Part 16 (1/2)
”I have never loved any one but Rachel Winslow.” Rollin spoke calmly enough now. ”That day she was here when you talked about her refusal to join the concert company, I asked her to be my wife; out there on the avenue. She refused me, as I knew she would. And she gave as her reason the fact that I had no purpose in life, which was true enough. Now that I have a purpose, now that I am a new man, don't you see, Virginia, how impossible it is for me to say anything? I owe my very conversion to Rachel's singing. And yet that night while she sang I can honestly say that, for the time being, I never thought of her voice except as G.o.d's message. I believe that all my personal love for her was for the time merged into a personal love to my G.o.d and my Saviour.” Rollin was silent, then he went on with more emotion. ”I still love her, Virginia. But I do not think she ever could love me.” He stopped and looked his sister in the face with a sad smile.
”I don't know about that,” said Virginia to herself. She was noting Rollin's handsome face, his marks of dissipation nearly all gone now, the firm lips showing manhood and courage, the clear eyes looking into hers frankly, the form strong and graceful. Rollin was a man now. Why should not Rachel come to love him in time? Surely the two were well fitted for each other, especially now that their purpose in life was moved by the same Christian force.
Chapter Seventeen
THE next day she went down to the NEWS office to see Edward Norman and arrange the details of her part in the establishment of the paper on its new foundation. Mr. Maxwell was present at this conference, and the three agreed that whatever Jesus would do in detail as editor of a daily paper, He would be guided by the same general principles that directed His conduct as the Saviour of the world.
”I have tried to put down here in concrete form some of the things that it has seemed to me Jesus would do,” said Edward Norman. He read from a paper lying on his desk, and Maxwell was reminded again of his own effort to put into written form his own conception of Jesus' probable action, and also of Milton Wright's same attempt in his business.
”I have headed this, 'What would Jesus do as Edward Norman, editor of a daily newspaper in Raymond?'
”1. He would never allow a sentence or a picture in his paper that could be called bad or coa.r.s.e or impure in any way.
”2. He would probably conduct the political part of the paper from the standpoint of non-partisan patriotism, always looking upon all political questions in the light of their relation to the Kingdom of G.o.d, and advocating measures from the standpoint of their relation to the welfare of the people, always on the basis of 'What is right?' never on the basis of 'What is for the best interests of this or that party?' In other words, He would treat all political questions as he would treat every other subject, from the standpoint of the advancement of the Kingdom of G.o.d on earth.”
Edward Norman looked up from the reading a moment. ”You understand that is my opinion of Jesus' probable action on political matters in a daily paper. I am not pa.s.sing judgment on other newspaper men who may have a different conception of Jesus' probable action from mine.
I am simply trying to answer honestly, 'What would Jesus do as Edward Norman?' And the answer I find is what I have put down.'
”3. The end and aim of a daily paper conducted by Jesus would be to do the will of G.o.d. That is, His main purpose in carrying on a newspaper would not be to make money, or gain political influence; but His first and ruling purpose would be to so conduct his paper that it would be evident to all his subscribers that He was trying to seek first the Kingdom of G.o.d by means of His paper. This purpose would be as distinct and unquestioned as the purpose of a minister or a missionary or any unselfish martyr in Christian work anywhere.
”4. All questionable advertis.e.m.e.nts would be impossible.
”5. The relations of Jesus to the employees on the paper would be of the most loving character.”
”So far as I have gone,” said Norman again looking up, ”I am of opinion that Jesus would employ practically some form of co-operation that would represent the idea of a mutual interest in a business where all were to move together for the same great end. I am working out such a plan, and I am confident it will be successful. At any rate, once introduce the element of personal love into a business like this, take out the selfish principle of doing it for personal profits to a man or company, and I do not see any way except the most loving personal interest between editors, reporters, pressmen, and all who contribute anything to the life of the paper. And that interest would be expressed not only in the personal love and sympathy but in a sharing with the profits of the business.”
”6. As editor of a daily paper today, Jesus would give large s.p.a.ce to the work of the Christian world. He would devote a page possibly to the facts of Reform, of sociological problems, of inst.i.tutional church work and similar movements.
”7. He would do all in His power in His paper to fight the saloon as an enemy of the human race and an unnecessary part of our civilization. He would do this regardless of public sentiment in the matter and, of course, always regardless of its effect upon His subscription list.”
Again Edward Norman looked up. ”I state my honest conviction on this point. Of course, I do not pa.s.s judgment on the Christian men who are editing other kinds of papers today. But as I interpret Jesus, I believe He would use the influence of His paper to remove the saloon entirely from the political and social life of the nation.”
”8. Jesus would not issue a Sunday edition.
”9. He would print the news of the world that people ought to know.
Among the things they do not need to know, and which would not be published, would be accounts of brutal prize-fights, long accounts of crimes, scandals in private families, or any other human events which in any way would conflict with the first point mentioned in this outline.
”10. If Jesus had the amount of money to use on a paper which we have, He would probably secure the best and strongest Christian men and women to co-operate with him in the matter of contributions.
That will be my purpose, as I shall be able to show you in a few days.
”11. Whatever the details of the paper might demand as the paper developed along its definite plan, the main principle that guided it would always be the establishment of the Kingdom of G.o.d in the world. This large general principle would necessarily shape all the detail.”
Edward Norman finished reading the plan. He was very thoughtful.
”I have merely sketched a faint outline. I have a hundred ideas for making the paper powerful that I have not thought out fully as yet.