The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-10

Again Edward Norman looked I'M.
II state my honest conviction on this
point OF course / do not pass judgment
on the Christian men who are editing
other kinds of papers today. but as
interpret Jesus believe he would use
the influence of his paper to remove the
saloon entirely from the political and
social life of the nation.
"S. Jesus would not issue a. Sunday
edition.
80. He would print the news of the
world that people ought to know.
Among the things that they do not need
to know and which would not be pub-
lished would be brutal prizefghts, long
accounts Of crimes. scandals in private
families or any other human events
which in any way would conflict with
the first point mentioned in this out.
line
40. If Jesus had the amount of
money to use on paper which we have,
he would probably secure the best and
strongest Christian men and women
to cooperate with him in the matter of
contributors That will be my pur-
pose. as / shall be able to show you in
n few days
''11. Whatever the details Of the pa.
per might demand as the paper de-
veloped along its definite plan, the main
principle that guided it would always
be the establishment of the kingdom of
God in the world. This large general
principle would necessarily shape all
the details.
Edward Norman finished reading his
plan. He was very thoughtful
IL have merely sketched q very faint
outline. l have a hundred ideas for
making the paper powerful that l have
not yet thought out fully. This is sim
ply suggestive. I have talked it over
with other newspaper men. Some of
them say will have a weak, namby
pamby Sunday school sheet If l get
out something as good as a Sunday
school. it will be pretty good Why do
men when they want to characterize
something as particularly feeble always
use Sunday school as comparison
when they ought to know that the Sun.
day school is one Of the strongest, most
powerful influences in our civilization
in this country today. But the paper
will not necessarily be weak because
1t Is good. Good things are more DOW
erful than bad. The question with me
is largely one Of support from the Chris
tian people Of Raymond. There are over
20, 600 church members here in the
city. If half of them will stand by The
News, its life is assured. What do you
think. Maxwell, is the probability of
such support"
II don't know enough about it to
give an intelligent answer. l believe in
the paper with all my heart If it lives
q year, as Miss Virginia said. there is
no telling what it can do. The great
thing will be to issue such paper. as
near as We can judge, as Jesus probably
would and put into it all the elements
OF Christian brains. strength. intelli-
gence and sense and command respect
by the absence Of bigotry, of fanati-
cism. narrowness and any thing else that
is contrary to the spirit of Jesus. Such
paper will call for the best that hu-
man thought and action are capable of
giving. The greatest minds in the world
would have their powers taxed to the
utmost to issue Christian daily"
eyes, Edward Norman spoke hum
bly,. II shall make great mistakes, no
doubt. l need a great deal of wisdom
But l want to do as Jesus would.
What would he dor l have asked it
daily and shall continue to do SO and
abide by results.
II think we are beginning to under
stand, said Virginia "the meaning Of
that command, Grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. am sure l do not know
all that he would do in detail until l
know him better
THAT is very true" said Henry
Maxwell II am beginning to under
stand that cannot interpret the prob
able action of Jesus until / know better
what his spirit is. To my mind the
greatest question in all of human life is
summed up when we ask. What would
Jesus dor if as we ask it we also try
to answer it from growing knowledge
OF Jesus himself We must know Jesus
before we can initiate him"
When the arrangements had been
made between Virginia and Edward
Norman. he found himself in possession
of the sum of $500, 600, exclusively his
to use for the establishment of q Chris
tian daily paper When Virginia and
Henry Maxwell had gone. Norman
closed his door and. alone with the
Divine presence. asked like a child for
help from his all powerful Father All
through his prayer as he kneeled before
his desk ran the promise, IF any man
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who
giveth to all men literally and up
braideth not. and it shall be given
him. Surely his prayer would be an
swered and the kingdom be advanced