".0
f
oil's- on cm. loll all that thou
‘ ire-ah , . and thou shalt
, M cone; follow me,
. Maxwell began to speak
. ; snub crowded into the settlement
that night. it isdoubtful if he had
More heed such an audience in
. ”this I! cite certain that the
~ . at did not contain such
' humanity. Not even the
. . « '_' its worst could furnishso
man and women who had fallen
“i autd; Wrench ofthe church
we}... and even Christian in-
did he talk about? He had al-
., , -. decided that point. He told in
" Lth‘l plutvlanguuge he could com-
_ ‘ lined the results of obedience
' .plsdgpas it had been taken in
Every man and woman in i
" on . knew something about
. ' Christ. They Jihad some idea of
Michelle”. and. however much they
' 3" _ ' bitter toward the forms of
‘ecclesiasticism or the social
W. they preserved some standard'
of ' slid truth. and what little some
it! , still retained was taken from
. person of-the peasant of Galilee.
. ' ,‘ Were intaasted in what Max-
; Weft ’ “WhatwouldJesusdo?” lie
hall to apply the question to the social
Motion in general after finishing the
My of Raymond. The audience was
' ysttentive. It was more than j
fist. , It Was genuinely interested. As
‘. Maxwell went on faces all over the
‘ lulled forward in a way very scl-
‘ .' eeenin church audiences or any- *
where one. ewpt among Workingmen
. the people of the street when \onco
they are thoroughly aroused. "What
_ Jesus do?" Suppose that were
thematic not only of the churches. but
id the business men. the politicians, the l
Mapspers. tho workingnlen. the 907‘
.ctety people. How long Would it take. l
sander such a standard of conduct. to?
olnttonize the world? What was the j
trouble with the World? It was snffer- .
lgfrom selfishness. No one ever lived 1
be bid ”wooded in overcoming sclf- 1
likeJesus. If men followed hiln. l,
of results. the world would;
ones I: to enjoy s. new life. 1
. i 3. well never knew how i
« ranch it meant to hold the respectful
attentiouaf that ball full of diseased
‘ and sinful humanity. The. bishop and
Dra‘ Bruce; sitting there. looking on.
”my races that represented scorn j
dvcrnds, hatred ofvthe social order.
" mute narrowness and selfishness.
' .WM that even so soon. under the
I m of the settlement life. the
Mug procure had begun to lesson
the5bttternem of hearts. many of which
thud grown bitter from neglect and in-
l
l
l
I
' still. in spite of the‘outwnrd
' ' of respect of the speaker. no one.
“vi the bishop. had any true cou-
‘ and: the pent up feeling in that
soon: that‘iright. Among the men who
lhld heard} the mcctiilg and had re-
to th ' vltlltion were 20 or 80
out of work. who had strolled past the
Mt that afternoon. read the no
files of the meeting and had come in
a curiosity and to mcapc the chill
Iflm It was a bitter riligbt. lflln‘ll
‘ "pic-ale" wsreful.butintatwoe
mot over 80.il00 souls. with the
' Won of the saloons. there was not
, door open to the people except the
3‘9“", Christian door of the settle-
‘I'I'bt. Where Would a man without a
sea. a? - ithout work or without
Moods na ' lly go unless to a saloon?
“.It had heen'tthe custom at the settle-
xl'flt for a frethd open discussion to
followan open meeting of this kind.
it! when Henry‘Maxwell finished and
ultimate bishop: .yvho presided to
i t. rose and made the enhancement
any man‘in the hall was at liberty
teak questions. to speak out his feel-
' ‘ declare his convictions. always
m understanding that whoever
'3‘ put was to observe the simple
nice that governed parliamentary bod-
” and obey the three minute rule.
which. by common rimscnt. Would be
enforced on account of the numbers
preach f ‘ ‘
? latent ‘s umber 0 voices rota
men hol‘i’ad htenpt previous meetings
”thinkind exclaimed“. “Conant. con-
“1"
Th! bim- .t down. and immediate-
ly'o man mantle middle of the hall
ere and began to speak.
‘ “I want to say that what Mr. Max-
wa‘l has said tonight comes pretty close
to in. I knew Jack Manning. the. fol-
low M told about. Who ilil‘fl 4" hi“
~ house: \I worked on next case to his in
I' winter’nsbop in Philadelphia for two
years Jack‘ovas a gald fellow. He
no .6 once when I was in a hole. and
l never-got a chance to pay it back. lie
and to New York. owing to a change
.the same way.
lent-
eeoeeeeoo‘ee ecceoeoeeo :
mm we: ’6‘ aeeeeeea:
success as anybody. I'exce'pt the bishop
and Dr. Bruce and a few others. but 1
never found much difference Ween
men of the World. as they're called. and
church members when it came to basic
ness and money making. One class is
just as bad as another there."
