The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-11
A SPECIAL INVOCATION
Day of Thanksgiving for Victory
at the Butte Churches.
REV. MR.. WELLER'SS ERMON
Fixed Purpose and the Courage OF Con-
viction the Lessons Drawn From
the Life of Naval Con
structor Hobson.

In response to the proclamation of
President Mckinley, issued on the 9th
Of the month. in which preachers of the
gospel throughout the country were re-
quested to offer a special prayer of
thanksgiving for the success thus far
achieved by the American armies In the
war with Spain, nearly all the ministers
Of the city offered a prayer of thanks
giving at the morning service and in
voked ivine guidance for the leaders
OF the American forces, making also a
special plea for a speedy termination OF
the war in favor of the American cause.
In the evening. Rev. Mr.. Weller OF the
First Presbyterian church at South
Butte offered a special invocation along
these lines, and preached q sermon on
the subject. Assistant Naval Con-
structor Hobson and his great achieve
ment, In which the fixed purpose and
courage TO carry IL OUT was referred
20 as characteristic OF the young leu
tenants career, were dwelt upon and
the preachers congregation urged TO
emulate the example of the naval
hero In their LIES work. In his dis
course on the theme, Rev. Weller said:
This is a day that has been set apart
by the president Of the United States as
a day Of thanksgiving for recent sue
cess at arms. 1t seems appropriate.
therefore, that 1 should speak of a
young man who has been prominently
identified with these successes. There
are many things about this young maj
that have attracted my attention to him..
The first of these is hat he has a
purpose. He went to college at Annapo-
lis and graduated at the head of his
class. In that ne showed a purpose.
Then he was sent abroad to study nava
construction. He came back and from
his experience was prompted TO suggest
a postgraduate course in naval con-
structio1 for Annapolis. Did you ever
before heal of a young man only three
years out of college suggesting new
methods to his professors. But he had
a purpose and carried his idea. Then he
got another idea. He thought 1t would
advance naval construction by having
representatives OF the construction go
aboard and see the cruisers and battle
ships and study them in action, and his
idea was taken up by the government
as a good one and that is how Lieuten-
ant Hobson came TO be aboard the New
York. Then when a man was wanted to
undertake blocking the channel of Santi-
ago harbor, this Young man came TO
the front with an original idea, and his
marvellous exploit followed. In all of
the things this young man showed a
] Iui BANfH ~ AioN AN WIS ~ " 49, ~
stay in RUS. Lat was capable of pro-
gression along new lines, and from them
we are given good examples. We are
shown that this young man possesses
traits of character IL would be we'll for
young men to cultivate.
Then, too, / wish to speak of the rare
courage and bravery this young ava
hero displayed. In the face of the most
CALLING fire from the enemy, he took the
Merrimac into that narrow channel,
knowing that under any ordinary cir
~cumstances, Il meant certain death to
him and all with him, yet neither he
nor any of his gallant men faltered. l
regard this young mans act as a paral-
lei TO the famed achievements of SOM
ers and Cushing. probably the only other
feats ever performed that may be COM
pared with that of Lieutenant Hob
son. / wish also to speak of what our
nation gained from this brave act. II
proved to the world that the bravery of
the men OF the American navy Is unpar-
alleled and that II no doubt saved our
government the expense of several bat
tleships.
From this young man we may learn
some valuable lessons. First of all, ave
a purpose and the determination TO
carry IL out. Then be practical. Get
out of the conventionalities. the ruts of
life. for II is the men who branch out
and achieve success along new lines
who are more successful. Next, be cour-
ageous and have the courage of your
convictions, and you will be rewarded.
Lieutenant Hobson has already been re-
warded for having cultivated these
qualities. His name is on the tongue of
every American, and he is admired and
appreciated by them. and this is not all.
God keeps note of these achievements,
and he will be further rewarded. And
along this line l want to say that any
OF us who uphold these principles and
teach righteousness will receive our re-
ward"