The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-09-28

best plan would be for n few volunteers
to 60 down to the Rectangle with me-
prepared to help in the after meeting.
and the rest remain here and pray that
the Spirits power may go with US
So half dozen of the men went with
Henry Maxwell, and the rest Of the au-
dience staid in the lecture room Max
well could not escape the though Gs NJ
left the room that probably in his entire
church membership there might not be
found score Of disciples who We're
capable of doing work that would sue
cessfully lead needy. sinful men into
the knowledge of Christ The thought
did not linger in his mind to vex him
as he went on his way. but it was sim.
ply part of his whole new conception
of tho meaning of Christian disciple
ship
When he and his little company Of
volunteers reached the RcctanGle. the
tent was already crowded. They had
difficulty in getting to the little plat
form. Rachel was there. with Virginia
and Jasper Chase. who had come in
stead of the doctor tonight
When the meeting began with a song
in which Rachel sang the solo and the
people were asked to join in the chorus.
not a foot Of standing room was left in
the tent. The night was mild. and the
sides Of the tent We're up. and great
border Of faces stretched around. look
ing in and forming part Of the audience.
After the singing and prayer by
one of the city pastors who We're present
Gray stated the reasons for his inability
to speak and in his simple manner
turned the service over to Brother
Maxwell of the First church
who's de bloke?' asked n hoarse
voice near the outside of the tent.
"De Fust church parson We've got
dc whole high tone swell outfit to-
night"
Ibid you say Fust churchy know
him. My landlord has got front pew
up there, said another voice, and there
was laugh. for the speaker was So
loon keeper.
''T'row out de life line cross de dark
wavei" began drunken man near by.
singing in such an unconscious imita-
tion Of local travelling singers nasal
tone that roars of laughter and jeers Of
approval rose around him. The people
in the tent turned in the direction Of
the disturbance There were shouts Of
"Put him out" "Give the Fust church
a chance" ''Song. songi Give US an
other song!"
Henry Maxwell stood up. and great
wave Of actual terror went over him
This was not like preaching to the well
dressed. respectable. good hammered
people on the boulevard He began to
speak. but the confusion increased
Gray went down into the crowd. but
did not seem able to quiet It, Henry
Maxwell raised his arm and his voice
The crowd in the tent began to pay
some attention. but the noise on the
outside increased In a few minutes the
audience was beyond Maxwell control
He turned to Rachel with sad smile
''Sing something. Miss Winslow.
They will listen to you" he said and
then sat down and put his face In his
hands.
1t was Rachel's opportunity. and she
was fully equal to 1t. Virginia was at
the organ. and Rachel asked her to play
o few notes Of the hymn:
Saviour. follow on,
Guided by thee.
Seeing not vet the hand
That leadeth me.
flushed be my heart and still;
Fear no further Ill;
Only to meet thy will
Ny will shall be.
Rachel had not sung the first line be-
fore the people in the tent were all
turned toward her. hushed and rever-
ent Before she had finished the verse
the Rectangle was subdued and tanned
1t lay like some wild beast at her feet
and she sang it into harmlessness Ali
What were the fippant. perfumed.
critical audiences in concert halls COM
pared with this dirty. drunken. impure.
degraded. besotted humanity that trem-
bled and wept and grew strangely. sad-
ly thoughtful under the touch Of the
divine ministry Of this beautiful young
Henry Maxwell as be raised
his head and saw the transformed mob
had glimpse Of something that Jesus
would probably do with voice like
Rachel Winslow'a Jasper Chase sat |
with his eyes on the singer. and his |
greatest longing as an ambitious author |
was swallowed up in the thought Of |
what Rachel Winslow's love might |
some time mean to him. And over in
The shadow outside stood the last person
any one might have expected to see at |
} gospel tent service. Rollin Page. who.
jostled on every eide by rough men and
who stared at the swell in the |
inc clothes, seemed careless Of his sur
and at the same time evil
lently swayed by the power that Rachel
possessed He had just come over from
he club Neither Rachel nor Virginia
aw him that night
The song was over. Henry Maxwell
'ose again. This time he felt calm
What would Jesus dof He spoke as he