Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-27

suit OF deep and general sorrow, and
as Well from the unafiling faith in
the Immortality OF life and love.
1t is now fifty years since. in 1868.
Gen. John a. Logan. then command
er-in-Chief of the newly organized
Grand Army Of the Republic. issued
orders that the Goth of May should be
observed as a time for decorating the
graves Of the fallen soldiers of the
great war with the fresh flowers Of
Springtime The sentiment touched
the hearts Of the whtle North, and
gave everyone Il chance 20 testify to
the love and honor they bore tc the
fallen heroes Cf the struggle for lib
ertN and union. And because Of the
deep and sacred sentiments to which
it appealed il has significantly re-
lieious meaning for all timo. coming
as il did. 50 soon after the great war,
when SO many brave men had made
the great sacrifice. and when 80 many
homes were shaWoded With grief, it
became at once the fine expression of
faith and love, and toua it's place as
a permanent feature Of our common
life.
We have again come to the Memo-
rial season, and as its first, and most
deeply interesting feature, we are
gathered together in the church as
representing our common faith and
hope, to read the lessons of religion
and to seek inspiration and purpose
that we may do honor to those WHO
have secured for US national unity
x1,.,~ -.
brotherhood. This service is deeply
significant. and fun Of meaning. Re-
ligion has to do with the finest and
nobleSt instincts of mankind, il
places God in the center of life, and
and makes Him the central factor in
its development and fulfillment. 1t is
then. not without the deepest signiti-
cance that our Memorial season be-
gins with this service of religion.
First then We declare our faith in
God as the source of all our strength
and Inspiration. We are his children.
We are brothers. we are fellow In Dor
ers with Him in the building up of
His kingdom of truth and brother
hood on earth. Gods laws are writ
ten in our lives and the must be es-
tn blished as the governing factors Of
he world as we work together with
Him for the freedom of the slave and
for the release of all captiVeS in out
ward or inward bondage.
Secondly our service means faith in
our brother man. There can be no
glory in this world apart from the life
of man. He is the central figure in
life and in the world. All things are
for him. as all things must become
related to him The education, refine
ment ard perfection of man is the
real business Of life. We cannot al
low man to remain in slavery, or I'M
der any form Of bondage. whether to
master. king or idea. And we honor
with our enduring love those who
fought to bring freedom to the en-
shaved
Thirdly our service means faith i'll
life as the triumphant fact of the
world Life does not end when the
body goes to decay. In other forms
it persists and carries on the work
its creator intended it should realize.
The brave men whose lives and noble
deeds we commemorate tonight are
not dead on a thousand batt!efields of
the present hour they fight for the
cause of righteousness and true re-
ligion.
"On flames eternal camping ground
/ Their silent tents are spread,
And Glory guards. with solemn round,
The bivouac of the dead.