Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-05

y cnl NJ INC meeting. Die ilIlSel'u
moment in the room, then asked to Ire
excused from dinner for awhile and
went up to see her mother.
No one ever knew what that inter
view between Felicia and her mother
was. 1t Is certain that she must have
! told her mother something Of the spir-
itual power that had awed every person
present in the company Of disciples from
Nazareth Avenue church who faced DIR
Bruce in that meeting after the morn
ing service It is also certain that Fe-
licia had never known such mn expert
ence and never would have thought Of
sharing il with her mother if it had not
been for the prayer the evening before.
Another fact is also known of Felicia
experience Mt this time When she
finally joined her father and Rose at
the table, she seemed unable TO tell
them much about the meeting There
was n reluctance to speak of it, as one
might hesitate to attempt description
Of wonderful sunset to a person who
never talked about anything but tho
weather When that Sunday in tho
Sterling mansion was drawing to
close and the soft. warm lights through
ont the dwelling were glowing through
the great windows, in corner Of her
room where the light was obscure Fee
licia kneeled, and when she raised her
face and turned it toward the light it
was the face of woman who had al
ready defined for herself the greatest
issues of earthly life.
That same evening, after the Sunday
evening service, the Rev. Calvin Bruce,
D. D., of Nazareth Avenue church, was
talking over the events of the day with
his wife. They were of one heart and
mind in the matter and faced their new
future with all the faith and courage
of new disciples. Neither was deceived
as to the probable results of the pledge
to themselves or TO the church
They had been talking but little
while when the bell rang, and DIR
Bruce, going to the door, exclaimed az
he opened il; at is you, Edward
Come inl'
There came into the hall command
ing figure. TSe bishop was of extraor-
diary height and breadth of shoulder,
but of such good proportions that there
was no thought of ungainly or even of
unusual size. The impression the bishop
made on strangers was first that of
great health and then of great affection.
He came into the parlor and greeted
Mrs. Bruce. who after n few moments
was called out Of the room, leaving the
two men together
Tho bishop sat in deep easy chair
before the open fire. There was just
enough dampness in the early spring Of
the year to make an open fire pleasant.
calvin, you have taken very seri-
Gus step today" he finally said, lifting
his large dark eyes to his old college
classmates face. II heard of il this
afternoon | could not resist the desire
to see you about it tonight "
"Im glad you came. DR. Bruce sat
near the bishop ami laid hand on his
shoulder. "You understand what this
means, EdwardY"
II think do--yes; am sure. " The
bishop spoke very slowly and thought
fully He sat with his hands clasped to-
gether. Over his face marked with
lines of conservation and service and
the love Of men, shadow crept, a
shadow not caused by the freight
Again he lifted his eyes toward his old
friend.
calvin. we have always understood
each other. Ever since our paths led us
in different ways in church life we have
walked together in Christian fellow.
ship.
at is true, " replied DR.. Bruce, with
an emotion he made no attempt to con
ceal or subdue. Thank God for it.
prize your fellowship more than any
} mans. l have always known what it
meant, though it has always been more
, than | deserve.
The bishop looked afrectioratelv at
his friend, hut tho shadow still rested
on his face. After pause he spoke
again:
1.-The new discipleship means n crisis
! tor you in your work If You keep this
pledge to do all things as Jesus would
J do. rs | know You will, it requires no
prophet to predict some remarkable
changes in your parish The bishop
} looked wistfully at Bruce and then con
} tinued "In fact, | do not see how a
| perfect upheaval of Christianity as we
now know it can be prevented if the
ministry and churches generally take
the Raymond pledge and live it out. -
He paused as if he were waiting for his
= friend to say something, to ask some
question, but Bruce did not know of
, the fire that was burning in the bishop S
heart over the very question that Max
well and himself had fought ont
"Now. in my church, for instance.
continued the bishop, cit would be
rather difficult matter, | fear, to find
very many people WHO would take Il
pledge like that anI live up to it Mar
> tyrdom is lost Al Is til us. Our Chris
tianity loves its ease and comfort too
we'll to take up anything SO rough and
heavy as a cross, and yet what does fol-
lowing Jesus mean? What is it to walk
in his stepsf'
The bishop was soliloquizing now,
and it is doubtful if he thought for the
) moment of his friends presence For
the first time there flashed into Bruce S
mind a suspicion of the truth What if
the bishop should throw the weight of
6 his great influence on the side of the
i. Raymond movement He had the fol
: lowing of the most aristOCratic wealthy