Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23
IN HIS STEPS.
= 1a1Elat 411nnl6
Jesus Dn ~
Copyrighted and published tn book form bg the
Adrdnce Publishing Co. Of Chicago.

fact that in all the years of his news
paper life he had never had the force oi
the paper together in this way. 'sWouli
Jesus do that? That is, would he prob
ably run newspaper on some loving
family plan where editors. reporters,
pressmen and-al met to discuss and de.
wise and plan for the making Of paper
that should have in view -
He caught himself drawing almost
away from the facts of Typographical
unions and Office rules and reporters
enterprise and all the cold businesslike
methods that make a great daily sue
cessfuL But still the vague picture
that came up In the mailing room
would not fade away. even when he
had gone into his Office and the men
had gone back to their places with won
der in their looks and questions of all
sorts on their tongues as they talked
over the editors remarkable actions.
Clark came in and had long serious
talk with the chief He was thoroughly
reused, and his protest almost reached
the point Of resigning his place Nor
man guarded himself carefully. Every
minute Of the interview was painful to
him, but he felt more than ever the ne
cessity of doing the Christlike thing.
Clark was a very valuable man. 1t
would be difficult to fill his place But
he was not able to give any reasons for
continuing the Sunday paper that an
swered the question. what would
Jesus DOR by letting Jesus print that
edition.
s'It comes to this, then, /" said Clark
finally 'sYou will bankrupt the paper
in 80 days We might as well face that
future fact. "
ST don't think we shall Will you
stay by The News until it is bank
ruptY'' asked Edward Norman. with
strange smile
"Mr. Norman. | don't understand
you. You are not the same man this
week that ever knew.
II don't know myself either. Clark
Something remarkable has caught me
up and borne me on. but was never
more convinced of final success and
power for the paper. You have not an.
swered my question Will you stay
with meY"
Clark hesitated moment and finally
said Eyes. Norman shook hands with
him and turned to his desk Clark went
back into his room stirred by number
of conflicting emotions He had never
hofnro lyporry, e.1nb ~ oroi4s-,o. ool
mentally disturbing week. and he felt
now as if he were connected with an
enterprise that might at any moment
collapse and ruin him ard ell connected
with it.
Sunday morning dawned again on
Raymond, and Henry Maxwell $ church
was again crowded. Before the service
began Edward Norman attracted gen
eral attention He sat quietly in his
usual place about three seats from Ens
pulpit. The Sunday morning issue of
The News containing the statement Of
Its discontinuance had been read by
nearly every man in the house. The an
nouncement had been expressed in such
remarkable language that every reader
was struck by it. No such series of dis
tinct sensations had ever disturbed the
usual business custom Of Raymond.
The events connected with The News |
were nos all. People were eagerly talk
ing about the strange things done dur
ing the week by Alexander Powers at |
The railroad shops and By Milton Wright |
in his stores on the avenue. The service |
upon distinct wave of ex-
in the pews. Henry Maxwell |
faced it all with calmness which in
dicated strength and purpose more |
than usual His prayers were very |
helpful His sermon was not so easy to |
How would minister be apt |
to preach to his people if he came before |
them after an entire week of eager ask
ing: ''How would Jesus preach? What |
would he probably sayf" It is very
certain that Henry Maxwell did not |
preach as he had done two Sundays be-
fore. Tuesday of the past week he had |
stood by the grave of the dead stranger
and said the words, Earth to earth, |
ashes to ashes dust to dust. and still |
be was moved by the spirit of deeper
impulse than he could measure as he
thought Of his people and yearned for
the Christ message when he should be |
in his pulpit again
Now that Sunday had come and the |
people were there to hear. what would |
the Master tell them2 He agonized over
his preparation for them, and yet he
knew he had not been able to fit his |
message into his ideal of the Christ.
Nevertheless no one In the First church |
could remember hearing such sermon
before There was in it rebuke for sin, /
hypocrisy there was definite
rebuke Of the greed of wealth and the
selfshness of fashion, two @hings that
First church never heard rebuked this
way before, and there was love of his |
people that gathered new force as the
sermon went on. When it was finished. |
there were those who were saying in
their hearts, "The Spirit moved that
sermon" And they were right.
Then Rachel Winslow rose to sing.
this time, after the sermon. by Henry
'srequest. Rachel singing did /
not provoke applause this time What
deeper feeling carried peoples hearts
into reverent silence and tenderness
Of thought2 Rachel was beautiful, but
the consciousness Of her remarkable
loveliness had always marred her sing
ing with those who had the deepest
spiritual feeling. It had also marred
her rendering of certain kinds Of music /
with herself. Today this was all gone
There was no lack of power in her
grand voice. but there was an actual
added element Of humility and purity
which the audience strictly felt and
bowed to.
Before the service closed Henry Max
well asked those who had remained
The week before 70 stay again for few
for consultation and any 9TH
srs who were willing to make the
pledge taken at that time. When be
was at liberty. be went into the lecture
room 70 his establishment. 1t was al
most dlIed This time . large propor-