The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-05-28
MEMORIAL SERMON
GIVEN YESTERDAY
Fitting Ceremonies Were Held At the Swedish
Lutheran Church; Former Soldiers In
Attendance
From Mondays Daily.

The spirit of the blue. the veterans
of the Spanish American war and Of
the great World war were most in
Increasingly displayed yesterday after
noon at the beautiful memorial serv-
ices held at the Swedish Lutheran
church. The church was prettily dec
Grated with a profusion Of spring
flowers.
| The Civil War Veterans were the
first in the long line that entered the
church. The ranks of these veterans
have grown smaller, each year, and il
is not without a thrill of patriotism
that one witnesses the parade OF
these men who fought for the ideals
of America. The Civil war veterans
were followed by those of the
Spanish American war. The w. r. G.
and the ladies auxiliary of the -Ameri-
can Legion completed the ranks.
Rev. 0. j. Arthur, pastor OF the
Swedish Lutheran church, was in
charge of the ceremonies.
Opening the exercises the audience
sang America" accompanied by the
pipe organ, which was followed by the
reading of several scripture passages
by Rev. Edward Johnson, pastor OF
the Bethlehem Lutheran church.
Rev. Ralph A. Jensen Of the Baptist
church lead the assembly in prayer.
In welcoming the citizens Of the
community to the service, Rev: Ar
thur explained that 1t had always
and honor the men who had fought
for their country.
Several excellent numbers were
rendered by the choir of the Swedish
Lutheran church.
Rev. Arthur gave short talk In
which he stated that he hoped the
ideals of America would always bs
upheld. $500.
| The Memorial Sermon.
Rev, Edward Johnson. pastor o
Bethlehem Lutheran church, in de-
livering the memorial sermon, said II
part:
america covered her face wher
she sent her sons into battle, She
did SO partly out Of grief to see then
depart on such a precarious under
| taking, and partly out Of shame tc
think that after centuries OF effort
the world had not advanced further
than to resort to such means to pu,
human wrongs and promote the well
fare of her people"
| whenever America has sent hel
sons into conflict she has never for.
saken them. Then she has uncovereC
her face, and put her heart and hanc
into the efforts to see that her sons
while they fought were clothed ant
fed while they bled and died for theii
country" -
America put on the Red cross
cap and apron, and she never tool
them or until her sons were cared
for as far as within her power
America did more; she opened the
Bible, the sanctuary for the treas
/ ufes of God, and she was with God
| In power and prayer. She followed
1 her hons with hope and faith
America Bsres Her Head.
| ION this memorial season America
Is barring her head for those who fell
on. the battle grounds where Grand
father, father and son have fallen IN
battle. Today she bows her head in
reverence over the graves OF hei
dead, and spreads spray, of flowers
or sets q blooming plant over the
their lives for the people. Today her
sons who have returned, some OF
whom are wearing gray crown on
their heads and their forms are bent
with weight Of years, and some still
in the vigor Of youth. she honors
them. She would serve them to the full
capacity and be served In return by
them. America in the years that have
passed opened her doors to the world
and permitted men from all quarters
of the globe to come here. In the
hour of her need she called them to
her defense, and they rallied, and as
debt of gratitude to America gave
their lives and gave their all. We
honor them for It,"
God Should Rank Above All.
Here the speaker said that God
should be ranked above all. Also the
heart. hand and pocket must work
together in the land of the free. The
heart and herd of America was right
on that S0th day of July, 1919, when
she made that first effort at self
government. It might have been a
wonderful help to have something In
the purse. Even though the pocket
was empty. it may have been an ad-
vantage, in 90 far that there was no
temptation to have the pocket rule
In that flrst meeting the purse was a
secondary matter. Americas ideals
were safe and sound. The meeting
was held In little church In James
town, not because there was not 9TH
er place to hold 1t, it was fully In
harmony with her purposes that the
meeting be held in this little church.
The meeting was opened by the
Scriptures reading and prayer. The
fered 80 much through the rule OF
state, that It was matter of con.
cientious scruples with them that