Cries of “That’s sol" “You’re right i"
"Of course!" interrupted the speaker.
and the minute he sat down two men
who were on their feet for several sec-
onds before the first speaker was through
began to talk at (nice.
The bishop called them to order and
indicated which was entitled to the
floor. The man who remained standing
began eagerly:
."Tllis is the first time I was ever in.
here. and maybe it'll be the last. Fact
is. I'm about at the and of my string.
I've trumped this city for wurk until
I'm sick. I'm in plenty of company.
Say. l‘d like to ask a question of the.
minister if it‘s fair. May 1?"
“That's for Mr. Maxwell to say.
said the bishop. I
> “By all means." replied Mr. Max- l
well quickly. "Of course I will not
promise to answer it to the gentleman’s .
satisfaction. " ,‘
“This is my question. " The man I
leaned forward and stretched out a long ;
arm. with a certain dramatic force that j
grow naturally enough out of his con- !
ditioll as a human being. ”I want to ;
know what Jesus would do in my case? '1
I haven't llllfl a stroke of work for "'0 .
months. l've got a wife and three chil-
dren. and l lovc them as much as if I
was Worth ll million dollars. he been
, liviilgoil a little earnings 1 saved up
during the World's fair jobs I got. I'm
ll cllrpcnlcr by trade. and PW tried cv-
ery way i know to get a job, You any
we ought to take for our motto. ‘Wllnt
Would Jesus do?’ What Would he do if
he was out of work like me? i can't be ‘
somebody else and ask the qilcstiorl. i
want to Work. l'd give anything to
grow tired of Working ten hours a day
the my I used to. . Am I to blame lic-
ca l can't lilllnufacturt- ii job for lily-
self'.’ I've got to live and my wife and
my children. But him? What would
Jcsus do? You say that's the question
wa- all ought to ask. "
Henry Maxwell sat there staring at .
the great sea of faces all intent on his. 1
and no ulisivcr to this man's question
set-tiled. for the time being. to be pissi-
blo. “000d?" his heart. prayed. “This
is il qumtion that brings up the entire
social lll'flllll'fll in all its perplexing one
tanglclllcnt of human wrongs and its
present condition. contrary to every de-
'sire of (ind for a human lwing's Wel-
fare. Is there any condition more awful
than fora full!) in good health. able and .
eager to work. with no means of honest
l' elillood unless he docs work. actually
u able logo-t anything to do and driven
to one of three things begging for
charity at the hands of friends or ‘
strangers or suicide or starvation?
What Would Jesus do? It was a fair‘
question for the man to ask. It was the 1
only question he could ask. suppoaing
him to be a disciple of Christ. but what .
a question for any man to be obliged to
ask under such conditional"
All this and more did Henry Maxwell
ponder. All tiluoihcis were thinking in
The bishop sat there
with a look so atom and rod that it was
i not hard to tell how the question moved
him. . Dr. Bruce had his head boived.
The human problem had never seemed
to him so tragic us siuco he had taken .
the pledge and left his church to enter ‘
tlic scltll-illollt. What wuuld Jesus do?
it was a terrible question. and still the .
man stood there. tall and gaunt and al- ‘
most terriblo. with his arm stretcllcdl
out in an appcal which grew every sec- '
0nd in meaning. ‘
At length Mr. Maxwell spoke:
“ls tho-re any man in the room who.
is a Christian disciple who has been in *
this condition and has tried to do a...
Jisus Would do? if so. such a man can 5
ansWer his question better than I can." '
There was a moment's hush owr the ;
rmul, and lhcn a man near the front of ’
the hall slowly rose. He was an old.
man. and the hand he laid on the back 1
of the bench in front of him trembled!
as he spoke: .|
"I think I, can safely say that I lleve I
many times been in just such a condi- |
lion and have always tried to be a!
