Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-05-28
Memorial Sermon.


Rev, G. E. Wright preached the me.
mortal sermon Sunday afternoon at the
NJ. E. church. The services were largely
attended, both by veterans and citizens.
The sermon was one Rev. Wr,ght's best,
and we give 1t in full for the benefit of
those who were unable to be present:
Exodus ls:l4:-"And This Day Shall be Unto
You For Memorial."'
The allusion IN the text Is to the Passover
by which the people OF Israel we're saved
from destruction through the blood sprinkled
on their door posts.
~ This week we are to celebrate passover by
which this nation was saved, through the
shedding Of the blood of 100000 Of our fellow
citizens-Some Of them your fathers, hus-
bands, brothers and sons.
Man ia distinguished from all other crea-
lures of the earth by bis inclination to build
sepulchers. Among the lower creatures
there has been discovered no germ Of the In
stinot which seeks to make provision for the
dead. No trace Of the impulse which moves
to act as If the dead could be affected by its
action. No feeblest sign that indicates expec.
tation of life beyond death.
But from man the Indications Of that in
stinct are never absent. He has cared for
the dead even more seduously than for the
living. His sepulchres outlast his palaces.
The grandest and the lovliest structures ever
reared by human hands have been given to
the dead, the Pyramids, St. Peters, the Min
ster OF Cologne, etc. Animals have never
acted, man has always acted, as If he believed
= olSx,o md tivvnt To hn
ministries OF affection.
Perhaps this universal and distinctive hu.
man instinct has never found a falrer form OF
expression than in our Decoration Day, which
though Graded In war, has become strong
guardian of peace. What are some Of the
lessons which it enforces?
First, Covering graves with flowers leads
US to think of death as He intends one should
do. The flowers are emblems Of the hope
which the gospel authorizes US to cherish
Every precious grave becomes certificate
of naturalization in the land where our loved
ones are. Gradually, to most good men the
time arrives when they feel as the man In Ire
land teels when, one by one, his kindred have
gone to America, and he Is left alone among
strangers. The fatherland is still dear, but
home is across the sea.
Second. We shall best prepare for the life
that now is and that which is to come, by
pausing sometimes. as we do today, to
commune with the dead. So long as we think
only of the visible and present we are on the
road to saying: LET US Eat and Drink For
Tomorrow We Die" But wnle we think
of those who have gone before US we
are moved to reason: 'Let US Watch and
Pray For Tomorrow we Live" Let our men,
ory Of the departed remind US Of the brevity
of life. OF the million men who enlisted in
the Union army. less than one-haf survive.
This year you will have 5000 more graves to
decorate than you had last year, and. next
year you VIII have more than 5 1000 more than
this year, and the children in our midst will
see the day when an old soldier OF the civil
war will be pointed to as a rare spectacle.
You are falling from the ranks one by one."
I'VE have here no continuing CITY,"
Third. The memories Of this occasion
should inspire US with gratitude toward our
Father and incite US to emulate their exam
pie. Twenty-Five or thirty years ago this
country of ours seemed given over to pleas
ure seeking and money making. More than
three millions of fellow citizens were held in
slavery for the profit Of others. Many de-
plored the fact, but the majority did not act
as II the infamy in the least concerned them.
1t was unpopular in many places at the North,
even to speak against slavery. Selfshness
in party and business ruled the day. Finally
the shot was fred at Fort Sumpter, and then,
from Maine to California men forgot to care
for their money or their lives. The common
feeling was my country owns me- 1t is
not for me to ask where can earn wealth?
Where can ] win power? Where can enjoy
life? But where can l to useful to her?'
Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers, and
1900, yhen 100000, then 100000. and then
1.000,0W of our fathers barred their breasts
to the fierceness of war. Such was the spirit
of our fathers during four solemn, splendid
years. Because that spirit animated them we
still have country.
And it remains for US to act the same part
and be moved by the same spirit in peaceful
times: To stand in politics, in business, in
society, in the church-realizing that We are
not our own. Have we not fallen already into
the same spirit of self-seeking, which
cursed our country before the war?
We arc wanting In our love for temperance
| We are wanting in our reverence for things
sacred. We are wanting in the elements OF
. patriotism that is above mere party inter
est, and piety deeper and dearer than any
mere sect. ...- - = r.
Nothing but the true spirit of religion vii
enable our nation to meet its coming struggles
for We are going to have struggles. Ca1
Can We not see the forces now rising which
are to enact vast drama In our midst7
The trah6c in Intoxicating drinks which By
the logic Of events seems rapidly becoming
great national political question, and which
will never be settled until it is settled right
The question of socialism in its many forms
which is destined to work great revolution
1t is for the rising generation to determine
whether these problems looming up on the
near horizon shall prove to be storm clouds
full of the bolts Of destruction, or as the Sur
of Righteousness with healing in His wings
It depends upon the spirit in which they ar.
met, whether we aspire only after material