The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-03-11
SATURDAY NIGHT
VENSERNoNS
,W-A@ By
= REKSAMUEL
u W.pURvISDl
ON THE WITNESS STAND,

truth and nothing but the truth. ac-
cording to your knowledge. SO help you
God!" My left hand was on dirty
little Bible. my right was uplifted.
My face was.gray. My tongue uttered
a husky YES" | was on the witness
stand for the first time in my life. My
friend was in danger. His wife and
children were terrified. Prison doors
opened before him. My testimony was
needed. 1t carried the day. The YER
dict was Not guilty" was unutter-
ably thankful that was permitted to
bear record for my tried and true
friend. Many cause wins its day
through the willingness Of its adher-
ents to testify for it. AS reporter
have seen political caucus carried nv
the enthusiastic demonstrative express
sion of il minority for their candidate
The popularity Of most any cause de-
ponds on the willingness OF its follow.
ers to witness for it What" | asked
the district attorney-"what are the
most needful chara cteristics Of a good
witness?" Three things" he answer
ed. First. he must know facts: Sec
ond. he must be honest; third. his testi-
mony must be unyarying" In my text
Christ calls US to be witnesses unto
him. We are voluble enough when any
other subject is mentioned. Often we
know little about it. But here is some
thing of which we Edo know-or ought to.
Witnesses to Facts.
No "ad." is so valuable to a physi-
clan as the living testimony OF u pa
tent who has been cured Of criti-
cal disease by his treatment ! have
been at shrines where | have seen
crutches. canes and trusses. mute to-
kens of the healing power Of the al
tars. waters ,or relics. Our Lord calls
upon every follower to tell Of his work
for and in him. If we hung up memo
rails Of all his matchess grace. what
cruthces and bandages and trophies Of
every sort should we exhibit! Temper
subducd. pride humbled unbelief slain.
sin cast out. appetite, passion and de-
sire conquered: disease healed. Were
you bowed down with burden Of sin
and he Strengthened you ont like the
body Of the crooked woman? Tell It!
Did You suffer great atfiiction and
We're comforted? Tell it! Did you ex.
perience some wonderful deliverance
from untoward mental conditions?
Tell it! Simply bare witness to bare
facts
Honest Witnesses.
AN honest Witness" said the attor-
ney for the commonwealth. 'is one
who is anxious to tell all-impresses
the Jury that he is concealing moth
ing" Judas betrayed Christ with a
kiss. 1t is possible to betray him with
silence. Silence is a token. 1t may
speak condemnation louder than words.
Silence can be mighty disloyal Christ
healed the lepers. One returned to
give thanks. Nine were silent. It
grieved Christ So that he made men,
ton Of it in tones of sadness. Con-
Tossing Christ is privilege. You don't
have to coax athletes to wear initials
OF their college on their sweaters. It's
an honor. Every other man wears q
button or mark of some kind to tell
that he belongs to that organization.
A Grand Army man doesn't conceal
the fact that he served in the ranks.
Why should disciples Of Christ be mute
as muInmies? Let us not go about as
If we were Christians in disguise. Null.
titudes do Their speech does not reveal
their faith. Their associates are often
enemies Of God. No one would declare
their behavior was typical Of Christ
man. Their worldly customs never sug-
gest their Christ In Rome they do as
the Romans. The early Christians In
Rome did not do as the Romans did.
but as they should have done. and
their testimony upset the power Of
that imperial government Witnesses
for Christ are sadly needed today. not
SO much in beating Of drums or shout.
ing Of megaphones. but the calm uu-
Gacity Of u noble life and uncolnpro-
missing speech as to what he has done
for U.S.
The Witness unvaryins.
WIS proud vi Simon Peter when
he wiped out his sword and shipped
off the ear Of Malchus. the servant Of
the high priest That was witness
But little later he is standing among
the enemies Of his Lord. and. with
oaths and curses. be denies that he
even knows him. In a certain notori.
GUS case in our country cOlored maid
| spoiled her value as witness because
she told different stories at different
times. Some testify privately of their
Redeemer but deny him publicly Re-
member that verse in john Among
the chief rulers many also believed in
Jesus. but because Of the Pharisees
they did not confess him." Paul told
the Corinthians. Il take pleasure in re.
proaches. in prosecutions. for Christs
sake" If life saver went out into
the surf and brought us in. nearly
drowned. wouldn't we tell of himI
Would our testimony vary? n fire.
man carries us out Of third story
window. nearly overcome with smoke,
will we not tell the promotion board
OF what he did for us? Well. Christ
has done certain definite things for
us Mental. physical and spiritual sal.
walton has come to US through him