The Portland daily press., 1881-05-30
Mamnrial Saruices

memorial SERVICES.
| Yesterday two services appropriate to the
memory of the soldiers who took part in the
civil war were preached in Plymouth and Park
street churches:
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
| In the morning Rev. DR.. Seward, at Ply
mouth church, preached from the text in John
4i3S-"Other men labor and ye are entered
into their labors'' Christ often rendered
truth impressive by contrast and paradox. 1t
was spring time when he spoke and fields were
green with the growing crops; but he pointed
his disciples to the ripe moral harvest ready
for the sickle. The seed had been sowing for
centuries, and now they were to enter into
other mems labors and reap. Let us look at
some of the illustrations of the truth that we
as reapers, enter into the labors of those who
have preceded us. Every generation are reap
ers OF the sewers of those before, and the SOW
ers OF those to come after. All our advantages
are the fruit of the labor and invention of
those who lived long ago. Our social and civil
privileges, our educational advantages are the
gilt OF other mems labors. Our raiment is the
product OF the inventive skill of previous
workers. So all our agricultural implements
are the gifts of the skilled laborers who lived
ana wrought in previous years. Our means of
travel are so perfect because the study and ex-
pendlture OF many men have given them 10
us. Our communication with other lands by
Inc telegraph has revolutionized life because
other men laborad and we enter into their iabors
Look at the great libraries of the present day
and remember that they with all their prec-
lops contents are the gift of our predecessors
The priceless mental wealth, the hymns that
nad their origin in the lives, the Sufferings the
death OF the martyrs and scholars and poets of
other ages,-all this precious store has come to
us from the labors of others. So liberty and
civil rights have been secured to us by the
tolls, sacrifices and death even of those who
have lived in other days Other men labored
and we have entered into their labors. Es-
pecially on this Memorial day. are we re-
minded that the noble, the brave the good, the
very chosen of the land went forth to fight the
battle OF liberty. progress aud human progress.
On the battlefield, III the tent, the camp, the
prison, they gave their lives for us and the
generations to come. May the day be OBJ
served for ages to come, in which grateful
people shall do honor to the memory of those
who died for their country. But Christ told
his disciples that they were to be reapers as
well as sewers. The labors of the harvest are
the most severe of the year; and we are to en-
ter into the laDors of our predecessors. Es-
pecially are we at this time to continue the
good work of our patriot dead. Through their
death an enslayed race has been set Free and
we are to see to it that the freedmen are edu-
Gated, protected and made tit for the great in
heritSnce into which they have come Let MS
with all zeal enter into the labors of all the
noble workers that have lived and labored be-
fore u.s.
PARK STREET.
Yesterday afternoon memorial services were
held at Park street church, Rev. W. r. Al
ger, pastor Owing to the rain, which fell
copiously during the afternoon, not so large an
audience was present as otherwise would have
been. Bosworth Post, No. 2, G. A. r., was
present, numbering fifty men and occupied
seats reserved in front of the desk. The order
of the services was as follows:
Organ Voluntary
Memorial Selection by the Quartette Choir
Scripture Reading by the Pastor.
Prayer.
6osth Hynn-"Soidiers of God Arise"
Addresses by the Pastor.
S40th Hymn-( MemoriaDTune, ''Auld Lang Syne."
Rev. Mr.. Alger based his remarks upon Ps
kew: 1-"O come let US sing unto the Lord, let
us make joyful noise to the Rock of our SAL
vation." Every noble and generous motive
tends to stimulate patriotism in the breast of
an American. Memory of the great and good
men who have trod our soil, of the democratic
principles which have been and always will be
the underlying principles of our republican
government, and the wonderful progress
which has been made since its formation-all
tclu W hCop allVo III every DredSI CuaU patriot
ISM And as result of this we see millions of
emigrants arriving upon our shores and claim
ing with US the privilege OF celebrating the
trumphs to be achieved by government
founded by and for the people.
The speaker said the present occasion was to
celebrate the anniversary of an important Pc
Rod in our hstory-to rejoice in the over
throw OF q gigantic movement attempted by
traitors TO overthrow our grand old govern
ment and at the same tirne noun for those
Jf0 x,svIxy I,n..
live. Americans have good grounds to-day
for rejoicing, the most important being thai
they are entirely innocent of any blame in the
late lamentable war which swept.our borders.
Infamous traitors, who had been fairly beaten
at the ballot box, attempted in their frenzy of
hate to overthrow their government, in order
to build up another after their own designs,
the two corner stones of which should be caste
and slavery The war was thus forced upon
US, and to-day we stand acquitted of any blame
for interfering and in frustrating the designs of
those who would assassinate the "motLer of
us all. !"
The speaker proceeded at some length to ex-
plain the designs of these rebels, and stated
that they based their expectations of the uti-
mate success OF their Infamous plot on three
separate sources: First the North, in their
opinion, had become so besotted with Nam
mon worship no great notice would be taken;
Second, if, in resentment OF the deadly blow
we should be stung to interference, we would
bloody struggle would take place within our
selves; Third, if the two first named events
failed to occur, such a force OF argument
could be brought to bear with foreign govern
ments who have ever watchful and jealous
eye upon us as republic and have predicted
that the Republic bubble will soon burst"
that they would rise in their might and crush
out of existence the Union
Iu glowing words Mr.. Alger portrayed the
utter failure Of these designs-how great was
fInf i'll.
struggle, those who sought to create of cotton
temple in which the producers should be the
priests, and the object of their worship trini-
ty, whose component parts should be wealth,
lust and power. He described in thrilling elo-
quence the grand uprising of the people from
the Lakes to the Gulf, the accomplishing
spirit with which all bore their share of the
burden, and the unanimity of sentiment which
pervaded the country from Maine to the Far
West-that the programme of 1916 might be
carried out in full,
In closing, he said America was the critt9ue
upon every monarchial form of government;
they see in our prosperity the overthrow of
their caste prerogatives, and nothing would
cause them greater delight than to see our re-
public toppie and fall in the dust. But this is
not to be. The electoral urn has been planted
by the immortal Washington, and long after
monarchs and their dynastes shall cease to
exist shall our dear old stars and stripes wave
oyer us ali Il united and happy people. Then
soall there oe no NORTH, South, East or West, |
but we shall witness the full fruition of our
most suspicious hopes, and show to the world
once for all that we can set up and maintana
government by the people. Let US ever keep
green in our hearts the memory of those who
died that we might live
Mr.. Alger spoke for about an hour and
quarter, holding the closest attention of his
audience.
Fire on Lafayette Street.
The alarm of fire from box 49, at 1857 p. m.
Saturday, was caused by flames in the cham
bers of Mr.. Alfred Ro5erts's residence at the
corner Of Lafayette and Quebec streets. Mr..
Roberts was engagal in painting the wood work