---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Ray, Clinton D.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 6
number: 6
published: 1903-04
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Clinton D. Ray, "The Victor," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 6 (April 1903): 411.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera0606unse
start_page: 411
end_page: 411
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-04)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse
  publication_year: 1903
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# The Victor

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SOME MISTAKES MADE WHILE PREACHING.        411
preacher opened fire upon me, all I had to defend myself with was
blank cartridges. He beat me right and left, and when he had
finished, this poor, theological game-rooster wasn't able to raise a
crow.
I returned to my home, and while sitting before the fire
nursing my wounds, scriptural passages, as numerous as autumn
leaves, came to me. I saw where I could have beaten my oppo-
nent every time he opened his mouth. But the Lord took this
means of teaching me a lesson, and I hope that some may profit
by my experience. My advice to young missionaries is, "Don't
court trouble. Preach in meekness and humility the gospel of
Christ, and leave contention to the devil, for he is the author of
it."
THE VICTOR.
Bind on thy helm and buckler, nor reck though death betide!
He liveth well who dieth with Truth upon his side!
He fears not any foeman with gilded spear and mail.
Who knoweth only duty to win or die, not fail.
Bind on thy shield and helmet, and reckon not the host;
But wage again the battles thy fathers fought and lost.
While Sin, the fatal foeman, is marshalled still in pride.
Thy only truce is bondage: 'twere better thou hadst died!
While Evil's golden banners, of mocking Doubt and Crime,
Flaunt in thy holy places with stolen spoils of time,
While Vice, the gilded Tempter, rules half thy kingdom still,
Fail not where thy fathers faltered: thy peace is thy children's ill.
Then wield thy sword with tumult, ere the day of thy strength decline,.
Till the night and thy glory cometh, when the sceptre shall be thine.
And shouldst thou bleed in the battle, what evil can befall?
He giveth best and grandly who giveth his last and all.
Bind on thy helm and buckler, nor reck though death betide!
He liveth well who dieth with Truth upon his side!
—Clinton D. Ray, Fillmore, Utah.