Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-05-29

CuStOladTy hospitality, 10 tlOaeou % -
he were runaway slave Fatal audac-
ity!. And has not Christianity in every
age, always found its bitterest foes in
the same ignorant and hostile spirit
which ruled the senseless head and chuTl-
ish heart of Nabal
Notwithstanding all the protect
i've and remunerative influences of re-
ligion, when God comes to many men
of wealth, who have become so through
the influence of religion, and
presents the just claims of juctice
and humanity in behalf of the poor and
the oppressed, how has He been insulted
by their defiant retort-shall / take my
bread and my flesh and give it unto men
whom | know not whence they be p
And so God was compelled to say, as all
the claims of justice and humanity were
scorHed, Gird ye on every man his
sword"
In such a war religion becomes ag
gressive by the sword and lends all her
sanctions and remedial agencies to sub |
due the foe and win glorious victory |
For years we commended against a mon
ster evil, that, backed up by wealth, ig |
norance and pride, spread over our re-
public an idolatry and barbarism the |
most obnoxious and Remembering. The |
weapons of argument and of persuasion |
all failed. Oppression, inso1ent as Ma
bal, trampled down justice in our Capt.
toll with blows of tyranical wickedness
Frustrated humanity in the persons OF
honored senators F; cqncocted treason I'M
der the shield of perjured oaths of all
igance, and cOnsummated their resistance
to honor, justice and liberty, by the most
wicked rebellion the world ever knew.
80
| From the granite hills of New Hamp
| shere, from the lumber forests of Maine,
| from the great lakes and praires of the
West, from the green hills of Vermont,
| from farms and shops, from the humble
homes of honest poverty ana from the
| halls of learning came a great host, with
! their testaments in their KNAPP
sacks and the kiss of patriotic
1 wives and mothers warm en- their cheeks.
/ The pulse ofliberty and patriotism beat
through every channel of intelligence
and deVotion-pulpit, press, family affairs
and seats oflegislation.
And not only did there great armies
go forth to battle, but Christianity,
with every possible ingenious method OF
assistance called all classes and ages to aid
| in the great work. In her sanitary aud
Christian commissions, in her charities
/ for hospitals, in her noble women-the
Ablgails of churlish Nabals, the Marthas,
the Dorcasses and the Phebes1-she sue
c0rcd the weak, fed the hungry, cheered
the despGnding, smoothed the pillows OF
the dying. Where the sword went to
defend, to avenge, religion marched I'M
der the banners of oar country and the
cross, with her heavenly ministrations
She snatched mangled bodies from
beneath the bloody iron wheels of de-
struction. She washed away the gore
and blood, and wrapped bleeding limbs
with the soft bandage of soothing, SYM
pathetic tenderness. She pressed the
cooling cup to parched and fevered lips,
) and raised the cross before eyes growing
dim in death. Like an angel of mercy,
she was found on the battle field, facing
: death and suffering in their most appal-
ling forms; walked by the side of the
+ ambulance, freighted with agony, and
vocal with grOans, yet awalling blessings
: and praises from the wounded and suf
fering. by her tender ministratiOns and
, in the crowded hospital. where whole
/ rows of wan faces looked up beseech
: ingly for help, and sympathy, and love
walked softly from couch to couch with
smile, and cordial, and words of love
! and acts of sweetest charity, saying t
/ many a brave, dying boy, as she kissed
d his cold lips, let me do it for his mother
( and for my country. for which he died.
t trust that the principles lying at the
q foundation of my subject are apparent
4 to ALL in their application to the Obiec
: which brings this audience here tonight
@ The tribute of gratitude we pay to the
Y brave men who gave up their lives TO
Y their country Is well deserved. In thu
i sacrifices they made, and the great bless
n ings they secured to us and coming gen
erations, we cannot hold them too fer
+ vently in grateful admiration,
Is And in the service we anticipate a
e their graves, we feel that nature has NJ
# gifts too beautiful or marvellous in frag
Y rance with which to crown their bed o
patriotic glory.
n To some Of us they are more thai
h patriots-sons, husbands, brothers, faith
~ ers. They are but perishable offerings
:. we know, but not so their fame, thei
"a influence. So bright and imperishabl
r. are these, that, after love and gratitud
have performed this impressive dut
.p over their ashes, we ask ourselves wha
: more shall we do? And from more tina
L. one hundred Thousand graves Their
: comes a vOice-nOt in the roar of cannon
y not with the blast of the bugle or tn
N roll of the drum, not in the clashing O
. steel or shock of battle--it comes in tn
20 silent impressive presence Of our nObl
pr dead From all these graves there Is
i voice. 1t COMES over us like a magi
SPELL It thrills like q clarion blast.
n rolls like a mighty pulse-wave-a dee
~ ground swell, as if the land of shade
Z was mastering all its forces and marsha
:, inc all that mighty host We seem I
re see them. We feel the irresistible i'll
- pulse to shout, hail heroes Of Shiloh Q
~ Autjetano, of Gettysbttrgh!
jo It is all illusion, we know-they al
no dead and yet they live in their charat
az ter. in their acts and sacrifices, and thu
ia as a silent, but living force contribute,
bo form the character and shape the event
~ in the future of our country's history
he To live in hearts we leave behind isnot
j. die. Indeed our country never soentlrel
in and profitably possessed them as 1t no
~ does. They hallow the nation and Ii
be it up and stimulate with patriotism thoS
y who survive them; and with unite'
harmonious, but earnest and thrillir
voice, their one hundred thousand grave
~ say to their living comrades, take care {
" the country zoe. died TO s0De
81 And year after year as they are strew
i' with natures pure offerings raised ann
the silence of her dewy tears, with tt
n sacred pledge that they shall be year
n renewed until dissolving world sha
It's make the privilege and the service
IL longer possible. we shall hear that s
p cred command, complete, perpetatate tt
We blessings of justice, humanity, libert
MS and religion for which we died,
ng Martyred brothers, we hear thy ca
he to duty. and pledge obedience and 10,
to atty to thy just commands
ea After the conclusion of the sermo
-, he to which the large audience prese1
er listened with rapt attention, Rev. nj
We Johnson Offered short but feeliI
Ter PRAYER, and the exercises closed by Il
ar singing of america, and the benedi
no ton by Rey. Mr.. Field.