The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-30
ON THE WEST SIDE.
Sermon by Rev. J. r. Npfiatt in
Washburn Street Church.

Rev j. p. MOfatt, pastor Of the
Washburn street Presbyterian church,
preached an eloquent memorial sermon
at yesterdays $ morning service. He
read passage from the Sevcnty-eighth
Psalm, 4-6, and selected the following
words as his basic thought: 1.-THE only
d@ht this nation can never pay is the
debt it owes to its brave defenders"
Such are the words inscribed on the
nations capitol. They fifty express
the sentiment of every patriotic Ame-
lean The sermon, in substance, fol-
lows:
Tomorrow morning we shall assemble
ourselves to do honor To those who saved
his land from division and with aDprc-
hcnsion for those who have just now re-
Spondcd as Loyalty to the cali of their
country's service as did the boys in the
sixties.
The great lesson of Memorial Day is to
stir up patriotism. Our patriotic aspira-
tiOns should be QuiCkcned and stimuli
lated by these services held in the last
resting place of our beloved dead. 1t is
not POSSIBLE for our children to partici
pate in these services without being
QuiCkened in the development of patriot
ism. Had Il not been for the history OF
the Grand Army of the Republic since
the war, so vivdly impressed upon the
minds of the young men, | doubt very
much if the response to the president $
recent calls would have been 50 CnIhus-
iastically needed.
These Memorial days have been silent
instruction in the development of that
.patriOtic feeling so essential to the well
fare Of any nation. As Israel recalled at
the Passover the destruction of Eeypt's
first born and the marvellous deliver
anCe Of its people, 50 we as nation have
our memorial days, our historic land
marks
These are lessons for us to learn from
this habit of national ana family GUS
tom Of keeping in memory LOtublc events
by appropriate anniversaries. The very
fact of the CommC mUraton of an event
is a rare evidence OF thE event, The CCl"-
bration of the PassoyoJ through the CEN
turics is an uEQUoStiOuablo memorial a
witness as clear as it will he possible to
obtain of any historical event recent or
remote. 1t is more convincing than those
carved in stone. Is this not also true
with regard to Easter? If Christ had not
risen would il have been possible for the
Easter festival 10 originate as it did and
come down to us through the ages?
Now is Christ risen from the dead,
The conspicuous ana startling even S
which come with public and private life
are comparatiVcly rare, ana il is we'll
/ thut this is SO. III" first comprehension
is limited as well as the measure of our
/ srnsbilitiCs.
/ The material for these special anniycr-
slries is wisely limited. 1t is possible
yea. probable that IN time the lessons Ct
/ Memorial Day viii gradually be cffaccd
/ from the minds of the rising generation
! were it not for the annual recurrence Of
/ the anniversary celebration. The years
/ between us and the close of the war fOl
! the Union have brought into ripencd man.
| hood ANA womanhood n generation that
| knew nothing Of the struggle. our chill,
| dren, were II not for this anniversary
! day would have no knowledge of the
| events Of the late war excepting through
! the writer page. The right use of this
/ day should be nculcated by precept ana
| example. There can be no analogy be,
tween the Fourth Of July and Memorial
! Day as some suggest,
Memorial Day is not a day for religious
| commercial, educational or pleasure eX'
! Cursions. All the people should so forth
| to the memorial exercises, Rich and poor
! should be found in the cemeteries and
| burial places of the soldiers All who On,
| ioy the religious freedom which this
! country affords should set an example
of respect and reverence for the day.
no other sight so thrills me as that OF
the march of the remnant on Memorial
! Day. Let us honor the dead and the vet
Grams who still lingcr with as, For so il
| falls out,
! That what we have we prize not to in,
| worth,
Whilst we enjoy It, but being lack'd and
lost,
! Why. then we rack the value; then We
| find
| The virtue that possession would no
| show us,
| Whilst it was ours"
But today our thoughts will 80 out IL