Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-01-08
"What l am going to propose now i,

''What | am going to propose now
something which ought not to appea
unusual or at all impossible of execu
ton, yet L am aware that it will be S
regarded by large number perhaps Q
the members of the church But, i
order that we may have a Thorough
understanding of what we are consid
erlng, will put my proposition yer,
plainly, perhaps bluntly. I want volun
teers from the First church who will
! pledge themselves earnestly and honest
/ ~ for an entire year not to do anything
| without first asking the question
what would Jesus dor And after ask
ing that question each one will follow
Jesus as exactly as he knows how, ne
matter what the results may be. 1 will
OF course, include myself in this com
pany OF volunteers and shall take fol-
granted that my church here will not
be surprised at my future conduct as
based upon this standard of action and
/ will not oppose whatever is done if they
think Christ would do it. Have I made
my meaning clear? At the close of the
service here I want all those members
of the church who are willing to Join
will talk over the details of the plan.
Our motto will be, What would Jesus
dor Our aim will be to act just as he
would 1t he were in our places, regard
less of Immediate results. In other
words, we propose to follow Jesus steps
as closely and as literally as we believe
he taught his disciples to do. And those
who volunteer to do this will pledge
themselves for an entire year, begin
ming with today, so to act.
Henry Maxwell paused again and
looked over his church. It is not easy
to describe the sensation that such
simple proposition apparently made.
Men glanced at one another in aston
ishment It was not like Henry Max
well to define Christian discipleship liz
this way. There was evident confusion
of thought over his proposition. 1t was
understood well enough, but there was
apparently great difference of opinion
as to the application of Jesus teaching
and example.
Henry Maxwell calmly closed the
service with brief prayer. The organ
list began his postlude Immediately aft
er the benediction, and the people be-
gan to go out There was great deal
of conversation. Animated groups stood
all over the church discussing the min
listers proposition. 1t was evidently
provoking great discussion. After sew
eral minutes Henry Maxwell asked all
who expected to remain to pass into
the lecture room on the side. He him
self was detained at the front of the
church talking with several persons
there, and when he finally turned around
the church was empty. He walked over
to the lecture room entrance and went
in He was almost startled to see the peO
pie who were there. He had not made
up his mind about any of his members.
but he had hardly expected that SO
many were ready to enter into such a
literal testing of their discipleship as
now awaited them. There were perhaps
so members present. Among them were
Rachel Winslow and Virginia Page.
Mr.. Norman. President Marsh. Alex
ander Powers, the railroad superintend-
ent Milton Wright, DR.. West and Jas
per Chase.
The pastor closed the door of the lee
ture room and stood before the little
group. His face was pale, and his lips
trembled with emotion. 1t was to him
genuine crisis in his own life and that
of his parish. No man can tell until he
is moved by the Divine Spirit what he
may do or how he may change the cur
rent of a lifetime of fixed habits of
thought and speech and action. Henry
Maxwell did not, as we have said. yet
know himself all that he was passing
through, but he was conscious of a
great upheaval in his definitions of
Christian discipleship, and he was
moved with depth of feeling he could
not measure as he looked into the faces
of these men and women on this occa-
sion.
It seemed to him that the most fitting
word to be spoken first was that Of
prayer. He asked them all to pray with
him, and almost with the first syllable
he uttered there was distinct presence
of the Spirit felt by them all As the
prayer went on this presence grew in
power. They all felt it. The room was
filled with it as plainly as if it had been
visible. When the prayer closed, there
was silence that lasted several mo-
ments. All the heads were bowed.
Henry MaxwelIs face was wet with
tears. IF an audible voice from heaven
had sanctioned their pledge to follow
the Masters steps, not one person pres
emit could have felt more certain of the
Divine blessing. And so the most seri-
GUS movement ever started in the First
church of Raymond was begun.
To be continued.
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