Christian under all conditions. I don't 5
know that I have always asked this
(petition. 'What would Jesusdol' when
l have been out of Work. but I do know
I have tried to be his disciple at all
times. Yes." the man went on. with a
and smile that was more pathetic in the
bishop and Mr. Maxwell than the young
man's grim despair - “yes. I havo- beg-
ged. and l havh been to the charity or-
gtrlizatilms. and l have done every-
. thing when out of a job. except stcfl
‘ and lie. in order to get food and fuel. I
don't know that Jesus would have done
some of the things i have been obliged
fit the manageml'ut of the office that
throw him out. and i never saw him
again. When the linotype mrhlne
es.- in. iwas (mewf the man to go
0". just us he did. 1 lilch been out
moi of the time since. Thc'y say in '
routines are a god thing. i wou'tlal-
we a see it myself. but lean-ass m
y . A man naturally is when
loses a steady job because a machine
tab. his place. About this Christianity
he tells about. in I" Hid"- b‘" I "V" every man in the hall leaned forward,
aspect to see any such sacrifice on the
part of church people. So far as say ob-
servation gore. they're just as
and as need: for muons! Infill
.to do for a living, int 1 know I have
.9 never knowingly done wrong when out
' of work. Sometimes! 1 think maybe he
i would have starved sooner than bag. I
! .
' don't know.'
The old man‘s voice trembled. "and he
:» looked around the room timidly. A si-
i lellcc followed. broken by n fierce voice
I from It large. black haired. heavily
~ bearded man who sat three seats from
1, the bishop. The minute he spoke nearly
lagerly. The man who had asked the M”
‘ question. "What would Jesus do ill my
”1" slowly sat down and M the
m “t to kill. “Wh'l U"
“:‘i' on; .
s
. got to have a new start in the way of
{ government. The Whole thing needs re-
.. . constructing. ldon't look for any rs-
threatened a little disturbance. but the
‘ the courts and the ca-lesiastical mic.
. chines.
3 swered as she sang. she had chosen the
‘ was reminded of his first night at the
. Rectangle in the tent whenvfiachel sang
.' the people into quiet. The effect was
i the same here.
“one
. , ‘ “Em-thing."
”will? mild." hev
gnu Carissa. w
heard shook with the door. inward
an or of the man. "The whole of our
sys is st‘fsult. What we call civi-
lisation is mttento the core. There is
no use trying to hide it or cover it up.
We live in an ageof trusts and com-
blues and capitalistic greed that means
simply death to thousands of innocent
men, Women and children. I thank
Godifellereisa Godwhiohltery
much doubt. that I. for one, have nev'er
dared to marryand tryto have a boats.
Horne! Talk of hell! is there any big-
ger than the one this man with his
three children has on his hands right
this minute? And he's only one out of
thousands. and yet this city and every
other big city in this country has its
thousands of profeued Christians who
have all the luxuries and comforts and
who go to church Sundays and sing
their hymns about giving all tokens
and bearing the moss and following him
all the way and being saved! 1 don't
say that there aren’t some good men
and Women among them, but let the
minister who has spoken to us here to-
night go into any one of a dosen aris-
tocratic churches I could name and pro-
pose to the members to take any such
pledge asthe one he's proposedhere and
see how quick the pmple we d laugh
at him for a fool or a crank a fanatic.
Oh. no! That's not the lady. That
can't ever amount to anything. We've
form worth anything to come out of
the churches. They are not with the
people. . They are with the militants.
with the men of money. The trusts and
monopolies have their greats“ men ill
the churches The ministers as a class
are their slaves. What we need is a
system that shall start from the mm-
mon basis of socialism founded on the
rights of the common people"—
Cllrlsen had evidently forgotten all
about the three minute rule and was
launching himself into a regular ora-
tion that meant. in his usual surround—
ings. before his usual audience. an hour
at least. when the man just behind him
pulled him down unceremoniously and
rose. Carlson was angry at first and
bishop reminded him of the rule, and
be subsided. with several mutteringl-
in his beard. while the next speaker ls»
gun with a very strong eulogy on the
valuo of the single tax as a genuine
remedy for all the social ills. lie wali
followed by a man who made a bitter
attack on the churches and ministers.
and decliircd that the two great obsta-
cles in the way of all true reform wcrc
When he sat down, a man who borc
every mark of being a street laborer
sprang to his feet and pllured out a per- i
icct torrent of abuse against the ('orpof'“
ntions, especially the railroads. Tb:
mi uto his time was up a big. bruwny
fellow who said he was a metal Workct
. my, ,
hile his great. bi'istling
the comingiof the ' kiu‘dem 'slcker
than any other one force. “ y. oh.
why." he cried in his heartss he lis-
toned. “has the world's great treasure in
song been so often held far from the
poor because 3 personal possessorof
voice or'lln'gi capable of stirring di-
vinest melody as so often regarded the
gift as must with which to ranks
mosey? Slut here be no ‘ . yrs
among the gifted ones of the rth?
