The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-06-02
CITY'S SOLDIERS AT SERVICE
AT ST JOHNS EPISCOPAL
 CHURCH LAST NIGHT.


 Under Command of Colonel sucher-
 sermon Preached by Rev. George w,
 Phillips, Chaplain of tho Second
 Regiment.
 The special annual service of the city battalion of the Second regiment was held in St, Johns Episcopal church last night. All of the local companies Of the regiment, under command of Coi- onel Sucher, with his staff, and attend ed the service. The Second regiment band also accompanied the soldiers to the church, and at the conclusion of the service they played the accompaniment for America
 Rev. George w. Phillips, chaplain uf the regiment, preached an able sermon to the assembled soldiers, and gave them many matters of vital interest to consider and made suggestions which if diligently followed by them and by ail will assist materially in the continued prosperity of the country. His text was the Sth verse of the 11th chapter of Deuteronomy, which reads: Therefore J which l command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, Whither ye go to possess it." He said that there was national morality and a national iniquity. There was in consequence more need of teach ing the children of this and future gem erations the words of God, to remind them that their days will be multiplied and their inheritance be perpetual if they adhere to His holy will and teach ings. They must be assured of the love of the most high God. In this republic as in any other it's political rights de- pend on its morality. We must culti- vate the spirit of reverence to God as binding on us in she extreme. This national morality, what Is it and how is it fostered? It is the morality of the individual expressed in the conduct and administration of public affairs. Ma tional morality is also the morality of the individual citizen expressing itself by what is called public opinion. When nation lets murders and other crimes pass by without speaking of them it is then degrading itself and lowering its standard of morality but when it frowns on such things we see signs of health. It is the gigantic public opin- ion which crushes or raises at will a man or class of men This public opinion Is made up of the individual opinion. The press is the exponent of this public opinion; 1t is the exponent of the people, As tree Is judged by it's fruits, so may the public press be licentious or good. We need to conform to the principals of the Lord Jesus Christ. This national morality is the of the individual, and we in should be upright, holy men; we should be virtuous and relig- ious, obedient and subservient to the holy will Of God.
 He said: You as citizen soldiers have | an influence on the community which if for good carries great weight with it, | and which is a part of this national Patriotism requires you to be good Christians. There must be a high and holy purpose in your lives and | you must not be untrue and unfaithful | to the commands of your God any more | than to those of your superior officer
 There is need for more interest in the affairs of state. There is too much | indifference on the part of the young men who leave their homes at an early ,ge and vote as machines; not thor 'ughly understanding what they are ioing or whom they are selecting to serve them. There is great danger in his in that the irresponsible men will 'ooner or later get into office and wield | power which will be injurious. You 'hould know the principles which gov 'rn the men you elect to run your state md thus the ho~S of union of the state will become stronger and shall be a 'oWer for good You should feel that 'ou have something to do with the na- ional honor and that America is for Americans. This was the principle of ur forefathers who founded it and in- ernal interest in it's affairs is one of he pillars of the nation.
 In conclusion the speaker said that no ation could exist without religion and hat we as a people of the state and as |; Ortion of the nation should strive to eep the principles of our Lord Jesus 'hrist before us and work to the end f making them the principles of all nd then we shall be enduring and be he glory of all the nations of the world.
 |,