The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-12-02
FIRST MONUMENTAL SERVICE.
Meetings held Sunday IN Honor of Heroes
of 1898.


Meetings held Sunday IN Honor of Heroes
of 1898.
The auditorium and galleries of the Bap
tst church were filled Sunday night with
crowd which came to aid In showing added
honors to Owossos war heroes. Company
G and Quackenbush post G. A. X. attended
In body. The families of Company G's
dead were also represented among the au-
dience. 1t was monumental day and all
over the land pastors were asked to observe
1t with fitting services and patriotic COM
memorative addresses. Manuscript copies OF
the latter were requested by the committee
in charge and the collection of these SER
mons Is to be placed In the base of the mon
ument to be erected In New York City to
the sailors of the i'll fated Maine and to the
soldiers who lost their lives on Cuban soil
and from the exposures OF the camp and
field and hospital.
OwossO's dead-Tick, Lewis, Crane, Ma
loney, PickwOrth and COnnOrs received fit-
ting eulogy. Cuba itself often seemed not
worth the sacrifices but the principles of
liberty for which the war was fought are
second only to the life of Christ In their i'm
pOrtance to the race. Nations have always
hOnOred their dead who died in defense of
their honor and the meaning of such a COM
memorative monument In the United States
for the heroes who died In this war was we'll
explained by the speaker who pointed out
the hand of God in the American cause.
The meeting was one replete with inspiring
and ennobling influences which could not
fail to have an effect for good upon all
who attended, and Rev. G. V. NOrthrOp,
the pastor. has abundant reason for feeling
satisfied at the way in which he handled the
subject.
Mrs. Eta Hill Gould and Mrs. ID. M.
Christian sang at the service.
This shall be sign among you, that
when your children ask their fathers, in
time to come, "What mean we by these
stones?
Then We shall answer them, these
stones shall be for memorial unto the
children forever.'-Joshua 4;6-7
A Memorial to the Dead Heroes
of Co. G SD, and Navy and
Army in our Spanish-American
War, First Baptist Church, Nov.
9th, 1893.
1t is appropriate and just that we
should commemorate the services of those
who have died during the American
Spanish war. All people, in all ages, of
all nationalities and religions, have ever
paid the HIGHEST respect and honor to
the memories of those who died for their
country, for liberty and the rights OF
men. And the feeling which prompts
this reverence is NOT irreligious. 1t is
but an acknowledgement of the great SER
vice and sacrifice of such as were willing
to BECOME martyrs for the good of the
people. 1t seems to be so ordered in the
economy of this world, that no great and
lasting good can be accomplished but at
the cost Of great sacrifices. We cannot
tell why this should be, but history
proves the truth of the assertion. No
people ever secured their liberty and
established free institutions, but by the
shedding of blood. The ancient repub-
lies renowned in history, and the EN-
pires which have swayed the destines
OF the world, reached their success and
greatness through seas of blood. And
all the kingdoms and empires of modern
times which have become great and pow
erful, have reached their pre-eminence
through the blood of their citizens, flow
ing tor INJURIES until, as it were, il
reached to the bridlebits of the horses of
the warriors.
The light that shines from the patriots
grave is a pure and holy light, and while
we are guided by it we shall never &c
into the paths of treason and rebellion
Let the light illume our pathway, and
the noble example of the dead strength.
en- our love of country and devotion To
duty. When patriotism in the hearts oil
the people is dead, all is lost. 1t is the
life-blood and soul of national existence
the animating fire which makes people
great, and their history grand and beau
tiful. When we no longer have brave
men who are willing to fall in defense OF
their country, and have wives and moth.
ers willing to sustain them in the con.
flict; when, if ever, we are compelled to
rely upon a hireling and mercenary sol.
diery to defend our liberties, we will
have no liberties worth defending, and
our institutions will soon perish and de-
cay. When the Romans fought their
won battles, they controlled the destinies
OF the world, but when they came to de,
pend upon a mercenary army, they be.
came saves, and the empires of the
world passed from their hands into that
of barbarans.
1t is only little while ago that we
said, "soon we will have no more real
war soldiers, for the old ones are drop
ping of, here and there But since las,
April, the call to arms has sounded
throughout the land and the good and
true, were reused as by the shock of an
earthquake; many cheek was blanched
to utter paleness, but not with fear
many voice was tremulous but only on
account of indignant grief; many heart
was almost pulseless, but only for the
love it bore for the flag of our country.