“You remember the beautiful legend told of the Venerable Bede, the pious and learned divine of Saxon England. In his old age, and when his sight was gone, one of his students, taking advantage of his infirmity, led him to a heap of stones and told him they were human beings. The thought of his opportunity stirred his soul and fired his zeal. In burning words he poured forth the gospel to his imaginary listeners, calling on them to repent, and commending the love of Him who died to save the people from their sins. And when he concluded with his usual formula, ‘To whom be glory through all the ages,’ a voice came from the heap of stones and said, ‘Amen, Venerable Bede.’ His heart had moved and inspired the hearts of stone!

It is but a step from the ancient legend to the present fact. If the student will but fill his soul with a right appreciation of his calling, and go forth to his work in the name of Him who has said, ‘Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world,’ he will find a response to his acts and utterances. Hearts will open to receive him. God will smile down upon his pathway. He will be in league with the stones of the field. His life will be a loud, sweet call to gratitude, and blessed with sacred satisfaction, as he shall also be filled with holy hopes, he will adore the grace that called him to the ministry, and praise the providence that started him on his way by making him a student of theology.” - Jeremiah Rankin Johnston, The Student of Theology: An Address to the Students of Allegheny Seminary, in James A. Grier, ed., Jeremiah Rankin Johnston: A Volume of Biography and Selections From His Poems, Editorials, Sermons, and Addresses (1892), pp. 292-293