The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-12-20

my Lord.
"You have spoken for me also, " re-
piled Maxwell, with a sad smile ''Why
should /, simply because | am a clergy
man, shelter myself behind my refined,
sensitive feelings and, like a coward,
refuse to touch, except in a sermon pos
sibly, the duty of citizenship am I'M
used TO the ways of the political life of
the city. l have never taken an active
part in any nomination of good men.
There are hundreds of ministers like
me. As class we do not practice in
the municipal life the duties and privi-
leges we preach from the pulpit. What
would Jesus do2 / am now at point
where, like you. am driven to answer
the question one way. My duty is plain.
l must suffer. All my parish work, all
my little trials or self sacrifices. are as
nothing TO me compared with the break
ing into my scholarly, intellectual, self
contained habits of this open, coarse,
public fight for clean city life. |
could go and live at the Rectangle the
rest of my days and work in the slums
for a bare living and | could enjoy 1t
more than the thought of plunging into
a fight for the reform of this whisky
ridden city. 1t would cost me less But,
like you, / have been unable to shake
off my responsibility. The answer TO
the question. What would Jesus doY
in this case leaves me no peace, except
when / say, Jesus would have me act
the part of Christian citizen. Marsh,
as you say we professional men, min
listers, professors, artists, literary men,
scholars have almost invariably been
political towards. We have avoided the
sacred duties of citizenship either ig-
norantly or selfshly. Certainly Jesus
in our age would not do that. We can
do no less than take up this cross and
follow him.
These two men walked on in silence
for awhile. Finally President Marsh
said:
1--WE do not need to act alone in this
matter. With all the men who have
made the promise we certainly can
have companionship and strength even
of numbers. Let rs organize the Chris
tian forces of Raymond for the battle
against rum and corruption. We GER
tainly ought to enter the primaries
with force that will be able to do
more than utter a protest. 1t is fact
that the saloon element is cowardly and
easily frightened, in spite of its law
lessness and corruption. Let US plan a
campaign that will mean something be-
cause it is organized righteousness.
Jesus would use great wisdom in this
matter. He would employ means. He
would make large plans. Let us do so.
If we bear this cross, let us do it brave
ly, like men.
They talked over the matter a long
time and met again the next day in
Henry Maxwells study TO develop
plans. The city primaries were called
for Friday. Rumors of strange and I'M
heard of events TO the average citizen
were current in political circles through
out Raymond The Crawford system of
balloting for nominations was not in
use in the state, and the primary was
called for "a public meeting at the court
house.
The citizens of Raymond will never
forget that meeting. 1t was so unlike
any political meeting ever held in Ray
mond before that there was no attempt
at comparison The special officers to
be nominated were mayor city council,
chief of police, city clerk and city
treasurer.
The Evening News in its Saturday
edition gave full account of the pri-
maries, and in an editorial column Ed
ward Norman spoke with directness
and conviction that the Christian peo-
pie of Raymond were learning TO re-
spect deeply because so evidently sincere
and unselfish. A part of that editorial
is also part of this history:
ut is safe TO say that never before in
the history of Raymond was there a
primary like the one in the courthouse
last night 1t was, first of all, a COM
plete surprise to the city politicians,
who have been in the habit of carrying
on the affairs Of the city as if they
owned them and every one else was
simply n tool or cipher. The over
whelming surprise of the wire puller
last night consisted in the fact that a
large number of the citizens of Ray
IuOuu WIZ udNe ueItlOlOIe TAKEN no
part in the city S affairs entered the pri-
mary and controlled it, nominating
some of the best men for all the offices
to be filled at the coming election.
sit was tremendous lesson in good
citizenship President Marsh of Lincoln
college, who never before entered city
primary and whose face even was not
known to many of the ward politicians
made one of the best speeches ever
heard in Raymond. 1t was almost lu-
dicrous to see the faces of the men
who for years have done as they pleased
when President Marsh rose to speak.
Many of them asked, who is her The
CONSERVATION deepened as the primary
proceeded and it became evident that
the old time ring of city rulers was out
numbered. Henry Maxwell pastor of
the First church Milton Wright, Alex
ander Powers, Professors Brown, Will
lard and Park Of Lincoln college, Rev.
John West. DR.. George Maine Of the
, Pilgrim church, Dean Ward of the Holy
Trinity and scores of well known bust
rasa and professional mon most of them