Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-26

By invitation Of Rev. Charles G. Mo.
sher. pastor OF the Penney Memorial
Baptist church on Grove street, the
members OF Co. NJ Of the I'd Infantry,
N. 6. S. NJ, stationed at Augusta and
now in camp at Camp Keyes, attended
service Sunday morning in a body and
listened to a sermon by Mr. Mosher
on the subject: Cornelius, the Soldier"
which took the form of an address to
the regiment. About 100 members of
co. M were present in addition to the
usual large congregation and the ad-
dress by the pastor was given the clos
est attention. At the conclusion of the
service and as the boys passed out the
audience arose and remained standing
until the last one had left the church.
and not only that. for the boys were
cheered Justify as they passed down the
aisles and out Of the doors.
Mr.. Mosher took for his text Acts
1o:e. There was a certain man in Caes-
area, Cornelius by rIsne, a centurion
of the band called the Italian band"
and spoke in part as follows:
Cornelius was the commander of
century. company of 100 men. He
was SSHl Will HIS CUHlpdny TO exercise
military surveillance over the terri
tory Of which Caesarea was the strate-
gic center. Captain Cornelius made
himself and his company famous dur
ing his service at this place. In COM
ing from Rome to Judea he came into
a new environment. the Pagan soldier
came into contact with Christianity and
being an open minded man he was led
to investigate, then to appreciate and
at last to accept Christianity. He was
benefited by his service in Judea 1t
was the turning point Of his career
Military service may do a man good
1t Will work some change in him COM
ing as it does during the formative
years of life, whether it will do a man
good or harm depends upon the man him
self, nothing is sure to do a man good.
nothing necessarily does him harm. Ev-
erything depends upon the man him
self. Military training, the discipline It
brings. the opportunities It offers for
drill and efficiency will do a man good
If he makes the most Of it.
Cornelius not only received good from
the Judean campaign, he and his trroops
became an influence for good in the
community in which they were station.
ed Somewhat unusual this, but mill
tary forces may be help to the moral
forces of the locality rhere they are
stationed. You men WEARING the uni
form of the United States may be a
help to the forces Of righteousness in
the border town where you are to he
stationed.
Every boy in the place where Won
pitch your tent will do as you do. thew
will initiate you. If you visit the "a.
looms the boys will think It right for
them 10 DO SO too. But If you quit
yourselves like men. as you men Of
Maine Will. your example will have a.
contagious effect and some town along
the Rio Grande will recall the visit Of
the Maine boys with pleasure
War is an awful thing, we hone Won
may not be called to it's suffering. its
carnage and its woe, but there are cer.
tain moral qualities that find their fin
est expression at the time of wars
alarms. Qualities that make a nation
great are in evidence in times of war.
Men then sacrifice personal profit for
national good and individual ease is
never weighed against the honor of the
nag. A civic conscience is awakened
in the nation, moral fiber is strengthen
ed, a fine spiritual temperament be-
comes manifest which wealth and politi-
cal preferment have been unable to
break down. In an age when we are
suspicious Of whatever is not practical
and profitable 1t is a healthy sign to
see the manhood Of a nation rising
when the honor Of the nation Is impugn-
ed and your manly response in this
hour augurs we'll for the future Of our
land when greater foes shall threaten
either in peace or in war.
Whether you go out to actual war
fare or not you are going out to new
environment with the safeguards of
home removed. Enemies will assail
you, battles are before you. you may