Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-12
Continued from Page %
lG>VAG0AG0A9sVNG

ship any less today than it wasi in Jesus
timef'
II do not know all that preceded or
followed his thought of what ought to /
be done outsideof Raymond, but the
idea crystallized today in plan to se-
cure the fellowship Of all the Christians
in America. The churches through their
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 redemptiye work
begun by the evangelist and now taken
up by the disciples in his own church.
If the saloon triumphs again. there win
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 its
surroundings. the church in general il
combining such fellowship, not Of creed,
but of conduct, ought to stir the entire
nation to higher life and a new CON
ception of Christian following
This is grand idea, Caxton, but
right here is where find myself hest
Eating. 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 cannot avoid
asking what the result will belt ask
my church in Chicago to do 1t. am
writing this after feeling the solemn,
profound touch Of the Spirit, presence,
and confess to You, old friend. that
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 p
The actual results Of the pledpe aa
obeyed here in RAYMOND are enonph "a
make any pastor tremble and at the
same time long with yearning that tksy
might occur in his own parish Certain /
". never have seen church 80 signal
" blessed by the Spirit A thia' ona
But am I myself ready to take this
pledge3 Task the ouestion honestly and
/ dread to face an honest answer
know well enough that / would have to
change very much in NV life "A under
took to follow his steps so closely I
have called myself q Christian Tor many
years For the past ten years i have
enjoyed q life that has had comnara-
lively little suffering in "a / am--hon-
estly saw it-liyiine at q long distance
from municipal problems and the life
Of the Door, the degraded and the aban-
doned. What would the obedience r.
this pledge demand Of ne, i hesitate to
answer. NY church is wealthy. full Of
well to do. satisfied people The stand
ard Of their discipleship ia. I am aware
not Of nature to respond to the cali
to suffering or personal loss. I saw. Il
am aware. Imay be mistaken / NAV
have erred in NOT stirring their deensr
life. Caxton, nv friend. / have spoken
my inmost thought to You Shall / 90
back to INV peonla merit snndav and
stand up before them in nv large CITY
church and say, sLet us follow Jeans
closer; let us walk in his stem. where
it will cost us something more than Il
is costing us now; let rs pledge not 10
do anything without frst asking.
What would Jesus dol? II l should 20
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