Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-29

+ The memorial aermon before VIM. K
Kimball Post, G. A. R., was given Sun
day afternoon at the Congregations
church BY Rev. A. K. Baldwin, the pas
tor. Owing to the severe storm, ther'
was only small congregation. A goot
number of members Of the post and tn,
Ladies' Of the G.. A. R. were In attend
ance. The singing was by the mall
quartette choir Of tho church. Rev. Mr.
Little and Rev. Mr.. Clifford assisted II
the opening services.
Mr.. Baldwin spoke from two texts
Deut. 4:32: "Ask now Of the days tha
are past; and Ps. 1875, 9: "If ! forge
thee, o Jerusalem, let my right hant
forget her cunning. II do not remem
Der thee, let my tongue cleave to TIT
roof Of my mouth; II I prefer not Jeru
salem above my chief JOY"
1t Is very fitting, said the speaker, thai
We gather once year to render thanks
to God for what he has done; for pre-
serving this country, its institutions, iti
liberties. It Is also fitting that We
should pay tribute to the soldiers, the
dead, the disabled, to those in com.
parative health, and remember what
they have done for US.
A brief recounting Of the scenes OF
''the days that are past was made-the
days of the slave auction, of the firing on
Fort Sumter, Of million Of men In arms,
of the coming home of an army OF Grip
pied soldiers, of the martyrdom of Lin
coin. But this ID past The war is over.
Slavery is dead. We are eighty millions
now, all brethren, North and South
united.
IF forget thee, o Jerusalem, let my
right hand forget her cunning" This
was spoken by Jew In exile, yet loyal
to his own land. It is fitting that we, a
generation removed from the civil war,
should raise our hands and take solemn
vow to preserve our institutions and our
liberty, and remember what they have
cost. 1t is fitting that the flag should
fly over the school houses to teach our
children lesson of patriotism and re-
mind them what the flag means.
Just after Appomattox, there was no
honor too great for the returning soldier.
But now there has arisen q generation
that seems not to know Joseph, nor
understand what he has done for US.
There Is a tendency to make the soldiers
Memorial Day holiday, to crowd into
it everything else than that for which 1t
was intended. l regret that on that day
the students of our colleges should
gather on the base ball field, that by
newspapers and posters it should be
advertised as day given up to sport.
That day, the only one Of three hundred
and sixty-five devoted to honoring the
memory of our soldier dead, should be
kept as sacred as the Sabbath.
The sacrifices and the unselfish de-
votion to country of the soldiers were
eloquently described, and the assurance
was given that We do not intend to for
get what they have done and are doing.
Soldiers, do you still love your country
as you did in the days that are pastp
There is still service for you to do. The
country calls for men, the church calls
for men, God calls for men. You can
fight the battles of truth. That war was
begun long before Sumter was fired on.
The blue and the gray fight together in
it, and the commander is the Man of
Sorrows, the Prince of Peace.
The sermon was earnest and i'm
pressive, delivered with much feeling,
and held the sympathetic attention of
the audience throughout.
On Wednesday, Memorial Day, the
programme will be as follows: Members
of VIM. K. Kimball Post will assemble
at Grand Army Hall at 10 o'clock A. NJ.
Exercises at Riverside Cemetery at 1880.
after which the graves of deceased COM
rades will be decorated. General exer-
cises at New Hall at 2 p. M. The address
will be given by Charles F. Whitman,
Esq, of Norway. A cordial invitation Is
given to all to attend these exercises.