El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-25

|
question had become part of his life
now 1t was greater than any other.
But for the first time in its history
| Raymond had seen the professional
men, the teachers. the college profess
sors. the doctors. the ministers. take
political action and put themselves
definitely and sharply in antagonism to
the evil forces that had SO long con-
trolled the machine of the municipal
government The fact>itself was aston
ishing President Marsh acknowledged
to himself with feeling of humilia-
ton. that never before had he known
what civic righteousness could accom-
plish. From that Friday nights work
he dated for himself and his college a
new definition of the worn phrase. ''the
scholar in politics " Education for him
and those who were under his influence
ever after meant some element of suf-
fering Sacrifice must 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
it as the difference in persons and Cir
cumstances. There could be no fixed
Christian way of using money. The
rule that regulated its use was unselfsh
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 sea or feeding the multitude
with few loaves and fishes, for what
greater miracle than a regenerated hu
manityr 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 out of
the tomb. 1t was an experience full of
profound excitement to them.
Rollin Page came to all the meetings.
There was no doubt of the change that
had come over him. He was wonderful
ly quiet. It seemed as if he were think
ing all the time Certainly he was not
the same person He talked more with
Gray than with any one else. He did
not avoid Rachel, but he seemed to
shrink from any appearance of seeming
to wish to renew the old acquaintance
with her. Rachel found it even difficult
to express to him her pleasure at the
new life he had begun to know. He
seemed to be waiting to adjust himself
to his previous relations before this new
life began. He had not forgotten those
relations, but he was not yet able to
fit his consciousness into new ones
The end of the 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 so long held a jealous |
grasp on its slaves If the Christian |
people of Raymond once could realize |
what the contest meant to the souls |
newly awakened to a new life, it did |
not seem possible that the election could |
result in the old system of license. But |
that remained yet to be seen. The hor
ror of the daily surroundings of many
Of the converts was slowly burning its
way into the knowledge of Virginia
and Rachel, and every night as they
went up town to their luxurious homes
hey carried heavier hearts.
"a good many of those poor Great
Tres will go back again, Gray would
Jay with sadness too deep for tears.
The environment does have a good
leal to do with the character. 1t does
lot stand to reason that these people
AN always resist the sight and smell of
he devilish drink all about them @
Lord. how long shall Christian people
continue to support by their silence and
heir ballots the greatest form of siav
Try now known in America p
He asked the question, but did not
ave much hope of an immediate an 1
wer- There was a ray of hope in the
ction of Friday nights primary, but
What the result would be he did not
are to anticipate. The whisky forces
we're organized, alert, aggressive, reused
nto unusual hatred by the events of
he last week at the tent and in the I
lty- Would the Christian force act as
unit against the saloon, or would it :
e divided on account of its business
1terests or because it was not in the
abit of acting together, as the whisky
overs always did? That remained to S
3 seen Meanwhile the saloon reared I
self about the Rectangle like some
eadly viper, kissing and coiling, ready '
} strike its poison into any unguarded :
art.
Saturday afternoon, as Virginia was
LIST stepping out of her house to go
nd see Rachel to talk over her new "
ans. carriage drove up containing y y
rec of her fashionable friends Vir-
mia went out to the driveway and q,
God there talking with them They n