El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-06
IN HIS STEPS.
ml1at Iuuln
Sesu8 1n
By Charles N. Sheldon.
Cbptriohted and published in book form By Us
Gdpdnce Publishing Co. of Chicago


That same evening, after the Sunday
evening service the Rev. Calvin Bruce,
D. D., of Nazareth Avenue church, was
talking over the events of the day with
his wife. They were of one heart and
mind in the matter and faced their new
future with all the faith and courage
of new disciples. Neither was deceived
as to the probable results of the pledge
to themselves or to the church.
They had been talking but a little
while when the bell rang, and DR..
Bruce, going to the door, exclaimed as
he opened it: ''It is you. Edwardl
Come inl''
There came into the hall a command
ing figure. The bishop was of extraor-
diary height and breadth of shoulder,
but of such good proportions that there
was no thought of ungainly or even of
unusual size. The impression the bishop
made on strangers was first that of
great health and then of great affection
He came into the parlor and greeted
Mrs. Bruce, who after a few moments
was called out of the room. leaving the
two men together
The bishop sat in a deep easy chair
before the open fire There was just
enough dampness in the early spring of
bACfy Cdi W AlchC Oh OpCh LII 70 pACdcoAps
''Calvin, you have taken very seri-
GUS step today" he finally said, lifting
his large dark eyes to his old college
classmates face 81 heard of it this
afternoon. 1 could not resist the desire
to see you about it tonight. %
I'm glad you came Dr.. Bruce sat
near the bishop and laid hand on his
shoulder. ''You understand what this
means, Edward2''
t'I think I do-yes; am sure" The
bishop spoke very slowly and thought
fully. He sat with his hands clasped to-
gether. Over his face, marked with
lines of conservation and service and
the love of men, a shadow crept,
shadow not caused by the freight
Again he lifted his eyes toward his old
friend
Calvin. we have always understood
each other. Ever since our paths led US
in different ways in church life we have
walked to- ether in Christian fellow
ship
''It is true" replied DR.. Bruce, with
an emotion he made no attempt to con-
ceal or subdue THANK God for it.
prize your fellowship more than any
mans I have always known what it
meant, though it has always been more
than deserve.
The bishop looked affectionately at
his friend, but the shadow still rested
on his face. After pause he spoke
again;
1.-The new discipleship means a crisis
for you in your work If you keep this
pledge to do all things as Jesus would
do, as 1 know you will, it requires no
prophet to predict some remarkable
changes in your parish" The bishop
looked wistfully at Bruce and then con-
tinued: ''In fact, I do not see how
perfect upheaval of Christianity as we
now know it can be prevented if the
ministry and churches generally take
the Raymond pledge and live it out .
He paused as if he were waiting for his
friend to say something, to ask some
question, but Bruce did not know of
the fire that was burning in the bishops
heart over the very question that Max
well and himself had fought out
"Now. in my church, for instance"
continued the bishop, sit would be
rather difficult matter, fear, to find
very many people who would take a
pledge like that and live up to it. Mar
tyrdom is a lost art with us. Our Chris
tianity loves its ease and comfort too
well to take up anything so rough and
heavy as a cross, and yet what does fol-
lowing Jesus mean2 What is it to walk
in his stepsf"
The bishop was soliloquizing now,
and it is doubtful if he thought for the
moment of his friends presence. For
the first time there flashed into Bruce's
mind suspicion of the truth. What !e
the bishop should throw the weight Of
H. - -
Raymond movement He had the fol-
lowing of the most aristocratic, wealthy,
fashionable people not only in Chicago,
but in several large cities What if the
bishop should join this new discipleshipl
The thought was about to be followed
by the word. DR.. Bruce had reached
out his hand and, with the familiarity
of lifelong friendship, had placed it on
the bishops shoulder and was about to
ask him a very important question
when they were both startled by the
violent ringing of the bell Mrs. Bruce
had gone to the door and was talking
with some one in the hall. There was a
loud exclamation, and then, as the
bishop rose and DR.. Bruce was stepping
toward the curtain that hung before
the entrance to the parlor, Mrs. Bruce
pushed it aside. Her face was white.
and she was trembling.
"Oh, Calvinl Such terrible newsl
Mr.. Sterling-oh, I cannot tell It'll What
fearful blow to those two girlsr'
"What is it2'' DIR. Bruce advanced
with the bishop into the hall and con-
fronted the messenger, a servant from
the Sterlings The man was without
his hat and had evidently run over with
the news as the doctor lived nearest of
any friends of the family