The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-05-29
MEMORIAL SERMON.
DR.. Beckwith breaches Before Geo.
w. De Long Post, @. A. R.


Central Union Church contained a
large congregation yesterday even
ing, when, according to announce
ment, Rev. E. &. Beckwith, pastor,
preached the annual memorial dis
course before Geo. w. De Long Post,
G. A. r, President Dole, U. S. Min
lister Blount and many prominent
residents were present. The front
section of pews was reserved for the
Post and visiting comrades, and as
the opening organ voluntary was
playing the veterans, to the number
of nineteen, led by Post Commander
j. n. Wright, fled into the first two
pews from either side.
There were the usual decorations
American flags on the organ loft
front, the reading desk and the front
of the gallery; two stacks of rifles,
camp equipments, etc, in front of
the desk, and large bouquets on the
platform. Rev. S. E. Bishop assisted
in the devotional exercises, which
opened with the doxology. The ma
tional anthem "America" was sung
at the close of the services. After
the benediction the regular congre-
cation kept their seats, by request
of the pastor, until their guests had
marched out.
DR.. Beckwith took for his text
Romans 1887, Honor to whom honor
is DUE High heroisms were not so
common, he said, that we could
afford to forget them. For our own
sake as well as the sake of others we
should give honor to whom honor is
due. Honor was due for great feats,
provided they were also worthy
deeds, and always reckoning that
they were in harmony with Gods
workings. They were now seeing
an impressive illustration of honor
bestowed where it was due. Four
hundred years ago humble Genoese
navigator sailed over the western
sea with one small flagship and two
caravels and discovered the New
World. To-day that western sea
was crowded on the hither side with
great ships of the naval Powers to
do the discoverer honor, while mid
way between the two oceans, on the
shores of an inland sea, had been
reared a collection of gorgeous
palaces, now filled with the products
and attracting the people of all ma
tions, in teeming thousands, all to do
honor to the same renowned navi-
gator. With this introduction the
preacher went on to describe the
great deeds for which the Grand
Army of the Republic should be
held in perpetual honor. Their
cause was the saving of the i'm
perilled Union, and 2,6000O0 men
engaged in the conflict, millions of
treasure was expended, and 100000
lives were laid on the altar of the
country. The great despotisms of
Europe had pointed to the great
republic as sand dune that
the first blast of war would
sweep away. But the Union came
out of the trial with not State dis
membered, not a rood of its shore
line disturbed, not shred of its red,
white and blue displaced. AS the
greatest issue of that conflict, the
e. A. T.. settled the question OF
liberty throughout all the land to
all the inhabitants thereof. They
may not all have meant it, but multi
tudes of them meant it, and God
meant it. They sealed with their
blood the doctrine that all men are
created free and equal. The preacher
cautioned his hearers not to think
that his discourse was a eulogy of
war. They were to honor the men
who carried on the war as a. dread
full necessity. 1t must be remem-
bered what it cost to draw those
men away from their homes and the
friends they loved. They should re-
member the weary marches, the
night bivouaes, the gallant services
of the men in the ships, who, lash
ing themselves in the maintop, re.
solved to conquer or go down. Re,
membering those things they should
not think it a burden but joy tc
bring each Memorial Day some
beautiful token to lay on the graves
of their hOnOred dead