Charles Sheldon

CHARLES MONROE SHELDON was the first minister at the Central Congregational Church in Topeka, KS. He wrote many stories which he would read aloud in the evening services of the church. His plan was to leave his stories on a cliffhanger to make sure the congregation returned the following Sunday. In His Steps was written partly from his own experience. In order to try to understand the difficultues of men who were out of work, he sometimes disguised himself as an unemployed worker or tramp, walking around the district seeking work. He was appalled by the indifference he was shown.