Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-05-30
Before the Members of the
Grand Army.
Eloquent Sermon by Rev. E. G.
Mosher at Free Baptist Church..
Large Attendance Of Seth Williams
Post and Relief Corps.

| Inc chuIch was very prettily deco
rated with flowers and flags. In the
center of the pulpit was a large bunt
ing flag. tastily draped, upon which
were the words, "Welcome, G. A. r."
Hanging from the bunting was an
elaborate and large fac simile of the
badge worn by the organization.
The service commenced at 7.3O
o'clock. AS the organ played the VOL
untary the members of the G. A. r.
slowly marched to their allotted pews.
The sermon by the pastor, Rev. c..
G.. Mosher, could but fill his congrega-
ton with the emotion of patriotism,
with reVerent love for the "Old SOL
dicrs, and with the desire to "live for
the country the soldier was willing to
die for"
Following is the order of service:
| Voluntary, Or~.n
poXoloSy, Choir and Conprepatinn
, ihNncllioh, Rev. Ii. L. Hope.
| Anthem. ('h,ir
Scripture Reading, Rev. C. A. Hayden
| Anthem, Choir
Prayer Rev H. T. Dunnark
ntSl'"hSe, Choir
,, Choir and Congregation
i'enculctlon, ReV. Norman Mckinnon
For those who were unable to attend
this service the journal takes pleasure
lin presenting to it's readers Mr.
MOShcr'S sermon in full:
Exodus. Xii:14. This day shall be
unto you for a memorial"
Memorial days of sacred significance
and hallowinS influence have been
lcOmmOn to the history of nations.
IN-hnnn,-nr
come into a rich heritage of heroic
deeds and noble endeavor ii has set
lapart days sacred to those deeds of
daring. Such days have not only given
honor to whom honor is due, but have
been influential in pcrpctuating the
Esprit of the deeds which they CON-
lmcmoratc. Among all the Memorial
days of the past and the present the
ore that America has set apart as 4
monument to her heroic dead and Il
tribute to her loyal living occupies the
iChiefeSt place and is worthy of the
widest observance. The day is rcplete
with holy reminiSccncc and gloritied
with blessed associations. 1t is on
such an occasion as this that a man
covcts earnestly the Sest gifts of ut
terancc that he may bring some worthy
offering into the American soldiers
temple of fame and place some accept
liable sacrifice upon the halowed altar
But no words of tongue or pen can do
Justice to this hour, the day in which
we meet to honor our soldiers living
and dead is in itself eloquent beyond
the power of human tongue to echo or
express. The very presence of these
men who enlisted beneath that starry
banner, who fought the great fight for
its preservation. who brought it back
to us not Il bar broken. not a star lost
that an impressive lecturer that must
ISpeak to the uullcst ear. The Occa
sion itself speaks with a hundred sill
very tongues TO him who has the ear
to hear.
In a critical period of Roman history
when it became necessary for the pop
ulacc to rouse themselves and assert
, their rights, no one could bring them
into action nor stir them to patriotic
act. Orator after orator pleaded with
the people and followed strong argu-
mcnt. by persuasion stronger still. but
the people were not moved by strength n
of plea, unanSW cradle assertion or ora
tOrical effort. At, last, when address
and argument had spent themselves in
vain, an old soldier, the hero of many
Il battle. wounded and Scared bearing
the marks of many Il fray, mounted
the rostrum and holding up the stump
of an arm that had been lost in bat
tie. he appealed to their love and cOun-
try, and Immediately the patriotism OF
that vast thrOng WAS fired, their better
natures stirred and the day won for
| he,
are warmly in sympathy with the oc-
caSion that calls us together tonight
any words that mag be spoken will fall
mea ninGlesS on uIattentive cars I'm
less our hearts are stirred by what We
here behold; by the presence of these
men, some with empty sleeves, some
with battle scars. the soldiers badge
: of honor, all having made the supreme
sacrifice of young manhood to liberty 5
call: unless these things appeal to our
patriotism then we are out of sym,
pathy with time and place. For my
own part, members of the G.. A. r.
am not ashamed to say that when ]
come into your presence on such IN
occasion / feel as though | stood on
holy ground. / cannot look on your
broken ranks and see the heads that
Iare being WnlteneO with the silver OF
passing years without feeling that |
should remove the sandals from my
, feet. for the ground is sacred to holy
, memories. / confess that I delight to
do you honor. tonight, and it shall De
; my part in this service not to point out
added dangers that threaten our land
! and which you ought to attack in the
spirit of the SOS, but to honor you SO
, much as is in me for what you did for
this land in the darkest hour of its
, national history. | do this because it
| is in my heart to do it. Your orde:
should appeal to me as few others do
My father fought beneath that flag you
love, it became the shroudvthat covered
; his coftined clay. comrades hands low
. cred him to his last resting place and
each Memorial day they put the Stars
; and Stripes at his grave. and till my
right hand forgets it's cunning. till my
tongue cleaves to the roof of my mouth
will be loyal to the boys in blue with
h, arch To ho rrInr