Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-27
PURE PATRIOTISM.
Inter esting Memorial Services at
the Central Church.
The Military Org In Attend
anc e--- Mr. Meldrum's Noble Ideas OF
True Patristism-.-A Beautiful and
Thu Hing Discourse.

Yesterday was Memorial Sabbath at
the Central Presbyterian church. The
pastor, Rev. A. B. Melrum, had fittingly
designated it as such, it being the Sunday
next before Memorial day and had in
vited Buford post 243, G. A. R., Boards
ley csmpt No. IS. Sons of Veterans, and
the Rodman Rifles to participate. All
these organizations were present in
bodies. The church was prettily and
patrio tically decorated with flowers and
plants, while about the pulpit the ma
tional colors were interviewer with vines.
On either side were the beautiful silk
banners of the army post and Sons of
Veterans camp.
The singing was especially adapted to
the occasion and was finely rendered BY
the we'll trained choir of the church with
pipe organ and cornet accompaniment,
and included among other
APPROPRIATE SELECTIONS,
the professional Onward Christian Sol
diers, and the national anthem "Amert
lea. the entire congregation, which COM
fortably filled the large church. joining in
the latter inspiring hymn. Rev. VIM.
McPheeters, who is a member Of Buford
post. conducted the services and offered
u fervent and patriotic prayer.
The sermon was preached by the pas
tor, Mr.. Medium, and the discourse was
one oil the ablest in thought and most
thrilling in patriotic idea that the talented
and elo9ue nt preacher has ever delivered
in Rock Island. The text was taken
from Kings, 11:21-22:
Then Pharoah said unto him; But what has
thou lacked with me that behold thou seekest to
60 to thine own country; and he answered,
no'hlne-now be 1t, let me go i'll any wise.
This conversation, said the preacher,
took place between Pharaoh, king of
Egypt, and Hsdad, the Edomite. Many
years before Edom had been grievously
defeated by David, and Joab. the captain
of the boat, had returned to complete
the conquest. With unsparing severity
he had slain every man capable of bear>
ing aims and crushed the reigning family.
hadao, who was very young and of the
seed regal, was carried off by some faith
full servants, and after wandering from
place to place. took refuge in Egypt.
which was t. en- and afterward an asylum
for fugitives. There he was Hospitality
received and rose high in favor, and in
course of time entered the royal family.
The sister of Pharaoh's queen became
his wife, his son was formally adopted
into the household, among Pharaoh's
own children, and Hadad appeared
bound to his new home by ties not to be
broken. But news of an important
change reached him. David and Joab
were dead, and the reins of Jewish rule
were in weaker hands. The love of his
old home awoke in Hadads heart. and
he came to Pharaoh with the request that
uc LuiS III Do dIlOWcu W icdNt-
Il do not, said Mr.. Medium, ''intend
to dea with this ma rrative and its bear
ings on the future Egypt or of Hadad.
The narrative leaves this in silence and
fixes our thoughts on this one feature Of
Hadad's nature-his love of country. 1t
was the love of his country that was the
ruling feeling in Hadad's wish to return
to Edom. Had it been revenge or ambi-
ton, be could have named it to Pharaoh
and he would have been fully understood.
but it is feeling he cannot explain. 1t
is an old Edomite anticipation of the
Latin poet:
4 know not what charm it is which leads us
captive in the love of native land.
Ii viii not let us forget
With all these means to attract and
hold Hadad to Egypt-the royal favor. the
good of the land, the ties of friendship
and family, Edom. notwithstanding,
with It's rocks and scarcity Of pas
lures, had a power that would not let
him stay. This same feeling, this
love of country, planted as it is in the
human heart for a divine purpose, is one
not Ony
DEEP IN OUR NATURE,
but is acknowledged and approved in the
bible, which inculcates love of country.
The SO eaker here cited many instances in
substa tiation of the patriotic teachings
of scripture. "Tell me-" said he, "where
there is anywhere so intense a patriotic
CRY as that of the Apostle Paul: / could
wish chat myself were accused from
Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen, ac-
cording to my flesh and what shall we
say of Paul's master and ours7 Where
did patriotism ever exhibit nobler burst
of SORROW than when the Son of man on
Mount Olivet looked out on all the world
as he wept over Jerusalem? "Ohl Jeru-
salem, Jerusalem. How often would
have gathered thee as hen gathereth her
brood under wings, but ye would not. p
Whose patriotism ever endured when His
did? He had but twelve offices to be-
stow, but they were the highest out OF
heaven, and these he bestowed on twelve
of his countrymen. He had only one
gift to impsrt-the gift of eternal life
and this he directed to be offered to his
own country, first beginning at Jerusa-
lem"
Nett to religion there is probably moth
ing in human nature which has called out
such heroic spirit of martyrdom. OF
such long, persistent, self>sacrificing en-
deavor as love of country. The grandesi
part OF the history of nations has been the
| period when they have risen for indepen>