Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-25
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Impressive Exercises at the First
Baptist Church.
The VariOas Grand Army O,gauiza
tiOns Partieipa e-Dr. Taylur's
Discourse

Buford post 243. G. A r and Relief
corps aud John Morris camp 3l5. Sons of
Veterans, held interesting and impress,
sive memorial services at the First Bap-
fist church yesterday morning. The Or
CARNATIONS assembled at G.. A. R. hall
aud marched together to the church,
seats having been reserved for them. The
ediice was appropriately decorated.
Muskets were stacked on either side of
the pulpit, which was beautifully adorned
with flowers. The national colors pret-
THY draped formed part of the decora.
tons. Rev. DR.. c. E Taylor. pastor,
conducted the ceremonies, and preached
an able sermon.
DR.. Taylor took his text from Deute-
ronomy Sc
And thou shelf remember all the way which the
Lord thy God led thee.
Also Hebrews 1922
But call to remembrance the former DAYS
The gathering of flowers the fairest
Our nations grand mandate to keep;
The binding of wresths and garlands
To scatter where loved ones slice
The sweetest trophies OF springtime
We cast on their hallo~ed dust.
Thus DR.. Taylor began his discourse.
Then he said, 10 a few days the various
posts of the G. A. R. throughout our
land. assisted by citizens OF all classes
and parties and OF every religious faith,
will gather and march with lowered flags,
mutfled drums and solemn tread TO the
cemeteries and wreath With the flowers of
May, the mounds beneath which sleep the
dust of those WHO gave their lives for
country. No eloquence of speech can so
move the heart of the soldier as does the
memory of his fallen comrades. No
flowers of rhetoric compose so worthy a
crown for the memory of that comrade as
the flowers Of spring By common i'm
pulse the national heart has come to
recognize it as fitting that We pause one
day in each recurring year to rememb Der
those who, when the tocsin of war
sounded and the serpent of treason Kissed
in our ears, did not hesitate. bat an
svered their countrys call with their lives:
1t is fitting to remember them for their
own slkes. They We're when the
cal TO arms came, among the busy peace
fu. citizens OF this republic, engaged in
the common avocations of life. Men who
had home and loved ones TO live for, who
had hopes and plans for llfe's struggles !
AMI successes. War to them was the
sundering of the dearest ties. They knew
that war meant the wearisome march, and
prIvations. War meant the life DESTROY.
ing collision of contendiug. the shell. un>
seen bullets, open mouthed cannon. 1t
meant force, anguish, bloodshed and
death. They were not hireings, but in
telligent, thoughtful earnest men, who
felt the inspiration OF ii great political
ano moral principle and answered the
call of duty, stern daughter of the voice
of God Such men ought never to be
forgotten. They will be remem bered for
their splendid deeds, and the fame of the
great generals, Will Live in the institutions
of the country. speak in its laws and be
perpetuated By their achievements.
When Sumpter was taken came the call
for IS 900 men. The fife and drum beat
the call to arms. Illinois furnished 259,-
went. Many never returned Their
bones bleached in The wilderness and on
the ChickahominnY. They were among
those who stotmed the heights of Fred
ericksburg.
1t is now more than one-fourth of
century since the conflict of arms ceased
Those who returned from the war en-.
tereo again the common avocations of
1iFa Thar ha5
definite Purpose. That purpose accom-
piIsed, they said:
This hand TO treason ever sworn the foe
ForfreedOm only deals the deadly blow
tt en- sheathed in calm repose the vengeful
For gentle peace is freedoms hallowed
shade, -
Blu; why need we of today recall that
struggle and the men engaged il it? Was
not the late war mere conflict of war
ring PARTIES who allowed passion to lead
them into fratrici3sl, murderOus war,
a mere conflict of selfish interests which
1t were well to forget? So some would
have us believe. The passion, misiudg-
ments, harsh language and misunder-
standings we would have buried We
hope there Will be henceforth no sec
tional divisions. No patriot, much less
CHRISTIAN, can sanction any word or act
calculated :oNtsn into flame the embers |
OF passion. But we ought to be able to |
rise sufficiently above the mis.s, fogs and |
oNndlng power of passion and pref udice |
to discern the principles of righteousness.
liberty, progress and truth and separate |
these from their opposites. Nor should |
the discussion of these questions be left |
wholly to politicians aud partisan orators |
There Is no day more fitting on which IN |
recall these events than the Sabbath. and |
no place more appropriate than the house
of God. The north and south were mot