Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-30
MEMORIAL SERMON
pELIVERED TO THE G. A. R COMRADES By
J RI. RgY. BISHOP KAHN
Holiday and Stephens Posts Attend Services at iho
Cathedral in a Body-An HoqusR. and
Thoughtful Discourse

Rishop ]. J. Kahn. The discourse was
eloquent and thoughtful, and was
listened 10 with close attention by one OF
the largest congregations ever assem-
b.ed within the Cathedral walls.
The comrades Of stephens Post as
sembled at Handlaa's Hall, on the
south side, and proceeded in body to
G. A. R. Hall, on Main street, where
they met the comrades Of Holiday Post
and marched up Twelfth street and
down Eoff 10 the cathedral, taking seats
reserved for them in the main aisle.
There was quite a large turnout OF the
did soldiers, there being about $50 men
In line.
The commOdicus auditorium OF the
church filed rapidly, and at eight
o'clock, when the services began, there
was not vacant seat In the church, and
nany we're standing in the aiSleS and
7estibule. A large proportion Of the
congregation was nOn-CathOlic. The
.boir rendered some special music in
oDening the services, while the RI. Rev.
Bishop and assistant priests were kneel-
ing at the altar.
During the sermon, the following
PRIESTS occupied seats upon the altar:
Rev. Fathers Reynolds and McEligott,
and Mgr. j. II. Sullivan, OF the Cathed-
raj: Rev Father JOS. Mullen, of the
Church OF the immaculate Conception;
and Rev. Father III. Z. McMenamin,
of ST. Johns Church, BenwOOd.
Around the pulpit the National cOlors
we're festooned, and the American flag
occupied a position inside the railing.
Bishop Kahn mounted the pulpit and
secured the undivided attention OF his
hearers during the hour occupied in de-
livering his sermon.
He took for his text-"Render Honor
To Whom Honor Is Due'-ROm. NH.
2.
The principle which inspires the cele-
brati0n in which you, my dear friends, are
now engaged, and all similar celebrations,
is thus tersely expressed by the inspired
Apostlei in the 18th. chapter and seventh
verse Of his great Epistle % the Romans.
Render honor 70 whom honor IS due
This principle, engraved on the human
heart bv our Creator, has therefore re-
lat.on In the application of this principle,
we are guided by the nature and extent OF
the merits of those whom we honor. The
church holds in highest honor those OF her
children whose lives have been marked by
heroic sanctity. Society revereS the
memory of those whose good and great
deeds prove them 10 have been the friends
snd benefactOrs of humanity. Each
nation holds in grateful and loving
remem brance the distinguished cltl-
Gems. whose enlightened craftsmanship, or
martial exploits, or literary achievements
have enshrined them in the hearts OF their
c0untrymen. BY stately monuments, D.
appropriate statues or paintings, and by
annual celebrations 10 is sought TO perpetu-
ate the names and deeds Of such iuuStriOus
men, that though dead, they NAV still live
FRI the minds and hearts OF succeeding gen
eratiOns, and whilst receiving the tribute
IF praise and admiration they richly de-
serve, may inspire future ages with the de-
sire and purpose OF initiating their bright
example
Iti5 then one Of the nOblest-nay one OF
the hottest impulses Of our Christian
hearts which prompts Us 20 pay fitting
homage to goodness and greatResS-an i'm
pulse doubiy sacred when that homage OF
esteem and admiration and gratitude is
rendered 70 the worthy dead. We are
bound oy every obligation human and di-
vine 10 love and honor fond mother,
whose sweet smiles we are still privileged 70
enjoy; but does death, which rOOs Us OF the
sunshine of her presence and the Joy OF her
AfectiOuate embrace, despOu our hearts OF
the ,0ye and honor which we cherished FOR
that good mother rather are not these
sentiments Of flial affection deepened and
Intensified by the bitter separation
lu the few sentences which i have ad-
dressed YOU, members Of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, / have given the reason
ana justification of that now National an
lual festival known as Memorial Day.
The purpose of It's Institution and celeOra-
bon il found in the words of my text:
Render honor 20 whom honor is due"
In countless cemeteries throughout the
land, sleep your comrades in armS-thOuS-
ands and tens Of thousands fell on the san
culinary field of battles, martyrs IN their
c0uutry's cause, whilst thousands Of others
have passed into hOnOred graves since the
close Of the war The resting places OF
some are surmOunted with shafts OF gran
lJe or bronze or costly mauSOleumS WNlcn
viii tell 20 unborn generations the story OF
their patriotism and Of their valOr. Others
lie IN unmarked graves beneath the green
sod-ht emblem ola nations love which
keeps their heroic deeds ever fresh IN the
hearts OF their children. Though more
Than a quarter OF q century has
elapsed since the Angel of Peace
spread her white wings over our beloved
country there still survive whole
leg-ous Of Oattle-scarred veterans, who
cherish the deepest reverence for their de-
parted comrades. One day in the year-a
Gay so appropriately named Memorial Day
they love TO visit the graves Of their
companions in arms and strew them with
garands Of flowers, Of which each per-
tuned bud and each eXqUisitely lovely leaf
Is but poor representation Of the brOtherly
auec'iOn that links the living 70 the dead.
ell 10 becomes YOU, soldiers or the re
pubic. 70 thus cherish the memory Of these
la4en heroes. They, like you, loved their
country better than their homes and al
mat makes home dear-aye, better than
their own lives. side by side with YOU they
marched iOyfuly 10 victory or 70 death
under the sOul-stirriug inspiration OF that
loye-and generously theWgave their stout
hearts rampant 20 shield an save the
land they loved This, the Blessed Saviour
himself assures US, is the highest test OF
me pureSt, strongest love which the heart
q mas can cherish.
In the celebration Of Memorial Day how
many heart reaching incidents Of camp
NE aud CORY battlefield will come up like
uylug scenes depicted by the creative hand
-~---~ A-A-oA~A at -Aolf oAA NAl'l AA0 uAS
Tear drops o. Joy or sorrow TO fall
Gown the cheeks Of the surviv-
ing participants, Perhaps its
charge in the face Of roaring cannon
ana storms Of deafening musketry which
dccimate the ranks Of the advancing col
Umns; and can the survivor OF more than
I'VE and twenty years help weep over,
whist he joins In honOring, the thousands
Of brave men whom on that day he saw
iacrihced on his coUutry's altarl Perhaps
me scene which memory so vividly paints
before the old soldiers vision is the field