CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
Henry Maxwell paced his study back and forth, thinking out the subject of his Wednesday evening service. After a while he sat down at his desk and drew a large piece of paper toward him. Then he wrote in large letters the following:
Things Jesus Would Probably
Do in This Parish
1. Live in a simple, plain manner.
2. Preach fearlessly to the hypocrites in the church.
3. Show in some practical form His sympathy and love for all people.
4. Identify Himself with the great causes of humanity in some personal way that would call for self-denial and suffering.
5. Preach against the saloon in Raymond.
6. Become known as a friend and companion of the sinful people in the Rectangle.
7. Give up the summer trip to Europe this year.
He was conscious that his outline of Jesus’ probable action painfully lacked depth and power, but he searched for concrete shapes into which he might cast his thought of Jesus’ conduct. Nearly every point he’d put down meant a complete overturning of his custom and habit of years in the ministry. But still he searched deeper for sources of the Christlike spirit. A servant broke into his thoughts, announcing a caller, Mr. Gray. He immediately stated the reason for his call.
“You have heard what a wonderful meeting we had Monday night and last night. Miss Winslow has done more with her voice than I could do, and the tent won’t hold the people.”
Maxwell nodded.
“But I came to ask if you could come down tonight and preach. I am suffering from a severe cold. I know it is asking a good deal from such a busy man. But if you can’t come, say so frankly, and I’ll try somewhere else.”
“It’s my regular prayer meeting night,” began Henry Maxwell. Then he flushed and added, “I shall be able to arrange it in some way so as to come down.”
Gray thanked him earnestly and rose to go.
“Won’t you stay a minute, Gray, and let us have a prayer together?”
So the two men knelt together in the study. Gray was touched to tears as Henry Maxwell begged for wisdom and strength to speak a message to the people in the Rectangle.
The night was mild and the sides of the tent were up and a great border of faces stretched around, looking in and forming part of the audience. After the singing and a prayer by one of the city pastors who was present, Gray stated the reason for his inability to speak and in his simple manner turned the service over to “Brother Maxwell, of the First Church.”
Henry Maxwell stood up, and a great wave of actual terror went over him. This was not like preaching to the well-dressed, respectable, good-mannered people up on the boulevard. He began to speak, but the crowd was unruly. He turned to Rachel with a sad smile.
“Sing something, Miss Winslow. They will listen to you,” he said, and then sat down and covered his face with his hands.
Before Rachel finished the verse, the Rectangle lay like some wild beast at her feet, and she sang it into harmlessness.
When the song was over, Maxwell rose again. This time he felt calmer. What would Jesus do? He spoke as he thought once he never could speak. Who were these people? They were immortal souls. What was Christianity? A calling of sinners, not the righteous, to repentance. How would Jesus speak? What would He say? He could not tell all that His message would include, but he felt sure of a part of it. And in that certainty he spoke on.
When the meeting closed, the people rapidly melted away from the tent, and the saloons, which had been experiencing a dull season while the meetings progressed, again drove a thriving trade. Maxwell and his little party, including Virginia, Rachel, and Jasper Chase, walked down past the row of saloons and dens until they reached the corner where the cars passed.
“This is a terrible spot,” said the minister as he stood waiting for their car. “I never realized that Raymond had such a festering sore. It does not seem possible that this is a city full of Christian disciples.”
“Do you think anyone can ever remove this great curse of drink?” asked Jasper.
“I have thought lately as never before of what Christian people might do to remove the curse of the saloon. Why don’t we all act together against it? What would Jesus do? Would He keep silent? Would He vote to license these causes of crime and death?”
He talked to himself more than to the others. He remembered that he had always voted for license, and so had nearly all his church members. What would Jesus do? Would the Master preach and act against the saloon if He lived today? Suppose it was not popular to preach against license? Suppose the Christian people thought it was all that could be done to license the evil and so get revenue from the necessary sin? Or suppose the church members themselves owned the property where the saloons stood—what then?
He went up into his study the next morning with that question only partly answered. He was still thinking of it and reaching certain real conclusions when the Evening News came. His wife brought it up and sat down a few minutes while he read to her.
The Evening News was at present the most sensational paper in Raymond. It no longer printed accounts of crime with detailed descriptions or scandals in private life. The advertisements of liquor and tobacco were dropped, together with certain others of a questionable character. Now the character of the editorials was creating the greatest excitement. Monday’s editorial was headed:
THE MORAL SIDE OF POLITICAL QUESTIONS
The editor of the News has always advocated the principles of the great political party at present in power and has discussed all political questions from the standpoint of expedience, or of belief in the party as opposed to other political organizations. From now on, the first question asked in this office will be, “Is this measure in accordance with the spirit and teachings of Jesus as the author of the greatest standard of life known to men?” The moral side of every political question will be considered its most important side, and the ground will be distinctly taken that nations as well as individuals are under the same law to do all things to the glory of God as the first rule of action.
The same principle will be applied toward candidates for places of responsibility and trust in the republic. The editor of the News will do all in his power to bring the best men into power, and will not knowingly help to support for office any candidate who is unworthy, no matter how much he may be endorsed by the party. The first question asked about the man and about the measures will be, “Is he the right man for the place?” “Is he a good man with ability?” “Is the measure right?”
As Maxwell read to his wife, he could see in almost every column evidences of Norman’s conscientious obedience to his promise. There was an absence of slangy, sensational scare heads. The reading matter under the headlines was in perfect keeping with them. He noticed in two columns that the reporters’ names appeared signed at the bottom. And there was a distinct advance in the dignity and style of their contributions.
Maxwell suddenly paused. His wife looked up from some work she was doing. He was reading something with the utmost interest. “Listen to this, Mary,” he said after a moment while his lip trembled:
This morning Alexander Powers, superintendent of the L&T RR shops in this city, handed in his resignation to the road, and gave as his reason the fact that certain proofs had fallen into his hands of the violation of the Interstate Commerce Law and state law, which has recently been framed to prevent and punish railroad pooling for the benefit of certain favored shippers. Mr. Powers has placed his evidence against the company in the hands of the Commission and it is now for them to take action.
The News wishes to express itself on this action of Mr. Powers. In the first place, he has nothing to gain by it. He has lost a very valuable place voluntarily, when by keeping silent he might have retained it. In the second place, we believe his action ought to receive the approval of all thoughtful, honest citizens who believe in seeing law obeyed and lawbreakers brought to justice. In our judgment, Mr. Powers did the only thing that a Christian man could do. He has rendered brave and useful service to the state and the general public. It is not always an easy matter to determine the relations that exist between the individual citizen and his fixed duty to the public. In this case, there is no doubt in our minds that the step that Mr. Powers has taken commends itself to everyone who believes in law and its enforcement. Mr. Powers has done all that a loyal, patriotic citizen could do. It now remains for the Commission to act upon his evidence, which, we understand, is overwhelming proof of the lawlessness of the L&T. Let the law be enforced, no matter who the persons may be who have been guilty.