The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-06-05

Weissport Evangelical Sunday School,
and moved up Bank street to intersec-
tion of Lehigh, down Lehigh street to
Elm, out Elm street to the cemetery,
where the graves, of those who respond
ed to their country's call in her great
time of need, lie buried, and strewed
with flowers as token of the honor and
esteem in WHICH they are now held. The
exercises in the cemetery were very im-
pIessive. Opening prayer by Rev. VIM.
Major; singing by the Sunday schools (;
address by Rev. G. w. Gross; address
in German by Rev. G. w. Stibitz; con-
cluding with very beautiful prayer by
Rev. J. H. KudeI.
The procession then reformed and
moved down Elm street to Bank street,
down Bank street to intersection of
Bankway, down Bankway to Weissport,
where firing squad and committee of
decoration were detached and ordered
to the Weissport cemetery, where the
work of honoring our noble dead was
proceeded with. The procession after
moving through Weissport halted at the
Public Square, where the ceremonies
were opened by Rev. w. c. Weiss; sing
ing by the Sunday schools; address by
Rev. Egge; and prayer by Rev. G. w.
Stibitz. At the conclusion of the exer-
cises the Lehighton portion of the pro-.
cession reformed and moved back to
Bank street where they were dismissed.
+ The following is synopsis of the ad-
dress delivered by Rev. CIV. Gross:
tFRIENDs, FELEow C1IIzESs AND Com
RADEs: Scenes and occasionSlIke these bring
with them vivid Tecollections of the past,
rccOllectlons Of those dark days and trying
scenes when thrilling page Of our .country's
history was written in blood scenes in which
you. as comrades Of the late war, have had
an active part. and in which you as civilians
have had, and felt, deep. personal interest
We unite to-day in honorlng the memory of
those brave ones, who sacrificed life for the
sake of cause they deemed just and sacred.
While we plant fresh flowers on their graves,
and recall their valiant deeds, let us devOutly
pray for new and more powerful baptism of
patriotic sentiment and life, that the coming
generation may lift higher the standard OF
civic life and righteousness, and battle man
fully ami successfully for the speedy and uni
verSal reign of liberty, and peace, and gOdli-
ness among the Nations Of the earth. War,
| at best, Is necessary evil, it Is invariably
cruel, and can never be refined. 1t can be
| justified in any Instance only on the ground of
the righteousness OF the cause for which 1t is
waged The best results Of war are the
| triumph Of right, and the prosperity result
1 ing from this triumph, a blessing which
| might never have been realized but for the
strife of battle. Our heroes, both living and
dead, endured with heroic fortitude, and
achieved for us glorious peace. The dead
| rrst from their warfare, but their works have
wrought out for them an honorable memorial
OF the nations gratitude, ana for us the bless
i lngs OF concord. The living gather the fruits
OF their sacrifice, and join in grateful tributes
| OF their memory. AS nation we have en-
| tered into the blessings achieved by interne-
cine warfare. -'By terrible acts of righteous
ness" God has wrought out glorious deliv-
lerAnce. Iiie weapons of carnage have been
| converted Into implements OF national com
| ny and advancement. Agriculture and com.
merce, manufacture and inter-rallway sys-
VEINS; art and science, education and religion
| have nourlShed everywhere, because war has
conquered the elements of strife and bitter.
| ness and Infused spirit Of concord and un-
| lty. And all this as the fruit under God, Of
the devotion and sacrifice of the natiUn S
| heroes whose memory we honor to-day, long
may their memory be cherished. Let due
praise be given to The Prince of Peace, The
characteristics Of the day are Appreciation,
generosity, and Spirit of Forgiveness.
Who can be better able to appreciate the
Valne and cost OF our liberty, peace and pros
the late war, you, who stood shoulder "a
| shoulder In many a long fierce conflict, you,
who sacrificed the comforts of home and en-
dured the miserles OF camp-life, together
with long and weaTySome, marches The
| horrors OF battle field can be fnlly known
only by experience. Our historians may paint
the events in the most glowing cUlors, and
our ehliGTSn enS may with pride read Of Of the
| alohe who has stood facing the enemy in the
| struggle, and heard and fell tile force Of his
| blows, and has seen his comrades mOwn
down by his side and has heard his dying
gfOans, can form "A true idea of war One oi
| the most deplOTable features of the war was
the cruel treatment OF our prisoners at the
hands OF the enemy, Sqen after the great
struggle began we looked behind the army OF
| white rebels and saw 4,0OO,0OO of black people
condemned to toll as slaves for our enemies.
They did effective service under Gen'l. Spade
| and we did well to extend a helping hand to
them in their desire for liberty. We have
| seen white men betray tile flag and fight tO
Kill the Union, but in all that long, dreary
| war we never saw a traitor in black skin.
Our prisoners escaping from the starvation OF
| prison, fleeing u our lines by the light Of the
| North star, never feared to enter the black
mans cabin and ask for bread. You, my
blO0d-bOught boon of liberty, but you can
| wei afford to be generous to the vanquished
Toe. You well know our opponents were no
| towards, and do not think II would he q
| compliment to you to consider them as such.
! ! venture 70 say, II there was grave Of "A fal-
len Zoe within our reach to-day we would not
| pass II by without dropping Il flower upon II.
as AN assurance @ that We have forgiven the
| wrong and wish for a continuance Of peace
| aud gOdllness among all mankind.