The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-09-13
URGES MORALITY FOR MEN
In Sermon Vibrant With Patriotism
Young Minister Pleads for Spiritual
ity for Soldiers Special Music
Adds ImpresSiveness.

In the Sabbath stiffness of st. Mat.
thew s Episcopal Church, Rev. Charles
Everett Mccoy began his Kenosha rec.
torate on Sunday morning with serv.
ice replete with religion and patriotism.
A large congregation greeted the new
pastor and participated in the devotions
with zeal and solemnity that gave
promise of both support and success
| for the young and brilliant minister.
Prayers, songs, and sermon, were sur
charged with spirituality and left the
audience with new vision of the mis-
sion of man and the goodness of God.
Special music made the service doub-
| ly impressive. The surpliced choir, I'M
der the direction of w. Wesley LaVio.
lette, acquitted itself well with its
nearly faultless renditions of the an
thems and chants chosen for the rec
tors inaugural appearance The organ
numbers were equally inspiring and
added melody to majesty in the solemn
sanctity of the mornings ceremony.
The rector s first sermon marked him
Immediately as a man of deepest in.
-tellect and deeper spirituality "My
natural inclinations would lead me to
make my message persona" he began
''but the great calamity which has
overtake1 the world is of such vital
Importance to the advancement of civ
ilization and religion, that [ have chos-
en- to speak of it instead" Then pre-
senting the war in all it's magnifcance
and horror he proceeded to show its de.
mands and its effects upon the nations
now involved. "The conflict calls for
men, he continued, "men, who are
physically, morally, and spiritually,
equal to the emergencies of the great
est test of strength the world has ever
seen.
AS an example of man who was
physically fit the rector cited Sampson.
Here" he declared, "was a model
of bodily heroism. Possessing courage,
endurance, and strength, this mighty
! judge of Israel wrought havoc with his
enemies and saved his war-worn people
from slavery and death. And yet
Sampson failed. He had physical
strength but he lacked moral courage.
He could Stay ten thousand Philistines
with the jaw-bone of an ass, but he
could not resist the wiles Of the artful
| temptress Delilah. It was this that
eventually wrought his ruin. 1t was
this lack of spiritual stamina that made
him at last blinded captive in a
strange land, grinding corn for the con-
querors of his people"
"In contrast with Sampson, said
the rector, "is the mightier Daniel.
| By life of temperance and virtue he
made himself so healthful that he was
found fairer and stronger than all the
courtiers of the king. In addition to
strength of kody he possessed also firm
ness of soul. Nothing could shake his
religious beliefs. Imperialism, danger,
even death itself could not persuade
him to deny his God or to neglect his
daily worship Of Him. This was the
quality which made him the soldier de
luxe. This was the manly virtue that
carried him over the top and made
him the greatest general, statesman,
and teacher, at the mighty court of
Babylon. This is the spirit that means
morale, efficiency and victory for any
soldier in any army"
In keeping with the patriotism of
the mornings message a striking fea-
ture followed the offertory anthem A
silken Stars and Stripes surmounted by
a gilded eagle was brought to the cltar
rail and held before standing audi
ence as the organ pealed Oui the stir
ring strains of America s national an
them. When the last note of "The
Star-Spangled Banner" had died away
in the clustered stiffness of he church,
the respondent emblem of democracy
was returned to its rest at the side of
the sanctuary while the congregation
stood silent in hush of admiration
and holy patriotism. The service con-
Guided with solemn occasional hymn
and the usual benedietion.
Rev. Charles z. Mccoy, the new rec
tor at st. Matthew s, comes to Kenosha
from the parish at Bristol, Rhode Is
land. Here he was signally successful
in every form of ministerial work and
established himself in the community
as man of both efficiency and piety
Judging from the impressiveness of his
first service he is destined to the same
success in his local pastorate. Pleasing
in personality and convincing in
speech, he won an immediate following
in his congregation and persuaded all
who heard him that he was 6 rector Of
real religion and prodigious power.
Remer 5 Laundry Phone 1o17. adytf