Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1886-05-31


their efforts TO preserve intact, the
fairest and best government Heaven
has ever designed for man | an GER
tainly more than willing that your
names and DECIDE shall be handed
down TO oil the generations Jet to
come, for the important part you took
in the preservation Of this nation Of
ours. And even those who were
arrayed against you, whose valor and
devotion to what they thought was
right, none will deny 10 their hearts,
feel glad that our beautiful nation Il
one. love my country, / love its
bills. | love its streams, its mountains
and rivers; | love our institutions, /
love my country for what it has done;
what it now il; AID what it shall be.
love it because it is the best country
on which the Sun of Heaven shines.
God bless the East, the West, the
North, and the South--all sections OF
our beloved land May all dissen-
tions be healed. May Gil rancor and
malice be forever buried With O
union Of hearts and hands, NAV we
move forward to have a greater future
of honor and glory. Then bring your
wreaths and garlands; your flowers
aud evergreens; and drop them light
ly on the upturned brow of your
sleeping dead--emblems here of
the crown of immortaIs worn thence.
| recognized in this order but another
agency to bind men together in more
intimate associations, for the better
ing of each others condition. All So
cieties which have for their object aud
end the relieving of the distressed,
the amelioration of the condition of
the unfortunate, are hut agents TO
advance the blessed teachings of Him,
who went about doing good. From
what ! can gather from the external
view, / rejoice ia what your order is
doing. Your cardinal principles, /
believe, are loyalty, fraternity, and
charity. My friends, these words are
not meaningless. They are express
sive--comprehensive They mean
something-they mean much. Loyal
to the nation; loyal to the flag ofyour
country; loyal to the principles Of our
governmen.; true citizen. The
love of country is of vast Importance.
Our nation Is worthy of being respect
ed, loved, admired.
Fraternity Love for each other
feeling of fellowship, willingness
to assist, bond of unioa. United by
ties of tenderness and love, oneness
of feeling, a reciprocation of kind Of.
does. Charity for each other; for
each others faults charity that
prompts to generosity and kindness;
charity to those who are Of your fell
lowship; charity for those who met
you on the field Of courage and
death-that binds all sections to-
gether 10 a closer and more interstate
bond of lore and esteem. wish you
God speed But my friends, members
of Meade Post Il. A. Republic, / am
not here to preach you a sermon along
this line, for / recognize the fact that
these men before me are dying NOR
tails; that each one has an immortal
soul, and that | am speaking,to some
for the last time likely. Under these
circumstances, / must lay before
you life aud death. God grant that
while | am speaking to you, that the
divine spirit may seal every word
upon your minds and hearts. While ii
is an homer 10 be enrolled ia the ranks
of our nations brave defenders, to
march under the stars and stripes,
yet, my friends, there is more honor
attached to him who is soldier of
our Lord Jesus Christ; to him who is
lighting against the world, the flesh
and the devil, and earnestly striving
to win crown of eternal life. God
grant that each one of you may be SO
happy, when life's battles are over, as
to receive crown of bright glory 10
heaven. As an inspiration along this
line. call your special and prayerful
attention, TO the command of the great
Apostle Paul to Timothy, as recorded
10 Timothy chapter and IL verse,
Fight the good light of faith, lay
hold on eternal life.
TIE discourse which followed, was
an earnest aud pointed appeal to all
present, to strictly obey the Apos-
t0llc command. The services although
quite lengthy, were OF very great IN
terest. and the large congregation
seemed deeply interested.
The closing prayer was offered By
Capt. BiIlin0slea. and was one of