The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-05-29
MEMORIAL DAY SERMON.
I.-ler at the Cathedral.

MEMORIAL DAY SERMON
NJ Er. Lawler at the Cathedral.
Rev. FIR. LAWYER, pastor of the cathe-
dra, delivered an able discourse 20
Company D, First regiment, U. 5. m.'
last Sunday morning. The Cathedral
was draped in the national &C iors' AMI
behind the altar we're two large Dan
ners, bearing the stars and stripes tne
symbol Of American liberty. the SUP
;ec. of FIR. LAWYERS discourse was
"aood Citizenship the Test OF ratrlot-
ism in Times of Peace" He said IN
part:
MANNERS of the National Guard, State
of Minnesota, your presence Is "eicome
in this temple Of the Prince OF Peace.
You are the minions of peace.
Your existence is a guarantee OF IA"
and order. Your existence is a proof
that patriotism is not a lost virtue; that
o,,rs is still a land of freemen VINO are
willing to bind themselves to stand 1or
suffering, to stand for sacrlncs'
willing to pledge their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honor for Amer
ica's welfare; ready to lay down their
lives if necessary on liberty>s affair."
Your existence is an argument thai our
country will always have defenders OF
fire. Interchangeable sons who Will
never permit our beautiful nag of free
dom humanity's hope. humanity's ref
ugc--to be trailed in dishonor, to DO
fu-ied in shame. .. 49,. ST..
what can say that will be
worthy Of the old soldiers, of the vet
Grams Of the war whom see before me?
Their heroism, tried in the dreadful
crucible of war, was found as true as
the needle to the pole. Human Ian
guage will never express what they en-
dured. Only the hereafter will reveal
the worth of their services. Though
we are powerless to realize all your
sorrows and privations and sufferlngs
and sickness, yet we can and do Know
something of your sacrifices. We az
know that you were loyal enough to
sever the fondest ties that bind the hui
man heart-to bid farewell to mothers,
wives, sisters, daughters. All, you said
goodbye, and you thought 1t was to be
forever. We do know that you marched
away to fields of blood and prisons and
disease, and hospitals Of pain, in order
that others might be we'll. We can we'll
imagine the loneliness that must have
gnawed at your hearts on many a forced
and painful march. All honor to you
noble-hearted soldiers. To you who are
still with us, and to your brave COM
rades who have Joined the silent major
ity. we owe immortal praise, immortal
thanks.
In times of war valor is the test of
patriotism. In years of peace virtue in
private and public life, good citizenship
is it's best expression. - Though our
country emerged from the terrible strug-
gle of the sixties, one and invincible,
purified from the stain Of slavery, free
in practice as we'll as in profession, 1t Is
never out of danger. The grand heri-
tage that was saved then must be pro-
tected now. There are still duties to
perform There is still need of patri-
otto citizens. If peace hath her vic
tories no less renowned than war; 1t is
equally true that peace hath her dan
gers no less grave than war. Good cfti-
to- rrSnf f.ssiv
citizens in the dark days Of the rebellion
left field and workshop and Office and
studio and pulpit-if their magnanimity
crowded se1flshness to the rear, shall
We, the benefciaries Of their loyalty,
make no sacrifice? Shall we, whose lot
is cast in the bright era Of tranquility
and prosperity, be unwilling to- subdue
pride and sensuality and greed and dis
honesty, in order that no star In our
proud banner may be dimmed, no
stripe effaced? Do you realize that the
worst enemies of any country are not
armed, rebels, not foreign invaders, but
Its own children. who, In everyday life,
are devoid Of private and public virtue,
who are base enough to betray their po-
ltttcal rights and privileges for their
own selfish aims. who are grandiloquent
In their profession Of patriotism, yet
who, like the augurs Of ancient Rome,
cannot speak the word and look one
another in the face? Brand them as
traitors.
If you ask me to name the only power
which can secure good citizenship, my
answer Is religion. Grandly did Isaiah
say: 1.-The nation and kingdom that viii
not serve thee. Jehovah, win perish
The substitutes for; religion that are
suggested are not suQciedt. Honor, re-
spect for. the rights Of others the bean-
tiful IN conduct, the sense q p1oprisy,