The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-31

arrived. The Hebrews in their des-
pair, staked all on one last desperate
venture. The ark CT God, the chest
containing the sacred treasures of the
nation. whose proper place was in the
tabernacle, was brought into the fore
front of the army to inspire the sol
diers to win or die. The Philistine
chief knew the meaning of this move.
He knew the crisis of The battle had
come. Turning to his troops, he sent
his war cry ringing out, BE strong,
and quit yourselves like men. o,
Philistines! Quit yourselves like men,
and fight" From the leader TO the last
private in the ranks, every man
seemed inspired With one mad cheer
they charged upon the hosts Of God
broke through their lines, and, cap
turing the sacred chest. hurled the He
brews back in disastrous defeat. Paul
takes UP this old warrior cry and Chris
tianizing it, gives it to these Corin-
thians and to you as the great war
cry of life, Watch We; stand fast in
the faith; quit yourselves like men; be
strong
These are the words, full of soldier
spirit and of the call to soldier duty.
Watch" This word recalls to us the
sentinel ON duty on the ancient city
walls, whose business it was to note
the approach of the enemy and to give
warning. To him the city was entrust-
ed. stand fast" This word recalls
the sentinel of Pomper, who, when the
people were rushing nladly from the
city to escape the lava pouring down
from the neighboring volcano, stood at
his post. They fell all about him and
were buried in the hot lava. their
~ which
were trying to save. Amid all the
terror and confusion, he stood I'M
moved. He knew no such word as fly.
After many generations have passed,
his waiting figure has been found,
showing him at his post still, stand
ing at attention, his armor on, his face
stamped with the determination to do
his duty.
So we might take MP all the words of
this Christian war cry. They sail you
to the soldier life forever. They de-
scribe the true nature of life IS life is
for every thinking, serious man who
wishes to make his life noble, worthy,
Christlike. Life is a battle, cam
paign, from first to last, for earnest
men.
All worthy life is toll and battle. And
life is full Of Illustrations Of this truth.
Major Wilkinson, who fell in the last
Indian uprising in Minnesota, had two
headquarters in Washington One was
that of his army, where, like true SOL
der, he reported first; the other was
his church where he always went as
soon as his duty to his government was
discharged Capt. Philip, standing with
barred head among his officers and men,
and giving thanks to God for victory;
brave Capt. Howard of the Concord .
L
his ship stole at night into Manila har-
Dor and there. strong in faith, going to
the deck to fight as if he thought of
else; Howard holding devo-
lions in his tent; Gordon dying in Khar-
toum; HaVelOck the soldier of prayer
these and multitudes of others illustrate
the soldier life to which you are called.
There is no escaping it, if we would.
Life, if high and true, must be filled
with the spirit of the army before an
ancient city around which had been dug
a deep moat so desperately defended
that 1t seemed impossible to capture the
city. A detachment asked permission TO
charge and it was given, Again, again
and again, the assaulting column was
repulsed, each time leaving it's dead in
the impossible ditch At last, when the
ditch was filed and bridged by the dead
bodies of their comrades, the charging
troops rushed over to victory. That
must be- life, that is life for every ear
nest man. When De Tocqueville took
the hand of young Charles Sumner on
the wharf in Paris and said, Young
man, life is neither pain nor pleasure
but serious business to be entered upon
with courage and in the spirit of self
sacrifice" he said what Paul said in
his Watch We" He defined life as the
oh
rades defined it. It is self-Sacrifice, not
sad but fuA of Joy, for Christ turns all
sighs to singing, all sacrifices to praise.
1t is battle and march, it is a test of
strength and nobility and faith, it is q
campaign which calls for courage and
high resolve, for simple faith and com
plste devotion to God
Let this, then. be the message of this
sour to you, soldiers. "Henceforth," for
God, "Henceforth" for Christ, Hence
forth" for the soldier life which is hid
with Christ in God. How many, many
things inspire you to hear and obey the
call. Your victories on the field
of battlel They call you to vic
tory for God and His truth. Your
sufferings in camp and hospital
and march, How they call
you to sacrifice and suffering, if need
be, in the discharge Of duty wherever
God may call you. Your comrades
who have given their lives so freely for
their country and who today sleep be-
meath a foreign soil OF under the waves
of the sea! How they call you to up
hold all truth, to live for Christ, to
stand for his word Could the great
army of your comrade dead speak to
you today from their silent camping
ground there would be but one call,
40 ~ n lan in
Christ, the captain of our salvation
How this flag calls YOU to the soldier
life. Everywhere and always. it is
suggestive of toll, of suffering, of he
roism of faith in Cod We cannot look
upon it and not read the callNGf God
in every fold. The flag which you see
draped about this pulpit has never been
flung to the breeze. 1t was made by
friend of his for your comrade
George w. Hodgins, member Of this
church. Before he marched away with
you, he was told this flag would be
made for him and given to him On his
return. He was bade to be true to it,
In the spirit of this trust he went
forth, for flag and country. He will
never return to claim this banner He
died for it, and sleeps beneath the sea.
So ever, ever our dear flag speaks of
heroism. of sacrifice. Let it call you, SOL
diers, to lives filled With the soldier
spirit in all the walks Of peace.
But most of all, the name and life
of Jesus Christi How he calls you by
his sacrifices, his victory over sin, to
follow him. Above all else, is the call
of jesus, Follow me-" Soldiers, hear
it, heed it, and wherever life may lead
you, be soldiers of the cross. With hum
bic faith in him. with ohildlike depend
ence on his will, go forth into life.
"Henceforth" be his to do his will, to
fight his battle. to know his peace, to
wear his crown.
congregation rose and Joined in fhe
singing of America The splendid eff
feet of the grand hymn when sung by
the immense audience accompanied by
the choir and the full tones of the great
.nroan can hattar he inn pi1,ad thar,