The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-12
Tribute To Living And Dead Paid By
DIR. R. L. Davidson, Who Served "Over
There, Memorial Services Armistice Day

man such as is DIR. II. l.. Davidson,
pastor of the Broadway Baptist
church. Although advanced in years,
Or. Davidson did not hesitate for a
second when America entered the
great war, and Immediately volun-
teered his services to his country,
and served overseas, under shell and
fire, in the service in which he could
render the greatest aid to his coun-
try and to the boys who were fight
ing the battle for the rights of hui
manity.
Dr. Davidson yesterday presented
the memorial address of Armistice
Day at Convention Hall. The address
was the greatest and most appealing
ever delivered in this city. Those
who were fortunate enough to hear
him, acclaimed the address as such.
With bits of humor, pathos, and the
greatest praise for the veterans of
the world war, and those who sleep
in honor, DR.. Davidson spoke as only
q man could who has been "over
there" and who participated in the
joys and horrors Of war.
"Above Par"
ut has been my good fortune"
said DR.. Davidson in his opening
remarks, to be regarded as above
par. In France, ! was frequently
mistaken for the commander-in-chief
of the A. L. +. and today the COVER
nor of Oklahoma has mistaken me
for the commander-in-chief of the
local post of the American Legion.
MY task on this memorable day
is that of calling to memory the men
who went to France and did not re-
turn. We Americans are not un-
grateful, but we are forgetful. We
are grateful for all that the noble
youths have done for us, but we are
wont TO forget.
A Great Country
America is a great country. We
are the inheritors of all the centuries
that have preceded us. We are en-
joying the comforts and benefits
brought down to us from ages gone
by. But we seldom inquire who it
was who gave us these comforts and
benefits and by what means we have
attained them. We seldom inquire
who gave us the cotton gin, the loom
and the other machinery of this in
dustry makes it possible for us to
have comfortable clothing; the wood
and machinery which makes it pos
sible for us to live in comfortable,
modern homes; the farmer seldom
inquiries as to who gave the plow,
the threshing machine, and the other
implements which permit him to till
the soil and extract from the earth
the products which enable him and
others to live comfortably; the trav-
eler seldom inquiries who gave him
the locomotive, the motor car, the
flying machine and the vessels which
permit him to go about, and travel at
a rate of speed during modern times
that is wonderful; the educator sell
dom inquiries about the men who have
gone before and who have written
the literature and text books which
enable him to become educated him
self; nor do we think, when we sit
at the breakfast table in the morning,
and read the newspaper, who it was
that made it possible by means of
the press, the telegraph and other
that we should be able
to read news of all the world the
after it has happened.
Seldom Think Of Cost
1--WE. the citizens of America, who
enjoy the liberty, freedom, and pros
perity. seldom think at what cost
these blessings have come to us.
"A few great wars, which have
occurred in the universe, have been
worth to the ages, much value"
DIR. Davidson then spoke of the
past centuries, and in which, one
great cause for the betterment OF
and progress Of civilization.
was the chief reason for the battles.
He spoke of the French check to the
Turk invasion years ago when civili-
zation was threatened. He spoke Of
the Thirty Years War" which re-
suited in the granting Of religious
liberty TO the world.
Il should have liked to have fought
In these wars" he said, had / been
able to live through them all. For
they We're wars by which one great
benefit to humanity was accomplish
ed.
Blessing 10 World
THE greatest war OF all, the World
War, was blessing TO the world.
For II was war to perpetuate all
that came by wars previous and to
give the world everlasting political
and religious liberty
What are we indebted TO the boys
for? There are several things. First,
the winning Of the war brought 10
US a united America. There shall bc
no north, south, east and west any
more. II shall be America first, last
and all the time. Never again shall
petty politicians wave the red flag
and inflame and set us against each
other. We are a united people. We
are all Of the same blood in these
United States. In France. saw the
sons Of the Blue and the Gray, and
the New England states and Califor-
ma, fighting side by side in the
trenches.
The war has united and cemented
us one people and we will go down
the line OF all ages as united pco-
pie through all our common struggles
and progress.
Appreciation Of Ideals
THE victory attained by the boys
has increased our appreciation Of AM
erican ideals and institutions. Prior
to the great war; very few of our
boys had been abroad The majority
of Americans who visited foreign
rlimes wore glohe irottera. who cnmo