Daily Kennebec journal., 1925-11-09

President Augusta Rotary Club,
Chairman of Pre-Armistice Day
Observance
Paying homage to their country
and to the men who in the great
World war hazarded their all for
that country, citizens of Augusta
under the leadership of the Augusta
Rotary club gathered on Sunday aft
ernoon at City hall for a short but
impressive service. Members of the
American Legion from Augusta, Hal
lowell and Winthrop participated
with the others in this meeting which
recalled forcefully to their minds the
sacrifices of their comrades who had
gone west" during that war or
later. as result of injuries and
wounds received. and their own suf-
fering for the cause of liberty.
4 Congressman John e. Nelson, the
speaker Of the afternoon, paid glow
ing tribute to the veterans and the
services which they had rendered for
their country. and pointed out the
necessity of such a spirit OF patriot
ism IL the glorious United States is
to continue along the course which
1t has followed for the past century
and a half and which has made Of 1t
the greatest nation upon earth.
President Everett v. Perkins Of the
Augusta Rotary club, who acted as
chairman Of the meeting, in opening
spoke of the appropriateness of a
Sunday meeting in advance of the
regular Armistice Day observance.
when the people may devote a short
time to the remembrance of the sac
rifices which were made in the great
world conflict and of the ideal which
prompted the United States to take
up the fight against Germany. He
declared that the ancient Hebrews
felt that religion and patriotism
should be closely allied and for that
reason it was his opinion that Sun
day, the day Of worship Of Diety, Is
particularly appropriate.
The chairman in a few brief
words recognized the presence of the
American Legion and Of small
handful Of Civil War veterans. He
touched upon the splendid work of
the American Legion along the lines
of education, care of their comrades
of the great war and the preaching
Of military preparedness.
In introducing the speaker of the
afternoon he spoke Of him as an ar
dent patriot, concerned with the well
fare of his country, and a real neigh
bor and friend.
After the opening Of the meeting
by the chairman the gathering was
led in prayer by Rev. A. Francis
Waleh, pastor of the Winthrop Street
Universalist church. Group singing
of various patriotic airs and old ia
vorite songs was then enjoyed under
the leadership of Prof. j. Francis
MacNichol, musical director of the
Augusta Rotary club and one Of the
best known song leaders in the State
Of Maine. Dennis orchestra added
to the musical program with several
delightful numbers during the course
Of the program. The meeting came
to a close with the singing of Amer
lea by the entire gathering.
The beautiful stand of colors Of
James Fitzgerald Post, American
Legion, was placed upon the stage,
adding to the patriotic spirir Of the
meeting. 1t was intended that the
colors should be paraded and taken
into the hall at the opening of the
program, but because of the inclem-
ency Of the weather this was not
done.
Congressman Nelson's speech was
'I realize that cannot hope to
express even measurably in words
the deeper meaning of so high q
moment. This is an occasion of
more than passing interest and sig
nifcance. It is one of patriotism, of
pride, of pain, Of conservation to
high service. We celebrate today
the anniversary Of that glad morn
ing seven years ago when German
militarism bowed it's head in final
defeat and the great guns along the
western front ceased to thunder
death-a day when an entire world
wearied and worn by disaster, dread.
and death, knelt in solemn thanks
to Almighty God. A new note was
then in the air: a new hope in ev-
cry heart; a hope and prayer that
the dream of the ages was to be
of peace on earth, goodwill toward
men, begin.
I'VE meet here this afternoon not
to glorify war, but to deprecate it.
We are not a militaristic people,
rather are we an idealistic one. We
fight no wars of aggression or ag-
grandisement, but fight only as a
last resort, and for those principles
of liberty, right, justice, and human
brotherhood that alone make life
worth living. We meet, then, not to
glorify war, but to glorify, II we
may, the patriotism, the heroism,
the devotion. and sacrifice of those
American boys who, In the time of
humanity's need, met the supreme
test of manhood and of citizenship,
surrendered freedom that others
might be free, endured the horrors
of war that war might be banished
from the earth, gave their young
lives that others might live. Great
er love than this no man hath. We
meet, my friends, that from these
honored dead we take increased de-
votion to that cause for which they
gave the last full measure of devo-
tion.'
standing here this afternoon be-
fore you, my home people of Au-
gusta, neighbors and friends, my
mind harks back over the years to
those dark days, of 1917 and 1918,
when all that men had dreamed or
dared of good hung trembling
in the balance, when America, hav-
oxyo,-v yfOhfpnlIS effort