The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-09
An Address.
An Address. 81.
Delivered by Rev. 8. s. Weatherby
at the Presbyterian church In lola,
Kanaaa Snndau Nav 0Qfh 1890.

at the Presbyterian church in lola,
Kansas, sunday, May 18th, 1882:
When the children Of Israel crosfed the Jor-
dan into the promised land twelve men Of their
number were selected, one from each tribe,
whose duty 1t should be to take ont Of the midst
Of the Jordan, where the priests feet stood
nrm, twelve stones, and carry them to the
place where they should encamp that night,
That this may be sign among you that
when your children ask their fathers in time to
come, saying, what mean We by these
stones p then We shall let your children know,
saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry
land" These were memorial stones and
were certain silent monitors Of Gods wonder
ful deliverance of his people. In this there is
IN analogy with the location which calls US
together this day. We also, as q nation, had
period Cf conflict in the wilderness, whea 1t
was uncertain what the end would be, and We
also were delivered with a high hand and with
an outstretched arm.
And now once a. year, when spring time has
fully come, AMI the roses are In bloom, pro-
phetic Of a better day when the desert shall
bloom, We assemble to call to mind the events
through which We passed in the great struggle,
our dead brothers and companions. And If our
children shall say, "What mean ye by these
things?" ye shall tell them that mighty re-
bellion, wicked and shareholders rebellion
which was thoroughly organized, vast in Its
resources and stupenduous in its power was
Overthrown; the great Republic was preserved
and God and the truth was vindicated. We say
to them to-day We honor the patriotic dead
this day We make honorable mention u the
hunOied dead.
To those who are familiar with the exciting
scenes which preceded the conflict aud who We're
familiar with the marshalling Vi armies and
roar OF cannon 1t seems strange that new gem
GRAFTON has grown up who know these events
only as matter or history and study them in
school books as something in the past. 10 us
1t is mighty reality, an ever prcsent theme, a
supreme struggle while scenes Of the march,
the battlefield aud the hospital are ever-prcs-
ent la our minds as the death angel in tho pic
ture. And it is not inappropriate that We take
a part Of this Sabbath day as time in which We
recall these memories aud point our children t.
these memorial stones for God Is in history
As we'll Ms in his word, and not only were there
many grave political and socia! questions in
grayest imr 0rtance from moral and religious
Considerations. Issues which were fundamen-
tai to our Christian civilization. Issues which
il decided adversely to the truth would turn the
hand backward for centuries on the dial plate
of time. shall therefore briefly direct your
thought to the moral ard leave to others the
consideration Of the political and social ques-
lions involved.
The first memorial to which we pOint 10, that
the cause for which they died il just and right
The Puritan or New England idea was right and
the Southern idea was wrong, and speak Of
right and wrong from The standpoint Of the
higher and Divine law, which trancends oil hui
man statutes. The New England idea WAS that
Of liberty and equality. 1t recognized the di-
vine right OF man to possess his own body,
eHjoy his liberty and pursue happiness in his
own way 30 long as he did not interfere with
the rights of another In other words the Pu-
ritan idea taught that God was no respecter Of
persons that from one blood God has made
all ma ions t, dwell upon the face Of the earth
that in every nation he that feareth G.d and
workc;h righteousness is accepted by him, aud
in Christ Jesus there Is neither male nor fe-
male, Greek nor barbarian, white nor black.
That God deals not with us as classes or races
but with each one as child and while man
looks at the outward appearance God looks at
the heart, hence if he is q man he is created in
the image Of his maker. A man, though
beastIy and stupid, yet capable of turning his
face heavenward, and one for whom Christ
died-a man, and he who strikes him strikes
humanity and strikes God. This idea, which
was Incorporated into the Declaration Of indie
pendence and compromised in the Constitution,
was derived from the word OF God and was
made prominent In this country, first among
the sturdy liberty-lOving SONS Of the mountains
Of New England These views had spread over
the north and were diffused very generally
through the churches and all social and pOliti- |
cal circles. 1t had taken hold upon the great
heart of the nOrta. This idea had touched the
common sympathes and was heard in speech. |
in song, in prayer and in story. And though it
had not yet fully come to the front, it was the
soul Of John Brown marching on and was the
raise up armies and through which navies |
should come forth iato existence and which |
should sustain the north during terrible and
bloody struggle Of four years.
The idea of the South or the shareholders !
ldea was the ulNlne rlSnt u slavery. Is! cor
rupting the word of God, by adding to and TAX |
ing therefrom they proved, at least to them !
selves, the divine sanction to enslave their fell
low man. Built on this was vast and power |
Iul social system. This power practically had |
ruled the nation and was seeking to extend it
self over all the vast territories Of the west. |
While the people Of the south were kind, gen.
.rous and chivalrous and better than their
system. slavery was fast debasing and corrupt
ng them. The idea was wrong one Of those
rotations which never has forgiveness unit / it
8 abandoned. 1t was was great house, bea.l-
iful in some parts, displaying mach architect
lral skill, but destined.to fall and carry with it
widespread ruin and desolation.
1t was wrong from the standpoint Of humani-
arianism wrong from the standpoint Of con-
'cieice and the law of God which he has writ
en upon the hearts of men. 1t was was wrong
rom the fruits which 1t bore and was morally
destroying both master and slave, and was rap
dly carrying the south into barbarism These
40 ideas could not cO-exist under the same
orm of government, and many had seen from
he first the finger of Providence pointing to the
newt able conflict We repeat that In this the
North was right and the South was wrong
And once more, the idea Of the north must tri-
lmpb. not necessarially in four years, nor ten,