2 Thessalonians 2

Stand Fast

Stand fast. 2 Thessalonians 2:15.

This is the motto of one of the bravest of the brave Highland regiments the Gordon Highlanders. The original battalion of the Gordons, now the Second Battalion, was raised by the Duke of Gordon in 1794, and I want to tell you one or two stories which will show you how they have stood true to their motto.

The 2nd Gordons, then called the 92nd Highlanders, fought in the battle of Waterloo. At one point in the battle they were exceedingly hard pressed. Their numbers were reduced to three hundred, and opposed to them were three thousand Frenchmen. Then came the order “Ninety-second you must charge, for the troops on your right and left have given way.” Without a moment's hesitation the Gordons formed four deep and rushed forward into the midst of the opposing force. For a moment it seemed as if the charge must end in absolute disaster, but just then the Scots Greys, a cavalry regiment, dashed up with the cry, “Scotland for ever!” The Gordons echoed the cry, and catching hold of the stirrup-straps of their comrades were carried forward with them to death or victory. So ended one of the most famous charges in history.

Throughout the years the Gordons continued to win a name for staunchness and bravery. Then came the capture of the heights of Dargai in 1897, when they covered themselves with fresh glory. The heights had been occupied by the enemy and had to be retaken. Several regiments had made the attempt and failed. At last the Colonel of the Gordons said, “The Gordons will take them!” They stepped out unflinchingly under a hail of bullets, and in the first rush reached the point which had baffled the other troops for three hours. It took three rushes to carry the heights, but the Gordons took them in the end. It was during this fight that Piper Findlater of the Gordons won the Victoria Cross medal of honor. When all the pipers had been put out of action and he himself was shot through the ankle, he sat up and continued to play in order to inspire his comrades.

In the European War the 2nd Gordons formed part of that glorious Seventh Division which, along with the Third Cavalry Division, has gained immortal fame by its defense of Ypres. For a week 30,000 British soldiers held at bay 240,000 Germans until the main British army from the Aisne arrived. So magnificently did they hold out that the Germans said afterwards that they were under the impression that they were opposed by four Army Corps about six times the number of men.

Of the 2nd Gordons their chaplain wrote that under murderous fire they advanced to an attack in perfect order and with as great steadiness as if they were in the Long Valley at Aldershot.

Now it is an unusual thing that this motto of the Gordon Highlanders was also a favorite motto of St. Paul. No fewer than six times he repeats it, and I think we could not do better than take it as our motto too. We thrill when we hear of these magnificent deeds of glory, but the best way we can show our appreciation of them is by trying to be worthy of them. And so I want to give you three “Stand fasts.”

1. Stand fast by your work. Don't lose heart because you get into difficulties.

If at first you don't succeed,

Try, try, try again.

In a certain mill in a certain woollen manufacturing district there is made a certain kind of cloth which is very much sought after. This cloth has an unusual name. It is called mungo, and I want to tell you how it came by its name.

One day the manager of the mill came to the owner. He pulled a very long face and he told his chief that they had a great quantity of a particular kind of material on their hands. Somehow or other nobody wanted to buy it. “It's a dead loss,” he complained, “it won't go.” “Won't go?” exclaimed the owner, “it's no use talking like that. It mun go!”

So he gave orders that the cloth should be widely advertised. And soon there was such a rush for it that not only was their stock sold out, but they had to manufacture a great deal more to supply their customers. And so it was that the material came by its name of mungo.

Now if you want to get over your difficulties you must meet them in that spirit. When you get stuck over anything a sum, or a seam, or a musical scale, or any bit of hard work, just say to yourself, “It mun go.” Don ' t give in. Stand fast.

2. Stand fast by your friends. Stand by them in fair weather and foul. A little boy was once asked what a friend was, and this is the answer he gave “A friend is someone what sticks to you even after he has found you out” That is the only true kind of friendship. Stand fast by your friends even when you find they are not perfect. Stand fast by them in their absence just as much as in their presence. Stand fast by them when other people are running them down. Have courage to put in a good word for them. Don't desert a comrade because he is down on his luck or unpopular. He needs your friendship all the more just then.

3. Stand fast by your ideals. Stand fast by the things you know to be right and true. Don't be laughed out of them, don't be frightened out of them. The world is a hard place in which to keep ideals, but never forget that it is the people with ideals who have lifted it out of the rut.

Once there was a Scotch boy called Jamie who went to sea. And before leaving home he promised his mother that every night he would kneel down and say his prayers just as he had done every evening since he could remember.

At first he got along quite smoothly, but one night as he knelt down a rough sailor boxed his ears and said, “None of that here, sir!” This made another sailor very angry and he gave the bully a good thrashing.

The next night Jamie thought it would be easier to say his prayers in bed, so he crept into his bunk without saying them. No sooner had he lain down than someone clutched him and hauled him out again. It was his defender of the previous night. “Kneel down at once, you young rascal,” said he: “Do you suppose I'm going to fight for you and you not say your prayers? ”

Jamie never neglected his prayers again. He grew up to honor God. Years after, when the Great Eastern laid the Atlantic cable, the commander of the vessel was Jamie. But the Queen had knighted him, and he was now Sir James Anderson.

So stand fast by your ideals, boys and girls; don't let anyone take them from you. They are among your most precious possessions and will, please God, make fine men and women of you.