The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-27


their treatment from nonpartisan ana
moral standpoint The News will not be
able to pay its operating expenses un-
less one factor in Raymond can be de-
pended on.
He paused q moment, and the room
was very quiet. Virginia seemed spe-
cially interested. Her face glowed with
interest. 1t was like the interest OF u
person who had been thinking hard of
the same thing Norman went on now
to mention.
THAT one factor is the Christian
element in Raymond Say The News
has lost heavily from the dropping off
Of people who do not care for q Chris.
tian daily and from others who simply
look upon a newspaper as a purveyor
OF all sorts Of material to amuse and
interest them. are there enough genu-
inc Christian people in Raymond who
will rally to the support Of q paper
such as Jesus would probably edit, or
are the habits Of the people SO firmly
established in their demands for the
regular type Of Journalism that they
will not take paper unless it is strip
ped largely Of the Christian and moral
purpose' ] may also say in this fellow
ship gathering that. owing to recent
complications In my business affairs
outside Of my paper, I have been
obliged to lose large part Of my for.
tune. ] have had to apply the same rule
OF Jesus probable conduct to certain
transactions with other men who did
not apply IL to their conduct, and the
result has been the loss Of a great deal
of money.
"As ! understand. the promise wa
made, we were not to ask any questions
about win IL payf but all our ac-
tion was to be based on the one ques-
tion, What would Jesus dor Acting
on that rule Of conduct, I have been
obliged to lose nearly all the money
have accumulated in my paper. II is
not necessary for me to 60 into details.
There is no question with me now, aft.
er the three weeks experience have
had. that great many men would lose
vast sums Of money under the present
system Of business If this rule Of Jesus
were honestly obeyed. / mention my
loss here because have the fullest faith
In the final success Of daily paper
conducted on the lines I have recently
laid down. and I had planned to put
into 1t my entire fortune in order to
win final success. AS 1t is now, unless,
as said. the Christian people of Ray
mond. the church members and profess
ing disciples. will support the paper
with subscriptions and advertisements,
cannot continue its publication on the
present basis
Virginia asked question. She had
followed Mr.. Norman 8 confession with
the most intense eagerness.
"Do you mean that q Christian daily
ought to be endowed with large sum,
like a Christian college, in order to
make it payf"
"That is exactly what / mean.
have laid out plans for putting into The
News such variety of material, in
such strong and truly interesting
way. that it would more than make up
for whatever was absent from its col
umns In the way Of un-C Christian mat
ter. but my plans called for a very large
outlay OF money. i am very confident
that Christian daily such as jesus
would approve. containing only what
he would print. can be made to succeed
financially II it is planned to the right
lines. but 1t will take q large sum Of
money to work out the plans
"How much do You thinkf" asked
Virginia quietly.
Edward Norman looked at her keen
ly. and his face flushed moment as an
idea Of Virginia's purpose crossed his
mind. He had known her when she was
little girl in the Sunday school. and
he had been on intimate relations in
business with her father.
II should say half million dollars
in town like Raymond could be we'll
spent In the establishment of paper
such as we have in mind. he answered.
and his voice trembled little. The
keen look on Edward Norman 9 grizzled
face flashed out with a stern but thor
oughly Christian anticipation Of great
achievements in the world of newspaper
life as it had opened up to him within
the last few seconds.
Then" said Virginia. speaking as
il the thought were fully considered.
II am ready to put that amount Of
money into the paper on the one condi-
tion. OF course. that it be carried on as
it has been begun.
THANK Godv" exclaimed Henry
Maxwell softly. Edward Norman was
pale. The rest were looking at Virginia.
She had more to say.
"DeG- friends" she went on. and
there was sadness in her voice that
made an impression on the rest that
deepened when they thought it over
afterward. II do not want any Of you
to credit me with an act Of great gen
erosity or philanthropy. l have come
to know lately that the money which l
have called nv own ia NOT INV our