Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-03-09


Master that the people no longer found
him in the church; Was it true that
the church had lost its power over the
very kind of humanity which in the
early ages of Christianity il reached in
the greatest numbers How much was
true in what the socialist leader said
about the uselcssness of looking TO the
church for reform or redemption be-
cause of the selfishness and seclusion
and aristocracv of its members
lie was more and more impressed
with the appalling fact that the com
paratively few men in the hall. now
being held quiet for awhile by Rachels
voice, represented thousands of others
Just like them To y HON a church and
a minister stood for less than saloon
or beer gard II as II source of comfort
OF happiness. OuGht il To be soI II the
church members WCycGll doing as Jesus
would do. could IT remain true that
armies of men would walk the streets
for jobs and hundreds of them curse
the church and thousands of them find
in the saloon their best friend How
far were the Christians responsible for
tins human problem that was personally
illustrated right in this hall tonightr
Was it true that the great city churches
would. rs rule, refuse 10 walk in Je-
sus steps So closely a. % suffer, actual
" suffer. for his sake?
Henry Maxwell kept asking this ques-
ii IN even after Rachel Lad finished sing
ing and the meeting had come to an
end, after social gathering which was
very informal He asked il while the
little company of residents, with the
Raymond visitors. were having devo-
tional service as the custom in the set
Element YVES. He asked il during "a con
ference with the bishop and DR., Bruce
which lasted until | . clock. He asked
it as he kneeled again before sleeping
and poured ont his soul in his petition
for spiritual baptism on the church in
America such ~ il had never known.
He asked il the first thing in the morn
Ing and all through the day as he went
over the settlement district and saw the
life of the people so far removed from
The life abundantly Would the church
members. would the Christians, not
only in the churches OF Chicago, but
throughout the country, refuse To walk
in his steps it, in order 10 do so. they
mrst actually take mp "A cross and fol
low himy
This " ls the one question that con
iinually demanded answer He had
pa.nned, who, ne came to the city. TO
return t, RAYMOND and be in his own
pulpit on SUNDAY. bat Friday morning
lac bad received at the settlement call
from the pastor Of one of the largest
churches in CHICAGO and had been in
yited 10 fill the pulpit for both morning
and evening services.
II hr t he hcsitatcd, but finally ac-
| 'pst H. seeing in it the hand Of the
$pI4t's guiding power. r. would test
his own question. He would provo the
trGtA or falsity Of the charge made
AGAINST the church at the settlement
meeting. How far would it 90 in its
self denial for Jesus sJ.,eY How close
would it walk in his steps Was the
! church willing 10 suffer for its Master
Saturday night he spent in prayer
nearly the whole night There had ncv.
er been so great a wrestling in his soul
even during his strongest experiences
in Raymond He had in fact entered
upon Il new experience. The definition
of his own diacipia.hip was receiving
an added test ut this time, and he was
being led into larger truth of his
| Lord
The great church was filed to its ut
most. Henry Maxwell, coming into the
pulpit from that all night vigil, felt the
pressure of a grea; curiosity Oh the part
of the people They had heard of the
Raymond movement, rs all the churches
had, and the recent action of DIR. Bruce
! had added 10 the general interest III the
pledge. With this curiosity was some
thing deeper. more sorious Mr. Max
well felt that also, ana in the knowledge
that the Spirit presence was bis living
strength he brought his message and
gave it To the church that day.
He had never been what would be
called great preacher. He had not the
force or the quality that makes remark
able preachers. but ever Slice hc lIdV
promised 10 do as Jesus would do he
had grown in a certain quality of per
suasiveness that had all the essentials OF
true eloquence. This morning the peo'
pie felt the complete sincerity and hu
mility If a man who had gone deep into
the heart of great truth. After tell
ing briefly Of some results in his Owl
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on 10 ask the ques
ton he had been asking since the settle
mcnt meeting He had taken for hi
theme the story Of the young man wh'
came To Jesus asking what he must dc
to obtain eternal life Jesus had tested
him: Sell all that thou hast and giv'
to the poor. and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And, come; follow me.
But the young man was not willing t
suffer 20 that extent. If following Jesu
meant suffering in that way, he wa
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus but not if he had to give mp 81
much.
"Is it true, ;" continued Henry Max
Ill o,J b;a 6po fhouUhtful fac