The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-06

E
There was no mistahng the fact that
Milton Wright's new relations to his
employees were beginning. even so soon,
after less than two weeks, to transform
the entire business This was apparent
in the conduct and faces Of the clerks.
eff Milton Wright keeps on. he will
be one of the most influential preachers
in Raymond. said Henry Maxwell to
himself when he reached his study. The
question rose as to his continuance in
this course when he began to lose
money by it. as was possible Henry
Maxwell prayed that the Holy Spirit,
who had shown himself with growing
power in the company of the First
church disciples. might abide long with
them. all, and with that prayer on his
lips and in his heart he began the prep
aration of a sermon in which he was
going to present to his people On Sun
day the subject of the saloon IN Ray-
mond. as he now believed Jesus would
do. He had never preached against the
saloon in this way before He knew
that the things he should say would
lead to serious results. Nevertheless he
went on with his work. and every SEN
tence he wrote CT shaped was preceded
with the question, Would Jesus say
that?' Once in the course Of his study
he went down on his knees. No one ex-
cept himself could know what that
meant to him When had he done that
in the preparation of sermons before
the change that had come into his
thought of discipleship? AS he viewed
his ministry now he did not dare to
preach without praying for wisdom He
no longer thought of his dramatic de-
livery and its effect On his audience.
The great question with him now was,
"What would Jesus do!'
Saturday night at the Rectangle wit
messed some OF the most remarkable
scenes that Mr. Gray and his wife had
ever known. The meetings had intensi-
fed with each night Of Rachei's sing
ing A stranger passing through the
Rectangle in the daytime might have
heard good deal about the meetings in
one way and another It cannot be said
that up to that Saturday night there
was any appreciab!e lack Of oatns and
impurity and heavy drinking. The Rec
tangle would not hare ACKNOWLEDGED
chat it was growing any better or that
even the singing had softened its con-
versation or its outward manner It
had too much local pride in being
| 'stough. But. in spite Of itself. there
was a yielding, to a power it had never
measured and did not know we'll enough
to resist beforehand
Gray had recovered his voice, so that
Saturday he was able to speak The
fact that he was obliged to use his voice
carefully made it necessary for the peo-
pie to be very quiet if they wanted to
hear. Gradually they had come to un-
derstand that this man was talking
these many weeks and using his time
and strength to give them knowledge
Of Saviour, all out Of a perfectly IN
selfish love for them. Tonight the great
crowd was as quiet as Henry Maxwell's
decorous audience ever was. The fringe
around the tent was deeper. and the
saloons were practically empty. The
Holy Spirit had come at last. and Gray
knew that one of the great prayers OF
his life was going to be answered
And Rachel-her singing was the
best, most wonderful Virginia or Jasper
Chase lad ever known They had come
together again tonight with Or West.
who had spent al his spare time that
week in the Rectansle with some char
ity cases Virginia was at the organ.
JASPER sat on Il front seat looking II, at
Rachel. and; the Rectangle swaye; as
one man toward the platform as she
sang
Gust "a am. without plea.
But t!,at thy blood wos saed for ne
and that thou bids. come 10 thee
Lamb CT God. ] como. come
Gray said hardly word Ee stretch
ed out his hand with il gesture OF lnvl-
tatior, and down the two aisles OF the
tent broken. sinful creatures. men anc
women. stumbled toward the platform
One woman out of the street was near
the organ
Virginia caught the look of her face
and for the first time in the life of the
rich girl the thought of what Jesus was
to a sinful woman came with sudden
ness and power that were like nothing
but new birth Virginia left the or
gan. went to her, locked into her face
and caught her hands in her own The
ouher girl trembled. then fell on her
knees. sobbing. with her head down
upon the back Of the bench in front OF
her, still clinging to Virginia. And Eir-
ginia. after moment hesitation
kneeled down by her and the two
heads were bowed clcse together
But when the people had crowded IN
doubie row all aboCt the platform
most of them k;eeling and crying. a
man in evening dress different from
the others, pushed through the seats
and came and kreelel down by the side
.,,.,, ,,-bo bo1 Il IL ctJ1rHnd