Smyrna times., 1898-06-01
TO DEAD SOLDIERS.
Rev. C. A. Hill Addresses Our q. A. R. Post
on Celebration of Memorial
Day by Visiting the Graves and
the Holding of Interesting
Exercises on the School
house Creen

Hancock Post, No. 80, G.. A. r.,
duly observed the annual cOmmemO-
rative service to their fellow comrades.
The decoration of graves was on the |
Both, Monday, but our local Post in
cluded a religious observance alsO-at |
the NJ. f. Church on Sunday morning. |
The pastor, Rev. G.. A. Hill, had been |
asked to preach to them, and thought |
ful women had appropriately dec
grated the church with flags, the |
occasion being very appropriate
blending of religion and patriotism
the shibbOleth of American senti-
ment.
The old soldiers who have survived
until the present time the conflicts OF
the Civil War, came in body, Occu-
pying the front seats reserved for
| them. Following the singing of the
Thee" the Rev. Mr.. Hill announced
for his text the 18th verse of the 1st
chapter of the second book of Samuel:
''The beauty of Israel is slain upon
the high places how are the mighty
fallen"
The discourse claimed not only the
close attention of every member of the
Post, but also the congregation. AS IS
his custom of introducing his subject,
he set forth the historic incident that
called out the exclamation of David in
the above text, on learning of the de-
feat and death of King Saul at Mount
Gilboa. The spirit of David infused
into his people that rescued their land
from the oppression of the Philistines,
was set forth as the highest type of
patriotism, because it preserved them
as a nation, and kept before them the
Ark of the Covenant.
The chief idea running through the
discourse was the duty or virtue of
sacrifice. No great good had ever been
accomplished without sacrifice. This
was shown in historic incidents, Saw
Onarola, Huss, Luther, Wesley, the
great and crOwning one being the com
ing of the Lord of Glory himself from
Heaven to earth to take upon himself
the sorrows of the human race, that he
might redeem them. A sacrifice, he
, said, to be genuine must be voluntary,
otherwise it could not be meritOriOus.
The men who sacrificed home, posi-
; ton, friends and everything dear to
!; them to defend and preserve the Union
, exemplified what is meant in sacrifc-
ing themselves for the good of others
for the life of the nation was preserved
! fought against, as well as those who
; fought for it. There are hundreds anC
thousands who are ready to-day to
+ march to the relief of the oppressed
I Cubans as they were to the Southland
I for the same purpose i'll the sixties.
Peace and love prevail Throughout
the length and breadth of the land. Ii
touching address to them as body
S and the part they shared in the grea
V conflict, he said their ranks were fast
d being thinned and soon the last o
! them would be challenged by the grea
: sentinel -death-but the Republic ha(
0 been preserved to take a high sea
S among the nations of the earth.
10 On the question of Union, he quOte'
a Gen. Beaver at the National Presby
e terian Convention, wishing that tn
3 Northern and Southern bodies of tina
). denomination could be united again
It saying so he wished for the norther
s and southern branches of his owl
IT church, that they could be one one
5, again.
l. The Reverend speaker referred t
the gloomy predictions of McCauley
the historian, and BeacOnsfeld, th
premier, in reference to the future {
this country that its peril will not b
from without but within-when som
Caesar or Napolean will take advant
,p age of time of corruption or weal
ness, and seize the reins of govern
ment, as had been the case with formt
l. republics. He said he did not shal
4 their view: on the contrary. he hel
L rosy views as to the future of this +,
T. public It's foundations were diffe
e ent from those that preceded it, and |
u believed it had been raised up for
II purpose, and under the fostering han
d of God, was to play great and impo
y tant part under Divine direction
"a civilizing and outstanding the O
TTf nations and preparing them for Il
III gospel dispensation.