The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-06

something Of the new spirit Of tho paaca
There was no mistaldng the feet that
Milton Wright's new relations to his
employees were beginning. even 80 soon,
after less than two weeks, to transform
the entire business This was apparent
In the conduct and faces of the clerks.
III Milton Wright keeps on, he will
be one Of the most influential preachers
In Raymond" said Henry Maxwell to
himself when he reached his study. The
question rose as to his continuance in
this course when he began to lose
money by 1t, as was possible Henry
Maxwell prayed that the Holy Spirit,
who had shown himself with growing
power in the company of the First
church disciples, might abide long with
theme all. and with that prayer on his
lips and in his heart he began the prep
aration of a sermon in which he was
going to present to his people on Sun
day the subject Of the saloon in Ray
mond. as he now believed Jesus would
do He had never preached against the
saloon in this way before He knew
that the things he should say would
lead to serious results Nevertheless he
went on with his work. and every SEN
tence he wrote or shaped was preceded
with the question. Would Jesus say
that?' Once in the course of his study
he went down on his knees No one ex-
cept himself could know what that
meant to him. When had he done that
In the preparation of sermons before
the change that had come into his
thought of discipleship? AS he viewed
his ministry now he did not dare to
preach without praying for wisdom. He
no longer thought of his dramatic de.
livery and its effect on his audience.
The great question with him now was.
"What would Jesus dor
Saturday night at the Rectangle wit
messed some of the most remarkable
scenes that Mr.. Gray and his wife had
ever known. The meetings had intensi-
fled with each night of Rachel's sing
ing. A stranger passing through the
Rectangle in the daytime might have
heard a good deal about the meetings in
one way and another 1t cannot be said
that up to that Saturday night there
was any appreciable lack of oaths and
impurity and heavy drinking. The Rec
tangle uld not have acknowledged
that it was growing any better or that
even the singing had softened its con-
versation or its outward manner. It
had too much local pride in being
"tough-" But. in spite of itself, there
was a yielding, to power it had never
measured and did not know we'll enough
to resist beforehand
Gray had recovered his voice, so that
Saturday he was able to speak The
fact that he was obliged to use his voice
carefully made it necessary for the peo-
pie to be very quiet if they wanted to
hear. Gradually they had come to un-
derstand that this man was talking
these many weeks and using his time
and strength to give them a knowledge
OF Saviour. all out Of perfectly un-
selfish love for them Tonight the great
crowd was as quiet as Henry Maxwell's
decorous audience ever was. The fringe
around the tent was deeper. and the
saloons were practically empty The
Holy Spirit had come at last. and Gray
|
his life was going to be answered
And Rachel-her singing was the
best. most wonderful Virginia or Jasper
Chase had ever known They had come
together again tonight with DR. West
who had spent all his spare time that
week in the Rectangle with some char
ity cases Virginia was at the organ,
| Iacnpr cot On n front ooo% 1ool-;,o. ,,>
Rachel and the Rectangle swayed as
one man toward the platform as she
sang:
"Just as am, without one pea
| But that thy blood was shed for me
| And that thou bidst me come to thee
o Lamb Of God come, come"
Gray said hardly word He stretch.
ed out his hand with gesture Of invi-
tation, and down the two aisles of the
tent broken sinful creatures. men and
women. stumbled toward the platform
One woman out Of the street was near
the organ
Virginia caught the look of her face.
and for the first time in the life of the
rich girl the thought of what Jesus was
to sinful woman came with sudden
ness and power that were like nothing
but new birth Virginia left the or
gan. went to her, looked into her face
and caught her hands in her own The
other girl trembled. then fell on her
knees. sobbing. with her head down
upon the back of the bench in front of
her, still clinging to Virginia. And Vir-
ginia. after moments hesitation,
kneeled down by her. and the two
heads were bowed close together
But when the people had crowded in
a double row all about the platform.
most of them kneeling and crying. a
man in evening dress, different from
the others, pushed through the seats
and came and kneeled down by the side