Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
IN HIS STEPS.
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Copyrighted and p,lbltshcd IN book form by the
Advance Publishing Co. of Chicago.

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ways see it myself, but suppose / m
prejudiced., A man naturally is when
he loses steady job because o machine
takes his place. About this Christianity
he tells about, it's all right, hut never
expect to see any such sacrifice on the
part of church people So far as my OBJ
servation goes, they're just as selfish
and as greedy for money or worldly
success as anybody. I except the bishop
and DR.. Bruce and a few others, butI
never found much difference. between
men Of the world, as they re called, and
church members when it came to bust
ness and money making One class is
just as bad as another there. !"
Cries of THAT sol" "You 'rerightr'
"Of coursep 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 once.
The bishop called them to order and
indicated which was entitled to the
floor. The man who remained standing
began eagerly:
tThis is the first time was ever in
here, and maybe it'll be the last. Fact
is, I'm about at the end Of my string.
I've trampeds this city for work until
I'm sick. I'm in plenty of company.
Say, I'd like to ask question of the
minister if it's fair. May II"
CHATS for Mr.. Maxwell to say, I"
said the bishop.
"By all means, !" replied Mr.. Max
well, quickly "Of course / will not
promise to answer it to the gentlemans
satisfaction.
''This is my question. I" The man
leaned forward and stretched out long
arm, with a certain dramatic force that
grew naturally enough, out Of his con-
dition as human being. 81 want to
know what Jesus would do in my cases
I haven't hadsa stroke Of work for two
months. I'velgot aswife and three, chill
dren, and llave them as much las If j
was worth million dollars. I've been
living offNa little earnings T saved;ups
during the World % fair jobs. II ot.s Pm
carpenter by trade, and I've tried ey-
cry way know to. get q job You say
we ought to take for our motto, What
would Jesus dor What would he do if
he was out Of work like mef can't be
somebody else and ask the question
want to work. I'd give anything to
grow tired of working ten hours day
the way I used to. Am I to blame be-
cause can't manufacture job for my
self? I've got to live and my wife and
my children. But hows What would
Jesus do2 You say that's the question
we all ought to ask I"
Henry Maxwell sat there staring at
the great sea Of faces all intent on his,
and no answer to this mans question
seemed, for the time being, to be posi-
bic. 80 Godl" his heart prayed "This
is a question that brings up the entire
social problem in all its perplexing en-
tanglement Of human wrongs and its
present condition, contrary to every de-
sire of God for human BEINGS well
fare. Is there any condition more awful
than for a man in good health, able and
eager to work, with no means Of honest
livelihood unless he does work, actually
unable to get anything to do and driven
to one of three things-begging for
charity at the hands Of friends or
strangers or suicide or starvationG
What would Jesus dot 1t was fair
question for the man to ask It was the
only question he could ask, supposing
him to be disciple Of Christ. but what
question for any man to be obliged to
ask under such conditionsl"
All this and more did Henry Maxwell
ponder. All the others were thinking in
the same way The bishop sat there
with look so stern and sad that it was
not hard To tell how the question moved
him. DR.. Bruce had his head bowed.
The human problem had never seemed
to him SO tragic as since he had taken
the pledge and left his church to enter
the settlement. What would Jesus do9
1t was terrible question, and still the
man stood there, tall and gaunt and al
most terrible, with his arm stretched
out in an appeal which grew every Sec
Ond in meaning
At length Mr.. Maxwell spoke:
SIS there any man in the room who
is q Christian disciple who has been in
this condition and has tried to do as
Jesus would do2 II so, such man can
answer his question better than can. =
There was moments hush over the
room, and then q man near the front Of
the hall slowly rose. He was an old
man, and the hand he laid on the back
of the bench in front of him trembled
as he spoke:
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