still be devout and God-fearing.
Civilization with its concomitant vices has assumed the garb of
Christianity, having its form and semblance, but missing its spirit and
power. Such as are animated by the spirit of Christian religion and are
endowed with its power are derisively called hypocrites. We shall
willingly admit that there are many hypocrites among the Boers. But are
they not found among all nations? To say that all religious Boers are
hypocrites is utterly false.

When the English entered upon the contest with the Republics they
evidently did not reckon with this religious factor of the Boer
character. They did not know that the Boer would be supported as much by
his religious sentiments as by his love of freedom to fight to the
bitter end. Had they not been animated by such a fervent belief and
childlike trust in Providence, they would have abandoned ere long a
struggle which, regarded from a human standpoint, must have seemed
hopeless to them. But they believed that their cause was a holy and just
one, and that the God of Battles, the God of their forefathers, would
ultimately crown their efforts and sacrifices by sending them a glorious
deliverance. When the enemy desecrated their churches, ill-treated their
pastors, and stabbed their flocks, cattle and horses, they were not
disheartened, but said to themselves: "God in Heaven does behold, and He
shall vindicate the cause of the just as well as that of defenceless
creatures." Such deeds the religious Boer regarded with awe and
aversion, and made him more determined than aught else not to surrender
to those who perpetrated them.

The national anthems of the late Republics admirably express these two
features of the Boer character. The following is a free translation of
the Transvaal Volkslied, which may serve to illustrate the sentiments
which have dominated the Boers ever since their national existence:

TRANSVAAL VOLKSLIED.

Right nobly gave Voortrekkers brave their blood, their lives, their all;
For Freedom's right, in Death's despite, they fought at duty's call.
Ho! Burghers, high our banner waves, the standard of the free,
No foreign yoke our land enslaves, here reigneth liberty.
'Tis heaven's command, here we should stand,
And aye defend the Volk and land.

What realm so fair, so richly fraught with treasures ever new;
Where Nature hath her wonder wrought, and freely spread to view!
Ho! Burghers old, be up a