It is not enough to say that you can be a Christian outside of
the Church; an occasional boy can be a scholar without going
to school; an occasional vine can grow in a lane instead of
a vineyard, and an occasional newsboy can sleep in a barrel,
and survive, instead of a home. But don’t stand outside of the
Church and then crawl out of your barrel, and later on ask
for all the privileges of the household. Some men watched the
great parade in 1865, and regretted that they had not been in
the ranks for the grand review. And if you come to the end of
your career, never having shown your colors nor had a part in
the fight, you will never cease to feel the regret that you did
not die on the battle-field, and were not carried home like the
heroes upon their shield.--N. D. HILLIS.
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