EARNEST SOLDIERS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 4, 1874

During the war in Crimea, a chaplain newly arrived in the camp inquired of an English officer how he could best set about his work, in order to do it effectively. The soldier, by way of reply, took his friend to the top of a neighboring hill, and bade him mark the scene. There were the enemy's lines, here the English were advancing, and yonder were the French earth-works. What energy and determination appeared to be on that marred landscape! How perseveringly did flash answer flash! The boomings and roarings of one side seemed only to draw forth a shower of iron and fire from the other side! “Sir,” said the officer to the minister of peace, “You must be in earnest. An earnest man always makes his way. IF WE DO N'T CONQUER THE ENEMY, THEY WILL CONQUER US.”