The Princeton union., 1899-10-19

pastors will be asked to form disciple
gatherings like the one in the First
church. Volunteers will be called for in
the great body Of church members in
the United States who will promise to
do as Jesus would do Maxwell spoke
particularly Of the result of such gen
eral action on the saloon question He
is terribly in earnest over this. He told
me that there was no question in his
mind that the saloon would be beaten
in Raymond at the election now near
at hand. If so, they could go on with
some courage to do the redemptive work
begun by the evangelist and now taken
up by the disciples in his own church.
If the saloon triumphs again, there will
be terrible and, as he thinks, unnec-
essary waste of Christian sacrifice. But,
however we differ on that point, he has
convinced his church that the time has
come for fellowship with other Chris
tians Surely, if the First church could
work such changes in society and it's
surroundings, the church in general, if
combining such fellowship, not of creed,
but of conduct, ought to stir the entire
nation to higher life and new con-
ception Of Christian following.
''This is grand idea, Caxton, but
right here is where find myself hest
tating. I do not deny that the Christian
disciple ought to follow Christ's steps
as closely as these here in Raymond
have tried to do, but I cannot avoid
asking what the result will be if I ask
my church in Chicago to do it. I am
writing this after feeling the solemn,
profound touch of the Spirits presence,
and I confess to you, old friend, that I
cannot call up in my church dozen
prominent business or professional men
who would make this trial at the risk
Of all that they hold dear Can you do
any better in your church? What are
we to say-that the church would not
respond to the call, Come and suffer 2
The actual results Of the pledge as
obeyed here in Raymond are enough to
make any pastor tremble and at the
same time long with yearning that they
might occur in his own parish. Certain
~, never have seen church so signal
ly blessed by the Spirit as this one.
But am l myself ready to take this
pledge2 Task the question honestly, and
I dread. to face an honest answer. ]
know we'll enough that I would have tc
change very much in my life if I under
took to follow his steps so closely.
have called myself Christian for many
years. For the past ten years I have
enjoyed life that has had compare.
lively little suffering in it. am-hon-
estly I say it-living at long distance
from municipal problems and the life
Of the poor, the degraded and the aban.
doned. What would the obedience tc
this pledge demand of me? hesitate tc
answer. Ny church is wealthy, full ot
well to do, satisfied people. The stand.
ard Of their discipleship is, am aware,
not of a nature to respond to the cal
to suffering or personal loss I say, q
am aware. may be mistaken. I may
have erred in not stirring their deepe,
life. tCaxton, my friend, I have spoken
my inmost thought to you. Shall I &C
back to my people next Sunday an6
stand up before them in my large city
church and say, Let us follow Jesus
closer; let us walk in his steps, where
it will cost us something more than il
is costing us now; let us pledge not tt
do anything without first asking,
What would Jesus do?' If should &C
before them with that message, it would
be strange and startling one to them.
But why? Are we not really to follow
him all the way? What is it to be 6
follower of Jesus? What does it NEAR
to initiate him? What does it mean tc
walk in his steps?'
The Rev. Calvin Bruce, D. D., of thu
Nazareth Avenue church, Chicago, lei
his pen fall on the paper. He had come
to the parting Of the ways, and hi.
question, he felt sure, was the question
Of many and many a man in the min
istry and in the church. He went to hi.
window and opened it. He was op
pressed with the weight of his convic
tions, and he felt almost suffocated will
the air Of the room. He wanted to Sc,
the stars and feel the breath of tn,
world.
The night was very still. The clocl
in the First church was striking mid
night. AS it finished clear, strons
voice down in the direction of the Rec
tangle came floating up to him as il
borne on radiant pinions:
''Must Jesus bear the cross alone
And all the world go free7
No! There's cross for every one.
And there's cross for me"
1t was the voice of one of Gray's oli
converts, night watchman at tn,
packing houses, who sometimes solacet
his lonesome hours by verse or twl
from some familiar hymn.
The Rev. Calvin Bruce turned ava,
from the window, and after a littl,
hesitation he kneeled down. "Wha
would Jesus do2 What would Jesu
do3" Never had he yielded himself 81
completely to the Spirits searching re
vealing Of Jesus He was on his knees ,
long time. He retired and slept fitfully
with many awakenings. He rose befor'
it was clear dawn and threw open hi
window again. AS the light in the cas-
grew stronger he repeated to himself
"What would Jesus do2 What woult
he do? Shall I follow his steps?''