The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-29
SERMON BY
W. L. s. MURRAY
In St. Paul's N. E. Church
May 9th, 1900.

the u. A. X, VINO Will observe Me-
mortal Day next Wednesday. This
day has been made a holiday by
the National authority, it ought to
be made holy day by the people.
On that day, memories will be re-
vived concerning the great outbreak
Of the Civil War; of the campaign
in which Abraham Lincoln was
elected; when Douglas, Breckin-
ridge and Bell were all candidates
for the highest honor in the gift of
the nation; OF the secession of South
Carolina and ten other Southern
States; of the formation of the
Southern Confederacy; of the pas
sion, luminosity and rashness of
those times; OF the time when Lin
coin. president-elect, entered WASH
ington incog,; of the time when the
country seemed on the verge of ruin;
yea, more, of Lincoln's inaugural
address, when he declared he would
use all his power to uphold the con-
stitution and save the Union. Did
he know what a task was before
him? They will also recall how
Fort Sumter was fired OH and how
Ma ior Anderson defended the tlag,
and stood the bombardment "a
hours, when the Fort was reduced
to RUNS.
They will be stirred when they
talk over that frs! call of the Pres
ident for 5000 volunteers to serve
3 months to put down the rebellion.
When the Mass achusetts regiment
went through Baltimore, they will
recall how roughly they were han
died. how three soldiers were killed
and the first blood of the war was
shed there. Men are living, who
saw some Of the cars brought back
with windows smashed and sides
crushed in They will be stirred
when they recall the nation $ great
hemorrhages. as the blood flowed
in the battles where father met son
and brother faced brother in NOR
tai combat. How they will talk
over again lie battles of Bull Run,
| Nicksi ur u sboro, FalrOaks,
Cod IlurLuI, AuIlctam, 'Chicamau-
qua, Lookout Mountain, Missionary
| Ridge, charlottesville and Gcttys-
burg. They will recall the Merri-
mae and Monitor and how the cheese
box smote the monster. They will
recall Llncoln's signing the eman-
cipatlon of tour million slaves and
when asked why he did, his answer
was Ito save the Union and pay my
VOW to God For the same reason
this man for the emergency and
this man Of destiny made every call
for volunteers and ordered every
draft to save the Union Let no
man intimate that he ever encour-
nged wir Tor the sake of war. it
was always and everywhere to save
the Mon. There was another man
who was possessed Of the same
idea, the silent man, the one who
because Of his persistence and un-
conuuerable will was called "un-
conditional surrender. The SOL
dicr who stood foremost among tire
great soldiers OF the world, who
loved peace, but fought only to save
the Union. Whose tender hearted
ness was revealed wien at Apo
mattoy. on Sunday, April ., 1865,
, Robert +, Lee, another OF the
worlds great generals, surrender
cd to HIM, and when asked what
the Confederate soldiers should do
with their horses, said let them
take them home with them, tor they
will need them to till their farms.
Who will forget Gen. Grants letter
of acceptance, in which he said,
let lis have peace. " He loved
brave men. No word of censure
escaped his lips against the men
who had fought him and the COM
bincd armies of the Union, when
they laid down their arms and sur
rendered. They were friends they
were brothers. it was said he
hated only two classesoi men, liars
and towards, lie never uttered an
oath nor an imprecatlon. lie be-
lieved in the Holy Bible and said it
is the sheet anchor OF our liberties.
lie was a hero among heroes. But
while we admire the hero, there is
but one before whom the soul goes
on It's knees, the hero Of Gcthsem-
anc and of Calvary.
There will be stir among both
soldiers and citizens because the
ranks Of thee. A. r. is timing out,
only AZ officers remain, Onc-hlth
OF the whole. and 4O,OOOold soldiers
passed away in ninety-ninc. When
the President made a call under
great stress there was response
something like this: 1--WE are COM
ing Father Abraham fifty thou
sand strong. Father Abraham
who saw the close Of the rebellion
only lived five days TO enjoy its
fruits. when SIT ickcn down by the
hand %! the ASSASSIN. lie was one
OF the first to lie down in the green
tent in the silent city of the dead.
The Old soldiers have been follow
ing him in death as in life I'VE are
coming Father Abraham fifty thou
sand strong, Yea more all will soon
be with him where they will re1t
from the battles o. life. We know
their works do follow them. They
saved the 'nion.
There will be stir among the
soldier, as they think of Hood and
Hooker, Johnson and fitzpatrick,
Lonystreet and Rosccrans, Nc
Clclland and Mead. Scott, old luss
and feathers and Lew Wallace,
vino ha, shown in his ''Bcn llur'
that the pen IS mightier than the
sword win men ever cease to be
stirred as they recall that saint
l .Inl AnllinI. Stnnn Ii l.I..l. ..nia