Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-06-01
MEMORIAL SERMON
Preached by Rev. William
Moore at the Congrega-
t1ona1 Church,.

Moore. Ilere were ABOUT thirty
one of the old soldiers present and
the church Was taxed to it's utmost
capacity to accommodate the con-
gregation.
Rev. Moore took for his text the
words of our Lord to his disciples
which are found in the twenty-sec-
ond chapter Of st. Luke and thirty
sixth verse: ''He that hath no
sword, let him sell his garment and
buy one.'
Folio wing is synopsis of the min
ister's remarks:
Christ's life was one Of peace; so
peaceful that these are the only
words he ever uttered from which
one could infer that he at any time
thought OF war with the sword.
There are different opinions as to the
meaning Of the words, hut he evil
IDENTIFY referred to the war of right
eOusness against righteousness,
for our Savior never meant that reli-
gion should be forced upon the peO-
pie by use of the sword, but that they
should be lead to receive it through
faith and love.
Wars are not of SO frequent occur
renee now as they were in years
gone by, but on the other hand
neither have the nations reached
that age OF peace referred to 10y
Isaiah when he said ''and they shall
beat their swords into ploughshares
! and their spears into pruning hooks,
nation shall not lift sword against
nation, neither shall they learn war
any MORE" for the nations still
maintain standing armies, and it
seems but yesterday since we were in
the thrOes OF war.
Wars brings into action the good
qualities of a nation which other
wise might lie dormant as
well as evil traits. In them men
show their patriotism, courage
and self-denial. Usually the evil
oyercomes the good, but in our own
country some wars have been just;
such was the war engaged in over a
century ago for the independently of
the colonies, and such was the one a
generation ago when north and
south were arrayed against each
other. When the people of the South
appealed to the sword there were
two courses for the North, either to
let the South go or to fight and
keep the states as united body.
Having right on his side the
president issued a call for
men and they responded promptly
and willingly, not because they
loved war but because they con-
sidered it their duty. The men who
were at the front were not the only
ones to whom credit is due for val
liant deeds, but the noble w omen who
remained at home should receive
their share of it. They prayed for
success, and their prayers and
patriotism strengthened the arms
of the soldiers and they went
on to victory. They struggled
for that one principle-love of
country and that it should live as
one combination OF states.
One of our greatest men, who went
through the war said it was worth
all it cost. While we know some
thing of the millions Of dollars that
it cost, of the men who died on the
field and of those who were wound
ed, only God can comprehend these
things. yet it was worth all that it
cost. Failure would have meant
disast ter to the South, slavery would
still be in existence there, and in
stead OF being one people we would
now be two. The republic
would have been failure. The
monarchies of the old world called
the people to witness the death CT
the great republic, but they We're
disappointed, and our influence is
greater today on account of our
Christening. The influence has made
for liberty and intelligence. We live
so close to these events that we do
not realize the extent OF this influ-
ence, but nations of the old world
can see in our success hope for the
emancipation of their countries.
Every star representing a state is in
it's place on our flag as it was before
the war. ., ~.
For all this we are indebted to the
men who died in the cause of right,
whether in battle or in southern
prison. Grand Army posts gather
today in every town and village,
and we would be ungrateful if we
did not do honor to the men who
died AMI to those who live. The
Grand "A Trnv nf the Rnnuhlic ia the