The Princeton union., 1899-10-12

CHAPTER vI-vontnuea
"If shall in the course of my obedi-
ence to my promise meet with loss or
trouble in the world, can depend upon
the genuine, practical sympathy and
fellowship of any other Christian in this
room who has with me made the pledge
to do all things by the rule. What
would Jesus do?'' -
All this the distinct wave of spiritual
power expressed. It had the effect that
a physical miracle may have had on
the early disciples in giving them
feeling Of confidence in their Lord that
helped them to face loss and martyrdom
with courage and even joy.
Before they went away this time
there were several condolences like those
of Edward Norman Some Of the young
men told Of the loss Of places owing to
their honest obedience to their promise.
Alexander Powers spoke briefly Of the
fact that the commission had promised
to take action at the earliest date pos
sible
He was already at his old work of
telegraphy. It was significant fact
that since his action in resigning his
position neither his wife nor daughter
had appeared in public. No one but
himself knew the bitterness Of that fam
lily estrangement and misunderstanding
of the higher motive. Yet many Of the
disciples present in the meeting carried
similar burdens. There we're things
which they could not talk about. Henry
Maxwell, from his knowledge Of his
church people, could almost certainly
know that obedience to this pledge had
produced in the hearts Of families sep
aration Of sympathy and even the intro
duction Of enmity and hatred. Truly,
"a mans foes are they Of his own
household when the rule Of Jesus is
obeyed by some and disobeyed by 9th
ers. Jesus is great divider Of life. One
must walk either parallel with him or
directly across his path.
But more than any other feeling at
this meeting rose the tide Of fellowship
for one another. Henry Maxwell watch
ed it, trembling for it's climax, which
he knew was not yet reached. When it
was, where would it lead them? He
did not know, but he was not unduly
alarmed about it, only he watched with
growing wonder the results of that
simple promise as it was being obeyed
in these various lives. Those results
were already being felt all over the
city. Who could measure their infu-
ence at the end Of the year?
One practical form Of this fellowship
showed itself in the assurances which
Edward Norman received in support of
his paper There was general focking
toward him when the meeting closed,
and the response to his appeal for help
from the Christian disciples in Ray.
mond was fully understood by this little
company. The value Of such paper i1
the homes and in behalf Of good citizen.
ship, especially at the present crisis i1
the city, could not be measured It re-
manned to be seen what could be done
now that the paper was endowed so lib
orally. But it still was true, as Edward
Norman insisted, that money alone
could not make the paper power. L
must receive the support and sympathy
of the Christians in Raymond before i
could be counted as one Of the grea
Christian forces Of the city.
The week that followed this Sunda,
baeeting was one Of great excitemen
In Raymond It was the week of tn
election. Donald Marsh, true to hi
promise, took up his cross and bore i
manfully, but with shuddering, witt
groans and even tears, for his deepes
conviction was touched, and he tor
himself out Of the scholarly seclusio
of years with pain and anguish tina
cost him more than anything he ha
ever done as follower Of Christ. Wit
him we're few Of the college professor
who had made the pledge in the Firs
church. Their experience and sufferin
were the same as the presidents s, fc
their isolation from all the duties {
citizenship had been the same. Th
same was also true of Henry Maxwell
who plunged into the horror Of thj
fight against whisky and its allies wit
a sickening dread of each days e1
counter with it. Never had he born
such a cross. He staggered under il
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in from the work and sought the quit
Of his study for rest the sweat brok
out on his forehead, and he felt the az
tual terror of one who marches int
unseen, unknown horrors. Looking bac
on it afterward, bs was amazed at h
experience. He Was not coward, BIT
he felt a dread that any man Of b
habits feels when confronted sudden]
with duty which carries with it tt
doing Of certain things so unfamilis
that the actual details connected wit
it betray his ignorance and fill hi,
with the shame of humiliation.
When Saturday, the election da,
came, the excitement rose to it's heigh
An attempt was made to close all Il
saloons It was partly successful, b.
there was a great deal of drinking g
ing on all day. The Rectangle boil,