Baptist Missionary Training School - Beacon Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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--ll THE BEACON -ii- From her voices she learned her mission. Life became purposeful - hers the task of saving., France! For that, she gave up all. For it she left home and loved ones. It became her every thought, the motive of every action. Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth by itself alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit, said the Christ she loved. Joan died to self, as truly as later her life ebbed out at the stake. But the life she lived and the work she wrought carried her into the hearts of the French people forever. May we, too, hear voices, charging our lives as hers was charged, with the power of a great purpose! We follow Down through valleys And up long hills Into the sun O Master, Master. Into the Sun! 13

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--l- THE BEACON PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE iff In martial array she marches down the centuries-that little peasant maid of Domremy. Five hundred years ago she saved her country, and lost her life. Conquering now and still to conquer, she sways our hearts as surely today as once she bent a hostile court to her desires. Joan of Arc is a meaningful ideal for the Christian young woman of today. She was a woman of action. She was alert to the need of the world in which she lived. She had an intelligent understanding of the significance of events. She had a passion for liberty -liberty from restricting conventions and outgrown -cus- toms. She had to the full the joy of that self-expression which is the expression of God in human life. - There is rare beauty in the simple purity of her life. Mingling with soldiers and courtiers, talking with dukes and kings and simple attendants-in bar- rack or courtroom, in scene of battle or Coronation, she insulated herself with an aura of goodness. She was in the world lighting its battles, but she learned to keep herself uunspotted from the world. Her own life measured up to her profession. And oh! the courage of her! She was not afraid to do the unconventional thing, Xvhen common sense told her it was wise. She faced new experiences with eager expectancy. She undertook tasks too large With modest confidence. The jeers of courtiers left her unabashed: the threats of royalty did not alarm her: even the darkening clouds of danger did not overwhelm her. Courage carried her, on her white horse, with banner lifted high, up to the walls of Orleansg and courage went with her to the stake. Her courage was based on faith. She knew whom she had believed, and she, like Paul, was persuaded that He is able. The Eternal God was to her a present reality. He guided the affairs of men and of nations if they would but yield to Him. With Him all things were possible: for Him no task was too difficult: through His power ultimate victory was sure. Joan knew because she heard voices, Across the poppy fields she heard them, when the vesper bells were ringing. She heard them in the battle's din. They spoke to her in the great cathedral: she listened and followed-followed to great adventures, to victorious living - and death. It was Eenelau who said, How rare a thing it is to find a soul still enough to hear God speak. l2

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THE BEACON I4