CHAPTER XII.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 2091, 30 September 1899, Page 4

CHAPTER XII.

Wben Henry Maxwell began to speak to the souls crowded into the Settlement Hall that night it is doubtful if he had ever before faced euch an audience m bis life. It had be en the custom at the Settlement for a free and open discussion to follow an open meeting of this kind, and wben Henry Maxwell finished and gat down, the B.'sbop rose and made the announcement that any man m the hall was nt liberty to ask questions. Instantly a number of voices exclaimed, • O-nßcnt ! consent ! ' The Bishop eat down, and imrnediattly a man near the middle of the hall rose. . • I want to aay that what Mr Maxwell has paid to-nig' t comes pretty close to h?p. Hut I suppose l'rc prejudiced. So f.r as my. observation goef, church people are just as selfish and as greedy for money or worldly success as anybody. I except the Bishop and Dr. Bruce, and a few others. But I never found much difference tetween men of the world and church members, wben it came to business and money-makirg.' Cries of ' That's so 1' • You're right ! ' 'Of course ! ' interrupted the speaker. Arfolher man jumped up and said, v This is the first time I was ever m here, and maybe it'll be the last. I've traoiprd this city for work until I'm sick. I'd Ike to ask a question of the minister. I want to know what Jesus would do m mv cage ? I haven't had a stroke of work for two months. I've got a wife and three children, and I hve them as much as if I was worth a mi lion dollars. I'm a carpenter by trad", and I've tried every way I know ti get a job. You say we ought to i»ke for our motto, '• What would •'ecus do ?" But how ? You pay that's the question we a.l ought to nsk.' Ilemy Maxwell sat there staring at the great sea of faces allintent on his, and no answer to this man's question seemed, for the time being, to be possible At length be spoke. Is there any man m the room who has brrn m this condition and has tnVd to do as JesU3 would do ?' There was a moment's hush over the room. An c.M man rose and the hand he laid on the bsck of the her eh m front of him tremb/ed ub ho spoke. 4 1 think I can 'safely say that I have v any times been m just such a condition and have always tried to be a 1 hrictian under all condition?. I don't know as I- have always asked thi* que tior, " What would Jesus do ? " when I have been out of work, but I do know I lave tried to be Ilit» d'eciplo at all times. I 1 are begged, and 1 ha*e been to ibe charity organisations, nn(\ 1 hnvG done e\erj tb.'ng whin out of a job except steal and lie. m order m get f » od ami f<ie\ Sometimes I think He would have- »-tarved soonei than bea: I don't know.' A silence followed, broken by a fitrce voice from a large, black- haiitd, h'Avily- bearded man. -This is all ho*h, t.) my mind,' he began, while his great, bristling beard shook with the deep, inward anger of the man 'The whole of our syslem is at fault. What we call civilisation is rottpn to fie core. Talk of hell ! Is there any bigger than the one this man with his ihrce children has on his hands right this minute ? I don't look fur any °n - form worth anything to couie out of tbo churches, jpj'ey are with the aristocrats, with the men of money.' — He- h-.d eviden-t y forgotten all aboutthe iLree minute rule, when the man just behind hi:n pulle.l him down unceremoniously .md rose. C'lO BE CONTrjiUEDI