WITNESS OF ONE, AND OF MANY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 172, 7 August 1937, Page 14

WITNESS OF ONE, AND OF MANY

"Dare to be a Daniel; dare to stand alone," we sing, and tho sentiment 5s praisewortliy. But if the witness of oue solitary mortal, with God at the buek of him, be so mighty au instrument,' what if that voicc of warning and oi: encouragoment' be joined to that of n multitudo? Would it not be the more arr^sting? We wonder if the self-eufiieient man who tells us that ho does not need the fellowship of the Church to walk tho straight path, realises that at any rato the Church needs him. IJnion is strength — in witness, as in other spheres. There is a story which comes from the days of persecution In tlie Roman Empire which may well bring this truth liome. The order was given t.hat everv soldier in the legions must pour out a libation before the statue of the Ern pcror on pain of death, At that timo a centurion was stationed in Northem Gartl, who had a nnmber of Christiaus in his rcgiment. The officor lined up his men in Riuglo file, and made. them pass beforetho emblcm of the Eruperor, paws before tho embleni of tho Exnperor,

emblem each one, if he were not a Christian, took the cup and poured tho libation, and then passed to the right; if he happened to be a Christian. ho* refused the cup, and passed t.n the left. When the work was done there were forty of the centurion 's best men standing on the left. But the centurion was under orders, and so coinmanded them to go out into the middle of a near-by lake, which was frozcn over, there to be killod by exposure to the biting cold. As they went the men marched to their deaths singing this song — "Forty wrestlers wrestling for Thee, O Chnisfc, Claimiing from Thee the victory, and from Thee the crown." The centurion was not a follower of tho Lord, but he was touched by their courage. He buiit a great fire by tho shore, so that if any repented of their decision they might come back, an! take their place in his ranks once more. He paced up and down the shore listenmg to the martyrs' song. Then, his courage failing him, one man dctacked himself irum the group, and came stumbliug bacjc acrOss the iee, to the warmth of the friendly fire. It was his life or his° faith. and he chose his life. Then the of&cer's shield and helrnet clanged to jthe ground, and wdth measured stride he crosaed fche ice., and took the deserier's place. Then once more tho song ran out through the frosty air-- " Forty wrostlers wrestling for Thee, 0 Christ, Claiming from Thee the victory, and from Thee the crown." The wiVuess of a Daniel is fine; but that of a Church is better.