The Somerset reporter., 1889-06-27
Fourth of July

The Nations approaching birthday
completes fourteen years of centennia al
celebrations. These years have been ef-
dcient teachers Of history. doing much TO
take away the reproacn justly resting up
on Us a score Of year. ago that We, as
people knew less Of our national history
that Of that Of Greece and Rome. There
Is still one lesson We greatly need TO
learn--how to make our national HOLIDAYS
ipspirers OF patriotism instead Of occa-
ions Of reyellng and debauch. Outside
II New York, this .es,on was taught by
April 30 more forcioly than by any other
celebration within our Remembrance.
The gathering Of the Matte In its church
e on that tIDrning, 10 grateful acknowl-
edginent ~ God Of His protecting care;
The gathering Of pupils in the schools "
Lear rehearsed the story OF heroic days
an hundred yeaIs ago, to be taught rev.
erence for the flag v hich symbolizes that
which is worth dying for, aud the bestow-
a. Of Centennial souvenirs, to be through
the growing years reminders Of the les
sons Of that day-all this taught what
every Fourth Of July should teach, love
Of country and Thanksgiving 70 God
WI" hath made aud preserves Us Ma
ton"
1t i piliful to think Of the degradation
70 which our national birthday has sunk
"a Gay with no higher ass ,ciations in ths
minds Of children than Chinese tire-crack-
ers, AID 10 the minds of their elders, than
German beer and Irish whisky. II there
i, one day 10 the year which should be
thoroughly Ainericanizcd, but which has
been thoroughly foreignihrd, it is Fosrth
# July. one mission OF the W. c. T. L.
is 70 rescue ii from its depreciation and
make il ! day 10 which pure patriotism
: exalted, q love of country instilled
which is too deep to brook anything that
brings blot upon tie fair name, Ameri-
"a. 1t l., this feeling which leads to the
increasing desire TO preempt the Fourth
for temperance, 10 90 out 70 Gods first
temples and there anew dedicate our
selves 70 patriotism. purity and temper
ance. More and more each year is this
done, and We trust his year will witness
multiplied temperance celebrations of the
Fourth. We believe it will. Already do
We hear of the grand rallying of our
forces al Lake Blu1, and at many other
points East and West, North and South.
Singing of our patriotic songs is, or
should be, prominent feature in thesr
gatherings, for temperance and patrio;-
ism. as well a. the gospel, can be suDg
nto people. This singing should be, not
by few trained voices alone, but BY tie
y.opie. Let all the people praise The.
. Lord let all the people praise Thee.
was the ancient command. and il holes
good to-day. No priIna donna nor has
profuudo can SO inspire US a. the gre At
volume Of sound rolling out from thou
sands of hearts which hud expression FIR
their deepest emotions in our nation al
hymns.
But. to our shame be II spoken, never
did SO few people in nation really know
their own patriotic songs. This is de-
monst1eted in every large assembly wien
the congregation attempts TO sing them.
week ago last Sabbath We ATTENDED Il
memorial service for our soldiers, aud
The Star Spsngled Banner. "Colun ria,
the Gem of the Ocean, aud "Amei Ca
was sung. The congregation were
urged to Join in the singing; their viii 10
do SO was evidently good, for they start
ed in couraseously. but the volume of
sound grew small by degrees and beau
tifuly less after the first verse was
completed. On the chorus it came up
again, strong and full. but between Hhiles
the choir had ii all their own way, the
trouble was, we did not know the words.
This and similar experiences suggested
the thought Of having these patriotic
songs and temperance anthem printed
on slips for use at the Fourth OF July
temperance celebrstions, which the w. I.
P. A. have done.
strong reason for Temperance cele-
brations of the Fourth. is the taking Of
reformed men out of the way of trmpta-
ton. On no other day of the ", are
they so iemsted in cities and license
towns. And they dread the crleal.
Ouce when inviting reformed ri 10
attend a temperance celebration ia the
woods, we were almost startled by The
Intense earnestness of his answer In
deed, | an going. | don't dare spend the
Fourth in town Let there be near each
of our rum-cursed towns on the coming
Fourth, these cities of refuge, mere
weak hunted souls may escape firm the
clutches of those who seek to Destroy
them. And let every Christian man and
woman see to it that at least one such
man is invited 10 go where the pursuers
Of his soul cannot resch him.
Fourth of July should be made hy all
temperance people protest against the
dominion OF our country by the saloon.
To your tents. U Israel" was the an
cient war-cry which betokened revolt.
To YOUR groves. o America" LIT this
battle-cry resembling through the length
and breadth of our land as its birthday
approaches, signaliLe to all the woiid our
revolt against the power OF the saloon,
our rallyug under the banner OF tod
and Home and Native Land. y C1iYH
SjyUUi