The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-02-17
A LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Tribute Paid to His Memory by
Rev. G.. E. Smith at the Con-
gregational Church.

Sunday morning at the Congre-
gational church a special service
was held concentrating the birth
of the great American, Abraham
Lincoln, in connection with the
work of the American Missionary
Association made necessary through
the emancipation of the slaves.
The church was very prettily dec
Grated and the whole service of
unique and interesting as we'll as
an elevating character. In his ad-
dress Rev. G. E. Smith referred to
Mr.. Lincoln eloquently, as follows:
ave neither worship nor can
oniZe a great man as such, nor
overlook the human limitations
when we find in him that to ad
mire and love, but it is right to
consider the qualities in him which
brought him the favor of God and
the affection of mankind.
These principles wherever found
are eternal principles; they are sun
rays from the source of light in the
heart of God.
The highest product of this
world is manhood, and Christ is
seeking among souls today what
he recognized in MattheW-not a
mere tax-gatherer, not one of the
Hebrew race, not publican, but
the man named Matthew. A nation
is not mere territory-it is COM
posed of its people. Nation chal-
enges nation, as evidence for its
right to exist, saying, "Show us
your civilization, show US your
man." Nobility in this country
stands not upon some conferred
title but upon character; and in
comparison with the other nations
of the earth the American republic
has no occasion to be ashamed of
her order of nobility.
1t is right, and our Christian
right and duty to consider the
character of the men whom God
has raised up in our nation to take
the great parts in its history.
The Christian recognizes the
movements of God in all history.
Christ said that he who rendered
service to any human need, rem
dered it unto himself, and SO to rem
der service to the nation is to rem
der it to God. We cannot consider
the great men iii our national his
tory without considering the ma
ton.
Pity the man who wants to live
on earth a disembodied spirit, "A
man without a country" The
nation is the gift Of God to us, and
we ought to be thankful for it and
love it. The Hebrew religion was
wrought into the colorS of patriot
ism through the national forms.
Only can God work in the greater
movements of his providence.
Patriotism is means of grace.
Tears rise from the heart when we
see the old flag upon a foreign
shore. 1t is a sentiment in our
hearts born of heaven. A man is to
be pitied and to be feared who has
nature such as not to know what
it means to love the flag.
love to see the flag floating
over the school houses. love to
see the G.. A. R. flag here this
morning. We cannot have too
much of that kind of sentiment. 1t
is Christ and it is Christianity
love of country is Gods order of
life in man. A man cannot dissev-
er his life from the life of his coun-
try. Patriotism gives men sense
of brotherhood, sense of righteous
ness, sense of duty,sense of God.
Yesterday the flag of our nation
foated at high mast, probably in
every country of the civilized
world, in honor of great name in
our national history. God has al
ways been choosing great men for
his purposes in the world, and the
really great men in the uses OF
Providence have not always been
recognized as such in the time in
which they lived.
VIC 40 MT honor them so much