Surely, if the First Church could work such changes in society and its surroundings, the church in general if combining such a fellowship, not of creed but of conduct, ought to stir the entire nation to a higher life and a new conception of Christian following.
"This is a grand idea, Caxton, but right here is where I find my self hesitating.

I do not deny that the Christian disciple ought to follow Christ's steps as closely as these here in Raymond have tried to do.

But I cannot avoid asking what the result would be if I ask my church in Chicago to do it.

I am writing this after feeling the solemn, profound touch of the Spirit's presence, and I confess to you, old friend, that I cannot call up in my church a dozen prominent business or professional men who would make this trial at the risk of all they hold dear.

Can you do any better in your church?
What are we to say?
That the churches would not respond to the call: 'Come and suffer ?' Is our standard of Christian discipleship a wrong one?
Or are we possibly deceiving ourselves, and would we be agreeably disappointed if we once asked our people to take such a pledge faithfully?
The actual results of the pledge as obeyed here in Raymond are enough to make any pastor tremble, and at the same time long with yearning that they might occur in his own parish.