Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-05-28
THE HEROIC DEAD
Memorial Sunday, 1908, Observed
by Services i'll ST. Mary's
Catholic Church.
SERMON BY REV. n. WEYER
Triumphs of the Past and Respon-
sibilities of the Future.
LARGE ATTENDANCE.

Church in this city.
The church bell began ringing at
ten minutes TO ten o'clock so that the
veterans and members of the Won
ans Relief Corps might know that it
was time for them to leave the Post
hall and march to the church.
On their way to the church, and
when near the residence of DR.. W. J.
Morgan, the members of the Post and
Corps were pleasantly surprised by
the members OF St. Mary's school,
who had come to greet them and
escort them to the church.
The school reversed order, and car
rying flags, and singing America"
marched to the approach of the
church, where they opened ranks so
that the veterans and members of the
Corps might pass into the sacred ed
ifce.
The sermon was by the pastor Faith
err Weyer, who addressed his hearers
as my dear friends: He said, in part,
that one of the noblest duties devolv
ing upon human heart is that of
gratitude for benefits received, of love
towards it's benefactOrs. To fulfill
this important duty we are assembled
here today. to recall the many priVi-
Ieges which we are blessed with from
on high, favored beyond many ma
tions, breathing the air Of freedom.
First our christian hearts would rise
to the Father of nations to whose ben
evOlent, eternal providence we are in
debted for every earthly comfort.
! Theref ore we surround the altar Of
God to unite our voices in common
praise and thanksgiving to Him from
whom all blessings flow, and while we
render this tribute to the supreme
founder of our happiness we behold
in our midst number of those noble
and heroic men, whom we may verify
consider the chosen instruments of the
good God for the performance OF the
grand work in which he has demon
strated his bounty towards US. We
honor these men because they arc he
rOes, who willingly responded to the
call of Providence when their dear
country was in distress. Thousands
Of their comrades fell in the noble
strife. Their memory is dear and
should be honored by the coming gen
eratiOns. By showing our apprecia-
tiOn of the sacrifices of those silent
victors and their surviving comrades
we display our patriotism today. Our
patriotism, however would be vain if
we knew not how to cherish that pre-
cious heritage which our heroic fore
father bequeathed unto us under the
smoke of the battle fields. The true
patriot bears in his heart great love
for those principles for which the
blood of his fOrefathers was shed.
They fought for the maintenance of
law and order and for a peaceful gov
eminent, and while they fought they
trusted in the Supreme Lawgiver.
They knew that as long as they would
fight for law, justice and God, the
just Ruler of the nation would be with
them. The true American patriot of
our day will learn from their example.
In every just law which is framed by
the government he beholds the voice
of God debating to his conscience;
and for the love and respect which he
owes to God himself he will faithfully
abide by the laws of his country, and
if necessary follow the bloody foot
prints of his heroic forefather in de-
fence of his country and it's laws.
Father Weyer further said: A true
Christian will always be a true
patriot: for he believes that Gods
all-rultng providence has established
the kingdoms and republics of the
earth, and that he giyeth power to the
kings and presidents, and Legislators
to frame just laws for the happy
guidance of mans terrestrial affairs.
On the contrary, the unbeliever and
atheist, if he be true to his principles,
will never make a good citizen, much
less a Jealous patriot.
1t is mainly the growing tenden-
cy to unbelief and irreligiOD which
fills our city, and county, and state
prisons. Religion is the key of
true Ioyalty-love for ones country,
and heroic patriotism. We pride our
selves on being Christian nation-a
nation adhering to the principles
which Christ has spread over the
earth for the salvation of men. If we
would be worthy members Of this
Christian nation we must be Chris
tians ourselves, aud all our actions
must be governed by Christian prin-
ciples.
Here Father Weyer denounced a
great evil of the age. He said: In
order that our country may remain
Christian country, the Christian
spirit must prevail in our families.
The family tie-the marriage contract
must be held sacred and indissolu-
BILE, as God and Christ hath enjoined.
The parental life must be spotless.
AS the intellect of our children re-
ceives its training in our schools, so
also must their hearts be trained in
thorough religious instruction from
their very youth. The family is nur-
sery of society. Alas, when we behold