Middletown transcript., 1899-12-30

6ne cnange that had come into Of.
thought of discipleshipf As he viewed
his ministry now lie did not dare to
preach without praying for wisdom. He
mo longer thought of his dramatic de-
livery and its effect on his audience.
The great question with him now was,
"What would Jesus dof''
Saturday night at the Rectangle wit
messed some of the most remarkable
scenes that Mr.. Gray and his wife had
ever known. The meetings had intenai-
fed with each night Of Rachel's sing
ing. A stranger passing through the
Rectangle in the daytime might have
heard good deal about the meetiRgs in
one way and another. It cannot be said
that up to that Saturday night there
was any appreciable lack of oaths and
impurity and heavy drinking. The Rec
tangle would not have acknowledged
that it was growing any better or that
even the singing had softened its con-
versation or its outward manner. II
had too much local pride in being
"tough. /" But, in spite of itself, there
was a yielding to power it had never
measured and did not know well enough
to resist beforehand
Gray had recovered his voice, so that
Saturday he was able to speak. The
fact that he was obliged to use his voice
carefully made it necessary for the peo-
pie to be very quiet if they wanted to
hear. Gradually they had come to un-
derstand that this man was talking
these many weeks and using his time
and strength to give them knowledge
of Saviour, all out Of perfectly un-
selfish love for them. Tonight the great
crowd was as quiet as Henry Maxwell's
decorous audience ever was The fringe
around the tent was deeper, and the
saloons were practically empty. The
Holy Spirit had come at last, and Gray
knew that one of the. great prayers Of
his life was going to be answered
And Rachel-her singing was thel
best, most wonderful Virginia or Jasper
Chase had ever known. They had comeI
together again tonight with Dr.. West,
who had spent all his spare time that
week in the Rectangle with some char
ity cases. Virginia was at the organ,
Jasper sat on front seat looking up at
Rachel, and the Rectangle swayed as
one man toward the platform as she
sang:
Just as am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me
And that thou bidst me come to thee
Lamb of God. come. comeP'
Gray said hardly word He stretch
ed out his hand with gesture of invi-
tation. and down the two aisles Of the
tent broken. sinful creatures, men. and
women. stumbled toward the platform
One woman out of the street wss near
the organ
Virginia caught the look of her face.
and for the first time in the life of the
'ich girl the thought of what Jesus was
70 sinful woman came with sudden
hess and power that were like nothing
,ut new birth Virginia left the or
yan. went to her. looked into her face
md caught her hands in her own. The
,ther girl trembled, then fell on her
znees, sobbing, with her head down
lpon the back of the bench in front Of
Ter, still clinging to Virginia. And Vir-
;inia, after a moments hesitation,
neeled down by her, and the twol
leads were bowed close together.
But when the people had crowded In
double row all about the platform,
most of them kneeling and crying, q
nan In evening dress, different from
he others. pushed through the seats
nd came and kneeled down by the side
{ the drunken man who had disturbed
be meeting when Henry Maxwell
poke He kneeled within a few feet Of
.achel Winslow. who was still singing
oftly. and as she turned for moment
nd looked in his direction she was
mazed to see the face of Rollin Pagel
or moment her voice faltered. Then
1e went on
"Just as am thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon. cleanse, relieve
Because thy promise believe,
o Lamb OF God, come, comel'
The voice was as the voice of divine
nging. and the Rectangle, for the
me being, was swept into the harbor
redemptive grace
- fro BE Continued