St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-31
MEMORIAL SUNDAY SERVICE.

middle seats in the front of the hall, and
people of all denominations filled up the
others.
The service was begun by the singing
of an anthem by the quartette choir of
Grace Methodist church, after which
Rev. H. H. Hoyt read scripture from the
10th Psalm. Prayer was offered by
Rev. c. w. Dockham, who made special
reference to the institutions of our coun-
try, praying that they be shielded
by divine protection, and then the choir
again rendered appropriate music.
Rev. Thomas Tyrie preached an elo-
quent and forcible sermon from the text,
1 SamuelSf7 8, "And the Phlistines
stood on the mountain on the one side,
and Israel stood on monument on the
other side; and there was valley be-
tween them"
He drew a comparison between the
conflict spoken OF in the scripture, and
the war between the North and the
South, speaking Of the spirit of evil and
slavery on the one side and the spirit of
righteous indignation on the other. The
battle between Goliah and David was
the outcome of the conflict between two
religious systems, two antagonistic
principles. Thirty years ago similar
condition of things appeared in our land.
but the two armies then opposed did
not represent two nations, did not repre-
sent the belief in different religions; they
worshipped the same Cod, and yet they
represented two different spirits-the
spirit of slavery and the spirit of right
eousness, A million Davids ran to the
South and engaged in fight OF brother
with brother. The spirit of slavery must
be annihilated, even though it cost many
ten thousand of our brothers lives,
and though many of them fall face to the
toe They never fail who die in a great
causel
The Phiistines were driven out, but
the evil spirit still remained. The spirit
of evil is always one and the same. The
spirit of evil and the spirit of righteous.
ness have embodied themselves in the
Philistines' side and the opposite side in
all times, and the conflict is ever going
on. What will the issue be? The spirit
of one must be annihiated. There are
evils quite as. great as war, and it is sc
in our fair land. t.: speaker said he
was not accustomed to look upon the
dark side of things, but he saw evils
abroad today which require that mer
arise and crush them out. or they will
finally conquer us. He spoke strongly o.
the spirit of materialism, the judging o.
a man by the abundance of the things
which he possesseth, as characteristic
evil of this country. He deplored the
fact that so many mems thoughts are SC
absorbed in money-getting that when
they have told how much they are put
ting in their pockets, they are utterly
incapable Of conversing intelligentlv on
any other subject. The story of the man
who looked at the Niagara Falls and
asked how many horse power were being
wasted, was cited as an instance Of this
spirit possessing man. You will find ii
all over the world; success is measured
by the material man has gathered to,
gether, and by what he leaves behind
him when he dies. He gets so after a
time that he gives himself no leisure
takes no vacation nor any pleasure nor
interest in anything but the pursuit OF
riches. This materialism is one of the
evils of the day. and some time there will
come a crash, and men will be taught
the truth of the old adage that riches
take TO themselves wings and fly away
Political corruption was next attacked
the speaker making many statements
which we all know are only too true
He pointed out that men who would not
be otherwise than honest in business,
think it all right to favor and encourage
corrupt practices in politics. The spirit
of gam, of getting something for moth
ing, is abroad in the land, and should
make us hold up our hands in horror.
The fact that there are some men who will
vote as their conscience tells them
was admitted, but that worm is eating
at the very roots of our political system,
was impressed on the minds OF all, and
call made to arise and crush it.
The saloon element was the next topic
discussed, and it was referred to in nc
uncertain language. Liquor has been
preacher, who said he had lived too long
and seen too much not to know the signs
of the beast on the faces OF its victims
He spoke of the money and influence be-
hind this institution. How in large
cities the saloon rules nearly every pub
lie movement, and stands at the very
door of congress and demands law on
its side.
Then he referred briefly to gambling
lack of reverence for old home virtues
disrespect OF the Sabbath, ETC., and ask
ed who is to come forward to contest
with this army A spirit the opposite
of this must be in the army which is tC
go down the valley on the other side
They must be also the army OF right
eousuess, an army as a whole so for
midable that victory will perch upor
their banners. They must be men who
love God and have a consciousness that
they are the sons of the living God. The
preacher spoke of how Washington
Lincoln, Garfield and other men who die
much on the side ofright, were lovers
and servers OF God, and said that tn,
men who are in this army must also b,
lovers of men, and see the impress Of the
divine in the creature. They must fee
their responsibility, and know that what
hurts one hurts all, We need men will
convictions. MANY men have oninions