The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-20

President Marsh read this editorial
81 thanked God for Edward Norman
~ the scme time he understood well
oqngh that every other paper in Ray
sonoud was on the other side. He did not
nipnderstand the Importance and seri.
s1nnen Of the fight which was only just
oe9un 10 was no secret that The News
~ but enormously since IL had been
oovQned BY the standard OF "What
v600 Jesus DOR The question now
va would the Christian people of
3oyzhoud stand by itr' Would they
naks IL possible for Norman to conduct
. daily Christian paper, or would their
Gn1xo tor what 10 called news" in
- way Of crime. scandal. political
5 yartisanship Of the regular sort and a
9jsbke 20 champion 30 remarkable re-
'ougm IN journalism. influence them to
(kuP the paper and refuse 10 give 1t
Mr. financial supports That was, in
1ncA The question Edward Norman was
oGking even while be wrote the Satur-
day EDITORIAL He knew well enough
Ghst bis action expressed In that edi-
eoglal would cost him vory dearly from
ehe hands Of many business men Of
1eJu,ond. and still ~ he drove his pen
: evsr TIE paper he asked another ques-
leoa. what would Jesus dof" That
!Qo9eion had become part Of his life
ioow. It was greater than any other.
Hut for tho first time In its history
Raymond lad seen the professional
usn, the tcachera the college profes-
oogA the doctofa the ministers, take
political acton land put themselves
rdednitely and sharply In antagonism to
~ svil forces that fad 20 long con-
Gpllsd the machine ~ the municipal
government The fact itself was aston
1shtng President Marsh acknowledged
= himself. with feeling Of humilia-
Nm. that never before had he known
WHIST civic righteousness could accom-
yAish From that Friday nights work
- dated for himself and his college q
new deAnition Of the worn phrase. 'tthe
scholar In politics Education for him
ond those who were under his influence
ever after meant some element Of suf-
tsrinG Sacrifice must now enter into
~ factor OF development.
AZ the Rectangle that week the tide
ef spiritual life rose high and as yet
showed ne signs Ct flowing back. Rachel
and Virginia went every night. vir-
Gtnia was rapidly reaching q conclusion
With respect to large part Of her
0oney. She had talked 1t over with
Aochel. and they had been able to
eQes that II Jesus had a vast amount
- money at his disposal he might do
with some Of it 40 Virginia planned
~ any rate. they felt that whatever
Jesus might do In such case would
have as large an element Of variety in
u a the difference In persons and cir
oumstlnces There could be no fixed
Christian way Of using money. The
rule that regulated its use was unselfish
utility
But meanwhile the glory Of the
spirits power possessed all their best
thought Night after night that week
witnessed miracles as great as walking
On the sea or feeding the multitude
with few loaves and fishes. for what
greater miracle than q regenerated hu.
n,anity, The transformation of these
coarse brutal. scottish lives into pray
ing. rapturous lovers Of Jesus struck
Rachel and Virginia every time with
the feelings that people may have haG
when they saw Lazarus walk out Of
the tomb. II was IN experience full of
profound excitement 10 them.
Rolin Page carue 10 all the meetings.
TherD was no doubt Of the change that
had come over him. He was wonderful
.y quiet. It seemed az il he were think
ing all tho time. Certainly he was not
the same person. He talked more with
Gray than with any ono else. He did
not avoid Eachel but he seemed tc
shrink from any appearance OF seeming
to wish 20 renew the old acquaintance
with her Rachel found it even difflcult
to express to him her pleasure at the
new life he had begun to know. He
seemed to DO waiting to adjust himself
90 his previous relations before this new
life began. He had not forgotten those
relations, but he was not yet able to
at his consciousness into new ones.
The end Of the week found the Rec.
tangle struggling hard between two
mighty opposing forces The Holy
Spirit was battling with ell his super.
natural strength against the saloon
devil which had so long held a jealous
grasp on its slaves IL the Christian
people Of Raymond once could realize
what the contest meant to the soul:
newly awakened To- n now life. IL did
not seem possible that the election could
result In the old system Of license. Bu,
that remained yet to be seen. The hor.
TOR OF the daily surroundings Of many
Of the converts was slowly burning its
way into the knowledge Of Virginia
and Rachel. and every night as they
went mp town 10 their luxurious horaes
they carried heavier hearts.
"A good many of those poor Great.
urss viii go back again" Gray would
any with sadness tpo deep for tears.