The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-14
By Charles N. Sheldon

end. after social gathering which was
very informal He asked it while the
little company Of residents, with the
RAYMOND visitors, were having devo-
tional service. as the custom in the set
tlement was. He asked it during a con-
ference With the bishop and Dr.. Bruce
which lasted until O'Clock He asked
it as he kneeled again before sleeping
and poured out his soul IN his petition
FOR spiritual baptism on the church IN
America such as it had never known.
He asked it the first thing in the morn
ing and all through the day as he went
over the settlement district and saw the
life of the people so far removed from
the life ab1ndantly- Would the church
members. would the Christians, not
only in the churches of Chicago, but
throughout the court-.yy, refuse to walk
in his steps if, in order to do so. they
must actually take up cross and fol
bw him?
This was the one question that con-
:nualy demanded answer: He had
planned, when he came to the city, to
return to Raymond and be in his oVn
pulpit on Sunday, but Friday morning
he had received at the settlement call
from the pastor of one of the largest
churches in Chicago and had been IN
vited to fill the pulpit for both morning
and d'evening services.
Al first he hesitate3. but finally ac-
cepted, seeing In it the hand OF the
Spiri5's S guiding power. He would test
his own question. He would prove the
truth OF falsity Of the charge made
against the church at the settlement
meeting. How far would it go IN Its
self denial for Jesus sake? How close
would it walk in his steps? Was the
church willing to suffer for It's Masterg
Saturday night he spent in prayer
nearly the whole night There had new
g been so great a wrestling.in has soul,
even during his strongest experiences
in RAYMOND. He had. in fact. entered
upon new experience The definition
of his own discipleship was receiving
an added test at this time, and he was
being led into larger truth ct his
Lord
The great church was filed to its ut
most. Henry Maxwell, coming into the
pulpit from that all night vigil, felt the
pressure Of a great curiosity on the part
of the people They had heard OF the
RAYMOND movement, as ali the churches
had, and the recent action Of DR.. Bruce
had added to tie general interest IN the
pledge With this curiosity was some
thing deeper. more serious Mr.. Max
well felt that also. and in the knowledge
that the Spirits presence was his living
strength be brought his message and
gave it to the church that day.
Ee had never been what would be
called q great preacher. Ee had not the
force OF the quality that makes re,aark-
able preachers. But ever since he had
promised to Go as Jesus would do be
had grown in {: certain quality OF per
snasiveness that had al the essentials OF
true elcqUence. This morning the peo-
pie felt the complete sincerity acd hu-
Baility of a man who had gone Geep lEto
the hsars o. s1ea' uaSh -Alsel .., ss..
ing o.ae.-s o. soi'e iesai,s - A-s .,se..a a
cnorcn IL ls'S iiio.1o go 10 pl.a7s
was ssAsa le "s--s % - .,sA s.ae .e.4o 49,,
tlon he hao oSei' <,sA-t' ; 80 -, ~ 60 -.
7nent E,eeuha re hf''' lSAea ~ .-1.s l'S
theme the story o. t,ie o',nS 1''''11 !" ~
came TO Jesus as.-1n5 Ni'at &c iius' eo
10 OBTAIN e0eE1s3-i NE, Jesus ii"'' .e,.eu
nm 9eil al 'hat 's,o', a@s' a..e S'-ve
10 the poor ara .io'' Ssi',!' n.'se :. e.'''1e
IN heaven, a'-o' eoiiie' ioi.o., -
bos the .o''isss A.',n y 80 ,-0' W
su1ef 20 'i.al e, 's,.i-. II ioiioN' ny "ss,,s
meant saHerllss IA ',4.' SS'> ne ~. va
not W3ls,, &c "o',-e' 60 . 1o.-'l,'
Jesus. Out co' !. i'e '-Sss % f'''e ~ -
mucA
is II lfee. e9-s'.s.3 '.si i-e-1-s -seS,A-
Eeil &11;; MS l!i1e. s,!ot7-i . q i'es'
giowed WITH {: ii1iss.o.e. o. &;5i1,i>i s.,'>'
stirred 'ae seo:1;e e 'ass' h..'' s,.-sso-,i
been stlTree-ls L 's5ss ''.i,1 'tle eh,..ssi
OF t9d&y. 'he csiilfcn 1h2s's ca!is1' "a 81
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