Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-07-05
The Sword of the Lord and of
Gideon.

/
In these United States, each wearing ;
button on his coat having upon it thu
device of white pitcher. These mer
call themselves 1.-The Gideons" ant
they have adopted the white pitcher
as their emblem because the pitcher
W 8 used by the 300 men who compos-
ed the army of Gideon, son of Joash
the Abi-ezrite, judge of'Israel. in their
night assault upon the hosts of indian.
Each man of the 800 carried IN his
hand pitcher, with a lamp inside OF
it,
| This order OF Gideon, which is grow
ing stronger day by day, is one Of the
most interesting manifestation of re-
cent times. 1t is an order composed
entirely of commercial travellers, or
"drummers," as they are commonly
termed, and as they 60 about the coun-
try they make it their business, in the
hours which are not required for their
enploye yers. to SOW good seed in the
hearts and minds of the people they
met. This is curious thing because
it is so entirely out of keeping with the
ordinary idea of the drummer. The
drummer has in years past earned for
himself a a.reputatiOn for living some
what careless life. 1t is a common
thing for men to relax when they go
into strange clties-to go to places and
engage in amusements which they
would not think of in their own home
towns. The commercial traveller is
constantly on the move, constantly
free from the restraints of home and
home surroundings. He Is a man or
dinarilY Of vigorous character and of
aggressive ways, prepared to meet re
bluffs with composure, to assert him.
self and to sell goods over competitors.
He has been regarded as a convivial
man, able to tell funny story which
would not be suitable in a Sunday
school. But it seems that new gen.
GRAFTON of drummers has appeared
The stOrekeeper hasn't time to listen
to funny stories and he is more apt to
be repelled than attracted by one which
is not fit to print. Neither is the busi
ness man inclined to excessive cOnviyi-
ality. Those things "queer" a man in
the business world. And so it has
come to pass that when the city man
selects an agent to travel around the
country to sell goods he no longer Sc.
Iects him for his convivial qualities or
his prowess as teller of stories. They
want serious business men, who can
talk business and gain the confidence
and respect of other business men. 1t
occurred not long ago to some travel
ing men Of this character that they, of
all men, had opportunity to SOW good
seed, that they had received 10 talents
and should gain 10 other talents, and
so the Order of Gideon was establish
ed. The order has now grown until
there are Z 900 of these workers in
good cause going about doing good,
striving to help their fellOwmen-to
make the world better because they
have lived in it. Such a power for good
that these 900 active, earnest business
men can weld is prodigious. At the
village tavern and the store in the win
ter evening the good seed can be sown
among the gossiping throng; at the |
railroad station, on the cars simple |
word simply spoken may turn the
thoughts of careless man to the things |
which concern his highest good. There
is way of obtruoing religion and |
and virtue which Is repeliant |
and offensive, and which does more |
harm than good; but these Gideons are |
men of affairs, they are accusl Omed to |
dealing with all sorts aud conditions of |
men, and know how to approach them. |
They are indeed fortunate in having |
such abundant opportunity, more than |
men In most other secular callings, to |
turn the wicked man away from the |
wickedness that he has committed to
do that which is lawful and right, and |
as they travel along the highway of life
to scatter good seed, some of which
shall fall into good ground and bring
forth fruit.-Baltimore Sun.