The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1901-05-31
BRADFORD, VERMONT. MAY 81, 1901.
Memorial Sunday.

| lhe Sunday Memorial services were
held in the Congregational church
this year. 1t was a pleasant day
warm and bright, especially cheerful
after the few days of cloudy weather
and rain. The church had been appro.
priately de Iated for the occasion.
Over he entrance to the middle ai>l,
were two flags gathered at the bottom.
About tltc altar and IN front If the
chair were flags, plants and bunting
The q. a. r. post, Co. &. and W. r. &.
marched to the church, each body rep
presented by a coed delegation, The
music furnished by the choir was ex.
cellent. The offcrtory sol, was Dv
Chas. Dimick. Rev. Fl. J. klbourn
was assisted IN the service by Rev. a,
I'll. Webb. There were many in the
audience who said Mr.. Kilbourn's ser
krDn was the best Memorial sermo /
they ever heard. His subject was "a
Christirn Judgment of War" James
Al. He pictured a council in the heav-
ems. Before the Lord were gathered
saints, elders and countless multitude
Of angels and spirits. Before them
was book and the question was "who
is worthy to open ii, to unloose the
oNol' AZ OuC ldu 6N6I ncSl III. II
was the history of Gods redeeming
work in saving The world; story of
the struggle of humanity to better,
better grade, and all marked by strife.
In it was the answer to the question
Whence Con es War" 1t was de-
clded that the greatest warrior should
open the book and some one said LET
Caesar step forward and undo the
seal" Nay, said the great judge, he
is not worthy-a great genius but sell
fish warrior and because he was selfish
they slew him. Then was mentioned
the genius of France who well nigh
gathered all Europe under his sway
Napoleon. But again the answer came,
nay, for he was also a selfish warrior.
Only the Lamb of God is worthy to op-
ep the book.
Whence comes war? Many say it is
of Satan and, echoing the words of old
Gen. Sherman, that war is hell See if
there can be found a Christian judg-
ment of war. 1t comes out of the past.
Since the day of Cain there has been
physical strife. Selfshness makes war
unavoidable, and greater thing than
that-love of justice. Before war
there is often the bitter oppression of
the strong over the weak, who suffer
long before taking up weapons to
strike back, as did the people of Eng
land under Charles Stuart. t hen there
comes a time when good MEN exert
their influence to stop oppression and
then, finally, is the uprising of the peo-
pie. So it was in our civil rebellion.
When the southern states were talk
ing of seeding and on the verge of
fighting good men went to Virginia to
hold a peace confere nee. But after
this they saw there was nothing left
but the gun and cannon. Then came
the uprising of the people. So long as
there is spirit of selfshness, so long as
men will resist justice; so long as there
is sin and oppression. there Will be
war. A Christian may vote for war if
he feels sure 1t is just.
Mr.. Kilbourn closed by referring
to che memories that the day brings to
the veterans; to the day when Co. G,
43 years ago, gathered in the old
church and lister ed to the man who
addressed them wisely prior to their
leaving for the seat of war; to the
citizen soldier, appealing to them to
be good men, as In good men was the
source of greatest safety to our coun-
try. The large audience followed the
speaker closely, enjoying the clear,
pointed reasoning that justitir d "A
Christian defence of war, and the
appropriate remarks on the
and lessons of the day,