Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-28
MEMORIAL SUNDAY.
Eloquent Sermon Preached BY Rev. 4. 5.
Whitman,
Before Beth Williams Post, q. A. r. ana
an Immense Congregation.

The services of Memorial Sunday" were
held last evening in the Universalist church.
The auditorium was completely filed with
an immense audience which joined with
Seth Williams Post, G. A. R., in the observ-
ance Of the occasion. The services were
very impressive. At quarter before eight
the measured tread of the old soldiers a
they entered the church and filed down the
aisles to seats reserved for them, created q
thrill and an excitement that stirred
hundreds Of hearts, and plainly
drew forth silent expressions of gratitude to
and pride in the old veterans
who left to Us, from many q bloody
deadly battlefield, annually observe the day,
and thus keep fresh in memory the many
| comrades who lie dead in graves far away
and near at home. The Universalist choir
augmented especially fer the occasion, rem
dered in very finished and pleasing manner
| some of the grandest music ever performed
on like occasion. The sermon, by the Rev.
H. ). Whitman, was finely written produc-
ton. 1t was eloquent, full of the highest
type of patriotism, and rich in tribute to the
soldier, dead and alive. We give below a
brief abstract of the sermon and also the or
der of the services:
| 'Kighteousness exalteth nation; but sin
is reproach to any people. Prov. IA "a.
| There is an individuality of nations as we'll
as OF men. Like men they are to be held to
strict account for what they do and for what
they are. Righteousness exalteth nation
but sin is reproach to any people.
Nations, too, have an individuality like men,
in that they have definite purpose. a de-
stinctive end to fulfil. Every man is created
for definite purpose. Every man repre-
sents or is intended to represent distinctive
thought in the mind of the great Creator.
Each nation has special work, special al
lotment, special part to perform in promot-
| ing the grand, onward march of humanity.
| 1t Is fitting, as we come round once more
to this memorial season, that we turn our
thoughts to our own country, to the part she
has been playing and that we hope she will
yet play in the worlds triumphant progress
We lock back upon our wonderful history
with commingled emotions of pride and joy.
This nation which was born in a war for
freedom, has struggled and suffered, passing
but lately through most terrible baptism of
blood. All these struggles and sufferings
and fiery Affections have but endeared her to
us the more. Her every seam and scar is
wrought into the heart and life of her chill
dren. Her every throb of pain lives on
in our memory. We know what our country
cost,-the sacrifice, the pain, the blood, the
tears. We have abundant reason to tn ink
God on Blended knees, for this, our land of
| liberty. If we look back to that early strug-
gle, we get hint of the underlying principle
which has been the actuating power of our
nation. 1t is liberty. equality and brother
hood. 1t is the peculiar mission of our land
to carry out this idea. For eighteen centu-
ries the leaven of christianity has been work
ing in the hearts Of men. More and more
the principles of the gospel of love have
gained the controlling power over the actions
of men. Prominent among these principles
is the idea of human brotherhood. This idea
is Numerically opposed to all forms of OPP
preston, injustice and wrong.
Now it could but be that sooner or later
nation should arise to embody and carry
out this higher, nobler idea In the provi-
dence of God our own nation arose to this
grand and mighty work. 1.-The great idea
of Rome" as Charming has said, was
dominion" 1.-The great idea of France is
glory" But no other nation was ever
actuated by an idea so grand, by a principle
so noble, as this which underlies our national
fabric and permeates our institutions,
the idea of the essential dignity which in
heres in man, the sacredness of his right, the
love and respect due to him as a human be-
ing" So far as we have been true to the
genius of our nation so far have we gone
steadily forward. So far as we have run
against it, so far have suffered. In 1920
the Puritans were landed in New England.
In the same year negro slaves were landed in
Virginia"
The speaker dwelt with great force on the
marvellous growth of the twin system" so
anita gonistic to each other and increasing in
hostility till conflict was inevitable. "Our
dag had been honored and respected in every
land and upon every sea of the broad world.
1t remained for American citizens, born and
reared under its protection to raise their i'm
pious hands against it. Till that flag was
fired ON we did not know how much we loved
it, how much we loved our country. 1t was
all revealed in an hour. 1t vas then that
you brave soldiers at the clarion blast sprang
| to arms.
| ike lion croyling low.