Semi-weekly herald. [volume] (Durango, Colo.) 1907-1917, 1910-06-06
HALLEv's COMET IN
OUR NATIONS HISTORY
tsIyron F. FI6eld. Decoration Day at
Aztec

stones?"
our minds the history of Isrnels free
dom from bondage. Our minds though
often reminded of this story never
weary OF its fascination. The four hun
dred years OF servitude were ended
and the chosen of God rewarded by
safe deliverance and land of plenty.
Words fail to picture the interest en-
joyed by those who shared in that free
dom
With faith In God and obedience TO
Joshua they cross the Jordan and from
its bed gather stones and build mon
ument that coming generations may
be reminded of Gods protecting care.
Permit the question OF Israel's Of
fering to find Judgement in our minds
this hour. What mean these stones?"
With the careless and Indifferent the
placing OF one stone upon another is
waste of time and labor With the can
did and thoughtful it is otherwise.
Time in his slow and onward march
has paused. here and there, tn his pill
grimage and left trace of his exist
ence. The monument beside the wa
tiers of Jordan is but one OF many
thousands.
This act though commonplace, in It's
way. was important in keeping the
thought of Gods presence among the
seed Of promise.
Monuments though not enduring i'm
part an inspiration. The long and
weary march from Austria TO Egypt
exhausted the strength and courage of
Napoeon's army The day for bathing
in blood the soil of the Pharoahs had
come Weary with fatigue and sick
at heart the soldiers of France APP
peared before their general. AS at
other times they sought encourage
ment from Napoleon's words. Point
ing 10 the pyramids. he said: Fellow
soldiersl Forty centuries are looking
down upon you From weakness and
strength sprang as If by magic
strength and courage. The battle fol
lowed and France was victorious. Not
alone to Napoleon and his men belong
the honors of that great battle but
TO Egypts silent pyramids is due
debt Of gratitude for the inspiration
impaired.
Human courage may brave the floods
of Jordan and raise a monument mark
ing the spot made sacred by Gods
deliverance. Human perseverance
may pile block upon block OF granite
until pyramids tower to the skies.
Human genius may scale the Alps and
plant her banner on foreign soil. But
the combined forces OF courage, per-
severance and genius, as typifled by
monumental evidences In the rise aud
fall OF nations are not 10 be compared
with the fruitage eminating from
the struggles of our sires in first GRO
atlne and latter in the preservation OF
this monumental nation. Opportune
the hour for taking brief retrospect;
down the years that, in thought, we
may relieve the journey from servi-
tude TO freedom For this purpose
permit us to think in the cycles of
Halley's comet. Straying to the year
1860 will admit of standing with Wash
ingion then young man 80 years of
age. With him We not only gaze sky
ward and watch in wonderment the
coming the going of this old faithful
OF the heavens. but we looked out onto
n
we see today.
What a contrast Jealousy and big
otry in that day held sway on Eng
lands throne in the personality of
George H.. the naughty monarch. Con-
trasted with him is the late and la
mented charitable King Edward. In
the light of Halley's comet in 1860.
but TWO cycles removed from its pres
ent visit, this earth was void of
single country whose inhabitants dared
voice the prompting of freedom. To
day every nation on American soil is
republic. Confronting our colonial
ancestors in 1860 were problems grave
and serious. England's unjust policy
Of taxation crushing the very life OF
the colonies with the Indians at their
backs and King George upon the
throne. But liberty's fires were smoul-
dering in the breast of people thirst
ing for freedom To check the prog.
ress of liberty was like checking the
stars in their courses The fires OF
intelligent patriotism were destined to
light liberty's path, and, like the orbit
OF the comet destined TO be one OF
mighty magnitude.
Another cycle of our celestial visitor
and new world is here to greet the
pathfinder of the heavens.
The war of the Revolution was waged
in the shadow of It's former exit, and
the fruitage of many triumphs were
evidences OF liberty's claims. Here
on this Western hemisphere had been
unfolded through struggling and devel
opment a young but mighty nation
whose principles and policies were to
be emulated by peoples In lands be-
yond the seas.