Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-09-15

ne taught MS disciples to DO. And those
who volunteer to do this will pledge
themselves for an entire year, begin
ning with today, 80 to act
Henry Maxwell pacsod again and
looked over his church 1t is not easy
to describe the sensation that such &.
simple proposition apparently made.
Men glanced nj one another in aston
ishment 1t Yves not like Henry Max
we'll TO define Christian discipleship in
this way. There was evident confusion
Of thought over his proposition. 1t was
understood Well enough, hut there was
apparently great difference of opinion
as TO the app lication of jesus teaching
and example
Henry Maxwell calmly closed the
service with brief prayer. The organ
1T began his po-tluGe Immediately aft
err the bcneGiction and tie people be-
gan To go ont. TIL re was great deal
Of conversations minated groups stood
all over the church iii cus-ing the min
iStcr's proposition. II was evidently
provoking great d.cu son. After sew
eral minutes Horny Maxwell asked all
who expected To remain to pass into
the lecture room n the side. He him
self was detained at the front of the
church talking with several persons
there, and when he finally turned around
the church Was empty. He walked over
10 the lecture room entrance and went
in. He was almost startled 10 see the peo-
pie who were there IIe had not made
mp his mind alort any of his members.
but he had barely expected that So
many were ready To enter into such q
literal testing OF their d.scipleship rs
now awaited them. There were perhaps
80 mcmbcrs present Among them were
Rachel Winslow and Virginia Page
Mr. Norman, President Marsh. Alex
andor Powers, the railroad superintend-
ent Milton Wright. Dr. West and Jas
per Chase
The pastor closed the door of the lee
ture room and stood before the little
group. His face was pale, and his lips
tremblcd with emotion. 1t was TO him
a genuine crisis in his own life and that
of his parish No man can tell until h9
is moved 10y the Divine Spirit what be
may do or how he may change the cur
rent Of lifetime OF fixed habits OF
thought and speech and action. Henry
Maxwell did not, as we have said. yet
know himself all that he was passing
through, but he was conscious of a
great upheaval in his definitions OF
Christian discipleship, and he was
moved with depth of feeling he could
not measure as he looked into the faces
-
sion.
1t seemed to him that the most fitting
word to be spoken first was that OF
prayer He asked them all TO pray with
him, and almost with the first syllable
he uttered there was distinct presence
of the Spirit felt by them all As tho
prayer went ON this presence grew in
power They al felt it. The room was
filled with it as plainly as if it had been
visible. When the prayer closed, there
was silence that lasted several mo-
ments All the heads were bowed.
Henry Maywell's face was wet with
tears If an audible voice from heaven
had sanctioned their pledge TO follow
the Masters steps, not one person pres
ent could have felt more certain of the
Divine blessing And so the most seri
Gus movement ever started in the First
church Of Raymond was begun.
1--WE all understand, said Henry
Maxwell speaking very quietly, what
we have undertaken TO do. We pledge
ourselves to do everything in our daily
lives after asking the question. What
would Jesus dor regardless of what
may be the result 10 Us. Some time
shall be able TO tell you what marvel
GUS change has come over my life with
in weeks time cannot now But
the experience ! have been through
since last Sunday has left me so Gas..t-
isfed with my previous definition oe
disciplc.L p that ! have been competed
20 ta.., tbs 3.c,ion ! dd not C.. .e uo-
gin it alone | lraw that a. ,..rS
T. hand Of Divu.c love ir II
s.r.e DIVINE ~, -lec u {
a.so 20 we radersC.I
hove unfprtol- g''