p. 10 | MAX HILL by Max Hill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 18, 1906

MAX HILL

By Max Hill

SUCCESSES OF YOUNG MEN. NO. 3.

THERE was some question as to whether mention should be made of the successes of Alexander, but on second thought it seemed well so to do. While we do not look on his successes with approval,—I might say the ambition that led to those successes,—we can but admire the vim and zeal he displayed. We must remember, too, that the ambition to be a great warrior, to lead armies, to conquer, was the greatest to which a young man of that age and country could aspire. To be content with a life of ease and peace was not commendable in any man trained as Alexander was, least of all in the young prince, the son of Philip of Macedon.

Born in such an age, heir to the throne, and as such to be leader of the people, commander of the army, Alexander was early trained in the arts of war and government. But not alone was he trained in these lines, for we read that he had famous teachers, the great scholar Lysimachus being one, and Aristotle another. These taught him the philosophy of the Greeks, the traditions, the myths, the exploits of the heroes, the greatest of which were written by Homer, an ancient poet who lived and wrote four or five hundred years before Alexander’s time. Alexander was very fond of study, delighting in the association of these famous teachers. It is said that he even carried a copy of Homer’s poems with him on all his conquests.

What were his successes? The story is no doubt familiar. Fearless even in childhood; when only a young man hurling a wine cup at his father, the king, for speaking slightly of his mother, whom the king had put away; even before this, riding the untamed charger, Bucephalus, which the king’s own horsemen pronounced too vicious for any rider; called suddenly to the throne on the assassination of Philip, he took the reins of government, assumed the leadership of the army, and for twelve years led it through mountain-pass, turbulent river, deadly forest, and burning desert, to victory after victory. Cities, states, nations fell before him, till at last he sat in the conquered city of Babylon, ruler of the world, at the age of thirty-two.

Would that the account might be closed as the life story of our own Washington can be, that content with the glory gained, the victories won, the successful general would seek the interests of his people and be content with his achievements. But such can not be the conclusion of the life of Alexander, for, the conqueror of the world, he could not control himself, and died, we are told, of a fever brought on by excessive drinking.

The lesson: We, as Christians, fight more important battles, serve a greater cause, follow a greater Master; should not our ambition, our ardor, our zeal, be equal to Alexander’s?