The Princeton union., 1899-10-19
This Serial was commenced in
the issue of September FL. lack num-
bers can be supplied if application is
made at this office.
By Charles M. Sheldon.
CHAPTER NIlI-COntinued.

CHAPTER VIII Continued.
1.-The effect of this proposition as it
has been met and obeyed by a number
of the members of the First church of
Raymond has been so remarkable that,
as you know, the attention of the whole
country has been directed to the move
ment call it movement because
from the action taken today it seems
probable that what has been tried here
in the First church in Raymond will
reach out into the other churches and
cause a revolution in church methods,
but more especially in a new definition
of Christian discipleship.
I'm the first place, Maxwell tells me
he was astonished at the response made
to his proposition. Some of the most
prominent members in the church made
the promise to do as Jesus would
Among them were Edward Norman,
the editor Of The Daily News, which
has made such a sensation in the news
paper world; Milton Wright, one Of
the leading merchants in Raymond;
Alexander Powers, whose action in the
matter Of the railroads against the in
terstate commerce laws made such a
stir about a year ago: Miss Page, one
Of Raymond's leading society heiresses,
who has lately dedicated her entire for
tune as understand, to the Christian
daily paper and the work Of reform in
the slum district known as the Rec
tangle, and Miss Winslow, whose repu-
tation as singer is now national, but
who, in obedience to what she has de-
cided to be Jesus probable action. has
devoted her talent to volunteer work
among the girls and women who make
up large part of the city's worst and
most abandoned population.
''In addition to these we'll known
people has been a gradually increasing
number of Christians from the First
church and lately from other churches
in Raymond. A large proportion Of
these volunteers who pledge themselves
to do as Jesus would comes from the
Endeavor societies. The young people
say that they have already embodied in
their society pledge the same principle
in the words, 4 promise him that I will
strive to do whatever he would have
me do. This is not exactly what is in
cluded in Maxwells 8 proposition, which
is that the disciples shall try to do what
Jesus would probably do in the disci-
ples' place, but the result Of an honest
obedience to either pledge, he claims,
will be practically the same, and he is
not surprised that the largest numbers
have Joined the new discipleship from
the Endeavor society,"
II am sure the first question you will
ask is, What has been the result Of
this attempt, what has it accomplished,
or how has it changed in any way the
regular course of the church or the COM
munity2
"You already know something from
reports of Raymond that have gone over
the country what the results have been,
but one needs to come here and learn
something Of the changes in individual
lives, and especially the change in the
church life. to realize all that is meant
by this following of Jesus steps so lit
orally To tell all that would be to
write long story or series Of stories
am not in a position to do that, but l
can give you some idea perhaps of what
has happened here from what has been
told me by my friends and Henry Max
well himself
THE result of the pledge upon the
First church has been twofold-it has
brought about a spirit of Christian fel-
lowship which Maxwell tells me never
before existed and which now impresses
him as being very nearly what the
Christian fellowship Of the apostolic
churches must have been, and it has
divided the church into two distinct
groups Of members. Those who have
not taken the pledge regard the others
as foolishly literal in their attempts tc
initiate the example of Jesus.
Some Of them have drawn out ot
the church and no longer attend, OF
they have removed their membership
entirely to other churches. Some arr
an internal element of strife and
heard rumors Of an attempt on thei1
part to force Maxwell's resignation.
do not know that this element is very
strong in the church. It has been hell
in check by wonderful continuance O
spiritual power, which dates from th
first Sunday the pledge was taken
year ago, and also by the fact that 81
many Of the most prominent member
have been identified with the move
ment.
1.-THE effect on Henry Maxwell i
very marked. heard him preach Al
our state association four years ago. HI
Impressed me at the time as havine
considerable power in dramatic deliv
cry, of which he himself was somewhat
conscious. His sermon was well writ
ten and abounded in what the seminary
students used to call fine passages.
The effect of it was what the average
congregation would call pleasing. This
morning heard Maxwell preach agai1
for the first time since then. shall
speak of that further on. He is not the
same man. He gives me the impression
d Of one who has passed through a crisi.
Of revolution: He, tells me this revolu
tion is simply new definition of Chris
( tian discipleship.ag He gcertainlya xha,
CHANGED many Of his ola views. His His at