The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-29


the head of the stairs and asked Gray
to come up.
eve can tal,z better up here. .
So Gray came Up and stated the rea-
son for his call
81 want you. Mr.. Maxwell. to help
me. Of course you have heard what
wonderful meeting we had Monday
night and last night Miss Winslow
has done more with her voice than l
could. and the tent Won hold the peo-
pie
eve heard Of that It's the first
time the people there have heard her
It's no wonder they are attracted. =
.sIt has been wonderful revelation
to US and most encouraging event IN
our work But l came to ask If you
could no. come down tonight and
preach. am suffering with severe
cold. do not dare TO trust my voice
again. know it is asking a good deal
for such a busy man, but if you cant
come say so freely. and I'll try some
where else.
..I'm sorry, but it my regular prayer
meeting night. said Henry Maxwell
Then he flushed and added: 81 shall be
able to arrange it in some way so as to
come down. You can count on me- .
Gray thanked him earnestly and rose
to go
.sWon't you stay a minute, Gray,
and let as have prayer together?'
Eyes. said Gray simply.
So the two men kneeled together IN
the study. Mr.. Maxwell prayed like
child Gray was touched to tears as he
kneeled there There was something al
most pitiful in the way this man, who
had lived his ministerial life in such a
narrow limit Of exercise, now begged
for wisdom and strength to speak a
message to the people in the Rectangle-
Gray rose and held out his hand.
.tGod bless you, Mr.. Maxwell I'm
sure the Spirit will give you power TO-
night. y
Henry Maxwell made no answer. He
did not even trust himself to say that
he hoped so, but he thought of his
promise, and it brought a certain peace
that was refreshing to his heart and
mind alike.
So that is how it came about that
when the First church audience came
into the lecture room that evening it
was met with another surprise
There was an unusually large num-
Der present The prayer meetings ever
since that remarkable Sunday morning
had been attended as never before IN
| the history Of the First church
Henry Maxwell came at once to the
point. He spoke Of Gray's work and Of
his request.
e.I feel as if 1 were called to go down
there tonight, and l will leave it with
you to say whether you will go on with
the meeting here / think perhaps the
best plan would be for few volunteers
to go down to the Rectangle with me.
prepared to help in the after meeting,
and the rest remain here and pray that
the Spirit power may go with Us. .
So half a dozen of the men went with
Henry Maxwell, and the rest of the au-
dience staid in the lecture room. Max
well could not escape the thought as he
left the room that probably in his entire
church membership there might not be
found a score Of disciples who were
capable Of doing work that woald Sue
cessfully leaG needy, sinful men into
the knowledge OF Christ The thought
did not linger in his mind to vex him
as he went on his way, but it was sim
ply part Of his whole new conception
! of the meaning of Christian disciple
ship.
When he and his little company Of
volunteers reached the Rectangle, the
tent was already crowded. They had
difficulty in getting to the little plat
form. Rachel was there, with Virginia
and casper Chase, who had come in
stead Of the doctor tonight.
When the meeting began with a song
in which Rachel sang the sclo and the
people were asked to join in the chorus
not foot of standing room was left in
the tert. The night was mild. and the
sides OF the te..t We're up, and a great
border Of faces stretched around, look
ing n and forming part Of theaIdience
After the singing ard a prayer by
one of the CITY pastors whowere present
Gray s.&ted Sac reasons Tor his inability
to speal; and in his simple manner
turned tie service over to Brother
/ Maxwell of the First church. ;
.>N hos d. blo.ie:" as..sea a hoarse
voice rear tho outside OF the tent.
DE Trst church parson. We've got
de whole high tone swell octft to-
night
Ibid yoa say Frst church: know
him Ny landlord las soS fro:.t pew
up there, said another voice. a:lc' there
was a lau..!l for the speaker ws;s q So
loon keeper.
IT row 3nt dc life l:ne cross &c dark
wave" began q drunken man near by,
singing in such ;.n unconscious lmlta-
ton of local travelling singer 5 nasal
&