The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-06-06

that occasion, in the Methodist Church,
here, seems of sufficient general interest
to be worthy of publication, it is at your
disposal.
Very truly yours,
RICHARD OWEN.
Address Delivered at Bloomington,
Indiana, on the Occasion of DecO-
rating the Soldiers Graves, Nay
3Oth, 1870.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW MoURNERs !
It is we'll, in the turmoil of a busy
life. when many Of US are rushing al
most thoughtlessly, and some even
recklessIy, toward the great scene
which terminates for all in death. and
in a subsequent appearance before the
tribunal of an Omnipotent Judge, to
pause frequently for instructive re-
Election on the past. and warning con-
temptation of the future.
Every evening we should look back
on the day which has brought us near
ef to eternity, and ask whether it has
brought US also nearer to God. Every
Sabbath, while returning thanks 10
our Almighty Preserver for life and
health spared, we should ask our
selves how it is with our spiritual
health and life. Every new year we
should look back and ask how much
good we have effected during the past
year, and how much we propose to
accomplish in future years. Each
thanksgiving day. which is appointed
usually for the autumn season, after
God has showered upon us the bless
ings of harvest, ought we not, when
thanking Him for His care over VS.,
to ask also how we may, as evidence
of our gratitude. suitably hereafter
render glory to God and benefit to
man.
Aud now, since the late war, we
have another period for reflection,
while performing a sacred ceremony.
In this halloWed hour, while discharg-
ing the sad duty of watering the
graves Of these stricken patriots with
our tears, and of decorating their sep
ulchers with flowers, it behooves us
TO consider how we may best avert,
in the future, fresh sources for fratrI-
eide warfare, aud remove, In their in
cipiency, new causes, which, if not
met with judgment. discrimination,
mutual forbearance and concessions,
might again strike anguish to the
hearts Of those widowed by unnatural
strife, or orphaned by the horrors Of
civil war.
In furtherance, then, of this duty,
We unite hearts and hands to gather
the glorious blossoms which a beau
tiful nature produces from our luxu-
RANT soil, and to scatter on the graves
of our beloved departed, who gave
themselves martyrs to a sacred cause,
these fragrant flowers. delightful pre-
cursors of Gods fruitful gifts, each
year, upon earth, emblems of the
spiritual blossoms which, under the
genial influence of the sun of right
eousness, shall ripen into spiritual
fruit, and bring eternal happiness.
And, as an additional duty, Ia timately
connected Herewith, let US here pause
(While the past stands like q vast
scene gradually fading in the dis
lance, as we enter the middle terri
tory of life's Valley, to look back up
on that past for the purpose of future
warning. Quickly, ere it dissolves
from our view, we catch the
rays, at least, from the more promi-
nent objects, animate and inanimate.
in this picture of the past, and re-
ceiving. them on the great mental
mirror of the present, we see the re-
Elected ravs. projected al the same
angle as that Of incidence, into the
dim vista of the misty future, only
modified By the coloring on the mirror,
u ,k.A,-A &c
holds In his own hands. Or, to drop the
metaphor, we judge of the future by
the past, and each page of history
should be a lesson for future con-
duct, which lesson, however, is modi-
fed by the varied reflections of diff
ferentiy constituted minds: some see
ing a landscape through the mist.
which beekons onward to bright and
beautiful paths, while others behold
naught but portentous clouds and
threatening storms. Let us at least
not fail in life's journey simply for
want OF considering what has been
done, and what there remains to do.
The prospect IN this, as in every
thing important and soul stirring, is
one of high lights and deep shades:
Thus, what a glorious light streams
from the prov of the Mayfower, as
she ripples the blue Atlantic into a
dazzling foam, before her Puritan
refugees land on Plymouth Rock to
escape from the murderous assaults
on their civil and religious liberty,
made by the tyrant offspring of des-
potism and fanaticism. Yet, in the
deep shade, not far from that same
noted rock, In the solitudes and still
ness which then pervaded the pri-
meval forests, our retrospective glance
takes in the bowed figures of kindred
and friends, bending in silent agony /
over the graves of those whom the
pestilenee, engendered by the decay
of the luxuriant vegetation In their
new home, has struck low, even be-
fore their blossoms have ripened into
fruit; or our ear catches the low moan
over the tombs of victims, sent by
the tomahaWk of the savage to find
home with the Great Spirit, who is
Father alike to the white man and to
his red brother.
Again what q dazzling sDlendor
CLEANS from the summit of Bunker
Hill, telling of the first heroes In the
war against British oppression; but
at the foot of the Monumental Hill
are to be seen, kneeling, with fearful
eyes bent on the PROSTATE corpses,
the admirers of the brave Warren
and many other slaughtered patriots
From the glittering snoWfakes and
spangled icicles, hanging in graceful
festoons from the trees on the banks |
Of the Delaware, there beams a pow
erful, but mellow, light, falling on the