The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-28


and fearless in declaring it. though
they have to encounter the frigid hos
tility Of friends and the sirulent hatre&
of foes.
The American navy is1b be RonoreA
today. The genius of its constructors
and the sure marksma nship Of its gun
ners are to be the great prevcnters OF
future wars. The president of the
United States short time ago, wheSG
speaking in the city Of Chicago. sai@
practically these words: DO not boas&
In reference to our national proves.
Let US obey the old adage which says.
Speak softly, but carry big club, ans
20 ahead" The big club today fos
national offense and defense is thS
American navy. More and more has
the law of national development in
creased the responsibility Of the navy.
With a coast so extended as ours org
east and west and south we are at the
mercy Of a foreign enemy. A hostile
feet lying outside New York, Boston.
Charleston or San Francisco could by
few hours bombardment exact %
ransom of fabulous amount unless we
had a fleet to defend our ports. Fog
our national safety, for the very pres
ervation of our national existence, we
need strong ships and brave men tcS
man them. Let us then by the honors
that we pay to the naval heroes Of the
past encourage their successors.
Christian Men In the Service.
oP
val construction has been at work. We
see the glittering uniforms of the
American naval officers standing upon
the decks Of the New York, Chicago.
Iowa, Brooklyn, Texas. Oregon, Olym-
pia, Massachusetts, Illinois, new Maine
and Philadelphia, and the great fleets
of other war ships which low compose
our navy, and all the many other war
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 fall to
honor the United States sailor. Never
declare that all the money appropriate
ed by congress for ironclads is useless
~ spent. Under present conditions the
only way to prevent war is to be strong
for national defense. 1t Is only for
time The gospel is eventually to per-
meate all nations and bring every gov
eminent into subsection 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 permeated the
whole service. Some people are apt to
think Of the American sailors as
cursing, lying, drinking. carousfng 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 I place my trust. If he thinks 1t
is the proper place for me to die I 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.
| May his blessing rest upon you and
| your dear mother" Was there ever a
sweeter Christian character than Com
4 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
4 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 Ameri-
can feet, Admiral William T. Samp-
| SOIL, WAS Sccit again dSuA " hhSSh
by his berth in prayer. All through
the forecastIe, as well as the officers
quarters of the American navy, there
have always been praying men. They
have realized their need of wisdom,
and have gone to the divine source;
they have known the weakness OF
their moral nature, and have sought
the help Of him who is able to keep
them in temptation. They have learned
how liable they are to sudden death
in wreck or in battle, and they have
committed their souls to Christ. Their
needs are ours; we, too, in the voyage
Of life, must have divine succor lest
we make shipwreck. The same ear
is open to our supplication. With them,
end for them, let us bow at the throne
of grace.
Thus have two purposes in preach
ing this sermon. The one is, to show
what our naval heroes have done