Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-05-13
Illustrated Lecture on
France and the World
War;" Sunday Evening
Penney Memorial Church Is We'll
Filled and Rev. Mr.. Wood Gives A
Most Interesting Lecture-CoIlee
ton for French War Orphan

The great spirit of the French pco-
pie as shown in the present war was
one of the many points regarding
that nation that were described in an
illustrated lecture upon the subject,
The Land Of Lafayette and the
World War" which was given by
Rev William X. Wood Sunday even
ing at the Penney Memorial church.
The church was we'll filled upon the
occasion and all present We're privi-
legged to look upon French life, French
history and especially the work and
he spirit of the French in the great
struggle that is now going on. The
pictures accompanying the lecture
were excellent and brought the audi
ence closer to the war and all that it
means.
The musical feature of the service
was the singing of the Marseilaise by
j. Frank BilC"eau and Charles F.
Bilodeau, it being rendered very eff
fectively. Prof. j. Francis Mac Nichol
accompanied at the piano. The col
I lection was taken for the support of
French war orphan whom the Debo
rah society Of the church has adopted.
The lecture Of the evening was
Upon II different topics, as follows:
Saving National Life, The Making of
French Soldiers, Beauty and Art.
Her Day of Humiliation, Why France
Fights, A Match for the Germans,
The French Care of the Wounded,
America to the Rescue. German
, Taunts, French Reply, The Honor of
France Glorified Among the fine
pictures shown We're: Picture of
Lafayette. Joan of Arcs Dream, west
front Of Rheims Cathedral, Amer
cans taking part in Bastile Day cele
bration, picture of Napoleon, all that
is left of Craonne, and German SOL
diers saluting General Joffre.
Rev. Mr.. Wood spoke in part as
follows:
| Our nation enters the world war
on French soil remembering Lafay
ette. Lafayette espoused the cause
of the Americans in their fight for in
! dependence when but a youth Of 20.
! General Washington at once discov
cred that Lafayette was a military
genius. The young F'renchman
probably got closer to Washington's
heart than any man ever did.
/ Through Lafayette's example and in
f1uence. largely, France espoused the
cause of American Independence and
sent troops to our aid. Upon return
to France Lafayette threw his soul
into the work of making France re-
public.
France is the mother country of the
nations Of modern Europe. France
was the first of the great powers Of
Europe to espouse Republican prin
ciples. In this as in civilization and
in intellectual development, France
has led modern Europe.
II is not without reason that our
American boys have gone to France
with a song on their lips concerning
Joan of Arc" This Virgin Deliverer
of France stands for much that is
characteristic of French enthusiasm
and patriotism.
When the Germans struck at the
Rheims cathedral they struck at the
very heart of France. 1t would
seem that no necessity of war
would Justify the desecration Of such
a building as this.
! On July IA. 1879. the populace Of
Paris stormed the old state prison,
known as the Bastile, and destroyed
it. This was the first decided blow
struck in the interest of liberty. 1t is
interesting to note that for the first
time in history, American troops
took part in Bastile Day celebration
on July IA, 1917.
| In speaking Of the making of French
| soldiers Rev Mr.. Wood said that no
record of history can ignore Napoleon
Bonaparte. He taught the French SOL
| diers the art. of war and they have
never forgotten it.
Paris has long been regarded as the
| most beautiful city in the world, said
Rev. Mr. Wood and he then described
many places there which were pictured
The Franco-Prussian War was the
shortest and bloodiest war in modern
history. Napoleon III. unprepared for
such struggle, plunged France into
this dtea strous strugEle. Napoleon sur