Standing Fire | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1871

Standing Fire.

A YOUNG soldier, going to his barrack-room to sleep for the first time, quietly knelt down to pray in the presence of his comrades. This act was a signal for a storm. Hisses, shouts, and whistling, filled the room with hideous noise. Belts were thrown at the kneeling soldier. One man leaped upon the bed, and shouted in his ear. But he was unmoved to the end of his prayer, when he arose and silently went to his repose. The next night, his comrades eagerly watched to see if he would dare to pray a second time. To their surprise, he again dropped on his knees, and they saluted him with the same noises as on the previous evening. He did not flinch, however. The third evening, he knelt down and prayed, regardless of their continued mocking and noise. On the fourth evening, the noise was less. On the fifth it was still less, and on the sixth, one of the soldiers exclaimed: “He stands fire, he stands fire; he’s genuine.” After that, no one disturbed him. He had overcome opposition—he had won respect.—Sel.