Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-25
MEMORIAL SUNDAY,
Observed at Congregational
Church, Last Evening
Attended by Veterans Of the Civil and
Spanish Wars.
ELOQUENT Sermon Preached by Rev
Norman Mckinnon.

The CONGREGATIONAL church was
crowded, last evening, at the preaching
of the annual Memorial sermon before
the veterans of the wars of the nation.
The organizations attending, as such
were Seth Williams Post, Grand Army
of the Republic; Seth Williams Relief
Corps: Henry G. Staples Camp, Sons
of Veterans; and Walter w. Poor Com
mand. Spanish War Veterans.
The service opened with Wagner's
anthem, with Glory Clad" sung by
the choir. Rev Henry E. Dunnack Of
fered the opening prayer, for Divine
blessing upon the meeting, and read
from the Scripture, choosing for the oc-
casion Joshua'S farewell address to his
people and his army The choir sang
Spker's anthem, Fear Not, o Isreal."
Rev. C. S. Mosher of the Free Baptist
church made the prayer for the blessing
and guidance of Omnipotence and ON
niscience upon this people. The prayer
response by the choir was 30 Lord, My
Trust" by King Hall.
The sermon of the evening was by
Rev. Norman McKinnon of the Congre-
gational church, an abstract of which
is here presented to our readers:
1t is right and proper that the church
should join hands with the State in per-
petuating the memory of our noble
dead and singing the praise of our
heroic living For the Bible aims to
develop admiration and reverence for
great men on the part of it's readers.
Hebrew parents loved to rise up early
and sit up late in order to drill their
children in the great deeds of their il
lustrious ancestors. The Bible en-
bodies the history and struggles of
sturdy race that fought its way from
bondage into freedom. This Book
tells the story of many an interesting
battle waged against despotism and
in the interest of liberty. No one can
read it's message and live the life of
coward or remain false to fatherland
Many brave spirits speak from the pages
of this sacred Book. The Bible is
pictures gallery of heroes and martyrs
who through faith subdued kingd pms,
wrought righteousness, obtained prom
ises stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, out of weakness
were made strong, waxed valiant in
fight, turned to flight TIE armies of the
aliens.
Wise is that parent who takes his
child often by the hand and leads him
through this picture gallery of choice
and master spirits. Fortunate is that
child who is taught to look up into the
face of noble ancestors. For the child
will become like the hero whom he adj
mircs. He will take the very features
of the person he loves. Children who
are taught to reverence brave and
good men will themselves become brave
and good. Few realize the transform
ing influence of a look at a noble life.
Cur public schools do well toset apart a
day now and then for the study of men
whose deeds shine on the pages of our
history like stars blazing in the night.
The nation that forSets its founders
and fathers has entered upon its de-
cline and is journeying straight toward
decay and final extinction. The ma
ton that celebrates its fathers and
teaches its children to emulate their
heroic indictments will go from
strength to strength, from vic
tory to victory. So long as the
ancient Hebrews admired Moses
md breathed the spirit of Isaiah
and jeremiah they mastered every
foe that entered the Promised
Land. When they forgot their fathers
and began the service of self and the
worship of idols, they entered upon a
broad road the end of which was
captivity. So long as Greece loved her
Parthenon and listened to Pericles
celebrating the deeds of her mighty men
she was the wonder and admiration of
| the world. But the day she cut herself
from the past her freemen became
slaves. So long as Rome remembered
| the heroes of her Pantheon she pros
pered but when she neglected their
tombs and despised their spirit, she
miserably persisted. SO long as our
nation looks up i'll honor to Washing
ton. the father of our land, and re-
members with gratitude the VicariouS
| life of Lincoln the great emancipation,
and sees in Grant the soul of the
greatest general that even lived, and
around that soul millions of boys in blue
offering up their lives for love of coun-
try, She will MARCH forward conquering
and to conquer. But may the day
never come when the spirit of our faith
ers will be lost out of sight for that
day will mean death to our great re-
| public.
God of our Fathers known of old
Lord of our far-fung battle line
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine
Lord God of hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget,--lest we forget"
Long after the last brave soldier who
| fought in the national conflict shall be
| laid to rest, may the story be told wILn
greater JOY and the fire of love burn
brighter on the sacred hearth. The
least that the Sons of Veterans can do
is freshly to preserve the memory of
great events and of noble men; to
,herish the greatness of the State and
inspire to noble citizenship. For what
is the meaning of Memorial day but
1 day to remember. The duty of the
home and of every hour is to remem-
Der. Remember that the liberty which
we now enjoy comes to US from the
past. Remember that the consecrated
blood of yesterday is the social and
spiritual capital of today. Remember
hat the civil intellectual and relig
Gus freedom and hope of our age are
only the moral courage and suffering
If past ages reappearing under new
and resplendent forms. Remember