Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-03-09

entirely ont of the reach of the church
and all religious and even Christian in
huences.
What did he talk aboutG He had al
ready decided that point He told IN
the simplest language he could COM
mand some Of the results of obedience
to the pledge as il had been taken in
Raymond Every man and woman in
that audience knew something about
Jesus Christ They all had some idea OF
his character. and, however much they
had grown bitter toward the forms Of
Christian ecclesiasticism or the social
system. they preserved some standard
of right and truth, and what little some
of them still retained was taken from
the person of the peasant of Galilee.
So they were interested in what Max
well said what would Jesus dor" He
began to apply the question to the social
problem in general after finishing the
story of RAYMOND. The audience was
respectfully attentive. 1t was more than
that 1t was genuinely interested AS
Mr.. Maxwell went on faces all over the
hall leaned forward in way very sell
dom seen in church audiences or any
where else. except among worklngmen
or the people of the street when once
they are thoroughly aroused. What
would Jesus doy' Suppose that We're
the motto not only of the churches, but
of the business men. the politicians. the
newspapers the workingmen, the So
ciety people. How long would it take,
under such standard of conduct, TO
revolutionize the worldY What was the
trouble with the world? 1t was suffer
ing from selfshness No one ever lived
who had succeeded in overcoming self
ishness like Jesus If men followed him.
regardless of results. the world would
at once begin 70 enjoy new life
Henry Maxwell never knew how
much il meant To hold the respectful
attention of that hall full Of diseased
and sinful humanity The bishop and
DIR Bruce. sitting there, looking on.
seeing many faces that represented scorn
of creeds, hatred of the social order.
desperate narrowness and selhshness,
marveled that even 50 soCn, under the
influence Of the settlement life, the
softening process had begun TO lessen
the bitterness of hearts, many OF which
had grown bitter from neglect and in
difference.
And still, in spite Of the outward
show of respect Of the speaker, no one,
not even the bishop, had any true con-
ception Of the pent up feeling in that
room that night Among the men who
had heard Of the meeting and had re-
sponded to the invitation were 90 or 30
out Of work, who had strolled past the
settlement that afternoon, read the no
tice of the meeting and had come in
out Of curiosity and to escape the chill
east wind 1t was bitter night, and
the saloons were full, but in that whole
district Of over 80, 600 souls with the
exception Of the saloons, there was not
door open TO the people except the
clean, pure, Christian door Of the settle
ment. Where would a man without q
home or without work or without
friends naturally go unless to saloon
1t had been the custom at the settle
ment for free and open discussion to
follow an open meeting Of this kind,
and when Henry Maxwell finished and
sat down the bishop, who presided to
night, rose and made the announcement
that any man in the hall was at liberty
to ask questions, 10 speak out his feel
ings or declare his convictions, always
with the understanding that whoever
took part was &c observe the simple
rules that governed parliamentary bod
les and obey the three minute rule,
which by common consent, would be
enforced ON account Of the numbers
present.
Instantly a number Of voices from
men who had been at previous meetings
Of this kind exclaimed, Consent. con
sentl'
The bishop sat down, and immediate
II man near the middle of the hall
rose and began to speak
- II want to say that what Mr.. Max
well has said tonight comes pretty close
to me. | knew Jack Manning, the fell
low he told about, who died at his
house worked on next case to his IL
q printers shop in Philadelphia for tive
years. Jack was good fellow. He lent
me So once when / was in hole, ant
never got chance to pay it back. H'
moved to New York owing TO change
In the management of the Office tina
threw him out. and never saw hin
again. When the linotype machine
came in, was one of the men to g
:. out, just as he did. | have been on
most of the time since. They say in
ventions are a good thing l won't al
ways see it myself. but l suppose In
>prejudiced. A man naturally is whel
he loses steady job because machin
takes his place. About this Christianit.
he tells about. its all right, but neve
:. expect to see any such sacrifice on tn
part of church people. So far as my oh
servation goes they're just as seltis
and as greedy for money or world
success as any body. except the bisho
and DR.. Bruce and few others, but
never found much difference betwee
men Of the world as they're called, an
church members when il came to busi
ness and money making. One class
Just as bad as another there
a L