St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-01-17

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 great curiosity on the part
OF the people, They had heard of the
Raymond movement, as all the churches
had, and the recent action Of DR.. Bruce
had added to the general interest in the
pledge With this curiosity was some
thing deeper, more serious. Mr.. Max
well felt that also, and in the knowledge
that the Spirits presence was his living
strength he brought his message and
gave it to the church that day
He had never been what would be
called a great preacher. He had not the
force or the quality that makes remark
able preachers. But ever since he had
promised to 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 of man who had gone deep into
the heart of great truth. After tell
ing briefly of some results in his own
church in Raymond since the pledge
was taken he went on to ask the ques-
ton he had been asking since the settle
ment meeting. He had taken for his
theme the story Of the young man who
came to Jesus asking what he must do
to obtain eternal life. Jesus had tested
him. "Sell all that thou hast and give
to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure
in heaven. And, come; follow me. 4"
But the young man was not willing to
suffer to that extent. If following Jesus
meant suffering in that way, he was
not willing. He would like to follow
Jesus, but not if he had to give up so
much
'1s it true" continued Henry Max
well, and his fine, thoughtful face
glowed with passion of appeal that
stirred the people as they had seldom
been stirred-''is it true that the church
of today, the church that is called after
Christ's own name, would refuse to
follow Jesus at the expense of suffering,
of physical loss, of temporary gain2
The statement was made at large
gathering in the settlement last week
by leader of workingmen that it was
hopeless to look to the church for any
reform CT redemption of society. On
what was that statement based Plain
ly on the assumption that the church
contained for the most part men and
women who thought more of their own
ease and luxury than of the sufferings
and needs and sins of humanity. How
far was that true? Are the Christians
of America ready to have their disciple
ship tested2 How about the men who
possess large wealth? Are they ready to
take that wealth and use it as Jesus
woulds How about the men and women
of great talentH Are they ready to con-
secrate that talent to humanity, as Jesus
undoubtedly would do2
"Is it not true that the call has come
in this age for new exhibition of dis
cipleship, Christian discipleship? You
who live in this great, sinful city must
know that better than I do. Is it posi-
bic you can go your ways careless OF
thoughtless Of the awful condition of
men and women and children who are
dying, body and soul, for Christian
helpH Is it not matter of concern to
you personally that the saloon kills its
thousands more surely than war; Is it
not matter of personal suffering in
some form for you that thousands of
willing men tramp the
streets Of this city and all cities crying
for work and drifting into crime and
suicide because they cannot find it? Can
you say that this is none of your bust
ness? Let each man look after himself?
Would it not be true, think you, that
If every Christian in America did as
Jesus would do society itself, the bust
ness world-yes the very political sys-
tenn under which our commercial and
governmental activity is carried on
would be SO changed that human suffer-
ing would be reduced to a minimum
"What would be the result if all the
church members of this city tried to do
rs Jesus would do2 1t is not possible to
'ay in detail what the effect would be,
out it is easy to say, and it is true, that
the human problem would be-
gin to find an adequate answer.
"What is the test of Christian disci-
oleship? Is it not the same as in Christ's
own lifetime? Have our surroundings
modified or changed the test? If Jesus
we're here today, would he not call some
If the members of this very church to
10 just what he commanded the young
nan and ask him to give up his wealth
md literally follow him2 l believe he
would do that if he felt certain that
my church member thought more Of
lis possessions than of his Saviour The
Jest would be the same today as then.
believe Jesus would demand, he does
demand now, as close a following, as
much suffering, as great self denial, as
when he lived in person on the earth
Ind said, Except man renounceth all
hat he hath, he cannot be my disciple
that is, unless he is willing to do it
or my sake he cannot be my disciple.
"What would be the result if in this
'ity every church member 81 ould begin
o do as Jesus would do? 1t is not easy
% go into details of the result, but we
III know that certain things would be
that are now practiced by
hurch members. What would Jesus do
n the matter of wealth. How would |