The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-09-29
BY Charles NJ. Sheldon.

OF the largest congregations that had
ever crowded First church. He was
haggard and looked as if he had just
risen from long illness. His wife was
at home with the little girl who had
come on the morning train an hour aft
er her father died. He lay in that spare
room. his troubles over, and Henry
Maxwell could see the face as he opened
the Bible and arranged his different
notices on the side of the desk as he had
been in the habit Of doing for ten years
The service that morning contained
new element No one could remember
when the minister had preached in the
morning without notes. AS matter Of
fact. he had done so occasionally when
he first entered the ministry, but for a
long time he had carefully written out
every word Of his morning sermon and
nearly always his evening discourse as
well. 1t cannot be said that his sermon
this morning was very striking or i'm.
pressive. He talked with considerable
hesitation. 1t was evident that some
great idea struggled in his thought for
utterapcc. but it was not expressed in
the theme he had chosen for his preach
ing. It was near the close Of his sermon
kiiao LAC bSSuh w SathSA a NSi poih
stncngth that had been painfully lack
ing 1T the beginning He closed the
Bible. and, stepping out at the side Of
the desk. he faced his people and began
to talk to them about the remarkable
scene of the week before.
"Our brother r''-somchow tho words
sounded little strange coming from
Henry MaxwelYs lips-"passed away
this morning have not yet had time
to learn all his history. He had one sis
ter living in Chicago. ! have written
her and tlnve not yet received an an
swer. His little girl is with us and will
remain for the tim0,
He paused nnd looked over the house.
He Thought he had never seen so many
parncst faces during tho entire pastor
ntc. He was not able yet to tell his peo-
ple his experiences. the crisis through
which bs was even now moving, but
something Of his feeling passed from
him 10 thcnr, and it did not seem to
him that he was actias Aiider careless
impulse ct al to go on and break to
them this morning something OF the
message he bore In his heart. so ne
went on:
"rhe appearance and words of this
stranger ip the church last Sunday
made q very powerful impression op
mo- am not able TO conceal from you
or myself the fact that what he said.
followed. ~ it has been. by his death
sn my house. has compelled mo to ask
as ] never asked before. 'Whatdoes fol-
lowing Jesus meant am not in a po-
sition yet to utter any condemnation
of this people or. to II ,certaiR extent, OF
myself, either in our ,Christlike EeIs-
siops to this man or the number he rep
resenta in the world. But all that does
not prevent mo from feeling that much
that the man said was SO vitally true
that we must face it in an attempt 10
answer it or else stand condemned as
Christian disciples. A good deal that
was said here last Sunday was In the
nature Of challenge to Christianity as
it is seen and felt in our churches
have felt fhis with increasing emphasis
every day since, and l do not know
that any time is mere appropriate than
the present for me to propose z plan or
q purpose which has been forming in
my mind as a satisfactory reply to
much that was said here last Sunday
Again Henry Maxwell paused and
looked into the faces Of his people.
There were soms strong. earnest men
and women In tho First church. The
minister could see Edward Norman.
editor Of the Raymond Daily News. He
had been member Of First church for
ton years. No man was more honored
in tho community There was Alexan-
der Powers, Epper ntendent of the rail
foad chops There Was Donald NJ rsh
president of Linco In college,, sitnat d i'll
the suburbs of Raymond. Thcru was
Milton Wright. ono 1T The great MGR
chants of Raymond. havipg in his Crn-
ploy at least 100 men III various chops
There was DR.. West, who. alth )ugi.
still comparatively young. was quoted
asauthority in speciGl surgical cases
Tarre was yourg JasieF thase. the
author, who lad written one GAcG.aaf1l
book and WIS sc'd to lie at worf fu L
new novel 1herS WAS Miss Ei'"ini.
Page. the heiress wh6 through ti-o re-
ceaib doath Of her father had inh, ~it1!!
a million ut least and was gifted With
unusual ATTRACTIONS of person and liz
seileci. And, pot least OF aii. Rachel
Wnslow froIa her scat in the :hoir
glowcd with her peca.i9r beauty Of
7ight this morning because si,I S2s so
iptensely interest I'd in the whole sccne
There was some reason peihaIs, In
Wow Of such material Ia the FiTst
church. for Henry Maxwclis 3 feeling e
satisfaction heneyer he consi Ter: J his
paSish rs he had tho previous Sunday
There was a large number Of strorS in
dividuaI characters who claimed dlem-
bership there. But as he noted their
faces this morning Henry MaEwel WAS
ai,nplv mond.rin, how many OF Ilela