Shall there be no givingof this great
lift as Well see others?" ”E
And f‘lenry swell again. as before.
called up that gather audience at the
Rectangle. with» increasing length! ’0'
a larger spread of the new discipleship.
What he had seen and heard at the set.
tlement burned into him deeper the ho
lief that the problem of the city would
be solved if the Christians in it should
once follow Jesus as he gave command-
ment. But what of this great mass of
humanity. neglected and sinful. the
very kind of humanity the Saviour
came to save. with all its mistakes and
narrowness. its wretchcdness and loss
of hope—ablwe all, its unqualified bit-
terness toward the church? That was
what smote. Henry Maxwell deepest.
Was the church. then. sofllr from the
Master that the people no longer found
him in the church? Was‘ it true that
the church had lost its power over the
very kind of humanity which in the
early ages of Christianity it reached in
the greatest numbers? How much was
true in what the socialist leader said
about the uselcllmem of looking to the
church for reform or redemption bc-
causo of the selfishness and seclusion
and aristocracy of its member»?
He was more and more impressed
with the appalling fact that the com-
paratively few men in the ball. now
being held quiet for awhile by Rachel's
voice. re ted thousands of others
just like loll“ to whom a church and
a minister’stooli fof less than a saloon
or a beer garden as a source of comfort
or happiness. Ought it to be sob if the
church members wercllll doing as Jesus
Would do. could it remain true that
armies of men would walk tho streets
for jobs and hundreds of them curse
the church and thousands of them find
in the saloon thcir best friend? liow
far were the Christians resplnsiblo for'
tlrishnman problem that was personally
illnstrulcd‘rfgllt, in this hall tonight‘l
Was it true that; the great city churches
wcluld. as ll rule. refuse to walk in Je-
sns' steps so closely as to suffer. actual-
ly suffer. for his sake?
Henry Maxwell kept asking this ques-
tion even after Rachel had finished sing-
ing and the "noting had mine to all
f'Illl. after a social gathering which was
very informal.2 lie baked it while the
little company .of residents. with flit'
Raymond visitors. Were having a devo-
liollal service. as the custom in the Hub
tlclncllt wps. I c asked it during a con-
forenco with t ‘5 bishop and Dr. Bruce
by trade claimed the floor and declared
that the remedy for the sociid wrongs}
was trades unionism. This. he said. I
would bring on the millennium for la- f
her more than anything-else. The next :
man endeavored to give some 'reusonsi
why so many persons wer‘é out of em-
ployment and condemned inventions at
the works of the devil. He was loudly
applauded by the rest of the company,
Finally the bishop called time on the
"free for all" andasked Rachel to sing.
Rachel Winslow had grown into a
very strong, healthful. ‘humhle Chrir
film during that wonderful year in
Raymond dating from the Sunday
when she first took the pledge to do as
Jesus would do, and her great talent of
song had been fully consecrated to the
service of her Master. When she began
to sing tonight at this settlement meet-
ing. she had never prayed more deeply
for results to come from her voice—«tho
voice which she now regarded as the
Master's. to be used for him.
Certainly her prayer was being an-
words:
link. the voice of Jean calllne.
_l‘ollow sue. follow me!
Again Henry Maxwell. sitting there.
What wonderful power
a good voice mnsu'rnted to the Master's
service always is! Rachel's great nat.
ural ability would have made her one
of the foremost opera singers of the age.
Surely this audience had never before
heard such melody. How could it? The
men who had drifted in from the strcet
sat entranced by a voice which “back
in the World" never could be heard by
the common people because the owner
of it would charge .2 .. or $8 for the
privilege. The song muted out through
the ball as free and glad as if it were a
foretaste of salvation itself.
Carlsen. with his great black bearded
[ face. absorbed the music with the deep
:love of it peculiar to his nationality.
l and a tear ran over his cheek and glis-
; tened in his heard as his face mftened
. and became almost noble in its aspect.
; The man out of work who had wanted
lto know what Jesus would do in his
i place not with grimy hand on the back
3 f the bench in front of him. with his
lmoutb partly open. his great tragedy
for the moanent forgotten The song
while it lasted was food and work and
warmth and union with .his wife and
babies once more. The man. who had
spoken so fiercely against the churdlb
‘snd the ministgu cat with his head
irrectstflrst. with] lookof stolid re-
: sistsnce, as if he stublmrnly resented
i the introduction into the exercises of
: anything that was even reuwtely con-
nected with the church or its form of
fworship. but gradually be yielded to
. the power that was swaying the hearts
iof all the persons inthatrooin. ands
look of and thoughtfulne- crept over
3 Tbebisbop :3» himselftllatnight
while Backel m that if the
. , ‘. 2§ ' 't« ‘3 , ‘t .
