Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-03-28

served. but who has had a tribute OF
praise to give to the self sacrificing
men who made it possible for the
fighting soldiers to live and die at the
front? l would sing the praises of the
muleteers. | would sing the praises of
the army officers who bought the shoes
and the stockings and the trousers and
the coats and the hats and the blan-
kets AMI forwarded them and never let
a dishonest dollar stick to their fingers.
l would sing the praises of the ambu-
lance corps, and of the soldiers who
acted as nurses. Did you ever stop to
think that al all the United States,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, there
is not one, not even one, monument
erected to an army surgeon? Many
memorial stones for Mcpherson and
Sherman, magnificent remembrance
to Grant, but not one monument for
one surgeon. In all the United States
not one monument erected to muster
ing officer who stayed at home to fill
up the ranks. Not one. In all the
United States not one erected to the
faithful paymasters who carried
around the money so essential to the
support of the soldiers children at
home. And yet those sacrificing deeds
of the heroes Of the civil war made II
possible for their brothers in blue and
in gray to stay at the front and fight
on the picket line.
UnrecoGnized Heroes.
Christian soldiers, who are the stay
at homes? | have recOunted these
deeds of the unrecognized heroes Of
war for a purpose. l want to encour-
age you in your ordinary duties of
life. 1t is not possible for every Chris
tan to be Chinese Gordon or Have
lock or a o. 0. Howard Or a StonewaIl
Jackson. It is not possible for all
Christian soldiers to stand in the con-
spicuous places and win the plaudits
of the Christian world. But remember
that the humble private in Christ's
army-she who as a mother living in
the home, as a sister working behind
the counter, as daughter teaching
school to support an aged parent or to
give an education to young brother
is in Gods sight one Of the essentials
for his great army. You are the power
behind the main line, making it posi-
BILE for other Christian soldiers to fight
in the open. Paul is saying to the sol
der in the rear as well as at the front,
to the inconspicuous as well as the con-
spicuous soldier alike, Endure hard
ness as a good soldier Of Jesus Christ"
And why should we all endure hard
ness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ?
For two reasons. First, because it is
possible for every private as we'll as
Christian officer to receive the highest
of all soldiers rewards. What is the
highest? Yea, the very highest? We
have read how the Duke of Marlbor-
ough was honored. Not only was he
created a duke, but on account Of the
Blenheim victory parliament voted
him the magnificent manor Of Wood
stock and his royal mistress gave him
$1,OO0,000. We have read how Arthur
Wellesley was raised to be Duke of
Wellington On account of his victory at
Waterloo. Lord Roberts, recently the
commander Of the British forces, and
Viscount Kitchener were raised to the
peerage for their services rendered to
the British crown. But all these offer
ings and hon0rs, these dignities and
fame, given by a grateful country to
faithful sons, will be as nothing COM
pared to the greatest gift which is Civ
en- to a Christian soldier. The gift
which is the smile Of appreciation from
a loving Divine Commander. The
"Well done"' which goes to the Chris
tan hero of the name Of Adoniram
Judson. The "Well doner' which is
given to the humble servant girl and
to the humble clerk and to the humble
nurse and to the humble missionary.
The Soldiers Sacrifice.
But why, again, should we all endure
hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ? Because in so doing we are
following his blessed example. He
who spared not himself, but suffered
freely for US, has the right to expect
fortitude from US. From none of us
does he ask such service as he himself
rendered TO US. w hen the army or
Alexander the Great was scaling a
noted mountain pass the strength of
the soldiers became exhausted. Many
threw themselves upon the ground to
die The great commander saw the
condition. He did not curse or up
braid He quietly dismounted from
his war charger. He threw aside his
heavy cloak. He lifted private sol
dier's pickax, then vigorously went to
work digging away at the ice. His
soldiers saw him. They knew he was
as tired as they. Then they jumped to
their feet. By the power of a brave
example they arose and went again
to work, and again won new victory.
Christian soldiers, wherever we go, we
can find our Divine Leader ahead. Our
backs may ache, but he is carrying
our burden of sin. Our feet may grow
tired, but from his feet and hands and
head and heart are flowing streams Of
blood. In olden times soldier was
said to have gathered an armful of