Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-13
Decoration Day Services.

eloquent pastor of the NJ. E. Church in ouI
neil boring village of Shelburn. was in
trod ICED and spoke substantially as follows
Comrades and FellOlc citi=ens;-We are assembled
here tonight to perform sacred and patriotic ser
vice. The celebration Of this memorial service
needs no explanation or apology, and we rejoice TO,
night that it has become so universal An old
| Roman custom bestowed rewards for bravery in
| battle, but the highest crownlng tribute was be-
slowed on him who saved the ne OF citizen. lie
was deeked with a crown OF OAK leaves, people rose
| up To meet him, and posts OF hunur ana emlhence
were conferred on him And shall not the American
| people bestow some suitable insignia oi honor on
those who have saved the life OF the natont Oh,
what memories come trOOpng up through every
avenue of the mind as we gather here tonight Our
thoughts 90 back the last decade, and We seem
once more to see the gathering storm oi war Again
we are "tenting on the old camp ground, ana here
| around are the stacked arms OF the soldiers We
may recall the virtues of the absent ana the fallen
Thank God 1t Is our pleasure tonight 10 90 SO,
and thank him too for country once more at peace
| But our minds wander back 10 that time when the
national heavens grew black with clouds and we
recall the shock and tho shudder the call TO
arms" brought to cur hearts. We remember the
! partings with those brave and loving hearts.
| those sisters, mothers and wives, who contributed
not less of devotion to the cause than did the hus-
/ bands and brothers who went to the front. Honor,
rich and enduring, be to the ladies OF our country
for the patriotic impulses their labors and their
! prayers inspired. We recall the drill, the wearl-
some marches under scOrchng suns ana thruush
beating storms the bugle call to ght, and terrible
roar Of battle. We seem to hear the rattle Of musk
etry, the clash and crash Of arms, and the shouts
and groans OF falling men. And now hush us the
awful stiffness, when the rush Of battle has pass
/ ed, and there remains no sound save the soft
! tread Of those who bury the dead. Neither do
we forget this evening the hospital and the prison
| pens, where our comrades wasted away, praying
with their last breath that not one star should bee
/ enaced from the glorious galaxy OF states. But
some Will say. Wherefore all this parade and
show" l answer, We meet tonight for no vain pa
rade OF useless show, but to bear witness TO the viz
tues and sacrifices of our fallen comrades, and to
show they are not forgotten with the growing years
| True, we can add little to the glory that en-
shrines their names for already on iane's eternal
camping ground their souls encamped. The
world can never forget what they have achieved.
| These flowers may fade and the mounds which mark
their graves disappear but never till the battle
helds shall be Obterated and the historc streams
which mark their death places be dried up shall
the story OF their valor fade from memory or the
influence of their sacrifice cease TO Affect mankind.
We have not met 10 open the bloody chasm, for we
buried with our comrades all the animOsties and
hatred Of conflict. We would be found Ike the
martyred Lincoln, with malice toward none, W th
charity toward all, doing all in power 10 cher
ish lasting peace among ourselves and with the
other nations Of the earth. We know no difference
of color OF section, no North or South East or West
but one grand union, with one motto Liberty
and union, now and forever, one and nscpaIahle.
II words fail rlghty to express our uuseliish love
for comrades and country, then let u speak hy
these flOwcrs-loyes truest language. IL is the
memory Of the death uf heroes that calls here
nj ght Greater love hath no man than this that
man lay down his life for his friends And as we
call 10 mind the heroes who have laid down lives
for country and friends we would say with the
poet
Here lie the brave who sink 10 rest
BY all their country wishes hest.'
And comrades, We come here that the pure devo-
ton a. principle shown Ia the death OF brave men
may give our lives fresh inspiration in the dis
charge OF cur duty citizens. A soldiers grave
what an awakening oflove for country and truth t
produces; He who can refuse to honor such grave
is unworthy % be called m American citizen.
The yastness o. the conflict IN which our cumratc-
fell can only be ecpsed by that OF the territory FOR
which they fought, and OF the future which now lies
before the nation. Lev Us feel stronger love for
the soil they made sacred by their blood, and ior
that fag whose starry folds were oiientmes their
only winding sheet We believe. were it poss noe
for us TO see with the prophets vision, We should
behold the air filled with forms oi departed ones
coming to Join US in tho solemn service OF the hour.
