The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-01
By Charles M. Sheldon.
Copyrighted and published IN boot; form by the
4drdnce Publishing CO. of Chicago.


the Sunday Of the week before. Henry
Maxwell entered his pulpit to face one
Of the largest congregations that had
ever crowded First church. He was
haggard and looked as if he had just
risen from long illness. His wife was
at home with the little girl who had
come on the morning train an hour aft
er her father died. He lay in that spare
room. his troubles over, and Henry
Maxwell could see the face as he opened
the Bible and arranged his different
notices on the side of the desk as he had
been in the habit of doing for ten years.
The service that morning contained
new element No one could remember
when the minister had preached in the
morning without notes. AS matter OF
fact, he had done so occasionally when
he first entered the ministry, but for
long time he Lad carefully written out
every word of his morning sermon and
nearly always his evening discourse as
well. It cannot be said that his sermon
this morning was very striking or i'm
pressive. He talked with considerable
hesitation. It was evident that some
great idea struggled in his thought for
utterance, but it was not expressed In
the theme he had chosen for his preach
ing. It was near the close Of his sermon
that he began to gather certain
strength that had been painfully lack
ing at the beginning. He closed the
Bible, and, stepping out at the side of
the desk, he faced his people and began
to talk to them about the remarkable
scene Of the week before
4sOur brother somehow the words
sounded little strange coming from
Henry Maxwell's lips-"passed away
this morning. I have not yet had time
to learn all his history. He had one Sis
ter living in Chicago. I have written
her and have not yet received an an
swer. His little girl is with US and will
remain for the time.
He paused and looked over the house.
He thought he had never seen so many
earnest faces during the entire pastor
ate. He was not able yet to tell his peo-
pie his experiences. the crisis through
which he was even now moving, but
something of his feeling passed from
him to them, and it did not seem to
him that he was acting under careless
impulse at all to go on and break to
them this morning something Of the
message he bore in his heart So he
went on:
.sThe appearance and words of this
stranger in the church last Sunday
made a very powerful impression on
me. I am not able to conceal from you
CT myself the fact that what he said,
followed. as it has been, by his death
in my house. has compelled me to ask
as never asked before. What does fol-
lowing Jesus mean?' I am not in po-
sition yet to utter any condemnation
of this people or, TO a certain extent, of
myself. either in our Christlike rela-
tons to this man or the number he rep
resents in the world But all that does
not prevent me from feeling that much
that the man said was so vitally true
tLat we must face it in an attempt to
answer it or else stand condemned as
Christian disciples. A good deal That
was said here last Sunday was in the
nature of a challenge to Christianity as
it is seen and felt in our churches.
Dave felt this with increasing emphasis
every day since and do not know
that any time is more appropriate than
the present for me to propose plan or
a purpose which has been forming in
my mind as satisfactory reply to
much that was said here last Sunday.
Again Henry Maxwell paused and
looked into the faces Of his people
There were some strong, earnest men
and women in the First church The
minister could see Edward Norman,
editor Of the Raymond Daily News. He
had been d member of First church for
ten years No man was more honored
in the community There was Alexan-
der Powers. superintendent of the rail
road shops There was Donald Marsh,
president Of Lincoln college. situated in
Tue SuDul Us Ci I-ttN IICilSL L 4lCiC w 90
Milton Wright. one Of the great mer-
chants of Raymond. having in his en-
plov at least 100 men in various shops.
There was Dr. West, who. although
still comparatively young, was quoted
as authority in special surgical cases.
There was young Jasper Chase. the
author. who had written one successful
book and was saiG to be at work on a
new novel There was Miss Virginia
Page. the hei7ess, who through the re-
cent death Of her father had inherited
million at least and was gifted with
unusual attractions Of person and in
tellect. And. not least of all. Rachel
Winslow from her seat in the choir
glowed with her peculiar beauty Of
light this morning because she was SO
intensely interested in the whole scene
There was some reason perhaps. In
view of such material in the First
church. for Henry Maxwells feeling Of
satisfaction whenever he considered his
parish as he had the previous Sundav.