It should be clear that no man can dispense himself or his fellow from a grave duty; but for all that we have been liberal with our dispensations, and it has left us in confusion and failure.

On the understanding that we will be heroes to-morrow, we evade being men to-day.

We think of some hazy hour in the future when we may get a call to great things; we realise not that the call is now, that the fight is afoot, that we must take the flag from its hidden resting-place and carry it boldly into life.

So near a struggle may touch us with dread; but to dread provoking a fight is to endure without resistance all the consequences of a lost battle--a battle that might have been won.

And if we are to be fit for the heroic to-morrow we must arise and be men to-day.
VII At times we find ourselves on neutral ground.