The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-05-27

own great West, harvest fields of grain
which promise that America shall become
the granary of the world, these may not
be the elements of grandeur
| so we come to the consideration of some
things which are elements of greatness.
One of these is high ideal 1t is
proper, it is wise, it is necessary that
men look upward; have before them some
ideal of excellence; some character worthy
of imitation; some result worthy of effort
for realization. This is human neces.
sity.
Nations also have their ideals. There
is a disposition to adore greatness tc
exult in the great minds, the command
ing intellects and geniuses England is
proud of her statesmen and her poets, OF
Bacon and Cecil, and Raleigh, of Spencer,
I and Hooker and Shakespeare that galaxy
OF stars which shed lustre on the Eliza
bethan period and of her Burke and Pitt
and Fox of the Georges time. To hel
credit also, she is proud of her philanthro-
pists and peace makers and they have
tablets in Westminster Abbey, among her
illustrious dead. But goodness must
rank above greatness. Indeed goodness
is greatness. When you say that a man S
brain has been put into scales and
weighed; when you compare intellect
pairing these with Jesus Christ, you do
not marvel over the capacity of His brain.
You shrink from speaking of Him in
that way. Oh no! It is His goodness
which places Him on pedestal above all
others, great in His goodness! Goodness
outlives greatness which is measured by
successful battles or eloquent orations
| There is that fine quotation: "The
sword is but flash in the darkness
| right isfan eternal ray of light.
! A nations ideal should be, to be honor
| able, just, God-fearing, to possess great
principles that shall give to its name the
stamp of elevation and grandeur The
integrity and righteous demands of a
people give elevation and permanency.
| These make the safeguard of nation.
| Our hope lies not SO much in brilliant
| leadership as in the steady advance of the
| rank and file. If there is corruption in
| place holders it is because of looseness Of
| morals in the masses. There must be
moral soundness in the people. There
with pride. There are some Dead Seas
in our Holy Land. Liquor drinking
avarice, speculation, have damaged public
morals. There is an extravaganza which
corrupts everybody, which raises prices,
purchases only what is imported; and
many of our people are per1neated with
imported notions, and when abroad ex-
hibit a silly admiration for what are the
very weakEthings of the countries they
visit. There is laxity of morals which is
evident.
Now there is steady advance of moral
and Christian sentiment The common
people are making righteous demands.
There is constant fermentation and
evils are thrown off as slavery and piracy
on the high seas. The world is rising to
better things and higher standards.
We sometimes say the voice of the people
is not the voice of God, and point to nu-
merous instances in which the multitude
has been in error But believe that five
times out of six the masses are right
Their common sense and sense of Justice
may be trusted. Great popular agita-
tions prompted by what they believe to
be injustice and inhumanity have had
their small and silent beginnings SIM
creasing more and more until there has
been an expression of popular feeling
which selfish men and demagogues could
not hush into silence
nation" and if Jehovah's favor is the
true glory of people there should be &C
acknowledgement of His hand in our his
tory. If we would have His mercies con-.
tinued to us, we must be thankful for
mercies received.
Puritans came to our shores seeking
liberty to worship God. Lust of gold
brought SPANS adventures to South
America to .glut themselves with it's
wealth. South America is hundreds of
years behind us in morals and civiliza-
ton. .. -.
After Mr.. Rogers's address, Mr. May
berry gave another solo on the cornet
America was sung by the congregation
and the benediction was pronounced
The church was very satisfactorily
ushered by Messrs. Charles Lombard,
Charles and Carl Lang, and E. H. Mar
rett
THATCHER POST.
Thatcher Post to the number of about
fifty, met at their hall and marched to
the Church of the Messiah, to attend ser
vices. The members of the Relief Corps
met them at the church. The decorations,
while not elaborate, were very appropri
ate. On either side of the organ were the
flags of the Post Welcome was sllss.
pended over the pulpit, apple BLOSSOMS
and other flowers filled several Vases and
a number of American flags prettily
draped made very effective picture.
Rev. Mr.. Kimmell preached the sermon.
The idea of his sermon was
WE HONOR SELF SACRIFICE FOR
PRINCIPLE.
2Peter 81. stiup your sincere mind by
putting you in rememb rance
almost wish that ! could speak to you
this morning as member of the Grand
Army l am however one of multitude
of men who have grown to manhood
since the war closed. We cannot tell of
what we did in those years for our land !;
we can only speak with pride of what was
done by older members of our family.
AS we look back upon that period of
struggle, it is much like a picture that
has grown dim under the light that has
long fallen upon it. The fact is not to
be regretted. If the three decades which
have passed since Gen. Lee gave up his
sword at Appomattox, have made fainter
the impression of events which quickened
nightly the zeal of patriotism, they have
also made fainter the impression of events
which nightly stirred multitudes to an
ger-and resentment. If they have dirnmed
the lustre of many noble exploit they
haye also dimmed the blood spots of VIC
lence. AS the sod has formed where the
bodies of the blue and gray were laid, the
cause of peace has prospered.
l want to call your attention to the fact
that it is not love alone that is manifested
in this commemoration from year to year
of the4SO1dierg who have DaSSed away