Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-05-31
even as they were before, our broth


not to dwell upon things which only
tend to swell our pride. Let us rather
run from the contemplation of the
deeds of the past to our annual lesson.
These million precious mounds which
dot our grand domain proclaim an
earnest lesson; they proclaim sermon
which we'll might be called "The
Sermon of the Mounds. And it is
not the mortal remains buried beneath
the sod which speak to us in angel
voices, but the exalted spirits above,
now conscious of the truth of being,
who fain would lead us in the path of
duty and of love. That the sacrifice
of their lives may not have been in
vain they send US their inspired mes
sage. 1t is message of warning, but
it is also message of love and full
of promise. They tell US that they
fought and destroyed and were in
turn destroyed and that this country
might be free, that the Union might
not be disrupted, that its honor might
remain untarnished, and that progress
in the emancipation of man in every
phase of his existence and activity
might continue unhindered in its buoy
smiling indulgence hi our lack of
faith point with the finger of truth
the path which we may safely tread,
even the path made clear by the re-
n Of Ii -
vidual apply in his every day life, as
our people has ever endeavored to
do as nation, the divine lesson of
righteousness. and storms may shake,
but they cannot destroy US. Plot out
forever from your immortal soul all
self-pity, envy, hatred. malice, ill
will, selfishness. revenge, lust, de-
ceit and kindred evil passions and
desires, and let love take the place
of all-love Of God and your fellow
man-and this naJlon will stand as
firm as Gibralter; industrial, econo-
mic, social disturbances will
cease to be evils and begin to be
blessing, since they will clear the
way to greater, nobler developments
of our nation and its civilization.
And why should we not? Have we
not builded our government on the
Masters word that man is created
free and equal? Shall we not also
fortify 1t against all time to come
by building it's detenses lmpregnabIe?
The Master Architect and Builder
of the universe has named the only
safe material, and He called 1t love.
Our angel friends, million strong,
calling to US from on high, extort to
this duty-to this the salvation of the
human race-to love God above all
things and thy neighbor as thyself;"
ana We, as we listen to their inspired
message and try tv realize the result
that must follow obedience thereto,
are overwhelmed by it's magnitude.
Human understanding cannot measure
it, finite mind cannot grasp it. If
every mortal were but to steadfastly
STRIVE to live up to this one single
and only law, which indeed embraces
all others, though they might but
weakly succeed, all d1scord would
cease and goodwill would reign on
earth. And if we, the people of this
nation, alone should make the effort,
we would become modern Israel to
led the way in the attainment of hu-
man perfection.
Let US therefore, Oh friends, pay
heed to the voices of our departed
martyrs whose sacrifice of their lives
has made it possible tor us to take
the lead before all nations on earth,
that they may not have died in vain.
In no other wsy can we solve the
mighty questions coming IN the hori-
zon. Rigid laws and persons, or
bullets, do not refrom the world.
Force may repress what we call
crime; but the true crime is committed
when conceived in the heart, although
it may never have opportunity to make
itself manifest by a visible act.
Purify the heart and criminaiity
ceases. Goodness of heart, like evil,
is contagious; love begets love. Evil
shrinks into itself when metby purity
and virtue, just rs gentle answer
turneth away wrath" Everyone,
steadfastly, constantly striving for
righteousness, consciously and uncon-
sciously exerts upon others powerful
influence for good.
If this days lesson has made your
duty clearer and if stronger determ-
ination to be and do good has been
aroused within you, then you are bet
ter beings, better citizens and better
partroits; and you will radiate the
light that fills you until the path be
revealed to others. And, friends.
"Once the welcome light has bro
ken, who shall say
"What the unimagined glories of
the day?
"What the evil that shall perish in
its ray?
"Aid the dawnlng, tongue and pen;
"A1d it hopes OF honest men;
"Aid it paper, aid it tpye;
"Ald it, for the hour is ripe,
"And our earnest must not sIacken
into play.
"Men of thought and men of action,