Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-05-30

stage sat the members OF the G. "A. n.
the pastors of the city churches and
the chorus choir, while seats were re-
served in the audience for the ladies OF
the w. r. G. After Introductory re-
marks by Commander III. l.. Coffeen,
of Col. Hughes Post, No. les, double
male quartette, consisting of Messrs.
Hopperstad, Coleman, Riley, Holm,
Tracy, Quandahl, Sunnes and Adams
sang a beautiful selection. followed by
invocation by Rev. A. w. G. Smith,
an anthem by the chorus choir script
ure reading by Rev. j. w. Allen, and
an appropriate musical number by a
ladies' double quartette, Mds. Hogan,
Bailey, Auchmoody, Hopperstad and
Misses Auchmoody, Montgomery,
Johnson and Taylor.
Rev. c. A. Parkin, of Calmar, then
delivered the Memorial sermon, hold.
ing the rapt attention of the large
audience throughout the entire dis
course. We publish a synopsis of the
sermon, for the benefit of those who
failed to hear it,
Text-Isaiah 8: ?, B. 4: "The people that
walked in darkness have seen great light
They that dwell in the land OF the shadow o
death, upon them hath the light shined. Fol
thou hast multiplied the nation; for thou has
broken the yoke of his burden, and the stat
of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in
the day of Midian."
Patriotic love of country did not begin with
the American nation. It's holy fires hav,
been and are kindled in the hearts of the SON
and daughters of every nation. Israel haC
her Joshuas, Gideons Davids and Ne hemiahs
Germany her Williams and Bisnarks; Eng
land her Wellingtons and Nelson's; France
her Joan of Arks and Naooleons; Italy he
Gariboldis; Russia her Peters. But no natiol
can boast of a grander, nobler line of heroe
and heroines than our beloved America. w
lead in this as in all other things. To mention
their names brings a flood of JOY and price IL
every loyal American heart. To tell the stor.
of their lives and deeds narrates the histor
of the Republic There are the Washingtons
Grants, Shermans. Sberidans, Farnguts
Deweys, Roosevelts and Lincoln, who is firs
and foremost of ALL the greatest American
vino ever lived But the great names do no
bring To mind all of the brave and the true
There were the tens of thousands who's
names are not emblazened on the page @
history; whose graves are unmarked by
single slab; whose individual memory ha
passed from thought of the nation. No deed
of daring We're 100 great for them to under
take. no march too long, no battle too fierce
no command too difficult TO execute, no pei
sonal interests of consequence, and no suffer
ing too severe. Nor were all our braves il
regimentals. There were the wives. daug ghters
SISTERS and sweethearts of boys in blue. Thes
sent their prayers heavenward while thei
loved ones sent their shots enemyward. Ant
IL is dificult TO tell which was the mos
effective. Again there were those who stage,
at home 10 till the soil aud run the mill ant
factory to furnish supplies to our conquerin
host
Bat what has this patriotic love of countr
done tor America; merely gained our inde
| pendence from mother country, snapped tn
shackles from four millions of slaves, silence
the guns OF the army and navy of poor a,
clining Spain and given liberty, peace an
blessing To the islands of the sea? True,
has done all this and infinitely more. Loo
at our splendid civilization OF today. a direc
fruit OF their patriotism. Industry, commerc
and invention, literature, art and scienc,
education, morality and christianity, Chart
and benevolence enjoy one uninterrupte
march 10 success. seventy-iive millions {
people reap the harvest of peace, blessing an
prosperity which they made possible. Other
| seek a helping hand and IL is given.
Our patriot fathers have left us goodl
heritage. 1t is rich in good example and sci
sacrificing devotion. IT abounds with loft
ideals OF manhood and principle. They hay