The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-11-08

That war is not always an evil and
that one need not sacrifice piesy and
faith in God while serving as SOL
dier, were the central thoughts of the
sermon preached at the First Presby-
terian Church yesterday morning by
the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, before
the members of Camp A. Burnet
Rhctt, United Confederate Veterans,
and large congregation.
For many years the custom of hav-
ing a sermon annually preached before
the members oe the Camp hes been
IN vogue, and yesterday morning the
survivors marched into the First Pres
bytcrian Church aud were conducted
to seats especially reserved for them.
The number Of Veterans present was
considerably smaller than that Of last
year, and many Of those present we're
marked by the hand Of time. The
flag of the Camp was carried il the
march from tho hall into the Church
and occupied q conspicuous position
during the service.
DR.. Sprunt based his remarks on
the first and second verses Of the tenth
chapter of tho Acts of the Apostles.
"There wa. certain man in Cesarea
called Cornelius, centurion of tho
band called the Italian band, devout
man, and one that feared God with all
his house, which gave much aims to
the people and prayed to God
always.
DR.. Sprunt spoke, in part, as fol-
lows:
lin many respects the history Of
Cornelius is one of extraordinary inter-
est. This is singularly true from the
standpoint Of military man. Cor.
nelius was soldier, a centurion, the
text says. A centurion was man
exercising command over one hundred
men, as the word would indicate, but
really the centurion was generally
over body Of from $50 to l, 100 men.
This man was, therefore, man in au-
thority, but at the same he shows his
respect for authority over himself.
No man, whether in war or peace, is
competent to exercise authority who
does not himself know how
to obey. Cornelius shows his
his eminent qualifications here by the
course he pursues. The narrative
says of him that he was, first. devout;
second, that he feared God; third, was
master Of his own house, and exereis-
ed godly Influence over it; fourth,
OF charitable disposition in the use
of his means; fifth, man Of cons tant
prayer; sixth, obedient to the ooun-
sells Of God; seventh, ,uan of pru.
denoe aud discretion; eighth, just
man; ninth, Of good report, not only
among his friends, but amongst those
lately at war against his own people
and over whom he now bears rule.
This Is asreeord which would do credit
to any. man. From this narrative it
Is desired to draw two general les.
sons: -. .:t*..:r.....:... ~: ~:
81 ''The first lesson is that war is not
always an evil. It is to be dreaded, ,
and is often q terrible soourge. There
are not c few who imagine Shat every
thing that sayors Of war or military
life is evil, and only evil continually.
But from the beginning, standing ar
mics have been maintained BY all ma.
tions; not only in Gar, but ID peace
rs WE'LL: And such measure :, may
claim the divine sanction. 4, When
God chose Israel aa His people be in
struoted them in the arts ;of war and
appointed men 10 lead his people;to
victory. Moses was Commissioned by
God and under, his direction Moses,
became one Of thegreatest. leaders tho
world ever saw.., The Lord said :t9o;;
Moses: And Sc shall chase your ene-;
mics and they shall fall before You By
the sword. And ave Of you u,S.;si Sss;.s ), s. J
chase an hundred, and an hundred of
you shall put ten thousand TO flight,
and your enemies shall fall before yo,u
by the sword %.'',:,. 8. : \ Il 5sj5; /: %
.::"After the death s Of Moses, the
Lord said to Joshua. the successor Of
Moses and ahs type Of ina :jgrsa..a=iiT
Joshua, Jesus. the captain Of our sal.s
walton, tbs header and eommand der eses
the people. (Joshua 1s5;) "Thers shall
not any man be able to stand before;
thee all the days Of thy life; as /, WAS isI
with Moses 30 will = be with thee; i:
will not fail che, nor forsake thes 81 Bo:
strong and of .; good courage. gor .pntt5'
this people shall thou divide Isl fdit Il saGnI