Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-06-29
A MASTERLY EFFORT
The Address Of Ex-Governor Stoke.
Was Well Received
BATTLES ARE WON BY PRAYER

The address of Hon. Edward H
Stokes. Ex-Governor of New JERSEY
in the afternoon was mastery effort
a right worthy complement to the Bi
hops sermon in the morning. 1t wa.
both scholarly and eloquent, filled with
much historical matter especially from
the early constitutional period of oul
country.
'A'l the early settlements of Europe
owed their origin to wars; not so Amer
lea; our fathers came hither for freedom
to worship God. Theirs was a religious
movement. Its strength is shown by
fact that only church members could
vote. The makers of America were
not adventurers. hut educated and re-
fined men-Roger Williams. John Har-
ward, Thomas Hooker. John Cotton,
and your own Philip Reading-were all
college graduates. A high educational
standard has ever characterized Amer
ican life. Democracy never made
America, but the sturdy character of
the people made democracy"
The speaker alluded to the superb
galaxy of eminent men composing the
Conventions that framed our great
charters Ct freedom, the Declaration of
independence and the Constitution, ~
''as mighty q set of minds as ever
gathered together in any legislative as
sembly in the world, Washington, Lee.
Henry, Mason, Jefferson, Madison,
Pinckney, Rodney, Adams and others.
1t was men like these that made free
government SUCCESS, and it will be
men like these that shall preserved it
and make free government possible
throughout the world. Our government
is only what We make It, 1t has no ma
gic in itself.
The Church and the Schoolhouse were
the early pioneers of American civiliza-
ton. In the early days. colleges were
Christian schools. Harvard College
was instituted to instruct Indians in
godliness. Twenty millions of children
being taught and trained in our public
schools, and yet they do not use the
Book of hooks, the Word of the living
God! What educationi is complete with
out q wide and comprehensive know
ledge of the Bible And yet the study
Ct the Bible is excluded from our pub
liz seAoais. Had |, the power | would
have the Bible taught there just as we
teach reading and Mathematics.
He then spoke an enthusiastic eulo-
gium upon the Church, its lofty origin,
its exalted mission, and declared tn t
it must take its rightful place in the
affairs of mankind-''to teach men to
do right Why, politicians are strug-
Cling with problems that belong to the
Church
What we need is less legislation ct
Washington and nover and MORE pray:
er in the homes AND in the churches:
Joan Of Arc dreye her country's enc
mics off the soil of Francs hecause she
ba!isved, and made her countrymen be:
lieve. that she and they were assisted
by the invisible hosts Of God.''
The Governor then referred to some
of the great warriors and statesmen of
history who were men Of prayer
Charles Martel and Oliver Cromwell.
"a crisis came in the Civil War Lin
coin began to pray and the soldiers to
sing that wonderful inspiring, religious
war lyric of Julia Ward Howe, The
Battle Hymn of the Republic inc
eyes have seen the glory of the coming
Of the Lord Battles were going to
I.s WOO Just a. much by prayer as ~
slLs. When We 'consscrate cur arms
with the same Christian spirit, victory
will be assured"
The speaker closed his fine address
by reciting poetical eulogy upon the
Stars and Stripes.