Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-05-30
MEMORIAL SUNDAY, 1907
Observed by Services at St. PauPs
Catholic Church.
DEAN O'KEEFE'S SERMON
Heard by a Vast Congregation,
Including Veterans and Mem
bers of the Relief
Corps

Assem- bleQ IN st. PduIS CatnOilc
Church at 10 O'Clock in the morning.
After reading the Gospel of the Sun
day, Holy Trinity, and which con-
tanned the words of the commission of
Christ to his Apostles, GO teach all
nations, whatsoever [ have command
ed you'', etc., Father O'Keefe began
his Memorial sermon, which took
about forty minutes to deliver.
Through the courtesy of Father
O'Keefe, we are able to give the fol-
lowing report of the sermon:
TEXT: Greater love than this no man hath,
that man give his life for his friends
John XIV, 10.
L. That it was meet and just il human
affairs to turn our thoughts to God,
our Creator and Redeemer, in prayer
and Thanksgiving, as from God came
all good, power and strength, so is it
meet and proper to assemble in mem
orial prayer and gratitude for the
great good preserved unto us by the
patriotism aud fidelity of those Chris
tian soldiers who went forth at their
country's call, prepared to suffer and
offer up their lives that their country
might live.
2. There are in Christian times two
distinct bodies of soldiers-those of
the cross and those of the nation
The former suffer and fight for eternal
reward and life; the latter for temper
al power and happiness. The apostles
and their successors were and still
fighting to save the souls of men and
bring them to eternal life. In eloquent
words he recounted the labors and
sufferings of the apostles, of whom
eleven were martyrs, who with abiding
trust and confidence in their Master
never wavered. They taught the
| things he taught them to teach
obedience to God, humility, meekness,
mercy, charity, purity, etc. Through
prosecutions, for three hundred years
they struggled, until through the
power of God the Roman emperor,
converted, proclaimed freedom of
worship for the Christians. Then from
the catacombs, and secret hiding
places, in the light of day the Christ
ians by word and example taught
Christ's holy doctrine, and in time all
| Europe was Christian.
3. Result of their success, the
| brotherhood of man, the uplifting of
woman, as the companion of man,
hospitals, asylums, educational in
situations cover the land; in a word
our civilization, with all it implies.
The latest and most far-reaching eff
feet was that intelligent, reasoning
men awakened to the truth that the
power was in the people in civil
affairs, that every people had the
right to determine how and by whom
they were to be governed-that man
had just right to a government, of
the people, by the people and for the
people.
America was the first country to
put this theory into effective and
successful practice. A nobler, grand
er or more Christian civil pronounce
ment was never made to the world 3,
than the Declaration Of Independence,
wherein all are declared free and
! equal, endowed with inalienable rights
of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
When the report of the first gun
at Lexington was heard hey the
Atlantic, the European powers little
dreamed it presaged the beginning of
the end of civil despotism and royal
tyranny among the christian civil
| liZed nations of the world. Under the
new form of government the United
States grew and prospered as a ma
tion never before had prospered
The free air of liberty, the opportuni-
ties of acquiring free and happy
! homes attracted to our shores the
strong limbed, honest, poor toiler of
other lands.
And here they were welcomed; and
wide, wild and limitless territory given
| them, to hew out their homes and for
| tunes. The country grew into power,
its flag respected, and took it's stand
among the nations of the world. But
the rumblipg and murmuring of dis
content and discord for some years
were heard, when finally in 1861 the
shot fired upon fort Sumpter announ-
| ced the direful tidings that rebellion
| in its CHASTITY ugliness and mighty
power, threatened disruption of our
union. At the first call to arms, the
! fire Of patriotism swept over the
country and from city, town, village
and hamlet, from the counting house
and office, from the work shops and
| farm, from the universities, colleges
and Summaries, brave men, young and
old, FASTENED to their country's de-
tense, prepared if need be to offer
their lives in the holy cause.
Those were days of sadness and
sorrow throughout the land: fathers
parting from loving children and
wives, brothers from parents and
sisters, lovers tearing themselves
frop, rho most 1Ova5 to tban, on 40 nth