The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-01-18
scoNTINUED.J

The bishop sat down, end immediate
ly man near the middle of the hall
rose and began to speak.
II want to say that what NJ. Max
well has said tonight comes pretty close
to me- knew Jack Manning. the ici
low he to-! about. who died ut his
house worked on next case TO his III
a printers shop in Philadelphia for two
years. Jack was good fellow. He lent
me IS once when was in u hole, and
never got Il chance to pay it back. He
moved to New York. owing to change
in the management of the Office that
threw him out. and | never saw him
again. When the linotype machine
came in, was one of the men to go
out, Just as he did. have been ont
most Of the time since. They say in
ventions are good thing. | won't al
ways see it myself. but suppose I'm
prejudiced. A man naturally is when
he loses steady job because a machine
takes his place. About this Christianity
he tells about, it's all right, but l never
expect to see any such sacrifice on the
part of church people. So far as my OBJ
servation goes, they're just as selfish
and as greedy for money or worldly
success as anybody. except the bishop
and DR.. Bruce and few others, but !
never found much difference between
menpf the woi ID. as they re called, and
church members when it came to busi-
ness and money making. One class is
just as bad as another there.
Cries of "That's sol" "You re right I"
"Of coursel" interrupted the speaker,
and the minute he sat down two men
who were or their feet for several sec
onds before the first speaker was through
began to talk at once.
The bishop called them to order and
indicated which was entitled to the
floor. The man who remained standing
began eagerly:
'"This is the first time l was ever in
here, and maybe it II be the last. Fact
is, I'm about at the end of my string.
I've tramped this city for work until
I'm sick. I'm in plenty Of company.
Say, I'd like to ask question of the
minister If it's fair. May If'
"That's for Mr.. Maxwell to say"
said the bishop.
"By all Means replied Mr.. Max
well quickly. "Of course will not
promise to answer it to the gentleman 8
satisfaction"
'This is my question. The man
leaned forward and stretched out long
arm, with certain dramatic force that
grew naturally enough out Of his con-
dition as human being. ~ want to
know what Jesus would do in my case
haven't had stroke Of work for two
months I've get wife and three chill
dren, and love them as much as If l
was worth million dollars. I've been
living off a little earnings saved up
during the Worlds fair jobs got. I'm
q carpenter by trade, and I've tried ev-
cry way know to get job. You say
we ought to take for our motto, What
would Jesus dor What would he do il
he was out Of work like me9 can't be
somebody else and ask the question. !
want to work. I'd give anything to
grow tirC1 of working ten hours a day
the way used to- Am to blame be-
cause can't manufacture job for my
self? I've got to live and my wife and
my children. But howY What would
Jesus doi You say that's the question
we all ought to ask.
Henry Maxwell sat there staring at
the great sea CT faces all intent on his,
and no answer to this mans question
seemed for the time being, to be possi-
bic. 80 God" his heart prayed "This
is a question that brings up the entire
social problem in all its perplexing en-
tanglement Of human wrongs and its
present condition. contrary to every de-
sire of God for human beings well
fare. Is there any condition more awful
than for man in good health, able and
eager to work, with no means OF honest
livelihood unless he does work. actually
unable to get anything to do and driven
to one of three things-begging for
charity at the hands Of friends or
strangers or suicide or starvation
What would Jesus dot It was fair
question for the man to ask. 1t was the
only question he could ask, supposing
him to be disciple Of Christ, but what
question for any man to be obliged to
ask under such conditional
All this and more did Henry Maxwell
ponder. All the others were thinking n
the same way. The bishop sat there
with look 30 stern and sad that it was
not hard to tell how the question moved
him. Dr.. Bruce had his head bowed.
The human problem had never seemed
to him so tragic as since he had taken
the pledge and left his church to enter
the settlement. What would Jesus do :
II was terrible question, and still the
man stood there, tall and gaunt and al
most terrible, with his arm stretched
out in an appeal which grew every Sec
ond in meaning.
At length Mr.. Maxwell spoke:
''Is there any man in the room who
Is Christian disciple who has been in
this condition and has tried to do as
Jesus would dot II 90. such man can
a