The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-05-27
DEAD COMRADES,
Memorial Services Held Yesterday.

ments to attend yesterday in a body, Tht
members met at their hall at 2.3O D. m. ant
marched to the church in uniform bearing thei
side arms. They turned out 100 men and occu
pied reserved seats in the body of the church
There was very large attendance, and net.
withstanding that the aisles were provided
with seats many were turned away. Tht
church was very appropriately decorated with
flags and bunting, while several large bouquets
OF choice flowers we're placed about the pulpit
Streamers OF bunting hung from the centre of
the ceiling to the borders of the auditorium,
While flags draped the pulpit the altar rail and
the front of the gallery. The general appear.
ance on entering the church was very fine and
showed the good taste of the two gentlemen
who did the work,
The chorus choir occupied seats in the gallery
and sang with great acceptance.
The pastor, Rev. @. j. Clark, paeached a
very able as we'll as appropriate discourse, tax
ing his text from Acts Xxx, a: "Neither count
1 my life dear unto myself" In opening he
said that this heroic language was uttered by
one who possessed principles, hopes and mo-
tves that rendered him Indifferent to the
worlds smiles or the worlds frowns.
Dear as life is, and strong as is the instinct
of its preservation in all men, yet every age
has witnessed numerous instances of love of
country and of home, or devotion to princi-
| pies of truth and duty, that have led men will
ingly to part with it for their sake. The author
of truth and witness to this world concerning
it, was "obedient unto DEATH
The great apostle said, in view of the bloody
death that awaited him for his devotion to the
truth, ri am now ready to be offered The
many who have suffered martyrdom, or braved
death in conflict rather than surrender their
principles or their honor, show that there are
interests dear to human hearts, for the preser-
walton of which the true man counts not his
life too dear sacrifice.
The speaker referred to the heroes who fell in
our recent struggle as men of this class, and
alluded to the day, 50 near at hand, when their
surviving comrades were to make their graves
fragrant with their floral tributes
The associations connected with the occasion,
as often as it occurs, awaken sacred memories
and command our attention. In most New
England villages monuments are erected to
commemorate the dee Is of the heroes who fell
in our struggle for national life.
He expressed the hope that at no distant day
it will be possible for Portland citizen to take
friend or child to some graceful structure and
say, "rhis is our city tribute to the memory
of those who, when the republic suffered the
thrOes of revolution that threatened its life,
counted not their lives dear unto themselves"
He proceeded to speak Of the cause for which
these men offered up their lives, and the mo.
tives that actuated them.
There are those who applaud success, and it
often comes about that the popular approval is
given to cause that is unworthy. and to means
that are not honorable, simply because success
attends them. These men are honored, not
simply because they were successful, but be-
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sacred as any that ever appealed to the devo-
ton OF men. They believed in something, they
were not parayzed by stupid infidelity, they
believed in God; and to them God was not
mere sentiment, but personal being. one who
may be known on the earth by the judgments
which he executeth. They believed in the
moral law; that this law was higher than any
law framed by human legislation; that any
law, or custom, or institution of man that
clashed with it's principles, was essentially
wrong and should be abrogated.
All this was recognized in the issues that
we're before the country when the strife began.
Because the institution for the perpetuation of
which the national honor was assaied, was
wrong; and because the spirit and purpose of
its assailants contravened the eternal law of
right The loyal people of the North, without
distinction of party, determined that the evil
spirit should be cast out and that uuholy pur-
pose defeated. The Southern people thought
they were right; the Northern people were
rig bit. The faith of the North was true faith
and they knew it to be so, because it was
founded upon every principle of right and JUS
tice The war in which they engaged was not
a war of conquest, glory or gain. 1t was war
to maintain The Integrity of popular govern
ment, to preserve the liberties of great people
and to strengthen the bond by which states are
united Its results are not yet wholly appar-
ent They are to be comprehended in the light
Ct the future, when the present generations
shall have passed away. 1t ever men were
controlled by the dictates of an intelligent COR
science, the men OF the North were so c0ntroll-
ed in this struggle for national life. They
we're guided by an inner light. They were
men who thought for themselves and acted for
themselves They had a faith of their own,
will of their own and way of their own, and
this is the secret of the determined spirit that
actuated them.
Their principles and convictions were inher-
tied. They were the not unworthy descendants
Of those who fought for and conquered their
Independence. and laid the broad and deep
foundations of our liberties Our fathers were
constrained by the claims of conscience to
stand for the great rights of human nature and
and they could never be subdued. Their spirit
came back again to their sons in 81, when the
national honor was assalled, and once more
thry barred their arms for the fight. Conscience
was behind their arms, and God was with
them. They would have fought until this day
before they wonld have yielded to wrong.
Talk to such people about suffering? They
knew they were to suffer, and they uttered no
knew they were to die and they counted not
their lives dear unto themselves.
Those who imagined that the people of the
North could be weaned into submission to
wrong, did not take into account the stock from
which they sprang, the cause for which they
fought, or the stuff of which they are made
The nation will never forget the deeds Of these
noble men. They will live in the traditions of
the people and 10 the songs of poets, and his
tory will shed clearer light upon them with
the flight of time. Other heroes have won
brilliant battles, but none have closed 80
glorious career. Others fought for power and
kingdom; they fought for republican liberty.
and for no other throne than the hearts of
1t is ours to initiate them. For the cause of
truth, of justice and of liberty they counted
not their lives dear unto themselves. To that
cause we should consecrate our lives, As they
go grandly met the requirements of their day,
SO let US manfully meet the requirements of
ours Let US study to know what are the
claims of God, of country. of religion and pat
riotism, upon our time and talent and energy,
| and meet those claims so fully as to place our
selves at peace with God, with conscience an
with all the world.
The speaker closed by urging upon his hear
ers the necessity of moral courage to fight sue
cessfully the battle of life, to maintain their
integrity, preserve their honor, and do all of
human duty.
DECORATION OF GRAVES.
The Army and Navy Union, we'll known as a
local organization only and making no pre-
tence to rivalry with national organizations,
devoted yesterday to decorating the graves of
their fallen comrades. In the forenoon sub.
committees visited Eastern, Western, Fores'
City and Calvary Cemeteries and decorated the
graves with flowers. In the afternoon the
members met at their hall with their children,
each carrying bouquet of flowers They took
cars for Evergreen and marched to memorial
lot where very interesting and impressive ser.
vices took place. A guartette composed Of
Messrs. Hall and Osgood and the Misses Web
sters sang several selections finely. Chaplain
Hatch read the scriptures and offered prayer
Misses Perry and Flagg sang a duet. j. p
Neal, Esq, made brief but very appropriate
address. After a recitation by Carrie Perry
and the benediction the exercises closed. Ow
ing to the shower which came up the children
did not decorate the graves, but it was done b,
the members.
EXPLOSION OF LAMP-On FRIDAY evening