Again and again, in Flanders, in Gallipoli, and on every front, courage has shown itself to be a contagious thing. Fired by an undaunted leader, cheered by stout hearts at his side, many a man has proved himself braver than he ever thought to be. In one of his campaigns the Duke of Wellington happened, on one occasion, to be absent from the army and rode up just as it was retreating. A soldier saw him and shouted out, "Yonder is Lord Wellington. God bless him." The shout was taken up by the whole force; the retreating army was inspired to a fresh effort, turned and drove the enemy headlong. Jesus Christ has a like effect on those who get near enough to Him to feel the magic of His influence. It just makes you a _man_ to be in His company. "I have a Captain, And the heart of every valiant man Has drunk in valour from His eyes Since first the War began. He is most merciful in fight. And of His scars a single sight The embers of our failing might Into a flame can fan." *CHIVALRY* "He saved others: Himself He cannot save."--ST. MATTHEW xxvii. 42. "Ye ought to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."--ACTS xx. 35. "Follow the Christ, the King, Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the king-- Else, wherefore born?"--TENNYSON. *III* *CHIVALRY* In the Middle Ages the lesser nobles used to follow their chiefs on horseback; they were called _Knights_ (the word originally meant servants, in German _Knechte_) and the system of knightly rules and customs was called chivalry (French _chevalerie_). The order of knighthood was only bestowed after many years of training and discipline. In later times the movement lost its early meaning and usefulness; but for many centuries the traditions and ideals of knighthood did much to keep alive the Christian standard of a pure and courageous manhood. On one of the last days of His earthly life Jesus Christ did a thing that astounded the men who saw it. At the close of a supper with the inner circle of His followers, He took water and a towel and went round the little company washing each man’s feet in turn. And then He explained to them His acted parable. He told them that they, like Himself, were put in the world to _serve_: "not to be ministered unto but to minister." They learnt their lesson; and for the rest of their lives every man, save one, spent himself ungrudgingly in serving others.