Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-04
PULPIT PATRIOTISM,
Services in the Churches on the
Eve of the Fourth
Of July.
JUDGE GEsT SPEAKS AT METHODIST,
Rev. 7. W. Grafton at the Central and
Rev. W. S. Marquis at the Eroadway-
Stars and stripes for Decortions and M

| Key. Il. W. Grafton at the Central and
Rev. W. S. Marquis at the broadway
Stars and stripes for Deeortions AID Ma
tional Airs Sung.
W ords OF patriotism We're heard in
speech and song in three of Rock ISL
and S churches First Methodist. Cen
tral PRESBYTERIAN and Broadway Pres
byterlan-last night. Each was be-
d"cked in patriotic colors. large con-
gregations being present and all unit
inc in the spirit of the occasion-the
eve OF the celebration OF the nations
independence.
Judge William H. Gest was the
principal speaker at the First Metho-
dlst. tie drew beautiful picture of
American devotion TO liberty. he
sald 1t was causing an awakening in
the old world. Our country had lived
alone and had heretofore sought to
avoid alliances, but the voice OF the
oppressed on the little island. our
neighbor, appealing for liberation
from the tyrannical bonds of Spain, was
more than she could endure. She en-
deayored by peaceable measures TO Sc
cure for the inhabitants of Cuba the
freedom they deserved rs members of
the human family, and when this
course was unsuccessful, resorted To
war. Judge Gest spoke feelinglv of
the heroism Of our soldiers. and
| asked what more beautiful evidence
OF American patriotism could be
| offered than the singing of the Star
Spangled Banner" by the boys in blue
while in the heat of battle. some of
them dying from the wounds of the
enemy's gun. He said Spain must
fall. The war cry was one of human
ity-the voice OF God in Il new crea-
ton.
j. G. johnson, head attorney of the |
Woodmcn. was called upon, and made |
brief remarks, in which he referred to |
the appropriateness of such services
on the eve of the nations great holi- |
day; in fact, he said, he would like to |
see more religion mixed in with not
only patriotism, but politics and pub
lie affairs generally, and the world |
would he better iDr it.
W. B. Bruner. "a veteran of the
Mexican and civil wars, also made n
,short address.
Central.
Rev. i. W. Grafton made the od-
dress at the Central His subject was
The Secret of National Greatness. -
lie said in part: The old world has
not always agreed with us in our
claims of national greatness. They |
have often sneered and scorned us,
ridiculed our navy. hooted our man
ners, ignored our literary preten-
sions, and regarded US mixture of |
brag and buster. ali this has been
changed within the last few weeks. |
When Commodore Dewey cleared |
Manila bay and Lieut.. Hobson sunk
the Merrimac the world looked on in
amaZement; then admiration. They
are saying today rs was said of Israel:
Surely this great nation is 4 wise
and understanding people.
This newly awakened interest NAV
well lead us to inquire into the secret
OF national greatness and the means
by which our pre-eminence NAV he
maintained. If we east our ewes about
us it will he observed that national
prc-eminence has always been matter
of men, not material. The LANGUAGE
OF the text recognizes this principle.
National greatness must have its
source in a wise and understanding
people. Great events. great epochs,
great achievements have ALWAYS been
associated with great men. The pre-
emlnence of little Greece in ancient
history, and the secret of early Roman
supremacy are examples. With all
our inventive genius nothing has been
contrived that will dispense with
mans service. either in peace or war.
Let us remember. Let us in this hour
of temptation to territorial arrran-
dizement not forget that it is men. not
boundaries, that will insure
our future greatness. L
''cnderlying ALL the inspiration of !
every enterprise for enlightenment t
and enlargement has been the relig- 7
ion of Christ. The student of onr '
history cannot fail to recognize the I
deep religious undercurrent that has ]
moulded all our privileges. From :
the landing of the Pilgrims on Ply i
mouth Rock to the landing of Gen. Shat i
ter on the Pearl of the Antilles. this II
has been true. Our greatest con- t
Germ, therefore, should be the growing 5
Of men, trained in Childhood. guarded 1
IN youth until they have come to we'll f
rounded, unblemished manhood. A /
part of this responsibility rests upon d
he home. The school is an indispen- 4
sable factor. The church is the in f
'piration TO moral and spiritual ex- i
'ellence. The state must furnish +
he training school. With these ele- h
nents wrought into the rank and '
lie, our permanence and progress is e
IN
broadway. d
The pastor, Rev. W. 5 Marquis. ID. Q
D.. spoke at the Broadway on The
Dangers and Duties of the Present
National Crisis. The text and kew
lote of the discourse was n part of the \;
fifth verse of the 18th Psalm I'm A
he name of God we will lift ND our q
Some of the many NJ
points adverted to were the new ma n