Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-12

l-AN; ~ 10
the poor and wretehed Of the city. Her
plans include musical institute where
choruses and classes in vocal music shall
be feature. She is enthusiastic over
her life work. In connection with her
friend Miss Page she has planned
course In music which, If carried out,
will certainly do much to lift up the
lives Of the people down there am
not too old. my dear Caxton. to be in
terested in the romantic side Of much
that has also been tragic here in Ray
mond. and I must tell you that it is
well understood there that Miss Wins
low expects to be married this spring
to 9 brother Of Miss Page, who was once
q society leader and clubman and who
was converted in q tent where his wife
that Is to be took an active part in the
service. / don't know all the details Of
this little romance, but can imagine
there is little story wrapped up in it,
and 1t would be interesting reading il
we only knew it all.
These are only few illustrations Of
results in individual lives owing to
obedience to the pledge. / meant to
have spoken Of President Marsh Of Lin
coin college He is graduate Of my
alma mater, and knew him slightly
when I was in the senior year. He has
taken an active part in the recent mu-
nicipal agitation, and his influence in
the city is regarded as very large
factor in the coming election. He inn
pressed me as did all the other disciples
In this movement, as having fought out
some hard questions and as having
taken up some real burdens that have
caused and still do cause that suffering
of which Henry Maxwell speaks suf-
fering that does not eliminate but doeA
appear to intensity positive and praci
teal joy.
"But I am prolonging this. letter.
possibly to your WEAKNESS am I'M
able to avoid the feeling Of fascination
which my entire stay here has increased.
I want to tell you something Of the
meeting in the First church today.
"As said, / heard Maxwell preach.
At his earnest request I had preached
for him the Sunday before. and this
was the first time had heard him since
the association four years ago His SER
mon this morning was as different from
his sermon then as if it had been
thought out and preached by some one
living on another planet. / was pro-
foundly touched I believe / actually
shed tears once. Others in the congre-
cation We're moved like myself. His
text was; What is that to theef Fol-
low thou me. And it was most I'M
usually impressive appeal to the Chris
tians Of Raymond to obey Jesus leach
Eings aad follow in his steps, regardless
Of what others might do. i cannot give
yqn even the plan of the sermon. 1t
would take too long. AT the close Of the
service there was the usual after meet
ing that has become regular feature
of the First church Into this meeting
have come all those who made the
pledge to do as Jesus would do. and the
time is spent in mutual fellowship. CON
fesslon, questions as to what Jesus
would do in special cases and prayer
that the one great guide of every dis
ciple's conduct may be the Holy Spirit
Maxwell asked me to come into this
meeting, Nothing in all my ministerial
life, Caxton, has so moved me as that
meeting. never felt the Spirit pres
ence SO powerfully. twas meeting Of
"reminiscences and Of the most loving
fellowship was irresistibly driven iii
thought back to the first years of Chris
tianity. There was something about all
this that was apostolic in its simplicity
and Christ imitation.
Il asked questions. One that seemed
to arouse more interest than any other
was in regard to the extent Of the
Christian disciples sacrifice Of personal
property. Henry Maxwell tells me that
30 far no one has interpreted the spirit
Of Jesus in such a way as to abandon
his earthly possessions. give away all
his wealth or in any literal wey initiate
the Christians Of the order. for exam
pie. of st. Francis Of Assist. II was the
unanimous consent. however, that IL
any disciple should feel that Jesus in
his own PARTICULAR case would do that
| sAAS~S SS>AsN w Why OlO dASWcI 10 tIi6
question. Maxwell frankly admitted
that he was still. to certain degree
uncertain as to Jesus probable action
when 1t came to the details Of house
hold living, the possession Of wealth,
the holding Of certain luxuries. II is,
however, evident that very many Of
these disciples have repeatedly carried
their obedience to Jesus to the extreme
limit, regardless Of financial loss. There
is no lack Of courage or consistency at
this point. 1t il also true that some Of
the, business men who took the pledge
have lost great sums Of money in thia
imitation Of Jesus, and very many
have. like Alexander Powers, lost valu.
able positions owing to the impossibility
Of doing what they had been accus-
toned to do and at the same time doing
what they felt Jesus would do in the
Same place. In connection with these
cases it is pleasant to record the fact
that many who have suffered in this
way have at once been helped financial
~ by those who still have means In
this respect / think it is true that these
disciples have all things in common.