Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-05-28
Memorial Sunday,

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The Memorial sermon was preached at
2 O'Clock Sunday afternoon by Rev.
Brown E. Smith in the Baptist church,
which was appropriately decorated with
flags and bunting in honor OF the
occasion.
Twenty-four members Of the Womah's
Relief Corps entered the church first, two
large flags being borne at the front and
rear OF the line and placed in standards on
either side OF the pulpit platform as the
Corps Was seated at the right OF the main
aisle. Then thirty-eight old soldiers of
U. S. Grant Post, g. A. R., came march,
ing in, headed by the color bearer, John
Manney, and took their places at the left
OF the aisle, the rest OF the congregation
being made up of perhaps an equal num-
Der OF civilians.
The music for the service was furnished
by a quartet composed Of DIR. A. G. Bailey,
A. H. Beedle, Miss Aida Newcity and
Mrs. c. 5. Booth, with Mrs. j. NJ. Trask as
organist. The scripture lesson was read
by Rev. G.. +. Laid. pastor OF the Congre-
gational church, and prayer was offered
by Rev. Fraser Metzger, pastor OF the
Christian church.
Mr.. Smiths theme was SAN Unknown
Grave, +" and his text, from Deut. 81 g, was
.But no man knoweth OF his sepulchre
unto this day." He said in part
.Most people are particular as to their
burial place. We go miles TO reach the
burial place Of our fathers. The manner
in which a people care for the burial place
OF their dead is an evidence OF character.
II is satisfying to know where our beloved
dust lies in mother earth. But OF Moses,
the great lawgiver and deliverer, nothing
is known Of his burial place We know
OF his birth and infancy, Of his forty
years in the royal house of Egypt. of his
forty years in the discipline of the back
side OF the desert, of his forty years lead
ing OF three million emancipated slaves,
amid their murmurings and failures, but
where on Nebo's lonely mountain God
laid him to rest, we know not.
Mr.. Smith then read Mrs. Alexander's
beautiful poem, 1.-THE Burial of Moses"
$50 many OF earth's greatest are buried
in unknown graves. Shall we not say
that the greatest of earth are in unknown
graves We are honored this afternoon
by the presence OF the members of the
Grand Army, who stood by our country
in its darkest hour, and the members OF
the Womans Relief Corps. The honor OF
this visit gives me three thoughts upon
the unknown grave.
al The Unknown Hero-Who does
not want to be a hero2 Who does not
humanity wish to have his name on the
marble slab, known Of men, rather than
unknoWn2 Who is a herof ] have been
in Arlington cemetery and have seen the
stones there. / saw Sheridan's and knew
il was Sheridanis. But the stone that
moved IRE most was the one inscribed, TO
Pill soldiers picked up on the battlefield
OF Bull Run Ii was the grave Of the I'M
known heroes, but heroes We are mis-
taken in our belief in heroes. The result
OF an action often Obscures the means by
which il was accomplished. We are more
OF US the unknown heroes than the
f.araIdad heroes The work ~ the world
is done by the average men, not by the
giants, and be is hero who does his duty
and does right, whether his name be in
paper, on the marble, or in titled splendor.
9(2) The Unknown Field-Moses was
known for his humility. II was the
characteristic that made him great. we
make too sharp a distinction in the
different fields of service in this life.
There are fields OF service that are I'M
known and unappreciated by us, because
we are thus mistaken. We eat things at
our tables, wear things upon our bodies,
enjoy luxuries that give comfort and
pleasure, but which have cost the very
life blood OF our fellow man TO obtain.
Such obtaining and service is heroic and
ne 4 baser than they who despises them.
The true theory of life is self control,
illustrated best by our own system OF
government. in its democracy. The best
modern example of the government OF
personal self-sontrol is our excellent
President Roosevelt. No field OF service
is unknown or unappreciated by him.
Black or white, man is a man who IS in
the line OF duty. We need not Gettys-
burg to make us great. The tittest place
for man is where his duty lies and no
such place is poor or unworthy.
1(3o The Unknown Nictory-How
mistaken we are as to our successes in life.
There may be such thing as defeat, but
there can never be such thing as failure,
unless we have surrendered all. We have
a right to know and to say that we have
done our duty, we have loved God ana
therefore I'VE know in whom we have be-
lieved and are persuaded that he Is able 10
keep that which has been committed TO
him against that day. we have fought
good fight, we have kept the faith, hence
forth there is a crown Of righteousness,
which the Lord himself will give and not
only unto us, but unto all those that love
his appearing Victory is always ours
when we have done right, whether 1t be
heralded or not