Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-14

people, an angel sent from God to be the
savior of France
She was no soldier but she felt that
God was with her. The saving of France
was IN reality religious movement. Any
nation VIII rally in the midst of diSaStr-
Gus defeats if they can be convinced that
they are fighting with God on their side.
Joan acted on France as the needed spur
to drive the people to deeper conscious
ness of Gods presence. With this came
the necessary power to drive the English
from their country.
At first her expeditions were successful
On white horse, arrayed in glittering
armor and carrying white banner mark
ed by the heur de lis. she led victorious
troops. The military leaders insistent up
ON the requirements of me-honored pro-
ceedure in the army, put all kinds of OBJ
stacles in her way, She triumphed over
all dlscouragen9eTlts and drove the Eng
lish from Orleans. From that date she
was no longer Joan of Arc, but the Maid
of Orleans.
She wanted to proceed to Rheims at
once, but the jealous military clique bar
red the way. The king was brought to
see the panic OF the invader and ordered
an advance after some delay. Daughter
OF God, go on | will be thy heipi" said
the voice, and Joan. seized her sword
and banner for a new drive The soldiers
followed willingly their charmed leader
ana the disorganized mob became an in,
Chalons, Troyes and Rheims fell in
rapid succession. Charles was promntly
historic
for the browning of the rightful sovereigns
or france. Joan stood by his side at this
great event, holding her sacred banner
The amounting at Rheims firmly intreneh-
ed Charles VII in the minds of the people
as their king. The heroic maid had done
what she had promised. Kneeling before
the king, with tears in her eyes, she sur
rendered her commission saying. "Graci-
Gus king, now is fulfilled the pleasure of
God. " BY the Spirit of God she had given
a KING to France and France to it's kingA
Her work was done and she longed to
return TO the peaceful mountains of Dom
fe!ny. She was persuaded to remain with
the army until the English were driven
from French soil. Herein lies her great
error God had directed her to crown
the king, not to drive out the invader In
this she listened to human voices" and
her mission lost it's divine inspiration.
In a drive on Paris she was wounded
but refused to leave the battle line Soon
a plaything of the envious military lead
efS, she was sent hither and yon 20 no
purpose The English leaders Wee offer
ing great sums for her capture and British
gold finally had it's way. In a sortie from
her oeIeagured city of Compiegne she
was surrounded by larger force. After
a haH-hearted resistance on the part of
her men, she was captured by John of
Luxe mburg, a traitor to his land How
terribly this little duchy suffered in 1914
from another disgraceful surrender to a
powerful foel
Her capture was hailed with the widest
enthusiasm. The end of the drama was
dulchlY staged. mo EFFORT was made to
rescue the helpless girl and she was left
TO the tender mercies of church and
School, two avowed enemies of ex.eri-
mental religion then, and largely so to-
day
What could one girl do against the now
er of satan combined for her destruction?
After farcical trial she was condemned
not to the Cross like Christ, but to the
stake-a more refined manner of punish
ment, invented by religion to make its
way straight. Nothing could be more
girl by the church court. The devil had
his way and the poor maid without friends
or advisers was dragged to Rouen chain
ca TO the bars of an iron cage within the
hthy dungeon in this city.
Another trial more ridiculous than the
first was arranged here and seventy ridic-
ulous charges We're brought against her
Found guilty again she was taken to the
market place of the city to receive SEN
tence. Shortly after, guarded by eight
hundred soldiers, she was carried to the
hands she was dragged from the cart to
the funeral pile, fastened to the stake
The faggots were soon ablaze, while the
wild mob about yelled itself hoarse with
JOY The struggle was brief and she quick
ly succumbed to the flames. In her agony
she cried out ndeSpair, Jesus. JeSuSi
My voices, my. voicesr' but there was
no response and it was soon over
Inspired of God. she had been Judged
by men and condemned by the church.
Having. saved her country. she was for
ooHCtA ny THAT GOuulTy WA6n ner uSeIuI-
ness was gone. One of the insolvable rid
dies of history is why France made so lit
tie effort to save her life Perhaps the
fear of the power of England was the rea-
son. Mfchelets, the French historian.
says: "Fhe Jews never exhibited the
rage against Jesus that the English did
against the PucelIe (Joan)."
Her life is a striking example of the
fact that nations are ungratefttl and
death is only too often the lot of great
benefactors. Great deliyerances have
been effected only through self sacrifice,
and Joan gave herself that France might
be free. A forgetful country canonized
a willing servant, when too late, and gave
testimony of tardy recognition of her
service. She stands before us today urg-
ing to deeds of sublime heroism through
forgetfulness of self and complete CON
secration to God. Like her, we may win
death. but we shall also save our country
and serve as an inspiration to others to
live well and die well for the glory of
God and the uplift of our fellowman