Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-03-01

ana DaSSOS he DelleVeQ 1t would master
the coming Of the kingdom quicker
than any other one force. ''Why, oh
why" he cried in his heart as he lis
tened, "has the world great treasure il
song been so often held far from the
poor because the personal possessor OF
voice or fingers capable of stirring di
vinest melody has so often regarded the
gift as something with which to make
money? Shall there be no martyr:
among the gifted ones of the earth
Shall there be no giving of this great
gift as well as of others y
And Henry Maxwell again, as before,
called up that other audience at the
Rectangle, with increasing longing for
a larger spread of the new discipleship.
What he had seen and heard at the set
tlement burned into him deeper the be-
lief that the problem of the city would
be solved if the Christians in it should
once follow Jesus as he gave command
ment But what of this great mass of
humanity, neglected and sinful, the
very kind of humanity the Saviour
came to save, with all its mistakes and
narrowness, its wretchedness and loss
of hope-above all, its unqualified bit
terness toward the church? That was
what smote Henry Maxwell deepest.
Was the church, then, so far from the
Master that the people no longer found
him in the church? Was it true that
the church had lost its power over the
very kind of humanity which in the
early ages of Christianity it reached in
the greatest numbers? How much was
true in what the socialist leader said
about the uselessness of looking to the
church for reform or redemption be-
cause Of the selfishness and seclusion
and aristocracy of its members?
He was more and more impressed
with the appalling fact that the COM
paratively few men in the hail. now
being held quiet for awhile by Rachel s
voice, represented thousands of others
just like them, to whom a church and
a minister stood for less than SALOON
or beer garden as a source of comfort
or happiness. Ought it to be so? If the
church members were all doing as Jesus
would do, could it remain true that
armies of men would walk the streets
for jobs and hundreds of them curse
the church and thousands of them Snd
in the saloon their best friend? How
far were the Christians responsible for
this human problem that was personally
illustrated right in this hall tonight
Was it true that the great city churches
would. as rule, refuse to walk in Je-
sus' steps so closely as to suffer, actual
ly suffer. for his sakef
Henry Maxwell kept asking this ques-
ton even after Rachel had finished sing
ing and the meeting had come to an
end, after u 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
Element was He asked 1t during con-
ference with the bishop and DR.. Bruce
which lasted until l 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 a. ii <had@neverssvss
over the settlement district and saw the
life of the people so far removed from
the life abundantly. Would the church
members, would the Christians, not
only in the churches of Chicago. but
throughout the country, refuse to walk
in his steps if, in order to do so. they
must actually take up cross and fol-
low him?
This was the one question that con-
tinually demanded answer. Hs had
tlanned, when he came to the city, to
ieturn to Raymond and be in his own
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 evening services.
At first he hesitated, but finally ac-
cepted, seeing in it the hand OF the
Spirits guiding power. He would test
his own question. He would prove the
truth or falsity Of the charge made
against the church at the settlement
meeting. How far would it go in Its
gelf denial for Jesus sake2 How close
would it walk in his steps? Was the
church willing to suffer for its Master
Saturday night he spent in prayer
nearly the whole night. There had new
er been SO great wrestling in his SOUL
even during his strongest experiences
in RAYMOND. He had, In fact, entered
upon a new experience. The definition
of his own discipleship was receiving
an added test at this time, and he was
being led into larger truth OF his
Lord.
The great church was filled to its ut
most. Henry Maxwell, coming into the
pulpit from that all night vigil, felt the
pressure of great curiosity on the part
Of the people They had heard OF the
RAYMOND movement, as all the churches
had, and the recent action of DIR. Bruce
had added to the general interest IN the
pledge. With this curiosity was some7
thing deeper, more serious MIR. Max
well felt that also, and in the knowledge
that the Spirits presence was his hvine
strength he brought his message and
gave 1t to the church that day.
He had never been what would DC
called a great preacher. He had not the
force or the quality that makes remark.
able preachers. But ever since he had
promised to do as Jesus would do nc
had grown in certain quality OF per
suasiveness that had all the essentials ol
true eloquence. This morning the peo
mility of man who had gone deep lntt
the heart Of great truth After tell
ing briefly of some results in his owl
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask tho ques
ton he had been asking since the settle
ment meeting. He had taken for hi
theme the story of the young man wh'
came to Jesus asking what he must az
to obtain eternal life. Jesus had teste'
him: "Sell all that thou hast and give
to the poor and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And, come; follow me.
But the young man was not willing u
suffer to that extent If following Jesu
meant suffering in that way, he wa
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus, but not If he had to give up 81
much.
"Is it true, continued Henry Max
well. and his fine, thoughtful fac
glowed with n passion OF appeal ina
stirred the people as they had seldom
been stirred-'is it true that the churcl
of today, the church that is called afte
Christ's own name, would refuse U
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering