The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-14
By Charles N. Sheldon.


Probably they are the same as yours.
In fact, ] am sure they are. The
bishop paused moment, then went on
with increasing feeling:
4sCalvin, you know how many years
I have been doing the work of my posi-
ton, and you know something Of the
responsibility and the care Of it. J do
not mean to say that my life has been
free from burden bearing Or sorrow,
but I have certainly led what the poor
and desperate Of this sinful city would
call a very comfortable-yes a very
1nxurious-life. I have a beautiful
house to live in, the most expensive
food, clothing and physical pleasures l
have been able to go abroad at least a
dozen times and have enjoyed for years
fhe beautiful companionship of art and
letters and music and all the rest Of the
very best. / have never known what it
meant to be without money or its
equivalent, and I have been unable to
silence the question of late, sWhat have
I suffered for the sake Of Christi Paul
was told what great things he must
suffer for the sake of his Lord. Max
wells position at Raymond is well tax
en- when he insists that to walk in the
steps of Christ means to suffer. Where
has my suffering come in? The petty
trials and annoyances Of my clerical life
are not worth mentioning as sorrows or
suffering. Compared with Paul OF any
Of the Christian martyrs or early dlscl-
pies. I have lived a luxurious, sinful
life, full of ease and pleasure / cannot
endure this any longer. have that
within me which Of late rises IN ever
whelming condemnation of such fol-
lowing of Jesus. have not been walk
ing in his steps. Under the present sys-
tenn Of church and social life [ see no
escape from this condemnation except
to- give the rest of my life personally to
the actual physical and soul needs OF
the wretched people in the worst part
Of this city.
The bishop had risen now and walked
over to the window. The street in front
of the house was as light as day, and
he looked out at the crowds passing,
then turned, and, with a passionate ut
terance that showed how deep the vol
canic fire in him burned, he exclaimed:
1sCalvin, this is terrible city IN
which we live. Its misery, its sin, its
selfshness, appan my heart, and I have
struggled for years with the sickening
dread of the time when should be
forced to leave the pleasant luxury OF
my official position to pat my life into
contact with the modern paganism Of
this century. The awful condition of
the girls in the great department stores.
the brutal selhshness of the insolent So
ciety, fashion and wealth that ignores
all the sorrows of the city, the fearful
curse of the drink and gambling hell,
the wall of the unemployed, the hatred
Of the church By countless men who see
in the church only great piles of costly
stone and upholstered furniture and the
minister as luxurious ldler, all the
vast tumult Of this vast torrent Of hu-
manity with its false and its true ideas,
its exaggeration Of evils in the church
and its bitterness and shame that are
the result Of many complex causes-alt
this as total fact, in its contrast with
the easy, comfortable life have lived
Ellis me more and more with sense OF
mingled terror and self accusation. l
have heard the words of Jesus many
times lately, 'inasmuch as ye did it not
unto one of these least, my brethren,
-ye did it not to me- And when have /
s1ersonally visited the prisoner OF the
desperate or the sinful in any way that
has actually caused me sufferlngy
Rather l have followed the conven-
tional. soft habits of my position and
have lived in the society of the rich.
refined, aristocratic me,nbe Of my con-
gregations Where has the suffering
come ins What have suffered for
Jesus sake? Do you know, Calvin =
the bishop turned abruptly toward his
fSiend-'.I have been tempted of late
to lash myself with a scourge If had
lived in Martin Luther's time. l woald
have barred my BACK to self inflicted
torture.
Dr.. Bruce was very pale Never had
he seen the bishop or heard him when
under the influence Of such Z passion.
There was sudden silence in the room.
The bishop had sat down again and
bowed his head DR.. Bruce spoke 1t last
Edward. l DO not need to say that
you have expressed my feelings also !
have been in similar position for
years. Ny life has been one of compar-
ative luxury. do not. OF course, mean
to say that l have not hard trials and
aiscouragements snd burdens IN my
church ministry. but cannot say that
I have suffered any for Jesus That
verse in Peter haunts me, Christ also
suffered for you, leaving yol an exam
pie that ye sho;1ld follow his steps. /
have lived in luxury. Go not know
what it means to wait. also have had
my leisure for travel and beautiful com
pan;onsh;p. have been surrounded by
or+ ,,c,, .o,,,r1,.4c of f.iyiliZat he