The Portland daily press., 1897-05-31

Rev. DR.. Mathematician. f. C. Rogers
Addresses the Light Infantry and High
School Cadets-Other Services.
Thatcher Post G. A. R., and Thatcher
Relief Corps, G. A. R., attended services
at the First Baptist church yesterday
morning by invitation of the pastor,
Rev. Mr.. Ayres. The platform was de-
corated on one side with the American
flag and on the other with the Post ban
ner. A stack of arms and musical instru-
ments occupied place between them and
there were palms and Towering plants.
The Post and Relief occupied about
two-thirds of the seats down stairs and
the congregation the remainder and the
galleries. After the usual preliminary
services Mr.. Ayres preached the serm on
taking for his text these words: o
Israel, ithy prophets are like foes in the
desert. Ye have not gone up into the
gaps; neither made up the hedge for the
house of Israel to stand in the battle in
the day of the Lord.-Ezek. 13:4-5.
God has been endeavoring through all
the ages to establish kingdom which
should be after His own mind. Even
this country is not yet Gods kingdom.
If there are great iniquities in our midst
of which we are ashamed, it is because
we have not solved the problem of MAX
ing this land what God is trying to make
it. No kingdom is established without
martyrs. We have had 20 years Of I'M
paralleled prosperity because you and
those who stood with you were willing
to die rather than that flag should be
torn from it's staff The emancipation
of slavery was bought at an awful price.
So is every great forward movement.
We face countless foes yet. They will
never be overcome till men are willing to
give themselves for the triumph of right.
Our only difficulty is that there is al
ways multitude of useless men, who
will not enlist.
They will not enter the contest because
they love. their ease. 1t is surprising how
little interest good men take in matters
which touch the welfare of society. So
long aszthey do not effect our business we
are quite willing others should attend to
them. We are mot aroused by great in
EQUITIES until they become outrageous
and are conscious that we are the laugh
ing stock of the world Then we awak-
en-, effect a great reform and Immediately
proceed to go to sleep again.
Let man lift up his voice against the
outrageous iniquities in our midst and
he is detested by nine-tenths Of the COM
munity. This is not because men do not
want to see the wrong abolished, they
only do not want to be disturbed
Others fail to enlist in this struggle
against iniquity because of moral cow
ardice. 1t is easier to face the cannon of
the enemy than to be heroic in every
day life. If the cause of righteousness
ever languishes it is because men are not
willing to stand for what they believe
as you stood once on the battlefield.
Iniquities lift their heads high because
men are afraid to protest against them.
Some OF the great moral issues of today
are almost as ruinous as slavery itself.
WheE we can raise up magnificent army
OF men who Will stand as you stood once
for emancipation we will strike terror
into the camp of the enemy.
Many do not enlist in this war because
they do not realize the urgency of the
case. The prosperity of our country is
identified with the kingdom of God. So
long, as iniquity prevails the Union is
LII luS VI utIllOCI1Cy
is the triumph of Righteousness. The
only way to make Republican govern
ment strong is by making the people
holy. Every man who loves the Union
hates iniquity because every iniquity is
the enemy of that flag. American vice
will as truly tear that flag from its staff
as American slavery. Its work may go on
unseen, but the issue will be none the
less dreadful unless it be resisted. There
is no deliverance from our enemy, but
in the destruction of iniquity. God is
working for the same end which we are
working who love our land. There is
every reason why those of us who love
that flag should enlist under His banner.
The sermon on the mount is the consti-
tuition of the Kingdom of God and it is
the only safe constitution of the United
States.
Others fail to enlist because they believe
our cause to be hopeless. The forces of
iniquity are so well organized every effort
to Danish themE seems futile. And survey.
of the failures of earnest effort which
characterizes every effort almost seems
to justify the conclusion But the great
er the danger the more thoroughly ought
we to be aroused to action. There is
great inspiration in the leadership of it,
There is no doubt about the Issue of this
contest. The victory is already given to
Him. The hopeless cause is the cause
WHICH lthSS IlO dCCOuIlU VI OOu
Memorial Sunday services were held at
the Second Advent church, Congress
place, and were attended by the members
of Bosworth Post, No. 2, G. A. R., and
Relief Corps, and Shepley Camp, No. 4,
S. of V, and Ladies' Aid society.
The rear Of the pulpit was appropriate
ly draped with American flags and at
each end of the platform were stacks of
rifles. with drum, bugle and other at
tachments.
The body of the chur oh was reserved
for the invited guests, and the 200 seats
SO reserved were filled by the post and
their kindred organizations.
After the opening hymn had been sung
the pastor, Rev. E. P. Woodward, offered
a brief prayer, which was followed by
solo entitled "See the light is Fading, "
well rendered by Miss Grace Means.
The pastor then read appropriate pas