The Portland daily press., 1863-09-18

Extract from discourse occasioned by the
death of Joseph Augustus Hodsdon, of Fall
mouth, member OF Co. A, 18th Regt Maine
Vols, who fell at Gettysburg, July 3:
"We esteem it an honor to this congregation
that not alone in gifts of money and whatever
might alleviate the suferings of the sick and
wounded in the armies OF their country, their
humanity and patriotism have been evincei,
but that more precious Offering has been
made in sending forth sons and brothers to
contend for national existence, Tor every insti-
tuition which tends to human welfare, for the
cause of God and of Jesus Christ, for the
rights and hopes of all the nations of the
earth, through all the ages to come-through
the eternal duration which ages cannot meas
ure.
We esteem it an honor that one brave,
young life has, from this congregation been
yielded up in SO great, so holy cause.
We esteem it an honor (sore, unutterable
grief though 1t bel to those parents who have
been called to give up their first-born, the OBJ
ject of their love and their hope to God and
their country, TO the whole race whom Christ
came to save.
Died at Gettysburg. no prouder epitaph
need any man covet. Who of all who have
occupied these houses, and titled these fields
building, planting, reaping, and returning TO
to the dust whence they were taken-who of
them all has earned Dobler memorial? Who
of all who now dwell here, will merit a more
atfectionate, honored remembrance than the
young volunteer who, from this community
went forth to fight, and, as the event proved,
to die for his country?
Died at Gettysburg! Do you know what
that means? 1t means "Died to chasten the
insoence which had grown inordinate through
a series of successes" 1t means "Died to re-
store courage and hope to an army saddened
and respondent through loug continued dis
aster." 1t means "Died to turn back the tor
rent of Invasion and pillage, and widespread
devastion." ltmeans "Ded to still the panic
fear which filed all hearts in the great cities
of our land" 1t means "Died that mothers
might put their children in security to their
nights rest" 1t means 'Died that insurrec-
ton and riot, theft and robbery, confagration
and red-handed murder might not rage at
will,-not in New York and Boston alone, but
in every city, every town, every village in the
land.' 1t means "Died that you might as
sembe in this house without fear that your
homes will be plundered and burned in your
absence that you yourselves might fall by
the shot or stab of the assassin"
For all that has been experienced in New
York is but small sample of what must, in
all probability, have been experienced through
tysburg ialtered when desperately assaulted
by proud, outnumbering foe.
Died at Gettysburg. 1t means, "Died that
the best government on which the sun ever
shone might not be bound and powerless, call
ing in vain for the succor which would not
come AS our government, in all seeming,
would have been, had not God, in his mercy,
interposed for us, saving us by those who, at
Gettysburg, opposed their breasts as the bull
wark of our defence, against the enemy who
thought to tread us into the Dust
Died at Gettysburg! 1t means 'Died for
the lands salvation; died for the opening of
the prison-doors to them that are unjusty
bound; died to proclaim the acceptable year
of the Lord. and the day of vengeance of our
God, to the oppressed nations of the earth !;
died that men might still hope and struggle
upward to life and liberty, civil and religious !;
died that a field for missionary enterprise
might be opened in our own land more wide
spread and more important than any of which
we have yet taken possession; died that Chris
tians might not, broken-hearted, retire from
the effort for the worlds conversion; died that
Gods kingdom might come, that his will might
be done, on earth as it is done in heaven.
That's what il means-Died at GettusbatrQ!