The age-herald., 1898-04-25
THOU THEREFORE ENDURE HARDSHIPS" Text of Rev. R. D. Wears Ser
 mon Yesterday.
A MOST PATRIOTIC SERMON
Dr. Kellj Preached to the Confederate Veter- ans at the First Methodist Church. War the Theme of Other
 Sermons

And rising on his themes broad wing And grasping in his nervous hand
 The imaginary battle brand
 In face of death he dared to fling,
 Defiance to a tyrant king.
 A splendid congregation assembled yes- terday morning at the Cumberland Presby- teriaH church, corner Eighteenth street and Fifth avenue, to hear the sermon which Rev. R. D. Weir was to deliver to the local military companies. The church was very appropriately decorated with flags. and the whole congregation seemed imbued with patriotism and the warlike spirit of the occasion.
 The Jefferson Volunteers, the Birmng- ham Rifles and Troop were there in a body and they made handsome show, all seated together in the middle tier of seats. As the boys in blue entered the church, each of them was handed beautiful rose and little flag. This pretty compliment was paid them by the ladies of the church.
 The whole congregation was filled with warlike enthusiasm. At times in Dr. Wears sermon, when he became most elo- quent, the feelings of the congregation could not be restrained and they burst forth into an involuntary applause.
 Dr. Wear took for his text Timothy IT., Chap. II, verse 3. Thou therefore endure hardships as good soldier of Jesus Christ"
 THE SERMON.
 "This text was written by Paul, in let- ter to Timothy, young man studying for the ministry, said Dr. Wear, "and was from man who knew all about the art of war to one of a peaceful vocation. There is striking anoIogy between the military soldier and the Christian soldier, and the same lessons will apply to both. The art of war does not consist entirely of martial airs and streaming flags and great parades; there is steamer and severer side, and in this particular these two professions, the one of carnage and bloodshed, the other of peace and love, are so similar. War is essentially vocation of hardship and suffering. Long and tiresome marches, exposure to sickness and disease, to say nothing of death, the strain and privationS of camp life, the removal from all the good influences of home life, from mother, sis- ter, from wife and from the fair-haired little sweetheart Anything that forces man to bear more than he is accustomed to, or more than he ought to, whether it be moral or physical strain, is hardship. I have heard it said that some of you young men being clerks and others of you leading sedentary lives would not be able to stand the strains of camp life and that you would not be successes as soldiers. But I have heard old soldiers say that 1t is the young, pale-faced city lad, who fired with a patriotic zeal makes the best soldier
 'I don't like war, for I think it is terri ble, but I do like the sentiment for the good and the right, which prompts war. There's not man in hundred who does not condemn anything which pulls down the moral nature of man. such as is brought on by forms of suffering and hard ship In the language of the text a good soldier is who can bear the hard ships of warfare. To be a good soldier, a man must be a brave soldier. Not man who busters around the streets and wan- tonly takes the life of a fellow man, but the quiet determined man who for the sake of patriotism and on account of his convictions of what is right, will endure anything in the way of suffering and even death for his cause.
 ACTUATED BY NOBLE CAUSE.
 "You soldiers have as noble cause and are moved by as laudable an ambition as ever moved men to military achievements.
 'To be good soldier, you must know how to obey. The best lesson for a citizen as well as a soldier, is to learn to obey.
 "A good soldier must be patriot and in love with the country for which he Is fighting. Hired soldiers at times suc- cesses, but never as much so as to the lit- tie band of three hundred Spartans, who, for the love of their country fought and died at Thermopolae. An officer of the German army told me less than year ago that the national guard of the United States were the best soldiers in the world. not because they have the training, possi- bly, of some of the European countries. but because of the spirit which prompts our young men to undertake military duty.
 "A good soldier must be intelligent How can a man who has no higher moral in- stinct be good soldier.
 "This mornings newspaper tells us that Alabama will be called upon for 2,50O men. Of this number, Birmingham will probably furnish several hundred, and when the news comes from the front that you have bathed in undying fame the "Ofd Glory of this great republic, we will around this altar lift on high the praises of our heroes. (Applause). would rather be citizen of the United States, than the ruler Of the proudest government of all history. Let this be your motto.
 "As dearly as your mothers, wives, sis- ters and sweethearts love you they would rather see you buried in Cuban grave, than to think that you would ever prove coward on the field of battle or that you would ever prove recreant to the trust your country has bestowed upon you.'
 EXAMPLES OF GREAT MEN.
 Dr. Wear then gave the inspiring exam ples of many of the great military leaders of ancient and modern times. Caesar. Alexander, Wellington, William of orange Louis XIV, Napoleon, Nelson, Lee, Grant Taylor, Scott, Wolfe, Mad Anthony Wayne StonewaIl Jackson, the, true model soldiers to batter after, and others. Who Is going to be the hero of this war;" and the echo comes back, ''the descendant of a long line of noble ancestors. Fitzhugh Lee.'
 Don't forget God on the battlefield, my men. and don't forget to pray. You ara soldiers for your country and therefore be ye equally jealous soldiers for God-2
 The musical programme was especially attractive. "America.' and "Nearer My God to Tnee,' were the first hymns sung. ''Come to the Land of Rest" by Greedy. was sung by the choir. q Am One Day Nearer Home" was very beautifully sung by Miss Nette Smith. IL was so much ap- preciated that a faint ripple of applause