The Mena weekly star., 1916-06-08

I have chosen for my text theI fourteenth verse of the twelfth chapter of Exodus. And this day shall be unto you for memorial
 The entire verse reads, And thls day shall be unto you for memori- al; and ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever"
 Days set apart in sacred. holy memory are numerous; and by Di- vine authority. Passing over many of the old Dispensation we come in- 10 modern times to Christmas Day which is celebrated by the civilized world in memory of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming ot our Lord and Savior. All civilized nations keep this day. and this tune, and their memories are carrled pack to the importance or the day III which all peoples are interested. carried back in the full behef oi the statement of our Lord that the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Then Easter time is another memorial time. a time in commemoratlon ot the Risen Christ And all civilized peoples in the world abroad have respect unto this day The celebra- ton of our Lords Supper is dlNlnely appointed to be a constant remlnder unto the peoples of the earth of the sufferings and death of our SaVour in his holy office of redemption.
 As a nation we have our annual memorial days, and days where we go back to that vital and important day. the Fourth of July, i716. when under God this nation was born and didicated to the cause of Free dom. There is no American citizen but what can look back to that day with a thrill of pride and joy and think of their great, hardy grand sires. It's baptism was a baptism of blood and tears freely given. Our reflection on the early days are still sources of our patriotism arising quickly to the highest registry.
 There is some difficulty in this struggling day and age that We for get what this nation cost. None will ever know from this time on.
 The landing of the Pilgrim fathers in 1920 was the first word in the Declaration of Independence. The whole instrument began right then and there. And that immortal doc ument was building for one hundred and fifty-six years. It ought to' be pretty good one. And it required seven years of sacrifice, of freezing. of starvation. and of dying to bring about it's recognition. And our erandsires were right there. Fraught with struggle and in- tolerable difficulties. new conti- nent has risen up, as it were, out of the sea. We look back over four hundred years and we say. that is long time. so long ago for men and women that we almost forget about it. forget the history. But Is 1t not immense in contemplation today About four hundred years ago this nation was not known 10 the peoples of the earth Isn't it remarkable when you think that less than three hundred years ago this nation was not a nation? It IS not a great while either, and yet today this nation. of which we are the citizens, Is the brightest and largest star in all the constellation of nations. That would sound like boasting if it were not the truth, but it is the truth, and we do not oVerstate and we will not
 under-estimat our fame. neither in intellectual nor in the natural re- sources. in wealth. or in ability. lt
 is ours to state. The nation that has risen to the greatest wealth of all nations; to the largest cities 0t any nation in the world; a nation
 that is guarded and protected Dy itself, solitaire of the sea. Four hundred years ago the western shore of the Atlantic Ocean was not known or whether it had one or not and it was but a little over three hundred years ago that 1t was not known whether the Pacific Ocean had an eastern shore or not. This great country mas risen and mounted in leaps and bounds until today it is the wonder of the world. Is it not a marvellous thing how men and boys from all parts of the globe. came and marched and fell in order to organize and perpetuate our government, of the people, by the p2olple. for the people? One We believe today more than We ever beieVed, one and insepafahle bond now and forever Amen.
 The history of wars desolatior has never been told. il can't be told It has never been written pen couldn't write it, is why it has mt been written. It has. never beer told tongue couldn't tell it. is tho reason why it hasn't been told Nal let and chisel have failed te produce the statuary, because mallet anf ohisel cannot do it. Imagery ha. utterly failed to attain unto wars desolation.
 might be excused for remarkine just here. upon the awfulness of the European war, and how we should ask God this day to continue th'
 existence of this nation and how WV should rejoice. A few days ago or the front along the battle line 1T
 Alrope 10000 dead men lay on sew
 M hundred yards of frontage; eacf one of them from a home where prayers were ascending for theil 1 preservation. Only few days age 1 30,000 dead men were found in tho i trenches and they were slain anC
 left there within the seventy hour. previous. Our safety God grant
 that 1t may not be our danger anC | tweakness. Shall we escape the aw- 1 tul, burning cauldron of war il
 every and all directions from usi Shall we escape war; May Goo grant that We escape 1t and in thi, prayer we ask that it may be be- cause of the nobility of souls of thu l \ nnnrinnn 1Annrnln