Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-30

world for Jesus Christ. One of the
most hopeful signs of the day Is the
spirit of fellowship that prevails in
; the whole religious world, which be-
| speaks for the future great advance
! ment in all moral reforms and Chris
| tian enterprises. For these things
we should be profoundly thankful.
We Should Be Thankful For Folks.
God loves folks more than any thing
! else All history gathers about people. 1t
tales men and women to make history.
| The history Of every world period
gathers about few great characters.
Men and women make a nation. Not
our territorial domain-not our ma
terial resources of wealth, not our in
situations, of which we are so justly
proud, all these are what the magni-
ficent men and women of the past
have made them. and what men of
true and noble character and purpose
must maintain.
! Thank God for men who have
moulded our national life, from our
forefathers to the present time. Men
who have stood for our liberties. Heroic
men, martyrs for our national institu-
| tons and for mans larger freedom OF
religious liberty, soul liberty.
Thank God for large minded, unset
! fish men. Cody men, sympathetic
men. brotherly men. There never was
time when so many strong men, with
| the spirit and wisdom Of true leader
ship stood before the American people,
as the representatives Of all that is
uplifting in morals and true citizen
ship. Righteousness exalteth ma
ton. but sin is curse to any people.
Should Show Appreciation.
Not righteousness in the abstract.
but righteousness that finds en-
bodiment in human life. The only rep
resentatives Of good government are
the men who have the highest moral
Interests of their fellows at heart.
The general uprising Of good peo-
pie In all our cities at the present time
under the leadership of prominent
citizens is a hopeful omen Of better
days.
I have not mentioned the names OF
conspicuous characters in our national
life, for such we are devoutfully
thankful, but we have not come into
touch with these, perhaps, and they
have not directly affected our lives,
but there are men and women whose
life and character have touched ours,
and inspired us to larger and nobler
endeavors. These are to be found In
every community, and to such we are
greatly indebted, and debt Of graft
tude that perhaps we have never paid.
Not only should we have spirit of ap-
probation in our hearts, but we should
give some open and positive express
sion of our gratitude both to God and
to the individuals themselves.
II we have any flowers to present as
an expression Of our love and appre-
citation Of our fellows, let us scatter
them in their path while they live.
Not only would have you be thank
full of the day and age in which you
live, and for the men and women OF
the past and the present, but thank
God for the home-life of America.
No other land presents such a pic
ture of true home-life as ours. Men
and women make a nation great, but
the hr mes Of land largely make them
what they are. A nation or CON-
munity can raise no higher than the
moral and intellectual home life of the
people. If the national life degener.
ates it Is because the home life has
been left unguarded.
True gratitude to God for our home
life will make us protect its sacred
ness. We owe it to our children, our
city. and our country to protect them
from every form Of evil that under
mines and corrupts their morals, and
destroys their peace and happiness
We are being reminded at the present
time Of a possible calamity to our city
in the return Of the open saloon.
Saloon is Criticised.
During thirty-five years Of public life
as minister, going in and out Of the
homes of the people, I have never con-
fronted greater enemy to industry,
to municipal government, to business,
to politics, to childhood, to religion
and the peaceful home-life of the peo-
pie, than the open saloon.
And I have never been so overwhelm-
ed in pity and sadness, as at the sight
of the awful possibility of human
degeneracy and degradation, the re-
suits of the American saloon.
And too, the contrasted experience
has come to me, as to you, Of a moral
Indignation at the awful lust for gain
on the part of individuals at the ex-
pense Of the destruction Of homes. The
same feeling also Is aroused when a
city has so far forgotten it's high mis-
sion Of material, intellectual and moral
prosperity, as to give it's consent to
receive a mere pittance of revenue
from the vices of the people.
A number Of years ago lived in the
city of Shelbyville, Ill. 1t was there
had an experience that I shall never
forget.
Passing along the street one morn.
ing I saw stranger approaching me-
| I was particularly attracted to him
for two reasons. I observed an ugly
scar which was very conspicuous on
his face. I also saw at the same time
the bronze button on the lapel Of his
coat. Immediately associated the
scar with the soldier life. With pro
found respect, akin to reverence I re-
gardcd him, and lifted my hat as he
nassed, He was at that moment to