Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-12-22

ESPECIALLY llON llldt VIC iht odipOh
influence 10 meet, as it is To have
church or II COLLEGE. So am satisfied
that the $500 600 that Mr. Norman
will know how to use 80 well will be a
powerful factor in Raymond to do as
Jesus would do.
"About my other plan. Rachel, l
want you to work with me- Rollin and
l are going to buy up large part of
the property in the Rectangle. The field
where the tent now is has been in liti-
CATION for years. We mean TO secure
the entire tract az soon as the courts
have settled the title. For some time |
have been making SPECIAL study OF the
various forms of college settlements and
resident methods of Christian work and
institutional church work in the heart
OF great city slums. do not know that
| have yet been able to tell just what
is the wisest and most effective kind Of
work that can be done in Raymond,
but | do know this much-my money
Il mean God g. which he wants me to
houses, refugees for poor women, asy-
lums for shopgirls, safety for many and
many lost girl like Loreen. And l dc
not want to be simply dispenser Of
this money. God help mel | do want
to put myself into the problem. But do
you know, Rachel, have feeling all
the time that all that limitless money
and limitless personal sacrifice can
possibly do will not really lessen
very much the awful conditions at
the Rectangle as long as the saloon
is legally established there | think that
is true Of any Christian work now be-
ing carried on in any great city. The
saloon furnishes material to be saved
faster than the settlement or residence
OF rescue mission work can save it. -
Virginia suddenly rose and raced the
hall. Rachel answered sadly and yet
with a note of hope in her voice:
1T is true but. oh, Virginia, what
a wonderful amount Of happiness and
power can come ont Of this money And
the saloon cannot always remain here.
The time must come when the Christian
force in the city will triumph.
Virginia paused near Rachel, and her
pale. earnest face lighted up.
81 believe that too. The number of
those who have promised to do as Jesus
would is increasing. If we once have
say, 300 such disciples in Raymond,
the saloon is doomed. But now. dear, /
want you to look at your part in this
plan for capturing and saving the Rec
tangle. Your voice is power. / have
had many ideas lately Here is one of
them. You could organize among the
girls a musical institute. Give them
the benefit Of your training. There are
some splendid voices in the rough there.
Did any one ever hear such singing az
that yesterday by those women? Rachel,
what beautiful opportunity You
shall have the best of opportunity in
the way of organs and orchestras that
money can provide and what cannot
be done with music to win souls there
into higher and better and purer liv-
ing"
Before Virginia had ceased speaking
RaChcls face was perfectly TRANSPORTED
with the thought of her life work. II
flowed into her heart and mind like a
food, and the torrent of her feeling
overlooked in tears that could not be
restrained 1t was what she had dreamed
of doing herself 1t represented to her
something that she felt was in keeping
with right use of her own talent.
Yes, she said as She rose and put her
arms about Virginia while both girls
in the excitement of their enthusiasm
paced the hall-''yes, | will gladly put
my life into that kind of service | do
believe that Jesus would have me use
my life in this way Virginia, what
miracles can we not accomplish with
humanity if we have such lever as
consecrated money to move things
with ~
add to it consecrated personal en-
thusiasm like yours and it certainly
can accomplish great things, said Vir
GINA. smiling. and then before Rachel
could reply Rollin came in. He hesitat
ed n moment and was passing out of
the hall into the library when Virginia
called him and asked some questions
about his work
Rollin came back and sat down. and
together the three discussed their future
plans. Rollin was apparently entirely
free from embarrassment in Rachel :
presence while Virginia was with them
only his manner with her was almost
precise if not cold The past seemed to
be entirely absorbed in his wonderful
conversion. He had not forgotten it.
but he seemed TO be completely caught
up for this present time in the purpose
of this new life.
After awhile Rollin was called out
and Rachel and Virginia began to talk
of other things.
"By tae way. what has become Of
Jasper Chase"
Virginia asked the question limo
Gently enough, but Rachel blushed, and
Virginia added with smile; Il su
pose he is writing another book. Is he
going to put you into this one, Rachel
You INV ! always suspected Jasper
Chase of doing that very thing in his
first story.