Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-05-25
EArHER pueeANs SERMON.

After the Death of Martyr There Is No
More Glorious Death Than That of the
Patriot Soldfer.''
Following their usual custom of lis
tening to q memorial address each year
in one of the city churches, the Wad-
hams post, g. A. R., and representatives
of the Women's Relief corps, attended
the vesper service in st Patrick's
church last evening at which the pastor,
Rev j.. I'll. Duggan, paid a touching
tribute to the fallen heroes of war and
their surviving comrades.
my dear friends" began the speaker,
ssit is your pious custom first to present
yourselves at the church and then at the
graves of your departed comrades,
showing that you are united in the love
of God and the love of your country,
two of the noblest qualities that could
possess the human heart. Let us COM
mune together over your fallen COM
radeS and draw some lessons from their
glorious deeds.
ssWhen the nation was in imminent
danger; when powerful rebellion was
entered upon for the maintenance of
one of the foulest stains upon the cOun-
| ry's name, 2,000,0 900 brave men rushed
to the battle field, leaving home, and
wives, and children, everything near
and dear, in order to save their country.
When we contemplate the sacrifices
they made it is no wonder that the
nation is full of gratitude and comes
nobly forward to help those who fought
and suffered for preservation"
The speaker then referred to the good
work that is being done by the Women's
| Relief corps and said that where men
lead there women follow and often
where men hardly dare go will noble
woman be found.
fta. the Iaofh Of fpT fhnro &c
no more glorious death than that of the
patriot soldier. Then go and decorate
those sacred graves. The whole nation
| joins in the pious work. Strew upon
them sweet-smelling flowers, natures
offering to Gods heroes. They remind
| us that the flower of the manhood of a
quarter of century ago lie buried un-
der the green sward of the cemeteries
and battIefields. And when you return,
tell your children that when your coun-
try was in danger, when slavery was
from every quarter to lay down theil
lives for the union. Tell them above
all, to be good, honorable, honest, up.
right citizens, for with these traits the
country will be safe. Let us thank God
| for his protection in the hour of oui
need; for having inspired the desire tC
\ wipe out the 1oul stain of slavery.
| ANA nnally, my IflenQS, let Gnefe De
no disunion. Let there be no intoler
ance, no bigotry, because all our inter
ests are in common. Let us never for
get that when our flag was in danger
every nation and every creed was repre-
sented on the battlefield-the greer
grass springs from their comminglet
dust on the field of Gettysburg. Let III
all be equal partakers in the glory o.
the achievement. Your custom of an
nually gathering together in churcl
shows clearly that the heart of til,
American people is christian.
81 would impress on the minds of thu
youth to guard faithfully the treasure
that was purchased at such great cost
Be loyal, faithful, sober and conscien
tious. When the first rumor of seces
sion began the cloud was no larger thar
the mans hand, but it grew till it cast {
shadow of gloom over the entire land
Therefore let us beware of the slightes
disunion. Let us look to the granC
future. Let us never forget those whit
were willing to die and those who die
lay down their lives in defense of oul
common country.p
i The church was crowded during tn,
exercises and special musical pro
gramme was rendered by the choir, til,
soloists being Miss B. Coogan anC
Messrs DAILY, Grimes and Thurman. TIL,
hymn America" was sung as the veter
ans filed out of the church.