The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-28
HONOR no OUR NOBLE DEAD.
The Programme OF To-Morrow's Oh.
servanbes in the City and al the
Rational Cemetery.
MEMORIAL DAY.

ofwLat has become national holiday
MayS0-talling on Sunday. 1t has become
general custom to visit the cemeteries on
Memorsljday and decorate the graves of
the dear ones lying beneath the shades
of the silent city. The people of this
country, who revere the Temory of the
dead, lay aside the cares of business
and devote part of the day to the OBJ
servance of the beautiful custom OF re-
membering the dead. 1t should not be |
observed as a holiday of the Fourth of
July character. but a day Of peace and
loving remembrance Of the departed de-
Tenders of the Union. The following
sketch OF the origin of the day is taken
from the organ of the GA r.:
Having received numerous requests to
give the origin and true name of Me
mortal dav as il is observed by the Grand
Army of the Republic, We have been to
some pains TO CLEAN the following from
the rules and regulations and proceed
ings Of annual encampments, II may
not bc generally known that Gen. John
4. Logan is the author Of Memorial day
IN the north. In May, 1868, while
serving as commander in>chief of the
Grand Army Of the Republic, be issued
the order which appears herewith. About
two years later, or in 1870, Memorial
day was ordained by the national en-
campment, and at Baltimore, in 1882,
| the following article was Incorporated
into the rules and regulations:
The national eucampment hereby es
tablishes Memorial day to be observed
by the members of the Grand Army of
the Republic on the Both day of May,
annually in COMMUNICATION of the deeds
of our fallen comrades. When such a
day occurs on Sunday, the succeeding
day shall be observed. except where by
legal enactment the preceding day is
made legal holiday, when such day
shall be observed.
In the earlier years of the observance
of the day the words Decoration day"
were used, but for some years past the
commanders mischief have laid great
stress upon the fact that the day should
be sacredly kept as memorial, not as an
idle holiday, This was emphasized by
the national encampment. and new ev-
cry veteran OF the oIder is pledged to do
all in his power TO bring about proper
observance of the day. The following
resolution was adopted by the national
encampment at Providence, 1877:
''Inasmuch as there have been some
differences of opinion as TO the intent and
meaning OF Memorial day, this encamp-
ment hereby calls attention to the Ian
gurge of Chapter V. Article XIV, Of the
rules and regulations, and therefore:
| ResO'Ued, That the Grand Army of the
Republic seeks thus 10 preserve the mem
DRY of those only who fought in the de-
Tense of national unity
The following was adopted at the En-,
campment at Baltimore. 1889:
That the commandeT-in chief be re-
| quested to issue general order calling
the attention OF the officers and members
of the Grand Army of the Republic and
Of the people at large to the fact that the
proper designation of May 80 is Memoir
ial day, and to request that it may al
ways be so called
GENERAL LOGAN's ORDER
HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC
| WASHINGTON, ID. c., May ., 1868 \
General Order No. IL.
l. The 30th day of May. 1868. is des-
ignated for the suppose of strewing with
flowers or otherwise decorating the graves
of comrades who died in defense of their
country during the late rebellion. and
whose bodies now lie in almost every city
village and hamlet churchyard in the
land. In this observance no form of
ceremony is prescribed, but posts and
comrades will in there own way arrange
such fitting services and testimonials of
respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our
regulations tell us, for the purpose,
among other things "of preserving and
strengthening those kind and fraternal
feelings which have bound together the
soldiers, sailors and marines who united
, to suppress the late rebellion" What can
cid more to assure this result than by
cherishing tenderly the memory Of oul
! heroic dead Who mad, thar ba.r,s q
, horr;ca5o ho,naon 60 oonu,r, 80 -
foesa Tbeir sold;er l;vas ,rora ,5o ~
If froodon, ,o raoa ~ oha;.s 80 - ~.
deo,ho the to,,oo of rahaII;nna $50 - -
W. sI,,,1 ~ -, -. 'lany ~
! sacred v;oilanca AIithat tha oonaaa 49,
ed taste and wealth Of The na,;nn 90,
odd IN their adjournment .nd aoo,,r;,,, !.
bnt n f;tting tribute 70 ,h. n,a,,or. - Is :.
oIa;n dofasdo-o ~. y Vi NC,
,raad rnao,n -, - NJ "an'on 100
Iet n,easan3 U Un nuG ;nr.a ,hs giounus
anS 60, e ~a1a. - ~ Ginning anu
morroora r., Nv s' 'raAso's snu loho
Of nanlent nv ra NV " ~ ~, y, assli.e
tho nreser, ~ e. 49, oo,.;.a S"au a. .es'.y :.
that we have forGottan IS s 49, .,''
cost of n free and nnd;vided rapu,i,o 'I II,
other eyes grow dpII ond ottar -,
slack and other hearts cold in the onlemr
t trust, ours shall keen il well nc jonn a,
y the lioht and warmth of lire romain - ~.
LET ne then at tho .nn,,;n,ad -,
-. ..a..x1 At. - I