The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-05-15

Brothers, God and your country demand ne'
as We are, for a mission so sublime. Not III
mercenary mnions of despots, hot the iro
men and souless. mere blood and bone an
muscle, who compose the standing armies c
the eastern monarchies bat citizen soldiery
volunteers, men Of high-souled and ennoblin
principles. who love the truth and dare die 70
it.
Brothers We are, in high and holy sense
ye are of us, ye go out from our churches an'
from our own loved fresides- Pastors and fel
low christians it has been our delightful service
to minister to you in sacred things. Our love ha
ripened, our hearts have blended in the mids
of the most tender and sacred christian and do
mestic relations. In parting, let US grasp YOU
hand and say, be firm, be strong in your princi
plies.
Suffer no unholy, unchristian passion to enter
your soul. Ye 60 to war, but not in madness
to smite, but not for revenge. One was you
| brother, but has made himself your foe. Let
your arm fall, palsied, from the socket, ere you
strike in passion. Truth needs, in her defence
no bitterness. No merely sectional, political OF
ambitious aims be yours. Ye are Gods, and
truths. and humanity's. Be strong.
But you enter the camp, the place to try
your principles. 1t is full of corrupting infu
ences. Brothers, We are of us-ye are ours
We expect much of you-we demand it. VIII
you betray our hopes? Say: Look on us here,
your pastors, your fathers and mothers your
wives and little ones Will you shun the vices
of the camp? Dare you pledge us here, under
these bending heavens, and the eye of God?-
A voice from soldier responded here, 1--WE
dare.'-ED.l Dare you pledge-dare you give
us the hand? Ii you dare then strike hands
across this line, and God and man shall witness
hands across the line, and the whole audience
were moved to tumultuous weeping-ED.]
Latemperance-in the camp, Stays more than
the bullet Ye will shun it as your deadliest
foe. Brothers, l am proud to tell you that the
commandment chief of our armies is tee-total-
er. When on his recent Presidential tour, gen.
tlemen pressed him to taste wine, he replied
= Gentlemen, | nave lived fifty years without
the use of any liquor, and L do not deem it
worth while to change my habits now" Be
strong, be worthy of such leader. This is
your pledge.
Profanity-The God of battles is your trust,
Let his name be held, among you in the high
est reverence-to this you pledge.
Sabbath Dsseeration.-Let the day be sacred
even as here, in your happy christian homes.
Such pledges you will never forget. You
will not betray our ardent hopes. The sons of
Michigan will take high ground. The volun-
teers of Lansing will be true and strong, brave
and victorious. We will not fear you We will
not distrust you, but daily, as our prayers shall
follow you, this shall be our earnest petition
g Father, make them strong in principle
Finally-Be strong in fajth.-Have faith in
Israel's God, whose providence gave us a ma
tiOnal existence, all the bright record of our
past. who has thrust upon Us all the glory OF
our national character and history, and upon
you and us the solemn issues OF this hour. Let
your faith take hold on His strength, His grace,
His Son, and His eternal life freely given to
man. Brothers, you are going forth to toll and
Jesus Christ, the truest friend, the highest sup
port, the sweetest relief in distress. Make
him your friend. Be strong in the sublimity OF
your mission, in your principles and your faith
And now brothers, one thing remains TO me
in closing. On behalf of these pastors, christ
ian brethren and loving friends, to give you the
parting hand. My dear Captain, let me grasp
your hand again, as have often done in the
house of God at the altar of christian commun-
ion, and by the light of the cheerful fireside
In so doing place in your hand, and through
you in that of each of your comrades in arms
copy of the precious word of God.
Among certain tribes of American aborignes
has been found the ceremony of arraying the
warriors" Itconsisted, amid certain songs, dan
ces and lamentations, in hanging about the neck
of the youth at a suitable age to follow the war
path, certain charmed bag of peculiar texture
and curiously wrought, which was to be worn
| under the garments thenceforth. and should
render the warrior invulnerable to the enemy
! till the Great Spirit should call him away.
This is our ceremony at this moment. and the
word of God is our amulet. In christian
manner, we ''arrav the warriors" Wear thi.
truth. 1t has divine charm. Wear it in the
heart-wear it when you go to the field of strife
| 1t shall be your coat of mall your armor against
aggression. and though the steel may strike t.
the hearts blood, it may not reach the life. Lei
this gift be to you significant of all the unutter
ed and unspeakable sentiment that is in Oul
hearts for you and the cause you go to defend
You are of us-we repeat-you are ours
You 60 not alone. Our hearts go with you
| fight your battles with you, rejoice in your vic
| tories, and were it possible and necessary
die with you. AT throne of Divine grace W,
will meet you daily. That golden triangle
whose vertex is that throne. shall blend on
souls in blessed, holy union. May you sooI
return to us bearing the olive branch of peace
our national ensign waving over happy. uni
ted and loyal people But should We fall th,
loss will be ours. the sorrow and the mourn
ing, but We will honor the memory of him win
dared to die for his country and his God.
Farewell, brothers, We commend you to tn
power, the justice. the mercy and the deathles
love of our God and yours. from whose all-see
ing eye no simple act of faith and obedienc
may ever escape. May His loving presence at
tend you and be in eternity your unspeakabl
and everlasting reward.
/ Capt. Price returned in few words tn
thanks of the company, when the exercise
were closed by the whole audience joining i
singing the Doxology: