The Portland daily press., 1876-05-29


by a very interested audience, called out by the
announcement of the usual religious exercises
on the Sunday before Memorial Day, which
have been observed under the direction of Bos
worth Post, Grand Army of the Republic, for
several years. The audience was much larger
than at any previous occasion of like character
and the services throughout were unusually i'm
pressive. The members of the Post in uniform
came into the hall in body. the ranks being
unusually full. The Post occupied the front
seats. The platform vas occupied by a
large choir, the nucleus of which was the choir
of Rev. Mr.. Bicknell's church, under the skill
Band furnished excellent instrumental music
Mr.. John Yeaton, Jr., chairman of the COM
mttee on arrangements, presided.
The exercises began by the singing of words
entitled CANCEL of Peace" set to the music of
Keller's American Hymn. Rev. Mr.. Johnston
OF the Pine street M. E. church, offered fer
vent prayer, after which the choir gave Crock
of Ages" Rev. Mr.. Johnston followed with
an appropriate discourse, taking his text from
Joshua 4, 21-"What mean these stones?"
Briefly alluding to the occasion when this ques-
ton was asked relative to the twelve stones
which the children of Israel took out of the
Jordan to be memorial, the speaker proceeded
to say that all times and peoples had employed
memoria! stones or instituted ceremonies or
observances to recall great events or signal
epochs in their history. God had made use of
memorials. He had set his rainbow in the
heaven as memorial to men of all ages of his
loving kidness and mercy. The Jews under
Moses and other great leaders set up many
memorials. The sacrament which was cele-
brated by the entire Christian church of what
ever name, was a memorial of Gods love and
mercy, and as such was recognized by the civ
ilized world. binding man to man, church to
church. 1t is fitting, then, on this occasion
that as people we assemble on Memorial Day
to pay the debt of gratitude to the men to
whose devotion, sacrifice and blood, we enjoy
the blessings of government and the glory of
fatherland To forget these men would be
the basest of ingratitude, to pay them tribute
is, indeed, privilege. The speaker had per-
sonal interest The brother, the pride of the
family, poured out his life for the Union on the
historic hills of Gettysburg.
He proceeded to remark that no war in mod
ern times had excited SO general interest
throughout the world as that whose first gun
was fred April 18th, 1861. There had been
warsIas bloody, wars in which as much property
was destroyed, but in worldwide interest. and
its general effect upon the destiny of humanity
none were comparable to it. Wars generally
had their origin in the jealousy and ambition
of kings. In the war for the Union, great
question affecting the welfare of the common
IL LII. IL.
ability Of man for self government and of
race to freedom.
The speaker then passed on to note the
growth of the country prior to the war, the
deep interest the nations of Europe had in its
development and the ordeal through which it
was called to pass to rid itself of slavery. 1t
was not only war for great principles and to
establish great truths, but it was one full of
self-sacrifce, of noble examples, of personal
braveries. The page of history from the ear
lest time can never find brighter illustrations
of real greatness than the war for the Union.
The world cherishes deeds of valor and heroic
devotion. Nations fall, races become extinct, but
thestories of Leonidas and the Spartan mother
survive He then gave several illustrations of
heroism, and among them related the crcum-
stances of a mother in this vicinity who gave
her minor son permission to enlist, in letter to
the recruiting officer, in which was the follow
ing words: HE is my boy, he is my all, but
as he desires to fight for his country, L lay him
upoh VIC oAtot VI Ivy COuuuys LII VIC mcu
who left all and went forth to die, he paid a
high tribute. He eloquently portrayed their
sufferings and the terrible martyrdom thou
sands endured, and exclaimed Perish the peo-
pie and country which would forget such noble
deadr' They fell under the terrible wrath of
battle, in that fierce heat which no man can
stand, from death-wounds on fields where no
hand could seoth, on languishing hospital
couches, under the silent stars whom none but
God saw. The patriot dead and comrades of
q or and hacf nf A hroh
coln-whose "life is crystalized among the i'm
mortalities."
Turning to the members of Bosworth Post he
remarked: You do well, gentlemen, to cause
these men to be remembered; you have a noble
duty to do. Men may forget the nations dead,
but you who saw them die, who were of them,
can never forget You do more than faunt a
flag over their graves; you care for their faith
ers, mothers, widows, and orphans. To you
belongs the duty of making the busy world re-
member the dead and care Tor their living ones
1t is to your credit that in the past few years
you have collected and expended more than
$1,000 in charities 1t is monument of your
devotion to the great cause and Of your love for
charities extend to all. Go on 10 your noble
mission.
In conclusion, the speaker blessed God that
to-day is day of peace-that the sound of war
is no more heard in the land. He prayed that
there would be no more wars-that past differ
shout: 'Glory to God in the Highest peace on
earth and good will to men,
1t the conclusion of the discourse the ochoir
rendered spirit Rest" Mrs. Kate knight of
Falmouth singing the solo with much effect.
Mr.. Johnston then pronounced the benediction
and the services, which were exceedingly i'm
pressive and appropriate, were closed.
BY THE ARMY AND NAVY UNION.
The Army and Navy Union Association dec
GRATED thu graves of their deceased members
yesterday. In the morning detachments were
sent to Eastern, Forest City and Calvary Gene
teries, and the usual number of graves in each
cemetery received floral tribute.
In the afternoon the members of the Union
with their ladies and children, visited Ever
green Cemetery and held very appropriate dec
Grafton services on Memorial Lot. The chap
lain, Mr.. Hatch, offered prayers, after which
quartette composed of Messrs. Shaw. Fernald,
Stetson and Turkey, sang REST, Soldiers Rest"
CO.. A. w. Bradbury then delivered short
GRAFTON upon the duties of the soldiers who sur.
vive their comrades of the late conflict. His |
were very appropriate and were close |
ly listened to by the large crowd which gather |
ed about the lot. Miss Perry then sang solo |
"The Faded Coat of Blue" Several of the |
children gave Rotations appropriate to the &C. |
casion. The quartette sang San Offering of |
Flowers to Thee We Bring" after which the |
children proceeded to decorate the graves,
singing short piece as each bouquet was de- |
posted. The whole exercises were very impress
sive, and the members of the Union returned to |
the city with consciousness of having done |
all they could to honor the memory of their |
fallen comrades. |
The Union will turn out in uniform with Bos-
worth Post on Decoration Day.
ARRIVAL OF THE OssIPEE.-The United |
States steamer Ossipee arrived in this harbor |
Saturday noon from Port Royal. She is a |
third rate screw steamer of 1900 tons and car
ries eight guns She is to remain here a short |
time before proceeding to her station at East