Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-26
BY Charles M. Sheldon.
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CHAPTER Z.
These are they which follow the Lamb whittier.
soever he goeth.
The bishop sat in deep easy chair
before the open fire. There was just
enough dampness in the early spring of
the year to make an open fire pleasant.
calvin, you have taken very seri-
GUS step today" he finally said, lifting
his large dark eyes to his old college
classmates face 81 heard of. it this
afternoon. could not resist the desire
to see you about it tonight :"
sI'm glad you came. DR.. Bruce sat
near the bishop and laid hand on his
shoulder "You understand what this
means, Edward2"
II think do-yes; am sure The
bishop spoke very slowly and thought
fully. He sat with his hands clasped to-
gether. Over his face, marked with
lines of conservation and service and
the love Of MEN, a shadow crept. a
shadow not caused by the freight
Again he lifted his eyes toward his old
friend IN;
Calvin. we have always understood
each other. Ever since our paths led us
in different ways in church life we have
walked together in Christian fellow
ship"
.sIt is true" replied DIR. Bruce, with
an emotion he made no attempt to con-
ceal or subdue "Thank God for it. /
prize your fellowship more than any
mans have always known what it
meant, though it has always been more
than I deserve"
The bishop looked affectionately at
his friend, but the shadow still rested
on his face After a pause he spoke
again:
s.Ihe new discipleship means a crisis
for you in your work. If you keep this
pledge to do all things as Jesus would
do, as know you will, it requires no
prophet to predict some remarkable
changes in your parish. !" The bishop
booked wistfully at Bruce and then CON
sinued: 1.In fact, do not see how a
perfect upheavalsof Christianity as we
thow know it can be prevented If the
ministry and churches generally take
the Raymond pledge and live it out.
He paused as if he were waiting for his
friend to say something, to ask some
question, but Bruce did not know Of
the fire that was burning in the bishops
heart over the very question that Max
well and himself had fought out.
''Now. in my church. for instance.
continued the bishop, sit would be
r e =
very many people who would take a
pledge like that and live up to it. Mar
tyrdom is lost art with us. Our Chris
tianity loves its ease and comfort too
well to take up anything so rough and
heavy as a cross, and vet what does fol-
lowing Jesus mean? What is it to walk
in his stepsg"
The bishop was soliloauizing now,
and it is doubtful if he thought for the
moment Of his friends presence. For
the first time there flashed into Bruces
mind a suspicion of the truth. What if
the bishop should throw the weight Of
his great influence on the side Of the
RAYMOND movementl He had the fol-
lowing of the most aristocratic, wealthy,
fashionable people not only in Chicago,
but in several large cities. What if the
bishop should join this new discipleshipl
The thought was about to be followed
by the word. DR.. Bruce had reached
out his hand and, with the familiarity
Of lifelong friendship, had placed it on
the bishops shoulder and was about to
ask him a very important question
when they were both startled by ths
violent ringing of the bell Mrs. Bruce
had gone to the door and was talking
with some one in the hall. There was a
loud exclamation, and then. as the
bishop rose and DIR. Bruce was stepping
toward the curtain that hung before
the entrance to the parlor, Mrs. Bruce
pushed it aside. Her face was white,
and she was trembling.
ooh Calvinl Such terrible newsl
Mr.. Sterling-oh, cannot tell it'll What
fearful blow to those two girlsl"
"What is it2" Dr. Bruce advanced
with the bishop into the hall and CON