The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-11-07

ANO'SAI O"ALASA' Via loh, ShA', =,
Hon. A. J. Lawson, Union City,
Tenn, Mrs. DR.. E. L. Williams,
Crystal, Mr.. John Bruer, Clayton,
Master Nose Cunningham, Rev. G..
H. Stigler.
REV. sTIGLER's TALK.
Half a century ago, when the
great forest trees were waYsng
their boughs majestically over the
now broad cultivated fields and the
deer roamed over the hillsides and
drank from the brooks, and the
wild birds sang in the forests-yea,
when most of our names were yet
unspoken, brave pioneer, his form
erect, his body strong, his cheeks
ruddy with the glow of health, his
eye sparkling with the fire of de-
termination and zeal, captured a
fair maiden just merging into wo-
manhood and took her to his little
cottage home. Young and happy
and confident they launched out on
the great sea of married life on
which so many vessels, great and
small, have f1oated, stranded and
sank. Or rather they enlisted for
the. great battle of life to conquer
or fall side by side. Many a hard
fought battlefield have they gone
over together. Many times they
have been furloughed by sickness,
made prisoners by troubles and dis
appointments, but as many times
have they been released and entered
the conflict afresh, each time with
renewed energy. To-day they
stand before us surrounded by a
host of loving friends and a number
of noble sons and daughters as wit
nesses of what perseverance will
do, and as living testimonies of
Him who has said "I'll never leave
thee nor forsake thee" To-day
they are wearing the laurels of 50
years fighting and winning victories
in the great battle OF life. For this
reason we are glad, and extend con-
gratulations. Again we are glad,
for we think back of so many who
enlisted at the same time. Where
are they? They are gone-gone
into the presence of Him who calls
his soldiers from the great army of
this world to the greater host in
the beyond.
The Bible teaches us that people
have been blest with long and hap
py lives by fearing God. This
must be why these have been
spared. You are SCARED, the shoul-
ders are stopped, the step is not so
elastic, the care turrowed cheeks
show traces of darker days.
Nevertheless, the heaven born
souls are still unchanged and the
two hearts, after fifty years of serv-
ice, are still beating with that un-
dying love for each other. And to-
day our prayer is that there may
yet be in the ever advancing future
more even happier days than have
been.
To their children, what more can
you do than cover their cheeks with
kisses. Let your tears be showers
of blessings to their souls. And
say, God help me to walk in the
steps of my father and mother and
be as honorable as they. You
should be happy. Few children
ever witness a scene like this. l
never can. My father is gone.
Mother is alone, fighting the battle
all alone. Many children never
can, their fathers or mothers one
or both are gone. Doubtless not
one here ever can. Then let us
thank Him who doeth all things
we'll for this day.
We can't say, "For your hearts to
be reunited" d"-they have never been
separated; or, "For your love to be
renewed"-it has never faded. We
only say, go on with the warfare
a few more years of marching, a |
few more storms or disappoint-
ments, few more joys and victo-
ries, and the final charge will be
made. And when this comes, and
you stand on the last border of the
battlefield and look into the face of
the last enemy, you will see the |