The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-10-18
The Invisible Appeal
Atlanta

will give the same measure of enjoy
ment to our readers that it has given
to us:
1T isn't wise and it is never kind
to scott at a mans religion or even
his so-called superstitions, for no
mortal man can say for sure just
where the twilight zone between fact
and fiction actually begins and ends
Faith, Of course, is the time-tried
bridge that carries mortal man safely
across; faith is the blessed tie that
binds.
The things we most ardently and
honestly wish to come true, the
things we try the hardest to make
come true, are the things that DO
come true.
Unless we are stout of heart and
courageous of conviction. we shall
harly tread the sure road to happi-
ness and success in the larger and
more compelling meanings of the
word.
That's a very pretty story coming
out Of France, concerning the posi-
bic spiritual presence there today of
Joan of Arc, a story that carries a
meaning and lesson that will hard
ly go for naught, as difficult as some
may find to separate the real from
the unreal therein.
1t seems that two English officers
were standing in the little town OF
Domremy, made famous in French
history as the birthplace of the Maid
and they were wondering Of the Maid
really heard the voices calling her
to the rescue Of her loved and sOrely
pressed France. I wonder" said one
more or less doubtfully. IF she really
and truly heard such voices or if it
was net imagination, and | wonder il
one might by any possibility hear
such voices today" Before the other
could reply a French officer came
along ans they asked him what lie
thought. Just as he was opening his
lips to answer, the clear and far-carry-
ing tones of an American bugIe was
heard. sounding the beautiful AMI
thrilling reveille heard only in the
American army. and the French Off
Ger raised his hand in salute 20 the
visor OF his cap. and replied:
There are the voices, gentlemen!
Gould you imagine = prettier or a
more heartening story than that?
And aOw. having in his mind and
his heart ana full measure of love
and patriotism for home and native
land that he should have. could any
enc stop to quioble or to question
the sUreress or the meaning OF the
voices" heard again?
Who shall say these bugle notes
we're NOT the voices calling again,
attuned differently, but from the very
same source as those coming to the
blessed and valiant Mar: u Orleans,
when she resolved to do her Bit for
France?
For those who delight to split hairs
and analyze TO the last possible word,
there may be room for speculation
here; but as for me, wishing with all
my heart for the success of our cause
II France and believing firmly that
Cod Himself Will not let His civiliza-
ton perish from the face of the cath
4nd go for naught after all these years
I do not doubt or question.
II we have faith to believe in spir-
i-ual essence such stories as the
enc narrated here, if we feel in our
hearts OF hearts that we are right,
and therefore, eventually to be bless
ed, no matter what perils and fright
full hardships we YET may encounter,
Just that much more surely SHALL
We conquer and justify the faith We
have, first in ourselves and next n
our MISUNDERSTANDING designed
and erected that those we love and
hold more dear may live in this
world in the largest possible degree
OF nome happiness and neighbOrly
peace.
II we believe that Truth is mighty
and WILL prevail, even against ali
the sinister influences of the world
combined and aggressive, then We
also can believe that there was some
thing more than mere human coinci-
dence in this little story, coming
from the very heart Of bleeding
France"
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