The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-05-30
MEMORIAL SERVICES.


aston. The music was furnished by
double male quartette. composed as
ollows: lst Tennrs, A. B. Seymour,
:. y. Lacey; End Tenors, DIR. M. @.
George Waggoner; Let Bass,
;. r. Baldwin. G. R. Braden; End
Bass, Edward Russell, Abram Ohm
'tead. M. A. King presided at the
organ. The attendance was very |
arge, additional seats being required
In the aisles, to accom- odate the au-
5ience: The discourse of Rev. E. g.
was a fine production,
worthy of a larger audience than is
possible to assemble in any edifice
here, and we therefore give it in full.
Since the clouds of war have rolled away and
revealed the azure vault of freedom clearer and
warmer than ever before canopied the hearts of
men. it becomes us who are left 10 enjoy it. to
hold in grateful remembrance those whose death
has bequeathed to us this rich inheritance. Some
of these now sleep in unknown graves, whose
names are known only to the hearts they loved
and left, who oft in happy dreams can hear their
footsteps OF return. Some died where lifeless
famine Knocked at want; others returned but to
be kindly laid to rest by loving hands. Though
these names may not be written in the records of
fame. their memories will be honored as long as
liberty shall endure and this republic shall be its
embodiment. In viewing these lives thus passed
in enduring hardships, and confronting peril,
fretted by constant cares, worn down by dread
full marches, and at last passing away before the
reward of their victories was reached, we are at
first saddened by the thought. But we wrong
them to measure them by such low standard
They have everything to venerate and nothing
to commiserate. To them was given the deep
bliss of seeing the austere countenance of mex
orable duty melt into approving smiles. and to
them was realized the poets rapturous vision of
his celestial compensation:
Stern Lawgiver yet thou dost wear
The God-head's most benignant grace,
Nor know we anything so fair
AS is the smile upon thy face.
We shall first look at the heroic soldier, then
the patriot len the saint In viewing the
soldier it must be remembered that the first great
difficulty in human life is to rouse men from the
abject dominion of selfshness and fear. The
goal Of glory in a measure does this. 1t feeds
their hearts hunger for Immortality, gives them
a.disdain OF fear; puts ecstacy into their courage
and clasps wings to their aspirations, and makes
the grim battlefield, with its crash of opposing
hosts and the deaiening din of its engines o.
death as sweet to them as "ditties highly penned
hv IA n
courage of the devotee of glory has in it an ele
ment of rapture, like the fine frenzy of the poet
The hero soldier possesses so quick, keen and
burning sense of life. that when great perils cal
for almost superhuman efforts h" exhibits flash
es of vaor which transcend all bodily limitations
as if his body were all enshrouded, and though
riddled with bullets would not consent to death
1t was this spirit that led Napoleon across the
| bridge at Lodi. Says Demosthenes, in speaking
of Phillip of Macedon: "I saw him, covered
| with wounds, his eye put out, his collar bont
broken, manned both in hands and feet, still res
| olutely rush into the midst of dangers and read,
to deliver up to fortune any part of his body She
might desire, provided he might live honorabl,
and gloriously, with the rest" Perhaps tn,
grandest example in modern history of that au
dacity which combines all physical, civic ant
mental elements of courage is found in Napole
on's return from Elba and triumphant progres
to Paris The world then beheld the whole or
ganization of monarchy melt away like piec
of frost work in the sun, before person and
name. Every incident in that march is an cpl
stroke, On approaching the regiment at Greno
Bile, the officers in command gave order to fire
! Advancing confidently within ten steps of tn
leveled muskets, and barring his breast, he uttere,
| the well known words: Soldiers of the Fift
Regiment, if there is one among you who wou1
kill his Emperor, let him do it, here am" Th
whole march was worthy of such a commence
ment, profound as intelligence, irresistible a
destiny But the test of highest heroism is nc
found in faculty, but in the sentiment which di
reefs the faculty. The love of glory, therefore
must yield the palm in disinterestedness of sen
timent to love of country which will do ALL an
sacrifice all, forits object. Its patriotism when
lifted to the elevation of the IDEAL whenit is hal
lowed by the affections, and glorifed by the i'm
agination SO that the whole being is thrilled an
moved by its inspiration, and drudgery become
beautiful, and suffering noble, and death swee
in the countrys service.
"Dulce ct decorum est pro patria mort,
was uttered 1000 years ago. No mere intell
gent regard for nations material interests, @
pride in its extended dominion, is sufficient I
constitute patriot 1t is the sentiment and Il
idea of the country, felt in his blood and fe
along his heart. 1t is this which withdraws hir
from self, and identifies him with the nation
which enlarges his personality to the grandeu
and greatness of the national personality. whic
makes national thoughts and national passion
beat and burn in his own heart and brain unit
at last he feels every wrong done to his ow
country a personal wrong, and every wron
committed by his country sin for which he
personally responsible.
Such men are nations individualized Patri
otsm, the heroic plant of the ages, thrives wher
glory is recognized and herosm is honored br
droops and declines as honor and self sacritc
are unheeded and forgotten. 1t is great ac
vance morally and mentally, when man heal
and brain reach out beyond the sphere of hi
personal interests to comprehend the nation
which he belongs. 1t is love, and love alont
whose might hberates men from the thraldom {
personal considerations and lifts them into tn
exhilarating region of unselfsh activity. 1t
not fear of shame, but love of glory, whic
makes the heroic soldier. 1t is not hatred {
other nations. but love OF his own, which make
the heroic patriot. 1t is not hatred of falsehoo
and wrong, but love of truth and right, whic
makes the reformer. 1t is not the fear of hell an
hatred of the Devil, but love of God and HEAVIER
that makes the saint.
We pass now from the soldier and patriot +
the saint. The soldier and patriot each is grea
by detaching one idea from the sum of all thing
and throwing his whole energies into its realiza
ton. But the saint views all things in relation
to their center and source. This center is tn
idea of God. 1t is thus no rocket rushing fret
fully up to disturb the darkness by which, afte
a moments insulting radiance it is ruthlessl
swallowed up, but steady fire which darts fortl
tongues of flame, to enlighten all nations. S,
that at the end, heart, intellect and will, are al
l Irw lI.Ia a.A~ l.