Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-22

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groups Of membera Those who have
not taken the pledge regard the otherl
as foolishly literal in their attempts e
initiate the example of Jesus
Some Of them have drawn out o.
the church and no longer attend, o,
they have removed their membershi1
entirely to other churches Some ART
an internal element Of strife, and
heard rumors Of an attempt on thei,
part to force Maxwell's resignation.
do not know that this element is very
strong in the church. It has been hello
in check by wonderful continuance o1
spiritual power, which dates from the
first Sunday the pledge was taken g
year ago. and also by the fact that &
many Of the most prominent members
have been identified with the move.
ment
1.-The effect on Henry Maxwell Il
very marked heard him preach at
our state association four years ago. he
impressed me at the time as having
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 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 crisis
Of revolution. He tells me this revolu-
ton is simply new definition of Chris
tan discipleship. He certainly has
changed many Of his old views. His at
titude on the saloon question is radical
~ opposite to the one he entertained q
year ago, and in his entire thought of
his ministry, his pulpit and parish
work find he has made a complete
change So far as 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
eral times the verse from Peter, For
hereunto were ye called. because Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an
example. that ye should follow his
steps. and he seems filled with the con-
viction that what our churches need
today more than anything else is this
factor Of suffering for Jesus in some
form
II do not know that I agree with
him altogether; but, my dear Caxton,
It is certainly astonishing to note the
results of this idea as they have i'm
pressed themselves upon this city and
upon this church.
"You ask how about the results on
the individuals who have made the
pledge and honestly tried to be true to
it. Those results are, as have said.
part Of individual history and cannot
be told in detail Some of them I can
give you, so that you may see that this
form of discipleship is not merely SEN
timent or fine posing for effect.
''For instance, take the case of Alex
ander Powers, who was superintendent
IF the machine shops Of the L. and T.
R. R. here When he acted upon the
evidence that incriminated the road, he
lost his position, and, more than that,
learn from my friends here his family
and social relations have become so
changed that the family no longer ap-
pear in public. They have dropped out
of the social circle where once they
we're so prominent. By the way, Cax-
ton, understand in this connection
hat the commission, for one reason
md another, postponed action on this
:ase. and 1t is now rumored that tho
L. and T. R. R. win pass into a receiv-
rs hands very soon. The president of
he road, who, according to tho evil
1ence submitted by Powers was the
principal offender, has resigned. and
which have arisen since
point to the receivership Meanwhile
he superintendent has gone back to his
I'D work as telegraph operator. met
him at the church yesterday. He i'm
pressed me as a man who had, like
Maxwell, gone through crisis in char
acter. / could not help thinking of him
IS being good material for the church
# the first century, when the disciples
had all things in common.
"Or take the case of MI. Norman,
editor Of The Daily News. He risked
his entire fortune in obedience to what
10 believed was Jesus probable action
md revolutionized his entire conduct
# the paper at the risk Of a failure. l
'end you copy Of yesterdays paper
want you to read it carefully. To my
mind. it is one Of the most interesting
md remarkable papers ever printed in
The United States. It is open to criti-
ism. but what could any mere man
attempt in this line that would be free
rom criticisme Take it all in all, it is
70 far above the ordinary conception Of
. daily paper that am amazed at the
result. He tells me that the paper is
to be read more and more by
he Christian people Of the city. He is
very confident of its final success.
''Read his editorial on the money
question; also the one on the coming
election In Raymond, when the question
# license will again be an issue. Both
articles are Of the best from this point
Il view. He says he never begins an
editorial or, in fact, any part Of his
newspaper work without first asking,
What would Jesus dor The result Is
apparent
''Then there is Milton Wright. tho
merchant. He has, I am told, so revo-
his business that no man is
more beloved today in Raymond His