The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-29


audience was beyond MAXWELL control
He turned to Rachel with a sad smile.
''Sing something. Miss Winslow.
They will listen to you. he said and
then sat down and put his face in his
hands
1t was Rachel's opportunity, and she
was fully equal to it. Virginia was at
the organ. and Rachel asked her to play
few notes Of the hymn
Saviour follow on.
Guided by thee,
Seeing not yet the hand
That leadeth me.
flushed be my heart and still:
Fear no further i'll;
Only to meet thy will
My will shall be.
/ Rachel had not sung the first line be.
fore the people in the tent were all
turned toward her. hushed and rever-
ent. Before she had finished the verse
the Rectangle was subdued and tanned
1t lay like some wild beast at her feet,
and she sang it into harmlessness. Ali
What were the fiippant, perfumed,
critical audiences in concert halls COM
pared with this dirty. drunken. impure,
degraded. besotted humanity that trem-
bled and wept and grew strangely, sad
ly thoughtful under the touch of the
divine ministry of this beautiful young
womanH Henry Maxwell as he raised
his head and saw the transformed mob
had glimpse of something that Jesus
would probably do with a voice like
Rachel Winslow's. Jasper Chase sat
with his eyes on the singer, and his
greatest longing as an ambitious author
was swallowed up in the thought of
what Rachel Winslow's love might
some time mean to him. And over in
the shadow outside stood the last person
any one might have expected to see at
q gospel tent service. Rollin Page, who,
jostled on every side by rough men and
women. who stared at the swell in the
fine clothes seemed careless Of his sur
roundings and at the same time evi-
IDENTIFY swayed by the power that Rachel
possessed. He had just come over from
the club Neither Rachel nor Virginia
saw him that night.
The song was over. Henry Maxwell
rose again. This time he felt calm
What would Jesus dor He spoke as he
thought once he never could Who were
these peopleY They were immortal,
souls. What was Christianity A call
Ing OF sinners. not the righteous, to re-
pentance. How would Jesus speak?
What would he say? He could not tell
all that his message would include, but
he felt sure Of part Of it, and in that
certainty he spoke on. Never before
had he felt compassion for the multi
tude. What had the multitude been
to him during his ten years in the First
church but vague. dangerous, dirty.
troublesome factor in society, outside
Of the church and his reach; an element
that caused him occasionally an ,un-
pleasant feeling Of conscience; a factor
in Raymond that was talked about at
associations as the "masses" in papers
written by the brethren in attempts to
show why the 'masses" were not being
reached. But tonight as he faced the
"masses" he asked himself whether,
after all. this was not Just about such
q multitude as Jesus faced oftenest, and
he felt the genuine emotion Of love for
q crowd which is one of the best indi.
cations preacher ever has that he is
living close to the heart of the worlds
eternal life. 1t is easy to love an indi-
vidual sinner. especially if he is person
ally picturesque or interesting To love
a multitude Of sinners is distinctly q
Christlike quality.
When the meeting closed, there was
no special interest shown. The people
rapidly melted away from the tent, and
the saloons which had been experience
ing dull season while the meetings
progressed. again drove thriving
trade. The Rectangle. as if to make up
Tor lost time. started in with vigor on
its usual night life of debauch. Henry
Maxwell and his little party, including
Virginia. Rachel and Jasper Chase,
walked down past tho row Of saloons
and dens until they reached the corner
where the cars passed
'"This is u terrible spot" said Henry
Maxwell as they stood waiting for their
car. II never realized that Raymond
had such fostering sore 1t does not
seem possible that this is city full of
Christian disciples.
He paused and then continued:
"DO yOu think any one can ever re-
move this great curse of the saloon?
Why don't we all act together against
tho traffic? What would Jesus do?
Would he keep silent? Would he vote
to license these causes Of crime and
death2"
Henry Maxwell was talking to him,
self more than to the others He re-
membered that he had always voted for
license. and so had nearly all of his
church members What would Jesus
do? Could he answer that question?
Wonld Jesus preach and act against the
saloon If he lived today? How would
he preach and actg Suppose it was not
popular to preach against license. Sup
nOSp fbp Christian ,Nnon1o