'Now yesterday was Empire Day. Why did you want me to put the flag up? Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Is not that it? (Yes, sir.) Dear boys! I wouldn't throw cold water on it for worlds. Well, you had your flag. It didn't fly. There was no wind behind it. There was no devil to blow it. Dear boys, you wanted that flag for a reason I think a shade wrong. It wouldn't be within the--what's the word I want?--suited for our modern gauges. The new world won't come until we give up the idea of Conquest and Extension of Empire--no new kingdom until its members are imbued with the principles that competition is wrong, that conquest is wrong, that co-operativeness is right, and sacrifice a law of nature. Now, how do the seven Beatitudes read with _Rule Britannia_? Now you say you believe in your Bibles. You say you are Christians. Pious Christians. You would be most annoyed if I called you heathens. Well, if so, you believe that these are right:-- 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Britannia rules the waves! 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see all that is worth seeing and living for. Wave your flag! Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Rule Britannia! 'Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness sake. Rule Britannia! It is incongruous.... 'Dear souls! My dear souls! I wouldn't lead you astray for anything. I can't explain it ... this national spirit of yours. Beneath it all there is a spirit of great righteousness. I wouldn't tamper with it for thousands of pounds. But you must just see the other side.... '(Starts on the Salt of the Earth, but is interrupted by time. Sets a heavy prep., and goes.)' § 2 Now that was the key in which Sanderson dealt with his boys and in which he gave his message to the world. And that is also the key in which they dealt with him. I want to clear out of the reader's mind any idea that this great teacher of men was a solemn and superior person, clear, exact, and exalted, and that his boys had any vague sentimental worship for him. They laughed at him, loved him, understood him, assimilated his ideas, and worked with him. He was much more like a sweating, panting, burly leader pushing a way for himself and others through a thorny thicket. And when I sat in his study and read over the notes of his sermons and scripture lessons I got the same impression of a sturdy fighter thrusting through a tangle.