Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-06-03
Memorial Sunday.

NO. 3.
| Memorial Sunday.
i The G. A. r. post met at their hall
| yesterday and marched in a body to
the Congregational church, which
Twas handsomely decorated with
)patriotic colors, flowers and potted
plants, to hear the memorial address,
l"A Good Soldier" by the pastor, the
Rev. VIM. Moore. Excellent music
was furnished by the choir, consist
ing of Mrs. I. E. Staples, Miss Pond
and Miss Dell Hill, and Messrs. Chas.
Wilkins and Walter Laird, and the
occasion was one long to be remem-
tbered by those present. The sermon
was a mastery effort, the following
being brief synopsis of it:
VIM. Moore took for his subject,
"a Good Soldier" the text being ii,
Tim. 2:3.
The advent of Memorial Day and
the presence that morning OF the
Post reminded them, said the speak
er, oftwoimportantfacts,f first-That
humanity speaking the preservation
1of the Union was due to the patriots
ism and courage Of the men who
fought during the Rebellion, and Sec
ond-that there is striking analogy
between the life of a soldier and that
Of a christian. Paul quickly perceiv-
ed this, hence his writings are much
intersperced with military language.
Our hymnology is also enriched by
many hymns of q military nature
while the Salvation Army and the
Christian Crusaders have adopted
military titles and methods of work.
ing.
We are reminded in every war that
there are several kinds of soldiers,
some are cowardly, some traitorous,
some Indifferent, but the majority
are true and faithful. In the warrior
the Union with few exceptions the
men were brave and manifested all
the qualities OF good soldier. So
in our christian warfare, while we
lament over the cowardly, the indif-
ferents and the deserters, we are re-
joiced because SO many are found
fighting bravely in the ranks. Still,
owing to the severity OF the conflict,
and the tendency to grow discourag
ed it is we'll at times that every one
should be exhorted to "endure hard
ships" and acquit himself as "gOod
soldier.''
The need of such soldiers in every
war is very clear, no victories can be
won nOrcampaignss or successfully fought
out if the soldiers are not marked by
the true soldierly qualities. In pro-
portion to the magnitude of the con-
fict and the issues at stake it is es-
sential that these qualities prevail.
The christian warfare, owing to it's
nature, the character of the enemy,
the duration of the conflict and the
eternal consequence are the most i'm
portant of all and ultimate triumph
though sure will be retarded or hard
ened as christians acquit themselves
as good soldiers or otherwise. The
requisites of a good soldier are many.
First of all there comes in the ability
! to meet theconditions for enlistment.
When President Lincoln called for
troops, many men of undoubted pa
triotism and courage were rejected
because of some physical defect, or
because they were too young or too
old. In our christian warfare there
is no limit as to physical condition,
nor of sex, or age, the one condition
is spiritual, that soul will he peni-
tent for sin and that it accepts Christ
as the personal Savior and Captain.
A second requirement is one which
Paul himself points out, namely, free
dom from entangling cares. When
men enlisted to put down the rebel
lion they left behind them their busi-
ness and even their homes that they
might give their individual attention
to the work set before them. In the
war against sin and Satan it is not
often that one is called upon to
make such sacrifices. In the major
ity if cases men can still be good SOL
diers and attend to their business
and family duties, yet the willingness
to surrender all If necessary must
prevail and with everyone all care
must be taken MOTTO allow business
and social life to hinder our spiritual
progress or check our activities:
Courage is essential to the soldier,
we despise cowardice while we exalt
courage. Ney by his magnificent
though unsuccessful charge at Wa
terloo fully sustained the title Of
"Bravest of the Brave" while
grouchy through his unfortunate fall
ure to rush the field has labored ever
since under the suspicion of coward
ice or treachery. 1t is to the credit
of the heroes of the Civil war thatno
greater courage has ever been wit
messed than that displayed by them
on a hundred battle fields. In the
christian warfare the courage most
often needed is moral and the men Of
the bible, Joseph, Moses, Joshua,
Elijah, Daniel, and the apostles
manifested it time and again. but
thank God they did not enjoy b mon-
opoly Oft. Polycarp, Ireneus, Luth-
er, Wickliffe and with them thou
sands of unnamed heroes in all ages
have shown by their courage how to
live, suffer and die for Christ. Again
soldier must "endure hardening''
such as come through Princeton, toll,
suffering. hunger, fighting and weary
marching. Such hardening many oi
YOU endured in common with thou.
, sands of others during the war for
the Union. You know by actual ex-