The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-31
HEARD
4 FINE SERMON
BY REV. R. WADE
Annual Sunday Services Were
Observed Yesterday at the
First Methodist Episcopal
Church,
FLAGS AND FLOWERS
WERE DECORATIONS

Sermon Was Masterful Effort
Delivered by a Minister
Whose Heart Wept From
Recent Bereavement.
Annual Memorial Sunday was OBJ
served yesterday at the First N. z.
church. The exercises were Of . most
impressive nature. The sermon vas
delivered by the Rev. R. J. Wade. the
pastor. As special guests Of the con-
were the members OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic. Women's
Relief Corps. Spanish War Veterans.
Sons OF Veterans. Ladies' Auxiliary
and Ladies' Of the G. A. R. The church
rostrum had been decorated appropri-
ately with flags and flowers. Two
stands of muskets Of the old army
pattern and potted plants were used.
also. Tho audience was 20 large - 70
require the use of the Sunday school
room.
The sermon was . mastery effort.
1t was equally AZ heroic ON the part
of the minister. Though his eyes
showed 1t not. every one who listened
to his words knew his heart wept. BE-
cause of his recent bereavement In
the death Of his wife. He encouraged
others to reverence their dead and TO
comprehend that In their deaths they
made possible great benefits. But -
he spoke the words Of cheer to the
widows and orphans Of the soldiers.
his voice faltered and It was With
trembling words he c0anseled them.
Sang the Old oenss.
And there was music Of the Kind ~.
cry patriotic citisea loves. The Bat
tie Hymn Of the Republic. was sung
by Mrs Grace Gormon. the cooOreg1-
tion Joining In the choruses. Services
were opened with the singjng Of my
Country IT'S OF Thee" The more
classical numbers a. rendered by the
choir were militant In their character.
Honor to the Soldiers Give" and
Kipling's Recessional were sung by
the choir. In the latter number the
solo part was taken by Raymond
Wehrly. Mrs. Fred Bartel sang -
solo number Peace Troubled Heart"
The veterans were abundant In
their praise Of the sermon. They pro-
nounced It one of the best It has been
their pleasure 20 hear. There were
sentiment and philosophy included In
the speakers sentences. Deprecating
war, he extolled the virtues Of those
who take part In the invocation. the
Rev. George Hill. himself . veteran.
gave especial praise to the Spanish
war veterans. declaring them the FIRST
men in history to wage . war purely
for humanitarian principles and the
sake Of the down pressed Of another
nation.
Sermon In Part.
The Rev. Mr.. Wade spoke in part -
follows:
There is no spot in this broad ex-
dier and particularly the veteran Of
the Civil war IL not most Welcome.
A close Relationship exists between
your organizations and our common
religion. Every church should be the
teacher OF true patriotism for every
spire that leaps heavenward points to
the God Of Nations. Every edifIce
erected to the glory and worship Of
the Father Of Nations should perman-
entity possess and display that banner
which your valor 30 gloriously pre-
served.
imssination 10 0sdImmsd.
"Our imaginations can but dimly
paint the hardships OF long marches
through rain and sleet. the perils a
temptations and deprivatioos. the
perils of field and flood. and the perils
of fire and sword that you passed
through. Those were trying times for
you and for those. your wives and
parents who silently but no less nobly
endured at home. When you marched,
their hearts marched with you; when
you slept out in the rain or lay out
exposed in snow. their hearts were
cold and the blood froze in their
veins: when there came rumors that
q battle was imminent. great was their
anxiety: when the battle was over
then came the days Of suspense. when
the home folks scarcely breathed.
their hearts were sad and they shaded
their eyes lest they should see Q mes
senger coming with the word that son
or brother. father or husband. was
dead upon the battlefield Sad days
those for al and yet sadder sti1 had
they been II you had been unwilling 70
answer your country's call to save her
from destruction. Sad are many o(
those recollections. those scenes,
those hardships, those griefs. the hoe.
rors Of battle and that which was
worse than death. slow starvafioo IN
prison pens. These you cannot forget
"Lest We Fespss."
And Why should they be forgotten?
The events upon which the fortunes
(coafhusd = Pass vou.l