The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-29
Rev. Edgar Gro : i'd Beliv-
cred Stirri' ) address
to V ans
WORSE THAN WAR" is
BETRAYAL OF RIGHT
Clergyman Advocated Pre-
paredness and a Greater
Respect for the Flag

Services of patriotic character were
held and stirring sermon was delivered
by the pastor, Rev. Edgar Grassland at
the First Presbyterian church Sunday
morning when the veterans of r. B. Gran
dali post, G. A. R., members OF Major
L. A. Abbott camp, Sons of Veterans,
and women of Col. j. B. Mead circle gath
cred for their annual Memorial Sabbath
exercises. At 10 o'clock the veterans and
the auxiliary mems organization formed
in line in front Of the post rooms at city
hall, marched down North Main street,
pausing to salute the flag suspended
across the thoroughfare in front of the
Rowland building, and then continued on
to the church, where they were ushered
to seats well toward the front.
Preparedness was the keynote of the
pastors address to the veterans and the
manner in which the subject was handled
left no doubt as to where the preacher
stands on question that is agitating
many minds to-day. 1t was a forceful
declaration of principles, delivered with
a forcefulness that carried conviction.
By and large, it may be considered as
one of the finest contributions made to
the calendar of pre-Memorial dsy ad-
dresses delivered to CrandaIl post in a
long period of years. Warmly, the pas
tor welcomed the visitors and referred to
the happy circumstances which made it
possible for them to be there
The text was taken from Ezekiel s3d
obor+ar stb r. -Att ~
o,n "ilel, Ieaus a. Ioi-
lows: he heard the sound OF the trumpet
and took not warning. his blood eha II ba
49,, L., H.. IL III 4,1...L .-;s.
nihi ou' ie .n"o UahetH wal hihg
shail denver MS soul
The ma stor smoke sube+,a N tiallx, &c col
Io,,..,
II is an interesting coincidence that this
passage concerning the watchman and his
trumpet has been publicly employed recently
as an apology for national duty by two Of
.aur our srSatest Americans, an eH-president and
the pfslaeht OF THESE United states Both
We're interpreting 70 the American people their
ronyctions OF the duty OF the hour, convictions
Wide enough apart so lar as application was
con, concerned but absolutely at one in essence.
VIVA dineieht degrees OF emphasis, both are
"a, 5nAAins the same fundamental declaration
Inc trumpet IN divers tones, has one clear
nose' note OF cnaiienge TO the intelligence
al .
As IhrBtlan minister, am necessarily
lover OF peace though not of peace bought
~ tne price OF honor Longfellow said War
y y a terrible trsae. but IN the cause that is
righteous, sweet is the smell OF powder. And
'aio 1he great Ehghsh statesman, Pitt whose
nAnos We're tuH OF war IN the titanic struggle
y ,hen n pelng wagea aged against the terrible might
2. y Napoieoh' war WIN All its evils Is better
nan nan 2 peace N wnich tnere is nothing TO he
seen out hs9rpauon ana injustice Every
ever ',Ns, o. ireedom ana honor responds to such
q ri xrFn ntafn
rom the inner tounts OF moral intuition The
me thing worse than war IS peace obtained by
ne betrayal OF riSht and the acauiescence in =
wrong.
war mas not always been the symbol OF to-
al depravty' nor Is IT to-day war is not an
lnmiNed evil God has made even the wrath
! y men 70 praise him, ana carry into effect
lis eternal purposes for good. BY war, the
arger part OF the habitable world has been
pened 70 the progress and benefits Of ciylliza-
ION. Whole nations, too have been freed
rom political bondage and religious oppres-
ION by this terrible instrument we call war.
Var opened the doors OF China, Japan and the
,hilippines; war broke down the cruel mysti-
ism Of India and II was that drove the
'ilgrim fathers to seek an asylum of political
nd religious liberty in America. The inde-
endenee of the colonies the Acknowledgement
{ their right to be free. was won by the
atrotism of war. Lexington, Concord Bunker
ill, Valley Forge. all tell the story of blood,
or without the shedding of blood there Is
othing None win question the patriotism Of
le exigencies Of terrific situation reveal
Inn as prophet of righteousness when he de-
AIRED. Fondly do hope, fervently do we
ray that this mighty scourTe OF war may
'eedily pass away Yet If God wills that II
,ntinue till all the wealth piled up BY the
two hundred and fifty years Of
lreuuited toll shall be sunk and antil every
-op of blood drawn with the lash be paid for
another drawn BY the sword as was said
rec thousand years ago so still must Il be
i'd the judgments of the Lord are true and
zhteous altogether History proves that the
neficent purposes Of God are never defeated
the errors Of nations or the crimes Of men
Abraham Lincoln sounded the trumpet
unded II with no uncertain sound and Won.
terans Of the Civil war YOU took warning
"A Won delivered not merely voir own soui
4 the soul Of the nation and nv hre.bro-
the memory of that glorious nehieyep,ent
, are met here in Gods house TO-DAY
i would say with Billy SUNDAY. the only
ece Of iewelry on earth TU ever tale ~, b.t
10 i the bronz. Grand Army. hutton 4, an
blue coat know so-,sfbinv ~ ,ybst =
FOR pe,opl, to mt their sesb s,d biooJ
the altar Of the state Won knou, Il v.cr.
This dav brings 10 our n,.r,or, rot onlv
= bo,s in hlue who ea,e fbefr afuIl rness
. N dezotions bu, those rsrepts s15 ,.fye.
4 sisters and bef-otbss r,si5.rs ,vbo f,,,,5
harder 70 give m tbsfr hcI.y.d 49, 4
MA havs h.sn fo- fb.,, 81 49, 49,, fL.s
Washington and Lincoln. yet we rejoice