Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-05-31
THE MEMORIAL
SERMON

Rev. L. ID. UIrich preached the
memorial sermon to the veterans OF
! Goodrich post, the Sons of Veterans
aud the Women 5 relief corps at Trim
! itv Lutheran church Sunday morn
| ing The sermon was an able and i'm
pressive effort, there was large at
| tendance and the occasion in no re-
| spect has ever been surpassed since the
memorial sermon became a feature in
! honoring the memory of the departed
brave.
| Some forty five veterans accompani-
| ed by half that number of sons of vet
erans marched from the post room to
the church bearing with them the post
| flag and the handsome colOrs Of Com
pany \, 132nd regiment Arriving at
the church along with the woman 5
relief corps they occupied seats that
had been reserved in the fore part of
the auditorium. The post flag and the
flag of Company A were given
prominent positions, one on each side
of the pulpit Above the speaker was
a large canvas on which in artistic
letters were the words: Welcome
G.. a. r. - Just at the rear of the
speaker large flag, gathered near the
bottom with a black braid, despended
from the ceiling In addition there
were numerous small flags and pro-
fusion of flowers gracefully arranged
about the altar.
The pastor took his text from the 9th
chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephes
ians, 10th and 1lth verses: Finally,
brethren, be stroug in the Lord and in
the power of His might, etc y
The text represents Christians as
warriors, Contending with powerful
enemies, with Christ as captain. When
Christ came it was with a new ban
ner. to set up new kingdom. In raj
lying under this banner the victory Is
assured. if we are courageous and
duteous, but it must be by continuous
warfare Our wrestling is not in open
war, but with hidden forces, hidden
treachery, and wickedness in high
places. The pOmp and the fashions,
corruption, ignorance and lust after
the bad are so many influences Of tins
world that lend themselves to the pow
er of the adversaries with whom the
Christian is wrestling.
To the soldiers all honor, all glory,
for the preservation of our nation
the greatest on the face of the earths
They have fought for the principle.
that are near to the human heart, but
they will clearly understand, the speakt
er continued, that they have Tough
and sacrificed their lives for a perish
able kingdom. Other nations have had
their day and ours in turn will pass
away. \ new heaven and a new earth
we shall see.
You have assembled here, the
speaker said, to pay your respects to
those who have gone before-to those
who have drawn the sword with you,
but who have now mingled with the
dust. You fought not in vain-you
have conquered But there is another
kingdom, that of Christ-for that king
dom he fought, he bled and he died.
Alone did he meet Satan III the garden
and alone on the cross did he bear the
pahg for you and me. He made the
sacrifice that Heaven demanded.
Satan knew that Christ had conquered
and entered the stronghold of hell
You have fought and won. You
have bequeathed TO posterity, liberty
and equal rights. Your Lord and
Master has conquered and the gates OF
his kingdom stand ajar for you TO en-
ter. His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom The greatest battle is yet
to be fought; your greatest and bit
terest foes are yet to be conquered
Christ has made the conquest easy.
With His spirit, as expressed in the
text, and with that alone it will be
possible to overcome the powers of
evil that assail us.