The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-06-04
Sermon Is Inspiring
Comstoek In Pulpit
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
Members of the local post OF the
Grand Army. with their banners and
other insignia; the Women's Relief
corps and the local company oil the
Minnesota National Guard I'm fun uni
form. together with attendants oil the
local Presbyterian. Methodist. Congrc-
gational, Christian and Baptist chur-
ches, and others, filled not only the
auditorium but the adjoining lecture
room as Well I'm the Baptist church
last evening. for the union memorial
service.
The chancel was appropriately dec
Grated with large flags.
Rev. X. w. Hobbs. the Baptist pas
tor, welcomed the guests and led the
service. There was beautiful musical
program for the occasion. The choir,
consisting of Misses Barbara Mans
field. Grace Holmes, Fern Van Win
kle, and Stella Bolvig. and Hosea
/ IIarmnr, Earl Pepper. Lawrence Boivig
and Frank Keith, rendered several
well chosen selections, including Mrs.
Carrie b. Adams famous production.
Cover Them over With Beautiful
Flowers" Mr. llarmer sang a solo. 20
Divine Redeemer." with .violincello
obligato by Harry Iverson. Mrs. Harry
lverson presided at the organ. At the
close the whole congregation joined
| in the singing of America"
Sermon BY Rev. Comstock.
Sermon BY Rev. Comstock.
Rev. Comstock spoke on Keeping
and Using Our Heritage" using as d
text |. Thess 3: 1921, "Quench not
| the spirit. Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things: hold fast that which
Is good" Said he: Ever i'm the his
tory OF humankind has there been
struggle between radicalism and con-
| servatism. Energetic spirits have
| chafed under the restraining infiu-
! ence of the less visionary. Progress
! sive ambition and contentment have
each lured men and nations into the
by-paths of danger and dissolution.
Historic leaders have had TO guide
civilization on between Scyllas and
Charybdes. stopping their ears with
wax lest they should be dashed on
| tho rocks near the alluring music OF
evil ways. Today we are truly i'm an
age of great transition. From the
morning that Dewey smashed the
I Spanish feet i'm Manila harbor poll
tically at least we have been COM
PEELED TO say, Old things are passed
away. behold all things are become
new AS country we are transit
I ting-Changing with remarkable IA
pidity Our ideals. cur people. and our
laws are moving far away from pre-
s..,.a
world power and our methods Of gov
ernment arc pushing on In unbeaten
paths. Many a big -hearted patrio'
unseliish citizen and lover OF God Is
asking. 'Withcr are we drifting? Is II
we'll with our republic? Are these
forces making for stability and more
effective world service and Christ
, fruitaSc? Amid the wreckaGc Of the
! past. the ambitions OF the present and
the alluremenis Of the future we hear
Paul's voice. Prove all things: hold
fast that which 10 good Let .us be
certain to keep our heritage but keep
II to use and magnify for God and
mankind.
What 10 Our Hcritagc7
But what is our heritage as al
time just now to enumerate our NAM
national blcSsings-one by enc. Up
on this occasion We are, more con
Ccrned In recalling the privileges that
you men Of the blue have bequcathcd
us as n country. Practically every
blessing that we have is ours by vir-
tue OF your courage and victories
Nevertheless. there Is very distinct
inheritance that you have left us.
! One. You have shown To mankind
how To sacrifice. suffer. firht and die
for the higher things of political right
cousncss and freedom.
Two. You have kept for us ON
Union now and forever. one and In
J scpara bic one flag. one people.
Three. Your success demonstrated
that q government OF the people. BY
tho '.,oplc and for the people car
stand
I -Four. You settled forever a aues
ton that imperilcd the very founda
tons OF our republic. viz. that oil
states rights.
| Five. You made real the cardinal
principles OF the Declaration OF hide
pendence and our federal constitution
that all men are created free and
equal: that all men shall have The
right to life. liberty and the pursui,
OF happiness that we might form q
more perfect Union
six. Crudely and awkardly have
been some OF the reconstructive steps
but with patience and great labors you
brought our country out or depres
sion. chaos, misunderstanding. bitter
!! ness
| Seven. You and your brothers in
gray, after four years OF nothing but
war, set an ilustrious example for the
world by quietly retiring to peaceful
industries without disorder, plumber
| or hate.
Eight. You have snufred out the
sectional feeling and jeolousies until
! the editor OF The Atlanta Constitution
could say when the war clouds hung
about us in 1898.
- fought along with Stonewall;
! | faced the fight with Lee.
But II this old unions In for war.
| Make one more gun for me-
! The prosperity and peace OF this
hour In our country Is largely your
legacy to us.
Retain the Use Of Heritage.
Now how can We retain and best
use such an heritage? First OF all.
we Americans need to know our leg
acy. Perchance our conversation has
dimmcd our yisiou and narrowed o,tr