The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-05-28
Memorial serv5ea

Central Union Church was combio+olv
Alieo last evening, at the annual service IN
connection with the observance of Mem
oral Day by Geo. w belong Post. G A
decorations were in keeping with the ma
ture OF the ceremonies. Platform and
cholr gallery were almost hidden with
beautifully variegated bouquets. Two
american flags were draped on the organ
pipes; similar drapery covered the reading
uesk' the starry folds opening out to reveal
portrait OF Lieut.. De Long, the lamented
patronymic of the Post. A stand of arms
stood on either side in front of the plat
form
Members of the above Post, headed bv
Com. V. V. Ashford, occupied seats in the
front center. Rev. VIC. Merritt, Chaplain
OF the Post, sat beside the pastor, Rev. DR..
6eckWlth, assisting him in the devotional
exercises. His Excellency George w.
Merrill, United States Minister Resident
and Mr.. J. H. Putnam, Consul-General
were present, also, in uniform, Captain
6chOonmaker and several officers OF the
= >. r. ;. Vandalia, Major Hebbard and
the other officers of the Honolulu Rifles
Amongst many prominent civilians were
noticeable several country members of the
legislature
In the march from the Post-room. on
hlng street, the Post led, followed success
lively by the officers of the Vandalia and
the RlHes-each in order of rank On
arriving at the church, the Post opened
ranks on the march, halted, and faced in
wards, allowing the visitors to pass be-
tween after which they followed in meas
ured tread.
Rev. DR.. Beckwith chose the following
text from the Book of Judges Zebulun
and Napthaliwere people that ieoparded
their lives to the death in the high places
OF the field" The thought suggested by
the text, which was from the triumphal
song OF loyal woman, was the honor put
upon those that fought the battle This
was warrant for hOnOring the heroic
memories OF our patriot dead. The
preacher gave few reasons for paving
memorial tributes to the heroes who had
fought the battles of their country. 1t was
not that war with its horrors was to be ex-
allied, but, Notwithstanding the beauty of
the white wings of peace, truth right and
justice were better, and when these were in
peril they had to be defended. DiplOmacy's
reason or remOnStrance awaited nothing
against batteries of cannon and cleaning
bayonets, which when brought against the
cause OF liberty had to be met by the like
stern means of arbitrament 1t was in
such cause that they-members of the
G. A. R.-had fought, and thousands of
their comrades died. Not the dead alone
were hOnOred by their ceremonial but
every flower strOWn on the graves of the
heroes glOrified the principles they main
tanned. They ought to honor their dead
not only for the principles they defended.
but for the manner in which they main
tanned their nations cause. Instances of
bravery and determination were cited from
the annals of the late war, and another
reason why those patriots should be re-
membered, said the preacher, was that
they expected this of their country, as the
nation indeed had promised them. He
read in this connection letter written by
Lincoln to a mother who had lost five sons
in the field. Their chaplets should be
heaped upon their comrades graves not
only in their own honor but for the sake
of mourning fathers and mothers in thou
sands of homes all over the Union, who
were watching that the memory of their
beloved ones should not be neglected by the
country they loved and servel with such
devotion. A story of herOism from Gettys-
burg was told, the preacher exclaiming,
{" Let not then a grave III all the land be
left ungarlanded! Not only had their
soldiers delivered the bOndmen from their
chains, but the name OF their country from
shame He hoped none of them remem-
bered-he wished he Gid nOt-the time
when in these islands the finger of scOrn
was pointed at MS beloved country. They
owed their gallant dead the tenderest tri-
butte they could pay them. He thanked
the Geo. w. belong Post, and these guests
from ship and shore, for preserving the
memory of their hOnOred dead in these far
off islands, and concluded by exhorting
the comrades to faithfully observe every
recurring memorial anniversary.
At the close of the sermon the choir and
congregation sang America" and the
concourse was dismissed with the benedic-
ton pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Merritt
In leaving the church the reverse order
was observed to that on entering; and both
Post and visiting officers dispersed in their
several directions after reaching the street