The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-13
ANNUAL SERMON
TO HOW|TZERS
Famous Command Attends Ser.
vice in Body at St. James
Episcopal Church.
APPEAL FOR MORAL COURAGE
Calls on Members Of Battery to
Live Up to High Standard
Set for 1t.
APPEAL FOR MORAL COURAGE

Additional interest attached to the
morning service at st. James Epls-
copal Church yesterday by reason or
the fact that the rector, Rev. William
Meade Clark, preached a special SER
mon to the Richmond Howitzers, Bat.
terry A, First Virginia Artillery. &c
sides tho members of the famous COM
mand, to the number OF about seventy
five, rank and file, in tho handsome
new full dress uniforms. a large con-
gregation was present. The music was
an attractive feature of the service
MIR. Clark's sermon was ono of ,he
ablest and most appropriate on an
occasion Of this character that have
been heard in Richmond Cor several
years. and It was listened to with close
attention by the artillerymen and the
entire congregation.
Sermon by Mr.. Clark.
Mr.. Clark based his discourse IN III !,
thirteenth verse Of the sixteenth chap
ter Of First Corinthians: Quit ve ILL.,
mon; be strong" The sermon was -
thoughtful appeal for the higher cour-
ago as distinguished from more physi !.
cal bravery, and in conclusion the
clersyman eXhorted the Howltzers to
aaopt the French motto, "Noblossa
opnse' as an incentive 10 higher liv
iiis ana the maintenance OF the stand
ara OF the honored command.
Inc Christian religion, he said is NOT
an eilemlhate one, as often erroneo uslv
pelieVed. 1t Is essentially strong
rellgion. The only way the speaker
could account for the wrong impress
sion was that 1t is essentially the re-
iislon Oh. the female portion Of the
~, Christianity Is the only thing
49, ielis1on, IN philosophy, in ethics,
woman, for justice to her, and for
equality Of the sexes. The first re-
corded instance in the worlds history
or this equality is in Chrlst,s min
istry.
Physical courage Is one Of the com
nonest instincts Of the human race.
The uncommon thing Is moral courage
the courage not to fight, to receive
blow withut retaliation. The most
magnificent display of it In the life
OF Christ as recorded, was that where
IN Ho stood in the hall Of Plate and
answered not a word to His accusers
but rested His vindication upon the
record of His life.
! Among other instances Of splendid
| moral courage touched upon was that
under tho leadership of Bishop Tupper
he having disarmed tho hostility of the
natives by pledging them that his as
sociates would not strike nor kill a
man, even though they We're killed
One of tho party who had gone out
shooting was afterwards found with
his head crushed and lying upon his
rifle which was fully loaded and had
not been discharged.
1t was moral courage to die like
that. Like Christ. he had laid down
his life for his fellowmen. The key
note of Christianity is the text, "Quit
you like men; be strong. 1t is the
power of God unto salvation"
Noblesse Oblige.
In concluding, Mr.. Clark addressed
himself especially and peculiarly to the
military. Far back In French history
he said, there arose an expression
which has lived to this day, the
phrase "Noblesse obllge." He ex-
pounded the origin and significance OF
the motto and then appealed to the
Howitzers to live up to the record and
maintain the standard set them. The
members of the command were the
guardians of hereditary honor. he said
When one Of them smirched his own
| name he stained the record of n long
| line of ancestors and dishonorcd the
| organization. 'If your ancestors, the
| organization to which you belong have
an honorable record you have no right
| to dishonor It," said the minister. "You
| must live up to the record" He eulo-
| gzed tho men who originated the com.
mnnd and compare them to Nnpoleon's
| guard IN their fidelity to duty and
trust, and incidentally mentioned the