The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-05-28
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with people whose hearts were filled
with patriotism. and whose memories
We're again turned to the soldiers who
are sleeping the long sleep. At ten
O'Clock the Old soldiers and auXiliaries
met at the post hall and marched in a
body to the church. The church was
beautifully decorated for the occasion.
The sermon was preached by the Kew.
E. M. Holmes, past,r of the M. E.
church. We are pleased to be able to
give synopsis of his address, which
is as follows:
THE DISCIPLINE AND SERVICE OF THE
PATRIOT SOLDIER.
For also am man set under authority,
having uhder me soldiers: and say unto
one. Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh: and to my servant.
Do this. and he doeth it.-Luke 7:S.
These are the words OF the centurion
of Capernaum. who appealed to Jesus
for the recovery of his son, dangerous
ly sick and dear to him. He was a SOL
dier. Gentle. seeker after truth. a
tender hearted man. His military
training had given directness, preci-
sion and promptness to his thinking,
believing and acting.
The appearance OF the soldier in
scripture record is frequent and at
times prominent He was among the
auditors of John the Baptist. 1t was
another centurion of Capernaum who
sought Jesus for the healing of his son.
Soldiers were present at the trial OF
Jesus. robed Him in scarlet, plated the
crown of thorns and thrust down upon
His brow, bowed in mock reverence,
and smote Him with reed and hand.
Soldiers, acting under orders. nai'ed
Him to the cross, and parted His gar
ments among themselves, casting lots
for His seamless coat. 1t was the cen
turion in charge of the guard at the
cross who, seeing the portents of nature
attendant upon the dying moan OF Jes-
us. smote his breast and exclaimed:
Truly, this was the Son of God"'
Again. it was a centurion of Caesarea,
devout man andsone that wOrshiped
God, to whom Peter carried the gospel
message and who received it with such
directness of faith that the Divine
Spirit bore Immediate witness to his
acceptance. The figure grouping of
the Old Testament abounds IN the
prominence of the soldier and his work.
This is because it's delineations are
faithful to life; for all human history
is scanned and SCARED and checkered
with the vicissitudes of war. But the
same sacred book promises the time
when wars shall cease-when the peo-
pie shall beat their swords into plow-
shares ana their spears into pruning
hooks, and the nations of the earth
shall learn war no more.
The occupation of the soldier must
pass away, but the lessons and benefits
of his discipline and service will en-
dure. What is that discipline and
what are some of it's most important
fruits? 81 have under me soldiers and
| say to one, Go. and he goeth; and tC
another, Come, and he cometh." 1t is
the experience of prompt and unques
tioning obedience: of subordination oil
self to duty: of control of impulsive eff
fort: of repression of fear and cultiva
tion OF courage: and in its highest form
it is forgetfulness of self in the inter
rf
from which the unframed powers
would rebel. The lonely picket beal
in the storm and darkness of the night
the charge across bullet swept fields
the stand against furious assault: ex
posures, dangers and privations un
numbered-all these enter into the dis
cipline of the soldier. Not to endure
would be to fail and the failure woulc
be ignominious.
Discipline is REINFORCED by patriot
ism. AT the opening of the civil wal
some doubtless enlisted as mere adven
turers. and others under the excite
ment always incident to the beginning
of hostilities. But multitudes came
forward under the leading of duty
Thoughts deepened into conviction.
and convictions were animated by the
/ patriotic spirit And the deeds t,
which the patriot spit led are among
the most heroic and self-sacrificing il
the annals of warfare. If we consider
the extent of the sacrifice we may in
deed compute it in figures so far as the
number of soldiers goes, but are power
less to measure all it's wide extent ii
blotting out of life's opportunities, tht
disrupting of home ties and the loss tt