The Somerset reporter., 1903-05-28
Memorial Services

oefore Memorial D. were held H. ) D -
hegan this year in the Uhivfi ais
church, upon invitation of that soeje'g
with an appropriate, patriotic G8.e5urs'
by the pastor, Rev. Dwight A. Ball
special aud very acceptable music was
rendered by quartette consisting o,
hessrs. Smith and Manter, Mrs. Duntou
and Mrs. Simpson. Miss Hight. organsi
Flowers, fl *, and pictures of NE
prominent as generals and Statesmen
adorned the platform. Russell Post, q
A. r., Wildes Camp Sons Of Veteran,
and Russell Relief Corp. attended H.
bodies as guests of the church.
Following is an epitome Of Rev. M.
Ball's thoughtful and timely discourse:
In considering the subjee Of ~ Nations
Lie from ths view point Of this day, we
realize that tits occasion is pre-emineutiy
one OF memoirs. A day doubly sacred sa
cred to the welfare Of these wh1 now guard
and are to petFetuate that freedom.
We are met 10 refresh memories but more
especially 10 express the vivid impress,
stamped alike on heart and mind Of the
Halorous deed and noble sacrifice which you
and your comrades 50 generously and willing
ly gave. Our anticipation in this exercise is
not only ceremony Of respect, but pro
found act Of latitude W recall not So
much to mourn as to honor, not so much 70
say sweet thing to ears long leaf IN their
last sleep as to emulate the thoughts Of the
honored dead $ the inspired deeds Of the
honorable living.
In common With thousands In other places
We are today 10 test cur nations strength
Midst the smoking he'll Of battle it has been
tested when Your comrades fell in gallant
action, when your sinews, close knit anu TEN
pered by wars peculiar hardships withstood
the fearful charge of foes whose courage
made them WORTHY antagonists; when your
breasts made battlement as impregnable as
the rock of Gibraltar. That was in the time
when wars horrors made day hideous and
darkness sleepless nightmare of terrors. In
this blessed time OF peace the test of our ma
tons strength is III the regard and honor IN
which it holds its makers and defenders.
The life OF nation, like that Of man is
not measured by time but by achievement.
In 1860 Grant was a farmer almost entirely
unknown to public men. Five years later he
was the most popular man in America. In
the seventeenth century our NEST sanguine
statesmen set the western boundary of our
land at the summit of the Alleghanies.
Those OF the next century at first saw it not
beyond the roaring waters of the Missouri
and later set the Limit at the Golden Gate.
After resting there a brief fifty years the
eagle has taken a wider range to the far Ia
cifc. That there he no biased measure of
these achievements let us take it in the words
of our English friend, Stanley. Treble
their number OF ordinary Europeans could
not have passed the Americans in what they
have done. The story Of their achievement
reads like an epic Of the heroic age Such
is the nation whose life YOU preserved with
such awful but willing sacrifice fulfilling the
largest expression of mans love in the LAYING
down Of your lives for your friends
Out of such past but one future ought to
grow-a future stamped by the principles
that have conspicuously marked the history
of our progress. The world is governed
more by opinion than by law.
In the great advance the keeping of the
nations honor is steadily passing from the
custody of the soldier to that of the citizen.
he citizen must be as true patriot as any
who ever wore the blue.
The first conspicuous element which should
mark our future history is Justice A power
that brooks no wrong TO lis own government
or people, as strenuously insists that a ike
measure shall be dealt to others whether 10y
its own hand or by that Of neighbor to neigh.
Dor across our borders.
\ second prominent element must be
philanthropy. The true citizen shares the
community's burdens. Likewise the right
eous nation must ever nobly bear a part in
the problems of its sister governments The
action Of America and Americans has been
and ever must be strong in promoting the
highest interests Of humanity. Cuhas FIRST
anniversary OF national freedom So recently
celebrated was tribute Of gratitude to our
beloved land for her Punishment of the UNI
improbable Spaniard from the western world
Again established institutions which arc
efficient in elevating all classes must plainly
mark our onward course. In I775 England
refused to her citizens in the land such in.
stitutions. the bitter struggles of the Revolu-
ton. Such institutions are a measure of a
nations dignity and 4 warrant of It's peace
In 'bI the presence Of an institution which
prevented the efficiency OF some Of our pco-
pie again precpitating in bitter struggle
Now the nobeman Of those freed people
gives the key to future progress in his de
mand that his race shall merit honor before
it IS bestowed upon them.
We must recognize that the preservation
of these clements and the promotion Of our
nations life is dependent upon its homes
The homes which impress upon the youth
the noble, patriotic, and tender mother in
fluences which today throb in the breasts Of
the Relief Corps members.
The mighty power Of the home in turn
depends upon the fountain Of all true ant
righteous life-the religious atmosphere
drawn from an infinite and loving God, oul
Father and our Friend.