Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-25
FIRST MI. E. CHURCH.
Memorial Day Discourse by Rev. pr.
 Goodsell.

Goodsell.
 At the First M E. church last evening the pastor, Rev. Dr. Goodsel1, delivered 8 very interesting Memorial day discourse to large congregation. Among the number present were about two hundred members of Admir- al Foote post, G. A. R., and delegation of Sons of Veterans. The doctor gave as the
 basis of his discourse the 9th verse of the
 77th Psalm, 'I have considered the days of
 old, the years of ancient time" In his open
 ing remarks the preacher said in substance
 as follows: Is it possible for me to look upon
 this body of men in the house of God with
 out deep and peculiar emotiona It is an in-
 stinct in humanity to look long at man
 who has passed through great and
 peculiar trials. So when I think
 of you as passing through fires of battle can but think of you as having your names written on the pages of your country's history. We remember the time only in it's general features, and that peculiar experience which men only have when stand ing face to face with death we have not We remember the surrender, the return of the regiments, the raising of the monuments and R0AAoANAA you have been working side by side with us in the arts of peace.
 We have lived very rapidly since those days, Nations have their stages of childhood as well az men. If there ever was baby na- tion it was this nation before God tried. us, tried you. A fight with nation opens ad- versity's eyes; it opens nations eyes. We who look back over the past see that the greatest majority went to the front out of the purest motives. God has never given to nation higher, @ truer loyalty than that which thrilled your hearts when you went forth to battle for the right. Fifty years of peace had not only rusted the bayonets in their scabbards, but it had blinded the nation to the magnitude of the strife upon which they were about to enter. At the beginning we did not see so much of God in the war as we afterward did. We perceive-as we look back, and with deep modification, that our statesmen were blinded; yet one thing re mained-we must save the nation. Yet how much we had to learn. It was said that in few months the war would be over, and it was not until Gods hammer stroke broke up our conceit that went forth to conquer. The governmental union graves we are about to decorate has been per secured. Let us look back at the days that are past and contrast them with the present. In the South factories are springing up and they are be- ginning to realize the dignity of labor. Nothing has touched me more than the return of flags from the | North to the South and from the South to the ! North. It indicates a firm and undying union of the two sections which time shall | not divide. As look back it seems | strange that We could ever have again frater- ! aized. As think of the years that have | gone, and the many blessings that have come | rom the past, I find myself singing hymn ! 'f praise to Almighty God. We do | we'll then to strew the graves \ ,f the soldiers with flowers. Remembering he Christian faith that was in their hearts, | ct us think of them as living in 8 brighter md better world. dare to think of some If these brave spirits as living still and en- oying part of that happiness which the lying enjoy over the glorious results of the var. I ask you as you look back over the 'ast do you not see that in Gods hands you were the instruments to do his work |
 What does the passage of the years mean o uss You went forth young men. You re now in middle life. Your comrades are ,assing away. You who did so much for the lation may have something to do for your elves. The lessons of the years that are ! one are that the enemy is coming. Suffer ne then to urge you to add to the cup of ! our nations gratitude that pardon which ! 7ill bring perfect peace and look forward to | he years that are to come and put your lives ! a the hands of God.
 At the close of the able discourse of which | nly brief abstract is given, the choir and ! congregation sang with excellent effect the ! amiliar hymn My country 'tis of thee."