San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-25
ATTENTION! COMPANY!

The Light preacher has not inter
fered with the work Of either the COM
pany or regimental commander this
week. He has absolutely abstained
from any of the chaplain's duties,
having promised a week ago to take
up the drill grounds and its lessons
this morning. To its secular staff the
Light has given the work Of inform
ing its great congregation on all mat
tiers that have occurred within the
week, and right we'll has the task been
accomplished. Nothing Of interest has
been omitted, nothing padded to make
"copy." 1t has been a week of hard
work in the tent Of the Scribe" no
less than in that of the company" and
while both keep holiday on this Sab
bath of rest. the Light preacher dis
courseth.
Comrades! The competitive drill and
the camp discipline and the enforce
ment of the regulations are good
thing under the sun. To the raw re-
cruit and the undisciplined only are
they not joyous, but grievous. Never
theless even to these they yield the
peaceable fruits of self control, obed-
fence to orders, submission to disci-
pline, neatness, cleanliness, promptness
and that indefinable something in
bearing and presence that distinguish
es the civilian from the army bred
man every time. These fruits of in
creased and increasing manliness are
sown beside all waters, and in every
camp of military instruction upder the
sun. Not more to prepare for war than
for peace is the military camp needed.
While, on the surface, the discipline
of the camp and the drill are arbitrary
and leave no room for Individual and
personal self exertion, they are natur-
ally designed to teach the most abso-
lutte self control. This control of self
is invaluable in every walk Of life, and
the young man who has mastered the
lesson can take his degree-M. S. Sells
Master. 1t is a higher degree than
that Of NJ. A. To self control brains
are indispensable. Only the brainy
man is fit to become a soldier. He can
not acquire the discipline needed for
intelligent carrying out of orders with
out brains. The more brains the bet
ter. The more brains the more self
control, for there is the more sense of
its necessity.
How to restrain lip and gesture is
the first work of the young recruit.
His officers are not always gentlemen.
Here as elsewhere we see the beggar
on horseback, and he always rides to
the devil Consideration for the re-
cruit are more the exception than the
rule IN the military camp. The quick
impulse to resent an open or covert
slight or insult must be restrained.
The man who carries chip on his
shoulder as he moves about camp is
in hell. To suppress self is the first re-
quirement. That is to suppress the
manifestations Of personal feeling.
When this is done, then the first les
son Of life and one Of the most impor-
tant is mastered. Nothing like camp
life for this.
The lesson of self control learned, the
power to feel and give no sign, the next
in Importance is that of obedience to
orders. The young man who has
learned to obey orders, whether in the
HOIlle OF at SCnOOl OF III DuSlueSS mas
learned how to succeed. If he has not
learned this at home or in school or
at the counter or the desk, he is bound
TO learn it in camp. He must obey or
ders if he breaks owners. Not his to
question why. Not his to make reply,
Only his to do and die" This lesson
of obedience to orders is the more thor
oughly learned in your camp, Guards
of the Republic, than in any other
because yours is voluntary camp
You come voluntary under the disci.
pline. {sFgIEl
Promotions are the more rapid il
the volunteer corps than in the regular
army. No disobedient private evei
was made corporal. No disobedien
subaltern ever rose to company com
mander. No colonel who disregardet
his orders ever rose to the command o
his brigade. AS it is around you
camps and in them and on the drill
grounds and in the actual work Of wa
if you are called into action, so it is Il
that civilians life out of which yo'
have temporarily emerged for the pur
pose of this camp of instruction
Obedience to orders is necessary
promotion. 1t is all one, whether i
store, or railway office, or factory, G