Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-28

meeting. Nothing in all my ministerial
life, Caxton, has so moved me as that
meeting l never felt the Spirits pres
ence so powerfully. 1t was a meeting of
"reminiscences and of the most loving
fellowship. l was irresistibly driven in
thought back to the first years Of Chris
tianity. There was something about all
this that was apostolic in its simplicity
and Christ imitation.
II asked questions. One that seemed
to arouse more interest than any other
was in regard to the extent Of tho
Christian disciples sacrifice Of personal
property. Henry Maxwell tells me that
so far no one has interpreted the spirit
of Jesus in such way as to abandon
his earthly possessions, give away all
his wealth or in any literal way initiate
the Christians Of the order, for exam
pie, of St Francis Of Assist. 1t was the
unanimous consent, however, that IL
any disciple should feel that Jesus in
his own particular case would do that
there could be only one answer to the
question. Maxwell frankly admitted
that he was still, to certain degree,
uncertain as to Jesus probable action
when it came to the details OF house
hold living, the possession Of wealth,
the holding Of certain Injuries. 1t is,
however, evident that very many Of
these disciples have repeatedly carried
their obedience to Jesus to the extreme
limit, regardless of financial loss. There
is no lack Of courage or consistency at
this point. 1t Is also true that some Of
the business men who took the pledge
have lost great sums Of money in this
imitation of Jesus, and very many
have like Alexander Powers, lost valu.
able positions owing to the impossibility
Of doing what they had been accus-
toned to do and at the same time doing
what they felt Jesus would do in the
same place. In connection with these
cases it is pleasant to record the fact
that many who have suffered in this
way have at once BEEN helped financial
" by those who still have means In
this respect | think it is true that these
disciples have all things in common
Certainly such scenes as l witnessed at
the First church at that after service
this morning | never saw in my church
OF any other l never dreamed that
such Christian fellowship could exist in
this age of the world. am almost in
credulous as to the witness of my own
senses | still seem to be asking myself
if this is the close of the nineteenth cen
fury in America.
J "But now. dear friend, come to the
real cause of the letter, the real heart
J of the whole question as the First
IL, - l,, -
, me Before the meeting closed today
steps were taken TO secure the cooper
alton of all other Christian disciples in
this country. | think Henry Maxwell
took this step after long deliberation
He said as much to me one day when
, called upon him and we were discuss
ing the effect of this movement upon
l the church in general.
) Why he said suppose that the
= church membership generally in this
country made this pledge and lived up
, to it. What revolution it would cause
, in Christendom But why not? Is it
= any more than the disciple ought to do
Has he followed Jesus unless he is will
= ing to do this: Is the test of disciple
, ship any less today than it was in Jesus
l timer
8 81 do not know all that preceded OF
9 followed his thought of what ought &c
5 be done outside of Raymond, but the
idea crystallized today in a plan to ST.
g cure the fellowship of all the Christian:
n in America. The<;hurches through their
pastors will be asked to form disciple
Q gatherings like the one in the First
0 church. Volunteers will be called for in
r the great body of church members in
o the United States who will promise to
i do rs Jesus would do. Maxwell spoke
+ particularly of the result of such gen
r eral action on the saloon question. He
a is terribly in earnest over this. He told
, me that there was no question in his
o mind that the saloon would be beaten
n in Raymond at the election now near
l. vt hand. If so, they could go on witt
h rome courage to do the redemptive work
= begun by the evangelist and now taken
IS up by the disciples in his own church.
3 If the saloon triumphs again, there will
g be terrible and, as he thinks, unnec-
. essary waste of Christian sacrifice. But,
10 however we differ on that point, he has
70 convinced his church that the time has
10 come for a fellowship with other Chris
If tians. Surely, if the First church could
lie work such changes in society and it.
t, surroundings the church in general. il
if combining such fellowship, not of creed
but of conduct, ought to stir the entire
IF nation to higher life and a new con
10 ception Of Christian following
TO This is grand idea Caxton, hui
4 right here is where find myself hest
y tating | do not deny that the Christian
" disciple ought to follow Christ's step'
as as closely as these here in Raymond
l. have tried to do, but l cannot avoid
n asking what the result will be if ! asl
70 my church in Chicago to do it. l an
A. writing this after feeling the solemn
es profound touch of the Spirits presence
1t and confess to you. old friend, that
~ cannot call up in my church doze,
70 prominent business or professional mel
~ who would make this trial at the risl
f. of all that they hold dear. Can you d,
es any better in your church, What ar
O. we to say-that the church would no
respond to the call, Come and suffer
p The actual results Of the pledge a
n. obeyed here in Raymond are enough t.
IN make any pastor tremble and at tn