Middletown transcript., 1899-12-30

I
himsei and take up his cross daily and follow
me-
Henry Maxwell paced his study bach
and forth 1t was Wednesday, and be
had started to think out the subject OF
his evening service which fell upon that
night
Out of one Of his study windows he
could see the tall chimrsys Of the rail-
road shops The top ofSthe evangelist 8
tent Just showed over the buildings
around the Rectangle.
The pastor Of the First church looked
out of this window every time he turned
in his walk After awhile he sat down
at his desk and drew large piece of
paper toward him.
After thinking several moments be
wrote in large letters the following:
"a NUMBER OF THINGS THAT JESUS WOULD
PROBABLY DO IN THIS PARISH.
81. Live in simple, plain manner,
without needless luxury on the one
hand or undue asceticism on the other
''2. Preach fearlessly to the hypo-
critics in the church, no matter what
their social Importance or wealth.
SO. Show in some practical form
sympathy and love for the common peo-
pie as well as for the well to do, edu-
Gated. refined people who make up the
majority Of the church and parish.
So Identify himself with the great
causes of humanity in some personal
v-,or, &bo% xxyo,11d ooIJ fo,. ,o1f Ian;o1 81
suffering.
SO. Preach against the saloon in
Raymond
SO Become known as friend and
companion Of the sinful people in the
Rectangle.
"7. Give up the summer trip to Eu-
rope this year. I have been abroad
twice and cannot claim any special
need Of rest. am well and could forego
this pleasure, using the money for some
one who needs vacation more than ]
do. There are probably plenty of such
people in the city.
"8. What else would Jesus do as
Henry Maxwellf"
He was conscious. with a humility
that once was stranger to him. that
his outline of Jesus probable action
was painfully lacking in depth and
power. but he was seeking carefully for
concrete shapes into which he might
cast his thought Of Jesus conduct
Nearly every point he had put down
meant for him complete overturning
Of the custom and habit Ct years in the
ministry In spite of that he still
searched deeper for sources Of the
Christlike spirit. He did not attempt to
write any more, but sat at his desk alb
sorbed in his attempt to catch more and
more of the spirit Of JESUS in his own
life. He had forgotten the particular
subject for his pr&yer meeting with
which he had begun his mcrning study
He was SO absorbed over his thought
that he did not hear the bell ring. and
he was reused by the servant. who an
nounced caller. He had sent up his
pame-Mr Gray. Maxwell stepped to
the head of the stairs and asked Gray
TO come up.
"W6 can talk better up here
So Gray came up and stated the rea-
son for his call
81 want you,-Mr. Ma-woll, to help
me- OF course you have heard what a
wonderful meeting we had Monday
night and last night Miss Winslow
has done more with her voice than
could, and the tent won't hold the peo-
pie" I"
hI've heard Of that It's the first |
time the people there have heard her
It's no wonder they are attracted
ut has been a wonderful revelation |
to us and most encouraging event In
our work. But ! came to ask if you
could not come down tonight and |
preach. ! am suffering with a severe
cold, do not dare to trust my voice
again know it is asking good deal
for such busy man. bnt II You can't
come say SO freely. and I'll try some-
where else /"
"I'm sorry. but 1t s my regular prayer
meeting night, said Henry Maxwell
Then he flushed and added: II 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
Wont you stay q minute, Gray.
and let us have prayer togetherf"
''Yes. " said Gray simply
30 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 o
narrow limit Of exercise. now begged
;or wisdom and strength to speak Q
massage to the people in the Rectangle.
Gray rose and held out his hand.
''God bless you. Mr., Maxwell I'm
sure the Spirit viii give you power to-
night.
Henry Maxwell made no answer. He
lid not even trust himself to say that
10 hoped so, but he thought of his
promise, and it brought certain peace
hat was refreshing to his heart and
mind alike.
So that Is how IL came about that
when the First church audience came
nto the lecture room that evening It
vas met with another surprise
There was an unusually large num-
,er present. The prayer meetings ever
ince that remarkable Sunday morning |
lad been attended as never befors in
he history Of the First church
Henry Maxwell came at once to the
Joint. He spoke Of Gray's work and of