Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-19
MEN ARE THE
 NATIONS GREATEST ASSET.
Nothing Contributes So Largely to a Nations Wealth as Her Men, Said Y. M. c. A. Speaker.

i At the Y NJ. C. A. shop meeting conducted at the Crescent Arms com pany Friday noon Rev. George H. Etrouse of the First Baptist church was the speaker.
 /! Patriotism just now in our country ought to be at flood tide said Rev. tween the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. These are the two shining stars in the Armament of our history. : If Washington gave us our favored 1 land, then it was Lincoln who pre- l served 1t for US. A comparison of these l two men is hardly possible. Wash i 1ngton refused a crown and Lincoln made a cross and died on it. To the God who rules the nations we ascribe praise and thanks for Washington and Lincoln.
 The greatest asset to any nation is her men. We have vast resources in the United States. We have gold, sil- yer, copper and coal mines. We have 1 large tracts of timber land and many 1 thousands of square miles of the ] choicest agricultural land, but nothing 1 contributes so largely to a nation wealth as the men produced by the ! nation.
 1 :. Washington's and Lincoln's fame Is i world wide In the land of their birth we especially delight to do them hon. or. To trace Gods hand in history is exceedingly interesting. And nowhere in all history is Gods leadership more evident than in the lives of these two men. Strange as it may seem, these two names are inseparably connected with war Neither loved war, but surely came to the kingdom for such an hour as the times presented.
 ; The bigness of Washington can be best seen through the years of con- fiict. Criticism was shot hard at him from various quarters. Relying upon God, he went on in the path of duty until at Yorktown it was all over. This was decisive. This war revoluttonized Great Britain's colonial policy and prepared the way for the new type of administration which has given her 8 colonial empire.
 Men, I want you to see Gods hand in American history. That war was not won simply through the military genius of Washington. The hour was ripe for a republic, and God so con trolled events that our armies were crowned with success. That God want ed this nation free is all the more !apparent in the light of present day history. Our republic is not a century and half old, but is being courted by all the nations. From the Orient to the Occident the nations are seeking our help. t--
 When God crowned Washington with victory, the Almighty had a big part in history for us to play. And the end is not yet. In less than a century our nation faced 8 bloody Civil war. With great price we had obtained our freedom. Then the foe was on the outside Now it is internal. With Gods hand so clearly evident in our history. would he now permit our nation to be torn asunder? Down in 8 Kentucky log cabin God had been forging a man for the crisis. Lincoln is the man. Livingstone is in Africa blazing a trail through the jungles that a Christian civilization might enter and shatter the hands of slavery. Lin coin is at the helm in this country. We see a mans true worth in the hour of struggle. If ever a man made good, that man was Lincoln. Scorn and criticism were heaped upon him, but he knew this task. There was no uncertainty about his mission. Lean 1 ing hard upon God, he pushed forward l in the path of right. Again God gave right the victory.
 God never gave a nation two greater men. They were great not only in { achievements but in character They thQtA feared God and worked hard.