Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-04
MEMORIAL SERMON.
Deliy red an tiic ~. r.. Cluich by Rev. MIR.
Jan's Su lday Eve hing, May so.


lie is the seed time, eternity the
har est. Every life has its mission.
To live for the present without thought
for the future does not become men.
To possess and TO perpetuate the
good in heart and life is the true work.
To wear the crown is To bear the cross.
Day follows night-victOry c0nlllGt,
Sacrifice is the condition of growthA
intellectual. moral or spiritual. The
spirit and end of effort determines its
moral character.
The Divine approval is worth all il
costs. To human understanding this
may be Il matter of doubt. but God
rules.
Abel fell by the hand OF envy, but the
Divine record is: That he speaketh.
If death ended all, how imperfect the
administration Of justice; but with the
compensation that follows, justice con
tinueS on his throne.
There is no record of the words Abel
spoke, but the action prompted by
loyalty to conviction OF right Is the true
forerllnner that prepares the way To the
immortality that is 20 follow. The ser
vice we participate in at this hOnr is de-
signed to call to mind the Nation s dead.
In the time of the nations peril men
felt, considering the interest involved,
that the call to her defense was of God.
The seventy-nine national cemeteries
scattered over the land containing BIS
l76 soldiers graves. speak OF the
sacrifice made. Said one, whose mem
DRY time will only add to its SacredneSS,
in m address delivered at the dedlCa-
tom of soldiers monument IN Geneva,
Ohi), (Gen. Garfield: There Is
no; ling in all earth that You and can
Al. l., L a ~
hp.O and past our praise. We cannot
al more glory. and we can give them
10 Immortality. They do net need uS,
but forever and f0reVermOrc we need
thpm. The glory that trails in the
clouds behind them after their sun has
set, falls with its benediction upon us
who are left.
Occasions OF this character derive
tapir value. not in the good we may dO
to The Nations defenders that sleep in
soldiers graves. But it is the duty we
eve to the living i'm bringing our own
hearts more into practical sympathy
with the principles for which they
counted not their lives dear. Who
shall measure the debt OF gratitude we
owe to the dead? Truth has made her
advances under protest. We often sing
concerning religious life and experience
That this world is no friend TO grace
- help us on to God. SO the advance
lations have made has not been always
nder fair skies. While peace hath
ler victories no less renowned than
var" yet apprehend in the nature of
Kings, as the end has not come. there
will be wars and rImorS of wars.
Better that Satan and sin would give
place. but God, whose right ii IS. must
Tulp-Tight must prevail.
1t is well that we keep in mind the
debt the present owes TO the past. 70
appreciate Il blessing implies something
of an idea of its cost. The world OF
nature around us to-day seems 10 praise
God.
There has not been SO very much of
beauty or Of JOY in the winter past. but
mother earth has been preparing in the
winter months for the glory that should
follow. Is not the present era o. the
worlds history. 50 much OF JOY ana
gladness, prophetic of a rich halNc'tto
come? We could almost wish that all
to whom we are indebted for present
experience and possible future good
were with us. but God knows best. We
would not call up memories of the past
10 awaken feelings Of bitterness against
those who made such Il sacrifice uece5-
Sary. We are glad that time buTies
from sight the wrongs OF the past. while
it gives increased value to the right.
Let the sins of Our brethren he cover
ed with the mantle Of charity.
We would not only speak words Of re-
Spect and love in memory Of those who
gave their lives for their country. but
express anew feelings OF sympathy To
those whose hearts were made 90 bleed
in the loss of fricndS-S9mc who fell i'm
battle. some to Iii" in hospitals, some %
return home only 10 yield To diSe3s"
contracted by exposure and h1rdShiPS
common TO a soldiers life. 1t WAS said
of one of Gods servants whom God
buried That no man kn0Weth OF his
sepulcher unto this day 50 il may ice
said that many Of the graves OF or
Nations heroes are marked Unknown 4
IS per cent. OF the 3lS.l7G. In Che
western wilderness was found q solitary
grave upon Il board set at the head of
the grave was written unknown, and .
underneath written ny another hand
God knows.
When on Monday we scatter our
flowers over the graves of those in or
home cemetery, we will not forget those
who sleep the long sleep on southern
soil: and we will ask God To bless with
his sustaining presence those WHO gave
their heart Jewels to the country. Those
who have died for their country have
not died in vain. The gratitude Of
saved country is an honor or no small
moment.
When the Nation was following tae
path of peace rapidly developing in
wealth and population. every man
dwelling under his own vine and ig
tree, enjoying the fruit OF his labor. Inc
ippprfppt IL lpbrp1iatrI tl,, l,l,.,,i.,,.
time in our Nations history when her
citizens were not simply to read OF Nai;
in the musty Volumes OF the past-it
was present reality. The first battle
of Bull Run the country commenced to
awake to the magnitude OF her under
taking. Men felt that the prophesics
of the nations Of the old world were 10
be fnllilled ..The LnitnL &l-tn. nf =