Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-30
MEMORIAL SERMON BY REV. LONG

hope you realize that I am not invent-
ing fine sentiments for the soldier.
which was never his. ] want to re-
mind you, today. however, that how
various characters may be, that there
was true religion in our armies, which
was daily proved by their sacrifice of
everything in the world for duty. and
by the spirit in which they offered it.
Here is an example of true friend
of mine, who was an altar server with
me in my boyhod days. He enlisted.
during the early days of the war, and
no one knew better than he that his
call was a call to offer sacrifice. 1 saw
his last letter to the rector of my par
ish; he told in it that it is "nervy"
work to live day and night under she'll
fire and bullets. but he was trying to
| learn to put himself into the hands
of Cod few days later a letter
from another who knew him well said.
MY regiment was withdrawn to the
rear for rest. and l looked into the viii
lage church. and there TO my surprise
saw Harold deep in prayer" Deep
in prayer. for by that time he thoroly
realized that his life was his sacrifice,
and that in spite of shells and
bullets and nerves., he could put
himself into the hands OF God and
quietly present his sacrifice there. To
offer it finally at his supreme cost on
the battle field would be to find his
home in tho wounded heart of Christ.
day or two after that quiet time in
the village church somewhere in
France he fell in battle. His sacrifice
was offered and accepted. 1t is such
men whose memory VIC revere today.
Come, let rs clasp your hands,
We're brothers all.
| over your graves"
If the call of Christ to every Chris
tan IS n call to life that should he
sacrifice. let US think of two things
that these plain men and women. ordi-
nary soldiers and sailors and nurses,
,each us about our own sacrifice. Our
me sacrifice is loves sacrifice Of
fercd to the living God who is love.
and Who accepts us and our sacrifice as
very precious, because. little tho it
be, we offer it with love in union with
an the love and goodness and beauty
of Christ. The soldier who did his
duty" looked further than TO the gem
erals dispatches as the end and object
OF II. He was at his generals disposal
out II was into Gods hands that he
placed his life when the attack began,
II he was taken at his word and died.
ne knew that it would be. not merely
good but the best possible" that
Gods love would give him.
You and | as ordinary Christians.
IKE as in the old days of war. have to
i've for duty 1t means to us in
tense loyalty to this country for msnv
perhaps like the speaker: the country
of their adoption. 1t means to be doing
our proper business all day long for
the love of God who made every soul
for Himself that is. for love. and
whose claim upon each of us is tho
claim OF infinite love We have got 10
learn much more than We know vet of
this personal relation to God which
everything we do or bear
We complain that hfc is SO busy.
there is no time to he quiet. or to lea rn
to be spiritual" What is tho remedy?
me mystery of sacrifice. and that is
the great lesson of Decoration Dav,
All that pressure of necessary occ,I
patlon-offer II to God in love and
Thanksgiving along with Christ's sacri-
nee on the cross, and your life be-
comes love, becomes prayer. So that
II life should grow even moro busy II
viii grow more full of communion with
God. because of the increasing re-
sponsibilities you have to bring to
Him. or the disappointmcnts that come
Ior you TO accept willingly in union
with the Christ. our sacrifice and
II our life Is TO be sacrifice something
oHered TO God n means OF person.
al union with Him. tho sacrifice must
DC always going on towards perfection.
The power of Christ's death Ia given T.,
us. so that VIC may die. not only IN
disEraceful sins. but to every thought
word, act. that might separate us from,
God. n soldier of Christ viii be dead
to the suggestion that because he has
n
he has fought his battle out, and NAV
lay down his arms now. and need not
nnish tho course. but may mako
himself at homo in this world and tsko
a little rest.
a sacrifice is not sacrifice II ",
stop half way; II must he all, or 1, is
not "a sacrifice mt all.
DO not forget the lesson which our
dead comrades teach us When tyo,
cover tho graves with How crs. and docl
them with garlands. remember tho ono
worn-sacrificc. Remember that II 10
up TO you TO carry on tho f'sht. Tho
oattie for right against wrong Of free
uon against tranny. We honor o,tr
heroic and patriotic dead by being tru,
men, as true inen by faithfully hc-htirr
inc battles of our day as they fought
inc patti y Of their day.
May close with quotation from ar
unknown writer ~
kest In peace, oh. mighty dead. Th.
cause Tor which you fought can never
nc assailed again. Rest In peace tho
race whose freedom you achieved will
bless you with their latest breath Eost
IN peace. tho union you preserved ro
mains forever, and liberty. equal rirbt,
and justice is tho. heritage Of dc
sccndants tn the Judgment day God
bless tho mon who followed tho Naci''