St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-05-28
MEMORIAL SERMON.

hall Sunday evening by Comrade
Advent church. There was the usual
large attendance, Chamberlin Post,
the Woman's Relief Corps and Sons
of Veterans occupying seats in the
body of the house. Music was fur
nished by singers from the various
churches. Scripture was read by
Rev. F. D. Buckley and prayer was
offered by Rev. R. c. Flagg of Wells
River.
Mr.. Potter took for his text Elk.
~: IA: "And this day shall be unto
you for a memorial" and spoke
somewhat as follows:
IF a nation sin, God will inhict pun
ishment as surely as for individual
disobedience When, in Revolution
airy times, the British began hostili-
ties, the people were alarmed and
called meetings for prayer and re-
pentance One old minister prayed,
80 Lord, we have sinned and deserve
to be punished, but, o Lord, don t
let the British do it." That was the
sentiment of the North at the out
break of the Civil war. AS a nation
we had sinned and were deserving of
punishment, but we were very 10th
to have our own cOuntrVmen inf1ict
it
The scenes of so, go and '61 are
fresh in your minds. You remember
the startling news of the trial and
execution of John Brown 1 am
aware that many then and now re-
gard him as fanatic, but never did
loyal son, man or woman who I'M
derstood what was before us call
him fanatic. If you could have
seen the inspira ton of that song as
column after column caught up the
refrain, GAS we go marching on" l
am sure he would never again be
called one.
Every attempt to reconcile the
North and South was a failure. Men
began to talk war, and the air was
full of war. Men were abroad clam
oring for peace, but there was no
peace Mason and Dixon'S line was
drawn but that did not suffice The
South wanted to make the North a
slave country and they came across
the line with their dogs in pursuit of
fugitive slaves. War was inevitable.
Sumter was fired upon and Col.
laid down his life for his
country at Alexandria, The presi-
dent called for troops; first $4,000,
later 100000. The North meant
business and it answered, eve are
Father Abraham, 100000
strong" There was no time to talk
peace. Gen. Sherman said that no
class loved peace SO well as the sol
der. He was willing to fight for
it, Call after call was made for vol
until over 100000 men
had sprang to the rescue of the old
flag.
Comrades, your faces remind me of
those days. They were trying days.
The husband was separated from
the wife, the lover babe his betrothed
goodbye, perhaps forever. During
those long years, fighting hard, suf-
5ering from cold and heat, starved
and poorly clothed, men looked to
God for help. Grant said before he
died that God had raised him up to
cad our armies to victory. Lincoln
was overheard praying for divine
strength to lead the people and guide
the nation entrusted to him. God |
heard that prayer and answered it.
After fighting 2261 battles and Skin
mishes, our armies returned victori-
Gus. But what a sad return for |
many loving wife! Over 100000 |
brave men never came back. We |
aid them to rest on the fields of |
battle and they will not return until |
summoned at the last day by the
Archangel. Many were crippled for
life and broken down in health. |
When the Dependent Pension bill |
was passed it found 1 900 soldiers
of the Union in the almshouses of
our country. They need Uncle Sans
and 1 hope the day is
not far distant when every soldier
with an honorable discharge will re-
ceive pension. If they ever have it |
they want it now while they live.
God will care for them after they die. |
Some people are afraid the country
will come to financial ruin if the |
soldiers are pensioned. If nation
can spend 81 900, 900 a year for
strong drink it ought TO afford q |