St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-11-22
IN HIS STEPS.
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO"
BY CHARLES N. SHELDON.


was in regard to the extent of the
Christian disciples sacrifice of personal
property Henry Maxwell tells me that
go far no one has interpreted the spirit
of Jesus in such way as to abandon
his earthly possessions give away all
his wealth or in any literal way initiate
the Christians of the order. for exam
pie of St Francis of Assist. 1t was the
unanimous consent, however, that if
any disciple should feel that Jesus in
his own particular case would do that
there could be only one answer to the
question. Maxwell frankly admitted
that he was still. to a certain degree,
uncertain as to Jesus probable action
when it came to the details of house
hold living, the possession Of wealth
the holding Of certain Injuries 1t 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 is also true that some of
lHt DuclutcS Dltu w uO tOOh LllC pltuSt
have lost great sums of money in this
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
ly by those who still have means In
this respect think it is true that these
disciples have all things in common
Certainly such scenes as | witnessed at
the First church at that after service
this morning | never saw in my church
or any other | never dreamed that
such Christian fellowship could exist in
this age of the world am almost in
credulOus as to the witness of my own
senses | still seem to be asking myself
if this is the close of the nineteenth cen
tury in America
But now, dear friend. come to the
real cause of the letter. the real heart
of the whole question as the First
church of Raymond has forced it upon
me Before the meeting closed today
steps were taken to secure the cooper
alton of all other Christian disciples in
this country | think Henry Maxwell
took this step after long elaboration
He said as much to me one day when !
called upon him and we were discuss
ing the effect of this movement upon
the church in general
Why. he said suppose that the
church membership generally in this
country made this pledge and lived up
to it What a revolution it would cause
in Christendom But why not Is it
any more than the disciple ought to do ?
Has he followed Jesus unless he is will
ing to do thisY Is the test of disciple
ship any less today than it was in Jesus
timef'
81 do not know all that preceded or
followed his thought of what ought to
be done outside of Raymond, but the
idea crystallized today in a plan to Sc
cure the fellowship of all the Christians
In Amarica The churches through theil
pastors will be asked to form disciple
gatherings like the one in the FRS
church Volunteers will be called for il
the great body of church members il
the United States who will promise Il
do as Jesus would do. Maxwell spok
particularly of the result of such gen
eral action on the saloon question. Fl
is terribly in earnest over this. He toll
me that there was no question in hi
mind that the saloon would be beatel
in Raymond at the election now nea
at hand If so, they could 60 on wit
some courage to do the redemptive wor
begun by the evangelist and now take
up by the disciples in his own church
If the saloon triumphs again, there wi
be a terrible and, as he thinks, unneC
essary waste Of Christian sacrifice. But
however we differ on that point, he ha
convinced his church that the time ha
come for a fellowship with other Chri:
tians. Surely. if the First church coul
work such changes in society and il
surroundings, the church in general
combining such fellowship, not of Greco
but of conduct, ought to stir the entil
nation to higher life and new col
ception of Christian following.
This is a grand idea. Caxton, br
right here is where | find myself hes
30 | 40 q lapvv fhnt tha y, ,cti a
disciple ought to follow Christ's stel
as closely as these here in Raymor
have tried to do, but | cannot avoi
asking what the result will be if a:
my church in Chicago to do it / a
writing this after feeling the solemn
profound touch of the Spirit presenc
and confess to you. old friend, that
cannot call up in my church a dozt
prominent business or professional mt
who would make this trial at the ri
of all that they hold dear Can you
any better in your church, What a
we to say-that the church would n
respond to the call. Come and suffer
The actual results of the pledge
obeyed here in Raymond are enough
make any pastor tremble and at t
same time long with yearning that tn
might occur in his own parish Certai
ly. never have Gen a church 80 signi
ly blessed by the Spirit as this OF
But am | myself ready to take Il
pledge2 ask the question honestly, a
dread to face an honest answer
know well enough that would have