....a.h..la.ekx.nfi instituted...
,.".. 4’ n .‘ i ‘
Wh3§v_ .
wlih'h install Will o'clock. lio- asked
it as be kneelc again bcforl-slt'cpiuiz
and poured on is soul ill his petition
for spiritual baptism on the church in
America such as it had never known.
He asked.“ the first thing in the morn-
ing and all through the day as he. Went
over the mattlpmcnt district and saw the
life of the void, so far removed from
the life abund‘ltly. Woulirthe church
members. we? the (‘lfistillna not
only in the c urchin of Chicago. but
throughout the country. refuse to walk
in his steps if. in order to do so. they
must actually ‘take up a cross and fol-
low him? j
'I'his was the one question that con-
tinual] demanded answer. .. He had
plans . when be cause totbc city. to
return to Raymond and be in his own
pulpit on Sunday. but Friday morning
he had received at the settlement a call
from the pastor of one of the largest
churches in Chicago and had been in'
vita-d to fill the pulpit for both morning
and evening services.
. At first he hesitated. but finally ac-
cepted. seeing in it the hand of the
Spirit's guiding power. He would test
his own question. He would prove the
truth or falsity of the charge made
against the church at the settlement
meeting. How far would it go in its
self denial forJesus' sake? How close
would it walk in his steps? Was the
church willing to suffer for its Master?
Saturday night- he spent in prayer
nearly the whole night. There had nev-
er been 9'0 great ll wrestling in his soul.
pvt-n during his strongest experiences
in Raymond. He had. in fact. entered
upon a new experience. The definition
of his own discipleship was receiving
an added test at this time. and he was
being led into a larger truth of his
Lord. ’
The great church waeiilled to its ut-
most» Henry Maxwell. coming intoutbc
pulpit from that all night vigil. felt the
pressure of a great curiosity on the part
of the people. They had heard of the
Raymond movement. as all the churches
had. and the recent action of Dr. Bruce
had added to the general interest in the
pledge. With this curiosity wassome-
thing deeper. more serious. Mr. Max-
well felt that aim. and in the knowledge
that the Spirit's presence was his living
strength he brought his message and
gave it to the church that day.
He had never been what would be
called ‘a great preacher. He. had not the
force or the quality that makes remark-
able preachers. But ever since he had
promised to do as Jesus would do he
had grown in a ("thin quality of per-
suasiveness that had all the essentials of
true eloquence. This morning the peo-
ple felt the mmplete sincerity and hu-
mility of a man who had gone deep into
the heart of a great truth. After tell-
ing briefly of some results in his own
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask the queer
iiorl ho had been asking since the settle-
ment meeting. He had taken for his
themetbestoryof theyouugman who
'cametonaus asking what he mustdo
to obtain mania. Jul- lull tested
. . __ . ,,- --~‘
. Bill I!!! young man Was
“I ‘l’IVf-‘lle Addams; I ~
Infill! momma-a. "fol?“ Jesus
meant suflering in that 'way. was
“not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus. but not if he had to give up so
much. .
“Is it true." continued Henry Max-
well. and his fine. thoughtful face
glowed with a passion of appeal that
stirred the people as they hsdhldom
been stirredL—“ia it true that theuhurch
of today, the church that is called after
Christ's own name. would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering.
of physical“ loss. of temporary gainl
The statement was made at a large
gathering in the settlement last‘Weell
by a leader.“ Workingmen that it was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption of society. On
what was that statement based? Plain‘
ly on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought more of their own
case and luxury than of the sufleringl
and needs and sins of humanity. How
far was that true? Are the Christians
of America ready to have their disciple.
ship tested? How about the men who
W large wealth? Are they ready to
take that wealth and use it as Jesus
would? How about the men and Women
of great talent? Are they ready to con-
siwrate that talent to humanity. as J esnl
undoubtedly would do?
“Is it not true that the call has come
in this age for a new exhibition of dis-
cipleship, Christian discipleship? You
who live in this great. sinful city must
know that better than I do. Is it meld-
ble you can go your ways carelem or
thoughtless of the awful condition of
men and women and children who are
dying. body and soul. for Christian
help? Is it not a matter of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war? Is it
not a matter of personal suffering in
some form for you that. thousands of
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets of this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
. suicide because they cannot find it ? Can
you say that this is none of your busi-
ness? Let each man look after himself?
