Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-31

The morning Of Memorial day opened
clear, but the afternoon exercises were
snmew hat interfered with 10y rain which
began falling at about the hour Of assem-
bling
A detachment Of the Grand Army post,
consisting Of about - members, visited
West Brattleboro in the forenoon. where a
procession was formed ON the common
about 10 o clock, and headed by the West
Brattleboro band, marched 10 the GENE
terry. Here exercises were held as follows
Dirge by the hand
Address by Rev. +. : Smith
Reading " poem by Mr.. J I. tioodrnough
Prayer by Prof II II Shaw
decoration Of graves
B-nedictiou 10y Rev II BAbbitt
The goodly number of people in attendance
showed a general interest in the exercises.
At two clock the town hall was filed in
every part with those who gathered to lis
ten to the Grafton and other exercises. Post
Sedgwlck, the relief corps and Sons Of Vet
Grams occupying the body Of the house in
front. Canton Palestine. which attended
IN body, occupied seats IN the rear Of the
veterans. The band opened with selec-
ton, Rev Mr.. Day offered PRAYER. aud "A
male quartet sang memorial hymn. Com
rade Selleck, who presided, then introduced
Comrade Geo T. Childs Of st. Adams as
orator of the occasion.
Col. ChiIds's Address.
All the blessings Of Republican form of
government, the speaker said, are ours to
enjoy and ours to transmit unimpared H.
our children 10y Reason Of the courage aud
devotion of the men whose memories we
have assembled today 10 honor, and upon
whose graves We are soon TO strew the
sweet flowers Of early spring For nearly
quarter of century the story of their
fidelity has claimed the eager service of or
ator and the lesson of their unselfish pat
riotism has touched the pen Of inspiration
1t is part Of the benefcent plan of the
Heavenly Father that the sorrows and pri.
vatiuns of our lives are soonest forgotten.
and memory dwells rather upon what has
been brightest and farest When the regi.
ments came marching home again twenty
four years ago, it Is no wonder our hearts
we're bitter but today, in our unchanged
sorrow for the loss Of our brave ones. we
realize that they died not for us alone, but
for the Republic, and with the sorrow there
mingles prayer Of thank sgiving that they
have not died in vain,
The custom Of appropriately honoring the
memory of those Who died in preserving
nations life is much older than the
Grand Army-older indeed, than the Re
public. This is illustrated by the pyramids
of Egypt, the we'll tombs of Peru where
sleep the descendants Of the children Of
the sun, and the mausoleums Of ancient
times. All history recounts lavish eXpen-
diture of time aud wealth and energy in
marking the resting places Of the brave.
or all the ceremonies to which this senti-
ment has given birth, none is more touch
ing aud beautiful than this of the Grand
Army. Without any Legislative enactment
but simply on an order from the command
er of the Grand Army, a whole people glad
ly united 10 honor their heroes. while from
thousands of homes whose light went out
when soldier fell, and around whose fam
ly altar there is a vacant chair, loving kin
dred and friends had gathered, and to every
loyal heart throughout the land there comes
throb of tender gratitude TO those who
died for the redemption of the Republic.
A brief sketch Of the history and pur
poses of the Grand Army of the Republic
was here given, and the speaker continued
by saying that it is urged by some that a
public observance like that of Memorial
day tends TO foster feeling of hostility To
those who wore the gray and to prevent
that perfect reconciliation between the two
sections which is So necessary TO our devel-
opment and progress ; yet he could not be
lieve that 1t was our duty to the present.
nor To those who are to come after US 10
forget or ignore the principles by which our
comrades were animated We realize that
true patriotism not alone guards the memo
ry OF those who defended the right, but is
torglving and generous toward the erring
The record of unfaltering courage is not
written alone Of those who have died in de
fence of the right. Men have died as
bravely in defence of error The purpose
OF the day is not alone To pay grateful trib
ute to those who died, but 10 ennoble the
cause for which they gave their precious
lives
The speaker illustrated this by calling at
tention 70 the decoration of the graves of
the blue and the gray, which he cordially
approved, yet believed that the perfume
that arose from the flowers that we're scat
tered today upon the graves Of our departed
was an incense common only 10 those who
died in defence Of the Republic: and 10 MS
these honored graves, with each returning
anniversary, reneW the lesson of fidelity III
government whose corner stone is free.
dom.
Let love replne, let reason chat.
There comes a Nocr without r-uIy
i Is man. 5 perdition u he safe
he RIGHT h.. -