The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-02-21
SPECIAL SERVICE
FOR HOME GUARD
REV. C. S. SPARKES DELIVERS A
STIRRING ADDRESS TO Or
GANIZATION SUNDAY.
HOME FIRES is The TOPIC
SPEAKER TALKS ON IMPORT
ANCE OF DUTIES OF THE
HOME GUARDS.

In response to the invitation extend
ed by the Rev. C s. .Sparkes, pastor
of the Congregational church and
member of the Sank Centre Home
Guard, Company E., 10th Battalion at
tended the afternoon services of the
church on last Sunday. Long before
the appt inted houc the church was
filed to o1 erdowing.
Shortly after the Home Guards,
who had assembled at the drill hall,
arrived, Mrs. Aygarn played two Sc
lections. Immediately after, the
Guard entered and marched to the
sections reserved for them. A most
impressive ceremony WAS then observ-
ed as Comrade j.. "A. Norris, Of the G.
A. r. unfurled large flag and waved
it slowly while the congregation
sang "The Star Spangled Banner"
The enthusiasm of the voices joining
in with the national anthem and
America" which was sung at the
close of the service almost burst the
walls.
After the short regular services
conducted by Rev.. Boone of the Me-
thodist church interspersed with un-
usually good music by the choir and
with congregational singing, Miss
Bernice Johnson. assisted by the
choir sang, keep the Home Fires
Burning" The address by Rev.
Sparkes, based on the title of this
song followed.
Very little need be said about the
pastor of the Congregational church.
Long ago, he won his place in Saul
Centre and each day takes him deeper
into the hearts of not only his con-
gregation, but of those outside. His
address was one which held the at
tention every minute. It was distinct
ly outlined and the points, strengthen
ed by earnest phrases, will recur until
the end of the war to those who heard
him.
Mr.. Sparkes opened his talk with a
short introduction devoted to the
Home Guards alone. From this he
went directly to his text, which he
said, he used to prove that the Home
Guards originated in the time of
David. In that time, he said, David
with his army returned home to find
that their city had been sacked and
their wives, young men and children
had been carried off by the enemy. A
council of war was held and part OF
the men were chosen to overtake and
punish the enemy and the rest were
left at home with the stuff" Wnefi
the desired end had been accomplished
those who had gone decided they
should have all the plumber because
they had done the work. A dispute
arose and the matter was laid before
David who decreed that those who
stayed at home and took care of
things were entitled to as mucI
credit as those who left. From this
point, the speaker drew his parallel,
applying it directly to the Home
Guards.
In the application of his subject
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" Mr.
Sparkes pointed out four fires thai
must be kept burning until the boys
return. They are: first, the ideals
second, philanthropy, third, the
church, and fourth, loyalty.
Germany, he asserted, cannot under
stand how the United States can be
fighting for anything but territory and
supremancy. Such thing as a
noble and pure ideal is so far above
them that they cannot grasp it. 1t is
our task never to lose sight of the
truth that we are fighting war of
righteousness and not a war of lust.
A strong plea for money for all war
purposes was included in his next
point. 1t was made very plain that
the American nation had not begun
to sacrifice and give and that every
cent that could be spared and some
that could not should be cheerfr1lly
used for the cause.
AT the declaration of the war by
the United States a strong movement
was started to close the church and de-
vote all the time to Red Cross work.
Mr.. Sparkes made short, but effective
work of telling his audience what
would happen to the Red Cross and
every other worthy cause if this
movement had been successful. With
in year, he said, the Red Cross
would have been dead, 70 Tit is the
churches that keep it alive.
The fourth point, loyalty was a