South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-12
FINER HEROISM
NOT IN BATTLE
Truer Type of Sacrifice and Self
Denial is Found in Homes of
Nations Declares Rev. G. w.
Allison.

While commanders and emDerOrs
are awarding iron crosses and badges
in recognition of heroism for phvsi-
cal courage in modern warfare. IL is
not amiss that we should recognize
the finer heroism OF the spirit" de-
clared Rev. George w. Allison yes
terday morning at Hope PRESBYTERIAN
chapel. Even with the war raging
in Europe some of the finest speci-
mems Of real herOism will be found
not upon the field Of battle. but i'm
the homes Of the nations engaged I'm
the terrible struggle for power. How
many mothers with their self-denial
fathers with their sacrifices. are de-
serving OF recognition for herOism
Many Of them will never receive il be-
cause their herOism is of the quiet.
unObtrusive type. But all the more
worthy for that reason.
1t is easy TO meet temptation when
il comes upon a large scale for the re-
suits Of submission are then easily APP
parent. and one is conscious of the
watchful eye of friends or foe. But it
requires the most gorgeous heroism
to repel the small and trivial sins,
whose results are not Immediately or
conspicuously visible"
There is an incident in the ac-
count of one of David's assaults upon
the Amalekites, which is suggestive
OF our theme Only a portion of his
men actually fought in battle. AnOth-
er portion remained with the baggage
in camp. After the victory those who
went out to battle declared against
any division of the spOils Of battle
with those who had remained behind.
Davids words in reply to this sugges-
ton form our text: AS his part is
that goeth down to the battle. so shall
his part be that stayeth with the
stuff; they shall divide alike
1t is so in our own lives here
and now. 1t is only to be a hero
when one is in the public eye to avoid
criticism and win the plaudits OF the
crowd. 1t is difficult when the test
ing comes in secrecy. and one is the
only judge or critic Of his own con-
duct-saVe God. Here in these mat
tiers OF private conduct lies the Op-
portunity for moral herOism-the
courage of the commonplace The
sacrifice and self-denial of one men,
Der of the family for another Of which
the world knows nOthing-this is he
roism. Some of the noblest heroism
is in the quiet. calm-not in the
storm and stress Many a home is
ennobled by the presence Of a quiet
but heroic Mary or Martha.
Silent Heroism.
And there are many quiet Chris
tan men whose lives are secluded
and inconspicuous. whose heroism is
remarkable in the temptations of
which the world was unconscious. but
which have been met, conquered and
banished. They have stayed with the
stuff and shall divide the spoil with
the viCtOrs in more prominent posi-
tons. The great commander de
ponds upon the humble peasant sol
der. The great sermon and great
preacher depend upon many humble
wOrshippers The all-embracing King
dom can come only with this quiet
herOism in every nook and corner Of
life. Let no one who is secluded, shut
in, or incOnspicuOus feel that they
cannot share in it's conquests. They
can do so by staying with whatever
small amount of the stuff is COM
mitted to their care, for we each
guard the baggage of the Kingdom
And remember that many who sue
coed in the public eye. have lives that
are hOneycombed in private with
failure. The greater heroism is that
which can be brave with its own crit
icism and reward. and does not de-
pend upon other observation than that
OF self and God"
The evening service was devoted to
celebration OF communion in the sac
rament OF the Lords Supper, to which
the brief sermon was appropriate.