Decatur Democrat, Volume 43, Number 40, Decatur, Adams County, 14 December 1899 — Page 10

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• ♦ • • * -<• gIN HIS STEPS. I ■"" ■ H _ r US ■ H| n srs-j&j gg->E*ai - - •: “tlHiat TDouia 1 :: 4 Stesus Do?” ; I ’ . ... Sfc'TP’-T- V;-*X ,-wsstFs * * —. ~ .. .. By Charles M. Sheldon. ;i Hr- ij; 3 Copyrighted and pHl'lMuil in t.nhform by Uw <•> rSBSB="3| XX Advance Publishing Co. of Chicago.

them anything less than they had supposed they had paid for ? He was honestly perplexed by the question. So much was involved in the discontinuance of the Sunday edition that for the first time he almost declined to be guided by the standard of Jesus’ probable action. He was sole proprietor of the paper. It was his to shape as he chose. He had no board of directors to consult as to policy. But as he sat there surrounded by the usual quantity of material for the Sunday edition he reached some definite conclusions, and among them was the determination to call in the force of the paper and frankly state his motive and purpose.

He sent word for Clark and the other men in the office, including the few reporters who were in the building and the foreman, with what men were in the composing room (it was early in the morning, and they were not all in), to come into the mailing room. This was a large room, and the men came in, wondering, and perched around on the tables and counters. It was a very unusual proceeding, but they all agreed that the paper was being run on new principles anyhow, and they all watched Mr. Norman curiously as he spoke. “I called you in here to let you know my plans for the future of The News. I propose certain changes which I believe are necessary. I understand that some things I have already done are regarded by the men as very strange. I wish to state my motive in doing what I have done. ’ ’ Here he told the men what he had already told Clark, and they stared, as he had done, and looked as painfully conscious. “Now, in acting on this standard of conduct I have reached a conclusion which will no doubt cause some surprise. I have decided that the Sunday morning edition of The News shall be discontinued after next Sunday’s issue. I shall state in that issue my reasons for discontinuing. In order to make up to the subscribers the amount of reading matter they may suppose themselves entitled to, we can issue a double number on Saturday, as is done by very many evening papers that make no attempt at a Sunday edition. I am convinced that, from a Christian point of view, more harm than good has been

done by our Sunday morning paper. 1 do not believe that Jesus would be responsible for it if he were in my place today. It will occasion some trouble to arrange the details caused by this change with the advertisers and subscribers. That is for me to look after. The change itself is one that will take place. So far as I can see, the loss will fall on myself. Neither the reporters nor the pressmen need make any particular changes in their plans. ” Edward Ncrman looked around the room, and no one spoke. He was struck for the first time in his life with the fact that in all the years of his newspaper life he had never had the force of the paper together in this way. “Would Jesus do that? That is, would he probably run a newspaper cn some loving family plan where editors, reporters, pressmen and all met to discuss and devise and plan for the making of a paper that should have in view” — He caught himself drawing almost away from the facts of typographical unions and office rules and reporters’ enterprise and all the cold businesslike methods that make a great daily successful. But still the vague picture that came up in the mailing room would not fade away, even when he had gone into his office and the men had gone back to their places with wonder in their looks and questions of all sorts on their tongues as they talked over the editor’s remarkable actions. Clark came in and, had a long serious talk with the chief. He was thoroughly roused, and his protest almost reached the point of resigning his place. Norman guarded himself carefully. Every minute of the interview was painful to him, but he felt more than ever the necessity of doing the Christlike thing. Clark was a very valuable man. It would be difficult to fill his place. But he was not able to give any reasons for continuing the Sunday paper that answered the question. “What would Jesus do?” by letting Jesus print that edition. “It comes to this, then.” said Clark finally. “You will bankrupt the paper in 30 days. We might as well face that future fact. ” “I don’t think we shall. Will you stay by The News until it is bankrupt?” asked Edward Norman, with a strange smile.

