Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-29
REV HAKpER AND THE 9. A. R.


The members OF the Garfield Post of the
Grand Army of tho Republic, of this city,
attended the Baptist church Sabbath MORN
ing in body, and were addressed by the
pastor, Rev. w. F. Harper, in most elo-
quent and acceptable manner. The MEM
bers of the post, to the number Of seventy
five, were not only present but many
of their families. He opened his discourse
with the following glowing and patriotic
sentences:
81 esteem myself most happy this day,
my brethren and friends, that am accord
cd this privilege of speaking in the name of
the Great Captain Of Salvation TO remnant
of that proudest of armies that ever went
forth to battle.
mo factious voice called you unto the
field of deadly carnage, but the consecrated
ample in its folds, to wave from sea TO sea
and lakes to gulf
mo deeper feeling sways us, when it
wakes in all its greatness.
"Too young to he of those who in the
ranks full proof of their patriotism bore,
was old enough to labor premature to
support mother and an intent brother,
while a father bore his full share of duty in
many tedious march and bloody field, and
then came home to suffer with disease and
die; old enough to have my young heart
stirred with patriotic fervor as daily read
by the firelight's glare of the contest at the
front, and the varying fortunes of our arms.
Cowpcr has beautifully said:
The man that is not moved at what he
reads,
That takes not fire at their heroic deeds,
Unworthy of the blessings of the brave,
Is base in kind and born to be a slave
s.Let those call it mere sentiment who will
it is sentiment that perennially declares
mans high origin and displays the depth
and tenderness of his real nature-that
prompts him to keep green in memory the
heroic deeds in remembrance of comrades
who answer no more to roll call on this side
the great valley of death, and which prompts
loving hands TO strew their last resting place
with earth's brightest flowers. The time is
| far distant when interest in this beautiful
memorial shall wane; but when the last
soldier of the war lies sleeping
the sleep from which no reville OF earth
shall call him, succeeding generations, re-
membering that the legacy of peace and I'M
ion is theirs by virtue Of baptism of blood,
will perpctuate the day of decoration with
its attendant services. The Offices YOU per-
form in memory of dead comrades will, in
few years at most, be performed by other
hands for you, and your graves will be
marked on the ever recurring 30th of May
with the
| Flag OF the free heart Is hope and home;
| BY angels hands to valor giyen
! The stars have lit the welkin dome,
And all its hues were bo'nin heaven
"And now comrades of my father. whose
memory do greatly revere, l welcome you
today to this sanctuary of peace and the
worship of Almighty God at this hour
Throughout the discourse the closest at
tention was given the speaker who did not
fail to delight, interest and instruct the vet
Grams who were rrofuse in their praises
of not only the earnestness of the reverend
speaker but the subject and the occasion.
The music was excellent, the decorations
patriotic and the occasion will long be re-
| membered