The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1920-06-10
REV. NICHOLSON MAKES
STRONG APPEAL FOR RIGHT
In Sermon Delivered Before Patriot
ic Sons OF America, Cambridge
Pastor Points Out Their Great
Needs Of The Times.


Gentlemen of the Patriotic Sons OF
America
1t is very betittting that a patriot
ic order should be found in the
house of God, on Memorial Day, pay
ing a tribute of respect 10 the Ma
tions honored dead, as we'll as to
take increase devotion TO the cause
for which thew died.
The days in which the living pay
tribute to the heroic dead is rs old
as history. The Druids covered
their soldiers graves with flowers
and evergreens, planted groves and
gardens in their memory. The
early Christians said, We will not
sprinkle their graves with flowers,
but upon their spirits the odor OF
Christ, and with his love consecrate
his servants" In various other
ways the heroic dead were honored
until two years after the close OF the
Civil War, the women of Columbus,
Miss, scattered flowers upon the
mounds of Blue and Grey alike.
News of this beautiful service came
to the ear of Gen. Logan, at that
time the commanding officer of the
VI
that from that time forth May the
thirtieth should be a day on which
the living members of the G. A. R.,
should gather for reunions, speech
making, patriotic music and scatter
ing flowers upon the mounds OF their
dead comrades.
But the ranks of the G. A. r. are
being so hard hit by the last enemy
Death" until 20 years hence there
will not be a man of them left. SO
the question that comes to my mind
is this. What highest use can be
made of Memorial Day? The high
est use that we can make of the day
is an effort to enspire the citizens OF
this Nation to True Patriotism.
There is a true Patriotism and
there is a false Patriotism. Some
one has said that Patriotism is one
vice above all others which retards
civilization. DR.. Johnson has said,
Patriotism is the last refuge OF
scoundrels.'' Tolstoi h as said,
Patriotism is the mother of wars,
the chief stumbling block of Broth
er-hood and antagonistic TO the
teachings of Jesus" But the
patriotism to which these. refer is a
false Patriotism, for false Patriot
ism is associated with guns and kill
ing, associated with battle fields and
bayonets A Patriotism associated
entirely with guns, is false. Again
false Patriotism is that which has
inspired the war fought for glory
or gain. Fought for glory of Kings,
Nations. and Officers. Or fought
for gain of money, thrones or terri
tory.
Again false Patriotism is that mar
row sentiment which Kings, Capital
lists and Politicians foster to hold
their subjects in sway and use them
in attacks upo mother countries and
other parties and for their own self
ish ends. But there is no need of
the race expunging a fine virtue
from its heart because it has been
abused.
To-day the demand is for a True
Patriotism. A Patriotism which has
q Call to every citizen.
We are still in the broad field OF
battle. The beat of drum and the
call OF the boyle is stlIl IN the air.
The warfare is still on. 1t has only
changed in its methods. 1t is no
longer of guns and swords. The
character and position of the enemy
has changed. 1t is no longer across
the seas. And so the call comes not
to hired man, nor slaves, nor
towards, nor less than men. The
call comes not alone to Bankers,
Farmers, Laborers but the call comes
to every true American Citizen.
The call is for these Citizens to
live.
To die for country in 1861, 1893
and 1913 was Patriotic so to live for
country in 1920 is Patriotic. The
Nation in 1861 and 1898, 1918 call