Milford chronicle., 1903-05-29

man Ileln. Let US Lnen Dy lue nOlOf
, that we pay TO the naval heroes Ofath
past encourage their successors.
Christian Men In the Service.
But now the geNius Of American na
val construction has been at work. w
see the glittering uniforms Of tn,
American naval officers standing upoI
the decks of the New York, Chicago
Iowa, Brooklyn, Texas. Oregon, Olym
pia, Massachusetts, Illinois, new Maine
and Philadelphia, and the great fleet;
| of other war ships which now compose
/ our navy, and all the many other wal
/ ships soon TO be built and put into COM
! mission. And as we see the new white
ships steam past in review they do
not come as demons of war. but as
white angels of peace. Never fail to
honor the United States sailor. Never
declare that all the money appropriate
ed by congress for irOnclads is useless
ly spent. Under present conditions the
only way to prevent war is to be strong
for national defense. 1t is only for a
time. The gospel is eventually to per-
meate all nations and bring every gov
ernment into subjection to the Prince
of Peace. When that glorious day
comes. our battle ships may be disman-
tied and instead of guns and arma-
ments Of war they may sail forth bear
ing Bibles and missionaries or food for
some famine stricken people.
But there is another reason for hon
Oring the American navy. We honor it
for the lives of its Christian men, both
in sailors bunk and officers cabin.
whose influence has permcated the
whole service. Some people are apt to
think of the American sailors as
cursing. lying. drinking. carousing lot
That is not true. Some of the nOblest
of Christians have worn the naval uni
form. Did ever a Christian write a
more beautiful letter than this. which
Admiral Farragut wrote to his wife
the night before the battle of Mobile
Bay: MY Dearest Wife, write and
leave this letter to you. / am going
into Mobile bay in the morning if God
is my leader. and | hope he is. and in
him | place my trust. If he thinks it
is the proper place for me to die l am
ready to submit to his will in that as
in all other things. God bless and pre-
serve you. my darling and my dear /.
boy, if anything should happen to me. /
Nay his blessing rest upon You and |
your dear mother" Was there ever Il 4
sweeter Christian character than Com |
modOre Philip. who was once Captain /
Philip of the Texas? He was brave
enough before Santiago when Ger.
vera's fleet was going down to call out
to his victorious men: Don't cheer.
boys. Those poor fellows over there
are dying" And he was brave enough
after the battle was ended to call his
men together and have the ships chap
lain return thanks to that God who
had preserved the American ships in
the battle.
During the weary blockade off San
tiagO, the commander of the Amerl-
can feet. Admiral William 7. Samp-
son, was seen again and again to kneel
by his berth in prayer. All through
the forecastle, as well as the officers
quarters OF the American navy, there
have always been praying men. They
nave realized their need of wisdom,
md have gone to the divine source:
hey have known the weakness Of
heir moral nature. and have sought
he help Of him who is able to keep
hem in temptation They have learned
low liable they are to sudden death
n wreck or in battle, and they have
their souls to Christ. Their
reeds are ours; we, too. in the voyage
# life, must have divine succor lest
We make shipwreck. The same ear
$ open to our supplication. With them.
nd for them, let us bow at the throne
f grace.
Thus have two purposes in preach
lg this sermon. The one is. to show
THAT our naval heroes have done.
While the flowers Of this Memorial
ay are being placed upon the sol
iers graves. l would have you re-
lember the heroes whose bodies lie
] unknown sepulchers beneath the
lue waters of the deep. We can lay
0 flowers on their resting place, but
I our hearts we can do them honor.
nd by our gratitude keep their men,
ry green. My second purpose is to
emind you of the duties we owe to
-od and our country. This land, in
efense Of which the naval heroes laid
own their lives, is sacred heritage.
s honor. its principles, its best inter-
SITS, are in our keeping. Their self
lcrifce will go for naught if we allow
IT country to drift into infidelity and =
n. Only by righteousness can we
ope for the divine protection. Let
5 every one do our part in our several
'sitiOns to make our beloved country,
hich is consecrated by the lives and
eaths Of these heroes. a God fearing.
cd serving nation. r