The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-05-27
Memorial Service.

Memorial services were held In Island
Avenue church, SUNDAY morning which.
Russell Post, G. A. H., attended in body.
A select choir under the direction oi frof.
Johnson, rendered appropriate music, aud
the sermon by Rev. Mr. Raeklih was At
teutlyely listened to by large audience.
Following Is brief abstract of the SER
mon.
The sermon Is based on the text IL. Cor,
1914. The text speaks of a spiritual con-
fict to be fought with weapons that are
not carnal and yet are mighty. There may
seem to be room for question as to the ap
propriateness of such text for TINS ocea-
sion. But the connection will become ap-
narent when we remember that the strife
known in history as the civil war, is part
of that great conflict of the ages whose
issue is to be the supremacy OF truth ana
righteousness. Life is more than comedy
or tragedy. The part we take Is not an as
sumed character which We put on or oil at
will. Life Is not an illusion but a reality;
not a pastlme but business. Its int use
reality is shown by the text which repre-
SCENTS the world as great battlefield where
the uncompromisipg hostilities OF unchanS-
ing principles has brought about con
dict which never is to cease until right is
snthror ed In the hearts of men and truth
becomes triumphant.
1t may not be quite clear to your minds
how war whose thrilling story is written
in blood aud whose track is marked by
dead and dying men, by desolate3 homes
and ruined villages and devastated neids,
can be a part of that moral conflict whose
theatre OF action is this world. But whea
we remember that the strife In which you
took part was one in which principles OF
! tight were at stake We may see how TINS
can be- The civil war is taken out of the
category of military exploits that have
won the admiration of past CIVILIZATIONS.
1t holds unique place in history. As We
listened TO the tread Of armies e8d ss~ the
fierce onslaught of contendng forces we
suddenly became aware that problems
were being solved for us that would have
much to do with the future of America and
| of the world. The conflict preserved the
union but it did more. 1t struck the shack
| les from four millions OF slaves but 1t did
more. 1t declared principle. 1t said To
| all the world that the color of nan's skin
| does not indicate inferiority nor assign
him to a position of servitude; but "a
man is man tor a that" Nor IS this all
| 1t has revoutoniZed the moral and relig-
| ious life of the South and made it some
thing grander and no5ler and purer than 1t
ever could have been under the old clyiii-
| cation. 1t was therefore mortl conflict.
| And the fact that the world has been made
better bv 1t is what makes it worthy OF a
place in the Christian thought OK to-day.
The war Is over. The sound Of strife has
long since died away. The shout of vic
tory no longer quivers in the air. But
that larger conflict of which this was a
part is still going on. And in that strife
we all are soldiers contending for or
against the right. Which shall it be?
Which side win you take? Life is not all
summed up in the intense activities which
characterize the present age. But slowly
and painfully the great life of the world is
working out the problem whether right
shall oe enthroned in the hearts OF men or
whether principles of evil shall dominate
our life. When this strife is over shall ii
be said of US that we have borne an honor
able part and that the victories we have
won are victories for truth and GodI II
this be our desire let US grid on the whole
armor OF God, "That we may be able to
withstand in the evil day; and having dont
all to stand" And remember "They al
WAYS win who side with God"