Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-02-27
STRONG SERMON By
REV. ]. c. GRIMES

w
tablished custom, the Patriotic Order
Sons of America in body attended
divine service, feature of which was
a sermon patriotic in it's nature. The
local camp No. 1854 and camp No. 567
of Riverside attended service at St.
Peters M. e. church at Riverside,
where strong ana eloquent sermon
appropriate to the. OCCASION was preach
ed by the pastor, the Rev. John Conley
Grimes. The members of the local
camp marched to the church in body
where they were joined by the mem
bers of camp No. 567 of Riverside.
The sermon was masterpiece, ap-
pealing to mans religious nature.
awaking in his heart deeper rever-
ence for Washington. and intensifying
his love for his native land. The text
is found in psalms 90 :5 "In the name
of our God we will set up our ban
ners - The sermon follows in part:
Is it true that nations are ungrateful
to their sleeping warriors? The pres =
ence of vast multitude of Patriotic
Sons of America in the houses of wor-
ship, all over this fair land, on, or
near the birthday of the immortal
Washington, refutes the painful charge
in so far, at least, as it applies to the
Father of his country" 1t is sign
of strength, and a promise for the fu-
ture when nation warmly cherishes
it's great and good men.
The greatest man of our age, was the
first president of the United States.
He is the glory of our past, the pride
of our present and the star of our fu-
ture. To him, by the help of the God
tion. Eternal fame has given him a
high niche in her temple. His noble
form towers high above all former
leaders and his name will continue to
resound through this sweet land of lib
erty when the ever-increasing shadows
of time shall sink into Oblivion the
and Napoleons. Washington is lone
of the few immortal names that was
not born to die. - OF him, the brilli.
ant and brave Napoleon left the pre-
diction "Posterity will talk Of Wash
ington with reverence as the founder
of great empire, when my name shall
be lost in the vortex of revolutions. "
True greatness has its root in God.
A strong faith in the Lord and warm
love for country make true patriots
Washington was Christian hero and
a Christian statesman. Here lay the
true secrets of greatness. One of his
known maxims was: "Endeavor to
keep alive in your bosom that little
divine spark called conscience. " He
was great in battle, noble as the head
of the nation, but he was greater still
one hundred and seventeen years ago,
when on the 30th day Of April, he as
sembled with the heroic men whose
patriotic devotion had led the colonies
to victory and independence, in the
house of God, for the prayers of the
church, before he took the oath of
lofffce as Chief Magistrate or the new
born republic.
Who can tell how much the liberty
of this nation is owing to the first
president of the United States, who.
with firm reliance on thu God of ma
tions, carried the mighty burden to
His large loving heart in fervent
prayers. In the darkest season of the
American revolution. when the star of
hope had almost lost its lustre to the
eye of his faith, he would retire each
day, to grove in the vicinity of the
camp. 1t was there, he could be seen
on his knees, with tears on his cheeks
and his face heavenward, beseeching
in tones Of agony, that God would pity
and save his suffering army and his
suffering nation.
There never was truly great man
without religion. And what is self
evident truth in regard to the indivi-
dual is equally true of the nation.
There never was truly great nation
without religion. All that we are and
have we owe to God. Righteousness
exalteth nation, but sin is the re-
proach of any people.
America is religious nation We
are devout people. Christianity is
the basis of the exaltation of nation.
the only hope Of our national prosper
ity. When we assert that religion ex-
alts nation, we refer to the religion
of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do not
mean the religion of the cruel tyrant,
the superstitious ecclesiastic or wild
enthusiast How can cruel tvrant
exalt nation? He who arms himself
with the civil sword and forces people
to accept his dogmas. establishes re-
ligion which will be fountain of
wrath, ever creating wars and oommo-
tions. How can a superstitious coolest.
astic exalt nation?
The Patriotic Order Sons of America
is not foe to religion. 1t does not
antagonize the church of the living
God. The vast majority of its mem
bers belong to the Christian church.
Their opposition to union of church