The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-29
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1891,
MEMORIAL SERMON.
Touching Union Services at the Bap-
tist Church Sunday Night.

The Baptist church Sunday evening
failed to hold the Outpouring Of peo-
pie who attempted to gain admittance
and many were turned away. The
members of Wilkin Post, G. A. R., &C.
cupied several rows in front, while
the stage was decorated with flags and
bunting, and beautiful flowers. The
Baptist choir furnished excellent
music Rev. l. L. Cory delivered the
sermon. which was most excellent
one.
5Ecclesiastss 3:4,S. "a time to weep,
and time to laugh; a time to mourn,
and time to dance; time TO love,
and time to hate: a time for war,
and time for peace"
After describing the scene at the
burial of his soldier brother at his
home in Indiana in '63, and that the
text of that memorial sermon was the
one chosen for this address, the speak
er said in substance:
The history of the world bears tes-
-timony to the truth of Solomon's
words, "a time for war" The scarlet
hue of war is woven into the warp
and wool of the worlds development.
Out Of the struggles for existence and
conquest nations have been borne. The
birth travail of the wOrld's'ne erea of
life is voiced in the miSerieS and
grOanS of conquest and warfare. Alters
of human sacrifice from no incOnSider-
able part of the steps upon which the
world has mounted to its present
height Of progress. Conquest, strug-
gle and warfare seems to be law of
development, but all war is not &C
4cOmpanied by bloodShed. Great
moral issues may be fought to the
finish on the battle field of platform
and press. The most significant bat
tie of the last war was the one fought
by Lincoln and Douglas in their great
debate. The contentious in the life of
a nation are like those in the life of the
individual. The struggle for character
the victory over wrong must be
constant A nation can never lay
down it's arms and be safe. There is
no discharge in the war. The modes
of warfare are changing. When the
Bible speaks of the time when nations
shall learn war no more, it means that
the weapons for settling the great
issues shall not be swords and
spears" but ''plOw shares, pruning
hooks, pens and printing presses"
Destructive warfare entails i'm
mense cost. Our late war cost US
million lives and nine hundred and
fifty million dollars. What are some
of the benefits to the nations growing
out of this war? While we cherish
the memory of these fallen heroes, can
we say that their blood was shed for
the healing of the nation?
The speaker showed first that true
patriotism was wrought into the ma
tiOn'S life by their sacrifice, and that in
a republic like ours patriotism was
essential to perpetuity. Good and
wise kings make happy subjects and
prosperous peoples. In the past the
crowned heads of Europe have held in
their grasp EurOpe'S peace and pros
perity. In our country the crowned
heads are the votes. Love Of country,
patriotic zeal must be in the hearts
of our crowned heads. The speaker
impressed this part of the subject by
apt illustrations.
The second thing named in the cost
~ purchase was the presentations and
consultations of the unions. The
word union" can better be under
stood in the light of our last thirty
years of history. The closer union
of states was secured, but that was
only step in the great wise plan Of
God in closer union of nations. By
this cemented union we have grown
TO be mighty nation and already we
exercise an influence over the world.
We numbered 81, 100000 before the
war, now 63,0O0,00O In a few years
we will number 100,0O0,000. God had
a purpose in preserving the union.
Had the bond been broken we would
nave been at the mercy of the nations.
As it is our Christian republic is teach
ing the world the great lesson of DEM
aOcracy, the fundamental principles of
the brotherhood of man, and leading
The world up to the perfected union
of the nations under the FatherhOod
of God and the brotherhood of man.
The past thirty years has also wrought
into the word union the deeper mean
ing of union of nationalities. For
-eignerS have come to US half million
a year and breathed the atmosphere
OF our patriotism and caught the
spirit Of our American institutions.
Nowhere in the history of the world
mas there been such an exhibition on
so grand scale of the gathering of
SO many kinds into one united whole.
Out of the union preserved at so great
"A cost these things are made possible.
The very history made by the war
Dreathes spirit Of union into all our
national life.
The last point of the address was