Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-25
REV. j. |. VANCE
DELIVERS YEARLY
SOLDIERS SERMON
GAR. and Other Patriotic Bod
les Attend Divine Services
at the UP. Church.
BATTLES ABOVE CLOUDS
Moral and Spiritual Conflicts of Chris
tan Life Call for Highest
Type of Courage.

Several hundred members OF the
q A r. SPanish-American War vet
s,.ns. w. r. c. and other patriotic
bodies attended the annual memorial
Ssrvices yesterday morning at the
RATED Pres byterian church. Rev. J.
I. Vance delivered the sermon, taking
AZ his theme Battles Above the
Clouds"
The veterans and their friends gath
cred At Memorial hall at the court
house at 10 o'clock and marched in a
bodv 10 the church. where special seats
had been reserved for them. The
church was prettily decorated with
flags and bunting and the choir rem
dered music that was especially appro-
pirate to the occasion
Rev. Mr.. Vance based his remarks on
the text. Suffer hardship with me as
a soldier OF Christ Jesus" IL Timothy
%. After expressing his pleasure at
having the old soldiers worship at his
church. Rev. Vance discussed some
OF the supreme detectives OF spiritual
warfa7e-the great ends aimed at in
the conflicts in which the Christian
must engage.
TIE biggest battles Of human ex-
perience are not staged OF bloody
fields. nor fought out under the incen-
tiTes OF military aspiration" he de-
clared. This is what mean by bat
ties above the clouds We wrestle not
against flesh AID blood. We are con-
frcrted By superhuman adveTsaries.
Our mortal combat is moral and spir-
i:ual The Christian life IS not dress
parade, but u strenuous campaign of
serious warfare. The time IS sched-
uled to arrive when nations shall not
learn war any more, but while the
present world stands We must expect
the conflict Of evil against good IN the
individual life. When Other wars are
over, and all armies disband. this
higher warfare still will continue"
Prime Qualities.
TIE prime qualities Of the Christian I.
soldier were, when considered. cour- I.
age, endurance Continuing, he said:
The follower OF Christ is not TO ex- 4
pect 10 march straight through to tri- I
unph and victory without seeing any |
zeal lighting by the way. Let NE add l
here q third quality Of the Christian
soldier suggested by our text. and that
Is const2ncy, which is akin 10 endur-
anee and yet somewhat different.
Bravery. endurance and constancy all
seem to me to be described in the
words, 7 have fought the good fight,
i have finished the course. ! have kept
The faith In the times in which we
1--we, and perhaps in every age, il is a
heroic and vital task 10 hold on 10 the
Tue and full faith once for al deIiv-
eTed 10 the saints IN the entire and
perfect word Of God. The arch enemy
q the human soul eldeavors in mani I
foic WAYS 20 take from Us the Chris
Ia fai-h. and thus fill us with despair
N place OF living hope. We need to
snard this treasure with exceeding
care1uness even as pilgrim Israel pro-
tecled The sacTed ark in all is wan
derfngs.
Besides this trinity Of soidierly
quahties 10 strengthen the inner man ,
'of me conflicts OF the Christian life,
He need al that IS suggested IN that
l.e description % what IS called the
%noie aTnor OF God which We read in
6. The shield and helmet
"a EFord- the breastplate and gi-tIe
nc Es1dals. All that comes to US =,
HlouGn the study OF Gods word and =
me e1eTcise OF believing prayer. {
me arz1cr OF light and OF righteous =
'zs l. Part Of the equipment tina. will r
-1Ae rs able 70 stand against the
ne and oarts OF our wicked adyer- u
aries.
CIe OF the nost heroic figures in all Il
'-oTy Is that venerable warrior OF a
-"%eS a1d Joshua's day. Caleb The L
= q "eDnuaaeh. Let him stand for q
moment Eov IN our Imagination be- y
ne Fsul. and let his voice respond TO 81
e nlts-ancs Of Parl in our text Il
-4so spoke only sober truth and 10 81
IN boast when. n his old age he ap-
'aed 10 his record and asked fer 4
ie more chance 20 fight for Jehovah =