The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-18
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON.
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject: The GLORY of the NavY-Navnl
Heroes Deserve Full Measure of
Praise-UsefuI Lessons Drawn From
Their Bravery and Devotion.
Copyright, Louis Klopsch. 1899.

Praise-Useful Lessons Drawn From
Their Bravery and Devotion.
Copyright, Louis Klopsch. 1891
WASHINGTON, D. Cat n time when the
whole nation is stirred with patriotic emo
Lion at the return Of Admiral George
Dewey and his gallant men on the cruiser
Olympia and the magnificent reception ac-
corded to them, the Rev. DR.. T. De Witt
Talmage, in his sermon, preaching to n
vast audience, appropriately recalls for
devout and patriotic purposes some OF the
great naval deeds Of olden and more recent
times. Text, James ill.,, 4, Behold also
the Ships"
Itthis exclamation was appropriate about
1872 years ago, when 1t was written con-
cerniDc the crude fishing smacks that sailed
Lake Gnlilee, how much more appropriate
in an age which has launched from the dry
docks for purposes OF peace the Oceanic Of
the White Star line, the Lucania OF the
Cunard line, the st. Louis OF the American
line. the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse OF the
North German Lloyd line, the Augusta Vic
toria OF the Hamburg American line, and
in an age which for purposes OF war has
launched the screw sloops like the Idaho,
the Shenandoah, the Ossipee, and our iron
clads like the Kalamazoo, the Roanoke and
the Dunderberg, and those which have al
ready been buried in the deer, like the
Monitor, the Housatonic and the Wee
hawken, the tempests ever since sounding
a volley over their watery sepulchers, and
the Oregon, and the Brooklyn, and the
Texas, and the Olympia, the Iowa, the Mas
sachusetts, the Indiana, the New York, the
Marietta Of the last war, and the scarrod
veterans OF war shipping, like the Constl-
tuition or the Alliance or the Constellation,
that have swung into the naval yards to
spend their last days, their decks now all
silent OF the feet that trod them, tb cir rig
ging all silent OF the hands that clung to
them, their portfolios silent OF the brazen
throats that once Numbered out OF them.
Full justice has been done TO the m"n
who at different times fought on the land,
but not enough has been said OF those who
on ships deck dared and suffered all things.
Lord God OF the rivers and the sea, help
me in this sermon! So, ye admtrals, com.
manders, captains, pilots, guuners, boat
swains, suilmakers, surgeons, stokers. N ess-
mates and seamen OF all names, to use your
own parlance, we might as we'll get under
way and stand out to sea. Let ull land
lubbers 70 ashore. Full speed nowl Four
bells!
Never since the sea fight Of Lepanto,
where 800 royal gallevs, manned by $4,000
warriors, at sunrise, September 6, 1911,
met 250 royal galleys, manned by 10000
men, and in the four hours OF battle 5000
fell on one aide and $4,000 on the other;
yea, never since the day when at Actium.
81 years before Christ, Augustus with ESQ
ships scattered the 220 ships OF Mark An
tony and gained universal dominion as
the prize; yea, since the day when at Sala-
mis- the 1900 galleys OF the Persiuns,
manned by 100000 men, were crushed by
Greeks with less than third OF that force;
yea, never since the time OF Noah, the first
ship captain, has the world seen such q
miraculous creation as that OF the Amerl-
can navy in 1861.
There were about 200 available seamen
In oil the naval stations and receiving
ships and here and there an old vessel.
Yet orders were given to blockade $500
miles OF seacoast, greater than the whole
coast OF Europe, and. besides that, the
Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, MiGsis-
sippi and other great rivers covering an e1-
tent Of 1000 more miles, were to be pa
trolled. No wonder the whole Civilized
world burst out into outlaws oflaughter at
the seeming impossibllity. But the work
was done, done almost Immediately, done
thoroughly and done with a speed and
consummate skill that eclipsed all the his
tory of naval architecture.
It looks picturesque and beautiful to see
a war vessel going out through the Mar
rows, sailors In new rig singing,
A life on the ocean wave,
A homo on the rolling deep,
the colors gracefully dipping to passing
ships, tho decks Immediately clean AMI
the guns at quarantine firing q parting
salute. But the poetry Is all gone out OF
that ship as 1t comes out OF that engage
ment. Its decks red with human blood,
wheelhouse gone, the cabins pile OF shat
steering wheel broken, smokestack crushed.
q hundred pound Whitworth rifle shot hav-
ing left its mark from port to starboard,
the shrouds rent away, ladders splintered
and decks plowed up and smoke bIackened
and scalded corpses lying among those who
are gaspiDg their last gasp far away from
home and kindred, whom they love rs
much as We love wife and parents and chill
dren.
Oh, men Of the Anne lean navy returned
from Manila and Santiago and Havana, MS
we'll Us those who are survivors OF the
naval conflicts OF 1863 and 1864, men OF the
western gulf squadron, OF the eastern gulf
squadron, OF the south Atlantic squadron,
OF the north Atlantic squadron, CT the
Mississippi squadron, Of the Pacific squad
ron, OF the West India squadron, anc OF
the Potomac fotllla, hear our thanks!
Take the benedIction Of the churches. Ac-
cept the hospitalities Of the nation. II we
had our way, We would get you not only
pension, but home and a princely ward-
robe and an equipage and banquet while
you live, and after your departure
catafalque and mausoleum OF scupltured
marble, with model OF the ship In which
you won the day. 1t is considered GAL
liant thing when in naval fight the flag
ship with its blue ensign goes ahead up
river or into q bay, its admiral
ing orders. But have to tell you, o vet
erans OF the American navy, II you ara as
loyal to Christ ms you we're to the govern
ment, there Is flagship sailing ahead OF
you OF which Christ is the admiral, and He
watches from the shrouds, and the heavens
are the blue ensign, and He leads YOU to-
ward the barbor, and all the broadsides OF
earth and hell cannot damage you, and We
whose garments were once red with your
own blood shall have Il robe washed and
made white in the blood of the Lamb.
Then strike eight bells. High noon in
heaven!
While we are heartily greeting and ban
quoting the sailor patriots just now re-
turned we must not forget the veterans
OF the navy now in marine hospitals or
spending their old days In their own or
their children's homesteads. Oh ye vet
Grams, charge you bear up under the
aches and weaknesses that you still carry
from the wartimes. You are not as stalwart
as you would have been but Ior thnt nerv-
Gus strain and for that terrific exposure.
Let every ache and pain. instead OF depress-
ing remind you OF your fidelity. The sinking
OF the Weehawken Off Morris Island, De-
cember 6, 1863, Was mystery. She was
not unde- fire. The sea was rough.
But Admiral Dahlgren from the deck
OF the flag steamer Philadelphia
saw her gradually sinking and
finally she struck the ground, but the
flag still hoated above the wave in the
sight OF the shipping. 1t WIS nfteward
found that she sank from weakness
through injuries in previous service. Her
plates had been knocked loose IN previous
times. SO You have in nerve and muscle