The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-06-02
DECORATION DAP.

lis Observance IN Canton - Memorial Service, Etc.
The beautiful custom Of decorating the graves
Of the dead soldiers is growing with repetition,
and the ceremony on Monday was observed more
generally In Canton and throughout the country
than for some years past. The city was decor.
ated with liberal number Of Gags, and in the
afternoon business was generally suspended
throughout the city.
The procession formed on TusCarawas street,
with right wing resting on Court street. Shortly
after o'clock the procession moved of in the
following order: Fire Police, Drum Corps, Can.
ton Post g. A. R., Veteran Soldiers, Canton Ca.
detR, Company l., o. N. g., Carriages with Speak.
era, Carriages with the Committees on Decora.
tions and Flowers, Canton City Band, French
Mutual Aid Society, Robinson Hook & Ladder
Company, Hose Company No. 7. Citizens on foot
and in Carriages.
Arriving at the cemetery, the decoration Of the
graves Of the soldiers was gone through with.
At this time thunder storm interfered with the
further carrying out Of the program. The pro.
cesslOn then reformed and marched to schae.
fer's Opera House. The remainder OF the pro.
| gram was then rendered rs follows: DIrge by
the Band, prayer, patriotic song by the decorat.
ing girls grafton by Mr. Frank Baird, song by
Harmonic Society music by Band and Drum
Corps The address OF Major Baird was eloquent
and pointed. His remarks were spoken from
experience, as his title OF Major testiAes. The
Canton Cadets did not return with the process
sion; while the latter was moving out OF the Gem.
etery the Cadets fred number OF volleys over
the graves Of the dead soldiers.
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
Memorial service was celebrated by the Canton
Post G. A. R., In the Presbyterian church Sun.
day afternoon At clock the Post formed in
line in front Of their hall and, headed by the
Grand Army Band marched to the church. They
were accompanied by the decorators, SS little
girls dressed In white with sashes and turbans OF
the National trl.cOlors representing the 9S States
Of the Union The church was appropriately dec.
GRATED with flowers and draped with American
hags. The officers and members OF the Post
were arranged In semicIrcle in front Of the
pulpit The choir seats were filed with the dec.
Grating girls, while selected choir from the diff
ferent churches occupied the gallery. The Aud.
itorum was crowded with people. The services
began with singing by the choir. Short bio.
graphical sketches Of Lieut. Charles Earnshaw
John Yost, Phillip Cope and Edward A. Bookius,
members Of the Post VINO died during the past
year, were read by Chaplain Cavnah and roll
beaten with mufll I'd drum after each, Chairs
draped In mourning for each Of these comrades
stood In the center Of the members Of the Post
A requiem hymn was sung by the 9S decorating
.gw1 nIo E, .
was then performed In concert by the members
A dirge by the Grand Army Band, prayer and
singing Of "our Country" by the little girls fol-
lowed. scriptural reading by Rev. Cassidy and
music by the choir we're then given. The me.
mortal address was delivered by Mr.. R. A. Cassi.
dy. Mr.. Cassidy's address would have been more
interesting and to the point, had he omitted his
disconnected description OF a battle which, In his
own words, was Greek to most Of the audience"
Music by the choir followed and a collection was
taken, the proceeds OF which were placed In the
charity fund Of the Post. Further religious
service in questions by Commander Ebersole
and responses by the members OF the Post ended
the memorial service, and the large audience
joined fervently In the singing Of the old long
metre doxology, The Band, post, and the de cor.
ating girls then folmed In line again and msrch
ed to the Post headquarters. There is something
singularly impressive In the simple, unostenta.
tous service ofthe G, A, R, POST during Its recI
tation the veterans were reminded of the days
when the same service was performed over the
bodies OF their fallen comrades, but instead OF a
church an open field was used.
NOTES,
There was a scarcity Of flowers.
The Cadets appeared in new uniforms
Vice President, Ed zlmstein, commanded the