The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-05-30
THE SUPREMACY OF
MANHOOD" SUBJECT
MEMORIAL SERMON
Veterans of All Wars Partici-
pate In Memorial Service
at Christian Church, DR..
Simpson Officiating

supremacy of manhood and its DOM
nance over all governments was the
predominant feature of the memorial
sermon delivered by the Rev. Robert
N. Simpson at the memorial services
of the First Christian church yester-
day. The services were participated
in by veterans of all wars. Gray
haired members of the Civil war min
gled with younger veterans of the
Spanish American war and the youth
of the World war as all united in SER
vices in memory of the dead
DR.. Simpson had for his text: And
Plate wrote a title and put it on the
cross; and this was written, Jesus of
Nazareth He said in part;
That text is something more than a
biographical detail in the record OF
wonderful life. 1t reveals three
phases of power-the power of gov
'ernment, the power of death and the
power of manhood. How imperial
seemed the Roman government that
day. Men said, See how it can stop
a mans career with cross How final
seemed the sentence of death and how
imperial Men said that day, See how
death can distort the human coun-
tenance.' But not in the hands of Pr
late nor in the timbers of a cross was
there imperial power; but in the name
over the cross Jesus of Nazareth In
that name was the imperial power of
manhood.
The supremacy of manhood is the
big lesson in war memorials. Gov
eminent is not the invincible thing in
human history. Death is not imperial.
Manhood is the sovereign thing. How
changing government is, when you
come to historical records? 1t is quite
shifting, if it is representative; and
there are constant problems Tor
statesmen to work upon. 1t is too
static, if absolute and there will be
inevitably revolution.
Death is not supreme. Go through
the old battlefields of the past and
what do you find? The sodded meadow,
the new orchards, the gardens that
have supplanted with scarlet blossoms
the scarlet blood stains of yesterday.
Death has been dethroned and life has
come with green and crimson banners
OF victory.
Manhood is the surviving thing,
and that is what we are here to me-
moralize today We are not here to
pay special homage TO government,
great as ours Is and much as we love
it, approximating social justice more
nearly than any government. We are
not here to cringe and cover in the
fear of death, although we know that
sooner or later the hoof beats of the
pale horse will echo in our ears. We
are here to memorable manhood.
That is the supreme thing. Without
it government is the club of the beast,
the creed of the jungle; might is right
and lust lis law Without manhood
death has no glory, suffering has no
crown, sorrow has no meaning, bat
tlefields have no sacredness, war days
have no afterglow."
1t was an impressive sight as vet
Grams of the wars entered the church
as Onward Christian Soldiers" was
played on the organ, headed by four
flag Bearers and as they left the
church at the conclusion of the SER
vices they passed beneath the folds
of the flags which they had fought for
and defended. The church was appro-
priately decorated for the services and
special music was rendered by the
choir with Prof. Fred L. Grambs at
the organ.