“Mr. Norman, I don’t understand you. You are not the same man this week that I ever knew.” “I don’t know myself either, Clark Something remarkable has caught me up and borne me on. but I was never more convinced of final succc.w? and power for the paper. You have not answered my question. Will you stay with me?” Clark hesitated a moment and finally said “Yes. ” Norman shook hands with him and turned to his desk Clark went back into his room stirred by a number of conflicting emotions. He had never before known such an exciting and mentally disturbing week, and he felt now as If he were connected with an enterprise that might at any moment collapse and'ruin him and all connected with it Sunday morning dawned again on Raymond, and Henry Maxwell's church was again crowded. Before the service began Edward Norman attracted general attention. He sat quietly in his usual place about three seats from tha pulpit. The Sunday morning issue of The News containing the statement of its discontinuance had been read by nearly every man in the house. The announcement had been expressed in such remarkable language that every reader was struck by it No such series of distinct sensations had ever disturbed the usual business custom of Raymond. The events connected with The News were not all. People were eagerly talking about the strange things done during the week by Alexander Powers at the railroad shops and by Milton Wright in his stores on the avenue. The service progressed upon a distinct wave of excitement in the pews. Henry Maxwell faced it all with a calmness which indicated a strength and purpose more than usual. His prayers were very helpful. His sermon was not so easy to describe. How would a minister be apt to preach to his people if he came before them after an entire week of eager asking: “How would Jesus preach? What would he probably say?” It is very certain that Henry Maxwell did not preach as he had done two Sundays before. Tuesday of the past week he had stood by the grave of the dead stranger and said the words. “Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” and still he was moved by the spirit of a deeper impulse than he could measure as he thought of his people and yearned for the Christ message when he should be in his pulpit again. Now that Sunday had come and the people were there to hear, what would the Master tell them ? He agonized over his preparation for them, and yet he knew he had not been able to fit his message into his ideal of the Christ. Nevertheless no one in the First church could remember hearing such a sermon before. There was in tt rebuke for sin, especially hypocrisy ; there was definite rebuke of the greed of wealth and the selfishness of fashion, two things that First church never heard rebuked this

way before, and there was a love of his ) people that gathered new force as the 1 ( sermon went on. When it was finished, , there were those who were saying in . their hearts, “The Spirit moved that i sermon. ” And they were right. Then Rachel Winslow rose to sing, • this time, after the sermon, by Henry ■ Maxwell’s request. Rachel’s singing did ( not provoke applause this time. What , deeper feeling carried people’s hearts into a reverent silence and tenderness j of thought ? Rachel was beautiful, but I the consciousness of her remarkable loveliness had always marred her sing- i ing with those who had the deepest spiritual feeling. It had also marred! her rendering of certain kinds of music with herself. Today this was all gone. ! There was no lack of power in her j grand voice, but there was an actual: added element of humility and purity' which the audience strictly felt and' bowed to. Before the service closed Henry Max-' well asked those who had remained j the week before to stay again for a few moments for consultation and any others who were willing to make the pledge taken at that time. When he ■ was at liberty, he went into the lecture room. To'his astonishment, it was al-I most filled. This time a large proportion of young people had come, but ; among them were a few business men and officers of the church. As before. Henry Maxwell asked' them to pray with him, and. as before, a distinct answer came in the presence of the Divine Spirit. There was no doubt in the minds of any one present that what they proposed to do was so clearly in line with the Divine will that a blessing rested on it in a very special manner. They remained some time to ask questions and consult together. There was a feeling of fellowship such as they had never known in their church membership. Edward Norman’s action was well understood by them all. and he answered several questions. “What will be the probable result of your discontinuance of the Sunday paper?” asked Alexander Powers, who sat next to him. “I don’t know yet. I presume it will result in a falling off of subscriptions and advertisements. I anticipate that. ” “Do yon have any doubts about your action ? I mean do you regret it for fear it is not what Jesus would do?” asked Henry Maxwell. “Not in the least, but I would like to ask for my own satisfaction if anyi one of you here thinks Jesus would issue a Sunday morning paper?” No one spoke for a minute. Then Jasper Chase said: “We seem to think alike on that, but I have been puzzled several times during the week to know just what he would do. It is not always an easy question to answer. ” “I find that trouble. ” said Virginia Page. She sat by Rachel Winslow. Every one knew who Virginia Page was, wondering how she would succeed in keeping her promise.

