The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-04
PATRIOTISM IN AMERICA
ITS MEANING IN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.
Rev. F. II. Marshall Breaches to the G. A. R., Sons of Veterans and Woman's Re- lief Corps Last Evening at Church of the AscensiOn-An Excellent Sermon Paying Tribute to the Veterans.

l NASh A@"st oh
 the Ascension-An Excellent Sermon
 Paying Tribute to the Veterans.
 | At the Church of the Ascension last evening was held a patriotic service. Admiral Foote post G. A. R., Nathan Hale camp, s. of ", and the Women's | Relief corps attended Special music was rendered by large vested choir. ] The pastor, Rev. Frank H. Marshall, spoke on the topic Patriotism, talk l ing his text from Ezekiel, 37:22, | And I will make them one nation in the land, and one King shall be King to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all"
 He paid tribute to the Grand Army of the Republic for the services it had rendered the nations patriotism in keeping alive the memories of the grand sacrifices of the civil war, and in helping a younger generation to grasp the reality of a great fact in national | history which lay outside of their per- sonal experience. The Grand Army has been flesh and blood connection | living monument of "the times that tried mems souls" "A people born to a | heritage of liberty and peace in a uni ted country are not able to prize the gifts which have cost them nothing un- less they are helped to see that these things cost somebody something, end that they may be very easily lost if they are not prized and guarded. We may be thankful for whatever infiu- ences honor the memories of the bold men in pioneer days who worked their way inland, cleared forests, planted fields, made roads and carved out com mon wealths; and of brave women who. far from friends and kindred, amid the strangeness of new land reared fam lilies and made homes. It is important for us to know how much was paid for what we call our free institutions and at what cost they have been main- tained
 The speaker dwelt upon the virtue of 1 patriotism, in which our country has never been lacking "But the dnpth or shallowness of our peoples patriotism is not best manifested by the prompt ness of response to the call to arms. In the excitement of the first outbreak of hostilities-the sight and sound of marching soldiers bound for the front, the flying banners and beating drums these are enough to awaken the mar tial instincts and sweep a man from his social moorings into the recruiting office. But when the soldier has re- ceived his baptism of fire, when the days work Is over and he looks on the scene of his handikork-the smoking homes and devastated fields, strewn with the pride and glory of a thousand families, the pathetic search of friends for missing loved ones, the futile efforts of the surgeons to undo the cruel work of bullets and bayonets-these are the things which reveal to the soldier the real depth or shallowness of his patrio- tism; which, unless he Is by nature an inhuman butcher, make him ask him. self if his cause Is a righteous one, and great enough to warrant such a cost. It he is to be saved from a sickening of heart and wavering of purpose that shall spoil tomorrow's rife aim, and take the nerve out of to-morrow's bay onet thrust, he must be strengthened by something more than martial excite ment. He needs to believe that his country's cause is worthy of this sacri- flee He needs to feel the very highest of all patriotic convictions the one which carries the question to the high est court, that his countrys cause is Gods cause Something like this was probably the significance of the historic words spoken by that gallant comman- der after whom your Grand Army Post . is named, when after his first engage ment he registered the solemn VOW, "Henceforth I will fight for God"
 The patriotism which is deep and pure will find plenty to do in times of peace as well as in times of war. Dur ing this century whole realms have been acquired by purchase and con- quest from Spain, France and England and molded little by little into a great nation. The little commonwealth of thirteen weak and jealous states has , become a mighty nation of forty five states, united by patriotism which makes 1t unit and world power, talk ing its place beside other world powers and sharing with them the responsibili- ties for the worlds good government | The policy of isolation and self -devel- opment, so necessary for the earlier weaker years of our national growth, is probably no longer he right one for America. But whatever the coming ways may have in store, we cannot doubt that Americas patriotism shall rise to the occasion and try to do it's duty. England's mission has been tc to develop the institutions of represen- tative government, to bring order out of chaos, and to replace the inertia and stagnation of centuries with progress and life. America has q similarly great mission for the reduction of oppression and tyranny and the spread of that lib- erty of whose sweets she has long tast- ed Great duties rest upin the individ- ual patriots of our country to fit them selves by actual participation in its public affairs and it's politics, for the discharge of their ever expanding re- l responsibilities. This is unquestionably the duty of the hour.
 | To you, our friends, who have learned on the battlefield the deeper meaning of the word patriotism" may it be given to see in the dawn of a new cen tury the beginnings of better and purer national life, and may all oul prayers have in them some petitions | that the God of Nations will spare | America from the internal evils which have befallen many before her, leading l l,ar op tp a plOriOI1c and inpraa sin orI Iy