The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BOOK
"IN ms STEPS" By THE REV. MIR.
SHELDON OF KANSAS

day evenings during the winter l intend TO
read a story" was the announcement made by
the Rev. Charles ". Sheldon. pastor Of the Cen
trail Congregational Church at Topeka, Kan,
one Sunday early in the winter Of lSU-07
Little did he think as lie made the announce
ment that within comparatively short time
the newsboys on the streets OF London would
be crying tho same story along with their
daily papers. aud that the people OF two con-
tInents would be discussing it, Yet that is the
history OF In His Steps," book which 1t is
said. has had sale UNPARALLELED In the his.
tory of literature-three million copies in che
first four months OF 1899.
I'm His Sters" deals with social problems
In the city OF Raymond. Henry Maxwell. a
preacher. has Just completed n vigorous SER
mon on Christian duty when a poorly clad and
disappearing young man walks out before the
congregation and begs for chance to speak
He has been worn out by his search for work
and plainin9ly wonders what Christ
would do In similar circumstances. The in
cidsnt changes the pastors conception Of duty.
and tho next Sunday he asks all who are will.
ing to Join him in making IL a rule to ask be-
fore every action the question. What would
Jesus doc" 10 the pastors surprise fifty Of
his congregation take the pledge for one year.
Am ong the band are many of the most promi-
nent people OF Raymond: Edward Norman.
editor Of the Ncrs: Alexander Powers. super
intendent of the railroad shops Donald
Marsh President Of the local college: Milton
Wright. a rich merchant: DR.. West. we'll
known medical authority; Jasper Chase. an
author: Miss Virginia Page. an heiress. and
Rachel Winslow the leading soprano of the
choir The reforms begin Immediately. Nor
man changes the policy of his newspaper and
institutes such revolutions that his ruin is.pre
dicted. Rachel Winslow refuses n large offer
to Join concert company. and decides TO de-
vote her talent to the saving of outcasts In the
"Rectange' the blum district OF Raymond.
Alexander Powers begins a beneficial plan OF
cooperation with his work en-. but. discover
ing that the railroad is openly violating the
Interstate Commerce laws resigns his place.
Virginia. Page has much difficulty In answer
irg the question What would Jesus do with
one million doarsf" JASPER Chase disap-
pointed 10 his failure to secure the love Ok
Rachael Winsiow. gives UP his pledge. Roin
Page a young man Of independent wealth. be-
comes converted in the humble meetings Mt
the "Rectan&lc." President Marshs problem
comes through his dislike Of municipal af
fairs. but he follows out the line OF duty which
his pledge imposes and heads strong move
ment for local political reforms. Editor Nor
man loses thousands Of dollars through his
policy. but is.thorouRhlv convinced that he can
Page comes to his relief with half million dol
ars with which she endows the PAPER. The
Pages buy considerable "Rectangle" property
aud build proper tenement houses on II. Re-
markable changes take place in Raymond. and
the movement spreads to many cities Of the
country. AT the end OF the year the largely In
creased band meets again in the old Raymond
church. And yet the work is only begun. The
influence OF the movement has spread beyond
all .eckoning and the pastor OF the church can
see visions Of Il regeneration Of Christendom.
The Rev. Mr.. Sheldon. author OF this work.
ia tho pastor OF the Central Congregational
Church at Topeka. q little chapel in the out
skirts Of the city He was dissatisfied with
the apparent good his sermons were doing his
congreGatiOn he wanted to preach an every
day Christianity in an attractive form he be-
came convinced that a novel would more
nearly accomplish his object than series OF
abstract sermons. and IN His Steps" was the
result. II was written. a chapter each week.
and as each chapter was conn letad II was road
! the succeeding Sunday. The story was COM
peted in the spring Of 1887. and during the
following summer was published as a serial in
Chicago publication. In November OF the
same year It first appeared in book form.
Il want you to issue paper edition of this
story, so that the price will not stand in the
way Of people buying it," we're the instructions
which Mr. sheldon gave to the publisher. The
publisher demurred. 1t would make the book
| appear CHEAP he said and his house could not
| afford to get reputation for publishing cheap
! books. Mr.. Sheldon insisted and the paper
| bound edition was published. In one year 1t
| was selling at the rate of LOO copies day.
| 1t found It's way % England and met with I'm
mediate favor: twenty different publishers
pirated 1t. as it was not copyrighted in Eng
| land Its sale th9re far exceeded even that in
| America, and recent letter from an English
publishing house says that 5000. 600 conies Of
| MIR. Sheldon's books have been sold in Great
Britain during the last few months. the greater
pnrt OF them being I'm His Steps" which has
| been ssuad in twenty editions. ranging in
| price from penny up.
| Int twelvemonth Charles N. Sheldon has
risen from obscurlty to fame. But notwith-
| standing the honors which his admirers have
| ATTEMPTED to heap upon him. he Is unchanged
In all respects He has received repeated calls
to Eastern churches. but in all Of his work he
puts to himself the question made prominent
| In his book. What would Jesus dor" and he
! has preferred to remain with his own little
congregation
Mr. Sheldon is Sill n comparatively Young
man. He is native OF Wellsva. y. V.
where he was born in 1851 A large rart Of
! his early life was spent on Dakota farm. and
he has much If the spirit and dash Of the West.
| His father. who Ia also minister. farmed dur
ing the week days and did missionary work on
sundays. Young Sheldon attended school at
| Yankton. and when about II wrote several
stories which were published in the Yankton
! paucrs.
Mr.. Sheldon was educated at Phillips Acad-
envy. Andover. Mass; Brown University and
at Andovcr Theological Seminary. being grad
unt"d from tho latter institution In lSSi.
| After a summer in Eu-O he entered the min
! stry and began preaching at Waterbury. Vt.
| He receivcd.a call to become the pastor ,of
| the newly established Central CONGREGATIONAL
| Church In Topeka in lSSS. HIS church began
with sixty members now it numbers more
than 300. His first work was to build little
church. He was dissatisfied with the quality
of Christianity he saw in many Erolessed
Christians. He wanted to know what ideas
the masses Of the people had on the subject OF
Christianity. and he wanted to find out about
their daily lives aud occupations. with this
desire he asked his congregation to excuse
him from pastoral work Tor three months. and
I.aaN L.,