Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-20
The Grays. Memorial Day.

HOnortng the Graves of Deceased Conn rades - The Religious Services Inn pressive Discourse-At the Graves. The New Haven Grays, Captain Arnold, together with the Veteran organization, Gen. eral s. E. Merwin, and the survivors of Go. A., ,27th CIV. paid their annual honors to the graves of deceased comrades yesterday In the morning they attended divine service at the North church, the pastor. Rev. Dr. Hawes, preaching an admirable discourse, in which he spoke eloquently of the patriotic men who participated in the defense of the old starry emblem and of Christian warfare. He alluded in feeling manner to the recent death of member of the Grays, the late Joeelyn P. Cleaveland, and spoke of his hav- ing written in letter to his sister, who is sick at the home of the parents, to say that she must remember him as being present with the Grays at the memorial services at the church. He spoke of MT. Cleaveland's being member of the church since the age of ten years and of his dying good Chris tian soldier. The pastor drew touching and impressive lesson from this loss, and pointed all to the work and path of the Christian soldier. He spoke of Mir. Cleave- lands life as returning with good results the Christian culture he had received in his Christian home. There was a magnificent display of flowers. Specially beautiful were an anchor on which was June 18th, Grays," in partly reclining position, and another, which was magnificent harp with the motto, 'Semper Fidelis." Besides these there were magnificent bouquets of white laso 1z., and covering entirely the communion table. Underneath was another magnificent bouquet of white peonies It showed to beautiful ad- vantage. The anchor and harp were on ei- ther side of the table, and ali was most artis- tically arranged. The church contained a very large audience, and it was rarely in teresting and impressive occasion. In the afternoon the three organizations marched to the Evergreen and Grove street cemeter- ies, each man laden with beautiful wreath or bouquet, and decorated the graves of their deceased members. The memorial work was witnessed by great throngs of peo- pie in each cemetery. Many went out on foot, in the horse cars, and many Tn car riages. The command made very fine ap- pearance. The following lines are appropri- ate to. the occasion, written by veteran member:
 Requiem. The resting place of soldiers
 Are strewn with flowers to-day,
 Memorial of the struggle
 Between the blue and gray.
 quiet, still procession,
 Men deoked with garlands green,
 [From youth to middle age. Also
 Were those of older mien)
 As plaintive dirge is gently blown
 From brazen throats, anon
 faint, hushed, tender melody,
 On hay air is borne.
 In solemn concourse moving on,
 With mufied drum and tread,
 While gath'ring clouds betoken rain,
 (dod tears from overhead)
 breeze came as from Heaven,
 And waited from afar
 Sweet music, as of angels,
 Swept through the gates ajar.
 Long peals of Heav'n's cannonade
 Came thun'dring from the sky,
 And lessening echoes of it's roar
 heVerberate on high
 The trumpets tone and mufHed claeh
 Of cymbal throbs again;
 While faintly echoing the sound,
 Raindrops repeat the strain
 The resting place of each brave one
 Is stre ewn with oh i est flowers, While nature sweI1s the requiem
 In gentle summer showers. The last grave reached Aye pause. reflect.
 And yet little while Pray finger, till morals penned,
 Though it be crudest style. Here lies a bit of earthly clay,
 The soul within has lied, And where :? We'll know when judgment day
 of Heaven calls up the died. Let not the errors of the past
 Divide that portion, dear Of mem'ry for departed ones
 Which starts the silent tear But kindly let us each forgive
 The wrongs we took and gave; Oh, wait not till our brothers all
 Are silent in the grave. Yea, if there be a bitter foe,
 Who, silenced, rests this day May peace and charity descend
 Alike on blue and gray The conflict of doubting soul
 Is pitiable indeed So let us each lend sympathy,
 It proves friend in need. And were the struggle right or wrong
 Comrades and brothers all Be ready when the trumpet sounds
 The general muster cali Though widely different our creedp
 tSome resting far away,) The equity of Heaven forgives
 At last, both blue and gray. New Haven, June 10, 1881.