During the Civil War it became necessary to remove one of the officers
serving under General Sherman; "Removed because of mischief" was the
way it was entered upon the record.
General O. O. Howard succeeded him in command and continued to have
charge of the unit until the end of the war.
Then the army arrived at Washington, where a parade was to be held
followed by disbanding.
The day before the parade General Sherman said to Howard:
"The political leaders demand of me that the officer whose place you
took, resume his charge tomorrow and ride at the head of his unit in
the parade, and I wish you would help me out of this predicament."
"But it is my unit now, General," Howard said, "and it is but fair that
I ride at its head tomorrow."
"Yes, of course," General Sherman answered, "but--are you a Christian,
Howard?"
"What do you mean by that?" Howard asked astonished.
"I mean that you can bear that disappointment and let him have the
honor. You are a Christian," Sherman added; "well--what do you say?"
Like a brave officer, jealous of his honor, Howard had anticipated this
day with delight, but, after hesitating a moment, he said:
"Yes, looked at from that point of view, only one answer is possible:
Let him ride at the head of his old unit tomorrow!"
"All right then," said Sherman, "but you will report at headquarters
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock."
The next morning at the appointed hour Howard reported that everything
was arranged. The officer who had been removed because of mischief had
resumed his old post.
"Very well," Sherman answered, "then you ride by my side today."
"I have no right to do that," Howard replied.
"It is an order," Sherman answered smilingly.
Thus O. O. Howard rode beside General Sherman at the head of the entire
army in the parade at Washington--he who had renounced glory and right
for the benefit of one who had forfeited both, so that the latter might
_be honored_.
"Removed because of mischief." That might have been written upon the
brow of Adam when the portals of Paradise were closed behind him.
Removed from the living God because of mischief--that _was_ the legend
above the whole story of mankind until the fullness of time.
Removed because of mischief--from one another, from the respect of
fellow-beings, from honor and enviable positions among men: That was
the legend above the lives of so many--of him who had stolen money from
his master's till; of him who had suffered a moral lapse, etc.
But into the life of him who has been removed from God because of
mischief one came and said: It is my will that you resume your old
place of the child in the arms of his Father. It is my will that you
take part in the ride into the new Jerusalem. I will share my rights
with you and give you my glory. Yes, thus speaks the Son of the King of
Heaven in His church upon earth.
This I have done for thee, Jesus says. But then, when you go among
those people who have been removed because of mischief from good
positions or from the respect of their fellow-beings: How much of your
glory and rights can you give to them?
_You are a Christian._
We ask, almost as surprised as O. O. Howard: What do you mean by that,
Lord? Too often, we ourselves think too little of it. But Jesus sayeth:
Remember that you are a Christian when you associate with those who
have lost the respect of their fellow-beings. As a Christian you must
be able to sacrifice a little of your honor and your rights for their
sake.
To be a Christian is not merely to be a child and to rest upon the arm
of the Father. _It is to make real the love of the Father, in the steps
of Jesus Christ, among those who have fallen by the wayside._
_You are a Christian._
_Are you?_
And one thing more. Howard did not lose anything by relinquishing his
glory and rights like a Christian. Far from it! He gained by it. He was
placed beside the supreme commander at the head of the entire army.
Thus with us.
When Jesus demands of us that we as _Christians_ shall bring
sacrifices, then it is not for the purpose of causing us any _loss_,
or to make us _advance_ something for which we will not be reimbursed,
but simply to enable us to receive more from Him. Such advances He
changes into an income for us. We will receive a hundredfold. We will
be qualified to be at the front, and by His side we approach the goal.