Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-06-17

THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE II, 1880.
Sermon Of Rev. c. E. Wright, on
the Fallen Soldiers" |
Ex. xii: IA Wand this day shall be unto you
for a memorial
The Scriptures are singularlY full If
memorial days, and memorial observ-
ances. And the idea is founded in the fit
ness of things. In the presence of great
events, great actions, great heroism, man
instinctively seeks to embody his admit
ration and gratitude in some significant
and lasting memorial Hence God rec
ogulzes this idea. He appoints and en-.
joins memorials. The great facts in He
brew history are memoria!ized in signifi-
cant services, and such memorial services
are not only appropriate, but they are
valuable. They re-awaken impressions
which tend to fade with the lapse Of time,
but which it is desirable and important
should have lasting recognition.
The alluslon in the text is to the pass
over which commemorated the deliver
auce of the children Of Israel on the night
when the destroying angel passed through
the land Of Egypt. The passover was to
be the annual memorial Of that event.
| do not consider it discordant with
this holy day and tins sacred place, to
speak Oft the events which the Both day Of
May mmemorates in our national his
tory. The deliverance of the American
Republic from disruption and death, by
the devoted services and patriotic deaths
of her citizen soldiery. Decoration Day
is the fitting memorial service Of a CRATE.
full nation.
As the day falls on Sunday this year,
the decoration of the graves of our dead
soldiers would not be appropriate, The
labor connected with it would not be
justifable on the Lords day. But 1t is
appropriate to think and speak of these
things. There is Gospel for the nation
as we'll as for the Individual.
The early history Of Decoration Day
is beautiful and touching. The service
IS older than the "Grand army of the Re
public"
In 1864 the graves of the Union Sol
-diers were scattered through all the South
ern states, and no man did them honor
In the spring of that year as the women
Of the Confederacy went forth to s;rew
flowers on the graves of their dead-the
lately emancipated Freedmen, with sim.
pie and lofty recognition Of what they
owed to the Union dead, gathered from
the fields aud woods the wild flowers
Under cover of night, they stole softly,
silently-to the last resting place -four fall
len heroes, and laid thereon the humble
floral offerings Of their unspfakable graft
tude. More imposingly, but never more de-
vou,ly and lovingly, will tho sacred and
significant service of Decoration Day be
performed, than by these humble freed
men. They inaugurated a memorial ser
vice which has been observed, and which
l trust will be, with increasing interest.
Already this Day is permanently en-
shrined in the hearts of the Republic a:
a new national holiday. 1t already dl
vides the honors of nations gratitudt
with the 4th of July. Decoration Day il
no mean rival of Declaration Day. l
the latter commentaries the nation
birth, the former commentaries its sal
walton. The sentiments of this DAY
strike very tender chord in all hearts
1t has less Of the spirit of glorificauor
than the 4th of July, but more of rea
glory and imperishable impression. I
t1atters less our vanity, and challenge
more our manhood. 1t recalls US an
nuai1y to the price that was psfu rUr GU
exalted privileges. 1t marshals agail
the embatiled hosts, beneath their gloriou
banners, inspired by their just and hol.
cause.
How wildly this day recalls to GU
mind the scenes of 81, 'C2, '63 and 81
The war proclamation, as its terribl
notes sounded through the land, and tn
noise OF gathering armies. How we re
call the drilling and arming. And thu
day when the first soldiers from the vii
lage, started for the front How the fla!
was presented by loving hands and trem
bling lips. And how tie soldiers re
sponded through their leader 1--WE vii
bring it back, or fall with it," Their
there was the hasty good bye, and tn,
'sthree times three for the volunteers an(
they were off. A few weeks passed BY
and the rumor came of great battle: ant
some of the boys it was SAID had fallel
and some were wounded. And the ia
Their whose sons had gone forth, went t
the village post Office and got the paper
and opened 1t with trembling hand
and read on down the list of the killed
till he came to something, that made
the color 60 from his lips, and made hin
drop as though he were dead. And nov
over the mantle in th at country home, ar
two pictures Of young men who went of
in soldiers dress but never came back
And when Decoration Day comes ant
the mother is too feeble to go out 10 thu
cemetery, she goes out and plucks some
vines from the door-yard and twines then
around those two pictures, or she takes
the pictures down and fondles and kisse!
them. But this week-lo morrow, the ma
ton, will 60 out to find the graves OF
those two boys, and put On them ont
wreath for father and one wreath fol-
mother. And thus year by year, soldiers
turn aside from the ordinary march Of
life to go and visi: the silent encamp
ment of their dead comrades who once
fought by their side: And from thou
sands of homes "whose light went Ou
when a soldier fell'' there go forth, te
join these professions, loving friends and
kindred.
A grateful nation honoring the mem
DRY and deeds of its dead soldiery with a
tribute Of fond remembrance. this is the
meaning AID spirit Of this day. Those
whose graves are .wreathed with garlands
are they, who in the deadly breach OF
battle, or in weary hospital, or in prisons
more terrible than all, gave their lives
that an 1mperilled country might live.
And therefore we pay them this rare and
distinguished honor. 1t is not that they
were nobler or better than heir comrades
who survived, or than thousands whom
death yearly claims as her prey. But we
love the nation, which under God, they
saved in treason's mad revolt. We glory
in the government they upheld. We
boast ofthe Institutions they rescued from
destruction: and therefore we cherish
their memory as a sacred legacy and
gather at their tombs to read afresh the
lessons of those four years Of bloody, glo.
rious war. In honoring them, we honor
the country they saved, our country, the
treasury Of all We hold dear on earth.
It is meet that the nation rise up and dc
them honor. Little does it import to the
fallen heroes, it is true, what service we
offer, But it is q matter of importance