Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-04-03
SERVICE FLAG
DEDICATED SUNDAY
Young Peoples Society of f. N. f. l..
Church Presented Beautiful
Flag in Honor of Thirty
three Young Men of this
Church.
PROF. c. X. PREUS GAVE
THE OBLIGATORY ADDRESS
Services Held on Easter SUNDAY
Evening and the Church Was
Filled to 0verifowipg.

With a most fitting Service of. mu-
sic, song, and address did the First
N. E. l.. church of our city. on the
evening of Easter Sunday, do hon
or to the thirty-three young men
who have gone from its midst to
serve their country and humanity.
The service flag and the accompany
ing national emblem, which had
been presented to the congregation
by the Young Peoples Society of
the church, were then formally dedi-
Gated, Prof. c. X. Preus delivering
the dedicatory address.
When the Luther College Concert
Band opened the service with Chop
ms 'Nocturne in G Minor" as pre-
Jude. the church was filled to ov-
erfowing. Led by the Sunday
school and choir, the assembly rose
and sang the jubilant Easter hymn,
"Hallelujah, Jesus Lives" After. an
other song by the children, DR.. S. C.
Ylvisaker led in prayer. invoKng
Especially Gods merciful protection
for the men who had gone forth to
fight i'll the country's cause.
HE is Arisen" was then sung by
the audience, accompanied by the
band. The choir rendered Paul
Gerhardt's version of II Know That
My Redeemer Lives and the Sun
day school children sang another
song, II Will Leave My Jesus New
err"
Introducing the speaker of the
evening, Rev. Torrison took oc-
casion to urge upon all the necessity
to understand the meaning of the
two flags beside the altar. The one
reminded us of the poets words,
This is my own, my native land"
while the other spoke of the sacri-
flee willingly made in obedience to
the divine command, Render there
fore unto Caesar the things which
are Caesars" Professor Preus, in
his touching address, spoke of the
Significance of the emblem the very
sight of which not only quickens
the beat of every true American
heart, but has it's meaning inscribed
on the consciousness Of every free
dom-loving people throughout the
on the European tour of 1914 where
"Old Glory brought cheers when
ever it was unfurled =
He emphasized the fact that
church and state must ever be kept
separate, but made it clear that the
presence of the national cOlOrs In
our house of worship was not 81
violation of that tenet. IN the
contrary it was that very flag which
had ever vouchsafed to us the
blessed privilege of worshiping God
conscience. We know but one flag.
Even as the cross is the symbol of
the Christian church, so the Stars
and Stripes symbolic the state of
our choice.
Referring to the stars in the
service flag, he said that before the
war it had not been common prac-
tice to honor men by giving them
star, but now the star had re-
ceived a new meaning. Even as the
stars in the armament shine most
brightly during the dark hours of
the night, so now the stars of sacri-
| flee are brought out most brilliantly
during the war-night of the nations.
AS Christians we do not believe,
he said, that even the supreme sacri-
fee in behalf of just cause like
ours will merit salvation. But he
who went down into battle believ-
ing in the Prince of Peace would,
even in the tumult of battle, find
that peace which passeth all un-
derstanding."
| During the trying days of the
] ~ivil War, the speaker continued
two pictures had been indelibly
stamped on his youthful mind. Both
of them scenes of tears-tears OF
sorrow at parting, but tears Of JOY
at the soldiers return. But what
if our boys never return? he ask
ed. Even 70 this ever present ques
ton there was the comforting an
swer that, though they might never
come back to their earthly home
though their remains oil the bomb
ploughed battle field might never
be found by man, there was One
who would find His own and lead
them 10 their eternal -home.-A
most inspiring address.
The honor roll of the First N. r.
Il. church is as follows:
Sergeant c. Dale, Co. E, 35lst
Inf, Camp Dodge, Iowa.
Capt Arthur Enger, Engineer
Dept, Camp Cody, Deming, N. M.
Corporal ALI Tufte, Co. e. 1886
III. S. Inf, Camp Cody, Deming N. NJ
Sigurd Hilleboe, Machine Gun Co.
i 35th Infantry, Nogales, Arizona.
| Corporal Christian Ravndahl, Co
A 35th Infantry, Nogales, Arizona
Melvin Korsrud, Machine Gun Co.
35th Infantry, Nogales, Arizona. e-.v
Corporal Joseph Wist, Co. l. 44tf
Infantry, Tacoma, Wash.
II. G. Swenson, 36th Field HOspi
tai Co., Lewis Station, Tacoma
Wash. ~.
Martin Williams, Co. A 346tf
Infantry, Camp Pike, Little Rock
Ark. -.as-
Elvin Ellis, Co. G 351st Infantry
Camp Dodge, Iowa. 90
Lieutenant Lester Gorder, 1Osi
Infantry, Fort Benjamin Harr1so.
n