Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-01-04


had started to think out the subject OF
his evening service which fell upon that
night
Out Of one of his study windows he
could see the tall chimneys of the rail
road shops The top of the evangelist :
tent just showed over the buildings
around the Rectangle.
The pastor of the First church looked
out Of this window every time he turned
in his walk. After awhile he sat down
at his desk and drew large piece OF
paper toward him.
After thinking several moments he
wrote in large letters the following;
"a NUMBER OF THINGS THAT JESUS WOULD
PROBABLY DO IN THIS PARISH.
al Live in a simple, plain manner,
without needless luxury on the one
hand or undue asceticism on the other.
"2 Preach fearlessly to the hypo-
critics in til church, no matter what
their social importance or wealth.
''3 Show in some practical form
sympathy and love for the common pco-
pie as well rs for the well to do. edu-
Gated. refined people who make up the
majority of the church and parish.
81 Identity himself with the great
causes Of humanity in some personal
way that would call for self denial and
suffering.
40. Preach against the saloon in
Raymond.
"6 Become known as n friend end
companion Of the sinful people in the
Rectanyle
~. Give up the summer trip to Eu-
rope this year. have been abroad
twice and cannot claim any SPECIAL
need of rest am well aud could forego
this pleasure, using the money for some
one who needs vacation more than
do. There are probably plenty of such
people in the city.
80 What else would Jesus do as
Henry MAXWELL"
He was conscious, with humility
that once was a stranger to him, that
his outline of Jesus probable action
was painfully lacking in depth and
power, but he was seeking carefully for
concrete shapes into which he might
cast his thought Of Jesus conduct.
Nearly every point he had put down
meant for him a complete overturnlng
of the custom and habit Of years in the
ministry. In spite of that he still
searched deeper for sources OF the
Christlike spirit. He did not attempt to
write any more but sat at his desk alb
sorbed in his attempt to catch more and
more of the spirit of Jesus in his own
life He had forgotten the particular
subject for his prayer meeting with
which he had begun his morning study.
He was so absorbed over his thought
that he did not hear the bell ring, and
he was reused by the servant, who an
nounced a caller He had sent up his
name-Mr. Gray. Maxwell stepped to
the head of the stairs and asked Gray
to come up.
1--WE can talk better up here -
So Gray came up and stated the rea-
son for his call
81 want you, Mr.. Maxwell, to help
me OF course you have heard what a
wonderful meeting we had Monday
night and last night Miss Winslow
has done more with her voice than
could. and the tent won't hold the peo-
pie.
"I've heard Of that. It's the first
time the people there have heard her.
It's no wonder they are attracted.
at has been wonderful revelation
to us and a most encouraging event in
our work But | came to ask if you
could not come down tonight and
preach | am suffering with severe
cold. | do not dare to trust my voice
again know it is asking good deal
for such a busy man, but if you can't
come say so freely. and III try some
where else.
"I'm sorry, but it s my regular prayer
meeting night, said Henry Maxwell.
Then he flushed and added: Il shall be
able to arrange it in some way SO as to
come down. You can count on me "
Gray thanked him earnestly and rose
to go.
won't you stay minute, Gray,
and let US have prayer together %
eyes, said Gray simply.
SO the two men kneeled together in
the study Mr. Maxwell prayed like q
child Gray was touched to tears as he
kneeled there. There was something al
most pitiful in the way this man, who
had lived his ministerial life in such O
narrow limit Of exercise, now begged
for wisdom and strength to speak a
message to the people in the Rectsngle.
Gray rose and held out his hand.
"God bless you, Mr.. Maxwell. I'm
sure the Spirit will give you power to-
night"
Henry Maxwell made no answer. He
did not even trust himself to say that
he hoped 50, but he thought of his
promise, and it brought certain peace
that was refreshing to his heart and
mind alike
so that is how it came about that
when the First church audience came
into the lecture room that evening it
was met with another surprise.
There was an unusually large num-
Der present. The prayer meetings ever
since that remarkable Sunday morning
had been attended as never before in
the history of the First church.
Henry Maxwell came at once to the
point He spoke of Gray's work and of
his request
az feel as if We're called to 20 down
there tonight, and l will leave it with
you to say whether you will go on with
the meeting here. l think perhaps the
best plan would be for few volunteers
to go down to the Rectangle with me,
prepared to help in the after meeting,
and the rest remain here and pray that
the Spirits power may go with us.
So half dozen of the men went with
Henry Maxwell, and the rest of the au-
dience staid in the lecture room. Max
well could not escape the thought as he
left the room that probably in his entire
church membership there might not be
found q score of disciples who were
capable Of doing work that would sue
cessfully lead needy, sinful men into
the knowledge of Christ The thought
did not linger in his mind to vex him
as he went on his way, but 1t was sim
ply part of his whole new conception
of tho meaning of Christian disciple
chip
When no and his little company OF
volunteers reached the Rectangle the
tent was already crowded. They had
difficulty in getting to the little plat
form. Rachel was there, with Virginia
and Jasper Chase, who had como in
stead of the doctor tonight