The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-02-07
IN HIS STEPS.
4uhat 4l1uuln
3esus Dn z"
BY Charles N. Sheldon.
Copwigltsd and pxbltshsd IN book form BY the
ADVANCE Publishing Co. of Chicago.

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No one ever knew what that inter-
view between Felicia and her mother
WaA It In certain that she must have
I'D her mother something Of the spir-
1eual power that had awed every person
present In the company Of disciples from
Nasareth Avenue church who faced DIR
Bruce In that meeting after the morn
1Dg service It Il, also certain TINT Fe-
hcfa had c~ver known such an expert.
enco and never would have thought Of
dAaxing 10 with her mother IL it had not
essn for tho prayer the evening before.
Another fact is also known Of Felicia 9
expsrience at this time When she
1naliy Joined her father and Rose at
- table. she seemed unable to tell
eAem much about the meeting. There
was reluctance to speak Of IL. as one
might hesitate to attempt q description
a . wonderful sunset to person who
Dsver TALKED about anything but the
weather. When that Sunday in the
Sesrling mansion was drawing to a
caoss and the soft. warm lights through
eut the dwelling were glowing through
Ne great windows. In q corner Of her
room where the light was obscure Fe-
2cia kneeled. and when she raised her
1ace and turned 10 toward the light il
was the ace Of . woman who had al.
ready defined for herself the greatest
tasues Of earthly life.
That same evening. after the Sunday
evening service. the Rev. Calvin Bruce.
n d.. OF Nazareth Avenue church, was
talking over the events of the day with
1iS wife They were Of one heart and
mind in the matter and faced their new
Suture with all the faith and courage
- new disciplea Neither was deceived
- to the probable results Of the pledge
90 themselves or TO theSchurch.
They had been talking but little
while when the bell rang. and Dr.
Bruce. going to the door. exclaimed as
he opened IL: ''It IL you. Edwardl
Come ini''
There came into tho hall command.
ing figure. The bishop was Of extraor.
diary height and breadth Of shoulder.
Int Of such good proportions that there
was no thought of ungainly or even Of
unusual size. The impression the bishop
Dads on strangers was first that OF
great health and then of great affection.
He came into tho parlor and greeted
3rA Bruce. who after q few moments
was called ont Of the room. leaving the
two men together.
The bishop sat In deep easy chair
before the open fire There was Just
enough dampness in the early spring of
the year to make an open fire pleasant.
"Calvin. you have taken very seri.
ous step today sc finally said. lifting
his largo dark eyes to his old college
classmates face. 'I heard OF ii this
afternoon ! could not resist the desire
to sec you about it tonight.
'I'm glad you came DR.. Bruce sat
near the bishop ana laid hand on his
shoulder. "You understand what this
means. EdwardS"
'T think do--yes: am sure" The
bishop spoke very slowly and thought
fully. he sat with his hands clasped to-
gether. Over his face. marked with
lines Of conservation and service and
tho love OF men. a shadow crept, q
shadow not caused by the freight.
Again he lifted his eyes toward his old
friend
calvin. We have always understood
each other Ever since our paths led MS
In different ways In church life we have
walked together In Christian fellow
ship
1T Is true" replied Dr. Bruce. with
m emotion he made no attempt to con.
ceal or subdue. Thank God for it. I
prize your fellowship more than any
mans ! have always known what it
meant though 1t has always been more
than deserve.
The bishop looked affectionately at
his friend. but the shadow still rested
on his face After pause he spoke
again
''The new discipleship means crisis
Tor you In your work. II you keep this
pledge to do all things as Jesus would
do. as ] know you will. il requires no
prophet TO predict some remarkable
changes in your parish" The bishop
looked wistfully at Bruce and then con.
tinued I'm fact. do not see how q
perfect upheaval of Christianity as we
now know IL can be prevented IL the
ministry and churches generally take
the Raymond pledge and live it out. =
He paused as II he were waiting for his
friend 70 say something. to ask some
question. but Bruce did not know OF
the FIRE that was burning in the bishop's
heart over tho very question that Max.
well and himself had fought out.
Now. In my church. for instance.
continued Tie bishop lit would bo
rather a difficult matter. fear. To- find
very many people who would take a
rledgo like that and live mp to it Mar
tyrdom Is n lost art with us. Our Chris
tianity loves It's ease and comfort too
well To- take mp anything so rough and