People's voice., 1900-03-29
In Dis Steps,
"What Would Jesus Do"
By Rev. Chas. M. Sheldon.

Cries OF THAT S sol "YOU re right !!
"Of course" interrupted the speaker,
and the minute he sat down two men
who were on their feet for several sec
onds before the first speaker was through
began to talk at once.
The bishop called them to order and
indicated which was entitled to the
floor. The man who remained standing
began eagerly:
"This is the first time / was ever in
here, and maybe it'll be the last. Fact
is, I'm about at the end Of my string
I've tramped this city for work until
I'm sick. I'm in plenty Of company
Say, I'd like to ask a question Of the
minister if it's fair. May ~
"That's for Mr.. Maxwell to say"
said the bishop.
"By all means" replied Mr.. Max.
well quickly. "Of course l will not
promise to answer it to the gentleman's
satisfaction.
"This is my question. " The man
leaned forward and stretched out long
arm, with certain dramatic force that
grew naturally enough out of his con-
dition as a human being. 81 want to
know what Jesus would do in my case?
| haven't had a stroke of work for two
months. I've got a wife and three chill
dren, and l love them as much as if l
was worth a million dollars. I've been
living off a little earnings | saved up
during the Worlds fair jobs | got. I'm
a carpenter by trade, and I've tried ev-
cry way l know to get a job. You say
we ought to take for our motto, What
would Jesus dor What would he do if
he was out of work like me? | can't be
somebody else and ask the question. !
want to work. I'd give anything to
grow tired Of working ten hours a day
the way used to. Am l to blame be-
cause | can't manufacture a job for my
self? I've got to live and my wife and
my children But how? What would
Jesus dof You say that's the question
we all ought to ask. "
Henry Maxwell sat there staring at
the great sea Of faces all intent on his,
and no answer to this mans question
seemed, for the time being, to be posi-
BILE. 80 GodI' his heart prayed This
is a question that brings up the entire
social problem in all its perplexing en-
tanglement of human wrongs and its
present condition, contrary to every de-
sire of God for human beings well
fare. Is there any condition more awful
than for man in good health, able and
eager to work, with no means of honest
livelihood unless he does work. actually
unable to get anything to do and driven
to one Of three things-begging for
charity at the hands of friends or
strangers or suicide or starvation?
What would Jesus dof 1t was fair
question for the man to ask 1t was the
only question he could ask, supposing
him to be disciple of Christ, but what
question for any man to be obliged to
ask under such conditionsr'
All this and more did Henry Maxwell
ponder. All the others were thinking in
the same way. The bishop sat there
with look so stern and sad that it was
not hard to tell how the question moved
him. DR.. Bruce had his head bowed.
The human problem had never seemed
to him 50 tragic as since he had taken
the pledge and left his church to enter
the settlement. What would Jesus do?
1t was ierrible question, and still the
man stood there, tall and gaunt and al
most terrible, with his arm stretched
out in an appeal which grew every sec
Ond in meaning.
At length Mr.. Maxwell spoke:
SIS there any man in the room who
is a Christian disciple who has been in
this condition and has tried to do as
Jesus would do? If so, such a man can
answer his question better than l can.
There was moments hush over the
room, and then a man near the front of
the hall slowly rose. He was an old
man, and the hand he laid on the back
of the bench in front of him trembled
as he spoke:
81 think l can safely say that have
many times been in just such a condi-
ton and have always tried to be a
Christian under all conditions don't
know that | have always asked this
question, What would Jesus do?' when
| have been out of work, but l do know
have tried to be his disciple at all
times. Yes, " the man went on. with 3
sad smile that was more pathetic to the
bishop and Mr. Maxwell than the Young
mans grim despair-"yes, l have beg
ged, and l have been to the charity Or
ganizatiOns, and l have done every
thing when out of a job, except steal
and lie, in order to get food and fuel. I
don't know that Jesus would have done
some of the things l have been Obliged
to do for living, but | know have
never knowingly done wrong when out
of work. Sometimes l think maybe he
would have starved sooner than beg l
don't know.
The old mans voice trembled. and he
looked around the room timidly. A 81
lence followed. broken by fierce voice
from a large, black haired. heavily
bearded man who sat three seats from
the bishop. The minute he spoke nearly
every man in the hall leaned forward
eagerly. The man who had asked the
question, ''What would Jesus do in nv
caSef' slowly sat dovn aDd osl-o3 81 :.