The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1928-05-30
CHURCHES UNITE IN
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Rev. r. o. Aga of English Luth-
eran Church Delivers Men,
Orial Sermon Sunday.

dist, Presbyterian, Church OF Chrlst
and English Lutheran churches. The
service was attended by and IN honor
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
A parade of this organization, the
Women's Relief Corps, the Ameri-
can Legion and the American Legion
Auxiliary from the club rooms to the
church preceded the services.
Rev. R. o. Aga started his talk by
stating that Memorial Day was in a
unique position among the other
holidays. Memorial Day is day in
which we. recall events, great and
tragic that made the occasion of the
day. Christmas commentaries JOY
and gladness, while next Wednesday
we commemorate sorrow. Thanks
giving is homecoming day while
Memorial Day recalls homes broken
up; the vacant chair, the warrior
who returned not from the battle
field. Independence Day is celebrat-
ed in a thought of victory and rather
with defiance, whereas Memorial Day
is more of a spirit of humility. In
the intensity of the struggle for fu-
ture achievements we are prone to
lose sight of the past. We do not
think enough of the cost of our liber-
ties or of the price paid for this unit
ed land"
AS tribute paid to the dead heroes,
the speaker said, "Why did our fall
len heroes give their lives in the great
battles of the Revolutionary, Civil,
Spanish and the World
wars? This question is best answer
ed by the events that led up to the
Declaration of Independence, the birth
of the new nation" In stating that
the longing for freedom was the
cause of the country's first war, Rev.
Aga said, "The fact that the early
settlers of the Atlantic seaboard were
. not the type of adventurers, who were
) attracted by any romantic charm that
may have hung over the new land, or
the' fact that they were not actuat-
ed by greed, nor were there visions
of gold dazzling before their eyes, it
remains that it was their longing for
freedom from monarchical coercion,
political and religious, of the old
world"
The speaker stated that the Civil
War was fought on the issue of ses-
sion and that the ulterior motive be-
ing whether or not slavery should re-
ceive legal sanction, while the Span
ish-American war was fought for the
upkeeping of the Monroe Doctrine, in
which America would not tolerate
violations in the western hemisphere
ment.
In speaking of the World war, Rev.
Aga said, "The last and greatest of
the wars of the new country was that
in which we did not fight for terri
torial acquisition, political agrandize-
ment or commercial exploits, but to
help Europe rid itself of every form
of autocratic government" The en-
tire theme of Rev. Aga's sermon GEN.
tered around Sacrifice. Because of
the sacrifices made we should do our
best to make the memory live forever
and not tolerate any other form of
government to rule than that form
which these heroes fought and died
for. Our children's heritage will be
the standard handed down by our
fathers"
Giving many instances of sacrifice !
by the people of our country in the !
time of war, the speaker said, "How !
much have we denied ourselves in the |
sacrifice to Christ, how much are we
willing to give to win the war of |
Righteousness? The second principle |
of sacrifice is suffering. The Cross
has always been symbol of pain, |
sorrow and heartaches. The soldiers |
whom we honor today and next We'd |
nesday knew what suffering was, with |
their wounds from gas and shell. |
What suffering, if any, do we expert
ence because of religious indifferences
on the part of our friends, family or /
the community itself?"
In closing Rev. Aga stated that |
self-surrender was the third thought |
of sacrifice and stated, "For the sake |
of the country we surrender wealth, |
abilities, talents, experience and life |
itself. We find that when the flam-
ing sword of battle is lifted above the
country it lures the best we have, ev-
en- though the path leads through !
agony, death and hell. How about the
self-surrender to Christ as the Cross |
is lifted above the nation 1t does !
not beckon us to isles of bloodshed /
or carnage but to paths of Peace and
Blessing"
Rev. Aga wove a fabric of sound
facts in keeping with Memorial Day. /
A brilliant speaker, with every sent
ence founded on q broad and SYM
pathetic understanding of the sub
ject of which he spoke, the English
Lutheran pastor delivered IN address
(Continued on last page)