Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-31
OBJ 9ap Spy: duraser, aaeonsuag A1urnimg Mag 3d. 1884,

ner" closed the interesting exc Tcises. After the
exercises the procession including the various
bodies of citizens. and the schools, under the
chief marshaIship of Capt. julius Cook, march
cd to the resting place of the gallant dcsa where
their graves were properly covered win flowers.
FiIckbNTx.
In tbe forenoon, Post 50, Gen. j. w. Kimball
commanding, with the Fitchburg cornet band,
visited the graves OF those of their comrades
hurried in Lunenburg. In the afternoon, at two
o'clock. procession was formed around Fitch
burg common and moved through Main and
Laurel streets to the home cemetery, in the fol-
lowing order: 1, Fitchburg cornet band; 2,
Post 10, G. A. R.; 8, returned soldiers, not
members of the Post; 4, dis abed comrades and
soldiers in carriages; 5, orator and chaplain;
g., selectmen and school committee; Z, clergy
and invited guests, in carriages; 8, schools; 8,
societies and organizations; 10, citizens.
In the cemetery, on very elevated site near
Rollston HILL the exercises were as follows, after
the calling to order by Gen. Kimball, from a
platform canopied by the American flag: 1,
reading of general orders by Adiutant Willis of
the Post; 2, decorations of the graves; 8, hymn,
beginning ''The heroes OF orlr northern land;"
A. prayer by Rev. C. W. Emerson of the Uni
tartan church; 5, hymn, 30 cover with flowers
the radiant dead;" 6, addre IS by George f.
Towne, ESQ.,; 7, dirge by the band; 8, benedic-
ton by Rev. DIR. Spring of the Rollstone Congre-
gational church. Mr.. Towne's ad dress was a very
eloquent, offhand effort, full Of beautiful sent-
ments and patriotic allusions to the
Ill., hn nnlh hn
entitled to our respect, gratitude and affection;
respect for what they were, gratitude for what
they did, and affection for their high and noble
principles of action. Those principles, settled
by the proyidential result of the direful conflict
in which they were engaged, were the absolute
equality before the law of every man, of what
ever race, color, or condition. He trusted these
ceremonies in commemoratiOn Of those who had
laid down their lives for the establishment of
| theories so exalted, would be continued year
after year, as long as the graves of our soldiers
| are distinguishable above the level of the COM
mon soil.
West BOyIstOn.
| In West Boylston, the day was celebrated
| under the direction of Post 2S, G. A. R., Frank
| Sargent commanding, music by the West Boyls-
| ton brass band, who were out with their new
uniforms. The procession, including among
other bodies the Knights of St. Crispin, and the
school children, was formed in front ofIthe Bap-
fist church, about one O'Clock, and was headed
| by cavalcade of young men on horseback.
They first marched to 0akdae, where they were
Joined by the school children there, and after
visiting the cemetery returned back to the Bap-
fist church, where there was speaking by Rev.
Messrs Cross, Colesworthy, johnson, and Others.
They then visited the cemetery in the central
village, and the graves OF the fallen brave were
well covered with flowers. They then marched
to the vestry of the church, where there was a
bountiful collation. prepared by the citizens.
Everything passed off most pleasantly, although
the weather was exceedingly warm and the air
filled with dust
Sterling.
In Sterling, at quarter past one O'Clock, Post |
SO, Capt. George w. lockwood commanding,
were escorted from their headquarters TO the |
Unitarian church, by Co. l, 10th regiment, pre-
ceded by the Shrewsbury band. Here, after the |
singing of 'Keller's American Hymn" verT
excellent address was delivered by Rev. H. C.
Bates. After dirge by the band, prayer was
offered by Rev. L. D. Mears, and clark! that
/ 5Wenlng, Solemn Sound" was sung by the
choir A procession was then formed, COM
prising the various organizations in town,
schools, fire department and citizens generally,
and proceeded first to the old and then to the
new cemetery, where the patriotic dead were
appropriately remembered, by the reading of
| general orders, the singing of america" and
the decoration of the graves, during which the
band played dirge. The post provided col
lation in the town hall, after the exercises, for
the band and invited guests.
Leicester.
Business was generally suspended, and the
| citizens and surviving soldiers Joined with each
other in paying due respect to those who fell in
defence of their country. AT ten O'Clock pro-
cesson, composed of the National band of Wor- |
cester, the Leicester Cadets, under command Of |
Mai Cunningham, G. A. X. Post George H. |
Thomas, commanded by Capt John Coggswell, |
and citizens in carriages, marched to the Gene |
terry where prayer was offered by Rev. Sam'l
May, and short and appropriate address was
delivered by Rev. A. H. Coolidge, who closed by
reading a list of the soldiers who were buried
there, and also giving an account of the manner |
in which they lost their lives, The graves of
the deceased soldiers were then visited and ap-
| propriately decorated. The procession then re-
formed, and after the singing of hymn and
dirge by the band, marched back to the com
mon and was dismissed for the day.
Spencer,
Business during the afternoon was entirely sus-
pended, the citizens giving the latter portion of
| the day to concentrating the dead soldiers.
At one O'Clock the procession was formed in
front of the church, consisting of the National
cornet band of Worcester, the Leicester Cadets,
companies A and B of Leicester Post 81 of
| Spencer, and members of the fire company,
who marched to the beautiful grove of N. H.
Prouty, near the centre of the town. The exer-
cises began with music by the band, followed
| by prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Nottage of Spencer,
and a song by the glee club. Rev. Horace
James, the speaker of the day and former
| chaplain of the old 18th Mass. regiment, was
| then introduced, and delivered the address.
| The address over, the procession reformed,
marched to Denny hall, where the flowers were
distributed, and proceeded to decorate the
graves of the departed ones in three different
cemeteries in tie town, after which they were
dismissed for the day.
Oxford.
In Oxford, the people assembled at one O'Clock
P. NJ. in the public square, L. B. Corbin, chief
marshal The attendance was large, and the
procession, headed by the Chepachet cornet
band, moved around the square and through
Main street to the front of the North church.
There the assembly joined in hymn appropri-
ate for the occasion. Prayer was offered by
Rev. D. Wait, which was followed by an adj
dress from Rev. T. E. Babb, after which the pro-
cesSion formed and marched through the ceme-
terry, placing upon each grave a wreath and
cross, with the American flag. A large proper
ton of the crowd then went in procession to the
North cemetery, distance ct nearly two miles,
where similar ceremonies were performed. The
closing address at the latter place was by Rev,
D. Wait; prayer by Rev. Mr.. Babb closed the