Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-07-09
Calnnase
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaac. d. ID.


great ones of our nations history are
recalled. the preacher chooses for his
theme the career Of Marcus Whitman.
through whose hcroism and self sacri-
flee the great empire of the northwest
was added 10 our national domain.
The text is Matthew xxi. ~ The stone
which the builders rejected. the same
is become the head of the corner
Every Fourth of July il Is the Gus
tom of patriotic speakers 10 culogize
the names of George Washington and
Samuel Adams and James Otis and
Joseph Warren and Patrick Henry and
DE Witt Clinton and John Adams and
John Hancock and Robert Morris and
Benjamin Franklin and John Wither-
spoon and Thomas Jefferson and Ma
thanaci Greene and Alexander Ilamil-
ton and John Jay. These were the
mental giants who hcwed ont of the
new worlds quarrics tile titanic stones
which became the foundation layers of
our national government. But these
were not the only men in those early
days OF our national history To whom
we. as people are indebted. We
ought to be careful lest the glory of
those luminarics blinds us Ia the grand
eur Of character of patriots less con-
spicuous. whose courage devotion and
self sacrifice helped To establish our
hJerties or To extend our opportunities.
Tomorrow we shall celebrate our ma
tional holiday. Let me present TO you
today namewhich ought Ia he familiar
to us all. but which is seldom placed
in the rank il ought To have on the roll
of the nations heroes. While we honor
the men who cleared away the debris
and dug out the foundation stones Of
our national capital let us spare. too.
a few words of praise for u man To
whose daring and perseverance IL is
due that at least one III not several
stars were added TO those that glitter
on our national flag. place my wreath
of immortcllcs today on the grave Of
Marcus Whitman. who practically,
single handed. saved the states Of Ore
gon and Washington Ia the Union. To
the heroes OF Bunker Hill and Saratoga
and Yorktown we owe IL that our
eastern shores are Tapped by the
waters Of the Atlantic: to Marcus
Whitman we owe il that we hold ON
our western shores the crystal gates Of
the Pacific. | praise the Marcus Whit
man Of 1872. who placed the dcspised
capstone of Oregon upon the tOpmost
pinnacle of the Washington legislative
halls. made up of the stone OF many
states.
Nations Debt Ia Marcus Whitman.
How did Marcus Whitman save Ore
gon To the United States: First. by
needing the Macedonian gospel cry of
helplessness. Like the pilgrim fathers
he obeyed the direct summons which
came 10 him in the voice Of many
thunderings To carry Christ's message
of salvation even unto the uttermost
parts of the earth. lie left his home
among the beautiful hills Of central
New York state. not ont of a spirit of
adventure. as CHAMBER .istor might
plunge into the African junglcs TO hunt
big game. lie left il not as did John
AItisuuSillilt. W bt-lhit tIlt Nv arr
cious eyes Of North American Indians
his prizes. which would make the red
skinned hunters more expert i'm set
ting their traps and bringing I'm their
piles of furs. He left il not as did the
English gentlemen who came 10 James
town. Va. in the hope Of becoming
landowning aristocrats in new world.
- iii ha Snnnicl rtarnrt.tnrs xyhn
I'm their conquest of Mexico. stole upon
the land what the pirates Of old used to
steal upon the seas. But Marcus Whit
man and Samuel Parker dared cross
the American continent because from
the faroff Willamette valley came the
story of the bitter need there was for
the gospel of peace To Ice preached To
the Indian war chiefs. with scalping
knives and tomahawks at belts who.
by their actions. said: I'VE need the
white mans book of heaven. We need
the white mans Christ
a Strange Quest.
To describe how that Macedonian cry
OF helplesSness came TO Marcus Whit
man. let me transplant you in magma
ton Dack 10 tnc lttlc frontier Town
of 81. Louis. Mo. ami. like the shad-
ow on the dial of Ahaz. turn back
time until the year 1S;;2. We will
suppose. In order 10 make the wild,
weird scene we are about Ia describe
more vivid. that the old Indian fighter
and territorial governor. up to 1871.
and the United States superintendent
OF the Indians. from 1921 Ia ISIS. Gen
eral William Clark. is spending a So
cial evening with two of his old
friends. who followed Lewis and him
self on their famous journey of the far
northwest Suddenly Il messenger
raps nj the door In answer 10 the
gruff call Come in" there enter four
Flathcad Indians. Two Of them are
aged warriors. two young stalwart
braves. Where are you from. my
mem" asked the general. cying them
from head Ia foot. Prom the muir
muring waters OF the Columbia: I'm
possible. From the Pacific shores:
Nay. nay. that cannot be. For what
did you come: For the white mans