The Somerset reporter., 1896-05-28
Memorial Sunday.
It's Observance in skowhcgan.

by Rev. {. Z. Leighton, pastor Of the
Uniyersalist chareh, Memorial Sunday,
WAS very pleasantly observed there
this year.
Russell Post, Wildes Camp Sons Of
Veterans, and Russell Relief Corps, at
tended as organizations. the three
bodies numbering 136. The ranks Of
Russell Post was swelIed by SIX mem
beers from Bates Post Of Norrdgewoek
and several veteran members of other
posts who were here for the time being.
The pulpit and platform were taste
fully decorated with flags and ported
plants and the seating capacity of the
auditorium was materially increased to
accommodate the large audience by
placing chairs in the side aisles and set
tees in other places.
The choir composed of Mr. NJ T.
Pooler, Mr.. Albert Watson, Mrs. George
Leighton and Mrs. George Simpson,
Mrs. j. X. Frost, organst, furnished
delightful music for the occasion, the
the audience joining in the familiar and
ever appropriate old hymn, America
The sermon by the pastor was an ex-
cellent one, earnest patriotic, impress
sive of which the following is a brief
synopsis:
TENT: CHOOSE you this day whom ye will
serve Joshua NNIX Ii.
The above words form the key note
To one of the memorable addresses of
Joshua to the people vi Israel. lie had
watched over them and directed them
and now felt that they. in a measure,
should direct themselves, yet, fearing
lest they would do wrong he appeals to
them in the language given. He re-
views the mercies shown them as
nation by God and from this urges the
duty of discarding all false gods and
eleaving to Him alone.
From this event we draw our lesson
of the present discourse. As then, so
now must choice be made, for to every
question there are two sides, to every
act there are two ways of doing it, a
right way and wrong way.
There is ever a junction before us.
1t was SO with the nation of Israel when
Joshua appealed to them and is it not
SO with us both as individuals and as
a nation?
From this it seems our thought must
be apparent and now it remains for us
to apply it to the events in the history
OF our own beloved country.
We will go back to by-gonc days; we
will in memory dwell ON past events,
for thus and only thus will we prize the
peace and freedom which is ours.
CHOOSE YOU WAS the injunction of
the warrior of Israel Choose yoq' was
the injunction of all past American
life. Choose you is the injunction
OF today and it is the one which every
American needs to hear ringing in the
air.
Our nations life was ushered in by Il
problem to solve as portrayed by the
events of the war of the Revolution.
In like manner did later struggles set
forth the same principle. So we ad-
vance step by step on through the years
until we come to those terrible and try
ing days of '6065. How this Injunction
was answered in those days is what
calls us together to-day. To pay tribute
to the noble and patriotic sons of
Americas freedom who protected their
cOuntry's flag from dishonor is our
great privilege today.
Go back II the early days of that
fierce struggle and look first at that
man who stood ut the head of the GOV
eminent. \ man without peer in
history; a man, who with thousands Of
followers, loved his country better than
his own life. For around Abraham
| Lincoln there gathered the grandcst
| body Of men that ever answered the
call to duty and to them "rieht was
| right and freedom was freedom for every
man, black as well as white
Thus the call to duty was given and
! how it was answered many today well
remember 1t mattered not where
duty called, for ever was there a ready
response Everywhere was manifested
the same fearless and devoted dispo-
sition. 1t was the same old stars and
stripes; whether in northern lands OF
ON the southern soil, whether in camp
or on the battlefield that reused the
| PATRIOTS blood Wherever that flag
went, whether on to the very cannon S
mouth or trailing in the dust, there
were her sons ready to 60.
Thus for four years matters continued
until that ever Joyous April day when
the news of surrender ran along the
Union lines. To them it brought a
vision equal to the vision of Patmos,
for indeed it was new earth that
awaited them and thenceforth Joy and
peace. The country was saved and the
nation redeemed.
And today throughout these United
Stmes, the true man, the true son will
utter from platform from pulpit, from
home fire ,ide words of praise to this
army of tried and true American
citizens
In this manner the injunction was
answered by our fathers and to day it
comes to us. We have to choose be
tween the right, the noble, the true,
and the low, the mean, the wrong and
we have the deeds of this band of men
rs a Joshua of old to guide us to the
right.
Ours are the battles of peace. but
like the brave men at the front who
made the choice, SO must We choose be
tween the God Of lawlcssnc>S. the non
patriot God and the God of the active.
alive American citizen, who stands Ton
nobility, freedom and right
Let MS today recognize on duty to
these noble mon, our duty also 10 the
noble women, who equally suffered
and sacrificed. But these are not all.
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