Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1900-09-23


 was shut in by rows of saloons, gar1S bling hells and cheap. dirty boarding and lodging houses.
 The First church of Raymond had never touched the Rectangle problem. It was too dirty, too coarse, too sinful. too awful, for close contact. Let us be honest There had been an attempt to cleanse this sore spot by sending down an occasional committee of singers, of Sunday school teachers or gospel vis- itors from various churches, but tho church of Raymond as an institution had never really done anything to make the Rectangle any less stronghold of the devil as the years went by.
 Into this heart of the coarse part of the sin of Raymond the travelling evan gelist and his brave little wife had pitched good sized tent and begun meetings It was the spring of the year. and tho evenings were beginning to be pleasant. The evangelists had asked for the help of Christian people and had received more than the usual amount of encouragement, but they felt great need of more and better music. During the meetings on the Sunday just gone the assistant at the organ had been taken i'll. The volunteers from the city were few and the voices of ordinary quality
 .sThere will be small meeting to- night, John, said his wife as they en- tered the tent little after o'clock n,,I hafro., &f, arro,,era fI< ,1,o,v.a ona light up
 ''Yes; I think so. - Mr. Gray was a small, energetic man. with pleasant voice and the courage of highborn fighter. He had already made friends in the neighborhood, and one of his converts. heavy faced man. who had just come in, began to help in the arr rangement of the seats.
 It was after s o'clock when AIexan- der Powers opened the door of his office and started to go home. He was going to take car at the corner of the Rec- tangle, but as he neared it he was aroused by Q voice coming from the tent
 1t was the voice of Rachel Wins1ow. It struck through his consciousness of struggle over his own question that had sent him into the Divine presence for an answer He had not yet reached 3 conclusion. He was troubled with un- certainty His whole previous course of action as railroad man was the poor est possible preparation for anything sacrideial, and he could not yet say what he would do in the matter.
 Harkl What was she aingingf How did Rachel Winslow happen to be down here? Several windows near by went up. Some men quarreling in saloon stopped and listened. Other figures were walking rapidly in the direction of the Rectangle and the tent
 Surely Rachel Winslow never was happier in her life. She never had sung like that in the First church. It was marvellous voice. What was it she was financial and social success. have been unable since I made my promise two weeks ago to imagine Jesus joining singing Again Alexander Powers. su- perintendent of the machine shops. paused and listened
 sfghsre he leads me I wifi follow,
 Where he leads ine wial follow
 Where he leads me vii fN w
 I'll go with him, with him a.l the way
 The brutal. stolid coarse impure life of the Rectangle stirred itself into new life as the song, US pure as the sur roundings were vile, foated out into saloon and den and foul lodging. Some one stumbling hastily by Alexander Powers said in answer to question:
 ''The tents beginning to run over tor night. That's what the talent calls music, eh z
 The superintendent turned toward the tent. Then he stopped, and after q moment of indecision he went on to fhol corner and took the car for his home, but before he was out of the sound of Rachels voice he knew that he had ret tied for himself the question of what Jesus would do. siss ssz Gro Be Continued}