The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-02-26
Christian Courage.

A number Of young men Ia college heeam
offended With one Of their teachers, and rs
solved not 10 recite % him on the ensuinl
day, Ashley formed but q small portion Of
the class, their refusal 10 rscite would be- bu
q small matter their whole class must, there
fore, be- induced 20 join them. A. the ma
Jorty Of the class we're well disposed towardI
the teacher Ia question, one wouhl think tba
IL would not De practicable % eHuEH thum r.
combine 20 perform an act injurious 70 one
% whqm they wero under no small obligation
and IN violation Of the laws which they had
/ pledged their truth and honor 20 obey Vet
the diaahectrd succeeded in inducing all the
members Of the class 20 unite with them ex.
eept one, False statements were, of oourss
among the means used. When other con
alterations failed with any one, the assertion
that oil the class we're agreed in the matter
aud that the 0hjeotor would stand alone, was
successful
There was ono, whom the maleon-
tents did not approach ulI they had gained
over every other member Of the o!ass, They
then told him lhat the class would not rcci,e
on thc morrow, and intmalrd their expccta-
tiou that bis eorduct would not differ from
thar of bis classmates. To this iutimauon
be did not see Gt to reply They then put
the question, edo you intend to reeie to-mor-
row P"
....I. III AN called upon % reci'c,' wa' the
WI you Sc, yourself against the whole
NO was the quiet and not ,a,i,Gc,o-
~ reply.
You viii II YOU recte."
81 don't sue that. When | entered college
promised to obey the laws"
4 man cant 90 in opposition 10 bis class,
and remain u college
"Perhlps uot.'
"You viii think better uf Il, and do a. The
rest Of the class do 2'
"I shall do ss they do, provided they do
right
do You think you ought to set up your
opinion against that Of your class %"
81 am not accustomed % set up my opinion
against amy onri bat am accustomed 20 do
what know 10 be ght or. at least to try
10 DO IT,"
81 advise you," said the leader OF thc-.,nl.
contents very significantly y-"I. advise you
tn go with your class, and not set up fr %
saint You may gain The favor Of rhc Facul.
~, but that viii not outweigh the contempt
and hatred of the college"
They leit his room lie thought the mat
tcr over, hut suv no reason for changing tAr
ground bee had taken lie was a professor
Of religion. lIc/was bound to be loyal 20
tho right and tina, did noJ depend upon pab-
lie opinion, or the vote Of majori,ies. IL
'a" That be might have 20 suiTcr TcpT5lcT
and abuse, and perhaps be compelled 10
leave colleges but none Of those things NOV
ed him
In the course Of the evening, a member of
the class. professor Of religion visited him.
Il thiuk,' said the visitor, you lad better
not displease the class"
II A-L laiher- -disulcnse the class than dis.
please God"
"Cert,iulyi butit is a small mattcr-onl,
one recitation. know il is no, quite right
but, under existing circumstances, We seem
to be compelled to yield"
Circumstance never justify SHINING, and
a small sin is as truly against God as a large
one"
When it became known that one man of
courage had refused to join the combination,
others regretted the step they had taken,
and the result was, that without any effort on
his part, the combination was dissolved and
the recitation went on as usual The foied
leaders looked coldly upon him Cor a time,
but the mass of the class felt their respect
for him greatly increased. For tho remain
der Of the college course, he was the most in
huential man in the class
IL is sad thing that there should be so
great lack of moral courage among thuse
who profess to be governed solely b, the will
of God 1t is a sad thing that so many pro-
Tossing Christians should so ofttn refrain
from doing that which is right, and should
so often do that which is positively wrong.
from slavery to public opinion.--A. h. in
Sunday School Times.