Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21

d:lu tllOsSo WIZ were ulluGr Ills 1QuucnC6
ever after meant some element Of suf-
fering. Sacrifice mist now enter into
the factor of development.
/ At the Rectangle that week the tide
of spiritual life rose high and as yet
showed no signs CT flowing back Rachel
and Virginia went every night Vir-
ginia was rapidly reaching a conclusion
with respect to a large part of her
money. She had talked it over with
Rachel. and they had been able to
agree that if Jesus had vast amount
of money at his disposal he might do
with some of it as Virginia planned.
At any rate, they felt that whatever
Jesus might do in such case would
have as large an element of variety in
1t as the difference in persons and cir
cumstances There could be NO fixed
Christian way of using money. The
rule thatregulated its use was unselfish
utility.
But meanwhile the glory of the
Spirits power possessed all their best
thought. Night after night that week
witnessed miracles as great as walking
on the sen or feeding the. multitude
with a few loaves and fishes. for what
greater miracle than regenerated hui
.tnanity2 The transformation of these
coarse, brutal, scottish lives into pray
ing. rapturous lovers Of Jesus struck
Rachel and Virginia every time with
the feelings that people may have had
when they saw Lazarus walk ont of
the tomb. It was an experience full oa
profound excitement to them.
Rollin Page came to all the neetinga
There was no doubt of tho change that
had come over him. He was wonderful.
ly quiot. 1t seemed as if he were think
ing all tho time. Certainly he was not
tho same person. lie talked more with
Gray than with any one else He did
not avoid Rachel, butt he seemed to
shrink from any appearance of seeming
! towisf to renew tllo old acquaintance
with her Rachel found it oven difficult
to express to him her pleasure at the
new !ifo he had begun to know. He
seemed to 30 waiting to adjust himself
tohis previous relations before this new.
life began. He had not forgotten thoss
/ relations but he was not yet able ia
Fl: his consciousness into new ones.
The ond Of tho week found the Rec
tangle struggling hard between two
mighty opposing forces. The Holy
| Spirit was battling with all his super
natural strength against the saloon
devil which had 80 long held a jealous
! grasp on It's slaves. If tho Christian
| people sf Raymond once could realize
/ what the contest meant; TIC the souls
! newly awakened to a now life. it did
/ NOS seem posts e' ttfffftytte elcctio could
i result in the old system Of licensc. But
I that remained yet to be seen. Tho hor-
! ror of the daily surroundings Of many
Of the converts was slowly burning its
why into the knowledge of Virginia
! and Rachel. end eror5- night us they
| went up town to their luxurious homes
/ they carried heavier hearts.
"a good many of those POOR creat-
ures will go back again, Gray would
say, with u sadness too deep for toars.
"'Ihe >enviro.,nent docs have good
| deal to do with the character. 1t Goes
not stand to reason that these people
can always resist the sight ana smell Of
tho deyilish drink all about them. .
Lord. how long shall Christian people
continue tosupport by thor silence and
their ballots tho greatest form Of slav-
cry now i....o.en in America y
Tie asked the question. but did not
have mseh hope Of an immediate am
ever, There was q ray Of hopo in the
action Of Friday nights primary, but
what the roault would DO he did not
dare to anticipate Tho whisky forces
were organized. abort, Aggressive. reused
into unusual hatred by tho events Of
| the last wools at tho tot and in the
city. Would tho Christian force act us
a unit against tho saloon, or would II
be divided on account of its businesf
interests or because it was nct in thu
hebit of acting together, US the whisky
powers always dia3 That rGEpined to
be seen. Meanwhile tho saloon reared
itself about the Rectangle like so1ns
deadly yipor. Kissing and coiling, ready
to strike Its poison into any ungunrded
part.