Would it not be true, think you. that
if every Christian in America did as
Jesus would do society itself. the busi-
ness World» -yee. the very political sys-
tem under which our commercial and
governmental activity is canted on—
Wonld be sot-hanged that human sauer-
ing Would be reduced to a minimum?
“What would be the result if all the
church members of this city tried to do
as Jesus would do? it is not rxnssiblo to
say in detail what the affect Would be.
but it is easy to say, and it is true. that
instantly the human problem Would be
gin to find Ilfl adequate answer.
“What is the test of Christian disci-
pleship? Is it not the same as in Christ's
own lifetime? Have our surroundings
modified or changed the test? If Jesus
were llL'l’U today. would he no? call some
of the mcnlbcrs of this very church to
do just what he lvlmlllandwi the young
man and ask him to give up his Wealth
and litcrally follow him? I believe he
Would do that if he felt certain that
any church member thought more of
his minus than of his Saviour. The
test Would be the same today as then.
i believe Jesus would demand. he does
demand MW. as close a following. as
much suffering. as great self denial. as
when he lived'in person on the earth
and said. 'Except ll man renounccth all
that he hath, he cannot be my discipls'
-thst is. unless he is willing to‘doli!
for my sake he cannot be my disciple.
"What would be the' result if in this
city every church member should begin
to do as Jesus would do? It is not easy
to go into details of the result. ht we
all know that certain things would be
impossible that are now practiced by
church members. What would Jesus do
in the matter of wealth? “flew would
be spend it? What principle would reg-
ulate his use of money? Would he be
likely to live in great luxury and spend
ten times all-much on personal adorn-
ment and entertainment as be spent to
relieve the needs of suffering humanity ?
How would Jesusbe governed\in the
makingof money? Would he take rent.
air from saloon and other disreputable
property or even from tenement prop-
erty that was so constructed that the
inmates had no such thingus a home
and no such possibility us privacy or
cleanlineas? . ‘
"What would Jesus do about the
great army of unemployed and desper-
ate who tramp the streets and mm
the church or are indifferent to it. lost
in the bitter struggle for the bread that
tastes bitter when it is earned. on ac-
count of the desperate conflict to get it?
Would Jesus care nothing for them?
Would he go his way in comparative
ease and comfort? Would he say it was
none of his businen? Would he excuse
himself from all respimcibility toremove
the causes of such a condition?
“What would Jesus do in the center
of a civilization that hurries so fast
after money that the very girls em-
ployrd in great business houses are not
paid enough to keep soul and body to
gether Without fearful temptations. so
great that scorea of them fall and are
swept over the great. boiling shy-l:
where the demands of trade sacrifice
hundredsef lads in a business that ig-
nores all Christian duties toward them
in the way of education and users!
training and personal affection? Would
Jmaif hewere beretoday. as a part
of our age and commercial industry.
feel nothing. do“ nothing. say nothing.
in the face of these facts. which every
business man knows?
"What would Jesus do? Is not that
what the disciple ought todo? Is he
not commanded to follow in his steps?
How much is the Christianity of the
age suffering for him? Is it denying it-
self at the costof ease. comfort. luxury.
elegance of living? What does the age
need moretllan sacrifice? Does
the church do its duty in following
Jesus when it gives a little mutate
militarism
.maswllo
tee vellum! some My
war ? lsheaotg‘iviag‘lonlethingm
costs him [mactically nothing, so far as
any personal pain or mifering goes? Is
it true that thoChristlan disciples to-
day in most of our churches are living
soft. cosy. selfish lives. very far from
any sacrifice that can be called sacrifice?
What would Jesus do?
“it is the personal element that
Christian discipleship needs to empha-
size. 'The gift Without the giver is
bare.’ be Christianity that attempts
to snfler y proxy, is not the Christian-
ity of Christ. Each individual Chris-
tian. business man. citizen. needs to
follow in his steps along the path of
personal sacrifice for him. There is not
a different path May from that of
Jesus’ own times. It is the same path.
The call of this dying century and of
the new one soon to be is called for s
new discipleship. a new fellowship of
Jesus. more like the early. simple. apos-
tolic Christianity when the disciples
left all and literally followed the Mas-
ter. Nothing but a discipleship of this
kind can face the destructive selfishness
of the age with any hope of overcoming
it.‘ There is a great quantity of cm-
inal Christianity today. There i need
of more of the real kind We aired a
revival of the Christianity of Christ.
