Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-14
Memorial Service for
President Harding

Methodist, the Federated and the
Bethany Baptist which during the
summer are uniting in the Sunday
morning service was devoted to a
Memorial service for the late presi-
dent Warren G. Harding.
The pastor, the Rev. Herbert L..
Nichols presided. The choir was
directed by Mrs. Donald p. Burrill
and furnishes excellent and appro-
pirate music with Mrs. Edward b..
Friend presiding at the organ. The
service opened with a hymn ia
therhood of God" and included the
foil lowing numbers; anthem by
choir, responsive reading Hope OF
Immortality" lead by Mr.. Nichols;
scripture reading from First Corin-
thians the thirteenth chapter read
by Rev. George l.. Thurlow, pastor
of the Federated church; prayer by
Rev. Nichols in which he prayed
especially for Mrs. Harding and DR..
Harding the presidents aged father
and that the example of Christian
faith on the part of president ana
Mrs. Harding may be an example
ITO the grief stricken country ana
that Mrs. Harding's brave and cour-
agSOuS IIldhIlcI dulA hS nv . -
an example to the women OF the
land and that they too. will put
their trust in Jesus Christ; vocal
solo, Mrs. Burrill The sermon was
preached by the Rev. Thurlow or
the Federated church. In opening
Mr.. Thurlow spoke of his disap-
pointment when he learned that
the service which was partly ar
ranged to have been carried out on
Friday was given up. He said that
President Harding came closer 10
Skowhegan people than any other
president because only five years
ago Mr.. Harding spoke on the
Chautauqua platform here and was
listened to in his forceful address
at the closing program OF that
years program with the greatest
interest of a packed tend, and be-
cause Mr.. Harding was at that time
entertained in one of the SkoWhe-
gan homes and traded in one OF
the Skowhegan stores. Mr.. Thur
lows text was the forty-seventh
verse of the first chapter of St
John Jesus saw Nathaniel coming
to him and saith of him Behold an
Israelite indeed in whom there is
no guile" and Mr.. Thurlow SAID
that he thought that we might say
behold Warren c.. Harding, an AM
erican in whom there is no guile:
Mr.. Thurlow said that he should
not trace the rise of Mr.. Harding
from a poor country doctors son 10
the highest position which 1t IS
the power of the United states 10
bestow upon any one but rather
that he was to speak of his work
after coming to the White House
and mentioned five reasons why
President Harding Will always pc
remembered: First, because OF ms
desire for economy and that ne
decided against the Bonus BIZ
realizing that it would much IN
crease the taxes of all the so'dlers
as we'll; second, the disarmament
conference which was conceived IN
his mind and the wonderful con-
ference which was held in Wash
ington and that while that all the
president hoped was not accomp-
iished that a beginning was made
especialls in the navies: third
adjustment of the twelve hour a
day for the steel employees In his
desire and determination that right
and Justice should prevail; fourth
the presidents demand that every
law should be obeyed and that the
eighteenth amendment was as much
a law as any other and that 1t too,
should be enforced and he quoted
from a recent speech of President
Harding at Denver. Col, when he
said that the laws Of the United
states shall, can and will be en-
forced and Mr.. Thurlow said that
never had there been a head OF the
nation and his wife who took so
decided a stand for temperance and
right as did Mr.. and Mrs. Hard
ing. and fifth and last the world
code of international justice and
that right should prevail above
might and reason. above forces and
that all problems should be set
tied in peace through a world court
and that President Harding rose
above a national figure and become
q world figure and that questions
from all countries of the world
were brought to his desk for
council.
In closing Mr.. Thurlow en-
phasized Mr.. Harding's browning
characteristic. his simple, humble,
whole hearted loyalty to Jesus
Christ and that that Is the great
need of the present time. simple
faith in Christ and loyalty to him
as exemplified in the life and work
of the late president whose death
the nation and even the whole
world regretted and perhaps that
no life>has been a better example Of
the life of Christ than that of
President Harding. who died truly
for his country. In closing Mr..
Thurlow gave a beautiful poem the