We can, with the minis eye, them coming
Lincoln. Ellsworth Baker, Lyon. and 10, arm n
arm one shining pair. e1celled by none, equalled
by few McCouihe and Willard. Applause On,
thou God OF battles and Captain oi our salvation,
help US In our upward march, that hating never
when the rcvellle of the resurrection morn shall
sound, il may be found that We have been true
warriors of Jesus Christ well soldiers ui our
country.
The Times says the Grafton was an
eloquent and polished effort. and was a
fitting tribute to the memory Of the fallen
heroes.
Gen. Joshua T. owen, who commanded
the famous Pennsylvania brigade in the
Army of the Potomac, was introduced, and
also briefly addressed the audience
ARLINGTON.
Col joyce Of Rutland was orator of the
day. His Grafton was one Of his happiest
efforts and he warned all present, that now
the war was ended, we had other foes still
to contend with, viz the vices and corrup-
tions in high places, Of the day and age,
and urged upon all their b0unden duty to
wage an unccasing war against all forms Of
evil, until virtue and true religion should
everywhere be triumphant
The three cemeteries Of the town were
visited and the soldiers graves decorated
in connection with the solemn service of
the q. \. r. Work was generally sus-
pended and the schools closed.
cAsTLEToN.
The day was observed by the Memorial
Association of the town. The ceremonies
were imposing and were witnessed and par
ticipated in by respectable delegations from
FaThaven, Poultney, Hubbardton and
other places where the day was not especial
ly observed. The procession embraced fire.
men, soldiers, and teachers and pupils of
the Seminary, State Normal and village
schools Addresses We're made by Reys. X.
&. Williams and L. II. Stone, and f. j
Hyde, and a poem read by \. T. Gorham
MDDLEBURY.
Ceremonies at the cemetery in East Mid
dlebury, under the direction of Post
Warner G. \. r. took place in the fore
noon. short speeches being made by Rev
Mr.. Bidwell, Colonel Knapp and A. 7.
Upper. In the afternoon large process
sion was formed in the village OF Middle
bury, led by the band followed by the milit-
airy company and soldiers of the late war,
connected with Post Warner Following
these were the pupils Of the graded schools,
over two hundred and fifty in number Pre-
yious to the procession being formed, the
children assembled at the hall. and were
addressed by Prof Higley and DR.. Kitchel
Upon the arrival of the procession at the
cemetery hollow square was formed and
the beautiful service of the Grand Army of
the Republic was appropriately read. Rev
W. H. Meeker of the Methodist church
offered prayer, and remarks were made by
Hon. James NJ. Slade and W. H. Utley, a
member of the senior class of the Middlebury
College. The procession was then reformed
and the several graves strewed with bouquets
of beautiful flowers.
wALLINGFoRD.
The exercises were under the direction of
Fletcher Post G. A. r. Rev. DR.. Walker
and Prof. johnson made addresses
ST. ALBANs.
The ceremonial and services of the day
were quite imposing, and there was a large
attendance from the adjoining towns. The
children of the several sabbath schools
formed a beautiful feature of the procession.
which also included the Ransom Guards
and Barlow Greys, Post Badly Smith. G. \.
r., and the Fire Department. The splen-
did Glee Club quartette sang at the ceme-
terry fine ode composed by St. Albanian
after which the decoration of the graves
was performed by detachments from Post
Baldy Smith. W. II. II. McAllister was
the orator of the day, and delivered an able
and interesting address.
The commemoration of the day was ap-
propriate and impressive. The services
were under the auspices OF Post Roberts, G..
A. R.. and were of a high order. The day
was clear and bright The public exercises
tookIplace at the Town Hall, Com. A. Clarke
| of St. Albans, delivering an Grafton which
is pronounced by all who heard it a decided
success. The GLOBE says 1t was original
in conception and delivered in an earnest
manner and with finished eloquence.'' A
procession was then formed for the decora-
tion of graves, the West street, Catholic
and Evergreen cemeteries, being visited in
turn. At the latter cemetery the ritualistic
services of the Grand Army was read as the
floral offerings were made, and Chaplain
Haynes of the old Tenth Vermont Regiment
made soul stirring speech, which was a
fitting close to the obseryances of the day.
WOODSTOCK.
During the decoration services Judge
Barrett made some feeling and patriotic re-
marks over the grave of the late Judge
| Collamer.
BRATTLEBORo.
The large procession, besides the civil
and military organizations of the village,
embraced a delegation from the Ninth New
| yort re0,ment Col Fisk-s old commend