Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-08
Can YOn stand Flre !

As ! was walking along the Strand, one
night, ] came upon a fine tall soldier. | en-
tered into conversation with him, and said,
There is one thing ! cannot understand
about the British soldier" -" What is that,
sir ?" Well" ! said, he is bold aud dar
ing; you could not insult him more than 10y
calling him coward. There are men
among YOU who would rush up to the can
mons mouth. even if YOU knew it would bc
certain death and vet there are among You
men who dare not kneel down in the bar
rack-room at night and repeat the prayer
their mothers taught them when they were
children" lie paused, and said, " hat is
true, sir" What is the meaning of it, sol
dicr 2" He said, You remind me Of what
took place in my own roll few weeks ago.
4 young fellow came into our room, and the
first night, before going to bed, he knelt
down to pray, aud instantly there was a
noise and disturbance in the room. Gaps aud
bolts were flung over at the man, but he did
not move. The second night there was a
general cry, Willie try it again Down he
went on his knees again. CAPS aud belts
were thrown again, and the men whistled.
The third night he went again on his knees,
and again on the fourth night, with the
same result, and on the fifth night. And
then, he said. the greatest blackguard IN the
room cried out. lie is geuuine--he stands
fire and from that night every one in the
room respected him, and began to follow ii.
example"
In large establishment la Birmingham
very similar to what many Of you are in, IN
this town, some seventy years ago, there vas
a youth who came from his mothers loving
home in one of our beautiful villages. lie
had been taught TO stand fire." not 10 be
ashamed of God or of prayer The first
night he retired 10 rest in a room with sew
era other youths, he kncltto pray, and as in
the case of the soldier. be was instantly be-
set by ths young fellows in the room, abus-
ing him and ridiculing him, and everything
was done TO induce him to abstain from
prayer; but he stood fire he was not
ashamed Of the gospel Of our Lord Jesus
Christ
Among them was ,tiong-buiit youth,
who stood on his right, and who said My
mother taught me TO do that. have been
ashamed OF doing it but will do it, That
youth became the great, the noble John An
gell James. O young men. if that youth
had not stood fire, the world might never
have known or been blessed by the labors of
John Angel James
The soldier told me what want to leave
with YOU. lie said. Sir, as a rule, the
fresh fellows who kneel down to pray do not
do it a second night" All, young men, may
that never be said Of YOU That explains
the meaning of those words, lie stands
fire" DO not be ashamed to acknowledge
your Lord and Master
Some time ago, in one Of our great ships
Of war, there was solitary sailor who was
/ ~ III g
Christ. For a long time he was alone no
other sailor joined him. His place of prayer
was amid the noise and din of the sailors.
One evening he perceived d shadow by the
side of the gun. Another Jack Tar was
creeping along, and said, May cone 2"
Oh, the joy OF the Young sailor io have "a
comrade with him They met for many
nights behind the gun, reading and praying.
They became the butt of the men in two or
three OF the messes but still they continued,
bearing and .orbeariug 1t came 10 the ears
OF the commander, Who was a Roman Catho-
lie, and | mention this to his honor. The
moment he heard that two Of the sailors
We're meeting for reading and prayer behind
one of the guns, he sent for them, aud in
stantly ordered portion Of the lower deck
TO be curtained OFF, aud gave orders that no
one should molest them. For some nights
the were the only occupants, but by-and-
by the curtain was opened, and blue jacket
said, May come in 2" lie was welcomed.
Another came and another, and the last ac-
count heard from that ship was this, that
every night thirty-two men were meeting
for prayer, thirty OF them believed to be CON
yerted characters and there, by standing
fire, 10y standing frm true to what was his
duty. God has blessed that solitary sailor,
and made him spiritual father to at least
thirty OF the men on board the ship English
Paper.
Irs OwN DErENprn.-Fo Fortifcations are