The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-11-02

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he.had received at the settlement q call
from the pastor Of one Of the largest
churches in Chicago and had been in
vited to fill the pulpit for both morning
and evening services.
At first he hesitated, but finally &C
cepted, seeing in it the hand of the
Spirits guiding power. He would test
his own question. He would prove the q
truth or falsity of the charge made
against the church at the settlement
meeting. How far would it go in its
self denial for Jesus sake? How close
would it walk in his steps? Was the
church willing to suffer for it's Master
Saturday night he spent in prayer
nearly the whole night. There had nev
er been SO great wrestling in his soul,
even during his strongest experiences
in Raymond He had, in fact, entered {
upon new experience The definition 8
of his own discipleship was receiving
an added test at this time, and he was
being led into larger truth of his
Lord.
The great church was filed to its ut
most. Henry Maxwell, coming into the
pulpit from that all night vigil felt the
pressure of great curiosity on the part
of the people. They had heard of the
Raymond movement, as all the churches
had, and the recent action of DR.. Bruce
had added to the general interest in the
pledge. With this curiosity was some {
thing deeper, more serious. Mr.. Max
well felt that also, and in the knowledge
that the Spirit presence was his living
strength he brought his message and
gave it to the church that day.
He had never been what would be
called a great preacher He had not the
force or the quality that makes remark
able preachers. But ever since he had
promised to do as Jesus would do he
had grown in a certain quality of per-
suasiveness that had all the essentials of
true eloquence. This morning the peo-
pie felt the complete sincerity and hui
mility of a man who had gone deep into
the heart of great truth. After tell
ing briefly of some results in his own
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask the ques-
ton he had been asking since the settle
ment meeting. He had taken for his
theme the story of the young man who
came to Jesus asking what he must do
to obtain eternal life. Jesus had tested
him: ''Sell all that thou hast and give
to the poor. and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And, come; follow me-
But the young man was not willing to
suffer to that extent. If following Jesus
meant suffering in that way, he was
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus, but not if he had to give up so
much.
els it true" continued Henry Max
we'll, and his fine, thoughtful face
glowed with passion Of appeal that
stirred the people as they had seldom
been stirred-*'is it true that the church
Of today, the church that is called after
Christ's own name would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense Of suffering.
of physical loss, Of temporary gain?
The statement was made at a large
gathering in the settlement last week
by leader of workingmen that it was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption of society. On
what was that statement based? Plain
~ on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought more of their own
ease and luxury than Of the suferings
and needs and sins of humanity. How
far was that true? Are the Christians
of America ready to have their disciple
ship tested? How about the men who
possess large wealth? Are they ready to
take that wealth and use it as Jesus
would? How about the men and women
of great talent? Are they ready to con-
secrate that talent to humanity, as Jesus
undoubtedly would do?
"Is it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition of dis
cipleship, Christian discipleship? You
who live in this great, sinful city must
know that better than do. Is it posi-
BILE you can 60 your ways careless OF;
men and women and children who are
dying, body and soul, for Christian
help? Is it not matter of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war? Is it
not a matter of personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands of
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets Of this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide because they cannot find it, Can
you say that this is none of your bust
ness2 Let each man look after himself
Would it not be true, think you, that
if every Christian in America did as
Jesus would do society itself, the bust
ness world-yes, the very political sys-
tenn under which our commercial and
; governmental activity is carried on
would be SO changed that human suffer
ing would be reduced to a minimum?
"What would be the result if all the
church members Of this city tried to dc
as Jesus would dof It is not possible to
say in detail what the effect would be,
but it is easy to say, and it is true, that
instantly the human problem would be-
yin to find an adequate answer.
:tWhat is the test of Christian disci-
pleship2 Is it not the same as in Christ {
/ H. ND