The Irish standard., 1891-06-13
FATHER BUSHELS RLOQUENOE
An able Address on Memorial Day Delivered
At st. Stephens Church Anoka,

St. Stephens cnurcn at Anoka was
crowded to it's utmost capacity on Sun
day, May Oath, the occasion being the
annual memorial services of the G. A.
r. Members of the grand Amy post
and SONS Of veterans attended 1880
O'Clock mass in body. at the conclu-
sion of which Rev E. G. Russell. pastor
of st. Stephens, delivered the following
glowing euIogy in memory of the fallen
heroes who fought for the preservation
of the Union. Father Russell said:
sit is therefore holy and wholesome
thought to pray for the dead that they
may be loosed from their sins."-ii
Mach. xii, 46.
propose to speak 10 you On this great
national commemoration of men loyal
and true to God and Fatherland. first
religiously as becometh this solemn
temple of the living God and of Jesus
Christ, his Divine Son; and secondly
patrio5lcally; for Che genius Of American
| civilization sprlngs from the union Of
religion ann patriotism.
Religion is the m7ghtiest motive
power on earth. 1t lies latent and deep
| in the soul or Inan. Religion is essen
tial to the happiness and peace Of the
soul. Like the unclaimed winds that
| sweep the ocean and take the stormy
pillows into their arms religlon--waf
its way over the bosom OF human ma
tuEe and encompasseth the soul. I'm
like the unfettered WINDS that lash the
ocean TO fury. religion soothes the soul
and lulls it 10 rest. Religion is to the
soul what the rains and dews OF the
! night are to the parched fields. 1t gives
! the soul q fresh vista of life and hope,
lnvigorates it aud stimulates 1t in q
! bright faith in God and more heartfelt
charity and brotherhood to man. With
out religion the soul Of man is like the
! earth without the moistening rains OF
spring; like a flower without sunshine
and balmy air. Fsemoye the bowling
| down OF the soul to the great Spirit that
! rules She skies, whose strong right arm
hurls tbs lightning bolt and makes the
thunder roll from rock to rock-and tia
soul, like the flower, withers up and is
warped and wrinkled in Its own selfish
ness. all hail, then, to Che genius OF
this great nation that eutWines the
MANS OF God and religion with those
| heroes, it's own sons, who died III a
sacred cause to defend it's homer. uphold
ITS dag and maintain It's integrity. All
hail TO the sacred and religious genius
OF Anerica that inspired you. men Of
the old guard, to Rttingly commemo crate
the souls and departed shades Of fallen
comrades in q tsnple Of the great God.
May the day never shine to see any
arm, NO matter how powerful, sever
| the golden links Of religion that bind
you to the cherished memories Of those
that now moulder on Southern battle
fields by the hea7enly bonds Of religious
memorial exercises, 1t is meet and
we'll to he SO. What is the most sacred
inspiration Of nature? "For Godl and
| Couptryt'' For Faith and Freedom!''
Notices prognpted by the sublinlest
| instinct of the sonll Notices that
quicken the most conge<a.ed and phleg
matte spirit--~tllose the universal mot
toes of all Christian nations. gI'oss God.
Adorable word! Incomprehen5iSoIa. al.
mighty spirit-~the heavens. the broatf
| canopy OF the skies above Our heads;
The earth beneath OUR feet; the stars
shat shine out at night; all these are
Thy naudiwork. Who else could make
them but Thou. - God? Thou art Che
| maater OF universal nature. The
mighty tossing ocean hears no other
voica but Thine. 1'he Kissing lightning
that leans from heaven TO earrh-~aIl.
all proclaim THY power divine whilst
men arise, and, like the flowing Miss
/ issippa, dow noiselesslv ON till the,r
DAYS work is done. when their spirits
are waited to other spheres and landed
on the shores of the unseen and the In
Visible. Eternal Spirit, chat rules over
man and nations. we bow before Thee.
Ia this, THY temple, We adore Thee.
We carve Thy almighty name on our
national motto-''For God and Coun-
Try" ALL hail, then. to the blessed and
inspired genius of the young republic
that places high before its people like a
star in the skies OF night the name OF
God who made this land. guides It's
high destines and watches oyer it's peo'
pie. And what would a nation be
without Godg 1t would consist OF
houses-nct homes. animals-n0t men.
Man can build the four walls and
single the roof of house; it Is only
God can build the home. There is a
sacredness about the domestic heath
which God sends down from heaven
and without which the burdens OF life
are heavy indeed. Man is an animal.
but he differs from he lower animals
| in that he has soul-the spirit OF prin-
ciple that thinks and feels and wills.
that feels joyful at the success OF a
friend. that melts into sorrow at the
l COST nf urh1nh