The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-01

the members of the different Grand Army
posts, the Woman's Relief Corps and the
Sons OF Veterans A large number of
other citizens also attended the churches
where special services were held and took
part in that tender unison of religion
and patriotism.
At the Beneflcent Congregational
church, Gcv Dyer, his staff, ex-Gov
Brown, the members of Slocum Post, g.
A. r., Slocum Light Guards Burnside
Camp. Sons of Veterans, the National
Staff Association, and aioes-de- camp Of
tho commander-in chief attended the SER
vices
The sermon was preached by the pastor
the Rev. James q. Vose, and was listened
TO with close attention.
The reverend gentleman took as his
text Ephesians vi. IL, Wherefore take unto
you the whole armor of God that ye may
be able TO Withstand In the evil day anu
having done all, 60 stand.
lie said III there is one lesson that tho
Bible teaches more than another IL Is 10
cherish the sacred memories Of the past
The people OF God were ever reminded of
His mighty hand in delivering them from
oppression and bringing them cut unto
peace and liberty. Christian history builds
on higher dcliverance even that wrought
for us by the Great Capli.in of our saliva.
tion, and calls US ever to His sacrifice and
that of the noble martyrs and confessors
who followed in His steps With a kim
dred feeling we are met this morning To
honor the memory of the soldiers OF free
dom and the Union. 10 consider well thoir
PRINCIPLES ana to cherish their heroic vir
tues, while we remember with tender and
personal interest that those men were Of
our kith and kin ;bone of our bone and flesh
A n.h ND Iera tnn hat hntr kTfr
tues may not die with them, but may be
transmitted To future generations.
The Obligation Imposed.
There is a multirorm obligation that
this memory lays upon us and our chill
dren. Ii Is an obligation 70 preserve tho
integrity and mutual love of ali sec
tions Of our common country. The con-
test which began in division was dos-
tined to cement "a closer union than could
otherwise have been maintained. In
fact Tor 20 years before the war the union
of the North and South was anything but
cordial and sympathetic. The root Of Bit
erness was over working downward and
sprouting upward. There WAS no way
or peace except by war. The eyes OF men
all over the country needed To be opened
10 the principles Of the fathers ana the
highest interests OF the whole nation.
There was mistaken policy in many
minds Good men and Christian men
were deceived. Local ana social inilu-
ences, temporary advantages In business,
false views of the Bible. false notions Of
peace, beifrf thut dsunion was inevita.
bie-these and countless other motives
and influences made the condition Of
affairs before the war, one OF great gloom
and forebodiDg lt was in some sense
RELIEF when the firing on Sumter struck
IA noto of certainty. The heavy atmosl here
and deathly stiffness that precede "a tenn
pest are more fearful To man and b at
than the rattling thunder and the forked
lightning. A generation before the
watchword had bcen given by Andrew
jackson The Union. it must and shall
be preserved, " but it needed ali the his
tory OF war to give it life and power.
Fought for Truth More Than Victory.
And still the obligation presses and is
felt by men in all sections, though some
times we hear mutterings OF discOutent
and hostility. To fulfill this obligation
we must cherish kindly feelings toward
all. There are noble and generous hearts
--truo lovers of the Union in every state,
and men are learning moro and more
that their interests and affections are one.
The great leaders of our struggle were
men who fought for truth more than
victory. They had no desire 60 exult
over fallen foe. They had generous re.
gard to the highest welfare of their mis-
guided brethren. Lincoln and Grant
were the best friends the South ever had
and today the highest obligation is laid
upon us all to cultivate generous alice
tions and the spirit of brotherhood
throughout our wnole land. Tho hopes of
the South and North are one. Their busi-
ness interests are growing moro similar.
Manufacturing towns are springing up
and even in times OF business depression
new enterprises are calling for men and
means The war brought ruin TO tho
South, 1t il said, but 1t opened the way TO
IA higher Development Take an example
from Chattanooga, Tenn. tho theater
OF world-renowned battles, days and
nights OF conflict, streams crossed by pom
toons, the climbing uf precpicos in the
face of deadly volleys, the daGntless Hooker
fighting above the clouds What WAS
Chattanooga thcn--a hGmlet OF 20JD
people. What Is IL nova city OF over
so. its railways stretching In every
direHtioD, u storohouse OF mineral prouSctS,
with various manufacturing industry
and in its central position. where ffo q
Lookout mountain Rhmpses may ho had
1f seven different statrs Chattanooga,
ambitious for supremacy as the first city
Of the southwest. Hasn't tho war done
something for tho .southf Yes, aud the
future will make it orc nrd more mani.
fest tnat our Jooplc are being n orc closely
interested in every industry, aud better
still in the ties of kinship and Christian
taith.
Mt Significant of Hatred.
And this dav Of memorial Will not he
significant Of hatred or Il wakirg again
the passions ot war. Around that tity
of Chattanooga are TO graves of l3 OOO
Ulion soldiers ana OF as many more who
fought brnvoly on che other side. Thor
burial place will lie allKe hUnorcd hy
those who rcun the fruits Of victory,
while they sec thai the great sacrifice was
Necessary TO bring about a real CUmpru.
hsnsion of the value of freedom aEd
-tFuth.-
The obligation laid upon us H. not to
our own country Cniy. AZ requires that
we should preserve right rel tinBs with
ot'l.~ cpuutfius. We Know 80 value g. {
renee fr im wnat our binvo,i oidio Ar~'
..... sud. You nte wisueSsss ... n y u
iourts arises tho uraycr to-day. nor MAS
tEat uo eicl counics may oycr bo rpreafel