The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-26
THE RESULTS OF TIE REBELLION.
Rev. j. II. DOddriige, Before Chapman Post
at EIeteller-P1ace Church.

Rev. j. II. DOddTidge, Before Chapman Post
at FIeteher-P1ace Church.
The Chapman Post of the G. A. r. worshiped
at Fletcher-place Church yesterday morning.
The church was handsomely decorated with flags
and flowers. The choir, aided by Miss Lowder
and Dr. Hoover, rendered some very excellent
and appropriate music. The attendance was
very large, the house being filed Rev. J. H.
Doddridge, the pastor preached from Proverbs
xiv a. Righteousness exalteth nation, but
sin is reproach to any people,"
He said the thought conveyed by the text was
thatrg righteousness tended to build up and sin to
destroy nation or people; that conflict for
premacy was being waged between them; that
nation exalted when right triHmphed
l. The past: Degraded when sin prevailed,
while the hundred years of our history had
proven that a republic founded upon democratic
principles was longer an experiment., yet
the future of the nation depended ON it's fidelity
to the right, the just and the true. In that time
we have risen to position of honor among men
and nations Formerly to be Roman was to
be greater than king; but few could claim such
citizenship. Here EVERY man is citizen and
every citizen freeman, and every freeman
sovereign"
The Fathers fleeing persecution and intoler-
ance, came to the new world with their Bibles
and religion, settled to serve God, work and
prosper. He laid upon them the honor Of found
ing great nation on the principles of his Word
Not long before the infant republic lost its swad
ding clothes the conflict between righteousness
and sin for the guardianship began, and has
never ceased. Here the speaker dwelt at length,
showing that our free institutions, free press,
freedom of thought and of conscience was the
result Of the triumph of the right over the
wrong
g The futures The conflict between sin and
righteousness goes on. AS far rs we are to augur
the future by the past we are rapidly approach
ing another crisis in our nations history. An
other great evil must be met and vanqushed
only second to slavery intemperanee. The
speaker argued that possibly it might lead to the
shedding of blood and the taking of life while
the result was declared in unqualified terms
For there was a power back Of this temperance
movement higher than the Constitution stronger
than law, mightier than am army with banners;
the power of right, of truth, of religion and of
love Other forces may fail These must tri-
unaph, for
Since right Is right, and God is Cod
The right the day must win;
To falter would be disloyalty,
To doubt would be SIM
g. Our future hope; This the speaker found
in obedience to the precepts and commandments
of holy writ-showing that the dscoverer
possessed the land in the name of the Most
High; that the early settlers were Bible reading
liberty loving people. That it had much to do
with shaping our free institutions and molding
our nation was attested by the oath in courts of
Justice, recognition of the Sabbath, ehaplains Of
the army and navy, etc That national morals
could not be preserved without its preeepts: as
Daniel Webster declared 1T has been held as a
fundamental truth that religion is the only solid
basis of morals, aud that a moral structure
not built upon this structure is only built upon
sand" 1t was also claimed that nation sur
wives. its religion, and that to sabvert
the Bible would destroy our free. institu
lions Quoting the timely words of w H.
Ey0rfS. ..(lDP pipht IS we'll land
10 keep its climate, its salubrity its fertility
and its beauty were the globe loesed from the
law which holds it in an orbit when we feel the
tempered radiance of the sun, as to count upon
the preservation and delights and glories of
liberty for people east loose from religion"
The men who fought our battles and in whose
honor this day was especially observed, respected
the teaching of the sacred book, the nations
hope. Auother point touched as the hope of the
future was a free press which, when en-
listed on the side of right, was power for
good and which might be equally potent for evil
on the side of wrong
The elective franchise was claimed as one of our
national safeguards, and that while ''vox popu-
lih was not 'vox del yet the masses of
the people were usually on the right
SIDE Of - all vital questions Another
was patriotism. National days in honor of the
past and monuments erected to the memory of
those who fell for the right, like the twelve
stones taken from the Jordan would instil the
love of country and liberty in the minds and
hearts of the youth.
In conclusion, some well chosen words were
addressed to the post who were soon to repair to
the cemetery to decorate the graves of their
comrades with flowers. They were asked to
place at the head of the grave the cross, emblem
of service, suffering for Others and at the foot a
branch of the live oak, with the word liberty"
Then heap upon the grave the nasturtion, the
mint the lily, the almond-patriotism, virtue
purity and hope. Upon these the olive branch
and the amarath-peaee and Immortality
Then crown it all with garland of flowers
The yietors virtpous reward.