The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-25

The memorial service heia at Wesley
NJ Z, church last evenlngruas largely
attended The church was very finely
decorated With bunting and AAlgs. I'M
ned!ately above the organ was a very
fne American nag and actosa It the
word welcome" IN large trtters. The
exercises opened by singing America"
led by the choir the whole congregation
Joining earnestly This was followed
with an earnest prayer by Rev l.. W.
Roberts. pastor Of the church After
rtldiHg a short Bible lesson. the choir
sang memorial hymn.
Rev. Mr.. Roberts preached from the
words, And they shall beat their
swords into pIoughshares and their
spears into pruning hooks; nation shalt
not rise up against nation; neither shalt
they learn war anymore" He began
his discourse by referring to :he mean
Ing OF the word memorial. or birth
day Ia memorial day 20 each OF us; the
church has It's memorial days. He
spoke Of tn many memorial days
among the Jews, such as the Passover.
Christmas Is a memorial day TO cele-
bratc the birth OF Christ; Easter to re-
mind US OF His resurrection. our
country has It's memorial days. The
Fourth OF July has been celebrated ever
since we have been Il nation. and we
cannot afford ever 10 forget H. There
came d tins In our country's history,
when slavery gave trouble. There
came time when the south seceded on
account OF Il. Then came the time for u
call 10 arms TO keep our nation undivi-
ded, to preserve the old nag whole.
Then rushed forth the loyal masses as
with the voice of one man thelII.SpHnded
to the call. They laid their fortunes,
their lives and sacred honor on-the altar.
Many men who enlisted gave their lives
TO their country. They gave up freedom
for the sake OF country.
The day Of eniistlng was a great day.
Then came the parting with lpved ones.
Then the first camping out followed by
the march. the drill, the battle Many
f9II on the battle field. Some are, buried
far away, but they are remembered just
as lovingly as those who are buried
where we can strew flowers over their
graves.
The goth day Of May Is a sacred day.
/, is set apart for a specific purpose.
And no person under any circumstances
has right 20 desccrate It. 1t IL set
apart to the memory OF those brave men
and excursions for secular purposes
should not be allowed. These men, liv-
l7g and dead. ought to be honored. The
Two Methodist bishops Just elected at
Cleveland wore the blue, and those who
were good soldiers IN the army, will
make good soldiers OF the Lard. We
have not word 10 say against those
who wore the gray, for VIC must retnem-
tor that locality and environment had
much to do with the side taken by the
boys Of those days. All are loyal now.
We know no north. no south to-day; we
j, know free America. AlllWtheEe
meetings. the strewlng OF flowers on
memorial day are great object lessons
'rm which the young and RIG
!ns generation. imbibe pure patriotism
and love for the country for which those
soldiers died.
The q. A. r. ranks are thinning. The
brisk step Of the soldiers OF twenty-five
and thirty years ago has given way to
" halting step. The organization Is
Or ~ the granhcat in the land. But
though this II true II will soon be an or
E1H.zHtiOn no more.
Tho speaker closed by eXhOrtffs all
'na good soldiers In the army Of the
Lord 20 that when mustered out here
hey will pitch their tents on the plains
" everlasting dcitVrTRncc. What n
Pity said tho speaker. would II be for
Az nl soldier 10 miss heaven. Bs true
20 "'urselvcE true 10 your God, and
hF God biegs you. aas
TIE sermon was delivered very earn
n.E md was well received Rev. Mr..
Smith. % romrndc, closed with an earn
a.t mayer. After this the choir gang
%" Rattle hymn Of the Republican,
joining IN the chorus.