The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1919-08-15
Hero Alvin York and His Faith.

The editor of the Centenary Bulletin
recently had a conversation with the
man who has been acclaimed around
the world as the greatest hero of the
world war. Sergeant Alvin c. York,
OF Pail Mall, Fentress county. Tenn
rssce, SINGLE handed killed twenty-five
Germans. captured 1872, including a
major and three lieutenants. and put
out OF commission thirty-five machine
guns. Eight Germans charged him
with fixed bayonets at a distance of
twenty yards. and Ire killed all of them
with his automatic pistol before they
reached him.
York Is n mountaineer, "A deyout
member of a mountain religious sect,
strict believer In God and morality, a
cool headed man who knows no fear
and the most accurate shot with a
pistol or rifle In the mountains where
all are crack shots, His exploits was
the most natural thing in the world
for him.
This man is unlettered. but he has
philosophy of life which is profound
When asked about his feat he declared
that God had led him. And when he
made a speech II consisted OF about
four short sentences. ending with this:
I'VE must make America more
Christian land Unmoved by the
plaudits OF New York and Washing
ton, he hastened back TO the mountain
and married his mountain sweetheart
and wnen he travelled to Nashville. as
the guest OF the governor, he took his
pastor, his mother, and his wife The
LADIES'. II is said. had never seen
train before.
Mother York sat In the mansion of
the state executive, unmoved. She wore
her black sateen dress. an ancient
poke bonnet. and great apron; while
she talked she cooled herself with her
turkey -leaf fan. She is a member of
our own church, and when asked II she
were not proud OF her son she replied
very simply. Il am proud that he is a
christian and has kept the faith
through II all. did not pray that he
might be a hero; did not pray for all
this parade and show; l prayed that
God would bring my boy back to me,
and He did"
Here is the stun OF which heroes
are made. A devout mother In noun
trin cabin praying for her boy, and
that boy m the uniform OF his country
and carrying In his heart faith In
God--here IS combination which
breeds neroism. When a correspon-
dent asked York II he had ever cursed
while in the army. the mountaineer
answered like fash. mo. sir play
the game straight When a club
wanted him 10 cross the country to
great convention where he would be
wined and dined. he refused--because,
ms he said, 1t would be only the show
OF worldliness.
The story OF Alvin York teaches US
two or three things which the church
should never forget: One Ia that we
need more devout mothers who will
teach their SONS the principles OF holy
living: we need the light of faith in
humble cabins. the old family altar
where children learn to pray. tho great
and ancient Bible which is In every
cabin up in the hills. the gaudy color
ed cards with scripture texts upon the
wallis Our country will produce q.
citizenship which win keep our liber-
ties for us II we always have homes
like that.
Another thing is that religion Is not
the softness OF effeminate folks. II is
playing the game square," the prac-
tice OF heroes and those who have the
stun of manhood In them. Though
nearly two hundred trained and armed
soldiers were upon him and he was all
alone, York was not moved he was a
religious man and he thought God was
with him. While other soldiers were
swearing. gambling. and lettering in
the estaminet. York was playing the
game square; with the plaudits of the
yorld ringing in his ears he fastened
from the bright lights back to his
mountain sweetheart and his old
mother.
York was right when he said, I'VE
must make this more Christian land"
That is what Methodism is trying to
DO That Is the task OF the Centenary.
That Is why we are planning for
church wide revival. And we will not
forget the mountain folks It seems
that just as the Centenary
has raised Approximately a million
dollars to spend In education among
this most neglected and imposed on
section OF our population, a man should
come out from among them and amaze
the world By his proWcns and HIS piofY. |