St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-31
MEMORIAL WEEK.
How the s.Festival OF the Dead" wal
Observed I'm ST. JohnsburY.

The Memorial season was observed
in st. Johnsbury with the same inter-
est and measure of success that has for
so many years characterized this most
significant of the nations anniversa-
ries. On Saturday evening there was
memorial-reminiscen meeting of
Post Chamberlin in the Post hall on
Sunday evening Rev. F. E. Dawson
delivered the Memorial sermon in Mu-
sic hall on Wednesday, memorial day
proper, the usual services were held at
the cemetery, the address of the day
was delivered by Col. John r. Thomp-
son of Washington, D. c., and the day
closed with a grand camp fire in the
evening.
Saturday Evenings Camp Fire.
Memorial services were introduced
this year with public meeting at the
Grand Army hall Saturday evening,
presided over by E. L. Hovey and de-
voted to "reminiscences of the soldier
dead. Comrade BlOdgett told the sto-
ry of dying rebel soldier at the bat
tie of SpOttsylvania, whose last words
were words of regret that he was dy-
ing an enemy to his country. Comrade
Roberts spoke of the significance of
Memorial day. Comrade Mcdonald
made a characteristic speech, giving an
account of the death of the first man
whom he saw killed in action. Com
rade Ide told the story of the life and
death of Col. Preston of the cavalry.
Comrade Elisha May eulogized the life
and character of Abraham Lincoln, and
Comrade Montgomery the life and
character of General Grant. COmrade
Sprague related story of Fredericks-
burg, how the identity of comrade
shot at his side was preserved by bit
of paper pinned to the dead mans
blouse. Comrade Bullard spoke of the
brave General Stannard and his faith
fulness as soldier. The exercises
were interspersed with the reading of
poems by Comrades Thompson and
Heald, solo by Mrs. II. K. Ide, and
a paper on army nurses by Mrs. c..
A. III. Thompson of the wOman's relief
corps. Taken altogether the exercises
were very interesting and the meeting
success.
Sunday Evenings Service.
Music hall was filled on Sun day
evening when the customary memorial
service was held, Post Chamberlin Oc-
cupying reserved seats in front. The
platform was decorated with the Amer
ican colors and with flowers. After
scripture reading by Rev. Mr.. Bailey
of St. Andrews and prayer by Rev. E.
T. Sandford of the Baptist church, the
North church choir sang the Battle
Hymn of the Republic, the audience
joining in the chorus. Then followed
the sermon by Rev. F. E. Dawson, pas
tor of the Free Baptist church, full
second page. The exercises opened
with the singing of "There is a green
, hill far away" closing with "America.'
Memorial Day Exercises and Address.
Nature always smiles on Memorial
day, and she fairly Outdid herself on
Wednesday. The heavy rains early in
| the week had settled the ways to per-
, fection and Wednesday mornings sun
3 dawned on the poets "perfect day in
n june" even though that month was
9 unavoidably delayed few hours in its
1 appearance. Business was generally
Q suspended and the people gathered al
8 the appointed places to do honor to
Q the memory of the dead. Early in the
Q morning a detachment was sent to
Lyndonville where the usual memorial
# service was held and the graves of SOL
g diers decorated. During the forenoon
t detachments were also sent out to dec
v crate the graves in the Gem eteries out
s side the village.
t Soon after noon the various organi
J, cations participating in the exercises
t formed on Main street in the following
}. Order of Procession.
Detachment of Police, j. A. MOVES, Chief.
r MAI. GKo. w. BoNETT, Chief Marshal.
The Danville Band.
. FIRST DIvIsIoN-H. j. EMERSON, Aid.
:. st. Johnsbury Guard, A. W. Roberts, captain
K Canton Crescent No. 2 Patriarehs Militant, Greg
ory Beck, captain.
SECOND DIvIsIoN-W. H. SARGENT, Aid
st. JOhnsbury Drum Corps; Chamberlin Post
. | No l. G. A. R. G. B. Bullard, commander Eros
Camp No. Is, S. of v, c. NJ. Bonett, captain.
! THIRD DIvIsIoN-W. j. ALDRICH, Aid.
N Teachers and Students of ST. Johnsbury Aeade
my Carriages of disabled soldiers, president am
orator of the day, clergy, invited guests, officers
= of the town and village, and citizens.
e The line of march was up Mali
q street to Mount Pleasant, and theme
g to the cemetery, where the impressiv
q ritual service of the grand army wa
" held and the graves of the soldier dea'
II we're decorated, the procession return
= ing by the way of Mount Pleasant
IS Summer and School streets to Main
q and thence to Music hall, where th
d address was delivered.
Is n. p. Bowman, president of the day
presided over the Music hall exercises
After selections by the Danville bant
IN and prayer by Rev. George H. Bale.
al of st. Andrews church, the speaker {
ze the day, Col. John R. Thompson wa
It. introduced by President Bowman. TIL
e. address was an eloquent tribute to th
he Intelligence, worth and valOr of th
to private soldier, followed with bri'
IN resume of the events that led up
and some of the results that followe