Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER ".
II any man would come after me- let him DENY
himself and take up his cross daily and follow
Henry Maxwell paced his study back
and forth. 1t was Wednesday, and he
had started to think ont the subject Of
his evening service which fell upon that
night
Out of one of his study windows he
could SEQ the tall chimneys of tho rail
road shops. The top of the evangelist
tent just sh.wed over the buildings
around the Rectangle
The pastor of the First church looked
ont of this window every time he turned
in his walk After awhile he sat down
at his desk and drew large piece of
paper toward him.
After thinking several moments he
wrote in large letters the following
"a NUMBER OF THINGS THAT JESUS WOULD
PROBABLY DO IN THIS PARISH
al. Live in simple plain manner,
without needless luxury on the one
hand or undue asceticism on the other.
"2 Preach fearlessly to the hypo-
critics in the church, no matter what
their social importance or wealth.
''3. Show in some practical form
sympathy and love for the common peo-
pie as we'll as for the well to do, edu-
Gated, refined people who make up the
majority of the church and parish
~ Identify himself with the great
&c hr,,,,pit,- in, vol
way that would call for self denial and
suffering.
"5. Preach against the saloon in
Raymond
SO Become known az friend and
companion of the sinful people in the
Rectangle.
~. Give up the summer trip to Eu-
rope this year. / have been abroad
twice and cannot claim any special
need of rest. | am well and could forego
this pleasure, using the money for some
one who needs vacation more than
do There are probably plenty of such
people in the city.
"s What else would Jesus do as
Henry MaxwellP'
He was conscious with n humility
that once was stranger to him. that
his outline Of Jesus probable action
was painfully lacking in depth and
power, but he was seeking carefully for
concrete shapes into which he might
cast his thought of Jesus conduct
Nearly every point he had put dowr
meant for him a complete overturning
of the custom and habit of years in the
ministry. In spite of that. he still
searched deeper for sources of the
Christlike spirit. He did not attempt &c
write any more, but sat at his desk alb
more of the spirit of Jesus in his OWL
life. He had forgotten the particular
subject for his prayer meeting will
which he had begun his morning study
He was so absorbed over his thought
that he did not hear the bell ring, an(
he was reused by the servant, who an
nounced a caller He had sent up hi
name-Mr Gray Maxwell stepped tC
the head of the stairs and asked Gray
to come up.
"We can talk better up here"
So Gray came up and stated the rea
son for his call
81 want you, Mr.. Maxwell, to hell
me OF course you have heard what 1
wonderful meeting we had Monda!
night and last night Miss Winston
has done more with her voice than
could and the tent won't hold the pco
pie.
"I've heard Of that It's tho frs
time the people there have heard her
1t S no wonder they are attracted "
1T has been wonderful revelation
to us and most encouraging event il
cur work. But | came to ask if yol
could not come down tonight AM
preach. l am suffering with a sever
cold do not dare to trust my voic
again. know it is asking q good dea
for such busy man. but if you can
come say so freely, and III try some
where else.
"I'm sorry, but it s my regular praye
meeting night, said Henry Maxwell
Then he flushed and added: 81 shall b
able to arrange it in some way so as t
COIllt uOMD lou tdi Npuiii va iiiN-
Gray thanked him earnestly and ros
to go.
Wont you stay a minute, Gray
and let us have prayer together?'
Eyes. said Gray simply.
So the two men kneeled together i
the study Mr.. Maxwell prayed like
child. Gray was touched to tears as
kneeled there There was something a
most pitiful in the way this man, VIII
had lived his ministerial life in such
narrow limit of exercise, now begge
for wisdom and strength to speak
message to the people in the Rectangl'
Gray rose and held ont his hand.
"God bless you Mr. Maxwell. II
sure the Spirit will give you power t,
night.
Henry Maxwell made no answer. +
did not even trust himself to say thu
he hoped SO, but he thought of h
promise. and it brought certain peaC
that was refreshing to his heart an
mind alike,
So that is how it came about tn;
when the First church audience can
into the lecture room that evening
was met with another surprise.
There wps an unusually large nun
Der present The prayer meetings ev'
since that remarkable Sunday mornir
: had been attended as never before
l the history Of the First church
Henry Maxwell came at once to Il
po;nt He spoka Of (,rav's Uorl, and