The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-06-03
THEIRS 4 GOOD F|GHT
Sermon of DR.. eoultas to Local
Veterans Of the G. AR.


Advantages of the War of the Rebellion
illustrated the Courage and Patri-
otism of our Citizenship, Perpetuated
the Institutions of a Chosen Nation, Rid
us Forever of Slavery, Illustrated the
Cost of our Government and Taught the
Nation to Deprecate War-Thoughts on
the Present strife.
The ante Memorial Day service in
honor Of local veterans was held this
year in the Methodist Church. with aser-
mon to the veterans by the pastor, Rev.
IT.. Coultas. The auditorium and gal
leries of the large building were crowd
ed to the doors before the opening and
many turned away on failure to find
seats. The sermon was full of patriotic
eloquence and has been much compli-
mented.
. The text was from Timothy Al II
have fought a good fight, and the ser
mon is in part as follows:
1.-THE war was a good fight; it was a
glorious warfare. 1t has been the Gus
tom of every nation to revere the mem
ories of the dead and extoll the efforts of
the living who stood IN the defense of
their country. 1t is a custom to be com
mended. It is the just due of those who
sacrificed or endangered life. But what
an inspiration is given to this custom in
the fact that it was a great and worthy
cause for which the brave ones fought.
s'It was good fight in that it gives an
illustration OF the courageous patriotism
which inheres in our citizenship Could
we look upon that whole scene of camp
, and carnage, of battle and prison,
stretching from 81 to '65; could we look
down upon marching armies and hospi-
tails and prisons and the fry edge of bat
tie, | doubt not we would witness in
stances of courage equal to any that
have ever been enacted or recorded.
sAgain it was a good fight in that it
illustrates what our government cost
and intensifies spirit of patriotism when
we reflect upon the price that was paid
for it. Who will look out upon that
fierce conflict and see brave men stTug-
Cling like giants and falling like grass be-
fore the scythe; who will reflect upon
those days when every flash of the har-
) messed lightning brought news of car
mage, every paper brought news of de.
wasted fields and every train brought
back the lifeless forms of the martyrs OF
our country and jewels of our homes
, who can remember that this is the price
which was paid for that which we now
enjoy without feeling an intense love fol-
that country which was purchased by
such an outlay of tears and grief. Mil
lions are now living among us who know
! nothing of the dark days of '61 and So.
You perpetuate these memorial occasions
that the sad, inspiring story may be told
. again and again, that in the light Of its
/. teaching they may learn the cost of this
free government.
1T was good fight in that it perpetu-
; ated the institutions of this, one Of Gods
chosen nations, and sent it forth, quail
fed as never before, to accomplish its
great missions. Some one has said, 'The
brave men of the North did not merely
save our nation, they made our nation.
: Now we are truly a nation, spelled with
, capital IN The war of the Revolu-
! ton demonstrated this union of States to
, be distinct nation so far as being alb.
!, solved from allegiance to the British
crown could make it such. The events
of succeeding history demonstrated it tc
: be a nation in so far as ability to pre-
, serue its national life against foes made
: lit such; but not until the war of the Re
j bellion was fought to a successful ter.
j mination was it demonstrated that we
, are nation in the sense of being able te
! maintain our national institutions against
a powerful insurrection.
sLastly it was good fight because
70 \ 10
: than those who engage in it, After
j dwelling at length upon the horrors OF
, war and the unwillingness Of our people
and even leaders to join in it except fo1
patriotic ends, the speaker said: 1--WE are
not warlike people. We do not love
battle and blood. We are not greedy tc
enlarge our territory and destroy the ma
tiOns about us.
''The present struggle is upon us, moi
out of such motives, but after long wait
ing and patient efforts through methods
, of peace as the demand of our conscience
to deliver from oppression and injustice
; those whom God has made our neigh
; bors.
ssThe cause for which you fought musi
, go on, and it needs heroic champions A
j few years ago the people of Toledo erect
| ed monument to General Steadman, 8
former fellow citizen, and inscribed upon
it The Bulwark of Chickamauga,
The honorable title was won by the part
he took in that great battle. AT criti-
cal moment, we are told, when the lines
wavered, and defeat threatened, riding
up to the color bearer he seized the flag
and waving ii before his men cried out
The army may go back, but the coIors
must advance. His courage contributed
to that victory. The army may go back
the last enemy death is Staying them
one by one but the colors must ad-
vance. May we not believe that the
present conflict is but the carrying for
ward of the flag with all the righteous
principles for which it stands.
,, 'sBut will there, then, beno more battles
to fight? No, the flag must advance and
it must represent a positive and aggres-
sive life, a high and holy civilization
1T is fitting that we should gather
/, around our ancestral shrine. our great