The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-26
FOR THE SOLDIERS
Rev. G. A. Finch breaches Me-
mortal Sermon.
What the Soldiers of Civil War
Suffered.
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE
How Women Bore Their Part
in the Struggle.
Triumphs of American Arms in
Spanish War.
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE

Rev. c. A. Finch. pastor Of the First
Christian church. delivered the Memoir
ial day sermon Sunday afternoon a.
the church on Topeka avenue Inc
IA Getting was attended by the members
of the Grand Army posts in Topeka and
their friends. Rev. Mr.. Finch chose Iof
his text the verse found in the zOth
chapter of Acts, But none OF these
things move me, neither count 1 my lie
dear unto myself 50 that may finish
my course with joy.
Rev Finch said IN part; But none
of these things N owe me- This in the
language of Paul expresses the grim
determination which characterized all
loyal hearts. The guns Of Sumter ana
the blood Of Arthur Ladd brought the
whole north to a true sense of the sit
uation- Loyalty reigns supreme. Pc
Itical barriers We're ignored Before
Sumter had fallen the governor of New
York had issued can for the legis-
lature to assemble and the Democratic
mayor of the great city was transform
ed into a national patriot. BY the
close of 1861 this state had sixty Ihou-
sand soldiers in the field From all the
states in four years there marched four
and half million of men to settle the
conflict of principles by the ordeal of
battle. During April and May from
New England and York state there
swept through New York city alone
ffty-six thousand troops. In three
months that city contributed forty thou
sand soldiers and $3.50, 600 for the ma
tons defense.
.The loyalty of the wOmanhoOd of
those days is without a parallel in his
tory. In the bright eyes of the girls OF
81, no young man stood any chance OF
preference before the soldier boy hero
clad in his cOuntrys blue. The bride Of
the day was strained for q moment to
the young husbands heart, and then
with the rose petals all scattered from
her white cheek she babe him march to
his COuntry'S call Mothers there were
who with breaking heart offered up their
only son upon the altar of their cOun-
try, and not a few saw the husband and
father marching away with all the boys
toward the southland, leaving her there
alone. These women toiled in the field.
6craped lint, packed blankets, knitted
socks. sent provisions to the soldier and
by their devotion put nerve into the
heart of many a boy upon whose grave
you viii place the flowers of remem-
brance.
More than tongue can tell they suf-
fered' in the long nights of loneliness
and anxiety; in the torture of suspense
could be published; iV-1the awful un-
certainty when father, son or husbands
name was read in the list OF those miss
ing. and when the train from the battle
field rolled into the station bearing
precious forms. clad in the uniform of
the flag, with streaming eyes they laid
their dead away to await the Judgment;
in the north the blue in the south the
grey.
May the day soon come when the
graves of the patriotic women who
fought the mighty heart battle at home
shall be decorated in common with
those of the men who fell in deadly
struggle on the field of battle-both are
worthy to sleep beneath a wilderness of
roses
And then there comes freshly to our
minds the Spanish-American war and
the rich heritage of this spirit of sacri-
flee passed down from father to son.
We honor the men who have died for
Cuba; theirs is the glory of heroes.
Theirs is the sleep of the brave 1t is
uard 20 die away from home We long
TO look into eyes that love US. We crave
the touch of hands that toiled ever for
our happiness. We Vearn to hear again
the familiar voice that PRAYED for us
IN every step in the way of life. Moth
ing Is more natural for the longing for
nome and mother. At SibOney. the hos
pllal surgeon told ScanIOn that he had
an hour to live. He laughed back III
live long enough to get back to my
mother and ask her forgiveness for run
!ling away He did, and died with his
mead on her breast Surely that mother
did not give opportunity to her boy to
ask forgiveness. for at that deathbed
scene imagine that one like unto the
son OF man arose before her vision and
salu' he that loseth his life, shall find
They died for the flag. 1t is the sweet
EST banner that ever kissed the skies
II was conceived in suffering and was
born in smoke Of battle It's white
purity is of God. and in its field of
azure the stars rest content as in their
native skies Aurora ''rosv-fngered
dawn" gave it her robe of morning dyed
10 a deeper red with blood of heroes.
INTO the crooked hand of the bird of the
sun freedom placed It to guide our
4atLeIs from Lexington to Yorktown
IN 1872 it swept the deep and established
me rights of American sailors. Cross
ing the wave, it blazed in fearful ven