The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-29
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
WHITSUNDAY.

otely observed at the Catholic churches OF THIS
City. At the Cathedral of the Immaculate
Conception the Rt Rev. Bishop Healy ponti-
ficated at the late mass assisted by Rev. l. +.
Linehan, Rev. John O'Dowd and Rev. L. e.
Delaney. After the first gospel the Bishop
preached an impressive discourse suitable to
the occasion. At the close OF the mass the
papal benediction was impaired by the nj
Rev. Bishop. In the evening at 7.3O O'CLOCK
solemn pontifical vespers were chanted, the
Rt. Rev. sBishop officiating, assisted by the
Priests of the CatheG ral His Lordship also
delivered remarkably able and striking dis
course on the Blessed Virgin who received
the gifts of the Holy Ghost in the fulness OF His
graces. Then followed the benediction of the
blessed sacrament At the o'clock mass the
members of the young mems sodality received
holy communion in body. Similar services
were held at St. Dominic's.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
The annual memorial service in honor OF the
soldiers who died in the late rebellion took
place at Plymouth Church yesterday after
noon, under the auspices of Bosworth Post,
No. 2, GA r. There was beautiful floral
display and the music was of a high order OF
excellence. The organ was presided over by
Mr.. M. 10. Milliken, the organist, and the
ouartette of the church, Miss Kennard, Mrs.
Tewksbury, Messrs Curtis and Seiders-sang
with fine effect an original Memorial Hymn
written by the pastor Rev. DIR. Seward, and
set to original music by Mr.. Milliken.
The exercises of the afternoon commenced,
after the arrival of the Post, some eighty
strong ,Jpnder command of Post Commander
Abbott, with voluntary, followed by the in
vocation, anthem, responsive readings and the
memorial hymn. The latter, beautiful effu-
sion, is as follows:
Sleep on, mid the vernal glory,
o heroes, staunch and brave!
Ye fought in the battle CORY,
Rest now in the peaceful grave.
Chorus
Bright flowers, fragant and fair,
Wave your banuers of red,
Perfume the mountain air,
Bloom for the valiant dead.
Rehearse the march and the fight,
The woes of the prison den,
The dark of the sentinel night,
TIE watch of the weary men.
Chorus
Sweet flowers, blossoming clear,
Wave your pennons of blue,
Shed of your dewy tears
On the tomb of the brave and true.
The dust of captain and private
Lies mingling side by side;
Deaths army knows no distinctions,
Deaths waves interfow at high tide.
Chorus
Fresh from your blooming bed,
Sweet flowers fragrant and fair,
For the humble and titled dead,
Wave in the solemn air.
The land chants dirges of sadness
Forthe quick goi ng-down of your sun;
The land sings anthems of gladness
For the triumphs your bravery won.
Flowers from hillsides and meads,
Spread your streamers of gold,
Wave, for the bravest of deeds,
Banners of crimson unfold
Glory to God for your struggles;
Peace to the land by ysur blood!
On your dust pours down from the heavens
Of light and glory a flood.
Chorus
Flowers, from garden and lawn,
Wave your streamers of white.
Float in the early dawn,
Clean in the mellow light
All hate and revenge all malice,
We bury in sacred dust;
The weapons of carnage and slaughter
In the sunlight of peace may rust.
Chorus
Flowers from patriot homes
Your rainbow banners wave;
For the blue and the gray the day comes,
Blossom fair on their
Scripture reading and prayer followed after
which Mrs. Howe's "Battle Hymn" was sung
by the choir. DIR. Seward then delivered the
memorial sermon of which the following is an
abstract:
The theme of the sermon was the prominent
features of the war of the rebellion. There is
no assurance as yet that matters of difference
between so-called Christian nations will be adj
iusted by counsel or craftsmanship. CIR con-
Germ to-day is with the last war on our soil
the war of 1864. 1t was a war between MEM
bers of the same nation, between men bound
together by ties of kinship, Of business, glory
ing in the same past. All this deepened the
tragedy. The sword of this internecine war
was two-edged sword cutting both ways. 1t
was an attack on the unity and life OF a nation
No wonder the North was kindled into terrible
earnestness When you hear men OF other
countries asking with sheer what the war
did and how it improved our country tell
them that it saved us from being split into
auarreling confederacies that it saved for us
and our children a vast and undivided country
with no star swept from the sky.
It'll. 81, or
struggle for the overthrow of slavery, and the
destiny of several millions hung upon the re-
suit. 1t was distinguished for the ministries
to the sick and wounded. | do not believe
that any other war can exhibit record OF such
hospitals, such nursing, such medical skill.
The war was also distinguished for the part
which woman took. They robbed war OF some
of its horrors. Those who stayed at home
turned their parlors into sewing rooms and
their chambers into storehouses. Many left
comfort and elegance at home and took their
places as watchers and nurses in hospital and
camp. They were as sisters and mothers to
many an orphan soldier; the message OF the
diving soldier they sent to his mother, his SIS
ter, his betrothed. Whenever you speak OF
our conflict say that woman bore sublime
part in it. When you speak OF our victory say
that woman helped to win.
The war was also distinguished by the power
of the gospel in the army. Religion inspired
men with patience, with courage. lt upll1ted
the war into conflict for the right and the
triumph of the kingdom of God. There were
churches, with the UNCONVENTIONAL lines left
out, in the army.
1t was wonderful to see how the war lifted
men out of their narrowness. IL purified; II
enlarged the soul. 1t brought out self-sacri
fee. Ease-loving, dainty youth took on the
hardness of the warrior. 1t was the heroic
age The glory in the bosom of Christ trans
figured men and made them into Christian
heroes They jeopardized their lives for theil
country, for you and for me- Unto them moi
only we, but all the churches of God, and al
the people of the land, give thanks.
After the sermon, prayer and the singing o.
America followed, and after the benedictior
the large congregation dispersed.
CHESTNUT STREET CHURCH.
Rev. A. McKeown, DID,, of Ches tnut stree
church preached yesterday morning to the pro
bationers, number of whom are to be admit
ted to the church next Sabbath, ON the Dutiel
and Privileges of Church-Membership from
Ephesians, 2:19, "now ye are no more strang
ers, etc.
After congratulating them on the change OF
relation that had come to them through thei
faith in Christ he said that it was the duty o
all Christians, members of the invisible church
to belong to the visible church, seeking tina
branch of it with which they were most in sym
pathy, and which in their Judgment had most