The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-11
A Patriotic Discourse.

The subjoined sermon, preached to G
Company OF Vermont National Guard
Bradford, by Rev. A. ii. Webb, pastor OF
Grace Methodist = church, on Sunday,
May 1, is published by request Of many peo-
pie in Bradford.
TExT.-For whatsoever will save his life
shall lose 1t, but whatsoever will lose his
life for my sake, the same shall save it,
Luke 9-24.
/ have been asked to say few words to
the National Guard who are expecting Or
ders to start from home in their country's
defense. 1t is needless to say that l respond
gladly to the request, for l feel 1t an honor
to address you at such time, and 1t seems
very fitting that few parting words should
be given you. 1t seems almost az II history
was repeating itself. There are some here
who remember when they gathered under
similar circumstances thirty-seven years
ago, Then IL was said the war would be of
short duration, but 1t lasted four terrible
years. There are men to-day who say it is
small matter to take Cuba, that then the
war will be over, but there are liable to be
great many complications; the fortunes of
war are very uncertain, and no man can
now tell whether the war will be long or
short.
My young friends, you are awaiting or
ders to march forward in defense of the lib
erty and for the release of the oppressed
and starving Cubans. And l cannot do bet
ter than direct your attention to those who
first gave their lives for liberty's cause.
The account is given in the chapter read for
our Scripture lesson, the eleventh of He
brews. There the story Is told OF the
worlds best sons and brsvest heroes, men
who fought our first battles for liberty.
They fought, and toiled, and suffered, and
died for their liberty and for their religion.
They were driven from their cities into ex-
lie and had to seek temporary shelter in
deserts and caves and mountains. Many
nf a nrinpinlpg.
We know not their names, and no marble
monument marks the spot where they fell,
But the most excellent institutions of our
own land, of which we feel so justly proud,
represent the very principles for which
these martyrs died. 1t has been said that
Gin all the history OF freedom there is no
chapter comparable for a moment to the
glorious achievements OF these men OF oak
and rock. Their deeds shine on the pages
of history like stars blazing in the night,
and their achievements have long been cell
ebrated in song and story"
One truth gathered from the text is, the
highest life is gained by losing sight of life.
II you would climb to the highest reaches
OF honor you must quit thinking about
yourself and your own life. A man when
on an errand of mercy when another's life
is in danger will cross planks and ford riv-
er5 and face dangers which would have
been impossible had he been thinking of
himself or his own safety, 1t is the abne-
cation OF self which has wrought out all
that is noble, all that is good, all that is
useful, nearly all that is ornamental in the
world. Take another matter, the preserva-
ton of health. One condition of keeping
in good health is not to think about your
health at all, but to be wholesomely occu-
pied with quite other thoughts. Think
about your health, begin feeling your pulse,
watching your symptoms, considering all
the things which might possibly be. the
matter with you, and you may think your
self into an illness. Why do physicians so
often order change Of scene and something
to distract the mind but that the patient
may be led to lose himself, and 80 find the
health which he could not gain while anx-
iously thinking of himself? And 30 when
there is some epidemic about, how true you
constantly see 1t that he that will save his
life shall lose it. The most dangerous thing
OF all is to be constantly thinking and
scheming how to escape infection. And so
1t is in all Of life's windings and turnings.
The best way to win renown Is not to work
for it, not to think of it, but to work for
something higher, to work for God and
work for man, forgetting self, and by and
by it will be found God and man are help
ing US. He that most utterly foIgets him.
self Is the one most surely and most warmly
remembered by the world.
The richest blessings we enjoy have been
purchased at the price OF blood. Our Ii
berty, our government, our broad land, our
rlcn inheritance, we owe largely TO the
boys in blue who responded to their coun-
try's call in '61. And the richer liberty,
the truer peace, the greater inheritance
which is to be bequeathed to the world
through your responses to your country's
call, and to Cubas cry for help, the future
must unfold. Almost every blessing and
privilege springs from the sacrificial princi-
pie, Nobody is richer until somebody is
poorer" Evermore the vicarious exchange
is going on. The rock decays to feed the
moss and lichen; the moss decays to feed
the shrub; the shrub perishes that the tree
may have food and growth; the leaves of
the tree fall that it's boughs may blossom
and bear fruit; the seeds ripen to serve
the birds singing in the branches the fruit
falls to be food for man; the harvests lend
man strength for all the stern duties Of life,
the lower dies vicariously that the higher
may live.
Thus nature achieves her gifts only
through vast expenditures. So the victo-
ries Of war are costly. The freedom OF the
slaves was costly beyond thought in life
and money. 1t is said that each OF the new
guns for the navy costs $100, 900. But the gun
only survives hundred explosions, 80 that
each shot costs $1,000. Too often society
forgets that the works which charm and the
things which give US Comfort may have cost
the health and life OF the giver. Tradition