Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-01

Memorial United Baptist church, di-
rectly following the services at the
monument. After the rendition of the
Star Spangled Banner" by the Angus
ia Cadet Band, the invocation was Of
fered by Rev. A. E. Morris of the
Green Street Methodist church. The
| orders of the day were read by Will
liam McDavid, adjutant of the Seth
Williams Post, G. A. r.
The words of the historic address
by Abraham Lincoln on the eGttys-
burg battle field were read by How
ard Stiles of Cony High school, and
the benediction was pronounced by
|. Rev. Morris, following the grafton.
Several selections of special signi-
| ficance to the occasion were played
| by the band.
Memorial Day Grafton
| DR.. Purves Of st. Marks Church,
said in part that he deeply appre-
| ciated the invitation from the Seth
Williams Post to say some words to
them at this time. In the first place
he wanted to express the loss to the
Post and to the entire community In
the death of Commander Gay, which
| took place in the last year. 1t was
his privilege to attend Commander
Gays funeral and he has never seen
a more representative audience.
Every clergyman of the city was
present, though unlimited, which was
( certainly a tribute to our late
brother. BY thus honoring him they
were honoring themselves.
Memorial Day will never be for
gotten while America lasts. There is
| probably not grave of an American
soldier overlooked today. Soldiers of
| the Revolution, soldiers of the War
| Of 1912, soldiers Of the Civil War,
| soldiers of the Spanish War, and SOL
diers Of the World War, all have
been lovingly remembered with
flowers strewn on their graves as in
cense, so to speak, telling of our love
and affection. More important, still,
we do not forget their souls, and
thousands of prayers have assembled
Heavenward God bless you where
so'er you are in His great Universe
today
| patriotism, love of country! In
our Lords last journey to Jerusalem
and as he proceeded from Bethany to
! the Holy City, when reaching the
second ridge before going down the
valley Of the Kedron. a wonderful
| view met his eye. The villas, the
gardens, the hill of Zion crowded
with palatial residences, the Temple
and it's surrounding buildings.
i brought an exclamation of surprise
from his followers, Master, what
7 manner of stones and buildings are
i here?' The Masters eyes filled with
tears, There shall not be left one
stone upon another He looked for
ward with prophetic foresight to the
Holy City being besieged by the Ro-
man legions and what was left after
the successful invaders had de-
stroyed all they could, fire consumed
what was left. Our Lord was true
patriot. It is perfectly true that In
his sad lament over the doom OF the
Sacred City. he was also contempla-
| ting the end of the Jewish dispense
| ton, but as said. it was Patriotic
! lament as well, There were the tears
and words of the true Patriot. Jeru-
| salenfwas the heart and head of the
| Jewist nation. Christ, of course. was
| a Universal man, but that did not
destroy His love to His. Country.
That love of country was prominent
| in His thought during His entire
ministry. Remember what He said
shortly before returning to His
| Heavenly Father, and commissioned
| His disciples with these words, 'Ye
| shall bear witness of Me, both in
Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and
unto the uttermost part of the earth.
| It IL sometimes said that Patriotism
| is an old world virtue caused by
lack of travel and lack of knowledge
and that new virtue is TO take It's
place, Cosmopolitanisn1, Information
| alism. 1t has an imposing SOUND.
/ lnvo1tU like orr
charity, should begin but by no
means end at home. No, Patriotism
| is not a decaying virtue because
Country like the family is creation
of Almighty God. 1t is natural to a
| human being to love the land of his
| birth. Let my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth IL forget Thee, o
Jerusalem. So cries also every true
American, Let my tongue cleave to
the roof of my mouth II I forget
| Thee, o America!
The Scotch in prose and song have
probably as much as any race.
brought out this love of country. We
all remember SCOTS words
"Breathes there man with soul so
| who never to himself hath scid
I This is my own, my native land
And also Burns, the Scotch poet
II mind It wsell in early days
When / was beardless. young ana
blate
"A wish that to my latest hour
| Shall strongly heave my breast
| That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
some useful plan or beuk could make
| or sing sang at least"
"our Lord himself lived in close
sympathy with the great figures OF
His country's past. Abraham Moses
| David. Isaiah. America has certain
ly had a marvellous history. Surely
| It IL not our National conceit familiar
with our country's history to say
| that no nation under Heaven, save
the Jewish nation of old, shows the
Providence, Direction and blessing
OF Almighty God. Young as We are
as a nation, we have a wonderful
galaxy of great names. Even every
| little child in our country can tell US
something Of Washington, Lin
coin. a Grant. The soDdiers of '62
don't want our praise. That is for
! ever written in the annals of time.
But what they want is to inculcate
a love Of country, a country worth
living for and If need be, dying for.
| There IL considerable lot of
rluddled thinking going on today.
! No one wants war. l can't conceive,
| you can't conceive of America going
| in to an offensive war. The pulse
| of the Nation showed itself just the
other day when 1t was suggested
| that Armistice Day should be De-
l ~. D,shffA rnfrinYr In Annnr-