Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-10-28

"In 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 a 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
I;up a large part Of the city's worst and
most abandoned population.
"In addition to these well 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
IItheir society pledge the same principle
lin the words, Il promise him that will
lstrive to do whatever he would have
me do. This is not exactly what is in
cluded in Maxwell's proposition, which
is that the disciples shall try to do what
Jesus would probably do in the disci-
pies place. but the result Of an honest
obedience to either pledge. he claims.
will be practically the same, and he is
mot surprised that the largest numbers
have Joined the new discipleship from
the Endeavor society.
81 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
munityT
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.
1.-THE result Of the pledge upon the
First church has been twofold-it has
brought about 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 to
initiate the example of Jesus
Some of them have drawn out OF
the church and no longer attend. or
they have removed their membership
entirely to other churches. Some are
an internal element of strife. and |
heard rumors of an attempt on their
part to force Maxwell's resignation.
do not know that this element is very
strong in the church 1t has been held
IN check by wonderful continuance of
spiritual power. which dates from tht
first Sunday the pledge was taken
year ago. and also by the fact that so
many cf the most prominent members
have been identified with the move
ment
THE effect on Henry Maxwell is
very marked | heard him preach at
our state association four years ago. He
4 impressed me at the time as having
considerable power in dramatic deliv-
cry. of which he himself was somewhat
conscious. His sermon waa well writ
ten and abornded in what the seminary
students used to call fine passages.
The effect of it was what the average
congregation void call pleasing. This
morning heard Maxwell preach again
for the first time since then. shall
speak of that further on. He is not the
same man. He gives me the impression
of one who has passed through a crisis
of revolution. He tells me this revolu
tion is simply new definition of Chris
tian discipleship He certainly has
changed many of his old views. His at
titude on the saloon question is radical
ly opposite to the one he entertained
year ago. and in his entire thought of
his ministry, his pulpit and parish
work find he has made complete
change So far as I can understand.
the idea that is moving him on now is
the idea that the Christianity of our
times must represent more literal i'm
itation of Jesus, and especially in the
element of suffering. He quoted to me
in the course of our conversation sew.
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