Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-05-29

Unity Of tho Nation DWslt Upon ~
Dr.. Sooy.
MEMORIAL SERMON PREACHED
AT FOURTH STREET METHO-
DIST CHURCH LAST EVENING.
HOLIDAY AND STEPHENS
POSTS TURN OUT-THE SER
VICES AT BELLAIRE


Last evening the annual memorial
sermon to the veterans of the Rebellion,
which always precedes Decoration Day,
was preached by the Rev. DR.. J. L.
Sooy at the Fourth Street Methodist
Church. The effort of the pastor was
an able one and was attentively lis
tened to by the old soldiers present and
the large congregation which had as
sembled to hear it. The Doctor in his
discourse touched briefly upon the war
with Spain and voiced the hope that
I'VE may never have war for conquest
or expansion
At I o'clock about fifty members of
Holiday Post and a somewhat less
number of the members of Stephens
Post assembled at their respective
headquarters and. led by drum corps,
marched to the church and occupied
the pews reserved for them. There
were fewer of the veterans in line than
in past years and those who watched
the column Of silver-haired warriors
pass through the streets were i'm
pressed with the inevitable that at no
great distant day this pretty May Day
ceremony for the qualification of the
living, and to the honor of the valor-
Gus dead must become a fragrant men,
DRY unless perpetuated by younger
hearts and hands.
The special programme of music pre-
pared by the choir was garnished by a
solo, "Kipling's Recessional," sung by
Mrs. Media Morris, and at the close of
the service the congregation joined in
singing when the Roll is Called Up
Yonder.'
DR.. Sooy took his text from Hebrews
XII. So: ''Of whom the world was wor-
thy" He said in part:
Memorial day is what the word i'm
plies-a day OF commemoration; yet it
is peculiar in as much as it honors the
living as well as the dead. SCOTS
old Mortality when asked why he
re-cut the letters on moss-grown stones
replied that he wished to see the heroes
OF yesterday walk side by side with
the youth of to-day So it is with US.
We wish to brighten our recollections
for the noble dead and renew appre-
citation for their brave deeds in our
grateful hearts,
Memorial day is always fraught
with solemn interest. And what does
it mean? What shall we teach our
children of its import? 1t is a celebra-
ton of the great triumph of free insti-
tutions in America and a fitting regard
for those who fought and won the bat
ties of such freedom.
THE presence of Grand Army men
always brings up the thrilling events
through which they passed. First
came the trucking of the great bust
ness interests of the country to the
slave hobby of the South, then a day of
disgusting compromise and then we
liberty to the enthralled.
But, beloved, as fresh as this may
be in the memory of the soldier, it is
a thing of the past 1t is dead. Sew
enty millions are we now, and united
Henry Watterson, an ex-Confeder-
ate, has stood in the pulpit of the one
powerful anti-slavery agitator, and eu-
logized Abraham Lincoln in these
words: How can any one fail to cherish
his memory? Surely he was one of
Gods elect A few days ago a South
ern editor and ex-Confederate spoke
from a platform at Charleston, S. c.,
once the heart of the secession senti-
ment, and in the most touching eulo-
gism paid tribute to William Lloyd
Garrison. WhenlI read such things in
the papers of the South as well as
North, is it too much TO say we are
unit?-one and undivided.
To-day the veterans of both North
and South vie with one another in
placing flowers upon graves of friend
and foe Unfortunately and glory in
marching under the same flag. SO aren't
we one? But for all this we must not
forget the homage for what they have
preserved for us and for posterity.
There is no people o. earth that make
better soldiers than Americans and
veterans of 81 will join with me in
word of praise for the brave boys
of the Spanish war. The facile readi-
ness with which sovereign citizens can
be changed TO soldiers is not to be
seen elsewhere. One regiment at Get
tysburg lost 50 per cent. of it's mem
bers. Another lost 50 per cent. in five
minutes, and still hurled back into the
teeth of the enemy the tide of battle.
The old world never saw such fight
ing. Waterloo cannot boast as much.
Nor Europe in thousand years of
battles. 1t is upon these graves that
| tonight lay one poor wreath OF re-
spectful tribute and affection. But
flowers, pretty as they are, will not
suffice Plant the stars and stripes
upon each soldiers grave, for no spot
on Gods footstool is as sacred as when
it waves.
Il hope we will never have war OF
conquest or expansion, but whatever
may be the outcome in Cuba and the
Philippines, we have crushed the tyr
amy and cruelty of the tyrant.
in conclusion, let me say, while 1t
iu much RI ha a nafrfot IF country