The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-29
DECORATION DAY.


General order OF the Commander-n-chief Of their
organization AS tomorrow, also, for them would
prove very inconvenient the Managers Of the
various Soldiers Orphans Schools in and around the
city determined to elect to-day for the chdren's de-
monstration. Consequently preparations were made
to render this one of the most interesting beautiful
and attractive features OF the occasion.
At half-past II O'Clock this morning the first band
OF the orphans arrived In Independence Square.
noon the whole number Of them were on the ground
"a throng Of children neatly dressed blooming in
with more than ordinary interest from their rela-
tonship to those who sleep in the graves to be
decorated. About 700 OF the little ones were pre-
sent, comprising at least one-hfth OF those under
the care OF the State They were from the following
institutions:-Linco Institution; Church Home;
st. Johns orphan Asylum; Catholic Home; Northern
Home, Soldiers orphan Department; Chester
Springs Soldiers Orphan Schools and the Bristol
Soldiers orphan School.
The boys were all nicely uniformed in the Ameri-
can blue, the girls pretty and brightly dressed Ban
notices upon the former were numerous and peril
nent The one reading ''The wards of the State"
could not fail in evOking melancholy yet grateful
feeling-coud not fail in entwning the little squad
with certain interested and intimate affection and
bringing them close to each and every spectator.
| Who could regard them without inputlng
| to them the merit of the sacrifice their
| fathers made? The square was crowded
Mutitudes Of ookers-on thronged every side of the
main avenue leading from the south door of the hall
to the gate on Walnut street, hemmng in that orphan
army If protecting them in their destitute orphan
age. In long file the boys stood, their tiny muskets
drums beating in lively tune. Marching and counter
marching man9uyring at the word and going
| through the manual of arms at the orders of their
little commanders, they presented spectacle never
| to be forgotten.
| Geary, eX. Governor Curtin Maior-General Meade,
Secretary Borie Mrs Hutter, State superintendent
OF Soldiers, Orphans Schools, General Van Vliet,
| noon, pursuant to arrangement, the orphans both
boys and girls passed IN n review before the dg1ita,
proceeded to Concert Hall to conclude the cere-
| monies
The following route was marched ver:-Up Ches
nut to Twelfth; down Twelfth to Walnut; up Wal
nut to Broad; up Broad to Chesnut down Chestnut
to Concert Hail. Upon reaching this place the chill
dren seated the stage and the front benches,
the remainder of the hall soon densey filling with an
Governor Curtin called to the chair, and the
| Rev. K. W. Hutter, d. d., delivered the opening
| prayer as folows:-
PRAYER BY REV. DIR. HUTTER.
| Almighty God the Creator and Governor Of the
world, in whose hands are the lives Of men and the
| fate of nations, approach Thy Throne with vene-
ration and awe! We praise Thee as the Author of
all our benefits and mercies, and give Thee thanks
| that our chastisemcnts, though most severe, have
| not been proportioned to aggravated Ofenses,
but that in the midst of wrath Thou hast remembered
| mercy.
| on this occasion, o merciful Father we present
| ourselves before Thee with mingled emotions of
| gratitude and of sorrOw-of gratitude because of
| the great deliverance Of our imperilled nation,
effected for us by Thy goodness and by the bravery
| horses and chariots. We come before Thee with
| deep sorrow, also, because of the loss of so many
valuable lives the expenditure of so much precious
| treasure, and the atlictons OF so many widows and
We give Thee thanks that in the years of danger
and of fear Thou ddst not fOrsake us, and that by
Thy overruling Providence Thou hast made even the
wrath of man to praise Thee. Truly, Thou art glo-
rious in holiness, fearful in praises. BY Thine
almighty power Thou dost Illustrate the most subtle
of the plans of men, and defeat their most extensive
warlike preparations, and scatter them all leaves
before the autumna tempest!
o God, when our minds revert to the fearful scenes
through which our nation has passed-when we
recall the dreadful forebodings which the sam
guine among found it impossible to orepress-when
we summon to our minds our Baptism of Blood and
our Martyrdom of Fire. how shall we sufficiently
magnify Thy goodness to find ourselves at this time
in possession of Liberty, Prosperity and Peace, in
view of all these marvellous manifestations of Thy
proyidential and paternal guardianship upon our
souls and all that is within u.s. TO magnify and praise
Grant, o God that our hearts more and more may
be enlarged with sentiments OF benevolence towards
the widows and orphans of those who have either
fallen sanguinary fields OF strife or pined away
and died in hospitals. Towards these wards of the
nation may perennial stream OF charity issue from
the hearts of all the people, like water out of the
rock of Horeb, to cheer and succor and sustain
them on their pilgrimage through life.
Fill four hearts, o our Heavenly Parent, with love
to Thee, and to one another. May spirit of mild
ness of moderation, and of Christian charity per
wade every class and condition of men, Danish
from our land, we beseech Thee, all sectional hate
and prejudice and malice and nl-will, and bestow
upon us all North and South, East and West, the
consciousness that are one people, separated by
no dividing lines but a people having one God one
Christ one country one flag one Constitution one
J destiny! Continue Thy benign protection to us
Guard us against the enervating effects of impiety
venality and corruption triple foe more dangerous
I and more to be dreaded than musketry or sword
, | Inspre our rulers with the fear OF God and make
them to know and feel that righteousness eXaltetf
3 | q nation, but sinis reproach to any people," En-
A large the boundaries of human happiness; multiply
| the trophies of redeeming grace; spread the knOWl
edge and the practice of our holy Christianity from
the rivers the ends of the earth! And hasten, il
| Thine own good time and by Thine own appoint
: | ed works, the happy PERIOD when wars anC
rumors of wars shall cease-when all unrul,
: passions shall yield to the amiabe virtues and un
! when ''the wolf shall dwell with the lamb and tn
e | leonard shall lie down with the kid, and tn
calf and the young lion and the failing together
! | and a little child shall lead them. They Shall no
d hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for tn
: earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
the waters cover the sea"
: Hear these our prayers, o merciful God throug
the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
The following hymn, written for and dedicated +
4 the soldiers orphans of Pennsylvania by Franci
p Wells, was then sung by the children and audience
r all standing:-
+ Father! Our hearts to Thee
= This day uplifted be,
} In grateful songs;
$ I To Thee, whose gracious love,
c Poured down from Heaven above,
4 Thy DER us doth prove
Il Loud praise belongs,
n Our fathers bravely died,
% AS fighting, side by side,
> They bore on high
IT Their cOuntrys flag so dear
} Though death was ever near,
/, They knew no craven fear,
q Willing TO die.
e They died our land to save
Is In many lonely grave,
!, Their rest they keep
!, On every battle-plain
. Round the foul pnson'pen
Deep meath the ocean main,
l. Our fathers sleep.
l. Now the fierce is done:
Their blood the victory won;
l. Gather we here today
! Our hlal love