Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-02-09

Tie Advance PUBLISHING 10 VI Nhicaso'I
~ knew you would replied the
:. shop quietly and / came in this
evening to say that | shall be obliged
10 do the same with my charge"
DR.. Bruce turned and walked up TO
his friend They were both laboring
under repressod excitement.
"Is it necessary in your case?" asked
Bruce
"Ycs. Let mo state my reasons
Probably they are the same as yours.
In fact, am sure they are. The
bishop paused moment, then went on
with increasing feeling:
"Caein, you know how many years
| have been doing the work of my posi-
ton. and you know something Of the
responsibility and the care of it, l do
not mean to say that my life has been
free from burden bearing or sorrow,
but | have certainly led what the poor
and desperate of this sinful city would
call very comfortable "A very
luxurious-life. | have beautiful
house TO live in. the most expensive
food, clothing and physical pleasures. |
have been able 10 90 abroad at least a
dozen times and have enjoyed for years
the beautiful colnpanionship of art and
letters and music and al the rest of the
very best. have never known what it
meant 10 be without money or its
equivalent. and have been unable to
IL . 1T
suffered for the sake of Christi Paul
was told what great things he must
suffer for the sake of his Lord. Max
well position at Raymond is well tax
en- when he insists that to walk in the
steps of Christ means 20 suffer Where
has my suffering come i'm The petty
trials and annoyaucee of my clerical life
are not worth mentioning a sorrows or
suffering Compared with Paul or any
of the Christian martyrs on early disci-
plies. have lived luxurious, sinful
IL, fun IF y,.st and pleasure. | cannot
endure this any longer | have that
within me which Of late rises in over
whclmiug condemnation Of such fol
lowing of Jesus have not been walk
ing in his step, Under the present sys-
tenn of church and social life | see no
escape from TINS condemnation except
to give the rest of my life personally to
the actual physical and soul needs Of
the wretched people in the worst part
of this city
The bishop had risen now and walked
over TO the window. The street in front
of the hous, was rs light as day, and
he looked ont at the crowds passing
then turned, and. with a passionate ut
terance that showed how deep the vol
canic fire in him burned, he exclaimed
Calvin. this is terrible city in
which we live. Its misery. its sin. its
seifshne-o, appail my hedit, and have
struggled for years with the sickening
dread of the time when l should be
forced to leave the pleasant luxury of
my official position t. pat my life into
contact with the modern paganism OF
this century The awful condition Of
the girls in the great department stores.
the brutal selishncss of the insolent So
cioty. fashion and wealth that ignores
all the SORROWS of the city, the fearful
curse Of the drink and gambling hell,
the wall of the unemployed, the hatred
OF the church by countless men who see
in the church only great piles of costly
stone and upholstered furniture and the
minister rs luxurious idler. all the
vast tumult of this vast torrent of hui
manity with It's false and its true ideas,
its cXaygcration Of evils in the church
and its bitterness and shame that are
the result of many complex causes-all
this as a total fact. in Its contrast with
the easy. comfortable life | have lived,
fills nae more and more with sense Of
mingled terror and self accusation. |
have heard the words Of Jesus many
times lately 'lnasWuch - " did it not
unto one Of these least my brethren,
We did il not to mo And when have /
personally visited tho prisoner or the
desperate or the sinful in any way that
has actually caused me suffering?
Rather ! have followed the conven-
tional, soft habits Of my position and
have lived in the society Of the rich.
refined aristocratic members Of my con
RroSations Whore has the suffering
come in What have / suffered for
jesus sakey DO you know, Calvin -
the bishop turned abruptly toward his
friend-"l have been tempted of late
to lash myself with scourSe If / had
lived III Martin LutheT's time. | would
have barred my back to "A self inflicted
torture.
DR.. Bruce was very pale Never had
he seen the bishop or heard him when
under the influence Of such a passion.
There was a sudden silence in the room.
The bishop had sat down again and
bowed his head Dr. Bruce spoke at last
Edward. do not need 10 say that
You have expressed my feelings also ]
have been in similar position for
years. My life has been one Of compar-
alive luxury. ! 60 not, of course, mean
TO say that | have not hard trials and
and burdens in my
church ministry, but cannot say that
| have suffered any for Jesus. That
verse in Peter haunts me. Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an exam