The Princeton union., 1899-10-19

eA~o 40 w oO oOOh al USViVc2 pdTG In Gl6
service. don't know all the details of
this little romance, but / can imagine
there is a little story wrapped up ia it,
and it would be interesting reading if
we only knew it all.
'These are only few illustrations Of
results in individual lives owing to
obedience to the pledge. I meant to
have spoken Of President Marsh Of LIN
coin college. He is graduate Of my
alma mater, and knew him slightly
when I was in the senior year. He has
taken an active part in the recent mu-
nicipal agitation, and his influence in
the city is regarded as a very large
factor in the coming election. Hc. i'm
pressed me, as did all the other disciples
in this movement, as having fought out
some hard questions and as having
taken up some real burdens that have
caused and still do cause that suffering
Of which Henry Maxwell speaks, a suf-
fering that does not eliminate but does
appear to intensity a positive and prac-
tical JOY.
."'But am prolonging this letter
possibly to your weariness I am Sun-
able to avoid the feeling of fascination
which my entire stay here has increased
I want to tell you something of the
meeting in the First church today.
"As said, I heard Maxwell preach.
At his earnest request had preached
for him the Sunday before, and this
was the first time I had heard him since
the association four years ago. His SER
mon this morning was as different from
his sermon then as if it had been
thought out and preached by some one
living on another planet. was pro-
foundly touched. I believe 1 actually
shed tears once Others in the congre-
cation were moved like myself. His
text was: What is that to thee? Fol
low thou me- And it was a most un-
usually impressive appeal to the Chris
tians Of Raymond to obey Jesus teach
ings and follow in his steps, regardless
of what others might do. I cannot give
you even the plan Of the sermon. II
would take too long At the close of the
service there was the usual after meet
ing that has become regular feature
Of the First church. Into this meeting
have come all those who made the
pledge to do as Jesus would do, and the
time is spent in mutual fellowship, con-
fession, questions as to what Jesus
would do in special cases and praye,
that the one great guide of every dis.
ciple's conduct may be the Holy Spirit.
Maxwell asked me to come into this
meeting. Nothing in all my ministerial
life,> Caxton, has so moved me as that
meeting I never felt the Spirit's pres.
ence SO powerfully. 1t was meeting OF
"reminiscences and of the most loving
fellowship. was irresistibly driven in
thought back to the first years Of Chris
tianity. There was something about all
this that was apostolic in it's simplicity
and Christ imitation. .. - ~ ~
II asked questions. One that seemed
to arouse more interest than any other
was in regard to the extent of the
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. TWAS the
unanimous consent, however, that il
any disciple should feel that Jesus il
his own particular case would do that
there could be only one answer to the
question. Maxwell frankly admitted
that he was still, to a certain degree
uncertain as to Jesus probable actor
when it came to the details of house
hold living, the possession Of wealth,
the holding of certain luxuries. It u.s.
however, evident that very many o1
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 a,
this point. It is also true that some Of
the business men who took the pledge
have lost great sums Of money in = thi.
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 doinl
what they felt Jesus would do in tn
same place. In connection with thes'
cases it is pleasant to record the fac
that many who have suffered in thi
way have at once been helped financial
ly by those who still have means. Il
this respect I think it is true that thes
disciples have all things in common
Certainly such scenes as witnessed a
the First church at that after servic
this morning never saw in my churcl
OF any other. never dreamed tha
such Christian fellowship could exist i,
this age Of the world ) I am almost in
credulous as to the witness of nv owl
senses. still seem to be asking noysel
if this is the close Of the nineteenth cen
tury in America. h
"But now, dear friend, I come to til
real cause Of the letter, the real hear
Of the whole question as the Firs
church Of Raymond has forced itiupol
me. Before the meeting closed toda,
steps were taken to secure the cooper
alton Of all other Christian disciples i,
this country. I think Henry Maxwell
took this step after long deliberation
He said as much to me ono dav x,,bor