Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-06-08
Address Delivered By Rev. John r.
Henderson On Memorial Day
At Rockville Cemetery.

At Rockville Cemetery.
Among the inhabitants of the earth
mankind alone builds memorials of the
dead. OF the inhabitants of earth man.
kind alone keeps in touch with past lives
by the observance of memorial days. Thus
we bear witness to the immortality of
human being carving the names of indi-
vidual existences on the very tombs Of
their mortal members. Christian humanity
calls its chief memorials of the dead "ceme-
tories" sleeping places Places where the
memories Of human achievement are treas
ured and the physical members of human
endeavor are at rest places whence
the unseen but deathless principles of
spiritual being issue refreshed and in
spring; places which through the con-
secration Of present life to worthy ideals
and self-sacrificing labors link the life Of
the past to the life Of the future.
1t was an act of great spiritual moment
when the representatives Of England.
France and the United States went to the
tombs of Washington and Lincoln. there
to formally and feelingly seek consecra-
ton to their united resistance against
modern despotism. Harmonized at last by
the civil principles which actuated the
Father Of this country. those who fought
against him and those who fought with
him realize the endless vitality of Wash
ington' life-work and from his spirit sought
a new baptism as they faced the task of
making this world safe place for democ-
racy.
Nor. in view of the modern worldwide
development of the essential unity of
human governments. was it an act super
fluous that they should journey to the tomb
Of Lincoln, the man of the people. and
there take increased conservation to the
cause of freedom, for which so many have
given. as he gave, the last full meas
ure Of devotion and there unitedly resolve
that the nations of the earth shall have
new birth of freedom and that government
of the people. by the people. for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
Memorial observances are fundamentally
reasonable. such contact with those who
have wrought and are at rest may be
creatively forceful.
The higher features of human life are
immortal, and using the memorials Of their
earthly days as instruments Of communion.
we may, in spirit and in truth. walk and
talk with the departed. Imagine forth our
spiritual knowledge. this beloved cemetery
becomes place of victory.
AS our blessed Lord by His spiritual
mindedness overcame evil in the desert of
Judea and followed place in the wilder
ness. so in the early days Christian settlers
made this spot consecrated to the glory of
God and the highest good Of mankind.
Here the sacred things, the holy affec-
tons. the sublimer vision Of human life
hold first place. Hither as parents and as
children. as husbands and as wives. as
brothers and as sisters, as neighbors, friends
and felow-workers, we bring the precious
memorials. the glory and the honor Of our
homes and Of our county "And they shall
bring the glory and the honor of the ma
ton into it," True it Is. that this cemetery
is also as the garden of Gethsemane. a
place OF sorrowful suffering and submits
sion. Amid Its shadows and along its
winding pathways are the symbols and
the echoes Of many exceeding sorrows.
agonizing disappointments, pitiful prayers.
breaking hearts. life forces oozing from the
very pores of those in trial and bereave-
ment. II 1t were possible. none of us would
drink the cup that is pressed to our lips in
this place. But in the depth Of this Geth-
semane there is also given the surprising
grace Of submission-the grace of self
surrender to our faultless Fathers will.
Father. II this cup may not pass from me
except drink 1t. Thy will be done" No
man. no woman knows the power Of the
human soul until in submission to the good
and perfect and acceptable will OF God he
or she goes forth beneath the guiding and
protecting hand of God to fulfill his or her
mission regardless Of all It may cost.
Finally. in our memorial observance let
us remember that this sleeping place is
also a place Of awakening. A scene of
Resurrection as well as the garden Of
Joseph Of Arimathea. Not only the resur-
rection at the last day He who has hal
lowed this cemetery is the Resurrection
and the Life. He makes today the opened
door Of the past the Easter Dawn of the
future. He enables us to behold the trans
figured essence of the past. to lay hold of
the virtues, its affections. Its powers and
its principles, and translate them into pres
ent life for the salvation Of future lives.