The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-26
MEMORIAL SUNDAY.
Sermons Before iCrand Army Posts
and Sons of Veterans.
Appropriate Words by Rev. Or. Small
and Rev. Mr.. LoWden.

sun and clear skies and sermons were preach
cd to the Grand Army boys at the Plymouth
and First Baptist churches.
AT PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Yesterday morning Bosworth Post, G. A.
R., Commander w. S. Dunn, 143 men, Shep-
ley Camp Sons of Veterans, Capt. j. r.
Lowell, So men, and Bosworth Relief Corps,
attended Plymouth church and listened to a
sermon from the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Lowden.
Fine potted plants and stacks of arms, were
planted before the pulpit and over them were
draped the national and post flags. Fine
music was rendered by the church choir.
The sacred edifice was crowded to repletion.
Rev. Mr.. Lowden took for his text Psalm
Tx, A: Thou hast given banner ito those
that fear thee, that 1t may be displayed be-
cause of the truth"
The preacher said that implanted in the
human breast. and manifestly bearing the
signs of their divine origin, are certain noble
sentiments, such as love of kindred, love Of
home and love of country. They are univer-
sal sentiments, gifts of the creator, common
to all men, and no true son of this country
will for moment accord to citizen of any
country the honor of possessing truer,
stronger patriotism than his own. From the
earliest times men have felt the Importance
of an outward symbol that would realize
their sentiment of patriotism; hence all ma
ti0ns have their respective flags or banners,
which realize this sentiment, the symbol re-
acting ON the sentiment, intensifying and
strengthening 1t. Here is The principle un-
deIlying the raising the flag upon our school
houses; herein is the explanation of the
mighty passions that fire men as they gather
in deadly conflict in defence of their colors.
When in the history Of nations something
transpires to threaten vital principle sacred
the breeze and under 1t men go forth to vic
tory or death. Thus it was when the first gun
was fired on Fort Sumter. A mighty thrill
went through the land; men sacrificed all
that was dearest to them to defend that flag
said the preacher, you win all 60 forth to
decorate your comrades graves. Every
flower and fern Is tribute of loving memo
ry. Cherish the memory of those brave COM
rades who fought by. your side, and gave
themselves a sacrifice to union and freedom.
But should be recreant to my. trust if
paused here. Your comrades, whose graves
you will decorate, have done their all for
their flag! You fought to defend
it, but now you live to uphold
the purblind thousands sesking her shores
understand that liberty is not license; that
liberty is not only jealous guardian of ouI
own rights but respecter of the rights OF
others, and l expect this will have to be
written in pretty large characters before
some will see 1t clearly. expect our cOun-
try must speak with terrible emphasis on
this question before her immigrant popula
ton will hear this explanation of the mean
ing of liberty and heed 1t. Before you is the
problem of socialism; the relation of capita
remain intact; the rights of the Indian; and
above all, the question of temperance reform
In the solution of these questions two barIi.
ers arise of prodigious proportions: LIST the
prejudice of ignorance; End the prejudice oil
self interest. In the solution of these prob
lens you must take your part The first
qualifications of those who are to carry for
ward to the highest point their cOuntry's in
terest Is moral greatness and this has Its
basis In the fear of God. Ii you needed
physical courage in those terrible days which
are past you need moral courage now. Liv-
ing In the fear Of God means moral courage,
and moral courage means moral greatness
Men, high minded men, constitute state,
not wealth and luxury and power. Remem-
Der what all history teaches, that continual
national prosperity is dependent upon the
fidelity of the nation to the principles OF
righteousness and truth. If ever again that
flag is immersed in baptism of blood may ii
be because OF truth and again 1t shall wave
in triumph.
The eloquent sermon, which was illustrat
words Of counsel and inspiration to the
women of the Relief Corps and the youths OF
the camp of Sons of Veterans.
Inarc6sf EpI 5RsEH aRtaRGga6T seFVREas sesueraa,
morning at the First Baptist Church, ant
1fcfa 20 oh infa ffvas
discourse from Rev. A. K. P. Small, d. d.
The Post had 40 members in line under
command of Commander A. II. Prince. Tht
church was very effectively and tastefully
decorated with flags, muskets and other
military paraphernalia and boquets of cut
flowers.
The services began by voluntary from
the choir followed by the reading of the 97tt
Psalm by pastor and people. The scripture
lesson was Deut Sth chapter followed by
the hymn Gathering home" The text wa:
from Deut. 80, "And thou shalt remember
all the way the God thy Lord hath led the
From earliest times it has been the custom
of all peoples to establish memorials of grea
events in their history. The 100000 live
| given for the Union is the justification fol
the Memorial Day and memorial services
established by the Grand Army. At the be
ginninning of the great struggle how little
we realized the magnitude of the danger
threatening us; the Secretary of State anG
the President even did not realize what was
before us. Three special Sundays during
that time were specially impressed upon
the speakers memory.
H. r1L .4Ix L. ~11xa Al
Maine Heavy Artillery, In the defences OF
Washington at which the discourse was
emphasized by the guns at Alder.
2.-The Sunday when on the Peninsula the
order was given to destroy tie priceless
stores of the Christian Commission, and
the invasion of Pennsylvania when all men
of whatever condition were called out for
service In defending the city.
The merit of the nation, then, illustrates
what comes to men and nations through sin /:
and we may all well remember that sin for
nations or men is more costly than anything
else. 1.-THE OF the money expended in the
war would have more than supported our
religious and educational institutions. Like
the Israelites, for whom the text was spoken,
greatest national good. The opening of the
Mississippi river alone gave to freedom a
territory as large as one and half of the
Roman Empire, with seven times the area of
Massachusetts added. The heroes of Their
mopyle. dying in defeat, have been remem-
bered for more than 1000 years; the soldiers
of the Republic, dying in victory, will be re-
membered forever.
The discourse was one of the ablest efforts
of this able divine, and held the congrega-
ton in close attention from beginning to end
DR.. SmalPs personal participation In the
events of the war gave living interest to
all he said, but the Limitation OF space pre-
vents us from giving more complete report
which alone cou Id do the sermon justice.
THE PRESS Is ONLY 30 CENTS A