The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-08-16
MEMORIAL SERVICE
FOR PRES. HARDING
1000 SAUK CENTRE CITIZENS
PAY HOMAGE TO NATIONS
DEAD CHIEF s-e-
THE WEATHER WAS IDEAL
TIMELY ADDRESS OF REV. FIR.
JOHN FEARON MUCH
APPRECIATED

Fully one thousand Sank Centre
Citizens gathered at the City Park
Friday morning at 1890 to partici-
pate in the memorial services in hon
or of the late Warren G. Harding,
President of the United States.
Every business place in the city
was closed from 10 o'clock until noon
on the request of Mayor Parker and
the American Legion. The morning
was ideal for such service; there
was not cloud in the sky; the air
was pure and delightful, and the
temperature was such as can only be
found in Minnesota at this season of
the year.
After a selection by the band,
Mayor Parker very informally pre-
sented his distinguished townsman,
Rev. John A. Fearon, pastor of Our
Lady of the Angels Catholic church
and Chaplain of Sank Centres post
of the American Legion, as the speak
er for the occasion.
On several previous occasions the
public as whole have had an oppor-
tunity to hear Rev. Fearon, and he
always handles his assignment in a
mastery manner. His review of the
life and accomplishments of Presi-
dent Harding, in which the lovable
character, the sterling integrity, the
genial personality, sturdy industry
and unusual ability, clothed in simple
language and delivered with charac-
teristic earnestness, made deep inn
preston upon all those who were for
tdnate enough to hear him.
Prayer followed the conclusion of
Rev. Fearon's address, after which
the Sank Centre Band played the
National Anthem. A salute of three
shots was fired by the American Lee
gion firing squad, and the exercises
were closed by Bugler Ben Allen
sounding taps.
Believing that the address of Fa-
Their Fearon is worthy of more than
passing notice, the Herald takes
pleasure in publishing it herewith in
full:
d
something of fascination even in the
ordinary stories of human sorrow.
They reach depth which the stories
of human triumph fail to reach. They
| sublimer meaning; and they win for
those who suffer a sympathy too
heartfelt to be lavished on anything
| less noble than suffering. Take, if you
lived; surround that life with every
base commonplace that would tend to
rob it Of the dignity that is in
position you will, and yet, if you throw
about that man the mantle of many
sorrows he will make his appeal to the
sympathies of the world. and men who
have never gazed upon his face will
pause to drop tear at the memory of
his sorrows.
But why, ladies and gentlemen. do
| pause on day such as this to speak
of any ordinary sorrow? Why with
the picture Of our dead President be-
! fore our eyes, do I turn my thoughts
and yours to any sorrow less sacred
| than the sorrow of a nation for it's
dead chief? All, friends, to me the
reason is obvious. 1t is because, recog-
nizing in sorrows which, compared TO
this, shrink into insignificance, a
depth which we almost fail to reach,
we feel the almost 'hopelessness OF
bringing home to ourselves with any
thing like completeness the under
standing of the sorrow and grief that
prostrates a mighty nation And yet.
i we are summoned by the President Of
these United States. by our Governor
this day a Memorial Service of sorrow,
and to me has been assigned the task
of clothing in brief words our thoughts
of appreciation and sorrow
But few weeks ago, and President
Harding stepped forth from the White
$, House in Washington, strong in his
virile manhood; nor did men dream
that that splendid physique and that
cfr of n and
spirit could be b1ighted so soon by the
J cold hand of death. To carry to the
. country I'm person the story of his con-
ceptiop of World Court to end war,
to urge his plan upon the people, and
create at once an understanding Of the
issue and a strong popular demand
for such a Court, to. cement his real
love and friendship for the people OF
the land by personal visit and contact
our lamented President set forth. His
journey was across the prairies and
: cities of Alaska. and back to the
!, Western Coast. Attacked by illness. he
took to his bed in San Francisco, and
around that bed gathered the. best
West could boast to fight for a Presi
/ dents life. to see whether medica
knowledge and care, and human Wi
and human love. might not win ovel
/, death. But all was in vain. Weakened
s bv disease. his resistance. gone, in thu
City of San Francisco at the Colder
Gate, our President died. A good man
: man of sincere religious convictions
he believed as we believe that each mai
!, who comes into this world is but al
i agent sent by God on special EN-
. bassy: and that each one who die
does but go back to God to render al
! account OF it's fulfilment. Presiden
"a Harding's work was donei His Maste
!, called! And we confidently hope AM
8 pray that he will receive from tn
), Master in the life beyond the grav
the reward that the Master has prom