Rock Island Argus., 1915-05-31
TRUE FREEDOM IS
STILL UNSECURED
Civil War Liberated Body. But Soul
Needs Emancipation, Says Rev.
ID. A. Johnson.
IN ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERMON
Saddest Slavery Is When the Serf Be.
comes the Master and Tyrant OF
the Owner.

/ nat
OF freedom was the basic reason for
the Civil war. was the opinion ex-
pressed by Rev. David a johnson OF
the Central Presbyterian church in the
annual Memorial day sermon yester-
day morning.
/ Members OF John Buford Post and
other patriotic organizations marched
/ in a body 20 the church where a sec
I tion OF seats had been reserved. The
/ church was appropriately decorated
I FOR the occasion. and the choir rem
dered a special musical program.
Rev. Johnson took as his theme.
True Freedom" basing his remarks
/ on the text: If therofer the Son shall
make you free. We shall be free in
deed" John S:35.
The speaker said that while the an
clients considered Venus the goddess
of love and beauty. America so regard
ed freedom. He traced the various
meanings which liberty has had in
different ages and said that even to
this DAY Il Is capable OF a variety of
interpretations.
Roman Conception.
To the Roman. freedom meant the
play with the passions and daily with
sin in every form: to give free reins
20 appetite and desire: TO live a life
% revelry and drunkenness. But that
was n freedom that brought with IL the
shackles OF death. Death 10 morality
and the sense OF right; death TO char
acter; death to conscience; and death
10 the Roman empire" declared the
speaker.
How the revolution was brought
about through love OF freedom was
mentioned and then the wall of es-
arrangement which was gradually built
between the north and.the south. over
a difference of opinion as 10 liberty
was touched upon.
The South's View.
Continuing Rev. Mr. Johnson said:
zone section said that freedom con-
sisted IN the right OF one state doing
as 10 pleased regardless of the wish or
welfare Of another state OF OF the union
as n whole. II consisted. said they, in
the right OF a state TO violate its word
OF honor II such action was beneficial
20 its selfish interests. Freedom con-
sisted in the right TO tear out the
other. forming a compact union. thus
allowing the whole glorious structure
70 fan in q hopeless mass OF ruins.
Nay. more than this; Influenced by an
opinion inherited from the mother
country and strengthened in this be
lief by the arguments of commercial 4
the south contended that /
true freedom lies in the liberty of op-
preston. That is TO say. the right TO /
oppress an inferior race. and to place /
upon their hands and their feet the .
iron shackles OF slavery.
LincOln's Idea.
There are heroes and hero
ines within the hearing OF my
voice this morning who know how true
are the words which 7 have spoken.
And you remember how the beloved
Abraham Lincoln raised his penetrat-
nE voice and cried 10 a distressed. but
.oyal people. are there $4,000 men
who have a truer sense OF freedom
han this and who are ready TO eN-
press their opinion in writing Of blood
With pens Of the shining steel?' a
hundred thousand answered. 7, L"
And again the question that issue was
debated upon the bloody battlefield.
Shall this land OF the free be a land
y true liberty and freedom? Shall its
reedom be q freedom TO do the right.
bringing bondage 10 noneT This was
he question 10 be settled. Listen, the {
.ebate is on az St Sumter. Three
core millions listen in breathless still
less 10 hear the result licked over !
he network OF wire came the mes
age that brought rejoicing to the {
outh. but drenched the northland in I
ears. The negative had won. and the {
'ullet pierced flag OF liberty and free
ON which waved over Mt. Sumter. I
'as lowered. while a nation wept."
True Freedom.
In conclusion. the speaker remark :
d:
What then do I mean by true free
ON? God has placed in the human !,
oul a desire 10 grow into the image
the all perfect One. But there are
estructive influences that keep man :
-om growing Godward, in accordance
18th the divine law of his nature.
rue freedom. therefore. is the free
ON from all things low and base that
md 20 keep man from attaining his :,
=.
ou had a desire TO free the black man :
'om the slavery unto which he was
lbiugated. You wanted TO free him Z
'om that slavery which kept him back l
ON developing as a human being
ight 10 develop. You succeeded most
obly. but let me ask you. and the
hers gathered here this morning.
ave you succeeded as we'll in your
xn emancipation from slavery? or is
Iere still a master. that lords IL over 2
~ and prevents you from attaining
lto what you soul longs 10 be? The 2
-eatest liberty OF which the universe
lows. IS the liberty of the mind and
'ul TO grow into the likeness of God.
he saddest slavery OF which / know T
thar slavery one may witness when 7
e tool has become the master and I
rant OF its owner. That which you !