The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
ADDRESS To VETERANS.


Joseph r. Gordon Post. G. A. R. and
the post Relief Corps attended the Sixth
Christian Church yesterday morning TO
hear the memorial address of the Rev o.
W. McGaughey, pastor of the church. Be-
tween sixty and seventy members OF the
post and about twenty members Of the
Relief Corps were present. A specially ar
ranged programme of music had been pre-
pared and the services generally had a pa
triotic air. The Rev. Mr.. McGaughey took
no text for his sermon. but simply made
an address to the veterans. In part he
said:
War has been one of the greatest civiliz-
ing as well as destroying forces of the
world 5 history. II has fixed more boundary
lines, settled more disputed questions,
righted more wrongs and brought about
more reforms than any other known fac
tions.
Steam, since its power has been known.
has had no mean place in the progress OF
civilization; electricity, with its subtle
power and lightninglike motion. has elm
fourth its natural size and 5oined nations
hand 10 hand the printing press has en-
hghtened the world by keeping one portion
of earths inhabitants Informed OF the
deeds and thoughts OF the other portion;
the missionary, with his gospel message
OF peace on earth, good Will TO men. has
Dcch a SulnlLB USnl 10 those IN Darkness.
Yet war hath wrought more mighty than
any OF these. / speak now OF the past The
future will hold in her hand no place for
war. Universal peace must reign. and
peace hath her victors no less than war
There is a logic OF life. This not only
explains the history OF nations I'm the past.
but also determines their destiny. That
logic Is sowing and reaping.' Whether in
dividual or national that law obtains: for
what is true Of the individual is true OF the
nation itself Babylon drank her own dam
mi "a stas 80
in her own death. Rome sowed the seed
OF her own destruction. King George and
England brought on the revolution and
their own shame. In 1919 Virginia admitted
into her ports Dutch trading vessel con-
tanning slaves As the result. there flowed
from the veins OF Virginias fair youth
enough blood to have fioated the vessel it.
self
The civil war involved two questions
States rights and human slavery. The
two seemed TO go hand I'm hand. The States
that believed in one held 10 the other The
North and South-natural divisions-be-
come more clearly divided. There We're no
great trunk lines as now. Teegraphic
communication was not common as
now. The North and South did not I'M
derstand one another: hence. lacked SYM
pathy. They soon learned to hate one an
other. Men, like Puritans OF old. left their
ploWs, professions, trades. shops-all that
was dear 10 them-to enlist I'm their coun-
try's cause. The separations were sad.
but they we're for home and freedom. The
world has never marshaled greater nor
better armies. The endurance and patri-
otism OF the American soldier is unparal-
leled. The magnitude of the contest is
unsurpassed. Europe in seVenty-five years
lost fewer men. There will never in all
probability be another war so destructive
TO human life, and especially since the
more recent mode of fighting is simply to
disable.
You. my friends. and your mothers and
wives at home are deserving of the high
est terms OF praise. Earths unrewarded
are the women. BY the logic OF life the
universe is destined TO be crowned with
peace. Your battles now are not with
fellow-man, not with flesh and blood. but
with spiritual wickedness in high places.
The warfare is about over; you will not
fight many more battles; we are coming.
Father Abraham, 100000 strong Still you
sing that song as you make your final
march,"