The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-11-14

~ Il
prayer, but he kept the Jack Johnsons
and the big Berthas going right thru
the prayer. Nobody seemed to care,
tho, not even Rev. C. R. Delepine, who
delivered a most eloquent thanksgiv-
ing to God.
The evening program in charge of
A. j. Copeland opened with singing
the Star Spangled Banner and the
Marsellaise, lead by Mrs. C. C. Lem
mon OF this city, and Mrs. Holt, of
Rlchland. Leaflets with the words
Eof both old and new patriotic songs
were distributed freely and the large
crowd which filled the vacant square
and overflowed into the street joined
enthusiastically in the singing. With
Herb Davis as yell master, the crowd
joined even more enthusiastically in
giving three cheers for Generals Per-
shing, and Foch, President Wilson and
three extra big ones for the "Boys
Over There" M. M. Moulton spoke
briefly on the necessity of keeping
up war endeavors saying that the need
for sustaining the morale of the boys
was even greater now than ever be-.
cause the cessation of hostilities would,
only intensity their longing for home.
He urged every man, woman and child
to give -heartedly and unstint-
ingly to the United War Work cam
paign now in progress.
As grand finale an efigy of the
Kaiser, after being hung and rehung
on a high scafford, was lowered into
the declining flames of the bonfire.
But the crowd was not ready to go
home and for several hours impromptu
parades sprung into being on Second
street and finally piano was brought
down out of the X. of P. hall and
free-for-all dance was staged on the
pavement.
While the assembled hundreds en-,
tered joyously into the spirit of the
celebration the deeper significance of
the occasion was not forgotten. One
of the most splendid features of the
evening was the prayer by Rev.
c. R. Delepine, whose every word
came from the heart, the more because
his home land has been torn by the.
ravages of the war. He prayed as fol
lows:
After four years and nearly four
months of this most frightful, of all
wars, we want to thank Thee, Almighty
God, for being able to come here to-
night to celebrate the signing of the
| armistice which ends war and pre-
pares for peace. SIS
We thank Thee, that tonight, for the
first time in these years of agony, mill
lions of men face one another without
dealing death to each other. We
thank Thee also, that tonight, for the
first time in years of the most ex-
cruciating suspense, millions of moth
ers, sisters, wives, children and old
fathers, have ceased to fear to receive.
suddenly the news of the violent death
of their loved ones, and that they have
ceased also wondering whether they
were not dying unattended somewhere
on the battle field. 80
We thank Thee that again, in the
history of this world, Thou hast caus-
cd against tremendous odds, the ideals
of Justice and freedom to triumph over
the pretenses of despotism and op-
preston.
We have, however, to confess before
Thee, that our opponents were not the
only ones who needed this terrible les
son to awaken them to better sense
of justice and to desires for freedom;
but that we ourselves needed it to
shake us away from our selfish salts
faction in ourselves.
| We pray that this awful war may
lead us, as never before, to realise
that not only no man can live to him
self. but also that no nation can live
to itself and yet accomplish it's high
destiny.
And we pray Thee, our God, that
men may everywhere begin to realize
that the deep cause of these periodical
wars is mans rebellion against Thee.
For how can men live at peace among
themselves when they are not at peace
with Thee?
We therefore beseach Thee that this
mighty conflict and its terrible
agonies may be the beginning of bet
ter things for mankind
We pray. Thy spirit may lead men,
] who so long have sought to live apart
from Thee to cry unto Thee, like the
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