Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-26
MEnoRlAi SERMON
In Honor Of Those Who Fell in the
Rebellion
Delivered by Rev. Mr.. BradIee at the
Granite Church.

The union memorial exercises at the Con-
gregationalist church last evening in honor
Of the nations defenders who fell in the war
Of the Rebellion, we're of q very interesting
character. An unusually large congregation
was present. The members of Seth Williams
Post, G A. r. and Harry Stinson Camp, S.
Of V. attended in body. The services op-
ened with voluntary. Rev. Arthur Skeele
made the opening prayer. Rev. j. Smith
Gledhill read appropriate selections from the
Scripture. A fervent prayer was offered by
Rev. DIR. Pepper of Colby. followed by re-
sponse. The memorial sermon, an eloquent
and effective tribute to the patriot dead, was
delivered by Rev. Mr. Bradlee, pastor of the
Methodist church, and was given the closest
attention by the large congregation. Follow
ing is comprehensive abstract:
Text. Heb. a, ''Abel being dead yet
speaketh." This proposition embraces .
universal Law. The righteous Abel is but one
of countless multitude of men who being
dead. yet speak to those who remain behind,
or come after them. What a man was called,
or where he stood among men may be for
gotten, yet his voice still sounds and his acts
repe at themselves among humanity. And so
the text selected is appropriate for our
present use.
We are met to commemorate those who
fell for country and right; we are here to
honor the memory of our departed ''boys in
blue" Not merely those who wore the stars
and bars upon their shoulders; not those alone,
who, because of gentle birth and prominent
position, were known by name, but every
oT and - a.; 10 yb
volunteered to save the Union, and battled
for a righteous cause. Some died upon the
field smitten by shot and shell, others pined
away in hospitals and prisons, and still others
perished in the swamps and upon the weary
march. Many having performed their duty,
were permitted to return to home and loved
ones, yet. alas, because of wounds received
or exposure endured, have been passing
prematurely, year by year. to THAT bourne
from whence no traveller ever returns. Some
are buried in the church yards and family
burying grounds az home, surrounded by the
dust of kindred and of friends; some among
strangers in the sunny South; some with
marble stones or granite shafts above their
graves, with names thereon and epitaphs in
golden script; while others sleep in unknown
and unmarked graves; but to- night we loving
ly and with pardonable pride remember them
all-our valiant and fallen sons. They all
.'being dead yet speak to US. We meet in
union service-it is well. We know no de-
nominational names this hour. Our only
shbholeth is the watchword of "God and
native land" We have q common country
if not a common theology. In those fast re-
ceeding days OF the civil war we got strangely
and blessedly mixed up. As Christians, in
our work for humanity and the right, we all
prayed the same prayer and sang the same
hymns then. Those were days of genuine
brotherhood among the people of the North.
The souls of the loyal were wondrously knit
together. This insured success. As soldiers
you stood shoulder 20 shoulder, and those at
home joined heart and hand, and thus the foe
was conquered and our government preserv-
ed. This is memorial service, not funer-
al occasion. We are not here to weep for
our fallen heroes, but we are here rather, to
rejoice that such as they were given US as
sons; that we had it in our power and
were willing to render so costly a sacrifice
for humanity and our nations good. be-
lieve in such a service. 1t should refresh our
hearts to engage in one anniversary hallowed
by such tender and sacred associations of the
past. There is deep meaning in this service.
This is a reminder of Gods great mercy; the
celebration of q victory which made our
country. in fact, ''the land of the free" and
their lives for US, and brought to our repub-
lie truer. purer life. Other voices than
ours are heard this hour-their voices,
tongues of the departed speak eloquently
to us now.
I. They speak to us through memory.
"But here a deeper and serener charm
Toallis given;
And blessed memories of the faithful dead
Ger wood and vale and meadow stream have shed
The holy hues of heaven"
We are carried back in thought to eventful
times-times so full of thrilling interest as,
perhaps, to be without parallel in the history
of nations. They were times which tried
mems souls; but they stood the test; there
were multiplied sorrows, but accompanied
with wondrous fortitude and resignation there
were great anxieties and threatened ruin, but
constant and profound trust in God as well.
The story of those years depicts the over
throw of an iniquitous system of hu-
man bondage. There came time when
the American people SAIL "No more exten-
sion of territory for this infamous business !"
Then the hot blood of the South was up, and
when very soon they fred on Fort Sumpter
and the stars and stripes, then the cool blood
of the North was up too! To have the old
flag humbled in that way was an insult too
fragrant to be borne. Indignation proved the
inspiration of a stern resolve. If the
South would go to such txtrem-
tiles in defence of slavery, the
North must arouse itself to save the Union
And so there was the uprising of our loyal
people in the majesty of that strength which
springs from conscious possession OF the
truth. and with one heart and voice and hand
they sprang to mighty and victorious acton.
That was the beginning; but oh /! the volumes
of history between that and the end. L was
but boy then, but they were days l shall
never forget 1 remember the public meet
ings, the wild enthusiasm displayed, the
earnest talks between my father and his
neighbors. There were tears and kisses
and tender good byes, and sons ana
husbands were gone-snd then came the
waiting and praying and hoping through those
long and weary months. l remember nov
we all listened for the ''war news. And
there were letters from our dear ones at the
'front.' Then came heart rending experiences
The list of dead and wounded contained IA,
miliar names. Many came home with ruined
health, among whom was my Sunday schoo,
superintendent with his pocket Bible pierced
by q bullet which other~ise would nave
reached his heart. was but boy wnen they
occurred. How must it be with you who were
identified with these stirring scenes ana