The morning call., 1891-05-31
OBSERVED BY
THOMAS POST.
Appropriate Services Held at the
Grand Opera House.
A Carefully Prepared Programme Carried Out
in the Presence Of Large and Repre-
sentative Audience.
At least 25OO people responded TO che inyi-

At least $500 people responded to the invi-
tation of George III. Thomas Post, G. 4. r.,
last night. to participate in the observance
OF Memorial day. 1t was a representative
audience throughout, and among those
present were many of the most highly re-
speeted and best-known citizens of San
Francisco.
On the stage, in addition to those who
took part in the programme, were General
John Ii. Dickinson and staff, Mayor Sander
son and 1G0 men from the Second Artillery.
Occupying boxes were Governor Markham
and staff General Thomas II. Ruger, Gen.
eral Hawkins and General Dimond and
staff
The vast theater had been beautifully
decorated for the occasion. The columns in
the vestibule we're literally covered with
the leaves Of the palm, while the interior OF
the auditorium was glad with flowers and
bunting. In the middle of the stage and
facing the audience was a life-sized oil
painting of General George III. Thomas,
surmounted by a wreath of eyergreens and
heavily draped with silk flags. To thu left
upon an easel rested huge floral piece,
worked in Peoples, chrysaDthemums and
roses, representing the badge of the Grand
Army. On either side they were flsnked by
Stduuo Vi dIHlS anu uIuu1o, Wulio dOOfS Ilc
stage were suspended two huge Aags,
draped In such way as not to obstIuct the
view oil the back of the stage, which was
banked with palms and decorated with ban
ners of various sizes. Flags were also
draped across the front of the stage-b0xes,
and the tri-color was festooned in gaTfands
back to the galleries.
THE EXERCISES.
When the Park Band Orchestra had rem
dered the overture, plantation Songs"
Commander j. M. Litchfeld introduced
Rev. j. Sanders Reed, who delivered the
opening prayer. and was followed By the
Masonic Quartet, who sang a chant applo-
pirate TO the occasion.
The " Assembly" was sounded Oh the
bugle, and as the last notes died away.
Homer b. Sprague was introduced and
made the opening remarks. He referred
briefly 20 the deeds of the men in whose
honor the ceremonies were being observed,
and spoke feelngly of the causes which had
contributed to the Inauguration of Memo
rial day.
The quartet favored the audiene; with
Honor the Brave" and tho bugle sounded
the Officers Call" The singing of The
StaT-Spangled Banner" by Sonora de SEMI
mario followed. and twice was she called
back, as was also H0lbroOk Blinn, whe re-
cited, with great deal of feeling, Fred
Emerson Brooke's poem, Sherman'S
March,"
COUlEdueS, we come OHce more, was
rendered by the quartet, and General w.
II. l.. Barnes read the original prize poem,
entitled Gods Unknown" which had been
written for the occasion by Mrs. c. c. Bate
man, from which the following is selected:
GODS UNKNOWN.
Where prayers ara few-no tear-dropS Shed
Above the lonely nameieSs dead
My sweetest buds are stTown;
1 weave my roses in a crown.
And lay the fragrant blossoms down,
Where sleep the brave unknown.
A garland twined of rarest howrs
Whose petals fall In rosy show'rs;
Let friendships chain be thrown
Around our laud, till East aud West
Shall decorate their place OF rest
Remember the unknown.
pray when comes the Grand Review,
And each true soldier-Gray and Blue
Shall stand before the throne:
When sounds the rolI-call loud and clear,
That every soul shall answer " Here"
And be counted with the Known.
Boots and Saddles" was then sounded
the orator of the evening. Charles A. Wood
ruff, who said in substance
wooDRUFF's GRAFTON.
| Twenty-sIx years ago the most gigantic and
] causeless rebellion OF history was crushed, the
Union saved, human slavery abolished, national
I supremacy established and there was peace all
And a grateful nation Instituted Memorial
1
| and for The purpose OF IGNORING and preserving
| the memory OF her noble and gallant sons, whose
/ deaths made way for liberty; dedcating il to
| the memory OF the 10000 whO after lingering
| struggle with famine aud disease died IN prison
/ pen; TO the memory OF those slain IN desperate
| assault at Frederick sbuTg; of those whose HES
| blood drench the glacis az Yicksburg; OF those
| who fell on Chckaniauga's bloody held; of those
| who were lowered over the ships dark side or
| sleep cOtlned within the iron walls they had so
| nOblv defended; OF those who lay on GeLtYs-
burgs historic heights with their feet TO The foe
| and their faces 10 God who made them silent
| witnesses of the sacrifices patriots will make for
| the land they love; 10 the memory CT tile
| 145, 900 who, while they sleep IN graves
marked unknown" were each one OF those uDon
| whom our Union leaned for support In It's hour OF
| trial. one of the stones In that living wall be-
| tween the bayOnets OF rebellion aud the life OF
| the uatioh. The Government eOnsecrated this
| day to the memory Of the 100000 brave men
| who made this ranSomed soil their grave, dying
| for you and me, kind friends-dyng for the
| right, fighting for tile Union.
| Ii has bren said that our order and these e1-
| erelses serve 10 perpetuaIe sectional hatred.
| God forbid that you or should be guilty OF con-
| trlbutng TO such result. know that no man
| WHO shOuldered a musket and marched 10 the
'front.' or with heart and voice and purse nGself-
ishiy worked tor the success of he Union
| cause can entertain such an opinion, AMI do
| not cannot believe that any man who to-day
| truly loves this Union can think that II Is un-
| patrIotic for us 10 commemorate the glorious
| achievements of those who died for This country.
NOT POLITICAL QUESTION.
This is not question of politics, but Of right
| ana Justice Ii the Union was worth saving;
II The light of national sef-pIeseFvdtlou exists
| then il Is plainly our duty, the duty OF every
| good citizen of these United States to perpetuata
| the memory OF those who died TO save this Gov
| ernment.
| / shall not detract from the fighting IF the
| Confederates. 1t was superb; l shall not Gepre-
| claie their physical courage, IL was grad; l
| shall not disparage their self-sacrihee, IL was
| heroic But II Is our dead-the nations dead
| those who died fighting for, not against, our flag
| for, not against, the United States-whom we
| meet to honor tonight. Our dead? Yes, my
| friends they are our dead-yOurs, mine-they
| belong to every one who sincerely loves this
| Union, for without the sacrifice they made our
| Union w0ud not exist.
! In the grandest records OF patriotism yoG can
| find nothing that surpasSes the devoted patriot
| ism OF America, that voluntarily sent 400 900
citizens 10 their q ave. in defense OF our land.
But above the hero and the pattiOt the frurien Of
| their hopes made them The sayiOrs OF the nation.
| Heavens stern decree had ordained that only
| through blood could we reach our proud station
| of a free republic ana these hrroes and patriots
| offered themselves as the sacrifice 10 secure
| national salvation.
| JUSTICE OF THE CAUSE
| While we deprecate any action that may serve
| to keep alive In the mind OF any reasonable
| friend of this Union the animOsities OF the war,
| we should just as strongly condemn all dispost-
| ton to ignore the complete justice Of the
national cause; all attempts 10 confuse the right
| and wrong of the conflict. The perpetuity of our
Government rests upon that principle OF national
supremacy for which the F. deral soldier fought.
| In foFgRt 10 honor the memory OF those who