The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-01-18

tuIouynOut tne country refuse To walk
n his steps II. in order to do SO. they
must actually take up cross and fol.
low himy
This was the one question that con.
tinunlly demanded answer He had
planned, wnen ne came TO the city, 10
return to Raymond and be in his own
pulpit on Sunday, but Friday morning
he had received Mt 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 hctitated. but finally ac
cepted scciEy in it the hand of the
Spirits griding power. He would test
bis own question. He would prove the
truth or falsit. of the charge made
against the church at tie settlement
meeting. Bow far would it 20 in its
self denial fer ScsGS' sake? Low close
would it walk in his st~Is? Vas the
church wiling to cUif,r Tor it. ',astcrY
Saturday night he spent in prayer
nearl~ the whole NIGHT S'hcrH bad roy.
er hecn so rreat wrestling i'll his sorl.
even during his strongest experiences
in Raymond Hc bad, in fact, entered
rron now experience, Tho definition
of biz own di.ciplcship was RECEIVING
all added test at this time, and he was
being led into larger truth Of his
LORD
,h nI 70 81. NJ
most Henry Maxwell, coming iNto the
pulpit from that all night vigil, felt the
pressure of II 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. BrHce
had added to the general interest in the
pledge. With this curiosity was some
thing deeper. more serious Mr., Max
well felt that also, and in the knowledge
that the Spirits presence was his living
strength he brought his message and
gave it to the church that day.
He had never been what would be
called 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 he
had grown in certain quality OF per-
suasiveness that had all the essentials Of
true eloquence. This morning the peo-
pie felt the complete sincerity and hui
mility of man who had gone deep into
the heart Of great truth. After tell
ing briefly of some results in his own
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask the ques.
tion he had been asking since the settle
ment meeting. He had taken for his
theme the story Of the young man who
came to Jesus asking what he must do
to obtain eternal life Jesus had tested
him: "Sell all that thou hast and give
to the poor. and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And. come; follow me. y
But the young man was not willing to
suffer to that extent If following Jesus
meant suffering in that way, he was
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus, but NOT IL he had to give up 30
much.
"Is it true" continued Hen-y Max
well. and his f ghtful face
glowed with appeal that
stirred the people tney had seldom
been stirred-"is it vrue that the church
of today, the church that is called after
Christ's own name, would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering,
of physical loss. Of temporary gain ?
The statement was made at a large
gathering in the settlement last week
by leader Of workingmen that it was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform or redemption Of society. On
what was that statement based? Plain
ly on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought more of their own
ease and luxury than of the sufferings
and needs and sins of humanity. How
far was that trueH Are the Christians
Of America ready to, have their disciple
ship testedl How about the men who
possess large wealth? Are they ready to
take that wealth and use it as Jesus
would2 How about tho men and women
of great talenta Are they ready to con-
seCrate that talent to humanity, as Jesus
undoubtedly would do!
'Is it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition Of dis
cipleship, Christian discipleship' You
who live in this great. sinful city must
know that better than do. Is it posi-
BILE you can go your ways careless or
thoughtless Of the awful condition OF
men and women and children who are
dying. body and soul. for Christian
help2 Is it not matter Of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war; Is it
not q matter Of personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands OF
ablebodied, willing men tramp the
streets Of this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide because they cannot find itf Can
you say that this is none Of your busi-
ness Let each man look after himself
Would it not be true, think you, that
if every Christian in America did as
Jesus would do society itself, the busi-
ness world-yes, the very political sys-
! to,, ,,n1or xyb;ch our commercial and