Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-27
At BelIaIre.


The First NJ. E. Church at Bellsire wa
filled to OVERLOOKING yesterday to near
sermon by Rev. ]. T. Lane to the G. A. X,
Women's Relief Corps and the Wennei
Cadets. The sermon was mastery effort.
Tender passages in the discourse brougn'
forth the kerchief from not a few OF the
audience. Below is a short synopsis OF
Rev. Mr.. Lanes sermon:
Human history is beclOuded with records
of wars. Almost from the beginning OF
mans life war has been an important factor
in bringing about the results achieved Dy
his existence. War seems to be a necessary
evil. And yet, it is not always an unml.'
iQsted evil. Many good results often fol-
low In its wake. War can be Justified only
ON the ground of the righteousness OF the
cause in behalf of which it is waged. Ita
most glorious triumphs are, the advance
ment of righteousness, and the prosperity
which follows such advancement Inc
way to peace is through war.
We are gathered here to-day because
there was war, bringing its darkness and
mourning and death upon our nation, and
into our homes. The evils Of that terrible
struggle are mainly past, and yet there are
some things connected with 1t which we
cannot, we must not forget.
The idea of connecting the church ser
vices of the preceding Sabbath with tne
services of Decoration day by means OF
sneeisl memorial service is wise and ap-
nronriste arrangement. The church had
q mart in the active campaign Of the war,
"a ongbt alan IN have a part in celebrating
the memory Of those to whom the war was
an end of all earthly things. Not only the
bearthstones of our homes were draped In
mourning during those dark days, but the
affairs of our churches, as we'll, carried the
emblems Of grief.
While we recall the valiant deeds OF our
noble dead and honOred living soldiers,
let us devoutly pray for new and more
powerful baptism of patriotic sentiment
and life, that the coming generation may
lift higher the standard of civil virtue and
Righteousness, and battle manfully aud
successfully for the speedy and universal
reign of liberty, peace and goodness among
all the nations of the earth.
We come to-day to honor the memory OF
those who made such sacrifices for the
perpetuity of our national life.
We remember the soldiers and hold
these services because of what they achiev-
ed for us. They achieved glorious peace.
A peace and prosperity which was phe-
and which to this day is the
and admiration Of all the
nations.
The dead are at rest, bat their work is
not ended. The living flourish upon the
fruits Of their self-sacri6ce and join IN
graceful tribute to their memory.
It seems to us to-day, as we look back to
those times that the nation could not have
survived the shock. But We passed through
all this sorrow. Nationally we
have recovered from it, and
stand to-day at the head Of the
prosperous and powerful Nations of the
earth.
The blood of those whose memory we
honor at this hour, and whose graves we
shall strew with flowers on next Thursday,
has also acted as a cement binding together
more strongly than ever the States and
Territories of the Union. The permsnancy
of the Union was fixed and sealed in blood.
But those days of terror and blOOdshed
are over. Let us hope and pray that never
again may the hemorrhages of war threaten
the life of our country.
To you living soldiers let me say in this
quiet hour, in the sacredness of this holy
Sabbath, amid the beauties and inspira'
ton and power of Gods temple and wor-
ship, take q new and special ordination
breathed upon you from the heart OF
most grateful Republic, to 90 forth on
Thursday next to garland the tombs Of
YOUR fallen comrades. Make cemeteries
and private graves fragrant with roses.
Let the flowers, the language OF angels,
tell the world of the honor and love In
which You still hold them. And may the
nation realize, as never before, that they
though dead, yet speak-speak from the
valleys and hilltops and mountain sides
speak from battlefield and cemetery; speak
from vacant places by numberless firesidesi
speak from the voices of the multiplied Of
t. se times, bidding us be true to that fol-
which they died, and die ourselves rather
than surrender the heritage they bequesth'
ed into unholy or disloyal hands.