Is Worrying a Christian Duty?
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Chapter 21. Learning the Lessons of Patriotism
One good thing every young man may do and should do, is to think seriously about his duties to his country. One of the most pathetic stories in all modern literature is Dr. Hale's "A Man without a Country." The book should be read by every young man, and when once read, it never can be forgotten. There are men who, though living in the midst of the best that their country has for them, enjoying all its privileges so far as their own life is concerned — really are men without a country. Their souls would seem to be so dead, that they never say to themselves with any warmth or enthusiasm, "This is my own, my native land." They have no thankfulness for their country. They know little of its glorious history. They never think of the cost of the liberties they enjoy as citizens. They give no thought to the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.
But it is dishonorable for any man to be as if he had no country, while enjoying the inestimable blessings which the country has brought to him. Patriotism ranks high among duties. In all lands treason is regarded as the blackest of crimes. Yet the lack of patriotism is a phase of treason. In time of war for a nation's life, neutrality is regarded as more dishonorable and despicable, than open enmity.
One of the finest things in the culture of patriotism, is to know the history of one's country. It should be studied until its story has been absorbed into the very life. Thus it was that the ancient Hebrews were trained into patriots. They were taught from infancy, the meaning of their nationality and its great destiny. Little else was talked of in the home, in the field, or along the way. The great hopes of the nation were held before their eyes until they became tremendous realities. So patriotic did they grow, that when carried into captivity nothing could swerve them from their loyalty to their country. They worshiped God with their faces turned toward their holy city. No allurements of heathen splendors, could make them anything but Israelites.
For another thing, we owe it to our country to make ourselves noble and worthy men. It is not broad lands, crowded cities, large wealth, and a world-encircling commerce — which make a nation great; always the real greatness of a nation is measured by the character of its men. It is character which is needed if the nation is to grow into its finest possibilities.
One of the dangers of great prosperity in any country, is that men shall lose their virility, their strength, their power of endurance, their moral staunchness, their nobility of character.Luxury always tends that way. A measure of hardship is not only safer — but is also a very much better school for the training of worthy lives than the ease which breeds self-indulgence and softness.
The great task before the boys and young men who are now about passing through Fourth of July fervors, is to make noble men of themselves. That really is what we are here for — not to gather money, to do a few things large or small, to win fame, to achieve power — but to grow into worthy manhood. If he is a benefactor, who makes two blades of grass grow where there was only one growing before — then he is much more a benefactor, who adds some new quality to his own character, making himself a somewhat better man. Patriotism demands of young men the very best manhood they can build.
They should be TRUE. Truth is one of the foundation stones in every fabric of worthy character. It is not enough to be truthful in speech, never uttering any false word. One may conform to the law of truth in this way and yet lack truthfulness in other ways.
STRENGTH OF CHARACTER is another quality of noble manhood. It is not easy to be good in the business world, in politics, in society. One needs to be strong in order to live out noble principles, and to do the things which a man must do if he would take his place among men and live righteously. He must be able to stand in the face of all manner of opposition and temptation, and of all subtle influence.
Then while the noble man must be strong and true — he must also be GENTLE. Gentleness is the flower of noble character. There are men who are true and strong — but are ungentle, and thus fail of a really noble manhood.
COURAGE is another essential element in manliness. Courage is not merely a quality by itself in a noble life — it is a necessary element in all other qualities. It takes courage to be true, and to be strong, and even to be gentle in a worthy sense.
Another duty of noble manliness, is interest in all that belongs to the life of the country. Every young man should train himself in the affairs of good citizenship. Voting is not merely a privilege — it is a sacred duty as well. The voting should be intelligent. Young men should learn to think and to inquire, not casting their ballots blindly and thoughtlessly with the party to which they are attached — but making sure that they are casting them for men who are worthy. The twentieth century patriot ought to be independent enough never to be compelled by party rules, to vote for an unworthy candidate.
Then voting is not the only function of citizenship. It may seem little that one person can do in making his country better. But if each one sees to it, first, that his own life is true and worthy, and then, that he makes one little spot of his native land a sweeter and better place to live in — he has done that which is by no means a small or an unimportant part in the great work of making the whole country better.
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