The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-05-31
MEMORIAL SERMON
Rev. F. NJ. WaSflburn breaches to a
Large Audience at Nor
NAL Hail.
An Able and Patriotic Address Given
Before a Crowded
House.

The Memorial sermon, preached by
Rev. f. NJ Washburn, at Normal hall
Sunday night, drew forth an audience
that filled the hall. Alexander Will
kin Post No. 10, marched in body
and took seats on the large stage. A
few faces were missing that were on
hand last year, showing that the grim
reaper had been at work.
The Congregational choir furnished
excellent music throughout the even
ing. Rev. J. f. Stout assisted in the
services.
Rev. Washburn spoke as follows:
My friends, l am keenly sensible of
the high honor conferred upon me by
Alex. Wilkin Post, No. 10, Grand
Army of the Republic, in thus appear
ing before you tonight; and l am also
exceedingly gratified that it is as an
ambassador ofJesus Christ, the captain
of our salvation, that | am asked to
address you ON this suspicious occa-
sion.
AS recorded in Matt. 27:42, the in
solent hierarchs, who instigated the
crucifiXion of Jesus, as they were wit
Messing the climax of that awful
tragedy, uttered what to them was the
fullest expression Of scOrn and con-
tempt, but what was in reality one Of
the sublimest truths in the whole
realm of fact: 'He saved others; him
self he cannot save" 1t was not true
that he was powerless in the hands of
his murderers, and that he died help
less victim of human rage inspired
of hell, but it was true that Jesus
could not be the Saviour of the world
and save himself from that dreadful
hour and that trying ordeal. In that
awful moment was the judgment of
the eternal the crisis of the world.
Despair and hope were in the balance,
and the fate of whole race of immor-
tai beings depended on that decisive
hour, the voluntary action of the suf-
fering Son of God. No wonder that a
universe stood motionless, that the
music of the spheres was hushed, and
that silence reigned in heaven ill our
dying Lord exclaimed, sit is tinishedr'
and thus proved himself to be the
Lamb of God that taketh away the
sin of the world. Hope was victorious,
the darkness was dispelled, and light
| shone in from heaven. Henceforth,
Jesus lifted up is the hope and inspira-
tion of dying world, and the Hero Of
the Ecross is 5the highest expression
of the eternal principle that must
govern every human life that is worth
the living, viz; that in so far as one
would be iof service to his fellowmen
he must sacrifice himself. Ii we
! would have the world better for our
| living, virtue must go out Of us. He
who lives on the principle Of saving
himself mightas well never have been
born: for he is worth nothing here
and will have nothing hereafter. The
! life that now is must be one of giving
out, that the life to come may be one
of gathering in: and we do well to re-
member that he that saves his life
will lose it, and The that loses his life
for the good of men in the name O
Jesus Christ, the same'shall save it.
Herein lies the principles tina
governed the heroes of the Rebellion
} the Grand Army of the Republic, AM
it was because of that, they won TO
themselves the honor of day Sc
/ apart by grateful people, as tn