Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-30
SERMON TO VETERANS
Memorial Sunday Services Held
at Unitarian Church.
"The Assimilation Of Grent en-
periencc" the subject of n Iaudn-
tory Address by the Pastor,
the Rev. &. j. staples.

Services were held in the Unitarian
Church Sunday evening In honor OF STAN
naM Post, Grand Army Of the Republic,
and It's allied societies. with sermon
by the pastor the Rev. G. j. staples,
and a musical program. The pretty cere-
monv of marching from the post head
ouart.rs So the church, under military
escort. vas carried out, the members
of STANDARD Post and of Camp William
Wells. Sons of Veterans. moving in
silence through Church street at 1870,
formed in column of twos. bearing their
colors and headed by Company NJ, TINS
ORGANIZATION standing Mt salute while
| the societies passed In and out of the
edlfioe. rully 700 were in the procession.
| The musical program consisted of the
prelude PRO, esslonal." by Keller, the
anthem TO Thee, Country, by
Eichbere. rendered by the church choir
gloria 10y the choir "Now Unto the King
| Eternal" a baritone solo. De Kovon's
God OF our Fathers" 10y Harry Dane
a tenor solo. Ncyinc's Sometime. Some
Day" by otis HAN, the chant of the
Lords prayer hy the choir, two hymns
and the organ postlude. "Reccssional,'
by Jordan. !,
The Assimilation of n Great Exper-
ience" was the topic OF the sermon,
chosen for its application to the OBJ
servancc of Memorial day next Thurs
day. Mr. staples brought out strongly
the Transforming effect upon the nation
OF a great conflict like the War of the
Rebellion. declarine that all time would
not suffice to erase the Influence of that
struggle. VIVA we assimlate in our
| bodies. said he. goes into the very
material of orr blood" And so 1t is, ne
pointed out with the results OF great
fight for n great principle-the nation
ahsorbs into itself internationally the ex-
perience which Il undergoos. and these
become 4 part Of it,
He Illustrated his point 10y reference
to the assimilation OF personal "Xpcr-
fences birth and marriage and death. -
he said. these personal experiences be-
come part of ourselves. and it is
through our personal experiences that
we are made stronger and wiser. In like
manner this principle applies to the ma
ton. Every soldier IN the Civil Wa,
was made greater by his part In It, The
harshness, brutality and horror IF the
conflict are dying away, and the great
ness and the meaning of it are becoming
moro apparent. This experience is one
that can never lo taken away. The
suCtcling of time brings about "A sweet
ness. the Bitterness fading out. and W.
forgive as We forget
"The application Of this thought is no
personal and selfishit is national anC
social. Now We can say that sweetness
ard beauty have come out of violence
and bloodshed. The nation as it is il
these days of evil portent for the fu
ture through madness for wealth woul'
be the worse for these conditions wcr
it not Tor the days of half-centur,
ago, and its baptism of fire
Memorial day has been given Owe
to the holiday spirit until the spirit ant
the meaning of tine ~lY have been los
in large measure. Vet we must lo
the new generation have their way. an
let them live thcr lives rs their eX
pc.ienCe directs"
Addressing the veterans, Mr. staple
said.
The world has not forgotten. nor ha
humanity FORGOTTEN. although YOU ma
sometimes think they have, your BRAY
err and Loyalty and service. The influ
erce of the war will last long a
= tho nation survives, and with it tn
memory Of your deeds"