The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-13

of Raymond. When finally they went
home. all Of them were impressed with
the JOY of the Spirits power.
Donald Marsh. president of Lincoln
college, walked home wlth Henry Max
we'll
81 have reached one consclusion,
Maxwell, " said Marsh, speaking slow
ly. II have found my cross, and it is a
heavy one but shall never be satisfied
until l take it up and carry it,.
Maxwell was silent. and the presi-
dent went on:
"Your sermon today made clear to
me what have long been feeling
ought to do. What would Jesus do in
my place? ! have asked the question
repeatedly since made my promise. l
have tried to satisfy myself that he
would simply go on. as have done, at
tending to the duties of my college,
teaching the classes in ethics and NH.
losophy. But have not been able to
avoid the feeling that he would do
something more That something is
what do not want to do. 1t will cause
me genuine suffering to do it, dread
it with all my soul You may be able
to guess what it is.
'Yes; think 1 know" Henry Max
we'll replied. ''It is my cross too. l
would almost rather do anything else. "
Donald Marsh looked surprised, then
relieved. Then he spoke sadly. but
with great conviction:
Maxwell, you and l belong to a
class Of professional men who have al
ways avoided the duties of citizenship
We have lived in little world of schol-
arly seclusion, doing work we have en-
joyed and shrinking from the disagree
able duties that belong to the life of
the citizen. confess with shame that
l have purposely avoided the response
bility that l owe to this city personally.
l understand that our city officials are
a corrupt, unprincipled set of men,
controlled in large part by the whisky
element. and thoroughly selfish. so far
as the affairs of city government are
concerned Yet all these years l. with
nearly every teacher in the college, have
been satisfied to let other men run the
municipality and have lived in little
world OF my own. ont of touch and
sympathy with the real world of the
people. What would Jesus do!' l have
tried even to avoid an honest answer.
can 10 longer do so. My plain duty is
to take IL persc,lnl part in this coming
election. 30 to thu primaries. throw the
weight of my influence. whatever it is,
toward the nomination and election Of
good men and plunge into the very
depths Of this entire horrible whirlpool
OF deceit, bribery, political trickery and
saloonism as 1t exists in Raymond to.
day. would sooner walk up to the
mouth OF q cannon any time than do
this. Idread it because hate the touch
Of the whole matter.
II would give almost anything to be
able to say. Il do not believe Jesus
would do anything of the sort. but
am more and more persuaded that he
would This is where the suffering
comes to me. It would not hurt me
halt so much to lose my position or my
home. 1 loathe the contgct with this
municipal problem. l would much pre-
fer to remain quietly in my scholastic
life with my classes in ethics and phi.
losophy, but the call has come so plain
ly that I cannot escape: Donald Marsh,
follow me. Do your duty rs citizen Of
Raymond at the point where your citi.
zenship will cost You something Help
to cleanse this great municipal stable.
even If you do have to soil your aris.
tocratic feelings little Maxwell. this
is my cross | must take it up or deny
my Lord"
"YOu have spoken for mo also" re-
piled Maxwell, with sad smile why
should l, simply because am u clergy.
man. shelter myself behind my refined
sensitive feelings and, like u coward.
refuse to touch, except in sermon pos
sibly. the duty of citizenship am un.
used to the ways Of the political life Of
the city have never taken an active
part In any nomination of good men
There are hundreds of ministers like
me. AS class we do not practice in
the municipal life the duties and privi.
leges we preach from tho pulpit. What
would Jesus do! am now at point
where, like you. am driven to answer
the question one way. My duty is plain
must suffer. All my parish work. all
my little trials or self sacrifices. are as
nothing to me compared with the break
ing into my scholarly, intellectual, self
contained habits Of this open. coarse
public fight for clean city life. l
could go and live at the Rectangle the
rest Of my days and work in the slums
for bare living. and could enjoy it
moro than the thought of plunging into
fight for the reform of this whisky
ridden city 1t would cost me less. But,
like you. | have been unable to shake
off my rnsnonsibility Tho oDcvar to