Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-11-08
A GOOD SOLDIER.


VttOOct So tOSo'
2Timothy 2;3. Endure hardness as a good
soldier of Jesus Christ"
There are special times and occa-
sions when the consideration OF GER
tain themes In religion seem particu.
larry appropriate as their truths may
be enforced or illustrated by the Incl
dents or experiences then before the
public mind.
1t IL In view OF this fact that ] have
chosen the particular theme Of this
discourse.
1t gives me great pleasure today to
unite with you in swelling the APP
Dlause with which we welcome home
the brave boys who have fought SO
valiantly on behalf Of their country's
cause, but ii gives me much more
pleasure to say u word ON behalf Of a
greater u and in encouragement
to him who would be considered a
good soldier Of Jesus Christ"
The words Of our text suggest to
our minds some thoughts that Will
be applicable to both.
L. The first thought embodied in
the admoniticn to Timothy il this,
that the soldiers life is a life of hard
ship.
1t requires no elaborate discussion
to prove the truth of that PROPOSE
ton. 1t has been demonstrated on a
thousand battlefelds, 1t has been
proven in "a thousand camps. The
bugle and the drum have rolled out
| the story of suffering from Tampa to
| the Presidio and the Mauser and CAT
ling gun have re-echoed 1t in Ponce
and LuzOn. 1t has been forced upon
your notice In the columns of the
public press and you have been
obliged to realize it in other private
letters Of beloved husbands and sons,
stained with the brave mems tears.
Yes, my hearers. this sad fact hangs
al a cloud over us today to mar In "A
measure the full enjoyment of this
" elcome home, for som, of our brave
boys come back suffering from
wounds and disease, some lie In pain
I'm the hospitals of our county. while
two have been placed beneath the
sod i'm a friendless land. Yes, there
IL indeed much to make the life of the
soldier a life OF hardship and suffer-
ing. Think of the separation from
home and loved one and the long
months Of loneliness and anxiety he
must experience. think Of the priva-
nights of fearful exposure he must
often endure. Think of the wounds
and sickness and suffering which
often add to his unhappy lot. Think,
too. of his temptations and the men,
tai and moral, aye, and religious tri-
ais to which HI Is often put. and the
silent battles which he must often
fight alone, with no kind friend to
give him counsel and no strong arm
to help him stand. Ii IL indeed a
hard, hard life. and our hearts mr..
glad today to welcome hack TO the
avocationsu Of peace the faithful and
brave men no have had to suffer il
so long.
III. A second proposition deduced
from the text is this: "A good soldier
endures these hardships."
Endurance is one of the highest
qualities in manhood. Ii Is the quail
ity which in nature makes the OAK
and the cedar pre-eminent among
forest trees and rows the granite
as king of quarried stones, and gives
tn steel it's place ~ supremacy over
all the manufactured metals. The
good soldier, we are told, must pos.
sess the manly quality. 1t il that
which holds him M aud makes him
master of his circumstances. Ii he
possesses this he IL able to "srand
~fOur-sqnare to every wind that
blows" Hardsbips may come, as
storms that roar about the oak, oI
waves that dash against the ship al
steel or the granite prom0ntory: but
like these he draws himself up to hi.
full stature and strength and defier
the circumstances that woul work
against him. II is the quality which
enables him to bear these hardships
bravely and patiently, and we point
to it with pride and commentator