Editorial September 20, 1924 Issue

Courage

Ella W. Hoag

There is, perhaps, no quality more necessary to successful endeavor than courage. Every one knows that it takes courage to be true under trying circumstances; to press on under all sorts of difficulties; to "hold the fort" until all enemies are vanquished; to win the battle whatever the apparent odds against one. No one questions that it takes courage to persevere in each true activity until every hindrance is removed, every obstruction is thrown down, every obstacle is overcome; to press steadily forward, whatever the seeming discouragement, whatever the tendency to falter and faint by the way, until right is established. Many a battle has been gained by the revival of courage where the fight had seemed almost lost; renewed effort was thereby made possible because hope was restored, and the triumph of good resulted.

Men have always looked upon such courage as this with great admiration, and few if any thinkers but have desired to possess and exercise it. They have, however, often sought for it in the wrong direction because they have considered it physical, whereas the entire nature of true courage is always moral. That which is sometimes called courage, but is not based on a desire to see good triumph, will fail when it is most needed; it invariably runs before danger and would rather be accounted a coward than to stand, under difficulties, for that which is right; it is the very counterpart of fear, and partaking of such a nature it is but "a reed shaken with the wind," on which no dependence can be placed,—on which no one would be tempted to rely for an instant.

In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 514) Mrs. Eddy says, "Moral courage is 'the lion of the tribe of Juda,' the king of the mental realm." And then she adds: "Free and fearless it roams in the forest. Undisturbed it lies in the open field, or rests in 'green pastures, ... beside the still waters.'" The Bible also teaches that it is only the courageous who can be calm and untroubled in the midst of stress, and who may always be conscious of God's presence to deliver them from all evil. The Psalmist sang, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart."

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