The Republican journal., 1901-05-30
MEMORIAL SUNDAY SERVICES.
An Able and Patriotic Sermon by Rev. Ge
S, Mills.

An Able and Patriotic Sermon by Rev. Geo.
S. Mills.
The Memorial Sunday services of Thomas
H. Marshall Post. G. A. R., were held in
the North church Sunday forenoon, with a
large attendance. The Grand Army to the
number of 40 men attended in body, es
corted by A. F. Clark Camp, Sons of Vet
Grams. The Grand Army, Relief Corps,
Ladies' Aid and Sons of Veterans occupied
seats in the centre of the church. The pull
pit was very appropriately decorated with
flags, flowers, etc. The opening exercises
included prayer, Scripture reading, portions
of the 10Th, 18th and 10Th chapters of Reve-
lation, hymns by the choir and congrega-
ton, anda solo, {" Eternal Rest" by Piccilo-
mini, sung by John Parker. The sermon
by Rev. George S. Mills was from the text
Rev. 1871, "And there was war in heaven.
Michel and his angels fought against the
dragon All peace-loving, war hating peo-
ple said Mr.. Mills, should rejoice in the
work of the High Court of Nations, which
aims to bring about settlement of interna-
tional differences through arbitration rather
than war. Especially should old soldiers,
and more especially all true Americans,
hail the coming of the day when this end
shall be accomplished. The idea originated
in the American Peace Society sixty years
ago. With three wars in progress the idea
of universal peace would seem to be vision
ary indeed, yet it is an encouraging fact
that fifteen of the leading nations of the
| NIL tc orc nd
said Mr. Mills, not as an apologist for war.
War is veritable Moloch to whom many
sacrifices have been made War is the gi-
gantic crime of the centuries. Mr.. Mills
| quoted from Douglas Gerald, Napoleon
| and Wellington as to the evils of war.
But there is a battling which is just
| and right. War against wrong and injus-
tice is ever right. The principle Of non
| resistance is beautiful, but it is not practi-
cal. We are glad of the example of Jesus
| in using force against evil when he drove
| the money changers from the temple with
the lash. There must be struggle against
evil. There is always fighting to be done on
earth against wrong. There have been
many wars for which there was no other
COul sc. LII Jul OWA 1NCNOllGlOLdIy duu
Civil War, what other course remained for
the provoked party? The remedy was an
awful one, but the blood was not shed in
vain. Non-intervention may be as criminal
as war. There is a divinity that shapes the
worlds ends rough hew them how we will.
Our idealism must be practical. The money
cost of our Civil War is sometimes compar
ed with the market value of the slaves
emancipated, and to this is added the thou
sands of human lives sacrificed in the
struggle. But could the question of slavery
have been settled in any other way? 1t has
| been said that the civil war leaves nothing
but tombs, but this is not so. 1t developed
a sturdy manhood, love of country and
of right. Ours is better America to-day
for that conflict There is something worse
than war, and that is moral Indifference Il
| is sad day for any nation when it lacks
| vigor to resist wrong. But putting aside
the greater question of nations we should
consider the relations Of men in the commu
nifty, and be ever ready to combat evil We
should be willing to fight the good fight, an
to make war on wrong and injustice, in
whatever guise they present themselves.