Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-06-02

we take increased devotion 10 that
cause for which they gave the last full
measure of devotion that we here
highly resolve that these dead shall
not have died in vain that this ma
ton, under God, shall have a new
birth of freedom. and that govern.
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people shall not perish from
the earth.
Sermon by Rev. D. II. Shields at the
First M. E. Church, May 40, "a.
The largest audience since the adj
vent of Rev. d. H. Shields in Mar
tinsburg, was seen in the First Meth
odist Episcopal church last Sunday
morning. The special feature was
the preaching of the annual sermon
before Lincoln Post, No. I, Grand
Army Republic. The front pews were
reserved for the veterans, and the
church was t~astefully decorated with
bunting and flowers. The speaker
showed his complete mastery of the
occasion by his style and e~loquence in
handling his subject. The veterans
present were loud in their praises
and left the church feeling that they
were amply paid. The universal YER
dict was Well, I haye heard several
memorial sermons but the sermon OF
to-day was the best l have we heard
Mr.. Shields took for his theme
1.-THE Success of Self Government-Its
Triumph and Dangers" The text Sc.
lected was There shall no man be
able to stand before you, tor the Lord
your God shall bring the fear of you
and the dread of you upon all the
land"
After alluding briefly to a few per.
sonal "reminiscences the preacher said
in part:
You have all heard of the old deal
musician who used to sit in the twi-
light, and roll from his instrument
the most wonderful symphonies and
harmonies, that seemed to run down
to the very source and center of all
things, and that, emerging, bore upon
them all sweet treasures Of melody.
Though he heard not one note of it, il
was poured out and poured out uponthe
darkness aud upon the silence, some.
times to select listening ears. So, gen.
tleman oftheG rand of the Repub-
lie, some thirty years ago the boys who
sleep in soldiers graves, struck notes
and sent chords vibrating that have
made music upon all shores of all
lands.
This is an age of monuments, me-
MORALS, and anniversaries, made SO
since the war, by the Veterans of the
Grand Army of the Republic. We
rear monuments to, and hold in
memory dear, those who have served
mankind. The sublime in human
character attracts us. Nothing else is
comparable with it. Even natural
beauties, hoary with the rush of cen.
turtles are no rivals to the men, who,
generous even to death in self-sacri
hcing devotion, have blessed their ma.
ton or their race. The sublime as il
appears in the lives of persons, or con.
fronts us in the characters of true pa.
triots, moves us as with an electric
throb, and binds US as with a spell
necromantic.
What wonderful thoughts start up
when the soldiers life looms before
the vision. The war that abolished
slavery was the climax of a wonderful
series of wars dating from the Revolu-
ton. No sooner had the camp fires
gone out as the first President of this
Republic was inaugurated, than they
were lit up across the Atlantic as the
French Revolution broke in upon the
dream OF peace, as a horrid night.
mare. From amid the ruins Of that
carnival of death the Star of Bonaparte
rose with a splendor that dazzled the
world. Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena,
and Auerstadt, Wagram. Moscow, and
Waterloo all arise as if by magic, amid
the crash Of kingdoms and the revolu.
ton Of dynasties. As the roar Of
battle dies away, there is a deep and
solemn hush only broken by the
ocean waves tapping the rocky coast
of St. Helena, telling the nations that
the war is over.
While Europe is witnessing this
terrible act in the Drama of Mars, a
side curtain rises and reveals another
scene in which we recognize the ia.
maliar features of our own country.
The city of Washington appears
wrapt in flames, and New Orleans is
shaking with the thunder O artillery,
as the shadow upon the dial points
to I8Iz-I4.
The curtain drops, and for a long
time there is the quiet of peace all
over our land.
The curtain rises. The scenery Is
all new and strange. The foliage is
tropical. and the blossoms of the
orange and coffee tree burden the ali
with their perfume. The buildings
are old and Of antique architecture
and reminds us OF days long past when
their halls resounded to the tramp O
barbaric kings The actors enter and
mars aeroca fhe Moxs~1