Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-01-15

G.3993439@193 3@33@v39&81e
1--WE all understand, SAID Henry
Maxwell, speaking very quietly, ''what
we have undertaken to do. We pledge
ourselves to do everything in our daily
lives after asking the question, What
would Jesus do?' regardless of what
may be the result to US. Some time L
shall be able to tell you what marvel
Gus change has come over my life with
in weeks time l cannot now. But
the experience / have been through
since last Sunday has left me so dissat-
isfied with my previous definition of
discipleship that have been compelled
to take this action. / did not dare be-
gin it alone. I know that I am being
led by the hand of Divine love in all
this. The same Divine impulse must
have led you also Do we understand
fully what we have undertaken?
81 want to ask a question, said
Rachel Winslow
Every one turned toward her. Her
face glowed with a beauty that no love-
illness could ever create.
81 am little in doubt as to the
source of our knowledge concerning
what Jesus would do. Who is to decide
for me just what he would do in my
case2 1t is a different age. There are
many perplexing questions in our civil
ization that are not mentioned in the
teaching of Jesus. How am going to
tell what he would do?'
"There is no way that 1 know of, d"
replied Mr.. Maxwell, Except as we
study Jesus through the medium of the
Holy Spirit. You remember what Christ
said speaking to his disciples about the
Holy Spirit:
'Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of
Truth is come, he shall guide you into
all the truth. for he shall not speak
from himself. But what things soever
he shall hear, these shall he speak, and
he shall declare unto you the things
that are to come. He shall glorify me,
for he shall take of mine and shall de-
clare it unto you. All things whatso-
ever the Father hath are mine; there
fore said that he taketh of mine and
shall declare it unto you.
'NThere is no other test that 1 know
of. We shall all have to decide what
Jesus would do aftsx going to that
source of knowledge
What if others say of us when we
do certain things that Jesus would not
do so?' asked the superintendent of
railroads
eve cannot prevent that, but we
must be absolutely honest with our
selves. The standard of Christian action
cannot vary in most of our acts -
'tAnd yet what one church member
thinks Jesus would do another refuses
to accept as his possible course of &C
tion. What is to render our conduct
uniformly Ckristlike? Will it be posi-
BILE to reach the same conclusions al
ways in all cases3'' asked President
Marsh.
Henry Maxwell was silent some time.
Then he answered
'No; don't know that we can ex-
pect that. But when it comes to gen
uine, honest, enlightened following of
Jesus steps cannot believe there will
be any confusion either in our own
minds or in the judgment of others.
We must be free from fanaticism on
one hand and too much caution on the
other. If Jesus example is the example
for the world. it certainly must be
feasible to follow it. But we need to
remember this great fact-after we
have asked the Spirit to tell us what
Jesus would do and have received an
answer to it we are to act regardless of
the results to ourselves. Is that under
stood2"
All the faces in the room were raised
toward the minister in solemn assent.
There was no misunderstanding the
Henry Maxwells face
quivered again as he noted the president /
of the Endeavor society, with several /
members. seated back of the older men
and women.
They remained little longer, talk
ing over details and asking questions, +
and agreed to report to one another ev- !
cry week at regular meeting the re-
suit of their experiences in following !
Jesus in this way. Henry Maxwell
prayed again. And again, as before, the
Spirit made himself manifest. Every /
head remained bowed a long time They !.
went away finally in silence.
There was a feeling that prevented !
speech. Henry Maxwell shook hands I
with them all as they went out. Then /
he went to his own study room back of F
the pulpit and kneeled down. He re- +
manned there alone nearly half an hour.
When he went home, he went into the |
room where the dead body lay. AS he !!
looked at the face he cried in his heart I
again for strength and wisdom. but not |
even yet did he realize that a move I
ment had been begun which would lead /
to the most remarkable series of events |
that the city of Raymond had ever !
known
CHAPTER II
He that saith he abideth in him ought also to