Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31

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stay by The News until it is bank
rupt?" asked Edward Norman, with a
strange smile
Mr.. Norman, I don't understand
You. You are not the same man this
week that ever knew"
81 don't know myself either, Clark.
Something remarkable has canght me
mp and borne me on, but I was never
more convinced Of final success and
power for the paper. You have not an
swered my question. Will you stay
with me2''
Clark hesitated a moment and finally
said Eyes" Norman shook hands with
him and turned to his desk. Clark went
back into his room stirred by a number
Of conflicting emotions. He had never
before known such an exciting and
mentally disturbing week, and he felt
now as if he were connected with an
enterprise that might at any moment
collapse and ruin him and all connected
with it.
Sunday morning dawned again on
Raymond, and Henry Maxwell's church
was again crowded. Before the service
began Edward Norman attracted gem
eral attention. He sat quietly in his
usual place about three seats from the
pulpit. The Sunday morning issue of
The News containing the statement of
its discontinuance had been read by
nearly every man in the house. The an
nouncement had been expressed in such
remarkable language that every, reader
was struck by it. No such series of dis
usual business custom of Raymond.
The events connected with The News
were not all. People We're eagerly talk
ing about the strange things Gone dur
ing the week by Alexander Powers at
the railroad shops and by Milton Wright
in his stores on the avenue The service
progressed upon a distinct wave of ex-
citement in the pews. Henry Maxwell
| faced it all with calmness which in
| Dictated a strength and purpose more
than usual. His prayers were very
helpful. His sermon was not so easy to
describe How would a minister be apt
to preach to his people if he came before
ing: "How would Jesus preach? What
would he. probably says 1t issyery
certain that Henry Maxwell did not
preach as he had done two Sundays be-
| fore. Tuesday of the past week he had
stood by the grave of the dead stranger
and said the words. Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes. dust to dust. and still
he was moved by the spirit of deeper
impulse than he could measure as he
| thought of his people ,and yearned fol-
! the Christ message when he should be
in his pulpit again.
Now that Sunday had come and the
1 people were there to hear, what would
4 the Master tell them? Heagonized over
| his preparation for them, and yet he
knew he had not been able to fit his
message into his ideal of the Christ.
\ Nevertheless no one in the First church
could remember hearing such a sermon
| before. There was in it rebuke for sin
especially hypocrisy; there was definite
rebuke of the greed of wealth. and thu
seltishncss Of fashion, two things thai
First church never heard rebuEed this
way before, and there was u love of hi!
people that gathered new force as the
sermon went on. When it was finished
| there We're those who were saying il
their hearts, THE Spirit moved tina
sermon. And they We're right.
Then Rachel Winslow rose to sing
this time. after the sermon. by Henri,
Maxwell request. Rachel singing dix
not provoke applause this time. VIVA
deeper feeling carried peoples heart
into n reverent silence and tenderness
of thought? Rachel was beautiful, bu
the consciousness of her remarkable
loveliness had always married her sing
ing with those who had the deepes
spiritual feeling 1t had also MARIE,
her rendering of certain kinds of musi
with herself. Today this was all gone
There was no lack of power in he
grand voice. brt there was an actua
added element of humility and purit
which the audience strictly felt an
bowed to.
4 Before the service closed Henry Max
j well asked those who had remuine
the week beforc-to stay again for a fe,
moments for consultation and any otl,
ers who We're willing to make TIL
! pledge taken at that time. When h
was at liberty. he went into the lecthi
\ room. To his astonishment it was al
most filled. This time large propol
! ti,n of young people had come, bu
among them We're few business me
and officers of the church
i As before, Henry Maxwell aske
them to pray with him, and, as befori
a distinct answer came in the presenc
of the Divine Spirit. There was, II
doubt in the minds of any one presen
! that what they proposed to do was S
clearly in line with the. Divine wi
that a blessing rested on it in q yer
special manner.
They remained some time to as
questions and consult together. Their
was feeling of fellowship such as the
had never known in their church men
bership. Edward Norman's action wa
well understood by them all. and h
answered several questions
"What will be the probable result c