Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-03-26

cOuDlTl tulltu iuC W bO'
The Divine Commander.
Worried and fretted by these con-
fiicting duties, was narrowed by day
and could not sleep by night But no ,
sooner did enter the exposition
grounds at Springfield, ILL.,, where we /
encamped, no sooner did the mastering |
officer tell me to raise my right hand |
over the open Bible and take the oath
of enlistment, than all worry and
doubt and trouble faded from my mind.
Why? One minute before took that
oath of enlistment l was free to do
as would. One minute after took
that oath of enlistment l was United
States soldier, subject to the orders OF
the president of the United States.
What is true in reference to the Eng
lish soldier or the French soldier or the
American soldier Is true OF the gospel
soldier. You cannot do effective serV-
ice as soldier Of Jesus Christ unless
you publicly give to him your oath Oh
enlistment. And when you once 90
give that oath then you are no longer
your own master. Then you are III
exactly the same position toward your
divine commander as was captain
Clark toward his earthly commander
After he had brought the Oregon on
her famous trip from the Pacific ocean
around South Americas southernmost
cane ND past the coast of Brazil, Cap
tain Clark Immediately went into the
first United States port he could ma
and telegraphed President Mckinley,
"Tbe Oregon has arrived safe and is
awaiting orders" SO when you be-
come n Christian soldier or Christian
sailor you must first take your oath
of enlistment and then always be
"vaiting orders" In the public church
aisle and by the table of the holy com
munion you give open testimony OF
vour purpose to surrender your Will 10
the divine will You must say, Il am
ready. O Christ, to do what thou wilt
have me to do, and go where thou
commandest me to 60"
The Gospel Soldier.
What does it mean to be gospel SOL
der? To be assigned to some distinct
part of some distinct command IN the
great Christian army, following the
standards of Jesus Christ. To have an
individual place reserved for you III
the gospel ranks, where you are 10
fight for the church militant, as each
priyate American soldier during the
civil war had place reserved for MN
In tho ranks. whether he belonged to
the cavalry or the artillery, the III
fantry or the engineering corps. AS o
military organization of great aggre
cation of individuals, so the success
of the army depends upon that mill
: tary organization being divided and
subdiyided and divided again by or
derly arrangement The indlviduai
the nriyate soldier, must have his dis
I tinct place just as the general or th'
colonel or the major or the captain mas
D his place.
II Let us study for q moment the con
> struction of an American army. IaKc
= for illustration, that which FOLLOWED
Z Sherman TO the sea. There were IL
that host about one hundred thousahC
g men. These one hundred Thousand
I men were divided first into three parts
2 each commanded by major general
r Generals Schofeld, Mcpherson an'
y Slocum had respectively charge OF th
[ right wing, the center and the lei
o wing of that army. Then each VIM
q and center was again divided Int
o corps. under such leaders as General
4 Logan. Howard and Kirkpatrick. Inc
n these corps were again subdlvided lht
q divisions. and these divisions agar
t into brigades, and these brigades INT
i regiments. and these regiments int
o companies, and each private soldie
|. was assigned to a distinct compan!
n the letter of which was marked on III
t hat and the number Of the regimen
d marked upon the lapel of his coat.
4 Each American soldier always ma
o n distinct place reserved for him /
% the ranks where he was supposed
" fight. Sometimes in battle an Anne
e lean soldier might get separated frol
.r his company. During the two day
fighting before Santiago an America
lieutenant saw a colored trooper OF IL
q Tenth cavalry fighting by the side
o his white men. When the lleutenai
o asked the black man why he was thel
n he replied, 81 have lost my comman
70 and so. sir, if you will, would ike
d fight in your company" The perm
g. sion was given. That night, when Il
10 colored soldier was about to hunt
ID his command, he asked the lieutenal
o. tn give him q note to his captain
Iy prove that he had been in battle al
Ell not skulking in the rear. The ne
lg day. when going over the field huntli
lr for his dead and wounded, this san
4. lieutenant found upon the bloody lie
" the same colored trooper, mortal
le | wounded. The colored soldier DecKo
e. ed to the lieutenant to lean over hi
" Then the dying man whispered: Ia
Be that note and give it to the captain
We L troop. Tenth cavalry, Lawtons
ty vision. and tell him that tried to
re port to my company, but could not IL
ct him. Give him that paper and s.
w that Williams was not coward" A
Is yes. tits true! A United States soldl
always has an individual place
,el served for him in the ranks where
ke is expected to be and expected to ng
ce Gospel Warriors Duty.
IT, The United States soldier must
en- able to answer roll call in certa
ne company, of a certain regiment, OF
lot certain brigade, Of certain divlsi'
er of certain corps. SO the gospel s
ID, dier must have distinct place
Ill, which he has his name upon the nj
or ter roll of the church militant Inc
an should be no "free lances' in the g
pei army, no guerrilla bands; Gu
OF rilla ranks are filed up for the mt
Id part with iconoclasts and anarchi