Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-01
INTERESTING SERVICE
AT FREE BAPTISJCHIJRCH
TELEPHONE 37.W

- special service was held Sunday
evening at the Winter street Free Bap-
tst church when at the singing Of
America" service flag containing
four stars, one of which we gold. was
raised. After several musitA numbers,
including Julia Ward HowSs Battle
Hymn OF the Republic" led by Walter
Colby, the pastor, Rev. A. Z. Walsh,
spoke from the following text: Render
therefore to all their dues; tribute to
whom tribute is due; custom 70 whom
custom; fear 20 whom fear; honor to
whom honor Owe no man ANYTHING"
He said in part: Tonight as We look
upon this flag with the stars represent
ing our young men who form a part of
that great army and navy. who are de-
Tending with their lives your home and
mine, your country and mine. your flag
and mine, we realize that their value to
US is worth more than any tribute we
may be able to bring at their time. Es-
pecially when we look upon that gold
star with a tinge OF sadness. which re-
minds us of Benny Smith, who was in
Mrs. Berrys class. receiving what this
Sunday school and church could give
him in the way of religious instruction.
who enlisted a [ the first call and fell as
brave soldiers do, facing tt. enemy,
and was buried by kind comrades on a
crimson battlefield. God bless our boys
and we will endeavor to continue them
in our memory. This service flag is to
remind us of our duty to the men at the
front. Our boys who 90 from US from
time to time should know that they
are not forgotten and that sodly men
remember them in their PRAYERS"
After discussing prayer at some
length the speaker continued. Then
victory will be ours and our young
men who leave us will realize their
safety by having praying church
behind them. I have every contempt
and abhor the church member who is
too pro16 or too sinful. or too stub
born to4fepent and come to the altar
and.pray, but are trying to steal their
wayinto heaven on n little preaching,
patriotism or formaiity."
I'VE have here this gold star, me-
mortal of Benjamin Smith, one of our
Sunday sthool boys. This next star
is for James II. Cosgrove who per-
sonally requested me to remember
him in our service flag. The next
star is for William j. Rines, grand
son of the late Deacon j. 2. Rines of
this church The next star is for
Harold GilChrist, whom u baptsed
and received into the church. Others
are waiting to be called, and when the
summons comes, we want them to go
forth immune from the fear of death.
as only the ungodly and selfish have
any fear of the future. We want our
young men to go trusting in God and
believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We want them TO go prepared to
cheerfully obey every command re-
CARELESS of danger or death; we want
them to obey orders and fear no dan
ger, and only the religion of the Lord
Jesus Christ can furnish this equip
ment. We, as church, pledge YOU
our prayers and support until this
war is over, if the Lord shall tarry.
We will not enter into sinful ways,
nor engage in worldly pleasure, nor
abstain from religious duty whereby
our prayers for YOU may be hindered.
We will not cause you to hunger nor
lack necessaries because of our waste
fulness or undue extravaganza. We
advise the fathers, mothers, wives
and loved ones to be cheerful and
trust in God"