We have. unconsciously. larily. selfish-
ly. formally. grown into a discipleship
that Jesus himself would not acknowl-
edge. He would say to many of us
whm we cry. ‘Lord, Lord.’ ‘1 never
knew you.’ Are we ready to take up
the cross? Is it possible for this church
to sing with exact truth:
"June. I my cram have taken,
All to leave and followthee?
“If we can sing that truly. then We
may claim discipleship. but if our defi-
nition of being a Christian is simply to
enjoy the privileges of worship. be gen-
erous a! no expense to ourselves. have
a good. my time. surrounded by pleas-
ant friends and by comfortable things.
live respectably and at the same time
avoid the World's great stress of sin and
trouble because it is too much pain to
bear it——if this is our definition of
Christianity. surely-we are a long way
from following the steps of him Who
trod the way with groans and tears and
subs of anguish for a lost humanity.
who sweat. as it were, great drops of
blood; who cried out on the uproared
(Toni. ‘My God. my God. why hast thou
forsaken me ?'
"Are we ready to make and live a
new discipleship? Are we ready to re-
consider our definition of a Christian?
What is it to be. a Christian-Pit is to
imitate Jesus It is to do as he would
do. It is to walk in his steps ”
When Iienry‘ Maxwell finished his
sermon. be paused and looked at the
people with a lock they never forgot
and at the moment did not understand.
Crowded into that fashionable church
that day were hundreds of men and
Women who had for years lived the
cosy. satisfied life of a nominal Chris-
tianity. A great silence fell over the
congregation. Through the silence there
clinic to the wvuwiuusness of all the
souls there present a knowledge. stran-
ger to them now to years. of a Divine
power. Every one xpected the preacher
to call for Volunteers who would do as
Jesus would do. 'but Iienry Maxwell
lllid becn led by the Spirit to deliver
his message this time and wait for re-
sults to come.
IIe’clmed the service with a tender
prayer that kept the Divine presence
lingering very near every bearer. and
the people slowly rose to go out.
Then followad a scene that would
have been impossible if any mere man
had been alone in his striving ferre-
suits.
Men and women in great numbers
crowded around the platform to see
Henry Maxwell and to bring him the
promise of eir consecration to the
pledge to o as Jesus would do. It
was a history. spontaneous move-
ment that broke upon Maxwell’s soul
with aresult he could not measure. But
had be not been praying for this very
thing? It was an answer that more
than met his desires .
'There followed this movement a
prayer service that in its impressions
repeated the Raymond experience. In
the evening. to Maxwell's intense joy.
the Endeavor society. almost to a mem-
ber. came forward. as so many of the
church members had done in the morn-
ing. and seriously. solemnly, tenderly.
took the pledge to do as Jesus Would
do. A deep wave of spiritual baptism
broke over the meeting near its close
that was indescribable in its tender.
joyful. sympathetic results.
That was a remarkable day in the
history of that church. but even more
so in the history of Henry Maxwell He
left the meeting very late. He went to
his room at the settlement. where he
was still stopping. and after an hour
with the bishopand Dr. Bruce. went in
a joyful rehearsal of the Wonderful
eventsoftheday. hesstdowntothink
over again by himself all the experience
he was having as a Christian disciple.
He kneeled to pray. as he always did
now. before going to sleep. and it was
while hewns on his kneesthis night
that he had a waking vision of what
might be in the World when once the
new discipleship had made its way into
the conscience and wasciouaness
Christendom. He was fully conscious of
lasing awake. but no less certainly did
itseeun tohimtllat hesaw ceflaiurur
suite with great distinctnem. partly as
realitia of the future. partly as great
longingsthst t might be realities.
and this iswhst enry Maxwell saw in
thiewakiug visiom
. Homwhimselfdrstgoinghacktothe
first church in Raymond. living there
in a simpler. moreself denying fashion
than ballad yet been willing toobssrve.
becausebeaaw waysin which heeould
help other who ware really dependent
on him for help. no she sswanore dilu-
ly that the time wgl‘dhcumo when his
purifies as pastor church Would
miles fills to solar more. on mat of
.‘>‘“‘ .u If.“
iswovtk. lam. 3‘" simply ,.
l» .i
Witt. him an»
|- Eeaawnschlelnslow audVlrginis
ith their of -
Estates... ... mg".
the limits of W. .
married to Rollin Page. both fully con-
secrated to the Master's ule. both fol-
lowing ia his steps with an espres-
intensiiled and purified by their love
for each other. and Bachel's voice sang
on in the slums aud‘dark places of de-
spalrand sin and drew lost. souls back
to God and heaven once more.