“I think perhaps I find it specially difficult to answer the question on account of my money. Jesus never owned any property, and there is nothing in his example to guide me in the use of mine. lam studying and praying. I think I see clearly a part of what he would do, but not all ‘What would Jesus do with a million dollars?’ is my question really. I confess that I am not yet able to answer it to my satisfaction. " “I could tell you what to do with a part of it,” said Rachel, turning her face toward Virginia. “That does not trouble me,” replied Virginia, with a slight smile. “What I am trying to discover is a principle of Jesus that will enable me to come the nearest possible to his action as it ought to influence the entire course of my life, so far as my wealth and its use are concerned. ” “That will take time,” said Henry Maxwell slowly. All the rest in the room were thinking hard of the same thing. Milton Wright told something of his experience. He was gradually working out a plan for his business relations with his employees, and it was opening up a new world to him and them. A few of the younger men told of special attempts to answer the question There was almost general consent over the fact that the application of the Jesus spirit and practice to everyday life was the serious thing. It required a knowledge of him and an insight into his motives that most of them did not yet possess. When they finally adjourned after a silent prayer that marked with growing power the Divine presence, they went away discussing earnestly their difficulties and seeking light fsom one another. Rachel Winslow and Virginia Page went out together. Edward Norman and Milt on Wright became so interested in their mutual conference that they walked on past Norman’s home and came back together Jasper Chase and the president of the Endeavor society stood talking earnestly in one corner of the room. Alexander Powers and Henry Maxwell remained even after all the others had gone. “I want you to come down to the shops tomorrow and see my plan and talk to the men. Somehow I feel as if you could get nearer to them than any one else just now. ” “I don’t know about that, but I will come.” replied Henry Maxwell, a little sadly. How was he fitted to stand before 200 or 300 workingmen and give them a message? Yet in the movement of his weakness, as he asked the question. he rebuked himself for it What would Jesus do? That was an end to the discussion. He went down the next day and found Alexander Powers in his office. It lacked a few minutes of 12. and the superintendent said, “Come upstairs, I and I 11 show you what I’ve been try-

ing to do. ” They went through the machine shops, climbed a long flight of stairs and entered a very large empty room. It had once been used by the company for a storeroom. “Since making that promise a week ago I have had a good many things to think of.” said the superintendent, “and among them is this: Our company gives me the use of this room, and I am going to fit it up with tables and a coffee plant in the corner there where those steam pipes are. My plan is to provide a good place where the men can come up and eat their noon lunch and give them, two or three times a week, the privilege of a 15 minutes' talk on some subject that will be a real help to them in their lives. ” Maxwell looked surprised and asked if the men would oome for any such purpose. “Yes. they’ll come After all I know the men pretty well They are among the most intelligent workingmen in the country today, but they are. as a whole, entirely removed from all church influence. I asked. 'What would Jesus do? and. among other things, it seemed to me he would begin to act in some way to add to the lives of these men more physical and spiritual comfort It is a very little thing, this room and what R represents, but I acted on the first impulse to do the first thing that appealed to my good sense, and I want to work out this idea I want you to speak to the men when they come up at noon I have asked them to come up anil see the place and I’ll tell them something about it ” Henry Maxwell was ashamed to say how uneasy he felt at being asked to speak a few words to a company o workingmen. How could he speak without notes or to such a crowd ? He was honestjy in a condition of genuine fright over the prospect Ho actual:.' felt afraid of facing these men. H e shrank from the ordeal of confronting such a crowd, so different from the Sunday audiences he was familiar with There were half a dozen long rue tables and benches in the great room. and when the noon whistle sounded the men poured up stairs from the machine shop below and. seating themselves at the tables, began to eat their lune There were perhaps 300 of them. They had read the superintendent's notice which he had posted up in various places, and came largely out of curl osity They were favorably impressed. Tie room was large and airy, free from smoke and dust and well warmed from the steam pipes. ~. About 20 minutes of 1 Alexandei Powers told the men what he had n mind He spoke very simply, like one who understands thoroughly the CL acter of his audience, and then into > duced the Rev. Henry Maxwell of tne First church, his pastor, who had cc n sented to speak a few minutes. Henry Maxwell will never forget t