Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-09-16
In His Steps
(From page 3

tion
 There was almost general consent over the fact that the application of the Jesus spirit and practice to every day life was the serious thing. It re- quired knowledge of him and an in- sight into his motives that most of them did not yet possess.
 When they finally adjourned after silent prayer that marked with grow ing power the Divine presence, they went away discussing earnestly their difficulties and seeking light from one another
 Rachel Window and Virginia Page went ont together Edward Norman aId Milton Wright became so interest cd in their mutual conference that they walked on past Norman's s home and came back together Jasper Chase and the president of the Endeavor society stood talking earnestly in one corner Of the room Alexander Powers and Henry Maxwell remained even after all the others had gone
 t.I want you to come down to the shops tomorrow and see my plan and talk to the men Somehow l feel as if you could get nearer to them than any one else just now.
 4'I don know about that, but will come, replied Henry Maxwell, lit tie sadly How was he fitted to stand before 200 or 300 workingmen and give them a message2 Yet in the movement of his weakness. as he asked the ques- tion, he rebul1ed himself for it. What would Jesus do2 That was an end to the discussion.
 He went down the. next day and found Alexander Powers in his office It lacked few minutes of t2. and the superintendent said, "Cone up stairs, and I'll show you what I've been try ing to do :,
 They went through the machine shops. climbed long flight of stairs and entered 3 very large empty room It had once been used by the company for storeroom.
 .sSinee making that promise a week ago have had q good many things to think of, " said the superintendent ssand among them is this Our com pany gives ne the use of this room, and l am going to fit it up with tables and a coffee plant in the corner there where those steam pipes are. Ny plan is to provide a good place where the mon can come up and eat their noon lunch and give tl3am two or three times week, the privilege of a 15 minutes talk on some su blect that will be a real 4I,.,,, {I4,.,t f.x-1g,=
 Maxwell looked surprised and asked if the men Woald come for any sneh purpose.
 ..Yea. they'll come. After all. I know the men pretty well They are among the most intelligent workingmen in the country today, but they are as whole, entirely removed from all church infu ence. asked What would Jesus dor and among other things, it seemed to me he would begin to act in some way to add to the lives of these men more physical and spiritual comfort It IS very little thing, this room and what it represents, but 1 acted on the first i'm pulse to do the first thing that appealed to my good sense. and l want to work out this idea. I want you to speak to the men when they come up at noon. l have asked them to come up and see the place and Il tell them something about it. 7
 Henry Maxwell was ashamed to say how uneasy he felt at being asked to speak few words to company of workingmen How could he speak with out notes or to such a crowd He was honestly in a condition of genuine fright over the prospect. He actually felt afraid of facing these men, He shrank from the ordeal of confronting such a crowd. so different from the Sunday audiences he was familiar with.
 There were half dozen long rude tables and benches i'll the great room, and when the noon whistle sounded the men poured up stairs from the machine shop below and, seating themselves at the tables. began to eat their lunch There were perhaps 300 of them. They had read the superintendent notice which he had posted up in various places. and came largely out Of curi- osity
 They were favorahly impressed The room was large and airy free from smoke and dnst and well warmed from the steam pipes
 About 20 minutes of Alexander Powers told the men what he had in mind Ee snoSe very simply like one who understands thoroughly the char acter of his audience and then intro tduced the Isay. Henry Maxwell of the First church. his pastor. who had cen scented to speak few minutes
 Henry Maxwell will never forget the feelings with which for the first time he confronted that grimy faced audi ence of workingmen. Like hundreds of other ministers. he had never spoken to ax<<,<,v,t thoco da ,1yN aF