St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-05-28
MEHORIAL SUNDAY.
Sermon by Rev. A. Francis waIch.

hC -hNuiOllei SuhOcA SCI WIZ " dS hSlN
at Music Hall Sunday evening and {
large audience gathered to listen to tht
address to Chamberliu Post, which was
given by Rev. A. Francis Walch. Mr.
Walch opened the service with a briet
prayer, scripture was read by Rev. K. L.
Duston and prayer was Offered by Rev.
Joshua NJ. Frost. Music was rendered by
double quartette, consisting of w. B.
Atwood, Harry Harvey Mrs. c. T. Ran
let, Mrs. E. L. Hovey, Mrs. !. H. Moore,
Mrs. Charles Locke, David Forbes, Harry
H. May, and they were accompanied by
Miss Katherine Kidder, pianist, and ].
Wesley Batchelder, cornetist.
Rev. Mr.. Walch took for his text Exc
dus xii. 24 "And We shall observe this
thing for an ordinance to thee and to
thy sons forever" After the introduc-
tion in which he emphasized the deep sig
nifcance OF the meeting, and the fact
that it is now a fixed habit and a settled
NiSlOiI AbtlN SUN a 81 VIZ oACAlb PiN-
cede the formal ceremonies of Decora-
ton Day, he divided his subject into
three distinctive parts. He said, in part,
"The first thing to justify such service
SCENE to me to be the war itself What
ever else we do we must not let 60 any
thing which makes the civil war real to
us. 1t would be a dire calamity if we
should lose sight of and what it means
in history. How far away the four long, |
fateIul, suffering years seem to us of this |
later generation, and after almost 40 |
years OF peace, troubled but few months |
by the Spanish war, how unreal it all
appears to be. More than two and one
half millions of men were under arms in
the Northern army; almost 100000 men
in the Northern army were killed in ac-
ton or died of their wounds, and nearly
100000 more died from disease or acct
dent. The entire available force capable
of active service in the field on the con-
Tolerate side was 600, 900 and their en-
tire loss during the war was more than
half this number, very slight mental
effort will show that almost exactly
l 600 600 men laid down their lives in
thus mighty conflict.
In the second place it is true to say
that the civil war has helped to make
plain the meaning of a real United States
We cannot fully realize what a United
States means, unless we first try to see
what divided one would have meant.
1t would have meant severed interests,
broken families, divided powers, and
above all it would have meant the per.
Of the vilest institution that
ever eXisted-human slavery. But the
war put an end to all this and made it
possible for US to boast federation &c
nented i'll blood and bent on education
and good government, and broad Cit
zensh1p for the protection OF the rights
Of every man of whatever name or race.
When the war was ended our armies
melted away like the morning dew and
entered at once into the useful pursuits
Of Their former life Since they were mus
tered out very many Of them have filled
high places OF trust in the state and ma
tional life-both of which facts help to
make the knowledge of this union
real.
1t IS also true to say in the third place,
that there is deeper lesson still, which
his occasion teaches us. The war be-
.ween the northern and southern sec
ions was a conflict of ideas and institu-
IONS The Whole question at stake was
whether the nation coul withstand the
shock OF The battle as the divine process
IT selection went on Two ideas devel-
)ped i'll the different sections In the
minds OF large class in the south labor
vas looked upon as degrading, and to
his class it was necessary to have slaves.
IN thenorth there grew up a class OF peo-
Die who believed in labor and who saw
n the free opportunity of labor for all
the means OF great advancement.
After the War of the Revolution slavery
ceased entirely in the north, and the
south with its idea OF a privileged class
discouraged popular education, and
along with the institution Of slavery de-
veIoped people part of whom were
and the rest as pebian as
the negro except IN color This idea of
aristocrats and arstocracy was at the
bottom OF the agitation that produced |
the Civil War, and here is it's eternal i'm.
portance 1t was far more than mat |
ter OF geography, OF territory, OF political |
privileges. 1t was really a part OF the |
conflict that is ever waged tor ciyiliza- |
ton. 1t was glorious demonstration
OF patriotism, and religion and patriot
ism are II the same parent and must be.
come part If all true citizenship of the
commonwealth" In closing he said
" Brethren OF the G A. K. we salute YOU
to-day. We remember with grateful
hearts the heroism aud devotion which
you and your cOmra AIDES in arms have
gwen to our country, Your ranks are
thinning fast as the years 90 by and
your members, one by one, are marching
on to tight forever in the cause Of truth
andr9ht IN the unseen armies OF Heaven
The pure love of a thankful nation shall
delight to remember your valor and to
keep green the sacred graves OF your
bodies"
Alter the singing Of America, in which
the audience was led by the choir, Rev.
Mr.. Watch pronounced the benediction.
Aradeu-,t No4ae