The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-31
0heQnteltiqet1rero
DECORATION DAY.
THE PROCESSION.
Tho Services, Ceremonies
and Speeches.
Proceedings at the Gene
terry.

PrOceodlngS at the GENE
terry.
The morning opened auspiciously;
Providence seemingly favoring the OBJ
ject for which the day was set apart:
The hopes of our citizens were there.
fore not disappointed, as it seemed like
ly that they would be, up to a late hour
last night. The only inconvenience
arising from the storm was the
muddy condition of the roads, the de-
struction and scarcity of flowers. The
stores and places of business were very
generally closed, and the city presented
the usual appearance of holiday.
Procession.
AT about 2 o'clock, the different d.
visions of the Grand Army of the Re.
public began to gather in their respec-
tive headquarters, the steam fire en-
gines with their companies in uniform,
the friends and relatives of the depart
ed, all conYening at the rendezvous cor
ner of Fourth and Monroe streets. In
order it was as follows:
rades from other Posts, discharged SOL
diers and sailors not members OF the
G. A. r., Governor and State officers,
Mayor and city officers, City Councils.
Fire Department, benevolent and other
organizations reporting to the Marshal,
citizens on foot and in carriages.
The column moved at 8 p. m. by the
Dnu1n Manroo 70 Nor.
ket, up Market to Union, through On
ion to Main, up Main to Washington,
up Washington to the National Road,
thence to the speakers stand near the
Cemetery.
At the Stand.
Many prominent gentlemen were
present, and occupied seats upon the
stand Rev. Mr.. LYDIA, pastor of the
Chapline Street NJ. Il. Church, invoked
the blessing and approval OF the AL.
mighty upon the assembly and the OBJ
ject for which 1t was called together. AT
the conclusion of this powerful petition
to the Throne of Grace, which was
listened to with breathless silence and
attention, Capt. r. II. Cochran stepped
forward and delivered tho opening ad
dress.
capt. COchrnn's Address.
Comrades aud COu1ltI,ymen:-It was q
noble conception, and it is altogether
fitting, that we should thus, in formal
way, pay tribute to the memory OF the
deDarted, These solemn ceremonies
aurur that the day is at hand when 1t
can no longer be said of verify that
"Republics are ungrateful." Here in
deed is an ample field for reflection and
ennobling deduction; and, but for the
admouitions of time to be brief, one
might be excused for INDUCING in a
brief retrospect of the past few years.
Within the memory of us all, we and
those who lie here, were in the enjoy
ment of most profound peace; peace,
however, which some of us sus.
pected and rapidly succeeding devel~
opments have shown us, was sur
incongruous and destructive elements.
For years these elements had been en-
gagged in struggle little noted by the
unobserVing world. Yet unceasing as
that of the human soul wherein battle
conscience and the discordant passions
of man, suddenly like terrible thun-
derbOlt form clear monday sky,
the realities and terrors of war came
upon us, and mOmentarily palsied the
nations sOul-the people. Then 1t was
that these our comrades leaped to the
full estate of moral manhood. Recog-
niZing it as contest between right
and Wrong-between abject slavery on
the one hand, and civil and religious
liberty on tho other, they babe adieu to
the comforts of home, the society and
caresses of dear ones, and commencing
themselves and theirs to the God OF
Nations, they went forth to battle for
the right.
RI IioK nj ORG nd
and devotion TO conscientious duty
not less heroic than that witnessed at
Worms not more than three hundred
years ago, when the grand and God
like Luther, amid assembled Kings
and Princes demanding him to recant,
stood up, and for conscience. sake, deS
clared to astonish millions living and
to live, God be my help-Here take
my stand."
This moral sense of dMty and the dar-
ing 10 perform it was the finger of God
pointing the enemies of mankind to the
handwriting on our darkened polite
al horizon: meme, meme, tekeL TtphGTSt1l.
Truly and beautifully has 1t been
said,
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform,
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm,
Few il any, comprehend the magnitude
of the struggle and results which we
have witnessed.
Fewer still can comprehend those
which are yet to come. For aught we
know our recent struggle may be
traught with as grand and lasting re-
suits to the moral world, as were those
memorable words to the physical world
when God said LET there be light, and
there was light" But these, our COM
rades, now peacefully repose in the last
maternal embrace. Their happy spirits
coined by that seraphic greeting
enter thou into the joy of the Lord"
Our memory of them and what they
did is as green and refreshing as the
grassy sod which this day kindly
clothes their resting place. Enshrined
in the affections of millions, like the
immortal tree of Paradise, that memo
nv will bud aud blossom and bloom
forever.
To maintain and perpetuate the priv.
ileges we now enjoy, and to hasten the
peace which now illumes the sky,
"they gave the last full measure
OF their DEVOTION" and as we to-day
fraternally and tenderly decorate
their graves, let Us remember and
cherish the beautiful thought of him
who was the central figure amid the
storm, and who Is among the most la
mented of the departed: 1.-THE world
will little note nor long remember what
we saw here, but it will never forget
what they did. Let us here dedicate
ourselves anew to the great task re-
maining beforea us. that from these
honored dead we take increased deVo: