Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-09

poured forth their burning blessings
upon your self sacrificing souls in tears
which their troubled hearts distilled
when brothers and sisters and friends,
who had learned to think that happi.
ness in life depended upon companion.
ship with you, stood around and pune.
tuated your parents expressions with
sympathetic sobs. ! ask you TO think
of that division OF your very great com.
pany into the 1.-TWO camps" which the
Angel of Death made upon tho banks
OF that Jordan which separates this life
from the life To come when many of
your comrades fell out from the ranks,
and, by the Captain of the Lords Host
which followed you, were formed into
another camp on the farther side of the
river; when you stopped over their
mangled forms and gazed into their
tear dimmed eyes and caught the dy.
ing words which you brought back 10
the dear ones at home.
Yes! at this time ask you to think
even more than ever, also, of that An.
gelIc host, the other member of the pair
OF camps-your other half, 30 10 speak
which lowered about you by day and
by night as the pillars of the cloud and
the fire followed and went before the
Israelites in the wilderness. Think OF
that armed host of heavenly soldiery.
forming solid phalanxes OF celestial al.
lies, which fought for you and tcih you
in unseen order, as "the stars in their
courses fought for and with Barak and
Deborah against Sisera.
For, the most important consideration
of this memorial occasion, is that your
presence here TODAY. IN view of all the
perils you passed through AS men OF
war, is due to the guardianship OF Gods
Host, the Angels which met you in the
hour when you met your angry brother.
delivered you out OF his hand, and all
the years since that time have been
your helpers and defenders. As you sit
here in this sacred p. essence you may
be the better able to realize this solemn
truth, than when the excitement occa
stoned by the clash of arms, the sound
OF drums, the roar of cannon and the
shrieks OF the wounded and dying
engaged your minds.
And, if we turn TO the Holy Bible for
further proof OF this guardianship Of
angels than that we have already found
in the text, we shall be surprised to
find how much has been revealed TO us
concerning the mini-trations OF those
exalted beings in the affairs OF men.
From the day when they were seen by
Adam in anger when they came TO
Abraham in mercy or, met Jacob in
his anxious suspense in regard TO the
treatment he might expect from Esau
or. rendered aid TO Joshua and the
[ 4 II "A I'D . I,.l lgF
OF SennAcherib or. spoke comforting
words 10 Daniel until the very close
OF the sacred record, Angels have been
prominent actors in the most interest
ing and important events, and believe
they are so still.
They are active 10 rescue Gods chill
dren from danger 20 afford them a..
sistance in season Of trial, and TO adj.
minister comfort in the hour of death.
Try then to believe, my brethren, that
triumph to the arms you bore TO pre-.
serve the government, was wrought, not
by your own, but by supernatural
strength. II was God who "girded you
with strength 10 battle 1t was God
who by the Angelic army He sent 10 be
with you. M1haagtn, delivered your souls
from the battle that was against you.
No Damascus blade of Saracen, or axe
of C0ofr dr lam could have done what
you achieved without the help OF God.
No armor Of human invention or subtle
element of nature could have enabled
you TO escape what you escaped without
the incorporation OF a supernatural pow.
er. Lift up your hearts, therefore, and
confess in the words Of the Psalmist-
"a ~ 4.
the day of battle
But bear in mind, my brethren, that
such special signs OF Gods favor do not
exempt men from the needs and suffer.
ings OF ordinary life. Men may. indeed.
bring up past help "a a plea for present
need. But those who have been highly
honored 10y the extraordinary tokens
Of Gods favor, may be brought down TO
the level of ordinary men by some
commonplace want. Samson slew a
thousand men with so mean an instru-
ment as the jaw bone OF an ass, but he
would afterwards have died OF thirst
himself had not God provided him
drink in miraculous way. In like
manner, you who have had Gods spe.
cial guardianship bestowed upon you in
the midst OF great dangers, may be
ready TO die eternally for want Of the
water of that spiritual life which flowed
from the Redeemer's side at the point
of the Roman soldiers spear. You are
still in the midst of danger. You are
stiIl needing help from Heaven. The
great enemy Of souls with drawn sword
defes the armies OF the living God
Go ye out TO meet him with the same
courage which characterized your con.
duct in the day Of battle not in your
own strength, but in the strength of
the Lord of Hosts.
Your fellow countrymen have flowers
to strew at your feet and upon your
comrades graves. They have gratitude
to write in golden letters upon the
blood.red stripes Of the Star Spangled
banner which you bravely defended.
They have plAudits for your achieve.
ments to pass down 10 their children
from generation TO generation. But
shat ara all than comma rod wilh that