The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-29
AMERICAN PRowEss.
Rev F. D. Penney's Stirring Address to G
A. R. Veterans Sunday.

Rev F. D. Penney preached the an
nual memorial sermon before George
H. Ward post 10, G. A. r., at Lincoln
Square Baptist church, yesterday
morning. BY courtesy of the Wor-
cester Continentals, the veterans as
sembled in Continental hall at $50
o'clock and marched to the church.
Women of the Relief corps met in the
vestry at 10 o'clock and were assigned
seats in the body of the house.
A special musical program of a pa
triotic nature was provided and the
church choir was augmented for the
occasion by Miss Nellie A. Laying, So
prano; Miss Winifred ]. Putnam, con-
tralto; B. F. Southwick tenor; Walter
j. Doe, bass, and E. A. Pratt, cornet-
list.
Rev. Mr.. Penney preached an elo-
quent and forceful sermon on "The
soldiers sword and the Savior's sac
rifice," choosing for his text: Put up
the sword into the sheath: the cIp
that my Father hath given me, shall
1 not drink it?" John xviii;11. He said
in part: THE words of the text were
spoken by Jesus Christ to Peter, his
follower, who had not yet learned tLet
for Roman legions. Joshua, after the
death of Moses, led the hosts of Israel
about the walls of Jericho, bearing the
ark of God He had clear vision Of
the conquering Christ from whom he
took his orders. The city fell into his
hands without the stroke of a sword.
1t was Gods victory.
There is ever a fierce conflict be-
tween right and wrong. When Christ
uttered these words he stood at the
climax of his life work. Divine love and
holiness faced sin and hate, His vic
tory was in the heart. That is still
the source of all true victory But be-
cause men do not yet see eYe-to-eya
the sword has become a factor in his
tory. God uses men even If u ey are
warlike, and good has come in spite
of awful slaughter.
"The time comes on apace when wars
shall cease. The fittest survives.
Truth and right prevail. BY their hrst
war with Great Britain, our forefathers
asserted and maintained their right to
independent national existence: having
by the declaration of independence,
throw aside the wrappings Of infancy
and the hand of oppression, there
dawned a day of hope. BY the war
of 1872, impressment of our sailors
ceased and other nations respected our
flag. The rights of neutral nations 10
time of war were established.
Coming to the civil war, we nnd
the next achievement, the eradication
of human slavery. BY this stroke the
United States rose into ascendancy as
a universal benefactOr. Both armies
were equally conscientious. And last
Of all northern and southern generals
wearing the same uniform, under
single flag. and that the star spangled
banner. each taking as members CT
their staff, sons Of descendants OF
those against whom they fought In the
cos, have carried that emblem Of peace
and progress around the globe. God
has thrust US forth ifseo unexpected
tolls. Ours is the cause TO release
downtrodden and starving humanity
In Gods name may blood cease to flow;
but that flag, the symbol Of peaee, I'D
erty. education and salvation. let II
stand and let us support 1t wherever
providence shall plant it. As l look
at you and note your scars and the
scars Of your fellows in all the land.
assign the American soldier the right
of the line in the grand review.
THE prowess Of American soldiers
long since became conspicuous
Against great odds. under tropical
skies. in the enemies country, in close
conflict in distant climes amid treach-
cry and disease. our men have amazed