The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-30
LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
Observance OF the Day at Springfield, Ill.

Observance OF the Day at Springfield, Ill.
To THE EDITOR: Please find space in your
valuable paper for the following sketch of the
| observance by the Grand Army of the Goth an
| niversary OF the death Of Abraham Lincoln, at
Springfield, Ill. Rain all the day before and
all the day of the anniversary prevented the
grand procession to the tomb ard services In
the open air, which had been planned, and kept
| many thousands away who would have attend
ed from points 200 miles distant, though all
parts of Illinois and adjoining States were well
represented by those who came solely to do
honor to the name and principles of the illus
trious dead. Even California was represented.
The tomb of Lincoln is at Oak Ridge Gene
terry, about three miles from the heart offspring
field, and in long rains is almost unapproach-
able, except by two lines of street cars the soft
clay soil becoming converted into almost un-
fathOmablc mud. The State House or Capitol
is in the center of the city. This immense
structure covers nearly three acres, and its
magnificent dome arches over the rotunda at a
hight of some 200 feet. In the grand corridor,
between the entrance and the rotunda, before
the Governors apartments, is the statue OF
Lincoln. As the rain prevented services at the
tomb, they were held in the rotunda, under the
dome of the Capitol.
The Legislature had made an appropriation
for decoration of the Capitol for the occasion.
A committee of 10 citizens of Springfield, to
which was added Mr.. and Mrs. Roby, of Chicago,
had general charge of the decoration of the city
and tomb. Comrades Capt. Duckstein and Col.
Crowel, officers of the State House, had par
ticular charge of the decoration Of that edifice.
Memorial Hall and its battle flags, the pictures
of Lincoln i'll the House and Senate and Execu-
tive Chambers were wreathed with evergreen
and crowned with flowers. The pedestal of the
statue of Lincoln in the grand corridor was
covered and surrounded with magnificent
fower-pieces, among which appeared, in flow
ers, the flag and shield of the United States,
and a superb wreath of roses and pure lily star
sent by John Il. Walsh, of Chicago. Above the
statue sprung an arch of flowers with palm
branches and crowns of laurel; behind, and
draped against the wall, were the Department
flag of Illinois Of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and the flag of the Woman's Relief
COrps--the same that Gen. Logan hoisted over
Mrs. Robys headquarters at Mulligan Camp,
Chicago, in August last. These flags were SO
placed at Mrs. Roby's suggestion, because, great
as Lincoln was, and great as was his service
to his country and the world, the Grand Army
behind him, and the women-motherS, wives,
sisters, children and lovers of those heroes
the Nations heart placed him upon the ped
estal of honor and made him what he was.
Prominent under the dome, over the assembled
multitude, hung colossal badge of the GAR
The assembly was remarkable one. COM
rade (Brig.-Gen J. n. Reece presided; the
Governor of Illinois, Comrade (Alaj GEM X.
J. Oglcsby, made the address of welcome Maj
Gen. A. j. Smith and Mai Gen. John A McCler-
nand were marshallS Gen. John A. Logan was
orator of the day; and with them on the stage
We're Gen. John NJ. Palmer, Gen. Phillips, Gen.
Rowett, Bluford Wilson, Gen. William Il. Sher-
man, and the venerable Rev. Samuel Francis
Smith, d. d., author of My Country, IT'S of
Thee" Department Commander Berry, GAR.
of the State of Illinois, with J. L. Bennett, A.
a. e., and other Department officers and repre-
sentatives of many Posts were present; Col.
Mallory, Commander in Chief Of the Sons of
Veterans, and many of that Order; the Depart
ment Commander, GAR, and officers, of the
State of Missouri, and the representatives of
many Posts from that State. Around the stage
were grouped the cOlors of the Posts Of the
q. A. r., with the flags of the German singing
societies and the German Turner'S Union of
the United States.
The German Turner'S Union, representing
nearly every large city in the Union, presented
a magnificent tablet memorial to Lincoln as
representative of "our grand principles: the
preservation of the Union and the abolition of
human slavery" The singing societies among
many other beautiful y-rendered songs, sung, in
their own language, just under the great flag in
the immense GAR badge suspended from the
dome, hymn written for the occasion, of which
the aststanza is translated thus:
His dust is here, is spirit scars
Aloft on eagles pinions,
As we lay near this temples doors
Fresh flowers from songs deminions.
See! There's the flag he loved unfured,
Which freedoms winds are kissing
Let Lncoln's name ring through the world,
For not one star is missing;
Come, cast youif flowers in fragrant showers,
For not one star Is missing.
A feature not down on the program was an
address by Gen. w. T. Sherman, and it was
peculiarly appropriate as he referred to the
maturing age of the comrades about him, and
to the fact that SO many young men before him,
and so many societies of those born even be-
yond the sea had assembled to do honor to the
memory of Lincoln, and the principles which
Lincoln and his comrades had sustained, COM
mending them i'll so assuming the pledges of
fidelity and loyalty.
Gen. Edwin NJ. Sherman, the poet, Com
mander-in-C Chief OF the Lincoln Guard of Honor
of California, also participated in the exercises.
Rev. ;. L. Smith wrote a poem for the occa-
sion, and also stood at the front of the stage
and Joined the vast audience in singing his own
hymn, America"
The chaplets and floral decorations at the
tomb filled and covered the place Of sepucher.
One must be noted. 1t was brought from Lin
colu Park, Chicago, by Comrade Gem Joseph
Stockton, (who won his wounds and star at the
battle OF Franklin,) one of the Lincoln Park
Commissioners. 1t was a Tyre, feet high,
arched with the name of Lincoln. 1t contained
over 5000 carnations and innumerable roses
and other choice flowers. The design was Sc
lected III appreciation Of the patriotic action of
the singing societies who came from st. Louis
and added so much to the observances of the
occasion-CoMEADE, Springfield, Ill
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