Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-06-26
those in Mt. Pleasant cemetery. Previous to


known soldiers, by Rev. Mr.. Cram in Forest
City, by Rev. DIR. Kicker; at Mt. Pleasant,
by Rev. Mr.. Moor. The graves of the SOL
diers in the cemetery on the east side Of the
river had previously been decorated by de-
tachment from the Capital Guards. While
these services were being performed, select
choir from the several churches, under the
leadership of George f. Weeks, Esq, led the
great congregation in singing an appropriate
hymn to the air of "America."
CLOSING EXERCISES.
These services over, the people, who seemed
not to be wearied with the exercises, gathered
again at the stand, to listen to some very
touching and beautiful closing remarks by
Rev. Mr.. Penney. Mr.. Penney said -
1t has been made my duty to conclude these
exercises by few parting words. The SER
vices through which we have just passed have
had all the dignity and tenderness of funeral
rites, without their sadness. 1t was no new
bereavement, but one which time had softened
that brought us here. We have stood to- day
not around new opened graves, but among
those which nature had already decorated by
the memorials of her love. Above every
tomb where we have laid our token of love
and remembrance, her daily sunshine has
smiled, her tears have wept. Over the hum
blest she has hidden some grasses nestle, some
vines creep. 10 natures signs of tenderness
we have added our own. Not 'ashes to ashes
dust to dust" but blossoms to blossoms, lau-
rels to the laurelled.
The great civil war which hung over the
Nation like dark cloud, has passed by; its
great armies are disbanded their tents struck,
their camp-tires put out, their muster rolls
laid away. But there is another army whose
numbers no presidential proclamation can re-
duce; no general orders disband. Their
camping ground is in almost every cemetery
of our land. This is in part their camping
ground; these white stones scattered here
and there are their tents; the names chise-
led in tie white marble, or held in loving
memory, is their muster roll theft camp fires
yet burn in our hearts. Standing here in the
closing hours of this sweet summer day, COM
ing back from the graves where we have laid
our offerings of grateful affection, how the
voices of the sleeping dead, tremendously
blending with those of nature, address our
hearts. There is not a grave. however hum
bic, obscure, unknown its tenant that does not
speak to us to-day. These grassy mounds on
which your offerings OF beauty and love have
been placed, voice these words to every listen
ing ear;
To give life for the sacred cause of liberty
and truth, is glorious and God like. 1t is bet
ter to sacrifice than enjoy; better to rest here
a sacrifice to a united and happy country than
to dwell with the living in a country rent and
sundered Thus they call us to-day away
from selfish aims and interests; from mere
sells seeking; from whatever narrows life and
defeats its true intent These decorated
graves rebuko him whose sole object is plea
W int is hut a
him, who, to reach position and power, closes
his eye, shuts his ear, and steels his heart to
the claims of honesty and of God. These
graves speak to us to prize highly what their
occupants have purchased at so great cost.
What we are to-day as Nation and people,
we owe under God to the hundreds Of thou
sands who gave their lives for their cOuntrys
veal. Because they died our Nation lives to-
day, and we stand upon higher plane of
moral and christian civilization than ever be-
fore. They have committed to our hands this
important trust, marked all over with the fin
ger of God, teaching US by the bitter expert
ence of the past, not only the dangers
to avoid, but the grounds of true national
prosperity. Teaching Us that rebellion is
ruin and that to be found in the wrong in the
midst Of such distinct and sublime revelations
as the past few years have afforded us, is
most grave offence, and cannot fail TO draw
upon us anew the wrath of God. five would
be true to the memory of those we have CRATE
fully remembered and honored to-day, we
shall seek by every means both private and
public, to hold inviolate the principles for
which they gave their lives sacrifice. And
1t is only by consecrating ourselves to these
high and holy aims that these services shall
secure for US their highest benefits. And we
should honor most the memory of those we
remember in these our offerings to-day.
In the services which are now draw ing to a
close, we have designed and we have honered
our dead heroes, but it is ourselves after all
that we shall most dignity. The honors we
pay to virtue and valor, exalt rather those
who offer, than those to whom they are paid.
Our poor words, our best acts, cannot magni-
fly their great deeds. Yet, if they serve to in
spre in ourselves higher motives and loftier
thoughts, these services will not have been
performed in vain. Their work is done fully
and nobly done, while upon us all the duties
OF life still press. Let us then go from this
place inspired and purified by these services.
Let the perfume of the flowers we have laid
on these graves, like sweet incense, mount up
to Heaven bearing with it warm offerings of
gratitude from all our hearts for the noble
lives, the immortal deeds and glorious deaths
of these, our lf-sacriticing heroes. Let their
honor be never forgotten.
The great French soldier, La Tour d Au-
vergne, was the hero of many battles, but re-
manned by his own choice in the ranks. Ma
poleon gave him a sword and the official title
the First among the Grenadiers of France"
When he was killed, the Emperor ordered
that his heart should be entrusted to the keep
ing of his regiment, but his name should be
called at every roll-call, and that his next
comrade should make answer "Dead upon
the field of Honor" In our memories are the
names of many heroes. We treasure all their
hearts in this consecrated ground, and when
the name of each is called we answer in
flowers, dead upon the field of Honor"
The benedictioa was then pronounced by
Rev. MIR. Upjohn and the procession reform
ed and marched through several of the streets
to the foot of Bridge street, where the organi-
cations were dismissed.
In no year since the Inauguration of the
present custom of decoration, have the flow
ers been furnished here in such abundance.