The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-29

turned toward her, Lushed and rever-
ent. Before she had finished the verse
the Rectangle was s1lbdued and tanned.
It Law Ike some wild beast at her feet,
and she sang it into harmlessness. Ahl
What were the fippant, perfumed,
critical audiences in concert halls COM
pared with this dirty, drunken, impure,
degraded, besotteG humanity that trem-
bled and wept and grew strangely, sad
" thoughtful under the touch Of the
divine ministry Of this beautiful young
woman? Henry Maxwell as he raised
his head ana saw the transformed mob
had a glimpse Of something that Jesus
would probably Go with a voice like
Rachel Winslow's. Jasper Chase sat
with his eyes on the singer, and his
greatest longing as an ambitious author
was swallowed up in the thought of
what Rachel Winslow's love might
some time mean to him And over in
the shadow outside stood the last person
any one might have expected to see at
a gospel tent service, Rollin Page, who
iostled on every side by rough men and
women, who stared at the swell in the
fine clothes. seemed careless of his sur
roundings and at the same time evi-
IDENTIFY swayed by the power that Rachel
possessed. He had just come over from
the club. Neither Rachel nor Virginia
saw him that night.
The song was over. Henri Maxwell
rose again. This time he felt calm
What would Jesus do? He spoke as he
thought once he never could Who We're
these people? They We're immortal'
souls. What was Christianity A call
ing of sinners, not the righteous, to re-
pentance. How would Jesus speak?
What would he say? He could not tell
all that his message would include, but
he felt sure Of a part Of it. and IN that
certainty he spoke on Never before
had he felt compassion for the multi
tude. What had the multitude been
to him during his ten years in the First
church but vague, dangerous, dirty,
troublesome factor in society, outside
Of the church and his reach; an element
that caused him occasionally an un-
pleasant feeling Of conscience; a factor
in Raymond that was talked about at
associations as the masses in papers
written by the brethren in attempts to
show why the .'masses" were not being
reached. But tonight as he faced the
masses he asked himself whether,
after all, this was not just about such
multitude as Jesus faced oftenest, and
he felt the genuine emotion Of love for
a crowd which is one of the best indi-
cations preacher ever has that he is
living close to the heart of the worlds
eternal life. 1t is easy to love an indi-
yidual sinner. especially if he is person
ally picturesque or interesting. To love
multitude of sinners is distinctly a
| Christlike quality.
When the meeting closed. there was
no special interest shown. The people
rapidly melted away from the tent. and
the saloons. which had been experience
ing a dull season while the meetings
progressed again drove thriving
trade The Rectangle. as if to make up
for lost time. started in with vigor on
its usual night life of debauch. Henry
Maxwell and his little party. including
Virginia. Rachel and Jasper Chase,
walked down past the row of saloons
and dens until they reached tie corner
where the cars passed.
This is e terrible spot, said Henry
Maxwell as they stood waiting for their
car. Il never realized that Raymond
had such a fostering sore 1t does not
seem possible that this is city full Of
Christian disciples.
He paused and then continued:
'.Do you think any one can ever re-
move this great curse of the saloon?
Why don't We all act together against
the traffic? What would Jesus Go?
Would he keep silent? Would he vote
to license these causes of crime and
! death:
Henry Maxwell was talking to hin.-
self more than to tie others. Ee re-
,nembered that he had always voted for
license. and so lad nearly al OF his
church members What would .;es'1s
90? Could lie answer that question:
World Jesus preach aud act against the
saloon if be lived to'';.y: How, woald
he preach aad ;:et?? Suppose it was not
popular to io-,,ac,. against license. Sap
pose the CHRISTIAN people taoa@st it
was al that could be done-to license
the evil. anA 50 81 revenue fro!l, {; nec-