Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-05

ing tho mothers how to prepare food
properly. Iremembcr hearing DR.. Bruce
say once that he believed one of the
great miseries of comparative poverty
consisted in poor food. He even went
80 far as to say that he thought some
kinds of crime could be traced to soggy
biscuits and tough beefsteak. I'm con.
tident would be able TO make a living
for Rose and myself and at the same
time to help others.
Felicia brooded over this dream until
it became reality. Meanwhile she
grew into the affections of the Ray
mond people and the Rectangle folks,
among whom she was known as 1.-The
angel cook. " Underneath the structure
of the beautiful character she was grow
ing always rested her promise made in
Nazareth Avenue church.
"What would Jesus dor" She prayed
and hoped and worked and planned her
life by the answer to that question.
1t was the inspiration of her conduct
and the answer to all her ambition.
Three months had gone by since the
Sunday morning when DIR. Bruce came
into his pulpit with the message of the
new disciplesbip. Never before had the
Rev. Calvin Bruce realized how deep
the feelings of his members flowed. He
hnmbly confessed that the appeal he
had made met with an unexpected re-
Spouse from men and women who, like
Felicia, were hungry for something in
their lives that the conventional type of
church membership and fellowship had
failed to give them.
But DR.. Bruce was not yet satisfied
for himself We cannot tell what his
feeling was or what led to the move
menr he finally made to the great as
constituent of all who knew him, better
than by relating a conversation be-
tween him and the bishop at this time
in the history of the pledge III Nazareth
Avenue church. The two friends were,
as before, in DR.. Bruces house, seated
in his study.
You know what have come in this
evening for9" the bishop was saying
after the friends had been talking some
time about the results of the pledge
with Nazareth Avenue people.
Or Bruce looked over at the bishop
and shook his head.
~ have como to confess. went on
tire bishop that | have not yet kept
my promise to walk in his steps in the
way that believe l shall be obliged to
if | satisfy my thought of what it
means to walk in his steps"
DR.. Bruce had risen and was pacing
ais study, The bishop remained in the
'1eep easy chair, with his hands clasped |
but his eye burned with the glow that
always belonged to him before he made
some great resolve.
Edward DIR. Bruce spoke abrupt |
ly-'1 have not yet been able to satisfy |
myself, either, in obeying my promise,
but have at last decided on my course. |
In order to follow it, l shall be obliged
to resign from Nazareth Avenue
church. "
81 knew you would" replied the
bishop quietly, "and | came in this
evening to say that I shall be obliged
TO do the same with ny charge"
DR. Bruce turned and walked up to |
his friend. They were both laboring
under repressed excitement.
''ls it necessary in your case2' asked |
Bruce.
eyes. Let me state my reasons.
Probably they are the same as yours. |
In fact, | am sure they are " The |
bishop paused a moment, then went on
with increasing feeling:
calvin, you know how many years
| have been doing the work of my posi-
ton and you know something of the
responsibility and the care of it. | do
not mean to say that my life has been
free from burden bearing or sorrow
but | have certainly led what the poor
and desperate OF this sinful city would
,all a very comfortable-yes very
luxurious-life. / have beautiful
house to live in, the most expensive
food, clothing and physical pleasures /
ave been able to 20 abroad at least n
iozen times and have enjoyed for years
he beautiful cOmpanionship of art and
etters and music and all the rest of the
yery best. have never known what it
meant TO be without money or its
equivalent, and ! have been unable to
silence the question of late, What have
| suffered for the sake of Christi Paul
was told what great things he must
suffer for the sake Of his Lord. Max
wells position at Raymond is well taxi
en- when he insists that to walk in the
steps of Christ means to suffer Where
has my suffering come in! The petty
TRIALS and annoyances of my clerical life
are not worth mentioning as sorrows or
suffering. Compared with Paul or any
OF the Christian martyrs or early disci-
pies, | have lived luxurious, sinful
life, full of ease and pleasure / cannot
endure this any longer. | have that
within me which of late rises in over
whelming condemnation of such a fol-
lowing of Jesus. | have not been walk
ing in his steps. Under the present sys-
tenn of church and social life | see no
escape from this condemnation except
to give the rest of my life personally to
the actual physical and soul needs Of
the wretched people in the worst part
of this city"
The bishop had risen now and walked
over to the window. The street in front
of the house was as light as day and
he looked ont at the crowds passing,
then turned, and, with passionate ut
terance that showed how deep the vol
canic fire in him burned, he exclaimed:
Calvin, this is terrible city in
which we live Its misery IFS sin ita