The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-06
eve can talk better up here"
So Gray came up and stated the rea-


son for his call
81 want you, Mr.. Maxwell. to help
me. Of u 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've heard of that. It's the first
time the people there have heard her
It's no wonder they are attracted"
"It has been a wonderful revelation
to US and a 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 l do not dare to trust my voice
again. know it is asking a good deal
for such a busy mar, but if you can't
come say SO freely. and I'll try some
where else"
"1'm sorry. but it s 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.
Won't you stay a minute, Gray,
and let US have a prayer togetherT"
Eyes" said Gray simply.
So the two men kneeled together in
the study. Mr.. Maxwell prayed like a
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.
"God bless you, Mr.. Maxwell. I'm
sure the Spirit will give you power to-
night"
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 hat 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 v before in
the history of the First church.
Henry Maxwell came at once to the
point. He spoke of Gray 8 work and Of
his request.
81 feel as if I 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. I think perhaps the
best plan would be for a 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 u.s."
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 would sue
cessfully lead 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 a 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 Jasper Chase, who had come in
stead of the doctor tonight.
When the meeting began with a song
in which Rachel sang the solo and the
people We're asked to join in the chorus,
not a foot of standing room was left in
the tent. The night was mild, and the
Sizes OF the tent were up, and a great
border of faces stretched around, look
ing in and forming part of the audience.
After the singing and a prayer by
n of the city pastors who We're present
Gray stated the reasons for his inability
to speak and in his simple manner
turned the service over to ''Brother
Maxwell of the First church."
"Who's de bloke?" asked a hoarse
voice neal the outside of the tent.
"De Fust church parson. We've got
de whole high tone swell outfit to-
night"
"Did you say Fust church, l know
him, My landlord has got a front pew
up there. said another voice, and there
was a laugh. for the speaker was a sa-
loon keeper.
"T'row out de life line cross de dark
wavel'' began a drunken man near by,
singing in such an unconscious imita-
ton of a local travelling singers nasal
tone that roars of laughter and jeers of
approval rose around him. The people
in the tent turned in the direction of
the disturbance. There were shouts of
Put him out!'' ''Give the Fust church
a chance!" ''Song, songi Give us an
other songl"
Henry Maxwell stood up, and a great
wave of actual terror went over him.
This was not like preaching to the well
dressed, respectable, good hammered
people on the boulevard. He began to
sneak but the confusion increaSa1