Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-29
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Sermon by Rev. c. A. Wight Before
John 3. Hubbard Post, G. A. r.

The Old South Congregational church
was well filled, last evening, when the
annual Memorial services of John Il.
Hubbard Post was held. The Relief
Corps attended with the Grand Army
and all seats were taken at the hour
of opening. The church choir furnished
music for the occasion. Rev. Mr.
Wight, pastor of the church, delivered
a fine sermon and caused very deep
interest in the LESSONS and merits of
the conflict far the preservation of the
Union. An abstract of his sermon fol-
lows:
Text, Prov. xiii "a, righteousness
Exalteth Nation"
No one is capable of doing full JUS
tice to the spirit of 81 and IS who did
not live in the time of the great con-
fiict. The sacred and precious memo
ries of that time have colored my views
of the merits of the conflict. The pass
ing years do seem but to increase the
glory attributed to the heroes of the
Civil War and the appreciation in
which they themselves are held by Il
grateful republic. By whatever stand
ard measured the Civil War was one
of the most momentous events in mod
ern history. AS compared with most
great wars it was of long duration,
four years and more. The Franco
German war lasted less than two
years. At one time over 1000, 900 men
were in the Northern armies. The to-
tai cost of the war, including pensions
paid and to be paid was not less than
| $40 OOO. OOO, 900 and the lives of nearly
100000 Union and Confederate SOL
dicrs.
The Civil War was waged for the
preservation of the Union. The Rebel
| lion was an attempt to destroy the
| Union. 1t was an earnest effort on the
part of the slave states to secede and
| form d new nation. Should the nation
| live or die? 1t had been $50 years in
| the building. 1t had Il splendid history.
| 1t was the rcputed home of freedom.
the refuge of millions of the oppressed
| of the Old World. 1t was believed by
| many that God had some holy purpose
in its origin and perpetuation. "West-
| ward" wrote Bishop Berkeley, 'the
| course of empire takes it's way" Emer-
son wrote:
so, uncover the land,
As the sculptor uncovers his statue,
When he has wrought his best"
1t was the life of such a nation that
| was imperiled by the Rebellion. Re
bellon seemed wicked attempt to
| hurt mankind. The call to save the
Union seemed Il Divine summones. The
| Union soldiers fought with religious
| fcrvor The cause itself has given glory
to those who espouscd it. The Union
| soldier has come to be regarded as a
benefactor of mankind. He is given a
place along side of the men of Mara
| thon and Thermopylae.
The South enjoys full share in the
blessings Of the victory of the Union
| armies. Said President Hayes. on one
! occasion: "Never before in the history
of the world did the victors in Il great
| conflict gain as much as was even in
| this instance by the vanQuished." The
| South could never come to its full her
| itaSc until slavery was abolished.
Those who wore the blue and those
who wore the gray unite today. in re-
ioicing over the final results of the
| war, the preservation of the Union and
the destruction of negro slavery in the
South.
| At the funeral of General Grant
prominent Confederate generals walked
arm in arm with leading commanders
of the Union armies. In the war with
| Spain there arose from every state
and city of the South noble defenders
of the flag against which they had
fought in 81 and '65. Mason and Dix
on's line as thing of political signi-
ficance is obliteratcd. The flag of our
fathers floats proudly over a united
and invincible people. Hcnceforth we
| are to be
| One flag. one land. one heart. one hand.
| One nation evermore."
Not to the loyal men of the North
only, but to the loyal women also be-
| longs the glory of the achievements or
oil and IS. Mothers gave their sons,
wives their husbands. sisters their