The High Calling

"The High Calling" by Charles M. Sheldon is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the Douglas family, particularly their eldest son, Walter, as he navigates the challenges of pursuing an education in electrical engineering while grappling with issues of integrity, family values, and social pressures. Through the struggles faced by Walter, the book touches on themes of moral character and the choices between personal ambition and ethical conduct. At the start of the narrative, readers are introduced to Paul Douglas, who is concerned about his son Walter's decision to attend Burrton Electrical and Engineering School instead of joining the family newspaper business. Paul abounds with hope that Walter will adhere to the principles of hard work and humility, especially as Walter shows an inclination toward a more luxurious lifestyle—a conflict that becomes evident when he expresses envy toward the wealthier students. Additionally, the opening chapters delve into the character dynamics of the Douglas family, providing a glimpse into their home life, particularly the strong moral training provided by Paul and Esther. As Walter's decisions lead to complications involving gambling debts and an invention he arrives at through morally questionable means, his journey underscores the importance of genuine character and the potential pitfalls of ambition unchecked by ethical considerations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Monroe Sheldon was an American Congregationalist minister and a leader of the Social Gospel movement. His 1896 novel In His Steps introduced the principle "What would Jesus do?", which articulated an approach to Christian theology that became popular at the turn of the 20th century and enjoyed a revival almost one hundred years later. The stretch of US-24 on the north side of Topeka, Kansas, between US-75 and K-4 is named the "Charles Sheldon Trafficway" in his honor.