The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-05-27
A Small Body of Old Soldiers
With Allied Organizations
ATTEND CHURCH SERVICE
Annual Sermon Was Delivered by ]
Wallace Chesbro of Randolph-Pro-
gram Completed for Exercises
to Be Held Thursday.

Rev j. w. Chesbro, pastor OF the FED
Grated church in Randolph, occupied tn
pulpit of the First Baptist church yes
terday forenoon in the absence of Rev
George H. Holt, and the theme OF hi
Memorial Sunday sermon before the vet
Grams of X. B. Crandall post, No. 56
G.. A. r., and the members OF Maloi
l.. A. Abbott camp, No. IA, Sons of Vet
erans, had to do with the axiom thai
God plans the welfare of the natlor
through his influence upon the individual
The Grand Army men, led by Com
mander Jesse Cayhue, and the Sons oi
Veterans, in command OF Adjutant
George Brigham, were marshaled at the
post headquarters in the city building al
10 o'clock, marching thence to the flag
suspended across the street midway be
tween city hall and Depot square. There
the flag salute was given and the line
of march was resumed. The two bodies
went Immediately to the church, where
special facilities had been arranged for
seating the guests. r. b. Crandall post
was represented at the services by nine
teen veterans, while fourteen members
of the allied organization were in the
line of march. Others representing Col.
j. b. Meade circle, No. !, Ladies OF the
rand Army were also present at the
services, but took no formal part in the
Memorial Sunday observance.
The services were specially arranged
for the occasion and not the least inn
pressive part of the decorations attempt
ed was the large American flag draped
across the back of the rostrum. Potted
plants were used about the pulpit with
good effect. The choir sang appropriate
music for the occasion and the close OF
the services was marked by the congre-
cation singing America" as the vet
erans and members of the camp filed
slowly out to the street.
The sermon by Rev. Mr.. Chesbro was a
fitting memorial to the departed heroes
of the United States army, and during
the forty-five minutes which his remarks
occupied the congregation accorded him
close attention. He chose his text from
which reads: "He hath not dealt so with
any nation" Mr.. Chesbro said in sub
stance as follows: Every great enter
prise has its beginning on a small scale.
but the very beginning is oftentimes OF
more Importance than any
other stage or event in the development
of that enterprise. So il must be in the
life OF nation from its birth until its
downfall, or, If it lives and thrives, until
the end of time, the broad principles
upon which it is founded must be the
that always and under every
dominates its activities for
good or bad.
"In the biblical character, Abraham,
whose greatest end and aim in life was
10 serve God, we see the truth OF this
statement, In Abraham was really the
beginning of the nation that was later
10 set the stage for Christianity. 1t
.ook years to prepare the way for the
coming of Christ, but it was Gods will
hat it should be brought about in this
manner. He selected Moses to become
/ leader of Israel but the preparation
vas longer in years than the eulmina
ion of Moses mission and the accom-
ilishment of Gods wish. Moses was |
,orn in bondage and was brought up by |
he family of Pharaoh. To perfect the |
hosen one for his mission of delivering |
srael from the yoke of the Egyptians, |
iod later ruled that Moses should spend |
ears of his life in tending sheep. 1t |
vas in his eightieth year that the de-
iverer was called of God to lead His |
eople from Egypt.
"ln the kingdom of Israel, the reign
t prophets, judges and kings is simply /
he story Of preparation in the life of
great nation. In our own history, the
)ve of liberty that has dominated our
eople in all time had its inception back
4 the earlier days of English history,
hen the Magma Charta was put into
peration at the instance of the whole
eople. The Pilgrim spirit and the de-
ire for religious liberty. which sent Eng
sh colonists to the bleak shores of
'orth America, constitutes another step
/ Gods preparation. Later important
roblems came to an issue at Bunker
ILL., They were settled at Yorktown,
ut eighty years hence, when the clouds
war again began to threaten, signs
lere We're aplenty that the nation was
ill in developing stage.
God plans his good works with in
mite wisdom. In every great crisis, he
rs raised up leaders to meet the de-
ands of the times. Twenty years prior
} the Civil war, had the rebellion brok-
l out, the nation would have been rent
'under, probably for all time. God
lose a more favored day for His chosen
,ople to fight for principle, and when
lie appointed time came there were men
ady to assume the leadership and bat
e for the right. There were grave is
les involved that day back in 1860,
hen the first gun opened fire on Fort
impter. Many of these issues were
tiled at Appomattox Court House, but !
them all. many are confronting us to-
" and others still have arisen in the
st four decades. We stand in sad need
leaders to-day, and God will provide
e men OF courage and wisdom in His
yn good time. But the lesson is all
parent. God works through the indi-
iual and out of personal courage. wis
IN and strong character the fabric of
eat national life is wrought"