Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-25

At the Cocgfsgational chulch Last
Evsnice-Larss Attendance Of The
Grand Amy.

was not taken mp BY the member Of the
Grard Army and Sons Of Veterans Who
we're present. vas allied with the large au-
disnce in attendance on the services.
The services opened with sinsing the
an'hem, THE Lord 10 Exalted" BY Mrs.
Elias Miihken. Mrs. Pauline Myrick. Mrs.
Fred W. Chase, Miss Annie Hatch and
Messrs. G. +. Haves and J. H. Chandler.
The invocation by the Rev. Mr.. Leland
was followed BY the sinsins of the choir.
Rev. c. +. Penny, ID. D., read from the
Ssfd psalm the scripture lesson and Rev. |.
G. Ross offered prayer.
The memorial sermon was by the pastor
Of the church, Rev. j. s. Williamson His
text was found in Psalm S3-l2; blessed
is the Nation whose God is the Lord" The
thought Of the discourse wss that the
advancing conceptions Of God are the ladder
by which the nations have climbed; that
only as we practically recognize God can
we advance the trusst well being Of man.
hind; that not only by the victories Of the
past but by ihsse over the ditli sulties Of the
present can we deserve the respect Of man.
kind.
Whenever the cities Of the past have been
excavsted that material might be added to
history there has always been dug up an
image of god. Wherever there has been
sufficient intelligence to frame law there
has been logic to believe in . God. The
conception which Abraham gave to the
Almighty was the first round in the ladder
The second round in this ladder was when
Moses invested God with attributes
which the God of Abraham did not possess,
an idea of the essence Of God, q God iu-
terested. longing to lift up the soul. In
our imsgiastion we can believe that the
Psalmist went back in his mind over the
history of his country and out Of the
depths he gave US that maxim, Blessed 10
the nation whose God is the Lord. =
That = practical recognition of q true
God is the only way to secure the lasting
well being Of mankind ought TO sink deeper
into our souls than it did in that Of the He
brew prophet, because we can look bsck
over wider range Of history and see more
illustrations Of this truth.
The highs st patriotism is not to love ones
country simply because 1t is the land Of our
birth or on account Of it's prosperity, but
because it represents what 10 right. for it,
principles. Is II not thoughts OF the brave
people who came here that they might
maintain what they believed TO be right,
thoughts Of those who threw off the yoke
OF England. that during the civil war il
stood for what was right; is it not such
the ughts which kindle the fires Of the soul2
All the difficulties were not overcome by
the civil war. Among the luxuries Of peace
selfshness and and greedy hypocrisy have
entered into the nations life. The practical
recognition of God in the individual life 10
necessary. Man is not man in God ser &c
when he is not q godlike man. We
sht uld have Gods alter erected in our
homes, Mans conscience crowned leads to
God, conscience dethroned dies. Man in
his daily life has to take for his ideal some
thing to excite his love for humanity. That
ideal is Jesus Christ. This means self.
surrender. 1t is strange that man should
applaud certsin characteristics in a fellow
being and refuse to assume that character
himself.
God. wiser than man, tells US again and
again that We must take up arms, not only
against fees without but foes within. Those
who have fought the battles Of the war
know that only when peace was proclaimed
was any call sweeter to hear than the cali
TO conflict. The speaker called on the men
of the Grand Army to remember that il
WAS as individuals they left their homes
and laid their lives on the altar
Of their country and that secretly
and alone they should enter the holy
of holies alone with God; to recognize that
the eye Of God is ever over them that as
they had been the servants Of their country
so should they become the servants of
God. He then dwelt at considerable length
church. 1t should not be eaid that the
word "bro'her" should mean more on the
lips of Free Mason than on the lips Of .
churchmaD. In love he would throw
open vide the door Of The church to them,
the door that the Lord had ever
held open ths. they n sht enter in and par
take of the sacrsments. The speaker re-
ferred to the relations of the church to the
nation 10 political sense. He would have
the same political spirit that prevailed
among the early fathers, who could wor-
ship in the church On the Sabbath and on
the following day come into it In the same
spirit ard cast their ballots The only way
in which true government could be obtained
was fer every man to cast his ballot
believing thst he did SO under the eye OF
God. Only when We reco gnjze the almighty
God can we become true patriots. The
speakers closing appeal. addressed TO the
veterans was espe cially eloquent and touch
ing.
The singing Of the hymn "Ameiica" fol.
pronounced by the Rev Mr.. WymAn.