Morning journal and courier., 1886-05-05
MEMORIAL BAY ExERCIsES.

General Arrangements for the Observ. ance of the Day in this Departments Timely Suggestions of the Depart ment Commander and Chaplain.
 The general committee on Memorial day exercises, which consists of five members from each Grand Army post and three from the Sons of Veterans, held their first meet ing Monday evening and considered design for permanent ''marker'' for the graves of deceased soldiers. The Bridgeport Monu- mental Bronze company sent design which the committee will probably adopt It is composed of white bronze which is made of tubing pointed at one end, while on the top is a Grand Army star, and back of this a socket for the reception of the flagstaff. These markers will be left permanently on the graves so that it will not be necessary every year to look up soldiers graves before Memorial day.
 The public services will be held at Carll's Opera House on Sunday evening, May 30, the speakers and general order of exercises to lbe announced hereafter.
 At the nineteenth national encampment of the Grand Army held at Portland, Me-, the following was adopted
 Memorial day is the choicest in the calendar of the Grand Army, a day of sweet remembrances dear to every loyal heart, and any violation of it's sacred ness by making it the occasion for frivolity and amusement, such characterize the Fourth of July, should be treated as an in dignity to the comrades who died that this country might live"
 It is the desire of the committee and also of the posts that the sentiment expressed ln the above resolution be sacredly observed by all citizens on the coming and all future Me morial days.
 The committee have selected Colonel George M. White for chief marshal on Me morial day, he to select his own aids.
 Rev. Edward Anderson, D. D., of Nor walk, department chaplain, has issued a cir cular order from which we make tho follow ing abstract. He says:
 Our Memorial day Sunday; The de partment chaplain ventures to suggest that the day be given to "reminiscences of the great war ana he supreme over it and guidance of 1t by the God of our nation, through service in church ana pray ter prepared for the decoration of graves on the
 let those Who are appointed for towns in which is post of the R. urge that the clergy preach upon the national dependence on God, especially instructing the young in the providences or the 
 According to article xiv, chapter of the rules and regulations of the GA. R. it is appone by this department that Monday, May 31, be set apart as a day for the due and proper observance of memorial civilians urged to search out and decorate with flowers and flag each grave of those of army of
 
 Who died to make men holy
 As they died to make men free"
 Let it be remembered that there are besides larger cemeteries. many smaller ones and even pri- dead
 Let every grave be decorated ani honored.
 Let, then, every comrade. whether not belong ing to the Grand Army of the Republic, make it as he gives the day to this holy oce and let there be no town CT village in which divine service In Memoriam is not held, with solemn prayer that the God by whom our land was saved may bless it to our posterity and to the world.
 A general order from John T. Crary, de- partment commander at Norwich, fixes Mon day, May 31, as the day which shall be ob- served throughout this department as Me- morial day. The commander says:
 On this day of retrospection, we assemble in the silent camping grounds of our dead, and our score and more of years those days when on the field or in the hospital the rebel bullet or the ruth rades by our side, or, later, while engaged in she s se of d tn and incurred during active serv1ce, let us we strew of respect and affection, again renew our pledges of unfaltering devotion to the noble principles of dery care for their loved ones and Loyalty up- hold that flag for the honor of which they so nobly laid down their lives
 It is earnestly desired that these services be so universally observed throughout the department that no veterans grave may be overlooked, and to that end the following comrades detailed for duty in the towns where no post is located. Each conrade will at once acquaint himself with the method heretofore observed in the town to which he has been assigned, and endeavor to perform his duty as to antagonize who may have sisted in these services in the past, but rather to unite all in successfully carrying out the objects of the day. The results Of his efforts he will commu- nicate to the department chaplain, may be practicable, on blanks transmitted herewith ac- companied by such reports may be obtained from the local papers.
 He also respectfully requests the clergy of ail denominations to hold memorial services on Sunday, May 30, and recommends that posts where invited should attend in body such memorial services.
 The department commander expresses the earnest desire that these services be so uni versally observed throughout the department that no veterans grave may be overlooked