The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-25
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Sermon of Rev. Var. Daniels Before the
Grand Army of the RepnbIic.

Memorial services were held yesterday at
the Second Parish church, Rev. @. n. Daniels
pastor. A large proportion of the body pews
were reserved for the comrades. Bosworth
Post under Commander Galley turned out
about 125 men in the new regulation uniform
of blue sack coat, with brass DEMONSTRATING
the monogram G. A. Rand blue trousers.
Thatcher Post bad about 30 men under Com
mander Dresser, and the Sons OF Veterans
numbered about 50 men under Capt. Phil
brook. Thatcher Post wore the usual suit of
dark clothes with white belts, and the Sons of
Veterans, their accustomed uniform.
A large audience filed the church. The YES
thule was decorated with flags and the words
'In Memoriam." In the audience room the
flags and standards of The Posts we're massed
behind the pulpit. On either side stood a
stack Of arms with drum suspended. The pal.
pit was draped with flag and in front of it
hung shield with the motto. "In God, we
trust" These, with palms and fowers-a
beautiful floral display-made appropriate dec
orations for the day. The singing by both the
choir and the congreg ation was fitting the occa
sion. The following Memorial Hymn" was
sung:
God of our patriot band,
The saYioufs If our land
Their cause was iust
For man and liberty
Boldly they followed Thee
To death aud victory;
Then guard their dust!
Around their graves to-day
We grateful homage pay
10 Thee GOdl
For comrades in the fight
Who in our deepest night
Died to defend the right
For US and God.
And now o God above!
Beside the graves we love
A nation praJs!
For all poslerity,
may these dead yet be
Mighty in hist Try
Unto Thy praise
May still their story be
perfumed memory
Through distant yeyrs!
May ages yet unborn,
These hallowed tombs adorn,
And ike The dew of morn
Battle them with tears.
Around them may there rise
nation strong and wise
AS from their dustl
Its strength in equity,
Its WsQ IN, liberty.
Whose only boast shall be-
In God We Jrusti'
1no PASTOR ". II. Daniels, preached the ser
mon, OF which the following is an abstract:
Joshua 4: CT. The children of Israel had:come to
ahapp1 Juncture in their hist DRY. The last great OBJ
stacle to the promised land had been slgnaly le-
moved and they STOOD the sacred soil. Out of the
midst OF the bed OF the river they carried twelve
memorial to them of their deVerapce.
This event suggests train of thought in regard
to the custom OF memorials. which is peculiarly ap-
propriate at such time as this We have coun-
try especially befrieDded by God. AS in the case of
Israel He has interposed at every great emergency;
at every Red sea to delverat every river Joruan to
usher into new vcories. 1t is the joy of the earth
that the Lord eadsth and delivereth us
There were twelve stones in the memorial monu-
ment OF Israel, one for each tribe. So the monu-
ments. many of them simple slabs, which are scat
tered over our land mark the resting places of pa
trlots out OF every cemmur ity. They mean world
OF memories and world of deeds world of tears
and world of glories. The soldier knows what il
is 10 sacrifice his life for 1t is the memory
Oh such patriots are privileged to honor today
10 many the day recalls such sacrifice and suffering
as could come but ia lifetime, To all of as
it is the memory of the grandest exhibition of pa
tr1ot1sm the world has ever seen.
This day animates and unites American hearts
There are no party men today. We are America ms
and nothing else.
We exist today because we are united people
and recognize the leading hand of God. The spirit
Of unity and peace to which this day calls us was
the spirit of Israel is Christs spirit and his gospels
1t is the hope of our land.
why has our country been so favored? The anne
calamitles occurred in other republics and they
went down. Why have we triumphed over them?
1t was not beca use we had wise rulers and great
statesmen, good laws and brave warriors. Other
republics had these and persisted. 1t Was not from
any good in us. God befriended us.
Our nation was founded by men who believe in
the Bible, who fed from the tyranny of Europe to
ENJOY their religion men whose first act upon these
shores was to worship God who had sped their bark
safely across the sea. They sought His protection
ana their trust was not confounded. They came
mere TO recognize the God of the Bible. Our laws
emDody Inc morals and the religion of the Bible.
Inns IS the reason We live The Christian religion
is at tho bottom of our structure and 80 it is SUI
prems FOLLY TO say that our government tolerates
al religions. 1t may not impose religious test for
cltlzenshp but If any set up the practice of relig
lous rites which outrage Christian morality the
pubic conscience will be aroused as lion from his
lar ana woe be to those who have defed God and
man.
No free republic ever existed under any other
Danner than the Bible, Why not then keep the
blole IN our schools as a text book? 1t supplies in
matchiess formulation the sanction of our Govern
ment ana the very genius OF our institutions and
laws. the plea that it is sectarian to teach the
blpie III the schools Is false. AS we'll say that the
water ana air God gives sectaran that the life
breath OF the body polite is sectarian.
Next Saturday many graves will be garlanded,
many sacred spots hOnored must here utter my
protest against the vanda spirit which would give
the Gay TO game ana dance and revelry, Let us
make sacred uses of day which commentaries q
nation saved by God and the brave soldiers of the
Union. Let us renew allegiance to tie great prin-
clples which are our God given heritage and hold
day.