FIFTY MILLION STRONG 



This, with other cases that might be given, warrants the 

 encouraging generalization that MONEY COMES WHEN LEADER- 

 SHIP SHOWS THE WAY. 



A third good that grows out of inspired leadership is, it 

 paves the way for a crystallization of public opinion. Crys- 

 tallized public opinion with a fulcrum sufficiently large can 

 move the world, and it is beginning to move the world in 

 many ways. Public opinion is fast crystallizing in regard to 

 the uselessness and pernicious character of the liquor traffic, 

 and the time is approaching when not only America but all the 

 nations will eliminate the curse. Public opinion is fast crys- 

 tallizing in regard to the evangelizing of the whole earth, and 

 the time will surely come when all the peoples of earth will 

 both have heard of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as their 

 Savior. Many other similar movements might be mentioned 

 concerning which, in this contracting world, public opinion is 

 crystallizing. 



It is only about fifteen years ago that a certain aggressive 

 minister fired the first shot at the strongly intrenched liquor 

 forces of his community. There followed a trench warfare 

 that lasted for years, but in the end the liquor forces were 

 routed and for nearly a decade now the city has been without 

 saloons, and the dry sentiment is so pronounced that even 

 the suggestion that the city would be better off if it were to 

 discard prohibition is treated with the utmost contempt. But 

 it was different in the early days. The good minister who 

 fired the first shot was subjected to a thousand inconveniences 

 and unpleasantnesses because of his bold stand and in the end 

 lost his pulpit in that community. However, he started the 

 crystallization of public opinion that today is fully crystallized, 

 but he paid the price. And this thought of paying the price 

 will be the concluding thought of this chapter. 



Christ, the greatest leader the world has produced, paid 

 the price, and it was the greatest price man could pay. But 

 He established a religion that is destined to bring under its 

 banner all the peoples of earth. So all leadership must 

 pay the price. There is no royal road to victory in the field 



128 



