Mexico weekly ledger., 1909-04-15

bounded hospitality; its unwearied
zeal in a brothers cause and Its
universal benevoaence. 1t is the
friend Of virtue. the protector of the
widow, the orphan and the Innocent
and gives to the world. the regularly
enlisted , sworn in and armed sol
diery OF the cross. II we are as for
midable in fight as we look to-day
on dress parade. the devil and his
allies may well look to their laurels.
I know, my Fraters, that neither
the frozen ground nor winters blast
can stop you in your haste to re-
lieve the distressed and suecor the
needy; but what does your everyday
life make? Is it a safe record of your
works in the cause of Him, who died
that you might live. Can you show
any notches on that mystic blade?
Can you show any dents of the enc
my's darts on that bright shield?
The bruised shield. the hacked sword
and the riddled banner show service
and conflict. You are enlisted for the
war, and this a only end with night
and death. 1t is the great battle
for the soul-that spark With" close
ly allied to the Divine Intelligence
and which can never. never die?" You
must be watchful and wary. The en-
my will ambush and bushwhaeh you
at every stage and turn in life.
The flesh with Its appetltes and pas
slons; the world with its grasping
greed and yaulting ambitions and
the devil himself is ever going to
and fro, seeking the weak spots in
your armor, and offering sweet and
enticing rewards for treachery and
desertion. Therefore set a watch at
the door Of your lips, and place a.
guard at the secret entrance of your
thoughts. for a careless word, a recks
less act, yea an impure and vicious
thought viii degrade your manhood,
and may deprive you Of these
Knightly spurs. and send you In dis
grace from the ranks OF this glori.
Gus order. Draw that mystic sword
In no cause where Truth will blush
or justice turn her back upon you.
You are engaged in a noble and
glorious warfare. not alone for your
own soul, for it is the conflict which
Milton paints, OF Truth and Light
against darkness and error. In this
war there n no furloughs. You
are always on the firing line. The
order is urgent and continuous, for
forward. march on In front Of Gettys-
burg, the order to Jackson's Division
was march on. II was the march to
death, and yet 1t was a victory; the
triumph of devotion to duty, the VIC
tory of courage over ~cowardiee, the
true victory of the hero. So to
you, my FTaters. the order is i'm
peratiye ami unchanged, march on.
Though perils surround you and
the skeleton hand Of death grasps
your heart strings. march on.
That banner yea bear must never
trail ard never be furled. 1t must
be planted and defended In every
country and island Of the seas, where
Our God and His Christ are unknown.
Our years are few. but ample to work
out our own salvation and do great
gand to the world. For remember,
my Fraters, we are all approaching
The River. Some Of us can al
most hear the swash of its waves
on the OTHER side. This River sep
arates us from the kingdom of the
Great Beyond. It divides time from
eternity. Over this River each one
of us must go alone. No human
frien6. however true and devoted,
can accompany us. Are you ready
uHuCt 6tdhc buEL du III
is hazardous beyond all human ken
for it is eternity for the souls destiny
How will IL be with us on that 9th.
side? Do We go as enemies and
Must we appear in bondage
and in chains? Nay. let us hope that
our passports are regular, that we
such a connection with the
Prince of Peace that we can claim
ais favor and protection and as
Christians boldly demand an audience
with that Sovereign Master Of all
and, IL possessed of the pass
Him who died on Calvary, we shall
the royal robe, bright as the
meridian Jul and whittier than snow.
let us fight the good fight and keep 1
he faith that we receive the crown
( rejoicing, studded with gems that I
hall blaze in eternal light when suns 4,
md stars are sunk in night. +,