The herald., 1894-11-12
The Arm ID Builders.


Christ church, Episcopal. was crowded
At the morning service Yesterday, the
occasion being q special sermon to the
Seventh regiment, National Guard OF
California, Of which the rector. Rev.
Alfred 8. Clark. is the chaplain. The
companies, without arms or accoutre-
ments, but preceded by the drum and
buRle corps, under the command OF Col.
W. G. Schneider. with staff and line Of
6cers and the three resident companiess
marched with flying colors to the
church, corner OF Flower and Pico
streets. The drums and bugles were
artistically grouped at the chancel rail,
the officers seated on one side OF the
choir floor and the soldiers filling one
side of the church. The colors on
either side OF the arch ftly framed the
chancel.
After morning prayer and q national
hymn to the tune OF America the chap
lain delivered his discourse, based on
the following verse:
every one with one of his hands
wrought in the work. and with the other
hand held weapon" Nehemiah 4l7.
When Nehemiah assumed charge. by
permission OF the Persian monarch, of
the city OF jerusalem. whose walls had
crumbled into ruins, his fret effort was
to rebuild those structures, so necessary
for tine protection and stability of the
people. Nothing like united action, or
ganized life end quiet confidence could
reign unless the work of rebuilding was
accou. plished. Sanballat and others
fo/esiiish purposes, opposed the pro-
posed work. and endeavored to impede
il. To protect the workmen from these
narauding Arabians, Ammonites and
Ashdodites. Nehemiah as wise organ.
izer. decided to arm the builders upon
the walls, 30 that at the first sight of
the advancing bands the hosts OF work
men might bs instantly transformed
into u military body. The armed
builders were soldiers and workmeD-
the sound OF the trowel mingled with the
clsnk OF the scabbard.
With an application OF soul-architec-
ture and soul militancy to the Christian
lie /; in the resisting of temptation and
the tpbuilding OF character, the rever-
end chaplain went on to say that the
National guards represented these two
elements of work and warfare. Il sing"
said he. "the song Of the citizsn-aol.
diery, the minute men; ready at a mos
ment's notice to stand tor law, good or
der and government. l sing the song
OF the citizen -soldiery. from shop to field,
willing to suffer and dare that all may
enjoy the blessings OF liberty. sing the
song OF the citizen. soldiery; with sword
and towel building and defending, the
pride and glory of our common Repub-
lie. Every one is required both to labor
and to fight. No one is excepted from
the burden and the danger, upon whom
the work and dsfenee properly belongs" !"
"What q grand object lesson does the
National guard afford for the presenta-
tion OF this double truth. From the
various avocations OF human life 10 the
ssrTied column OF the regiment, they
gather and rally in each appointed
sphere, fulfilling we'll their share of the
labor and the drill. Is it not incum ben
upon all OF the people of this country to
learn the important lesson that there
must be both winning and holding? OF
what use the waving 6elds if there be
not the gathered harvest? OF what use
the blessings of the gospel if there be
mot the virtue of the saint? And 60 the
sovereignty oi the people must be under
God, its own bodyguard and defender,
tho treasured wealth of the nation pro-
tected by brave yeomen's hearts. In
such an arrangement there is recognition
OF the segregation of the individual in
his own province and aspirations. while
provision is made Tor the whole in the
unity of common hopes and endeav-
0Hs.
Now euch Lesson of the armed
builders has wide application in our
governmental and religious systems ?
Are we not acquainted with some who
are altogether averse to anything like
E.ss Tall
much as you please, the duty of self.
education, ssIf-cultnrs, sslf-helpiulnese.
An apathy, too, often e1iBts as to the
need Of moulding judgments and char
actsrs after the loitiest ideal. Disposed
rather to contend against the opinions
of others, feveriah uneasiness obtains
control OF tie life, and to the citizsn as
we'll as to the Christian, a contentious
epirit becomes a positive bane. The
stirring scenes of military life have an
undue preponderance. Against this
spirit stands the citizen feature OF the
National guard, which serves to counter
act the undue exaltation OF the spirit
u warfare. The apron and the trowel
u the mason find place beside the mill
Iary trappings OF the soldier.
Another class in civil as in religious
ale 10 content to build the walls OF Zion
when peace and quiet reign and prone
to leave the Master and the colors at the
first sound of approaching conflict.
Preferring the sound OF the hammer to
the click OF the rife, all sounds of war
fare are obnoxious to their peaceful
wishes. When temptation or contro-
versy challenges, these refuse to Icy
hold OF weapons provided in the armory
OF GOD word or in the realm of politi.
cal desste. To others they would fain
lease the brunt OF the confict-to others,
too, the honor OF the warfare. Unto
others do they look to WELD the wesp.
ons, while they pursue some favorite
study or occupation. Can one so divest
himself OF responsibility, in whatever