Editorial November 5, 1910 Issue

COURAGE

Annie M. Knott

Courage is defined as that mental quality which enables one to encounter dangers and difficulties without fear; otherwise, "valor, boldness, resolution." But even the dictionaries tell us that the courage which is based upon physical conditions often forsakes one when he is most dependent upon it, even as the prophet Amos has said, "He that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day;" which evidently means, when the spiritual source of strength and of courage is forgotten. We find innumerable admonitions, however, as to true courage, and many examples of it in the Scriptures, the first of these being in Moses' instructions to the men who were sent "to spy out' the promised land.

We read that these men went up, and returned with some wonderful fruit, but stricken with such a sense of fear that their abject cowardice spread like an evil disease among the entire people, and in a state of panic they were ready to stone those who still desired to go forward at the bidding of Truth. "Back to Egypt, even though we must again be slaves," was the wail of those who had cried loud and long for deliverance from bondage, but Joshua and Caleb were in no wise touched by this clamor of blind fear. "If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land," said these spiritual heroes of that early day; and they added, "The Lord is with us; fear them not."

Need we wonder that the glory of the Lord appeared before all the people, or that Joshua should in due time be called to lead forward his brethren, and that these were his brethren, and that these were his oft-repeated marching orders: "Be strong and of a good courage: ... be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law,...turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest." From this we see that true courage is a divine demand, and that it is inseparable from righteousness; as witnesses Shakespeare, in his query, "What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?"

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