People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-11-30

power, but he was seeking carefully fc
concrete shapes into which he Nigh
cast his thought Of Jesus conduct
Nearly every point he had put dow
meant for him complete overturnin
Of the custom and habit of years in tn
ministry. In spite Of that, he stiI
searched deeper for sources Of tn
Christlike spirit He did not attempt t
write any more, but sat at his desk al
sorbed in his attempt to catch more an
more Of the spirit Of Jesus in his owl
life. He had forgotten the particula
subject for his prayer meeting wit
which he had begun his morning study
He was 50 absorbed over his though
that he did not hear the bell ring, an,
he was reused by the servant. who an
nounced caller. He had sent up hi
name-Mr. Gray. Maxwell stepped I,
the head Of the stairs and asked Gra,
| to come up.
I'VE can talk better up here"
So Gray came up and stated the res
son for his call
81 want you, Mr.. Maxwell, to hell
me- OF course you have heard what q
wonderful meeting we had Monday
night and last night. Miss Winslow
has done more with her voice than
could, and the tent won't hold the peo.
pie. "
'T've heard Of that. It's the first
time the people there have heard her.
It's no wonder they are attracted
1T has been a wonderful revelation
to us and most encouraging event in
our work But ! came to ask If you
could not come down tonight and
preach. / am suffering with a severe
cold | do not dare to trust my voice
again. know it is asking a good deal
for such busy man, but if you can't
come say so freely. and III. try some
where else. "
'I'm sorry, but it's my regular prayer
meeting night, said Henry Maxwell
Then he flushed and added: 81 shall be
able to arrange it in some way so as to
come down. You can count on me-"
Gray thanked him earnestly and rose
to 60
Won't you stay minute, Gray,
and let us have prayer togetherH"
"Yes, said Gray simply.
So the two men kneeled together in
the study. Mr.. Maxwell prayed like
child Gray was touched to tears as he
kneeled there There was something al
most pitiful in the way this man, who
had lived his ministerial life in such
narrow limit of exercise. now begged
for wisdom and strength to speak a
message to the people in the Rectangle.
Gray rose and held out his hand.
"God bless you, Mr.. Maxwell. I'm
sure the Spirit will give you power to-
night.
Henry Maxwell made no answer. He
did not even trust himself to say that
ne hoped so, but he thought of his
promise, and it brought a certain peace
that was refreshing to his heart and
mind alike.
So that is how it came about that
when the First church audience came
into the lecture room that evening it
was met with another surprise.
There was an unusually large num-
Der present. The prayer meetings ever
since that remarkable Sunday morning
had been attended as never before in
the history of the First church.
Henry Maxwell came at once to the
point. He spoke of Gray's work and of
his request
81 feel as if 1 were called to 60 down
there tonight, and l will leave it with
you to say whether you will 60 on with
the meeting here. think perhaps the
best plan would be for few volunteers
to go down to the Rectangle with me.
to help in the after meeting,
and the rest remain here and pray that |
the Spirits power may go with us. {"
So half dozen of the men went with
Henry Maxwell, and the rest of the au-
dience staid in the lecture room. Max.
well could not escape the thought as he
left the room that probably in his entire
church membership there might not be
found a score of disciples who were
capable of doing work that would sue
lead needy, sinful men into
the knowledge of Christ. The thought
did not linger in his mind to vex him
as he went on his way, but it was sim
ply a part of his whole new conception
Of the meaning of Christian disciple
ship.
When he and his little company of
volunteers reached the Rectangle. the
tent was already crowded. They had
in getting to the little plat
.crm. Rachel was there, with Virginia
md Jasper Chase, who had come in
itead of the doctor tonight.
When the meeting began with a song
n which Rachel sang the solo and the
'eople were asked to join in the chorus,
lot foot of standing room was left in
he tent The night was mild, and the
ides of the tent were up. and a great
'Order of faces stretched around, look
ng in and forming part of the audience.
After the singing and praye by
ne of the city pastors who were present
fray stated the reasons for his inability
o speak and in his simple manner
urned the service over to Brother
daxwell of the First church"