The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1901-06-07
A MEMORIAL SERMON
An Eloquent Effort BY the Rev,
Geo. III. Newman.
Delivered in Union Services AT the
County Court House, SUN
day, May 20.

From John 4, Z, Rev. Geo. Fl. New.
man preached a splendid union memoir
iai sermon at the court house from
whlch the following extracts are taken:
The Lord so planned and conducted
the introduction of the Hebrew people
into the promised land as to furnish in
connection with the event a memorial to
continue throughout their generations
Between the Israeltes and their inherit
ance rolled the Jordan at it's food time.
When the people had passed over. twelve
chosen men, one from each tribe went
into the midst OF the Jordan and the
place where the ark OF God had stood
and took from the stream twelve stones
which were set up in GilgaI as a memor-
ial OF this occasion and deliverance.
This enduring monument, built Of the
rocks taken from the river, placed in a
conspicuous spot, where perhaps there
we're no other such stones, would at
tract attention. Future generations
would inquire, "What mean We by these
stOnesY' and then would the story Of
the memorial be unfOlded to the inuuir-
ing mind, and to the Stint monument
would be given an enduring speech and
a most significant meaning, that those
who would not remember should see.
that those who could not or would not
read the record in sacred history might
come to knowledge OF it by means of
this memorial which the common tradi-
tiOn OF the country would fully explain.
The events of their history were first
written in enduring memorials, monu-
ments OF stone; later in their institutions
and fhnn N thu IL oe -.
tOrians.
SO also we find threefold record of
the events OF our own history; the mar
ratlve of the historian, the institutions
OF the nation, and the material monu
ments and memorial days There are
those who may neglect the historian,
they may fail to understand the mean
Ing OF our institutions. Ii so, it NAV be
that our mOnume It's of granite and our
memorial days will call forth their in
quiry and impart the much needed in
spring knowledge of our history. For
instance, let our children and the
adopted children of our country come
upon the monument at Bunker hill. 1t
will provoke the question, what mean
ye by these stones?" The imperishable
granite will reply: Il am the enduring
memorial Of the birth and the birthplace
OF this, the greatest nation on the earth,
today. At my feet men grew up in the
freedom and hardness ofsthe wilderness;
they threw off tyranny and subsection
and accepted the responsibility and
struggles which we're the legacy OF such
birthright."
And with that story would join the
more personal, gigantic shaft on the
bank Of the Potomac erected to the
memory OF one who in greatness and
true dignity and nobility of manhood
has not been surpassed by any of the
millions of earth. What mean these
stories? They speak the same language,
they tell the same story Of the love of
liberty, the heroism, the courage, the
self sacrifice, the long struggle in which
this nation was brought forth, and
providentially given dominion stretch
ing from Plymouth rock to the Golden
Gate, from the perpetual summer OF
Florida to the eternal winter of Alaska,
with soon to be one hundred millions OF
people, the N Ost resOurceful nation on
the earth, set for human freedom, and
the defense OF the weak. oppressed and
entrusted by the Almighty with a mis-
sion OF peace and beneficence as yet un-
approached in the annals Of the world.
But with the overcoming years
our history moves on and is again
gathered up in the results of our pro-
gress and also in new memorials. These
memorials in turn are not only woven
into our history, but also into the very
life and affections of the people
The most significant memorial in our
national life, the one freighted with
more OF our history, entrusted with
larger meaning, encompassing our past
and future, expressing at once the pa
triOtism and the sacrifice of the dead
and the gratitude and love of the living,
is the Memorial Day" We take no
glory from the memorials of our his
tory, either monuments or days. This
memorial rather celebrates the preserva-
ton of these monuments and other
hOnOred days and all that for which
they stand. Even the granite shaft may
crumble and fall, but love, kindled from
heart to heart, from one generation to
another, can meyer crumble and can
never fall
What monument! What a memOr-
ial! Millions of intelligent, free citizens,
conscious OF great debt of gratitude
to their fellow citizens living and dead
when the returning sun has unclasped
the earth from frOsts of winter, brought
about the annual resurrection in nature,
and clothed the land in life and flowers,
gathering, after day of worship in our
churches, with the manned remnant of
that once large and young army, to
plant amid tears and tender recOllec-
tiOns that cannot perish, the flowers and
the grand old flag on the graves of
those who died for home and country.
What a memorial Nothing else like
it in all the world! "What mean We by
this memOrial?" Who can answer? One
may be able to trace the bare facts of
it's history back to broken hearts, pour
ing forth their love and grief at the
graves OF their dead; but will he tell the
full meaning of this memorial? Let it
be understood that probably not a
single family, fairly citizens OF the
United States, wholly exempt from loss
and sorrow and sacrifice and death dur
ing that awful strife and then who will
undertake to tell the meaning of this
memorial? Its meaning is locked up in
the hearts of thousands of broken
hearted women, whose lives were
Swallowed by widowhood and the con-
sequent heavier burdens; it is imprison-
ed in the troubled thoughts and the loss
OF thousands OF orphans: it is buried in
hundreds of thousands OF hearts sleeping
i'll the graves yearly decorated with the
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