St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-05-30
MEMORIAL SERMON.


Army was given in Music hall last
Sunday evening by Rev. E. A Hoyt,
pastor of the Universalist church.
There was the usual large attendance
and an eloquent and polished address
was given by the speaker. Music
was furnished by the Mahogany
quartet, the scriptures were read by
Rev. E. T. Fairbanks, and prayer
was offered by Rev g. M. Curl.
Rev. Mr.. Hoyt took his text from
Matthew 10: 34: "Think not that l
am come to send peace on earth; l
came not to send peace, but sword"
and spoke somewhat as follows:
This is singular saying, and cal
culated to perplex our thoughts and
faith. How can it be harmonized
with that pathetic announcement,
"How beautiful are the feet of them
ttssss preach the gospel ofpeace," or
how harmonized with the angels
hymn, "Peace on earth, good will
to men?" How harmonic this say
ing of Christ with his gentle and low
ing character, and more especially
with that loving pledge, "Peace [
leave with you, my peace give unto
you?" But the words of the text in
terpreted in a larger way need not
perpleX us. The text in nowise de-
tracts from the general propositions
of peace found all through the Bible.
1t was not Gods way that Christ's
mission should be accomplished at
once. Christ's appearance occasion
ed hostility and intensified the feeling
against his mission "For l am come
to set man at variance against his
father, and the daughter against her
mother" What Christ meant in the
text was that a true and lasting
harmony will not come to the world
until a warfare has been accomplish
ed. And so take for my theme
Conflict the appointed method of
Progress.
The forces of the material world
are always clashing. The elements
are always antagonistic. The CEN
trifugal and centripetal forces by
their very opposition hold the world
in equipoise. From the beginning Of
the world agencies have been work
ing both to build up and destroy. In
this way through the geological ages
the material world has been fitted
for the coming of man. Out of des-
truction and chaos came the birth of
of a material world. This was Gods
appointed method of making the
earth grander, and that men might
see m the conflict the plan of prog
reSS.
1t is sad to read the story of the
fierce antagonisms that have stirred
the passions of men. But civilization
has advanced through these conflicts
Progress socially, morally and po-
litically has been gained by defeats
on the battlefield. The Crusades
served an important use, and, as has
been said, they were the first step in
the enfranchisement of the human
mind. They created art, literature
and architecture, and, best of all,
called into existence that chivalric
spirit which expressed the mind of
Christ.
But l stand here tonight not to
glorify or eXalt war. All conflicts
have not been conducive to human
advancement The Crimean, Fran
co-Prussian, and the English war in
Egypt were inadequate conflicts.
But differing from all these was our
own civil war, a struggle in which
great moral ideas were centred. The
preservation, the perpetuation and
defence of our union were the m mOtiveS
of that war. Here heroic element
was grandly manifested, and the re-
suit was restored Union and liberty
throughout the length and breadth
of the land. All honor to those who
stood in those battlefields The
American soldier did his work nobly
and then came home. But not all
came home Tens of thousands died
for liberty they died for you.
Is not the proposition of our theme
most evident as applied to this strug
gle? Out of this conflict came true
and better life. 1t was a baptism in
deed of tears and blood. The flag
waved once more over the whole
land, and symbolized more than ev-
er before the rights of sacrifice
Finally, conflict is the way of prog
ress in the individual life In every
soul there must be struggle for the
mastering of self. Well does the BIZ
BILE say, "He that is slow to anger is
better than the mighty; and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh
a city" But such a condition is not
reached without struggle. There
is often hand to hand conflict with
the forces of evil. 1t requires cour-
age and faith to keep the heart tuned
in harmony with the higher aspira-
tions of our soul. 1t requires some
of the aggressive spirit suggested by
our text to bring our life unto
perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ"
Members of the Grand Army, Breth-
rem and Friends, bring to you re-
ligion that stands for true manliness;