Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 27, DeMotte, Jasper County, 4 June 1948 — THE PASTOR’S COLUMN [ARTICLE]

THE PASTOR’S COLUMN

(Rev. W. D). Archibald)

MEMORIALS HAVE MEANING Another Memorial "Day has come and gone. It reminds us of ties that bind us to the past and of tht dreams of those of yesteryear. We took our floral offering to the graves of our loved ones. Our service men placed flags at the of out sold-

ier dead. A memorial stone marks the final resting place of our loved ones. We remember the lives and deeds of those whose bodies we laid to rest. To those who placed the stones they have much meaning. Thomas Gray stated it thus: “Yet even these bones from insuit to protect Some fiail memorial still erected high. Their names, their years, spelt by the unlettered Muse. The place of fame and elegy supply: And many a holy text around she strews, That teach the rustic moralist to die. Memorials are erected far and wide throughout our land. Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands in the Circle in down-town Indianapolis. Gen. Grant on horseback keeps 1 watch over Chicago’s lake front. On many a court house lawn stand some soldier-, sailors and marines in stone always on guard. And often near by are

the pieces of artillery that once vfrere used. In our doing this we follow the custom that goes back to the dawning days of recorded history. On the palace walls of Babylon and Nineveh are memorials of conquests of kings. CoL umns and arches in Rome marked the home coming of victorious legions. But we have some other types of memorials for there are othen things which we lift up. The Statue of Liberty exalts one of our cherished ideals. Memorial libraries found in many towns lift up culture. Memorial college buildings exalt education. Living memorials in scholarships further exalt this. The Prophet of The Long Road, Bishop Frances Asbury, exalts religion. The memorial stamp bearing the picture of George Washington Carver is tribute to a great negro who served the interests of his country as a teacher and a scientist. “The Pioneer Mother” exalts motherhood. But memorials have different meanings for different people. The two and a half tribes of Israelites on their way to their new home built an alter. This was to remind all generations that they and their brethren across the Jordan worshiped one God and that they belonged together as one great people. But their brethren, with whom they had marched in conquest, unacquainted with their intent, seeing the stone altar, thought it a sign of war. How like the Russians and us, who were comrades in arms, fighting to set all men free, now find ourselves not seeing eye to eye. We may have erected so many memoi ial stones to soldiers and soldiers that other seeing them may think our outstanding characteristic is war. But when we look at all our memorials they speak to us of our love of liberty our admiration of courage and nble sacrifice. It gives a thrill in belonging to a great land. We don’t have the same thrill when We look at Egypt’s great monuments. Doubtless the ancient Egyption’s feeling in looking his mouments was a kin to our as we look at our’s. Perhaps we need more monuments exalting the arts of peace. „ When the Israelites crossed the Jordan they took twelve stones from the river and made an altar. When their children’s children asked about its meaning they tpld them about their God who had helped them out of Egypt and the wonderful way they crossed the Jordan. We raise monuments to Washington as a testimony to gaining our independence. Lincoln memorials are raised in testimony of the preservation of the union. But we do not rely on these great and beautiful, memorials to safeguard our independence or preserve our union. We study the history of the United States and do come to appreciate the meaning we built into our memorials. Our testimony must go along with our memorials. Ancient Rome contained many memorial columns and arches of triumph. Orators proclaimed the glories that were Rome. Parades Were held. But when great multitudes did not live in admiration of the ideals Rome declined. One of our early political leaders said “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. - ’ Walter " Lippmann says (hat War and Revolution both destroy realistic thinking. Because the excess of danger and fearful over stimulation of passion, disciplined behavior is unsettled. High minded statesmanship gives way to virulent, hating jingoism. In times when we loose our heads our memorials call us to noble and good ideals. We give meaning to our memorials if we live by the ideals they ekalt.

c Memorial Day came to us from the struggle to preserve our union; of our purpose to live together as one people. Perhaps the greatest problem in our world today is that of living together as one world. We have fought two world wars We hoped that out of the conflict we would have world peace. It is important that we live in the light of this. Our task is bringing into reality the dream of Tennyson in “Locksley Hall”: Till the war-drums throb no longer, And the battle flags are furled In Parliament of man, The Federation of the world. There the common sense of most Shall hold a fretful realm in awe, And the kindly earth shall slumber, Lapt in universal law.