Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

1HERE are those who think they
are martyrs. and some who in a
real and appreciate degree are
martyrs, who are missing, IN
whole or in part, the martyr
crown. They are not reaping, from their
fidelity or labor or testimony Or suffering.
the full glories they ought to gain.
Lies trials and stresses and sorrows
are not martyrdom: they only furnish its
arena, its opportunity. A martyr is wit
ness. one who in the face of and at the
cost of sorrow, loss, anguish, death. bears
testimony to the name and power. love
and grace. of Jesus Christ. Merely ex-
periencing pain or sorrow is not the es-
sence and crown of martyrdom, for many
have done that whose anguish was mar
ticulate of any message that told OF Je-
sus SAYS a writer in the Sunday School
Times sufferer may be only a victim.
A victim is one who is hurt as result
of being in the path of destructive forces.
Men are victims to typhoid fever to the
earthquake, to the ravages which the
rum traffic works even on those who had
no share in it's sin. Or sufferer may be
more than a victim, and be sacrifce'
conscious or unconscious, willing or un-
willing. devoted to please or appease a
the Ganges. or the company slaughtered
for strategy.
One becomes true martyr only when
he steps forward or stands firm with a
definite testimony of what he stands for.
at the cost of stress and suffering. We
often speak, for instance. OF our mar
tyred Presidents, but only to Lincoln is
the term at all accurately applied. Gar
fields death: viewed from the human
product of the 'spoils system and po-
litical passions working on an evil heart
and an unbalanced BRAIN Mckinley was
the victim of the social unrest. manlfest-
ed in the desperate and dastardly act OF
one who was himself the victim of bad
ideas and bad environment, While he felt
himself a martyr to his principles These
noble Presidents did indeed witness Tor
Christ in their patience and reslgnatlon
and faith but that was incidental. rot the
cause and purpose of their pain. Lin
coins death, unreasonable though IT was,
came as a direct result OF his Network.
the price he paid for the cause ne stood
for: and yet even he was rather Vlctinl
to mistaken feeling. sacrince 10 the
cause of national unity, than deliber'
ate witness in his death.
But even fidelity is not the hlShest
crown of martyrdom. although IL assur
eddy constitutes much of its substance.
One may give clear testimony 10 the
truth as it is in Jesus. submit TO the last
torture the prosecutors can lhILct. 90
down mistaken to the grave nut ia'k In
his crown the brightest jewel. For this
Jewel is the loving cheerfulness and tri-
umphant faith that. at its brightest gleam.
glories I'm the chance for sacrlnce, anc IN
its steady, daily glow endures brightly
hopetully Willingly the strains mat cp pa'
and Silas in the prison. shone forth In the
jubilant martyrdoms of the early cen
turtles. and in humber, more ordinary
service has sent the thousands inqu'rins
for the source of such gadness in cond1-
tons so adverse. Without TINS toucn no no
martyrdom is complete. Ihere may De
quality is mingled.
One. for example. has been thrust into
a situation which is direct result o.
his service of truth or righteousness he
offers a consistent testimony. He Illus
trates the virtue of steadfast ndelt!. put
there is no: much else that he Illustrates:
He does not illustrate the resursent
power of Christian faith. No songs rise
! from his dungeon. The prisoners oniy
wonder at the means they hear. At the
stake there is no Father. forgive them;