The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-30
OUR FALLEN HEROES.
Rev. Frank S. Lyon Preached Me-
mortal Services Sunday Morning.


day morning at the First Baptist
church, Rev. Frank s. Lyon preaching
fine sermon on memories Of Our
Fallen Heroes" The G.. A. R, w.
r. O., Company Fl, the .. l.. 1. Band
some Spanish American war veterans
and many other friends assembled to
hear it. The church platform and
pulpit was tastefully draped with
large American flags, which formed a
background and red and white carua-
tions and palms.
= Company H and the band marched
to G.. A. r. hall and escorted the
veterans, each OF whom wore pink
carnation on his breast The w. r.
q. wore white carnations and the
com pany had dark red ones pinned on
their blouses.
| Preceding the sermon at the church
some special music was rendered by
the choir. Miss Lyon rendered most
effectively "The Stars and Stripes
Forever" a stirring patriotic song set
to the music of the march. The
center Of the auditorium had been
reserved for the visitors Of whom
there were many, each organization
showing nearly its full strength. At
the close Of the services the band and
company escorted the old soldiers back
to the hall.
Mr.. Lyon spoke In part as follows:
Text, ii Samuel l:25; "How are the
mighty fallen in the midst of battle!"
This text is taken from the history
Of a soldiers memorial service at
which ministered Israel's warrior
prince, David. His memorial was for
the king, the kings sol and his fellow
countrymen who had been slain.
One OF the first lessons impressed up
on us by this memorial poem is a les
son upon the grandeur of human char
acter; and it shows us how bitter is
the distress that follows the irrepara.
BILE losses of life OF those who fall in
battle. David expresses his passion
ate love for his country and those who
willingly gave their lives to save it.
He speaks especially OF Jonathan, the
soldier prince, the darling OF the na-
ton. "The beauty OF the forest" they
called him because of his rapid move
ments over mountains and through
ambuscades. Brilliant, strong, cour-
ageous, he was the champion Of Israel
and defender of his countrymen.
But the young hero falls in battle,
and our text is the memorial. Today
we bow before the beautiful sentiment
OF that memorial, and find that it
touches responsive chord in our
hearts. Jonathan is representative
OF mighty host OF our own country
men who with the same unselfish de.
votion laid down their lives "for God
and home and native land!" "How
are the mighty fallen in the midst of
battle!"
National progress toward civiliza-
tion, power and peace, has ever been
through war. Jesus Christ, the Prince
of Peace, said, "Think not that l came
to send peace on the earth. l came
not to send peace but sword!" This
is statement of His law that defin-
lite truth when it Is grasped, under
stood and applied to society, will dis
turb and smite and sometimes crush,
before 1t brings peace. Thus the
plains Of peace lie beyond the war
fields OF conviction, repentance and
crucifixiop. Martin Luther grasped
the truth Of Justification by faith.'
1t was mighty sword by which he
cleft the nations and shook the world
from center to circumference. BY that
sword he brought peace to millions.
Abraham Lincoln grasped the truth
of human freedom and union. 1t was
sword that dripped with the pre-
cious blood Of the nation for four years.
The strokes we're heavy, but when they
were delivered the monster slavery
was dead, and the peace of united
country was won.
w AiiC VIC iCyOiOO III pOoSO, We S"hhOo
forget the war. Behold the war: Fiji
teen hundred Thousand men-two hun
dred and seventy-fve thousand Of
whom gave up their lives on battle
field, In hospital and in prison. An
atonement OF blood required to wash
away our nation sin and cleanse our
constitution from the curse under
which 1T had rested for hundred
years. With all the pathos born of a
vital experience we cry from our hearts
today, "How are the mighty fallen In
the midst of battle!"
William Mckinley grasped the
truth of liberty for the oppressed. 1t
was a mighty sword that pierced the
heart Of Spanish tyranny and drove the
oppressor from land and sea. Because
of that war, our country has taken
first rank among the nations Of the
earth and her beacon light Of liberty
shines more brightly than ever. Now
the hand that held that sword lies