The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-05-30
Memorial Sermon.

ing comprehensive abstract OF the inter-
esting sermon delivered in the Methodist
church. Sunday afternoon the 26th
instant, furnished the REPORTER for
publication upon our request
Text-Psalm l47, part of the 20,h
verse, Good hath not dealt so with any
nation"
\ little more than Ice years ago our
republic WIS in its infancy. It WAS born
ON the Atlantic shores of the western
continent amid clouds and rempests and
earthquake shocks of War-to-day she
sits like Il mighty queen upon the throue
of the New World. her Aug waves in
peaceful supremacy from ocean 10 ocean
and more than G3 millions of free people
dwell beneath its folds.
God in his wisdom has selected for us
the most beautiful aud most desirable
portion of this earth, both in geographi-
cal location. climate. mineral and agri-
cultural resources. We are far from the
frozen regions of the North far from the
burning suns of the South. Spreading
over the lovely regions of temperate
zone it is best fitted to be the home of "A
happy and prosperous people.
Our foretathers were English gentle
men and had England been wise enough
To allow Patrick Henry or Geo. Wash.
ingtun to represent the colonies in the
parliament these vast states and terri
tories would now be the richest posses
sions of the English Crown.
An old legend says that the Prince of
Doubin sent as gift to his betrothed
an iron egg. Much displeased by the
meanness of The otfe. ing she threw it to
the floor aud in so doing a hidden spring
was touched and from The iron egg a
silver yolk was evolved. Her dis
pleasure turned to JOY, she quickly pick
ed up the silver yolk and her fingers
pres sed another secret spring and within
the silver case a golden bird WAS dis
closed, clasping this in rapture another
spring WAS touched aud from the golden
bird an emerald crown was evolved. IN
this another hidden spring was touched
and a beautiful diamond wedding ring
appeared to her delighted eyes.
The analogy between this and the
evolution OF our nation is plain to oui
mind. In the brain OF Columbus was a
vague idea of continent beyond the
western horiSon.
This was in its crudeness an equiva-
lent Of the iron egg. As he stepped up
on our shores and claimed this New
World in The name of the Spanish crown
he opened silver age to those who had
been crushed under the iron heel of DIES
potism. Sgners of the Declaration OF
Independence touched the second spring
and the golden bird of liberty, oul
Americad Eagle appeared. President
Lincoln touched the third spring and tn,
crown of our national life was evolved
and the oppressed We're crowned witt
liberty. The fourth hidden spring i.
yet untouched. The man who is ap
pointed by God to press it will be rs
worthy OF honor as Columbus. Washing
ton or Lincoln. 1t will evolve an age Of
freedom from tn" curse of rum that now
blasts our loved country. God speeC
the day.
Our national leaders have been men OF
faith in God. jefferson. Washington
Lincoln, Garfield and many others OF
our great men were God fearing. The
cabin of the May flower was prayer
room; Plymouth Rock WAS pressed by
the knees OF prayer our constitution i,
founded upon the Bible and faith in Coz
has saved US in our great crises. Bu
under God We owe our prosperity ant
happiness To the Boys in Blue; through
their loyalty and patriotism the nation
is still a unit and the old flag waves il
triumph over every state and territory
Members of the G. A. r., we honor
you and your comrades whose grave.
YOU will decorate next Thursday. as tn,
conservators of our nation. When tn,
dark clouds of war gathered over us ant
our national life was threatened, and thu
destiny of our republic was trembling il
the balance. you We're the men wht
rushed to the front as our defenders
When the wires throbbed with the new,
that Fort Sumter was bombarded OF
that memorable morning of April 18th
81, and the call for $4,000 men wa!
made, you at once filled the quota; yot
needed every call until 2,G66,999 brave
men marched to the front and after foui
years of bloody war, and Lee had sur
rendered his sword to Gen. Grant it wa,
ascertained that | 200, 900 of the bravest
men that Gods sun ever shorn upon haC
persisted in defence of the old flag
persisted did | say-ah no, Though
dead they live in the atlpctionate hear
of a grateful people; they live in The
hallowed influence of their heroic ex
ample; they live in the preserved life o.
our republic which they have bequeathet
to us as our heritage, the price of Their
blood.
Soldiers, your ranks are being depict
ed. Nearly third of a century has
swept by since the buge blast callet
you to scenes of carnage, the forceC
marches you were compelled to make
the exposure you endured on battle
fields and in prison pens; the wounds
you received and the crises through
which you passed; all these have left
their traces upon you. In II few more
years, when this anniversary shall re
turn, you will not be here To scatter
flowers over the graves of your faller
comrades. lou will soon hear the great
general roll-eall and will be mustered
out of life's stern battle and your dust
will mingle with theirs. but remember
you will not be forgotten; your children
your chidren's children and the genera
tions yet unborn will strew flowers over
your graves and remember you witt
gratitude As long as the stars and stripes
float over our nation as the emblem OF
liberty for which YOU fought ana whcl
will ever speak in silent but majestic
language of the bravery, heroism anC
devotion of the noble Boys in Blue