Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-28

pose, now that / am a new man. don't
you see. Virginia, how impossible it Is
for me to say anything2 owe my very
conversion to Rachel's singing. and yet
that night while she sang | can honest
ly say that for the time being | never
thought of her voice except as Gods
message | believe all my personal love
for her was for the time merged into a
personal love to God and my Saviour.
Rollin was silent Then he went on
with more emotion. ~ am still in love
with her Virginia but do not think
she could ever love me" He stopped
and looked his sister in the face with
sad smile
81 don t know about that" said Vir-
ginia to herself She was noting Roll
lin S handsome face, its marks of dissi
patton nearly all gone now, the firm
lips showing manhood and courage. the
clear eyes looking into hers frankly, the
form strong and graceful Rollin was
a man now Why should not Rachel
come to love him in timer Surely the
two wero we'll fitted for each other
especially now that their purpose in
life was moved by tho same Christian
source.
She said something of all this to Rol.
lin but he did not find much comfort
When they closed the interview, Vir-
ginia carried away the impression that
Rollin meant to go his way with his
chosen work. trying to reach the fash
ionable men at the clubs and. while not
avoiding Rachel seeking no occasion
for meeting her He was distrustful of
his power to control his feelings, and
the thought that his love was still the
same
The next day she went down to The
News office to see Edward Norman and
arrange The details of her part in the
establishment of the paper on it's new
foundation Henry Maxwell was pres
ent at this conference, and the three
agreed that, whatever Jesus would do
in detail as editor of a daily paper, he
would be guided by the same general
principles that directed his conduct as
the Saviour of the world
itANp tiiNo w pun hoN II IltIt III
concrete form some of the things which
it has seemed to me Jesus would do, "
said Edward Norman He read from a
paper lying ON his desk. and Henry
Maxwell was reminded again of his
effort to pitt into written form his own
conception Of Jesus probable action
and also of Milton Wright's attempt in
his business
Il have headed this, What Would
Jesus Do as Edward Norman, Editor Of
a Daily Newspaper In Raymond.
81 He would never allow a sentence
or picture in his paper that could be
called bad or coarse or impure in any
way.
''2. He would probably conduct the
political part of the paper from the
standpoint of nonpartisan patriotism
always looking upon all political ques-
tions in the light of their relations to
the welfare of the people, always on the
basis of What is right?' never from
the basis of w hat is for the best inter
ests of this or that party? In other
words he would treat every political
subject from the standpoint of the adj
vancement of the kingdom of God on
the earth.
Edward Norman looked up from the
reading for moment. "You under
stand that is my Interpretation of Jesus
probable action on political matters on
other newspaper men who may have
different conception of Jesus probable
action from mine. | am simply trying
to answer honestly, What would Jesus
do as Edward Norman? and the answer
l find is what have put down.
"3. The end and aim of daily pa
per conducted by Jesus would be to do
the will of God. That is, his main pur-
pose in carrying on newspaper would
not be to make money or gain political
influence, but his first and ruling pur
pose should be so to conduct his paper
that it would be evident to all his sub
scribers that he was trying to seek first
the kingdom Of God by means Of his
paper This purpose would be as dis
tinct and unquestioned as the purpose
of minister or missionary or any
other unselfsh martyr in Christian
work anywhere
"A All questionable advertisements
would be impossible.
- The relation of Jesus to the en-
ployees on the paper would be of the
most loving character.
$50 far as | have gone, said Nor
man, again looking up, II am of the
opinion that Jesus would employ prac-
tically some form of cooperation that
would represent the idea of mutual in
terest in business where all were to
move together for the same great end.
am working out such a plan, and am
confident it will be successful. AT any
rate, once introduce the element of per-
sonal love into Il business like this take
ont the selfish principle of doing it for
the sake Of personal profits to man or
company, and | do not see any way ex-
cept the most loving personal interest
between editor, reporters, pressmen and
all who contributed anything to the
life of the paper, and that interest
would be expressed not only in the per-
sonal love and sympathy, but in shar-
ing with the profits of the business
SO AS editor of a daily paper today
Jesus would give large space to the
work of the Christian world He would
devote a page possibly to the facts of
reform, Of sociological problems, of in
stitutional church work and similar
movements.