The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-06-05
Memorial Day.

and successfully carried out. The day was
perfect, the preparation adequate and no
accident to mar the occasion. The process
sion was formed on f. Main and Saginaw
streets with the K. of Z. i'm front, command
ed by Capt. Rorison, the Odd Fellows
Canton, the Owosso Military company, the
Arbeiter Verein, the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, Wilson Tent X. 0. L. NJ,
the Owosss Bicycle Club, the S. of ", w. r..
G. and Quackenbush G.. A. r. Post. Fol-
lowing these were two appropriately trim
med drays, one containing girls dressed in
white, representing the various states, the
second containing boys similarly represent
ing the states. The sidewalks on Washing
ton street were lined with people to witness
the procession and it was really pretty
sight, the perfect marching of the fraternal
and civic societies and the long line of
veterans who again seemed to be inspired
with the life that had made victory possible
on the hundreds of battlefelds. The pro-
gram was carried cut on the stand erected
on Gute's hill and was listened to by an
immense concOurse of people. After the
tribute of flowers had been paid to the
heroes resting in the cemetery, the service
of the day was finished. Below is given
the able address delivered by the Rev. j. r.
ReitZel:
When on the 10Th day of Nov, 1868,
Abraham Lincoln rose to deliver that
wonderful speech at Gettysburg an
artist determined to secure a photo of
the scene, with Lincoln addressing the
mass of people. He was seen adjusting
his apparatus, getting focus, just as
the illuStriOuS speaker rose, but before
speaker had ended and his words had
| nrt Of or
tence of that speech will furnish the
key to what | have to say today: "The
world will little note, nor long remem-
ber what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here"
The first part of this saying sprang
| from the simple mOdesty of the great
speaker, forgetful of self he was dwell
ing on the significance of that event
which filled the many thousands Of
graves.
The western world, however, will go
on repeating what it's greatest states
man said on that day, and we To-Day
come to emphasize especially the truth
of the last portion of his saying-the
world can never forget what the brave
men did, not only on Gettysburg, but
on the more than 200 fields of battle.
Here today, as all over these constant
ly loyal states, thousands refresh their
minds, renewing their determination
that the world shall always keep sacred
the memory of it's brave soldiers. When
we shall cease to respect the preserv-
ers of the nation, the nation will not
long hold the respect of the world, but
in the very nature of things this ma
jestic memorial national Sabbath
shall continue with ever refreshed
meaning.
There is one main question which
we may well discuss under the cir
cumstances of this day, namely: What
is the likelihood of this memorial day
continuing as perpetual reminder OF
| what they did, whose memory we hon
or? What reason have we to hope that
the nation shall always remember
them? And if this memorial is to be
perpetuated, what may we expect from
it, will it prove to be of any perpetual
significance?
The perpetual fruits of the tropics
are always coming and going because
the fruit-producing conditions are un
interrupted, so with this memorial, il
it is to be perpetual the conditions fol-
producing it, and the outflow from il
must be uninterrupted.
Then comes the question are the ele.
ments which enter into and make brave
deeds, and heroic events memorable
are these elements such as are natural
ly perpetuated by human nature-will
social and civil society choose to keep
these elements alive? and If so, will
that 90 forth from these memorial OBJ.
servances which may be recognized as
wholesome to us, who are the civil and
political heirs of the brave and heroic
When we seek for laws, and condi-
tiOns. and results which make memOr-
able events features of perpetual his
tory we readily discover that memorials
are not accidents, but come by that law
which gathers up certain thoughts and
actions of men and expresses them in
certain form. The very method of civili-
zation is that process which gathers up
these thoughts and actions and re-ex-
presses them in emblems, monuments,
and institutions, so that the valor, and
heroism of the soul today is kindled by
the thoughts and actions of the past.
Every true soul of man is too great to
dwell i'm the present merely, it dwells
midst the glory of the past, and charges
unto the cOnquests of the future. ou
and / today catch the fire from the
brave souls flashing in the history of
thirty years ago, and thus push for
ward into nobleness to come.
This is why Lincoln's words, "The
world can never forget what they did
here" are so true,
First. Because there entered into
those events, and deeds, the elements
which God, angels and men combine
to keep alive. We speak of goods, or
fabrics having fast color, neither
sunshine nor exposure will fade it, so
with the deeds of the brave, neither
sunshine, nor storms, neither human
calamity nor death will change the
complexion of our national memorial.
The ingratitude of some, the indiffer-
ence of others and the greed of many
may let them go fishing with late
President on our national memorial
day, but while God exists, while angels
minister and while men breathe the air
ofnobleness, there shall always be given
to our brave soldiers "a cheer for the
living and tear for the dead For
when they gave their bravery to make
the heroic events, they gave to those