The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-31
EVENING CEREMONIES.

THE MEETING AT BooTH's THEATRE GENERAL.
RANKS AMP OTHERS :. -.
The ceremonies Booths Theatre, conducted. un.
der the auspices or the Grand Army orlhe Republic,
well attended over TOUR thousand people being
present nng every scat II appeared. In the audi.
forum ana the various galleries, and many being
compelled to stand up in tho asIes and o.
the theatre The stage fully occupied, the front
part either side cling ornamcnted by of young
and handsome ladies' dressed in light muslin costumes
and composing part OF the Vocal Union OF New York.
Mr. Lloyd Aspinwa presided, and the stage directly
facing the audience seated General WINFIELD !.
Hancock. General w. T. Sherman, Rev. Henry Ward
Becchcr and General Nathaniel p. Banks In
the and In their immediate neighbor.
hood Generals Martin T. Mcmahon, Horace
Porter, Arnold, Peralto, Davis Edward, Arson ana
Alexander McCook (he latter on the star OF General
shermanl Schuyler Hamilton, Merritt, Mitchell (of
Hancocks STAN, Frank Heron, Cadoo, Palmer,
Franklin, Lieutenant Governor Alvord ana Judge
Davis. The Governors Island Band occupied place
OF tho regular orchestra OF the theatre aud play on
their programme Of airs spirI.cdy. When the curtain
lifted burst OF applause camo from the audience
VINO instantly recognized tho faces OF the
many prominent people on the stage Mr..
Aspinwali came forward and made a brief
speech Introducing the programme Of the even
ing, and In the OF his remarks let
drop tho expression. which was received with APP
pla that tho army seemed be the special target
which the penny wise and pound foolish
in Congress aud elsewhere lcve,led their criticism.
He referred also to the lilo OF military
Iicer duty at the capital, tho presence OF Gen.
eral Sherman, oil course giving all the point
to the nllusion, and referring to the expense
hc incurred. Then no mentioned the nfo Of
an officer tho frontier asked " Candy, who Tell
by the hand OF savage, WAS too well padf ..was
the rash ana gallant Custer TOO well paid ~ he in
CURED, aud tho aud encc broke into loud ap-
| rlausc negatively answering tho qucry
| no proposed. "Oh, wouid.r continued Mr. Aspin-
wall. scmi-dramatic toEe. 'fhat some
Conanchc would come TO tell us Of how poor Custer
dod ~ and thon there another gust OF applause
The presiding officer finished his remarks with happy
hit by saying that he thought Fsalmist King was
prophetic when he said, al would rather be a door,
| keeper than dwell in the tents"
When sir. Henry Ward Bcecher was annou nc ed
\ there gcnciai stir Mr. Becchcr appeared 10
be in excellent health, camc forward to tho
iootghts, IN half dindcnt way, cheer after cheer
came from tho audience, which were. no doubt very
gratifying 10 his ears. Ito was forced TO
stand silent Tor minute two until
Tho applause subsidcd, and thcn he proceeded
old fire OF cloqucncc and delivered under such cir
cumslances, was listened to with intense interest,
everybody expecting either some political ausion or
expression that might be construed into bearing
moro or less on his own peculiar experiences There
| was nothing OF the Kind, and his prayer exccp-
| tionaily serious ana diRniied.
| Mcniessohn's hvmn Judge Nc. God" wns
then rendered by the Vocal Union OF New York with
| good effect. and aiterward General Sherman was IN.
PRODUCED to the audience with the alusion that he
| was 80 popular that he was welcome and made his
| Otpp
| years aeo, where tbe made his way that
| he was not we lcomo tLaugbtcr) General sherman
put his glasses on and, standing by the small table
near the ootghis, read the following address, VIII ic
was interrupted by frequent applause The mention oi
dcaon o the popular feeling tho chances of tho
ofAppomattox .or the next President nom
not bad. Mr. Aspinwall, before General Sherman had
quito concuded and probably surprising ne had come
10 the end OF hts speccD, proposed "tnree cheers
for General Sherman, which, OF course free y
given out General sherman was rather discomposed,
aud said IN his charnclcristicaly sharp aud abrup
manner, "I'm not quite through YETI ut which there
was much laughter. Then he continued the resdiug
OF hts speech, which was follows and ended amid
great applause
MIR PRgsIDgSr LADIES AND GEsrLExKS--The grand
pageant NO have witnessed to-day IN the streets OF
this busy mart of commerce, and the handsome as.
sembage OF people that fills this hall to overflow
Ing demonstrate unmstskabIy That tho public inter.
lives oil the heroes and martyrs OF that epoch. Zap
pIause Wc know that all over this broad land this
memorial day has been dedicated TO the beautiful
custom OF decorating with earth lair est and frcshes
flowers the graves Of the patriot mon who died
that We might possess In peace at united
country and q govern worth having. Applause.
Tho fragrance Of tneec lowers, rising 70 heaven from
such affairs. cannot put prove an accepiabe peace
Offering at the throne Of Him who holds In HIS hands
the destiny OF all people The silent prayers OF ths
widows and orphans when hare this day been regis