The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-23

at Petro's drug store, or phone
kle.,I O. Kimball after Q p. M; other
hours phone $3.50.
The W. S. S. drive is on in full force
on the North side this morning. North
share. judging by the interest shown.
Memorial Service.
Memorial services for Emory Ellis
worth Baird. son of Mr.. and Mrs. w.
A Baird Of route 6, who died in
France from the result of wounds re-
ceived in battle. were held Sunday
moruing ct the North Topeka Baptist
church. The young man was mem
Der of the church, and was greatly
sociates.
The memorial sermon by the pas
tor, the Rev. o. L. Weir. was most
comforting, and pointed out that
moral influences are far reaching. and
tho the American boys may suffer
death in this war. their personal in
fluence will live thru the years to
come, and be an example to the youth
of the future.
The sermon. from I Samuel,
twentieth chapter, eighteenth verse.
was entitled, THE Message of the
Empty Chair" and was in part as
follows:
morning to LAY our tribute of honor
and of love to our brother. friend and
citizen, Emory Baird, the first young
man in Shawnee county to give his
life for the cause Of justice and liberty.
for the downtrodden peoples who are,
in this worldwide struggle, fighting
against the iron hand of tyranny and
injustice.
Love of country is not only a nat
ural sentiment in every true heart, but
it is right in the sight of God. No
man can ignore his relation to his
country and not sin against God. One
of Gods servants of old cried aloud
and said, "If forget thee. o Jerusa-
lem, let my right hand Forget her
skill And we are proud that the
same spirit of Christian patriotism
that famed itself into a flame in the
heart of David has found expression
in the heart of young America. And
we are prou to lay our tribute of
honor this morning in this memorial
service to the first one Of our fifty
three boys out of the North Topeka
Baptist church who. has given his
young life for the cause of democrcy
and truth.
Every life has a center Of influence
And every noble life leaves the fiber
| of 1t interviewer forever in the work
of the world.
I was reared in the southland, and
have ridden upon the bosom of her
waters as the steamers p1owed their
way thru he channels of the Ohio and
the proud old Mississippi. I often
| thought of a little spring away up
among the Alleghanies; they tell me
| that 1t is SO small that a single OK on
a summers day can drain it dry.
But it cuts and carves it's way
among the hills till it spreads out into
the beautiful Ohio. Thence it stretches
away a thousand miles, leaving on it's
/
| cultivated farm; then joining the Mis-
sissippi. it flows away some twelve
| hundred miles more. until it falls into
| the emblem of eternity.
So with moral influence. It is a
! rill, a rivu1et, an ocean, and as bound
| less and fathomless as eternity.
| So it is a consoling thought to those
who give their brave sons for the
| cause that every true American loves.
| that they being dead yet speaketh, and
will continue to speak in the life of
! the American youth yet unborn.
In cemeteryEa little white stone
! marks the grave Of dear little Chris
tan girl On the stone were chisled
J these words: "a child of whom her
! playmates said, TT is easier to be good
| when she is with u.s."
And feel thai as we look upon this
| honor roll hat hangs in the old North
Topeka Baptist church and see that
gold star opposite Emory's name. that
| it will help US to live better and love
| more supremely the Christ in whom
| Emory believed and served so eff
, ficiently while among US. And I am
| sure that it will make US better and
stronger, more loyal citizens of our
great republic, and as we look upon
| Old Glory as she proudly floats to the
! breeze of brave and loyal people
we shall be made to appreciate more
| and more the United States of Amer
| lea, whose government is a govern
ment by the people and of the peo-
| pie and for the people.
Sacrifice is a law of life. 1t has
| been thru all ages that the nation or
peoples who would lift the banner of
liberty and justice. have laid their
| brave and sturdy sons upon the sacri-
| fetal altar in order that truth and
justice might prevail. In the words
| of the poet I think this thought is
well expressed:
Life evermore is fed by death
In earth and and sky;
And that rose may breathe its breath
Something must die"
And so i is now. In order that the
peoples across the sea may have a
vision of a free republic. some of our
brave sons must give their lives in
order that the world may be made
safe for democracy.
And wien the last battle is fought
and the ST .oke has cleared away and
the victor that we are sure to win is
ours. and as the Stars and Stripes
proudly float in the streets of Berlin
I am sur that as we look at these
empty seats in our churches and in
our homes that we will rejoice in the
| it possible COR the dewntrodden under
4 the woke Of PrusSfanisrn fo get =