Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-03
Patriotic Sermons Al Central Baptist
Rev. Joel B. Socum D. D.. Says the Nation Wants Men of Vision and Purpose-Patrioism Not Meagre Attraction Illustrated Address Gettysburg at the Evening Ser vice.

Patriotic Day was observed at the Central Baptist church when special sermons were delivered by the pastor at both morning and evening services. The Nations Call for Men was the subject of the morning service deliv- cred by the pastor, Rev. Joel B. SIo- cum, D. D. Rev. Dr. Slocum took his text from I Samuel 13:14, The Lord hath sought him a man after His own Heart.
 Just now the nation is calling for men, said Rev Dr. Slocum, and these men may be needed for serious bus mess. The call is for armed men and of late considerable emphasis has been placed on preparation for possi- bIe emergencies. And all this, is, l believe, in the right direction. While possibly we might go to the extreme and be in danger of committing our selves to the military spirit, there is no immediate danger of such an eVO- IutiOn.
 The war with poor litIe, weak Spain in 1898 found us unprepared and we have learned no lesson from that embarrassment. During the past two years we have witnessed, so to speak, a gigantic European conflict and have noted that it was largely because the entente allies were not prepared, that the central powers gained such an advantage at the very beginning of the war-an advantage that for a time bOrdered very closely on actual victory. And yet our COun- try has remained perfectly complais- ant during these two years We have managed somehow to keep out of the conflict (fOr which thank GOd) but We have not awakened to the need of making the largest. possible prepara- ton. And now we are in danger of being compelled to put through a program of armed intervention in Mexico and where are our arms?
 Calling for Armed Men.
 The nation is calling for armed med. Its call may some day be loud CT than it is now.
 But there is another demand more inSiStent if possible. And that is the nations call for men of vision-nen who can see beyond the limits of their own communities, their own state, their own land.
 GOldwin Smith made Cornell uni Versity a gift of a stone seat on the campus. The inscription which he caused to be placed on it was this: Above all nations is humanity"
 And there is no nation on earth that has so much reason for that kind of vision on the part of it's citizens: for the humanity of the whole earth has been poured into our melting pot. The Deeper Meaning of Independence.
 For a considerable time after the Declaration of Independence, the cele- bratiOn of the event was attended with some dignified comprehension of its meaning. Later the observance deteriOTated into mere folly and noise There are signs that we are coming back to recognize the deeper meaning of Independence Day. We are asking people to be safe and sane on this important day, We are calling for such wholesome activities as shall off set the unmeaning and often danger Ous fireCracker. Let us teach our children that this is Americanization Day. Let us teach our young people and our older people that we are in need of cultiVating a new dignity and nobility in citizenship. All this re- QUires vision.
 For Our ChiEdren's Children.
 Let us remember that we are not living for ourselves, but for our chill dren's children down to remote gen eratiOns. Let us be aware that we are living not for the natives of this land but for all who are brought into it's complex life from every nation under heaven.
 Then finally the nation is calling for men of purpose. Patriotism is not a mere abstraction. Independence is not merely something that may be found in that declaration of it in 1776 "a thing that breathes out it's mean ing in old time faded documents or that may be found on the printed pages of our histories. No, patriotism is a living thing of flesh and blood. We speak of the spirit of 1776 but that spirit must be translated into the very Iifeblood and bones and muscles of today. It must show itself in our dealings with one another and with neOpIa who are all about us in society