The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
SERVICES AT CHRIST CHURCH.
Rev. j. ID. Stanley breaches to Mem
beers of George III. Thomas Post

Hev. j. ID. Stanley breaches to Mem
bers of George III. Thomas Post.
Yesterday morning the George H. Thomas
Post. of the G. A. r.. attended Christ
Church in body for their annual memo
rial service. The church was appropriately
decorated with flags. and the vested choir
rendered special music. The rector, the
/. Rev. James D. Stanley, took as his text
III Tim, Nv, rs: II have fought good
fight; I have finished my course; 1 have
kept the faith; heneeforth there is laid up
for me a crown of righteousness" In the
! course OF the sermon he said
1T is a pleasure to greet this morning
members of the George II. Thomas Post,
Of the Grand Army of the Republic, and
to welcome them to Gods house, for, mas
much as patriotism is an integral part of
religion, IL is fitting that while you COM
memorate the Yalor and devotion of your
departed comrades you should recognize
that, back of all human bravery. is the
God who directs and rules the destinies of
men, To gather thus. on the eve of the
solemn, sacred day when you would pay
your loyal loving tribute TO bravery of the
past is tacit or expressed recognition of
Him who. I'm the final statement is the
arblter of human conflict
Divine impress is placed upon righteous
warfare. and impulses which give rise to ii
are of Gods implanting and fostering in
junction The time must come when wars
shall cease, and for that time we pray;
but righteous war must, in the meantime.
be recognized preliminary to the happy
and longed-for consummation.
That nation is blessed which has naught
to blush for in the battles which have been
fought in its name. for it is only the JUS
tice OF a cause which can lend to 1T perma-
nent glory. 1t is impossible, often, to esti-
mate all the passions which go to make up
human strife; but we are confident that
the main current of motive in our own Re
public has been always pure, and We may
await with assurance the calm, discrimi-
mating judgment of posterity.
when national independence was gained
a mighty stride forward was made in civ
ilized government, and the young Republic
has proved of untold value for the cause
of the people everywhere.
THE verdict, after a quarter of a CEN
fury, concerning our civil war is, without
dissent, that the results achieved were
benefcent, and all parts OF our country
have not only acquieSced in a restored
union, but emulate each other in express
sions of loyalty and gratitude.
Free Cuba is one Of the bright Jewels
in our Nations crown, for to-day all cav
Hing tongues are sienced as to the abso-
lutely disinterested motives which
prompted our conflict with Spain. and
there is shown an instance, unparalleled
in history's annals, of a strong Nation
espousing the cause of a weak people and
passing over to them. without reward
save that consciousness which the virtue
of mercy itself brings-the blessings of lib
erty secured in their behalf
Not yet has been wrought out fully our
Nations purpose for the far-Off islands of
the Pacific, but the accomplishments of the
past should prove a harbinger and earnest
Of the future, and we may see in vision,
when the atmosphere shall have cleared. a
result of which no loyal son need feel
ashamed.
MINDS GO BACK.
But to-day your thoughts are specific,
rather than general Your minds go back
TO the early years of the sixties when you
marched shoulder TO shoulder on the field
of battle with those who were fighting for
the cause you loved, and who gave their
lives for that cause; and you are think
ing of the details of brethren which year
by year have, at the command of death,
gone to join the silent majority. It would
be unworthy of you, and of us. If their
memories were not cherished; and we
should be less than men If the thought or
their devotion to our country stirred not
within us afresh the fire of patriotism.
They have been but recently so eloquently
eulogized, at the dedication of yon monu-
ment, that / should but repeat the terms
of appreciation and love were | to attempt
words of praise. That noble shaft honors
the State as well as the soldier and sailor
in whose memory it is erected. May il
stand forever to declare to those who shall
come after the strength and valor and
loyalty of the American warrior. Those
silent victors have fought a good fight,
they have finished their course. Go, then,
upon Memorial Day and place your gar
lands upon their last resting places. and
thank God that American manhood stands
for all that is patriotic and self-sacrifc-
ing and valorous, when the nation issues
it's call for services and for lives.
To-day | would speak to you not SO
much of things pertaining to the past as
concerning the present and the future.
Nations cannot survive on former achieve
ments. nor individuals rest upon laurels
long since won. The glory of life is in
meeting each duty as 1t arises and fighting
each earthly battle as it comes. 1t is well
to gather around the mimic camp fires and
recall deeds of military prowess; you have
purchased the right to magnify the days
that are gone. II is well and worthy to
commemorate the loyalty of the departed;
it were to be migrate otherwise. But it is
well, too, to remember that there is a bat
tie ever on, contest wherein there can be
no laying down of arms. That battle is
against evils fragrant and subtle in the
body polite: that contest is against foes
the soul. If, in recognition of brave and
willing sacrifice for country a certain
nobility is bestowed upon our soldier-citi-
zen. the maxim obtains. and should be ac-
cepted by him: noblesse oblige'-nobility
obligates. We look to him as an example
of what is best in citizenship and most
sterling in manhood. We look to him as
the upholder of high civic ideals and the
espouser of all worthy causes. Nay, shall
we not say that we look TO him to be a good
soldier of Jesus Christ? The battle of the
crucified has not yet been fully won. In
each generation and in each individual
heart the conflict must be waged. Herosm
upon the field of battle demands homage:
heroism in the daily round and common
task that Christs truth may prevail i'm
us and in the world must receive the COM
mendation of heaven.
Soldiers and brethren, you have an
swered your last call to arms. The Ma
tiOn's battles must hencefOrth be fought
by those younger in years. And even the
fighters for all good causes grow rapidly
fewer in your ranks from year 10 year
As we watched the columns of veterans but
Yesterday marching behind the tattered
flags we could but note with sadness that
alignment was not exact as of yore
movement not as alert. head not as erect
IL showed that many years had passed
since the mastering out. with honorable
discharge, at the close of the civil war
The time for the mastering out from lifes
warfare grows on apace. When that time
shall come may there be an honorable dis
charge for each and all of you; and in
your retrospect of the life ending and as
you look forward 10 that which is TO come
may you be able to say, with the aged
victorious Paul: Il have fought a good
fight. hencefOrward there is laid up for me
a crown OF righteousness "
REV. III. c. MEsERVE's SERMON.