He saw P:'..§..i".;::t Marsh of the col-
lege using his great learning and his
great influence to purify “the city. to
enuoble its patriotism. to inspire the
young men and Women who loved as
Well as admired» him to live lives of
Christian service. always teaching them ‘
that education means great responsibil-
ity for the weak and the ignorant. He
saw Alexander Powers meeting with
sore trials in his family life, with a
constant sorrow in the eetrangement of
wife~ and friends. but still going his
way in all honor. seeing and living in
all his strength the Master. whom he
had obeyed even unto loss of social dis-
tinction and wealth.
He saw Milton Wright. the merchant.
meeting with great reverses. thrown
upon the future by a combination of
circumstances. with vast business in—
forests involved in rain. through no
fault of his own. but coming out of all
his reverses with clean Christian honor.
to begin and work up to a position
Where he could again be to hundreds of
young men an example of what Jesus
Would be in business.
He saw Edward Norman, editor of
The News. by means of the money giv-
en by Virginia. creating a force in jour-
nalism that in time came to be recog-
nized as one of the real factors of . the
nation. to mold its principles and actu-
ally shape its policy. a daily illustra‘
,tion of the might of a Christian press
and the first of a series of such paws
begun and carried on by other disciples
who had also taken the pledge.
He saw Jasper Chase. Wbohad denied
his Master. growing into acold, cynical.
formal life. writing novels that were
social successes. but each one with a
sting in it. the reminder of his denial.
the bitter remorse that. do what he
would. no social success could remove.
He saw Rom Sterling. dependent for
some years upon her aunt and Felicia.
finally married to a. man far older than
herself. accepting the burden of a rela-
tion that had no love in it on her part
because of her desire to be the wife of a
rich man and enjoy the physical lux~
uries that Were all of life to her. r
this life also the vision cast certain
dark and awful shadows. but they’wero
not shown to him in detail.
lie saw Felicia and Stephen Clyde
happily married. living a beautiful life
together. enthusiastic. joyful in sufier-
ing. pouring out their great. strong.
fragrant service~into the dull. dark.
terrible places of the great city and re-
deeming souls through the ~ personal
touch of their home. dedicated to the
human honleeicknese all about them. , '
He saw Dr. Bruce and the bishop go-
ing on wit the settlement work./ He
seemed to see the great blaring motto
over the door enlarged. “What Would
Jesus Do?" and the daily answer to
that question was redeemfng the city
in its greatest need
He saw Burns and his companion
and a great company of Irma like them
redeemed and going ill-turn to others.
conquering their passions by the Divine
grace and proving by their daily lira
the reality of the new birth. even in the
lowest and most abandoned. “
And new the vision was troubled. ’fi
seemed to him that as he kneelsdhn’he
gun to pray. and the vision was more
of a longing for a future than a reality
in the future. The church of Jesus fr.
the city and throughout the country—
Would it follow Jesus? Was the move
ment begun in Raymond to spend itself
in a few churches like Nazare th Avenue
and the one where he had preached to
day and then die away as a local move-
ment, a stirring on the surface. but not
to extend deep endfsr? He felt witt;
"Mon! after the vision again. He
thought he saw the church of Jesus in
America open its heart tothe moving
of the Spirit and rise to the ucriflc of
its ease and self satisfaction in t e
name of Jesus. He thought he saw the
motto. “What Would Jesus Do?" in-
scribed over every church door and
written on every church member's
heart. The vision vanished. It came
back clearer than before, and he as
the Endeavor societies all over t'
world carrying in their great prov.”
stone at some mighty convention in ‘can
uer on which was inscribed. “What
Would Jesus Do?" and he thought in
the faces of the young men and'womeu
he saw future joy of enduring. loo.
self denial. martyrdom, and when this
part of the vision slowly Med he saw
the agate of the son or God hechonm‘
tohim sndtoslltheotbersctorainh‘is
life history. All angel chair somewhere
wsssingiug. There was a soundssof
many voices and a shoot as of a great
victory. sndtbc figureof Jesus‘grew.
more and more He stood
tbeendofalongflight'of steps. “Y
of Yes! 0mylfaster.hssnotthetims
come for this dawn of the millennium
of Christian history? breakupcul
the Clarification of this agownh flu!
light-Mills tum u‘toroaow'
thee-llthewaylf' \ '
Bare-estlastwith the aweaf on:
Norwalk Chronicler