The National tribune., 1884-06-12

mast. and other appropriate ensigns. added not
a little to the holiday aspect Of the city. The
procession was formed in front of Grand Army
| Hall for the march down Main and Park streets
and Salem Square to the monument. Con-
spicuOus in the line were the Sons of Veterans
/ Drum Corps, eleven men-Sergeant George
| Benis leader; General A. A.. Goodell Camp,
! No. 2, Sons of Veterans seyenty-five men
! Captain Elmore i. Johnson, Lieutenants VIII
| ID. Chase and G. K. Robinson; George III. Ward
Post, No 10, Grand Army of the Republic go
nen-Milliam J.. Robinson commander, Chas.
III. Benehley adiutant.
The decorations at the soldiers monument
Oh the common were simpler than usual though
very effective. The statues were adorned with
laurel aud wreaths of evergreen, and there
were groups of flowers and foliage plants in the
/ inches about the base, the work of Mr.. III. 4. A.
/ Lange. The exercises began with prayer by
4 Rev. c. NJ. Lamson of the Salem street church,
! after which the consolidated bands directed by
/ e. ID. Ingraham, played a dirge and theaddress
was then delivered by Comrade Rev. b. III.
Lane of the Dewey street church. The pro-
cession was then divided into three divisions
III order TO visit Rural, Hope aud St. Johns ceme-
/ teries. The comrades arrived at Rural ceme-
/ terry few minutes before 10 o'clock, and pro-
ceeaed al first to the monument of Brgader-
! General George u. Boomer, which was hung
with festoons Of laurel. A halt was ordered,
] anu sHoLils dlttINdFdS prayer was OueTSU ny
! Rev. Ii. A. Rogers Of the Main street Baptist
church, and the band played Hear Our
! Prayer" The battalion then reformed and
marched back to the entrance and waited there
while members OF the Post and Sons of Veterans
dispersed through the grounds and decorated
the eighty or more graves of fallen comrades
with flowers.
Arriving at Hope cemetery, the second divis-
/ ion found great crowd awaiting it. Three sides
knsggF in tho 1oa
amphitheater near the entrance, incio5ng the
band and the clergyman. The Cadet band
/ played a solemn dirge. following which Rev.
ID. Q. Mears. d. D., led the company in prayer
The comrades We're then dismissed in detached
companies to decorate about $50 graves nov
known 10 be in this cemetery
The third division reached ST. Johns ceme-
terry at 10:45 a. NJ and marched into the open
space beneath large grove of pines. Here
prayer was offered by Rev. Father J. B. Dren-
nan of st. Anne's church, after which he made
q short address to the survivors of the Union
army and the friends and relatives of the patri-
cite dead. At the close of Father brennan S
remarks the comrades separated in small COM
p2nies to decorate the 10 graves in this ceIne-
terry. As soon as the work was completed, the
veterans returned to Webster Square. and
msrched back through Main street to Grand
Army Hail. where a e0liatien was served by
the Ladies Relief Corps
ConlTade Charles II. Allison, Springfield,
us, writes US that On the evening of the
/ 2sfh alt. E. K. Wilcox Post, No. It, was the re-
/ cipient of beautiful flag from the ladies of
Relief Corps No. II. C0mrade Allison adds
I that Memorial Day passed very pleasantly, the
/ day being unusually coo! for the time OF year.
/ The graves at West Springfield aud in Spring
| field were streYn with flowers by members of
1 Post TO.
Comrade David Reelzie, Clinton, Mass. in
1 forms US that Decoration Day was observed in
] Clinton with more interest than for two or
I three years past. The soldiers monument,
/ decorated this year by the Methodist Sunday
I school, presented very neat appearance; an
arch above the statue bore the motto, Pre-
/ serve our Legacy" and against each of the four
sides Of the base rested a floral pillow, repre-
senting two anchors, cross and shield, the
bronze sentinel" holding basket of flowers
in his hand. At the cemetery the impressive
service Of decorating the soldiers graves was
performed. the band meanwhile playing dirge.
A motto on the right of the entrance gate read
They sleep in Gods eternal camping-groun ;"
and on the left, I" Let us grid on the armor Of
faith, for we must soon follow" The orator of
the day General Devens) delivered a most elo-
quent address, and was enthusiastically ap-
plauded by his audience, among which were
many members of his old regiment-the 18th
Massachusetts,.