Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23

=
of the Divine Spirit There was nj
doubt in the minds Of any one present
that what they proposed to do was Sc
clearly in line with the Divine vii
that blessing rested on it in very
special manner.
| They remained some time to ash
questions and consult together There
was feeling Of fellowship such as they
had never known in their church mem,
bership. Edward Norman s action was
well understood by them all and he
answered several questions.
"What will be the probable result OF
your discontinuance Of the Sunday pa
sat next to him.
II don't know yet. presume it will
result in falling off of subscriptions
and advertisements Ianticipate that.
''Do you have any doubts about your
actiona ] mean do You regret it for
fear it is not what Jesus would dof'
asked Henry Maxwell.
"Not in the least, but would like
to ask for my own satisfaction if any
one of you here thinks Jesus would is
sue Sunday morning paperf'
No one spoke for a minute. Then
Jasper Chase said: 1--WE seem to think
alike on that, but have been puzzled
several times during the week to know
| just what he would do. 1t is not i
ways an easy question to answer. I"
81 find that trouble, said Virginia
Page. She sat by Rachel Winslow. Ev-
cry one knew who Virginia Page was,
wondering how she would succeed in
keeping her promise.
Il think perhaps find it specially
difficult to answer the question on ac-
count of my money. Jesus never owned
any property, and there is nothing in
his example to guide me in the use Of
mine. am studying and praying. l
think see clearly a part of what he
would do, but not all What would
Jesus do with million dollarss' is my
question really l confess that am not
yet able to answer it to my satisfac-
tion. :
81 could tell you what to do with a
part of it, y said Rachel. turning her
face toward Virginia
''That does not trouble me, replied
Virginia, with a slight smile. 'fWhat /
am trying to discover Is a principle Of
Jesus that will enable me to come the
nearest possible to his action as thought
to influence the entire course Of my
life, SO far as my wealth and its use are
concerned "
''That will take time, said Henry
Maxwell slowly. All the rest in the
room were thinking hard of the same
thing. Milton Wright told something
of his experience He was gradually
working out plan for his business re-
.ations with his employees. and it
opening up new world to him ant
them. A few of the younger men toli
of special attempts to answer the ques
ton
There was almost general consen
over the fact that the application O.
the Jesus spirit and practice to every
day life was the serious thing. It re
quired knowledge of him and an in
sight into his motives that NEST of Their
did not yet possess.
When they finally adjourned after 1
silent prayer that marked with grow
ing power the Divine presence, they
went away discussing earnestly thei1
difficulties and seeking light from ont |
another.
Rachel Winslow and Virginia paet
went out together. Edward Norman
and Milton Wright became SO interest
ed in their mutual conference that theY |
walked on past Norman's home arl
came back together. Jasper Chase anf
the president Of the Endeavor societ |
stood talking earnestly in one corner O; |
the room. Alexander Powers and Henr,
Maxwell remained even after all th |
others had gone.
II want you to come down to tn |
shops tomorrow and see my plan am |
talk TO the men. Somehow I feel as i |
you could get nearer to them than an,
one else just now .
II don't know about that, but viii |
GONE. replied Henry Maxwell, lit
tie sadly. How was he fitted to stand
before 200 or 300 workingmen and give
them message? Yet in the movement
of his weakness. as he asked the ques
tion. he rebuked himself for it. What
would Jesus do2 That was an end to
the discussion
He went down the next day and
found Alexander Powers in his office
1t lacked a few minutes of 12, and the
superintendent said. '.Come up stairs.
and Il show you what I've been try
ing to do. =
They went through the machine
shops. climbed long flight of stairs
and entered very large empty room
It had once been used by the company
for a storeroom.
"Since making that promise week
ago ! have had good many things to
think Of !" said the superintendent
''and among them is this: Our COM
pany gives me the use of this room, and
am going to fit it up with tables and
a coffee plant in the corner there where
those steam pipes are. My plan is to
provide a good place where the men
can come up and eat their noon lunch
and give them. two or three times
week. the privilege Of a Is minutes
talk on some subject that viii be real
help to them in their lives.
Maxwell looked surprised and asked
if the men would come for any such
purpose
''Yes. they'll Il come After all, know
the men pretty well They are among
the most intelligent workingmen in the
country today, but they are, as a whole.
entirely removed from all church infiu-
ence. | asked, What would Jesus dos'
and. among other things. it seemed to
me he would begin to act in some way
to add to the lives of these men more
physical and spiritual comfort 1t is a
very little thing, this room and what it
represents. but acted on the first i'm
pulse to do the first thing that appealed
to my good sense. and want to work
out this idea. ] want you to speak to
the men when they come up at noon.
have asked them to come up and see
the place and I'll tell them something
about it. !
Henry Maxwell was ashamed to say
how uneasy he felt at being asked To | :