The Somerset reporter., 1904-06-02
Memorial Service.

Services In the observance OF Memorial
Sunday were held In the Congregational
church, this year, with sermon by the
pastor, Rev. Benz min b Merrill.
Russell Post, Relief Corps and a few
Sons of Veterans and Spanish War Vet
Grams met at G. A. R Hall and proceed
ed in order to the church where they
were seated In the front center pews.
The pulpit and platform were nicely
decorated with plants, cut fl wers and
fl igs. Music was furnished by quartet
consisting of Mrs. j. w. Steward, Miss
Berle Walton, Mr.. Elmer Z. Harris and
Mr.. Earl Smith, with Miss Edith Lewis,
organst. This quartette rendered with
very pleasing effect several appropriate
selections. The service throughout was
impressive and gratifying.
Upon returning to the Hall the Post
passed vote of thanks to Rev. Mr.. Mer-
rill for his able sermon.
The discourse was an admirable one Of
which we give the following brief sum
mary:
Text, Judges S: 40. Soldiers Of the Re
public:
would salute you with high honor as rep
resenting a mighty conflict which, under
Providence, helped to settle some Of the most
important questions of history.
AS was said of Israel's ancient champions
the stars were for you, because you were in
the right, and we may congratulate you that
you have lived SO long to see the greatness Of
the issues as you could not at the time
Poetry and eloqnence have MOI yet attained
the proper perspective to do full justice to
the theme, but eventhe common people have
reached vantage ground of observation far
better than any in the past. Ii is good to
remind ourselves of what we can see today
/. First among the questions settled is that
Of chattel slavery. There has been no more
important document in our history than Lin
coins Proclamation Of Emancipation; but
although the pen may be mightier than the
sword, the pen of Lincoln would have failed
if there had been no swords behind IT, The
soldiers freed the slaves, but they did more
Through their victory the moral defence Of
slavery was abandoned. There will be no
more Christian ministers to defend it from
the pulpit, or Christian generals like zee and
Jackson to pray and fight FOR it.
2. You helped to settle the question Of state
rights. If the rebellion had succeeded it
would have been yindication Of the doc.
trine that each state had right at any time
to declare its independence. The national
government would have lost all its security,
and the states would have been held together
only by rope of straw.
:. \ third question was as to the possible
strength OF popular government.
Most Of the republics of the past had per.
ished. Men doubted the ability of ours tc
survive the first severe test 1t was not that
they thought the South stronger than the
North, SO much as that they feared the in
herent weakness Of government by the
people.
We rejoice that our army compelled the
false prophets to confess their mistake
During the war France tried to Introduce
an American king by way Of Mexico. The
plan failed. They will not try it again, but
the world has been converted to believe in
the permanence of the Republic.
4. We may congratulate our veterans that
they helped toward the triumph Of principle
greater than any, and including all of these
the principle of universal brotherhood.
1t is great fact, explain it as we will, that
the North and South have come into closer
sympathy as one result of the war In the
Spanish war we were able to present a united
front to a foreign power because the War Of
Rebellion had made us one United Amer
lea means long stride towards universal ar
bitration, and peace on earth will be followed
by good will among men. The martyrs of
the Rebellion did more than they knew.
The story is told of a holy monk from the
desert who flung himself into the arena to
perish by the lions, and by the horror which
was aroused stopped the gladtorial shows at
Rome. SO the protest of the many who
died, or were ready to die for freedom and
the rights of man will continue to lead
towards better relations between men and
nations. When the Golden Age is come
those who uphold our flag will be counted
among the honore1 promoters of that happy
day. Well for US il We do our part to con-
tinue in peace the work SO we'll advanced by
the war