Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-06-06
Memorial Sermon of Mr.. Straw.


The following synopsis OF the SER
mon of Rev. i. w. Straw, delivered
Sunday evening, May "A, at the NJ. f.
church, and mentioned last week, is
copied from the Democrat:
The preacher selected for his text,
Psalm l24; ! 8:
'sIf II had not been that the Lord who was
on our side when men rose up against
| US, then they had swallowed u up quick
The three Psalms of which this is
the center, give us three panoramic
pictures which are applicable to all
ages and people. They may have
been written out of Dayid's expert
ence; or of Isaael's escape from
Egypt; OF of the Jews deliverance
from Babylon. They are equally APP
plcable to our nation, and suggest
three pictures appropriate for this
occasion, under each Of which we can
write our text:
LIST. Birth of our nation. 1t looks
easy to us as we read history; but the
founders had to hew it out of the
rough, with no model for pattern.
But the trend of English and French
contemporaneous history was toward
this end, showing an over.ruling hand.
The same hand was visible in the
adoption of the constitution, which
also was the first Of its kind. Wash
ington recognized this help when he
said in his inaugural address: Every
step by which we have advanced to an
independent nation has been distin-
guished by some token of providential
agency. No people can be more
bound to acknowledge and adore the
invisible hand which conducts the
affairs of men than the people of the
United States"
I'd. Cleansing of the nation. 1t
grew to manhood like a young giant,
and like some men had in the body
polite sins as well as strength. The
great sin was slavery; and this had to
be put away. Here, as at the begin
ming the way which looks so plain to
us now was new path for those who
lived in I'll. There was always a
danger that England and France
would recognize the confederacy. The
Mason 81 Slidell affair showed that jeff
erson Davis was working for it. Then
it would cost money to rid the land of
slavery, and the dollar has always
been called the Americans god. Yet
when the conscience OF the north was
really aroused, it was the same as
when the people refused to drink
taxed tea, although it cost less than
any other: they refused to submit to
slavery at any cost. And yet, it is q
question if the north would have
dared go to war if men could have
foreseen the terrible cost in life, and
suffering, and money. But God kind
ly yelled the future. and out of the
struggle gave us a mighty nation. He
raised up leaders from common life.
Washington was rich man, and an
aristocrat. This was the time of the
common people. Lincoln was flat.
boat man, and rail splitter, Grant, an
obscure leather merchant. But at this
time, these were better than patents of
nobility, and the people rejected the
rail splitter to administe the govern
ment, while the leather dealer was APP
pointed TO put down the rebellion.
Those who were led were, in their
places, as great rs their leaders. The
records OF the war are filled with deeds
Of heroism which rival those of Leon
idas and sir Philip sydney. Over all
was the guiding hand Garfeld's
words were true. "God reigned and
the government at Washington lived
3D. Upbuilding. Phillips Brooks says,
An we have to do with our part is to
get future out of it," The lesson is
plain: we need divine help. These
three propositions cover it: % Obedi-
ence to conscience rs the voice of
God CO This obedience to be the rule
in political and governmental affairs
the same as in private life; (3) The
help Of Jesus Christ ID carrying out
the first two propositions.