Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-06-02
Caln,ase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaae, d. d.

sermon for Memorial day the preacher
marks the line between true and false
heroism. 'uttcrs warming against mil
itdry inpOstOrs and gives some timely
ndvicc 10 the old soldiers. The text il
Leviticus xix. -. Thou shalt rise up
before the hoary head and honor the
face of the old man.
Some time ago IL was my privilege
and honor to address the old soldiers
in the Veterans home at Sawtclle In
southern California. Just before as
ecnded the platform the leader of the
meeting made Il strange request. lie
said: Please don't throw any bouquets
10 the old soldiers. They don't like IT,"
What do you mcan?" asked. why"
said the chairman. II mean do not call
them heroes and tell them what mo-
bic set of men they ARE. Almost cv-
cry speaker who comes here tries to
get their good will by ilngng conpll.
ncntS AT them. and too much sugar Is
always nauseating 10 the stomach
"All right" said: mo compliments
praise them. feel like doing il just
the same. for any man who can stand
before n great audience like this made
up of Grand Army veterans. aud not
feel like taking off his hat and bowling
before them has not the first elements
of patriotic pride. lie has never in
tclligently read the story of the glOrl-
4. la
liut n truly brave man always dislikes
Ia he culogiZed The only time YOU
can compliment such men face &C. face
and not have them protest is when
they are lying In their Baskets, and
even then | think some of their bodies,
although cold. are still protesting
against the praises uttered over their
unconscious forms.
When the American people on Me-
mortal day see the long lines Of blue
coats filing past the reviewing stands,
although many Of these old soldiers are
now crippled and physically enfccblcd.
they feel great deal rs Daniel Web
ster felt toward the old veterans of the
Revolutionary war when he was de-
livering his great address nj the lay
Ing of the cornerstone of the Bunker
Hill monument in 1875. Veterans
said he, YOU are the remnants of
many well fought field You bring
with you the marks Of honor from
Trenton and Monmouth. from York
town and Camden and Pennington and
Saratoga Veterans Of half Il century,
when in your youth you put everything
at hazard IN your country's cause. good
as that cause was and san.uinc rs
youth Is, still your fondcst hopes did
not stretch on To an hour like this.
At period To which you could not rea-
sonably have expected To arrive, at
moment of national prosperity such as
you could never have furcHccn. you
are now met here To enjoy tile fellow
ship of old soldiers and To receive the
outflowings Of II universal gratitude"
ON similar occasion Edward Everett.
the great Massachusetts orator. deliv-
ering an enc0mum upon the American
flag. so stirred his audience that two
old veterans Of the Revolutionary war
arose and bowed to the speaker. Mr..
Everett. deeply moved. said "Sit down.
aged friends; SIT down. No American
audience wants To see you stand IN its
presence, We are the ones to stand
and uncover our heads 10 you. We
know that II was your blood and sac
ritice which made that flag possible.
Sit down. aged friends: sit down"
Daniel Webster and Edward Everett
voiced the popular opinion The Rev
olutonary veterans of 1926 did receive
the gratitude OF the American people,
as the aged warriors of the awful civil
war OF 1861 do receive the gratitude Of
the American people of this twentieth
century. Truly on this Memorial day
az 1906 we rise mp and honor the he
roes of the American battlehelds.
Discriminating Eulogy.
Eulogy In a Christian pulpit. how
ever. must always lee II discriminating
,.es. -. -