Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06

vengeful righteousness" is ennopilng.
| This is an unusual, may almost gay 81. 81
unprecedented battle cry. Truly heaven
hath inspired both the starry emblem el alaa
1.-THE new purpose of which the service
Flag is symbol and sign.
Righteousness! Could there be more
dedication? Could ioftier note be
struck? Is there chord in the human
heart more soulful, more uplifting IMAM
| the one upon which we are now Playing /.
Might 1t be that America has round the
| lost chord of which Sir Arthur sullivan
| sings SO poignantiy? Is this the Grand
Amen" ESQ be IT'D that came from the SOU
Of the Infinite One and enters INTO OURS ~ z.
Who knows? We can but hope that 1t IS:
We take up the gauntlet ana
draw the sword with righteous in-
dignation set aflame by the long.
indusputable record Of ~. vows nrof ken
enemy our hearts have been steeled for
this gruesome task by the perf1dy and IN
trigue of false friends. Our purpose IS
the Lusitania and Edith Cavel.
These are stirring and inspiring
thoughts for this occasion of dedication
There must be no TnisgiyinRs, no uncer-
tainty as to the justice Of our cause or
the ultimate outcome of the service we
are about to render We are on the win
ming side because 1t is Gods SIDE, IL
was Thomas Carlyle who declared tnat
righteousness Is natures own law; in that
universe and they cannot be conquered.
THREE-OVE R THE TOP
The Central Powers boast that tyrants
are secured upon their thrones by the
favor of God. But that is not true, be-
cause it is not righteous.
They tell us that nations are born to
be ruled by a superior nation. But that
is not true, because it is not righteous.
They loudly proclaim from the house
top that might is right But that Is not
true, because 1t is not righteous.
throughout the Bible. So l do not hest
tate te affirm most dogmaticaliy that
America Is on Gods side in this war
What have to say Of Germany's claim
that God is on her side? Simply TINS
1t is not true. Her every plan and effort
In the war thus far has been In the OPP
poste direction from that in which the
tendencies of nature and God are moving.
She is battling against current OF In
nuences destined to grow broader, deeper
and more swift as they near the conf1u-
ence of designs human and divine.
Furthermore. there Is q vast difference
between myself and God" and God and
Myself" To the German mind. God is
an appendage to human foresight and
efficiency. With Americans, the thought
is that humanity is an appendage to God,
We take upon our lips the words with
which Gideon and his little company of
three hundred went forth to meet the
hosts of INDIAN. THE sword Of the Lord
and of Gideon"
More than a hundred of our young
men have already Joined the colors, some
of whom are here before me. know
the spirit of these men and the motives
that actuate them. 1t is not too much to
say of them that they are entitled by
every preparation of mind and heart to
a place in the starry field of such serv,
Ice flag as, Daniel has described And
| have reason TO believe that what
say for our own soldiers is equally true
of the rank and file of that vast army
now preparing for the front.
-. lit L.,
overseas has given noteworthy evidence
of the holy purpose for which the Service
flag stands. Stacy Aumonier, a British
writer, read it in the faces Of our boys
falgar Square. "rhey came marching
in founs, the vanguard of Uncle Sam S
army. They. were solemn, bronzed men.
loose of limb, hard and strong. with a
curious. set expression of purpose.
Tramp. tramp, tramp, trampV
And they looked neither to the right
nor the left; nor did they look zap or
smile, or apparently take any notice Of
ward to see their faces, and we cried out
to them our welcome Fully a thousand
men passed in this solemn procession.
not one of them smiling or looking up"
. They're solenln-looking blokes. Amt
they?' said l."
There is delightful little story of a
Boston miss which conveys so beautifully
the thoughts I have been seeking to Inn
press that / tell it at this point This
little girl was gazing upward from a
Southern window as night came on and,
noting Respondent Venus In the sky, she
| ran to the door of another room and call
| ed. Mamma. Mamma, come quick and
see--God's hung out His service flag and
it has one star in it,"
When ] read this incident, my mind
went back to the time when God raised
the window OF heaven and, leaning far
out, spread wondrous service flag with
one dazzling star upon Bethlehem's sky.
| because OF His interest in the cause Of
I righteousness. And I seemedd to dis
| Germ with a new and unusual clearness
the mission OF Gods only begotten Son,
as also the highest mission Of the sons
| of men. II righteousness be sincerely
our goal. then the service which we are
| now rendering must make us co-iaborers
| with God, and sometime, somewhere upon
| the field of conflict, we shall surely meet
with Jesus, the Captain Of the world
| salvation the King of Righteousness.
Ye sons of brave sires. II We be as no.
| Bile as they, and worthy of the inheri-
| lance whereof We boast, baptize your
| souls in the spirit Of pure service which
| this flag emblemizes, then, rising from
knees of dedication, go over the top with
the stars of God.
(TAis dedication sermon was preached