Morris tribune., 1905-06-03

"Patriotism" was the subject
of a most eloquent Memorial
Day sermon, delivered by Rev
Edward Jones at Assumption
church last Sunday. The adj
1ress was listened to by Over
on Post @. A. r, and Eliza
beth Reem Circle Ladies of the
y. A. r., and a large congrega-
ton. Appropriate music was
furnished by the choir under
the direction of Father Butala.
and by Watzke's orchestra.
Father Jones said
Today America makes solemn com
memoration of the loyalty of her sons
who in their country's darkest hour OF
peril offered up their lives on the altar
Of patriotism. Today Columbia, fair
and peerless Queen, in conscious
strength, bows her majestic head and
sends unto Almighty God the homage
of nations gratitude. 1t is we'll to
find from time to time occasions to re-
call vividly to mind certain principles
and facts, whether in the supernatural
or natural order, upon which impor-
tant events revolve. And such an oc-
casion presents itself today, when we
have come here in gratitude to God to
do honor to the nations heroes.
One of the strongest passions and
the noblest that God has implanted in
the heart of man, is love of country
And to every man who believes in an
existence beyond the grave, who be-
lieves that this life is but a preparation
for eternity, his country is the nation
that secures to him and his posterity
freedom of conscience and civil equal
w, that leaves him and them free to
worship God according to the dictates
of conscience, and makes them before
the laws the equals of their fellows.
Without these boons the fairest spots
on earth are, to those born in them,
places of more dismal exile than Siber
ian mines. With these boons, foreign
lands, be they the inhospitable shores
of the Artic Sea, are more radiant with
happiness than tropical climes. In
quest of these boons the truest patri-
OTIS have abandoned their native
lands to find or to found a country in
foreign parts.
When we speak therefore of Ameri-
can patriotism we do not mean SO
much the love we naturally bear this
vast country, with it's glorious rivers,
valleys, mountains and forests, but our
undying loyalty to the principles of
freedom of conscience and civil equal
ity for which America so proudly
stands. American patriotism, IN this
sen je, is subject which embraces the
whole globe, and the whole duty of
man. The American patriot is the
soldier of civilization. Upon Ameri-
can patriotism in this sense depend
the future destinies of the world. For
over 1900 years men have struggled
blindly, confusedly sometimes, steadily
always toward that higher freedom
which makes liberty the bulwark of
posterity and the fountain of happi-
ness. That struggle bore but little
visible fruit until the government of
the United States Of North America
was founded, based upon the rights,
the inalienabIe rights, of mankind. One
hundred and twenty five years ago
this republic first became apparent,
but the roots from which it sprung,
grew and flourished for centuries.
This government does not depend up
on phrases committed to paper, but
upon principles planted in the heart OF
man from the beginning of the world.
The beginning of the republican
form of government is not of Ameri
can origin, nor does it originate in any
one country known to the civilized
world. We cannot find its germ upon
this soil, but upon the soil which was
redeemed with the blood of the Re
deemer. 1t was not first announced
TO man, when amid the booming of
cannon and the peeling of the liberty
bell, the world was informed OF a new
nation, but when the star Of Bethle-
hem shown in glory over the manger
where the Infant was Graded and the
dawn was made immortal by the song
of the angels telling of "Peace on
earth and of good will to men,"
When this government went into
operation by the shores of theAtlantic,
and the immortal Washington became
+he first executive of the republic, 1t !