, 1880-07-26
The Gospel Of Love.

The Gospel OF Love.
A friend has sent us slip from Chi
caeo paper, containing report of the
proceedings on Decoration Day." under
the auspices of Whittier Post, g. A. r.,
commanded by Capt. Howard, at the
Oakwood's Cemetery, where are buried
many Contederates, who died at Camp
Douglas when held as prisoners of war.
Tae exercises were opened with the read
ing OF the post 1ltual by Capt. Howard.
This was. followed by vocal music, the
Lumbard quartette signing "Terting on
the Old Camp Ground" The Post Chaps
lain, Rev. T. II. Lawrence, offered pray
er, after which Capt. Eugene Brownell.
the man who killed the man who killed
Col. Ellsworth, recited an original poem.
Then there was more singing by the
quartette, and after that c. 5. Thornton,
ESQ.,, delivered a short address commem-
orative of those who fell in the great
struggle. Referring to the Confederate
dead, the speaker said:
"What shall I say of those whose
cause was lest2 Their cause we deemed
misguided, but their generous natures,
their valor and stcadrastness of purpose
in pursuit of what they thought was
right, never will be questioned. Their
courage was recognized on many wells
fought battle field. Pay tribute to it.
Remember how we fought together under
the old flag fifteen years before at Buena
Vista, Cerra Gordo and Monterey; just as
long years ago their and our ancestors
fou ght together at Princeton and Bunker
Hill. Forgive their one error. Divide
your flowers with them, and If by any
chance larger share shall fall to them,
it will but strengthen those ties which
now bind the blue and the gray togeth
er"
Compare these sentiments of forgive>
ness, love and fraternal affection, uttered
by soldier in relation conquered en-
emy, with those uttered by Christian
minister, ir this city, on the same cay,
upon like occasion:
"Wither right arm that to-day drops
flowers on dlsloyal graves! Turn hvid
Will, leprosv the hand that decorates the
graves of the Gray!"
The account of the floral decoration at
Chicago from which we quote, further
says: "The flowers were strewn upon
the graves by ten girls selected from the
Presbyterian Sunday School at Hyde
Park, under the leadership of Miss Hops
kins. These little folks were dressed in
white Forty-eight boxes of flowers
were deposited upon tn graves. In ad
dilion to these floral offerings potted
flower was planted at the head OF each
grave"
Perhaps at the very moment when
these vestals in angel garb were admin
istering the holy sacrament of love to
enemies, as taught by our Lord Jesus
Christ and instructed by those in author
1ty over them, minister of the same de-
nomination, under the same Omniscient
eye, is In, oking our common Father to
"Turn hvid with leprosy the hand that
to-day decorates the graves of the gray!"
those innocent hands guided by the
purest, holiest impulses that can actuate
human effort; and may be in the same
hour he was repeating with self-satisfed
JUNCTION the Lords Prayer: Forgive US
our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against u.s." So blind is bigotry
and short-sighted is partisan zeal one is
mistaken for religion and the other fO-
patriotism, of which they ARE the antipo-
des. These lighted the flames Of civil
war and continue to fan the smouldering
embers.