyes and spoke with all my heart and soul of my dreams.I not only talked to my audience, but I fancy I talked also to God. I told what I would do with a million dollars if that amount were placed in my hands. I described the plan I had in mind for organizing a great educational institution where young people would learn to do practical things, and at the same time develop their minds.
'When I had finished and sat down, a man slowly arose from his seat, about three rows from the rear, and made his way towards the pulpit. I wondered what he was going to do. he came into the pulpit , extended his hand, and said, "Reverend, I like your sermon. I believe you can do everything you said you would, if you had a million dollars. to prove that I believe in you and your sermon, if you will come to my office tomorrow morning, I will give you the million dollars. My name is Phillip D. Armour."
Young Gunsaulus went to Mr Armour's office and the million dollars was presented to him. With the money he founded the Armour Institute of Technology.
Moral:
"A definite decision in his own mind to get it, and deciding upon a definite plan for getting it"
