The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-25
REV. p. J. M'MANUS' SERMON.
Delivered to the Old Soldiers mt St.
Puul's Church, Green Ridge.

Delivered to the Old soldiers NJ Sts
Puul's Church, Green Ridge.
An unusual scene was presented at
st. Paul's Catholic church in Green
Ridge last evening. when Colonel
Monies post. No. S19. Grand Army OF
the Republic, attended in body spe-
| cial services arranged by the pastor.
Rev. p. ]. McManus. at the request of
the post.
Many not members Of the post or the
| church attended and as a consequence
the auditorium was crowded. Ameri-
can flags and bunting were profusely
used in decorating the church and over
either Of the side affairs were the two
notices: I'VE honor the memory OF
our departed soldiers and welcome
their surviving comrades"
! Benedictlon and a sermon comprised
| the main features of the service Fa-
ther McManus' sermon was a strong
| and thoughtful effort. worthy of the
| preacher and the occasion. He said In
part:
| This memorial service Is intended to
| revive the memory Of our departed SOL
| diers that We may remember then, IN
and merit. On this occasion we wish the
| surviving soldiers Of our latest and great
| est war 70 understand that we do not for
get them:, that We are not Of those that
| wait until death comes to give honor
whore II Is due Remembrance is fame
and fame is gratitude which is the appre-
| citation and reward we offer to the depart
| ed and to their surviving comrades.
There are men. who consider themselves
| patriots, who are doing what they can to
make cowards probably assassins, Of our
youth by teaching them, free Americans.
| to combine In secret against their fellow
| citizens. There are others who are teach
| ing them to submit every question to ar
b.tration when threatened by a foreign
ton will make conspirators and persccuj-
ors and may lead to massacres and tho
other weakens patriotism and changes
citizens into subjects.
| DEFENDERS OF THE LAND.
Old soldiers! Defenders Of my native
land preservers and protectors Of the
rights of citizenship which ! possess as
| l may be called on to suffer persecution,
| do you know that my allegiance to what
the stars and stripes represent. Is called
in question and your children are taught
| to doubt my loyalty because their teach
ers say. that my religion. which honcrs
you and your departed comrades tonight
| with praise and hymn and benedlction,
! which sent priests and nuns to every hat
tlctield and hospital during the late war.
| that this religion, requires me to give the
allegiance due my country to the Head OF
my Church. when in reality It teaches me
| Caesars. to God the things that are Gods
and to be subject to those who have civli
authority over me.
national and International difficulties, Is
this not desirable? Yes. Ard the keynote
| Of arbitration Is the cornerstone of prac-
tioai religion among men and is contained
! in the teaching: do unto others as you
would that they should do unto YOU
When. this golden, rule shall govern ma
tions In their conduct toward each other.
| then and not till then will arbitration be
| enectlvp But what has Dpnn tbp practi-
cal teaching Of arbitration? Whether in a
| strike or in an International difficulty
not always right but almost invariably
might has said: I'VE have nothing to arbl-
trate."
To show the advantages of arbitration,
It sounds we'll to quote cases in which ar
i bitration settled certain questions between
England and the United States. But was
arbitration successful in these cases be.
cause England wished to put in practice
the Golden rule OF doing unto others as
she would have others do unto her." Was
not the result Of arbitration due to the po-
sition to which the Union armies had ex-
alted the United States?
MAY CARRY IT TOO FAR.
There are those who think that recall
Ing what our soldiers did in the late war
Is unbecoming and liable to awaken feel
ings that should be suppressed. This Is
~ this mOdesty to excess? May not our
silence be misunderstood?
We who enjoy what the veterans so
dearly bought for us, peace and IL united
country should express our gratitude ~
showing that We know who fought for and
preserved the Union.
In these days, when mistaken policy,
instead OF seeking out the disabled veter-
ans to reward, by supporting them. brands
them all as misrepresenting their all
ment and compels them to prove their
be watchful to bestow without the expo.
sure Of the nee6in such "a condition of
things should not patriots protest against
this ungenerous treatment Of honorable
men by defending them? And has not
our silence permitted those who 10 not re =.
fleet to utter such expressions as I'VE are
tired hearing Of the old soldier
TO me generation that has grown up
since the war ] would say for their en-
lightenment and to encourage them TO
preserve what the veterans gained thar the
defense of our country. so that It would
continue to represent a Union of Statas;
into one country. entailed war lasting
four years. On our side it was an aggres-
sive warfare woged against an enemy pro-
tected by Notifications. The soldiers of
the north fought for the freedom Of men
and for the preservation of the Union,
those Of the south fought TO maintain what
they were taught were their rights and to
ty.
THE UNITED STATES.
Our country was called the United
States, but 1t was held and rebellion at
tempted to justify the principle, that we
, We're not a nation; that every state was
. entirely independent and could separate
! from and break up the Union. The south
ern states determined to carry out this
Idea and treated the United States govern.
ment as an invader on the rights Of every
state that wished TO separate from the
Union OF States. The government al
Washington determined to maintain and
preserve the Union and for this purpose
l engaged In a terrible conflict with the SO.
ceding states. To uphold the government
TO preserve the Union, 10 free the slaves
and to maintain the right of the people tC
amend their own Constitution-these were
the objects for which our soldiers fought
| and the results which the war attained
, Always remember that the war which
, gained such grand results was q terrible
, conflict and was fought and won, not by
soldiers who been trained 10 war. but by
: patriots who left their homes and peaceful
pursuits to practice discipline, to endure
prlvations and prison life and who fousl,
: and won battles such as were never heard
. ! of in the worlds history
The results of tha, war we enjoy. JJr
to that time our country was engaged IN
war every twenty-five years. We have