The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-05-28
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Services at the Unitarian Church, Sermon
by Rev. Harry Lutz.0

|
| by Rev. Harry Lutz.~
The Grand Army veterans were favored
with perfect weather for their Memorial
Sunday services, May oath, and large
number attended the exercises at the Unita-
rian church in the forenoon. The pulpit de-
corations were tasteful and appropriate.
The pulpit was covered with large flag on
which green foliage and white blossoms
were grouped. AS the bells ceased ringing
! the Grand Army to the number of forty
eight, and the Relief Corps numbering
twenty-one, marched to the church from
Memorial Hall, escorted by squad Of the
Sons of Veterans, and all were given seats
in the centre of the church.
The music was by the Unitarian choir,
Miss Blanche L. Sullivan, soprano; Miss
Alice P. Poor, alto; c. E. White, tenor; Ed
ward Thorndike, bass; Miss Mary E.
Faunce, organist. After the organ volun-
tary the pastor, Rev. Harry Lutz, read "De-
corating Soldiers Graves by Rev. Minot j.
Savage. Mr.. Thorndike sang Battle
Prayer" by Hummel. The 91st psalm was
read responsively by pastor and congrega-
tion, and the anthem "Jublate Deo,'' by
Rathbun, was sung by the choir. Rev.
, Hs~ry Lutz offered prayer, Miss Sullivan
sang, as solo, 81 love you, Lord" and the
pastor read as the scripture lesson, Isaiah 2:
1-1O and Micah 4 Is. The choir sang
''Tentng Tonight on the old Camp Ground"
Mr.. Lutz took for his text the words from
Isaiah pa, "And they shall beat their
swords into ploughshareS, and their spears
| into pruning hooks nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more" These words, he
said, do not present the visionary dream of
| an idealist, but the far seeing visions of a
true prophet However little the prophet
| himself may have realized it, he spoke to
| and for all coming ages. There is a con-
| sistency in advocating universal peace and
at the same time paying tribute to the valor
Of the soldier and in paying tribute to the
| soldier we worship Him who brought these
| things about. We do not find anything
good in war, but it leads onward and up.
ward to the perfection of humanity. The
| soldier is an actor OH lifes stage. Far more
| potent than the spOilS of war is it that the
victor come forth man. Mr.. Lutz referred
to the great characters of Shakespeare as
instruments in the great drama of human
progress. All tragedy, whether between
| individuals or nations, is a conflict between
the higher and the lower forces. The war
of the Rebellion was conflict in the ad-
vancement of human progress. Liberty
! and slavery represented the two opposite
| forces, the higher and the lower elements.
They could not long exist together they must
! inevitably clash. In the first wars of man
kind the vanQuished were slain. Then came
the advancement to saving the foes alive for
slaves, and this in turn gave place to hold
ing prisoners for ransom, and later to the
modern practice of exchange or of holding
them until the close of the war and giving
them their liberty. Each practice was an
advance in humanity upon its predecessor.
The seeds of slavery were planted in Ameri-
ca at jamestown in the same year that those
of liberty were planted at Plymouth. Self
interest had much to do with the perpetual
ton of slavery. Had slave labor been prof.
table in the North we never should have
! known a Mason 4 DiXon'S line. Slavery was
| not the crime of the South alone. The boys
in blue were actors representing one force in
human affairs the boys in grey, under the
| stars and bars, were actors representing
the other force The land became drench-
ed with fraternal blood. The nations of
world looked on with breathless interest
The boys in blue We're not merely fighting
the boys in grey; both were actors in the
great human drama, the higher forces con-
tending against the lower. Could the
leaders have got together and settled the
matter calmly, on principle? No. Man
NAV hinder or hasten the progress but he
cannot change the forces. Do we not see
everywhere the signs that the swords are
being beaten to plowshares and spears to
pruning hooks? There is a growing sense
of common interest, of universal brother
hood in the world. The International Court
of Arbitration is an act in the great drama
leading to the time when all shall march
under one banner of Liberty, Equality,
Broth erhood and Righteousness. May we
all help to bring about this happy consuma-
ton.
The service closed with the hymn.
"America," and the postlude, "Star Spang-
led Banner" solo by Miss Poor.
The Grand Army and Sons of Veterans
marched to Lewis wharf, where new
and impressive ceremony was performed.
1t consisted in strewing flowers upon the
water in memory of those who, in the naval
service of their country, gave their lives
for the cause and whose bodies rest beneath
the waves. The service was read by Com
mander A. E. Clark.
| Transfers in Real Estate.