The Princeton union., 1899-10-12


Gray had continued his meetings dur
ing the week, and the results had been
even greater than he had dared to hope.
When Saturday came, it seemed to him
that the crisis in his work had been
reached The Holy Spirit and the satan
of rum seemed to rouse up to desper-
ate conflict The more interest in the
meetings the more ferocity and vileness
outside. The saloon men no longer con-
cealed their feelings. Open threats of
violence were made. Once during the
week Gray and his little company of
helpers were assailed with missiles of
various kinds as they left the tent late
at night. The police sent down special
protection, and Virginia and Rachel
were always under the protection of
Rollin or DR.. West. Rachel's power in
song had not diminished. Rather with
each night it seemed to add to the in
tensity and reality of the Spirits pres
ence.
Gray had at first hesitated about
having meeting that night, but he
had simple rule Of action and was al
ways guided by it, The Spirit seemed
to lead them to continue the meeting,
and so Saturday night he went on, as
usual.
The excitement all over the city had
reached its climax when the polls closed
at o'clock. Never had there been such
a contest in Raymond. The issue Of
license or no license had never been an
| nd u
before had such elements in the city
been arrayed against each other. It was
an unheard Of thing that the president
of Lincoln college, the pastor Of the
First church, the dean Of the cathedral,
the professional men living in the fine
houses on the boulevard, should come
personally into the wards and by their
presence and their example represent
the Christian conscience of the place.
The ward politicians were astonished
at the sight. However, their astonish-
ment did not prevent their activity
The fight grew hotter every hour, and
when o'clock came neither side could
have guessed at the result with any GER
tainty. Every one agreed that never
had there been such an election in Ray
mond, and both sides awaited the an
nouncement Of the result with the
greatest interest.
It was after 10 o'clock when the
meeting at the tent was closed. It had
been strange and in some respects a
remarkable meeting. Henry Maxwell
had come down again at Gray's request.
He was completely worn out by the
days work, but the appeal from Gray
came to him in such form that he die
not feel able to resist it. Donald Marsh
was also present. He had never been t<
the Rectangle, and his curiosity wa:
aroused from what he had noticed o:
the influence Of the evangelist in tn,
worst part of the city. DR.. West ant
Rollin had come with Rachel and Vir
ginia, and Loreen, who had staid will
Virginia, was present near the organ
in her light mind, sober, with a humil
ity and dread Of herself that kept he
as close to Virginia as faithful dog
All through the service Loreen sat will
bowed head, weeping a part of tn
time. sobbing when Rachel sang tn
song, 81 was a wandering sheep,
clinging with almost visible, tangibl
yearning to the one hope she had found
, listening to prayer and appeal and con
fession all about her like one who wa
! part Of new creation, yet fearful Q
a her right to share in it fully.
: The tent had been crowded. AS O.
> some other occasions, there was NOR
: or less disturbance on the outside of tn
: tent This had increased as the nigh
advanced, and Gray thought it wis
? not to prolong the service. Once i
! awhile shout as from large crow
q swept into the tent. The returns fro1
. the election were beginning to come il
+ and the Rectangle had emptied ever
h lodging house, den and hovel into tt
4 Streets
e In spite of the distractions, Rachel
n singing kept the crowd in the tent fro1
Il dissolving There were dozen or MOI
d conversions. Finally the crowd becan
h restless, and Gray closed the servic
. remaining little while with the col
# verts.
FL Rachel, Virginia, Loreen, Rollin an
r the doctor, President Marsh and Hem
# Maxwell went out together, intendin
e to go down to their usual waiting pla.
|, for their car. As they came out of tt
is tent they at once were aware that ii
h Rectangle was trembling on the edge
l. b drunken riot, and as they pusht
10 through the gathering mobs in the ma
t, row streets they began to realize tn
10 they themselves were objects of gre
9t attention.
q ''There he is, the bloke in the ts
; hat. He's the leaderl'' shouted rou1
20 voice. President Marsh, with his erec
k commanding figure, was conspicuous
is the little company.
1T |'How has the election gone? It
is too early to know the result yet, isn
y it?' He asked the question aloud, al
10 man answered: ''They say secol
II and third wards have gone almost sol
h for no license If that is 80, the whisl
m men have been beaten.'' %#@.
'"Thank God! 7 hope it il. s.true," {
=, claimed Henry Maxwell. ''Marsh, \