Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-06-02
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE. DID,.
Paotor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

Rev.. Frank De Witt Talmage shows
how the dead heroes whose graves are
garlanded On Memorial day live again
In the spirit which their self sacrifice
inspires, in the American people; text,
Ezekiel xxxvii> g. "Can these bones
liveg'
A dark. grewSOme valley, peopled
with the strangest of all strange hosts,
great army of bleached skeletons, is
the scene of the prophets vision. Amid
the millions and billions of dry bones
there is not the CLEAN of one eye, the
beating of one heart the welcome of
one handclasp. All are motionless.
All are dead. Then, in the silence,
there comes voice asking the momen-
tous question, "Can these bones live?"
And. strange to say. as if in answer,
the dry bones begin to move the
Joints, LIKE rusty hinges, creaking from
long disuse. The different skeletons
lift themselves and stand up. Then,
stranger still. these skeleton forms
stoop down, as we would bend to gath
er the fresh. clean linen after morn
ing bath, and they clothe themselves in
garments of flesh and blood. God first
could live Then God showed the
prophet by visual manifestation that
they could
Tire sumo question which was asked
the ancient prophet l ask you this ma
tional Memorial cay in reference to the
bones, the dry bones, of the soldiers
who died i'm our civil war. | ask it in
reference to the dead soldiers of the
northern and southern armies alike
Now that the civil war is forty years
past, all are agreed that the men who
wore the gray fought from motives
Just as honorable us those of the men
who wore the blue. Robert L. Lee and
Stonewall Jackson were Gods noble
men as certainly as were U. S. Grant
and William I. Sherman. Alexander
III. Stephens was Obeying the dictates
of his own conscience as certainly as
did Thaddeus Stevens. | ask this ques-
ton the more boldly because among
the hist plans OF our martyred Presi-
dent William Mckinley was one to do
Justice to the aged Confederate veter-
ans. Can the bones of the northern
and southern heroes who suffered
death upon American battlefields live
again2 l ask the question because 1
intend to answer it myself | want to
prove this morning that the men who
met soldiers death fighting bravely
are. not dead. They are more alive to-
day than when their deeds testified to
the world that Americas heroes and
heroines-for shall speak in reference
TO both--should be classed among the
moral and intellectual forces of their
day and generation.
The Inspiration of Example.
The dead of our American battle
fields are intensely alive today in their
inspiring examples. Every true soldier
knows what I mean by the overwhelm-
ing power of q personal example. 1t is
the ability which a brave leader, by q
deed of hercism, has to instill the cour-
age of his own life into other lives.
There comes a crisis in the battle.
What does the assaulting brigade COM
mander do? Does he keep his position
In the rear of his troops, where he has
a right to stay? Does he send one OF
his staff officers to lead in the charge
Does he hook after his own safety
Oh. no. He draws his sword and steps
ly utters u few inspiring words. He
says: Boys. the safety of the whole
army depends upon this move. Either
we must capture yonder hill and breal
that opposing line. or else the whole
force must retreat or surrender. Some
Of us may lay down our lives there
VIII you follow me, men? / ask n,
man to go where l am not ready t,
lead. I ask no man to charge wher
1t may not be possible for him to ste
over my dead body. Men. will you go
VIII you goT' And all down the lin
OF threats there comes the hoarse an
swer: AYE. general, we will go! w
will gor' This was the way Genera
George Edward Pickett did when b
stepped in front of his soldiers at tn
battle OF Gettysburg and led his br
gade across those bloody fields until 6
last his lines were almost annihilateC
With tears streaming down his cheek
Pickett returned to report to his con
Dander. saying. General Lee, my n,
bic brigade has been swept awayv' TIL
was the way Marshal Ney did when
led tbs Old Guard down into the raviI
OF Chain. where the Waterloo TRACED
was practically ended. This was IL
way Richard Neville. earl of Warwic
did upon the battlefield of Barne
When the great kingmaker saw tn;
his troops were being routed. he roc
to the top OF hill and dismounte
There. within sight of his men,
drove his sword into the heart of h
noble war charger. Then. having G.
off all possibility of personal escape,
called his troops. saying: THE col
mander OF the English forces is here
conquer OF die. Will his men be wi
ing to die with him?" The retreatil
soldiers gathered around their not