Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-05-30
GAVE INSPIRING
MEMORIAL SERMON
Dean Wn. McNettie of Grace Episco-
pal Church Listened to Most
Attentiveiy BY Large
Audience.
DELIVERED SERMON WHICH
APPEALED TO ALL
The Past and Present Touched Up
on With Most Modern
Thought.

Union memorial services were held
at the Grand opera house Sunday
morning and large audience was
n attendance. The memorial sermon
this year was delivered by Dean Wn.
McVettie of Grace Episcopal church
and it was sermon that appealed to
the audience in the strongest terms.
Many requests were made to have
it published in full by some of those
who were fortunate enough to hear
Iit.
Mrs. Cora Simpson added much to
the services by the rendering of
beautiful solos. Following is the
sermon, which we are pleased to pub
Ilish in full:
IN the name of God we will set
up our banners 2C-5.
The occasion of this Psalm was
the war with the Syrians and the
R- Ammorites. 1t was evidently
- composed for use in the servi-
ces Of the Tabernacle, as a ''praye er
for war" David in all his troubles
and sorrows. said: 1--WE will rejoice
in thy salvation and in the name OF
our Cod, we will set up cur banners.
The setting UP of the banners was
typical of the Resurrection victory,
when Christ's cross became the
banner of triumph. which was ever
10 go forth before His army of the
Church militant David's victory
was Gods answer to his prayer God
generally raises up men, as He did
Moses, as He did David, whom He
has peculiarly fitted TO meet the ext
gencies of the time, and TO do the
work required, When the time
came to crush the power of a proud
land oppressive aristocracy, and lay
the foundation of a new republic. a
George Washington was found. And
when this country was shaken by
the slave trade, the states preparing
TO secede, God raised up men fitted
to strike the blow that would make
the slave free. In that war for hui
manity's and freedoms sake, God
raised up a Lincoln who steered the
ship of state into the harbor of
union and emancipated the slave.
The flag that floats over our heads
lis emblematical of what our nation
stands for, viz: true democracy. TO
preserve these sacred rights means
something, more than Eeholding,
but rather the will TO carry ont the
principles upon which this nation Is
founded-"the fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood OF man" These
vital principles Of democracy were
amply illustrated il our response
to the cry OF helpless mothers and
children that came up to rs from
, Cuban soil, caused by Spanish cruel
ties. This is an hour to stir the
soul OF every American We hear the
same cry today from over the wat
ers; what is our response? Shall we,
like David, "in the name of God set
up our banners? Not for the sake
of agrandizement, but for human
,ty's sake we enter the most fearful
conflict in the annals of history. We
who have been born and nurtured
in an atmosphere Of liberty known
only under the stars and stripes,
feeling the concern for the brother
hood of men are willing TO make
sacrifices, willing to pay the price,
that others may enter into their
rightful inheritances of freedom.
: God has put into our hands the cup
, bitter and fierce that shall be pour
ed out as medicine to the nations.
May that hand reach forth from a
kindly feeling, and may it be medi-
cins administered by love aud kind
ness and not il fury or revenge. We
/. lare experiencing at the present q
Igreat wave of patriotism and per-
Ihars it would ba well to ask what
Iratriotsm means. We hear so many
sing My Country 'Tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty" and yet for
get that their brother is SUFFERING
from the oppression of capital and
greed This kind of patriotism has
forgotten that loyalty to your fel-
low men is about al there is in patri-
otism Without love for our coun-
trymen our songs to our flag are
nothing but sentimental conceits. He
is q true patriot then who loves his
fellow to the extent that he is will
ling to serve and sacrifice. In mute
silence our flag speaks OF struggles
and achievements, which have given
TO us this priceless heritage of lib
erty, and have made possible this
noble form of government. 1t Is
true our nation may not be all that
it ought to be, but We know of no
better on earth. Love of country Is
implanted in us by God. And If we
Nook at our duty 10 our country, as
duty to God. we put 1t on the very
highest ground. Right Is always
l more precious than Peace, and when
: assailed by foes, demands our de-
fense under all circumstances Their
are many sincere people who fee
that war in any form Is rapudia-
: tion Of the teachings of Jesus Christ
: Their mistake lies in thinking the
. same code of morals Christ apple:
Ito individuals govern nations
Continued on page 81