The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1920-02-07

left in the Row"
At any other time, those iii command Of
the stores would have tried to get the print
ing presses at work, to run off hundreds of
thousands of the briefest of this literature.
But today, fear, nameless fear, held every
one in thrall.
The "Row" put up shutters and went
home or, at least, got away from busi-
ness.
Business everywhere was at standstill
By eleven o'clock most of the City houses
were closed. Some of the banks never
opened at ALL Throgmorton Street and the
Stock Exchange were in state of dazed
incredulity A few members were missing,
and these were known to be "expectants" of
the translation. Some one suggested trip
to the Salvation Army Headquarters, to see
if there were any Salvationists left there
A little band, about dozen, responded and
started out.
There was one Salvation Army lass in the
front shop at the headquarters. Her eyes
were red with weeping
mot all translated, them" began the
leader of the Stock Exchange band, address
ing her.
There was nothing fippant, nothing sneer-
ing in his tone of manner. The girl essayed
a reply but at first it ended in sob only
Presently she recovered herself enough
to say: "No, we're not all translated You
see, sir, the Army as body never quite
admitted the truth of the early return of our
Lord. 1t was always preached that we, as
an Army of Salvation, were raised up by
God to get all the world converted. A lady
in the train, as | came up to business, only
yesterday - though yesterday seems as far
off as Wesley's times - talked to me about
the Lords near return and said, God is
undoubtedly using the Army in evangelizing
the distant heather, and thus allowing them
to fulfill His purpose in calling out those
who are to form the Bride Of the Heavenly
Bridegroom; but the world will never be
converted before Christ comes for His
Church.
'She talked to me very beautifully and
simply; but, as she said, one could only. grasp
these truths in proportion as one kept clearly
in mind the things which belonged to the
separate Dispensations.
A." IT, she said, the Lord came tonight =
how little she or | dreamed that He actually
would this Dispensation would be closed,
and new one would begin tomorrow"
The girl looked around in a bewildered
way, almost as though she were looking for
something she had lost. Il have never
known anything about the dispensations and
their bearing on the Bible" she continued.
Il have always been taught that we should
all die, lie in our graves until the last day.
then appear before the Great White Throne,
and be judged according to our lives, and
all that. The lady who spoke to me yester-
day explained to me from the Bible that true
Christians would never be judged before
the Great White Throne
She told me that the true Christian who
might be living when the Lord should re-
turn, would be caught up into the air, with
all the Christian dead, who will rise from
their graves; and that then the only judg-
ment that can ever come to the Christian
will take place That will be at Christ's
judgment of rewards She said that eternal
life did not enter into the question. That
was settled once and for ever, but at Christ's
reward judgment the Christians work
would be tried"
Some of the silk-hatted listening men be-
gan to fdget. All this was foreign and un-
interesting to them.
"The lady,, the girl went on, promised to
meet me this morning at the station at the
same time as we met yesterday, should the
Lord tarry,' she said. But [ saw nothing
of her this morning. She has been caught
up of course to meet the Lord in the air,
and - the girls voice broke and her
eyes filled with tears.
One of the stockholders asked: "But why
if Salvationists are Christians, are you here
Why were you not translated"
God help me!" she cried, "I know now
now that it is too late-that | never really
was converted. was drawn into an Army
meeting by reports | heard Of the singing
and music. The Arny's methods fascina-
ted me, and | was moved with many emo
tions. went to the penitent form, and
afterwards joined the Salvation Army
but know now was not really saved"
She caught her breath in a quick sob,
then little glow suddenly filled her face,
as she added, "But I have settled the matter
this morning. I have yielded intelligently
to Christ. And" she cried, her eyes flash
ing with a holy light, "if witnessing for
Jesus means martyrdom, then, by Gods
grace, I'll show by my death that I am
His
The sound Of thousands of tramping
feet broke into the girls speech. The little
crowd of stockholders rushed to the door.
A dense mass Of men and women were
marching up the street. Every face was set
and serious. "To St. Paul's! To ST.
Pauls!' a stentorian voice was shouting
The stockholders joined the mighty crowd
which, grim, resolute, silent, swept on.