RURAL LEADERSHIP 



things that are universally hated in this world is cowardice. 

 Even a coward hates cowardice in another coward. Some 

 years ago a man of considerable prominence on the Pacific 

 coast was taking an ocean voyage with his wife and children. 

 A storm arose and their vessel was wrecked with great loss 

 of life. Did this man do all in his power to save his wife 

 and family? No! he deserted them absolutely and saved 

 himself. The first instinct of the whole animal world is self- 

 preservation. However, this instinct and courage make a 

 wonderful combination. The courage that prompts one to 

 risk his own life to save another's is a high type of courage, 

 but there is another type of courage that is also deserving of 

 the highest consideration, and that is the courage that seeks 

 to make life one continuous triumph. Time was when this 

 world was looked upon simply as a place of probation. Ser- 

 mons, songs and testimonies emphasized continuously the 

 transitoriness of this life and the glories of the life to come. 

 Today a change is taking place. The great emphasis is placed 

 upon this life, and the thought is that if one does his best in 

 this life he will have had the best preparation for the life to 

 come. The result is, the churches today are placing stress on 

 living instead of dying. The poet, Ernest Crosby, expresses 

 this thought admirably in these verses : 



So " he died for his faith." That is fine 

 More than most of us do. 

 But stay ! Can you add to that line 

 That he lived for it, too? 



It is easy to die. Men have died 

 For a wish or a whim 

 From bravado, passion, or pride; 

 Was it hard for him? 



But to live ; every day to live out 



All the truth that he dreamt, 



While his friends met his conduct with doubt, 



And the world with contempt! 



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