Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-05-28
VETERANS AT CHURCH
Memorial Sermon by Rev. w. H
Haskell.

before Memorial Day, and on last Sab
bath the custom was observed by the
veterans attending church, wherever a
Post of the Grand Army is established
In this place, Drummond Post No. 2O3
about forty men, L. c. Sedwick, Post
Commander, marshaled by Col. J. f.
Charles worth, attended services at the
NJ. E. church. Hymns, selected espe-
cially for the occasion, and concluding
with America" were well rendered by
the choir. The sermon was preached by
the pastor, Rev. W. II. Haskell. Below
is a very full abstract of the Rev. gen.
tleman's remarks:
Render therefore to all their dues; q" =
honor to whom honor is due.-Rom. kill.
Paul, in whiting to the Roman Church,
exhorts it members to be obedient to the
government; to be loyal subjects of the
Emperor. In so doing he lays down
some precepts which are of general ap~
plication-anong these are the words of
our text: "Render honor to whom honor
is DUE"
Why should we be thus careful to
render the due need of honor? Why
especially on the Both day Of every re-
turning May2 For some grand and rea-
sonable purpose it is set apart as Ma
tional holiday. Business shall cease, the
rush and roar of commerce shall be 81
lent, the laboring man shall have an
additional day OF rest, and the public
schools shall not hold their usual session.
There is conservative and educational
influence in such day and its due OBJ
servance Mankind has learned that to
render due honor and reverence is very
effectual means of preserving the things
SO treated. Rulers are h0nOred. not fer
their own sake merely, but for the sake
of the office they hold. Kings and queens
do not al ways grace their high positions
with becoming character and conduct,
but wise pe0pls-a people who seek
peace and stable and just government
will honor their sovereigns, because there
is vast educating power in so doing.
In this fair land of ours we have had
several presidents, whose private life
tant respects-yet we have been careful
to honor them for the conservative and
educating effect of such reverence. But
when the character is deserving as well
as the office, the most happy and saluta>
ry effects are produced. 1t calls espe+
cial attention to honor and worth, it
brings them into high repute, it puts
large premium upon them. Such is the
value of our 3Oth of May observances.
We are reminded each year that the
events of our civil war are receding into
the distance; new generation is coming
upon the stage of active life. The babe
that was in its mothers arms when the
first rude shock broke upon the Nations
suspense in 1861, is now old enough 20
be member of Congress and help make
the laws of the land. The infant that
printed the parting kiss upon the cheek
of its father as he went to the Union
army and never returned, has grown to
manhood or womanhood, and may be
the center of a growing family. The
awful shock which to some OF US is as
vivid as this day, is subject of history
in books to the millions of children and
young men and women of the present
These observances are object lessons in
history, in National gratitude, to those
who are looking on. know two little
children who had pets-a pet kitten and
a dear little bird. One died, and the
other was unfortunately killed before
the 30th of May. | CHANGED to see their
graves. There were the tiny heaps of
fresh earth, there was one head. board
which [ remem bert read: "Dick died
May 20, 1884" All over the graves were
fresh bouquets of flowers. MADE so care
fully with little hands and loving skill.
A pet is the dearest thing to child, land
great and deep is the grief when the pet
dies and is buried. Somehow those
children learned that in the graves where
were the little flags, in all our cenete-
ries over this broad land, there sleep the
Nations pets. They caught the idea and
copied it. Children learn from these OBJ
servances, from this day set apart at
spring time, when the song of birds fill
the air, and nature is putting on its
freshest garb; the fields are green and
the woods and gardens are gay with
flowers and with acres of perfume, that
Nation is profoundly grateful to its
soldiers, living and dead. 1t is grand
lesson in patriotism and virtue and
honor.
The human soul has vast possibilities
wrapped up in it. and what is wanted is
some power to call its latent forces into
high and grand activity. The plodding
toll of everyday life is liable to smother
these aspirations, and business men are
apt to become narrow and selfish and
groveling. Bunyan represents his pil>
grims as seeing man with muckrake,
looking always to the ground. raking to
himself straws and small sticks and dust
OF the floor. Above his head was Shi-
ming One with celestial crown to place |
upon the mans brow. But he could see
only the muckrake and the trash at his |
feet; what he needed was some great
thought or inspiration to smite his soul
and lift his head to receive the crown.
This is what we need in every day life;
what we need to lift US out of the mud
and slops of narrow partisan politics.
Many have been the shifts to secure !
such uplift and inspiration some of them !
very rude. There was a time when RAJ
tions of whisky we're doled out to steady |
the courage of soldiers at the beginning
of a battle; sometimes they drank whis-
Ky and beaten gunpowder; sometimes it
has been military bands moving the
hearts of the soldiers with strains of |
martial music and patriotic airs. But
in our civil war, none of these mean and
trifing shifts were needed. Before the
fall of Sumter, we were divided people;
the Nation was gaping crowd, stand
ing, looking, wondering, making side ret
marks: Republicans we're Republicans;
Democrats were Democrats. But when
the flag was fired upon, when the brave
little hand of soldiers we're overcome by
burning barracks within the fort and
batteries without, and were
to surrender and haul down
The flag, we we're no longer divided. but
were all one. Republicans and Demo.
Gratis were patriots-were animated by
one living purpose. We had inspiration
enough; men were smitten in their souls
.Lith lnun of thnIr God *cl