The Princeton union., 1899-10-05

l1mSelI Wnen ne rGacneu MS SCIOy. ING
question rose as to his continuance in
this course when he began to lose
money by it, as was possible. Henry
Maxwell prayed that the Holy Spirit,
who had shown himself with growing
power in the company of the First
church disciples might abide long with
them all, and with that prayer on his
lips and in his heart he began the prep
aration Of a sermon in which he was
going to present to his people on Sun
day the subject Of the saloon in Ray
mOnd, as he now believed Jesus would
do. He had never preached against the
saloon in this way before. He knew
that the things he should say would
lead to serious results. Nevertheless he
went on with his work, and every SEN
tence he wrote or shaped was preceded
with the question, "Would Jesus say
that?' Once in the course of his study
he went down on his knees. No one ex-
cept himself could know what that
meant to him. When had he done that
in the preparation Of sermons before
the change that had come into his
thought Of discipleship? AS he viewed
his ministry now he did not dare to
preach without praying for wisdom. He
no longer thought Of his dramatic de-
livery and its effect on his audience
The great question with him now was,
"What would Jesus do?"
Saturday night at the Rectangle wit
messed some Of tho most remarkable
scenes that Mr.. Gray and his wife had
ever known. The meetings had intensi-
fed with each night of Rachel's sing
ing. A stranger passing through the
Rectangle in the daytime might have
heard good deal about the meetings in
one way and another. It cannot be said
that up to that Saturday night there
was any appreciable lack Of oaths and
impurity and heavy drinking. The Rec
tangle would not have acknowledged
that it was growing any better or that
even the singing had softened its con-
versation or it's outward manner It
had too much local pride in being
"tough.'' - But, in spite Of itself, there
was yielding to a power it had never
measured and did not know we'll enough
to resist beforehand
Gray had recovered his voice, SO that
Saturday he was able to speak. The
fact that he was obliged to use his voice
carefully made it necessary for the peo
pie to be very quiet if they wanted to
hear. Gradually they had come to un-
| derstand that this man was talking
these many weeks and using his time
and strength to give them a knowledge
of Saviour, all out of perfectly un-
| selfish love for them. Tonight the great
crowd was as quiet as Henry Maxwell's S
decorous audience ever was. The fringe
around the tent was deeper, and the
saloons were practically empty. The
Holy Spirit had come at last, and Gray
knew that one Of the great prayers Of
his life was going to be answered.
And Rachel-her singing was the
best, most wonderful Virginia or Jasper
Chase had ever known. They had come
together again tonight with DR.. West,
who had spent all his spare time that
week in the Rectangle with some char
ity cases. Virginia was at the organ,
Jasper sat on front seat looking up at
Rachel and the Rectangle swayed as
one man toward the platform as she
sang:
''Just as l am, without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me
| And that thou bidst me come to thee
o Lamb Of God, come, l come!''
Gray said hardly word. He stretch
ed out his hand with gesture of invi-
tation, and down the two aisles Of the
tent broken, sinful creatures, men and
women, stumbled toward the platform.
One woman out of the street was neal
the organ.
Virginia caught the look Of her face
and for the first time in the life Of the
rich girl the thought Of what Jesus wa:
to a sinful woman came with sudden
ness and power that were like nothing
but a new birth. Virginia left the or
gan, went to her, looked into her fac,
and caught her hands in her own. Th'
other girl trembled, then fell on he
knees, sobbing, with her head dow1
upon the back Of the bench in front O
her, still clinging to Virginia. And Vir
ginia, after a moments hesitation
kneeled down by her, and the tw,
heads were bowed close together
But when the people had crowded il
a double row all about the platform
most of them kneeling and crying,
man in evening dress, different iron
. the others, pushed through the seat
= and came and kneeled down by the sid
of the drunken man who had disturbe
the meeting when Henry Maxwell
= = spoke. He kneeled within a few feet G
Rachel Winslow, who was still singin
softly, and as she turned for momen
and looked in his direction she wa
amazed to see the face of Rollin Page
For a moment her voice faltered. The
she went on
Just as am thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve.
3 Because thy promise believe,
Lamb Of God, come, l come!'
The voice was as the voice Of divir
longing, and the Rectangle, for til
t time being, was swept into the harbt
3 of redemptive grace.
1 CHAPTER V.