The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1900-02-07


the city is regarded % veryl I6
factor in the coming election HeYlm-
lpresscd me. as did all the other disciples
in this movement. as having fought out
some hard questions and as having
taken mp some real burdens that have
caused and still do cause that suffering
Of which Henry Maxwell speaks. suf-
fering that does not eliminate but does
appear-to intensity positive and prac-
teal joy.
"But / am prolonging this letter,
possibly TO your WEAKNESS. / am I'M
able to avoid the feeling of fascination
which my entire stay here has increased
/ want to tell You something of the
meeting in the First church today
''As said, heard Maxwell preach.
AT his earnest request / had preached
for him the Sunday before. and this
was the first time had heard him since
the association four years ago. His SER
mon this morning was as different from
his sermon then as if it had been
thought out and preached by some one
living on another planet. was pro-
foundly touched / believe / actually
shed tears once. Others in the congre-
cation were moved like myself. His
text was What is that to thee? Fol-
low thou me-. And it was most un.
usually impressive appeal to the Chris
tians of Raymond TO obey Jesus teach
ings and follow in his steps, regardless
OF what others might do. l cannot give
you even the plan of the sermon. 1t
would take too long. AT the close of the
service there was the usual after meet
ing that has become regular feature
of the First church. Into this meeting
have come all those who made the
pledge TO do as Jesus would do, and the
time is spent in mutual fellowship, con-
fession, questions as to what Jesus
would do in special cases and prayer
that the one great guide of every dis
ciple's conduct may be the Holy Spirit
Maxwell asked me TO come into this
meeting. Nothing in all my ministerial
life, Caxton, has so moved me as that
meeting. ] never felt the Spirit pres
ence so powerfully. 1t was a meeting Of
"reminiscences and of the most loving
fellowship l was irresistibly driven in
thought back to the first years of Chris
tianity. There was something about all
this that was apostolic in its simplicity
and Christ imitation
~ asked questions. One that seemed
to arouse more interest than any other
was in regard to the extent of the
Christian disciples sacrifice of personal
property. Henry Maxwell tells me that
so far no one has interpreted the spirit
of Jesus in such way as to abandon
his earthly possessions. give away all
his wealth or in any literal way initiate
the Christians of the order, for exam
pie, of ST. Francis of Assist 1t was the
unanimous consent, however, that if
any disciple should feel that Jesus in
his own particular case would do that
there could be only one answer to the
question. Maxwell frankly admitted
that he was still, to certain degree,
uncertain as to Jesus probable action
when it came to the details of house
hold living, the possession of wealth,
the holding of certain Injuries. 1t is,
however, evident that very many of
these disciples have repeatedly carried
their obedience to Jesus to the extreme
limit, regardless of financial loss There
is no lack of courage or consistency at
this point It is also true that some Of
the business men who took the pledge
have lost great sums of money in this
imitation of Jesus, and very many
have like Alexander Powers, lost valu-
able positions owing to the impossibility
of doing what they had been accus-
toned to do and at the same time doing
what they felt Jesus would do in the
same place. In connection with these
cases it is pleasant to record the fact
that many who have suffered in this
way have at once been helped financial
ly by those who still have means. In
this respect think it is true that these
disciples have all things in common.
Certainly such scenes as l witnessed at
the First church at that after service
this morning / never saw in my church
OF any other. / never dreamed that
such Christian fellowship could exist in
this age of the world. am almost in
credulOus as to the witness of my own
senses. | still seem to be asking myself
if this is the close of the nineteenth CEN
tury in America.
''But now, dear friend, come TO the
real cause Of the letter, the real heart
of the whole question as the First
church of Raymond has forced it upon
me. Before the meeting closed today
steps were taken to secure the cooper
alton of all other Christian disciples in
this country. l think Henry Maxwell
took this step after long deliberation.
He said as much to me one day when
called upon him and we were discuss
ing the effect of this movement upon
the church in general.
Why. he said, suppose that the
church membership generally in this
country made this pledge and lived up
to it. What revolution it would cause
in Christendom But why not Is it
any more than the disciple ought to do?
Has he followed Jesus unless he is will
ing to do this9 Is the test of disciple
ship any less today than it was in Jesus