Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-11-11

SQ0lNaleuJ, aIQ I nave been qnoDle to silence the question of late, What have I suffered for the sake of Christ2' Paul was told what great things he must suffer for the sake of his Lord. SMay- wells position at Raymond is well talk en when he insists that to walk in tho steps of Christ means to suffer Where has my suffering <ome in? The petty trials and annoyances of my clerical life are not worth mentioning as sorrows or suffering. Compared with Paul or any of the Christian martyrs or early disei- pies, I have lived a luxurious, sinful life, full of ease and pleasure. cannot endure this any longer. l have that within me which of late rises in over whelming condemnation of such a fol lowing of Jesus. have not been walk ing in his steps. Under the present sys- tenn of church and social life sec no escape from this condemnation except to give the rest of my life personally to the actual physical and soul needs of the wretehed people ill the worst part of this city" "
 The bishop had risen now and walked over to the window. The street in front of the house was as light as day, and he looked out at the crowds passing then turned, and. with passionate ut teranee that showed how deep the vol canie fire in him burned, he exclaimed:
 "Calvin, this is 8 terrible city ill which we live. It's misery, it's sin, it's sel6shness, appall my heart, and have struggled for years with the sickening dread of the time when l should be forced to leave the pleasant luxury of my official position to put my life into contact with the modern organism of this century The awful condition of the girls in the great department stores, the brutal selfshness of the insolent so- ciety, fashion and wealth that ignores all the sorrows Of the city, the fearful curse of tie drink and gambling hell, the wall of the unemployed, the hatred of the church by countless men who see in the church only great piles of costly stone and upholstered furniture and the minister as luxurious Idler, all the vast tumu1t of this vast torrent of hu- manity with it's false and it's true ideas, its exaggeration of evils in the church and its bitterness and shame that are the result of many complex causes-all this as total fact, in it's contrast with the easy, comfortable life I have lived, fills me more and more with a sense of mingled terror and self accusation. 1 have heard the words of Jesus many times lately, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, my brethren, ye did it not to me. And when have 1 personally visited the prisoner or the desperate or the sinful in any way that has actually caused me suffering :? Rather have followed the eonven- tienal, soft habits of my position and have lived in the society of the rich, refined. aristoeratic members of my con- gregations Where has the suffering come in? What have I suffered for Jesus sake2 Do you know, Calvin - the bishop turned abruptly toward his friend-"I have been tempted of late to lash myself with a scourge. If I had lived in Martin Luthers time, l would have barred my back to a self inflicted torture. ''
 Dr. Bruce was very pale. Never had he seen the bishop or heard him when under the influence of such a passion. There was a sudden silence in the room. The bishop had sat down again and bowed his head Dr. Bruce spoke at last:
 Edward, I do not need to say that you have expressed my feelings also. have been in similar position for years My life has been one of eempar- ative luxury. do not, of course, mean to say that l have not hard trials and diseouragements and burdens in my church ministry, but cannot say that 1 have suffered any for Jesus. That verse in Peter haunts me, Christ also suffered for you. leaving you an exam pie that ye should follow his steps. l have lived in luxury. I do not know what 1t means to want. I also have had my leisure for travel and beautiful com panionship 1 have been surrounded by soft, easy comforts of civilization The sin and misery of this great city have beat like waves against the stone walls of my church and of this house in which I live, and I have hardly needed them. the walls have been so thick I have reached a point where cannot endure this any longer. am not con demning the church. I love her. am not forsaking the church. I believe in her mission and have no desire to de- stroy. Least of all, in the step I am about to take, do I desire to be charged with abandoning the Christian fellow ehip but feel I must resign my place as pastor of Nazareth Avenue church in order to satisfy myself that I am walking as I ought to walk in his steps In this action I judge no other minis ters and pass no criticism on others discipleship, but I feel as you do Into a closer contact with the sin and shame and degradation of this great city l must come personally, and know tAss to do that must sever my immediate connection with Nazareth Avenue church. dc not see any other way for myself to suffer for his sake as I feel ]