Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-14
JOAN or ARC
A Spiritual Phenomenon
BY Prof l. Foster Army Y c. A. Secretary, Professor
of Romance Languages at Pennsylvania State College

It is a historical fact that in times
Of great national danger divine Provi-
dence raises up some person who can
lead the people to victory and safety.
Frequently this savior springs from most
unexpected sources. We are safe in say
ing that this individual has. most often
sprung from the ranks of the common
people. We can say further that the inn
polling motive has b. n religious in prac-
tically every instance. And, in addition
to that, the purpose has been the saliva
ton of nation or the rescue of coun-
try from foreign domination.
Every nation has at some time expert
enced the truth of this fact. The United
States has been no exception to this ma
tional phenomenon. The days preceding
the Civil War. glorious with the names OF
William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phil
lips, render eloquent witness to there
sponsiveness of our people In the pres
emit crisis through which we are now pass
ing a Roosevelt and a Wilson have done
a threatened country
In France, however there have been
more examples of spirituaIized leadership
than III any other country. This is per-
fectly natural because of the inborn ten
dency OF the French to those things which
are dramatic and sensational In this
land so easily lifted to the heights of re-
Ngious exaltation, the dramatic and sen
sationaL In this land so easily lifted to
the heights of religious exaltation, the
dramatic motive predonlinates A deem
love of country, with keen sense of OBJ
llgatlon. have been compelling influences
TO great deeds through the Providence of
God. There is no desire to get into the
llmehgnt, but an intense longing to do
ones duty to God and country, which are
synonymous to the Frenchman.
In Joan of Arc we see the above irfiu-
ences a. work and greatly magnified by
Wofnans ideal of willing sacrifice. She
was the daughter of well-to-do peasants
and was born at Domremy among the.
Vosges mountains in 1412 She had no
live the simple life of the humblest class
Though she could neither read nor write;
the limitations this fact brought into her
Ire did not affect her sunny disposition
BY day she spun faithfully under the big
trees of the pasture as she tended the
patient kline At night she slept peace
1uily on he her humble cot after doing her
part of the homework in the home. In
All this we can see fertile soil 70 rthe
bearing of rich fruit Simplicity, content
nent and obedience are virtues from
which heroes are made.
Frequently she heard the neighbors talk
of the cruelty and oppression of the Eng
lish then oyerrunning the fair land of
France. In her mind arose the ever re-
curing question, What can | do?' She
longed to do her bit to help save France.
but she was only a simple peasant girl
Her desire TO be of service did not inter-
fere with her sense of responsibility in the
home. 1t was ia pursuit of her daily
tasks that God called her. He always
shows Himself to US in our working hours
His service.
One Of her marked peculiarities was her
piety Naturally devout she loved to
strong. healthy and beautiful, she had In
herself the essentials of leadership Add
70 this a poetic spirit with superstitious
Iehdencles, and you have a personality
mt Tor heroic accomplishments.
From the soldiers who passed now and
then through her little town. proud in the
glitter of armor and blade. she learned
~ ENa #
of the cruelties OF the English, now near
at hand, she learned of the terrors of war
and the, bitter need Of efficient leader
ship in her country In her distress she
turned to God. whom she had been taught
TO trust. And He did not fail her
As early as the age of thirteen her God
appeared to her in the form of ST Mich
aei, her patron saint. As in the case of
st. Paul, the vision had voice and ad
monished her to a life of goodness and
purity Il come from God to help thee
to live good and holy life. Be good
Jeannette and God win aid thee" was
the message at one visitation Daughter
of God, thou shalt lead the Dauphin to
Rheims, that he may there receive worth
announcement at another time from her
angelic visitor
Fired with zeal for service through di-
vine appointment, when but sixteen years
of age, she left her home and friends and
sought her king. 1t was no easy task
to start off alone amidst the ieers of her
4SRttt1f anu StIitl0OO companions. me
love of God and her countrys need led
her to count all this as nauglit if only
fair France could be redeemed.
After a weary journey of twelve days
she arrived at Chinon, where she found
the king. The spineless Charles VII. was
here revealing in wantoness and dissipa-
ton while his country bled The poor
peasant girl. with her coarse red dress
and no friends to get her the royal favor
was received with mockery by the cour-
tiers of the dissolute monarch 'sVhy
waste precious time" said they, when
Orleans is in utmost peril. to give atten-
ton to mad peasant girl who, if not
mad, must be possessed with a devil;
sorceress to be avoided; what can she do
for France?" The churches and the uni
versities two fertile sources of religious
apostacy, arrayed themselves also against
her and proved to be her bitterest en-
emies.
Her persistence finally won the day and
she was ushered into the royal chamber
where the king stood in the midst of his
mobiles. Though unfamiliar with his face
she marched straight to the Dauphin
guided by her voices" To him she re-
peated her one sentence, which so far had
acted like a charm. II am Joan the Maid,
sent by God to save France" With this
she asked for troops to lead against the