Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-11

had added to the general interest in the
pledge. With this curiosity was some
thing deeper. more serious Mr.. Max
we'll felt that also. and in the knowledge
that the Spirits presence was his living
strength he brought his message and
gave it to the church that day.
He had never been what would be
called great preacher. He had not the
force or the quality that makes remark
able preachers But ever since he had
promised to do as Jesus would do he
had grown in certain quality of per
suasiveness that had all the essentials OF
true eloquence. This morning the peo-
afrie felt the complete sincerity and hu-
mility Of man who had gone deep into
the heart Of a great truth. After tell
ing briefly Of some results in his own
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask the ques.
tion he had been asking since the settle
ment meeting. He had taken for his
theme the story Of the young man who
came to Jesus asking what he must do
to obtain eternal life. Jesus had tested
him: "Sell all that thou hast and give
to the poor. and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And. come: follow me.
But the young man was not willing to
suffer to that extent. If following Jesus
meant suffering in that way, he was
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus. but not if he had to give up 80
much.
"Is it true" continued Henry Max
wen. and his fine, thoughtful face
glowed with a passion Of appeal that
stirred the people as they had seldom
been stirred-"is it true that the church
of today. the church that is called after
Christ's own name. would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering,
of physical loss, Of temporary gainf
The statement was made at a large
gathering in the settlement last week
by leader Of workingmen that 1t was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption Of society. On
what was that statement based2 Plain
ly on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought more Of their own
ease and luxury than Of the sufferings
and needs and sins of humanity. How
far was that true7 Are the Christians
Of America ready to have their disciple
ship testedH How about the men who
possess large wealth3 Are they ready to
take that wealth and use it as Jesus
would3 How about the men and women
of great talent3 Are they ready to con-
secrate that talent to humanity, as Jesus
undoubtedly would dof
"Is it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition OF dis
cipleship. Christian discipleship7 You
who live in this great. sinful city must
know that better than do. Is it posi-
BILE you can go your ways careless or
thoughtless Of the awful condition OF
men and women and children who are
dying. body and soul for Christian
help3 Is it not matter Of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war; Is it
not q matter Of personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands OF
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets Of this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide because they cannot find it Can
you say that this is none Of your bust
nessP Let each man look after himself I
Would it not be true. think you, that
If every Christian in America did as
Jesus would do society itself. the bust
ness world-yes. the very political sys-
tenn under which our commercial and
governmental activity is carried on
would be 30 changed that human suffer
ing would be reduced to minimum
"What would be the result If all the
church members of this city tried to do
as Jesus would doH It is not possible to
say in detail what the effect would be.
but it is easy to say. and it is true. that
instantly the human problem would be-
gin to find an adequate answer:
What is the test Of Christian dlsci-
pleship7 sit not the same as In Chrlst's
own Efetimer Have our surroundings
modified or changed the testa If Jesus
were here today. would he not call some
of the members of this very church to
do inst what he commanded the young
man and ask him to give up his wealth
and literally follow himH believe he
would do that If he felt certain that
any church member thought more OF
his possessions than Of bis Saviour. The
test would be the same today as then.
I believe Jesus would demand, he does
demand now. as close a following. as
much suffering. as great self denial. as
when he lived in person on the earth
and said. Except man renounceth all
that he hath. he cannot be my disciple
that is. unless he is willing to do 1t
for my sake he cannot be my disciple.
"What would be the result II in this
CITY every church member should begin
to do as Jesus would dot 1t Is not easy
to 20 into details Of the result, but we
all know that certain things would be
impossible that are now practiced by
church members. What would Jesus do
in the matter Of wealth. How would
he spend it9 What principle would reg
ulate his use of money! Would he be
-, L. on1 cnond