Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-03-19

enough that every other paper in Ray
mond was on the other side. He did not
misunderstood the Importance and seri-
business Of the fight which was only just
begun It was no secret that The News
had lost enormously since it had been
governed by the standard of ''What
would Jesus dor The question now
was. would the Christian people of
Raymond stand by it?'' Would they
make it possible for Norman to conduct
daily Christian paper, or would their
desire for what is called "news, in
the way of crime, scandal, political
partisanship Of the regular sort and a
dislike to champion SO remarkable a re-
form in journalism, influence them to
drop the paper and refuse to give it
their financial support? That was, in
fact, the question Edward Norman was
asking even while he wrote the Satur
day editorial. He knew well enough
that his action expressed in that edi-
torial would cost him very dearly from
the hands Of many business men Of
Raymond, and still as he drove his pen
over the paper he asked another ques-
ton, ''What would Jesus dor That
question had become part of his life
now. It was greater than any other
But for the first time in it's history
Raymond had seen the professional
men. the teachers, the college profess
sOrs, the doctors, the minister's take
political action and put themselves
definitely and sharply in antagonism to
the evil forces that had so long con-
trolled the machine of the municipal
government. The fact itself was aston
ishing President Marsh acknowledged
to himself. with a feeling Of humilia
ton, that never before had he known
what civic righteousness could accom-
plish. From that Friday nights work
he dated for himself and his college
new definition Of the worn phrase. 1.-The
scholar in politics y Education for him
and those who were under his influence
ever after meant some element of sui
fering Sacrifice must now enter into
the factor of development.
At the Rectangle that week the tide
of spiritual life rose high and as yet
showed no signs Of flowing back. Rachel
and Virginia went every night, Vlr-
ginia was rapidly reaching conclusion
with respect to a large part Of her
money She had talked it over with
Rachel, and they had been able to
agree that if Jesus had a vast amount
Of money at his disposal he might do
with some Of it as Virginia planned
At any rate, they felt that whatever
Jesus might do in such a case would
have as large an element Of variety in
it as the difference in persons and cir
cumstances There could be no fixed
Christian way of using money. The
rule that regulated its use was unselfsh
utility
But meanwhile the glory of the
Spirits power possessed all their best
thought. Night after night that week
witnessed miracles as great as walking
on the sea or feeding the multitude
with a few loaves and fishes. for what
greater miracle than regenerated hui
manity? The transformation Of these
coarse, brutal, scottish lives into pray
ing, rapturOus lovers of Jesus struck
Rachel and Virginia every time with
the feelings that people may have had
when they saw Lazarus walk out Of
the tomb It was an experience full of
profound excitement to them.
Rollin Page came to all the meetings.
There was no doubt of the change that
had come over him. He was wonderful
ly quiet It seemed as if he were think
ing all the time. Certainly he was not
the same person. He talked more VII
Gray than with any one else. i-e did
not avoid Rachel. but j seemed to
shrink from any APP olrance of seeming
to wish to rene the old acquaintance
with her. Rachel found it even difficult
to express to him her pleasure at the
new life he had begun to know. He
seemed to be waiting to adjust himself
to his previous relations before this new
life began. He had not forgotten those
relations, but he was not yet able to
fit his consciousness into new ones.
The end of the week found the Rec
tangle struggling hard between two
mighty opposing forces, The Holy
Spirit was battling with all his super
natural strength against the saloon
devil which had so long held a jealous
grasp on it's slaves If the Christian
people of Raymond once could realize
what tie contest meant to the souls
newly awakened to a new life, 1t did
not seem possible that the election could
result in the old system of license. But
that remained yet to be seen. The hOr
ror of the daily surroundings of many
Of the converts was slowly burning its
way into the knowledge Of Virginia
and Rachel, and every night as they
went up town to their luxurious homes
they carried heavier hearts.
GA good many of those poor Great
ures will go back again., Gray would
say with a sadness too deep for tears
''The environment does have a good
deal to do with the character. It does
not stand to reason that these people
can ALWAYS resist the 81 oht and smell of