Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-07

m is well TO begin our years progress
with a meditation on courage. For
the intelligent man. who knows
what life means and believes IN its re-
snCns bilities, realizes that 1t is not easy
to grow and work and serve in this
world. IL Is splendid inspiring thing
but IT is not free from conflict, nor
would we wish il to be, for anything
which is worth while demands battle
Wealth gotten without toll has no real
value. and is a curse rather than bless
Ing. Rest which has no labor back of il
TO make il sweet is only laziness. Friend
ships which come without any suffering
OH the part of him who cherishes them
are bound to be short lived. So a life
which has no conflict is poor sort OF
existence and has no satisfaction in Itself
or for those who come in touch with it.
Thank God for human struggle, III is
the refining power which makes pure
gold out OF human character.
Hence we need courage: physical
courage, that we may hold nerves and
muscle and senses in good control:
mental courage. that we have a cool mead
and Judge things fairly: moral courage.
that we may know the right and dare
to follow 1t; spiritual courage, that We
may hold to God and rely upon Him even
when the battle Is hottest. Such bravery
is not instinctive-it has TO be cultivated.
There is a kind of animal daring which
we sometimes admire, but ii has no chat
acter 1t is like the fierceness OF the
lioness who defends her cubs. or of the
wild beast who seeks his prey. There
is no courage in the lad who courts
danger to gain the plaudits of his COM
panions, or In the man who seeks popu-
larity by trying to do what no one else
has ventured to do. The man who thinks
he Is brave because he goes over Nj
agara Falls in barrel or leaps from the
Brooklyn bridge has poor estimate
alike OF himself and others: for, while
he may be noticed In newspaper para
graph. most people think him foolish.
possessed of some kind of mania such
AN adventurer is never chosen to be
leader of men In great and important
issues. True courage has some useful
end in view; mind and heart unite with
BODY in the endeavor to help men or to
defend a precious principle, and persist
ence keeps up the struggle until the re-
suit desired is in sight.
The cultivation of courage, therefore,
part of human education. The boy
: taught in the gymnasium or on the
Clll field that he may take part later on
u the big things of life-interest and i'm
portance Our friend DIR. McCracken
vas hero on the foot ball field but now
he works in Canton to make the Chi
sese healthy and to teach them the right
use of the body he is a bigger hero
and his foot ball battles assume new
meaning. The student who tolls with
fgures or with his chemical experiments
in the laboratory is preparing for me
field where calculation and chemistry are
TO bring blessings to men. ! look at the
law students, and I know their courage
in solving cases suggested by superstition
will show itself later in establishing JUS
tice among men. / see the medical
students at their hard study. and 1t means
future success in battling with disease.
follow the man in his theological course.
and know his bravery In hard applica-
tion means future leadership in the growth
toward Righteousness. So 10 1t with the
errand boy in his store. the girl in her
household duties as she helps her mother
he tolls in the field and the sailor lad as
he follows the mast"-they are all pre-
pairing for future usefulness, and their
courage Is being cultivated for a world