El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-30

nation the people mad OF anything new
or strange in the service. It is safe to
say that the Nazareth Avenue church
had not heard DR.. Bruce offer such
prayer during the 12 years he had been
pastor there. How would minister be
likely to pray who had come out of
revolution in Christian feeling that had
completely changed his definition of
what was meant by following Jesus
No one in Nazareth Avenue church had
any idea that the Rev. Calvin Bruce,
D. D., the dignifed, cultured, refined
doctor of divinity. had within a few
days been crying like a little child, on
his knees, asking for strength and cour-
age and Christlikeness to speak his Sun
day message, and yet the prayer was an
unconscious involuntary disclosure of
the souls experience such as Nazareth
Avenue people seldom heard and never
before from that pulpit.
In the hush that succeeded the prayer
q distinct wave of spiritual power
moved over the congregation The most
careless persons in the church felt it.
Felicia, whose sensitive religious nature
responded swiftly to every touch of
emotion, quivered under the passing of
that supernatural power. and when she
lifted her head and looked up at the
minister there was look in her eyes
that announced her intense, eager an
ticipation of the scene that was to fol
low.
And she was not alone in her atti-
tude There was something in the
prayer and the result of it that stirred
many and many a disciple in Nazareth
Avenue church ALI over the house men
and women leaned forward, and when
DR.. Bruce began to speak of his visit to
Raymond in the opening sentences of
his address, which this morning pre-
ceded his sermon, there was an answer
ing response in the church that came
back to him as he spoke and thrilled
him with the hope of spiritual bap-
tism such as he had never during all
his ministry experienced
81 am just back from visit to Ray
mond, - DR. Bruce began, land want
to tell you something of my impressions
of the movement there.
He paused, and his look went over
his people with yearning for them and
at the same time with great uncer-
tainty at his heart How many of his
rich. fashionable, refined. luxury loving
members would understand the nature
of the appeal he was soon to make to
them7 He was altogether in the dark
as to that. Nevertheless he had been
through his desert and had come out of
it ready to suffer. He went on now aft
er that brief pause and told the story
of his stay in Raymond The people al
ready knew something Of that expert
ment in the First church. The whole
country had watched the progress of
the pledge as it had become history in
so many lives Henry Maxwell had at
last decided that the time had come to
seek the fellowship of other churches
the country. The new dis
cipleship in Raymond had proved to be
80 valuable in its results that Henry
wished the church in general
to share with the disciples in Ray
mond Already there had begun a vol
unteer movement in many of the
churches throughout the country, act
ing on their own desire to walk closer
in the steps of Jesus The Christian
Endeavor societies had with enthusiasm
in many churches taken the pledge to
do as Jesus would do. and the result
was already marked in a deeper spir-
itual life and a power in church inflU-
ence that was like new birth for the
members.
All this DR.. Bruce told his people
simply and with a personal interest that
led the way to his announce
ment, which now followed. Felicia had
listened to every word with strained
attention She sat there by the side of
Rose. in contrast like fire beside snow,
although even Rose was as alert and
excited as she could be
Dear friends" he said, and for the
first time since his prayer the emotion
Of the occasion was revealed in his
voice and gesture. 81 am going to ask
that Nazareth Avenue church take the
same pledge that Raymond church has
1aken. I know what this will mean to
you and me- 1t will mean the complete
change of very many habits. It will
mean possibly social loss. 1t will mean
very probably in many cases loss of
money. 1t will mean suffering 1t will
mean what following Jesus meant in
he first century, and then it meant
suffering, loss, hardship, separation
rom every thing un-Christian. But
what does following Jesus mean2 The
Jest of dlscipleship is the same now as
hen. Those of you who volunteer in
he Nazareth Avenue church to do as
Jesus weald do simply promise to walk
n his steps. as he gave US command
nent.'
Again Rev. Calvin Bruce, pastor of
Nazareth Avenue church, paused. and
low the result of his announcement
vas plainly visible in the stir that went
,ver the congregation. He added in
luiet voice that all who volunteered to
make the pledge to do as Jesus would
10 were asked to remain after the |