the hatred of the church by countless men who see in it only great piles of costly stone and upholstered furniture and the minister as a luxurious idler, all the vast tumult of this vast torrent of humanity with its false and its true ideas, its exaggeration of evils in the church and its bitterness and shame that are the result of many complex causes, all this as a total fact in its contrast with the easy, comfortable life I have lived, fills me more and more with a sense of mingled terror and self accusation.  I have heard the words of Jesus many times lately:  ’Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least My brethren, ye did it not unto Me.’  And when have I personally visited the prisoner or the desperate or the sinful in any way that has actually caused me suffering?  Rather, I have followed the conventional soft habits of my position and have lived in the society of the rich, refined, aristocratic members of my congregations.  Where has the suffering come in?  What have I suffered for Jesus’ sake?  Do you know, Calvin,” he turned abruptly toward his friend, “I have been tempted of late to lash myself with a scourge.  If I had lived in Martin Luther’s time I should have bared my back to a self-inflicted torture.”

Dr. Bruce was very pale.  Never had he seen the Bishop or heard him when under the influence of such a passion.  There was a sudden silence in the room.  The Bishop sat down again and bowed his head.

Dr. Bruce spoke at last:  “Edward, I do not need to say that you have expressed my feelings also.  I have been in a similar position for years.  My life has been one of comparative luxury.  I do not, of course, mean to say that I have not had trials and discouragements and burdens in my church ministry.  But I cannot say that I have suffered any for Jesus.  That verse in Peter constantly haunts me:  ’Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that ye should follow His steps.’  I have lived in luxury.  I do not know what it means to want.  I also have had my leisure for travel and beautiful companionship.  I have been surrounded by the soft, easy comforts of civilization.  The sin and misery of this great city have beaten like waves against the stone walls of my church and of this house in which I live, and I have hardly heeded them, the walls have been so thick.  I have reached a point where I cannot endure this any longer.  I am not condemning the Church.  I love her.  I am not forsaking the Church.  I believe in her mission and have no desire to destroy.  Least of all, in the step I am about to take do I desire to be charged with abandoning the Christian fellowship.  But I feel that I must resign my place as pastor of Nazareth Church in order to satisfy myself that I am walking as I ought to walk in His steps.  In this action I judge no other minister and pass no criticism on others’ discipleship.  But I feel as you do.  Into a close contact with the sin and shame and degradation of this great city I must come personally.  And I know that to do that I must sever my immediate connection with Nazareth Avenue Church.  I do not see any other way for myself to suffer for His sake as I feel that I ought to suffer.”