The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27

P2ok written in Topeka, Kan, three
wears ago by Charles NJ. Sheldon. The
title of 1t is. I'm His Steps, or What
Would Jesus Do?" The London Daily
mail announced that 100000 copies of
the book had been sold. but that OF
course. Is hardly possible. 1t is fact,
nevertheless. that town councils and
other municipal bodies in English cities
have actually passed laws based on the
suggestions in this book. In that way
1t has accomplished a tremendous
amount Of good. The book has a wide
circulation in the west, but in the east
it is hardly known.
Charles M. Sheldon, in the preface
to his work: I'm His Steps, or What
Would Jesus Do?" says that the SER
monastery was first written in the win
ter 1896, and read by the author. a
chapter at his time, to his Sunday
evening congregation in the Central
Congregational church. Topeka. Kan.
It was then printed as a serial in The
Advance, in Chicago, and was SO well
received that it was brought out sub
sequently in book form. 1t has been
warmly and thoughtfully welcomed by
endeavor societies, temperance organ
izations and Y. M. c. AS, he says.
The story opens with the hero of the
book, the Rev. Henry Maxwell, a cler-
gyman in little city of very matter
of fact prosaic and even wicked char
acter, finishing up his Sunday morning
sermon. His wife starts out shopping
and he settles himself at his desk,
and begins to write from the text.
First Peter. H., 81: For hereunto were
We called; because Christ also suffered
for you, leaving you an example that We
should follow his steps,"
He had emphasized in the first part
of his sermon the atonement as per-
sonal sacrifice. calling attention to the
fact that Jesus suffered in various ways
in his life as well as in his death, and
ha dentered upon the third and last
point-the necessity of following Jesus
in his sacrifice and example-when
there came a ring at the door bell. He
walked to the window and saw a shah
bily-dressed young man standing on
the steps. He went down to him.
II am out Of job. SIR" said the
man, land thought maybe you might
put me in the way of getting some
thing"
II don't know of anything. Jobs are
scarce" replied the minister, beginning
to shut the door slowly.
II did not know but you might be
able to give me line to the city rail-
way or superintendent Of the shops, or
something" continued the young man,
shifting his faded hat from one hand
to the other, nervously."
'It would be Of no use," the minister
replied. "You will have to excuse me.
am very busy this morning. I hope
you will find something. Sorry cannot
give you something to do here, but /
the work myself" and Mr.. Maxwell re-
turned to his sermon on the necessity
of following Christ in his sacrifice and
example.
w ME LIcy WSIS CdlIA5 uAAASA AAIS
wife told him of tramp-like man who
came and sat in the kindergarten and
frightened the teachers. 1t was the
same Individual who had called ask
ing for job. The minister went on to
tell his wife the heads Of his sermon,
and to hope that it would not rain on
the day Of its delivery.
The sermon was a striking production
spoken with the passion Of dramat-
ic utterance that had the good taste
never to offend with any suspicion Of
ranting or defamation. The minister
was delighted with 1t and with himself.
AS he stood in the pulpit and had turn
ed the half of the big bible over on his
manuscript, and was about to sit down
as the quartet prepared to rise and sing
the closing selection:
''All for Jesus, all for Jesus.
All my beings ransomed powers"
the entire congregation was startled by
the sound Of a mans voice. 1t came
from the rear Of the church, from one
Of the seats under the gallery. The
next moment the figure Of man came
out from the shadow there, and walk
ed down the middle aisle. 1t was the
tramp who had been in the kindergar-
ten. and who had stood on Mr.. Max
wells porch and asked for work. He
addressed the congregations:
II have been wondering since came
in here" he said. III it would be just
the thing to say a few words at the
close of this service. am not drunk.
and am not crazy. and I am perfect
ly harmless, but If die. as there is
every likelihood shall in few days. /
want the satisfaction Of thinking that
said my say in place like this. be-
fore Just this sort Of crowd"
There was nothing offensive in the
mans manner or tone. He was not ex-
cited. but spoke in a low, distinct voice.
No one in the church made any motion
to stop the stranger or in any way in
terrupt him.
81 am not an ordinary tramp" he
went on, though don't know Of any
teaching Of Jesus that makes one kind
OF tramp less worth saving than an
other. Do you?"