Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-28
TENDER MEMORIES.
THE MEMORIAL SERVICES IN
THIS CITY YESTERDAY.
Euiosies on the Dead-Exhortations
to the "Reminiscences
of the War.

Let freedom ring.
Memorial services were held or at least
memorial sermons preached, in nearly all
the churches of this city yesterday. At
the Sixth-street Methodist Church last
evening Rev. A. 7. Needham, the pastor,
preached a sermon to the Boys in Blue
All the Grand Army Posts, Ladies Relief
Corps and the Ladies of the G. A. R. were
represented. The altar vas pgofusely deco
rated with large floral pieces of patriotic
designs and the banners of the different or
CARNATIONS were arranged around the pull
pit with the national colors forming the
background. Long before the hour fol
the services 10 begin the church was densely
packed. both down stairs and in the gallery,
and many were turned away After the
reading of the scriptural lesson the cougre-
CATION sang:
Great God beneath whose piercing eye
The earths extended Kingdoms lie
Whose fsy' ring smile upholds them all
Whose anger smites Them and they fall.
We bow before thy heaven Y theme;
Thy power we see-Thy greatness own:
Yet cherished by Thy milder voice.
He took for his text Joshua j., 5 TO in
elusive:
There shall moi any man be able to stand be-
fore Thee all the days of Thy life As l was
with Noses so i will be with thee | will NOT
fail thee nor forsake thee.
BE strong and of good courage. for unto this
people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the
land which l swore unto their fathers TO give
them.
Only be thou strong and courageous. that
thou mayest observe to do according to all the
law, which Moses, my servant, commanded
thee. Turn not from it TO the right hand or to
the left, that thou mayest prosper whitherso-
ever thou goeSt.
Also the Both verse of the eighteenth
chapter of st. John.
Jesus answered. My kingdom is not of this
world; If my kingdom were of this world there
would my servants fight, that should not be
delivered to the Jews, but now is my kingdom
not from hence.
The minister is member of the Grand
Army, having served during the war. The
sermon was able, eloquent and full Of
patriotic passages.
Congregational Church.
At the Congregational Church, Rev. w.
c. Merrill delivered a memorial discourse
yesterday morning, having for his subject
Patriotism and Our Honored Dead" He
spoke from words found in Proverbs xiv.
81" righteousness exalteth nation, but
sin is reproach to any people The
speaker said:
We read that in Sir Charles Napiers cam.
paign against the robber tribes of Upper
Scirde there occurred one of the grandest
exhibitions of heroism known to history.
"A detachment of troops was marching
along valley the cliffs overhanging which
were crested by the enemy. A sergeant
with eleven men CHANGED to become sepa-
rated from the rest by taking the wrong
side OF q ravine which they expected soon
TO terminate, but which suddenly deepened
into an impossible chasm. The officer in
command signaled to the party to return.
They mistook the signal for command to
charge; the brave fellows answered with a
cheer and charged At thu summit of the
steep mountain was a triangular platform.
defended by a breastwork, behind which
were seventy of the foe. On they went,
charging up one of those fearful paths,
eleven against seventy. The contest could
not long be doubtful with such odds. One
after another they fell, six upon the spot;
the remainder hurled backward: but not
until they had slain nearly twice their own
number.
There is a custom, we are told, among
these hillsmen, that when a great chief.
tain of their own falls in battle his wrist il
bound with thin thread either of red or
green-the red denoting the highest rank.
According to custom, they stripped the
dead and threw their bodies over the preci-
pice. When their comrades came thew
found their bodies stark and gashed, but
round both wrists CT every British hero there
was twined the red thread"
There is no tribute of praise that man
will withhold from heroic va!or. The
scientist may talk learnedly when you de-
mand assent 10 some theory pertaining to
his realm; the philosopher may argue
endiessly, when you PROFOUND some oues-
ton about which his mind can speculate ::
systems fade out in the mists of the past
until they seem mere clouds on the hori-
zon; but patriotism shines as brightly
whether it immortalize the three hundred
who fell al Thermopyl;e, or link the name
OF Little Round Top 10 the field of Gettys-
burg foreVermore.
Heroism is recognized as identical in all
ages, whether it illumine the Shepherd
David with sling and stone facing the
Phllstine giant, or crown with an undying
halo Mt. Lookout, where hero strives with
hero for victory or death
Some things you can weigh and mete
out at command: the sentiment within
the soul of man that responds intuitively
to noble act St!rs not at the command of
any. Spontaneous rs the lightning when
Its coordinate is by, 1t leaps III instantane-
Gus response and flashes forth its recorni-
ton Of kindred force. The love of the
parent for his offspring; the pride of the
patriot in his country; the affinity of the
soul for the supernatural these are emo
items that an all-wise Creator has made so
responsive in their character that they ask
no fayoring argument, and wait upon no
demonstration. Upon this fact hangs
largely the safety and perpetuity Of the
family, the national and the religious life.
Mathematical processes cool the blood :;
philosophical arguments temper the zeal /;
scientific analyses check the ardor and
blunt the faith until only half hearted
service is rendered, when the response
should have been like the lightning and
the blow like the stroke of a saber.
II this be true, then the safely of
our national no less than that of cur
family and spiritual life depends
ponds upon keeping quickly alive within
us those intuitive faculties that respond
without pause or question at the first quick
call OF danger. The roll and rattle of the
drum at midnight sounds in the ear of the
sleepirl: soldier with but single meaning.
Even the warriors faithful steed leaps into
LcauthSeS AZ ius DuElc-Call. AT such an
hour the soldier MAY not turn upon his
couch 10 question the fitness of the call :
he may net reason that the picket is mis-
taken in the nearDess of the foe; be NAV
net argue the unreasonabieuess OF the
hour; the inclemency of lie weather
the danger be incurs. The roll of the
drum sets every nerve OF his being in vi
braIiou; he leaps to his arms without
question or delay. When the spirit within
has been stirred into communion with the
spirit without, there is established union
OF purpose that will not sleep until victory
is won.
1t is, therefore, that we cherish as race
necessity the tender memory of home aud
keep forever burning the sacred fire upon
the family hearthstOue. II is. therei re.
that ne train and nurture with delicate
care, the first faint traces o. conscience and
the consciousness of responsibility for
error and fesl,y TO truth that reveal their
preSeGce in the heart Of youth Il is, there
fore. that we keep forever alive the fires of
patriotism that, like ves;al virgins. these
memorial days may stand beside the wears
10 pour ever fresh and fTesher oil into their
sacred urns. Not 10 sngerder eumitv, not
to com "A epioTate strife; we keep alive the
memory al those fierce conflicts where
brother stT0ve with brother on the bloody
tielo, because nowhere else can be so surely
taught ibe lesson that by sacrifice
we rise 10 hghe: things, aud that
the pen which writes the deepest truths