The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-05-29

They are good--nothing is too good-but
what is BEST
On the coming decoration day my friends
and comrades, you will march to yonder
cemetery bearing eulogies and histories and
monuments, but you will carry flowers
which you will place upon the graves of all
our loved Ones. These will do more to keep
alive their memories than the costliest shaft
that we can rear above their tombs. Monh'
ments are cold, unfeeling, silent-the SUN
does not warm them-tha earth does not
nourish them-the birds do not feed upon
them-but flowers live and breathe and
speak-ft symbols to express the hearts
tenderest emotions and deepest affections.
Looking around the church this morning;
seeing flowers in Hreaths, flowers in hoquets,
and flowers in crosses; it speaks. not only
of memories of the past, but of anticipations
of the future. YOU say these flowers will
fade-yes-but perchance We may see them
again. They may be ithuiortal-who
knows but the fragrance of the flowers may
be che spirit of the fown-the body Of the
| flower dies on earth and its spirit may
appear in better worlds. I do not say it
| will be so;' 1 only say it may be SO. My
! friends the ancestors of these flowers were
born in Paradise-these apostles Of beauty
| came down in the regular line of apostolic
succession. The world started with Eden;
| it will end with Eden. Heaven is called
| Paradise Of God-Paradise means flowers
and should not be surprised if at last we
can pick up daisy, or a lily, or rose, or a
pausy on the everlasting hills and hear it
say, 81 am one of the glorifed towers of
| earth. Don't you remember me? wor-
shipped with you one Sabbath morning IN
| Corvallis. You carried me on that desora-
tion day and laid ME very tsnderly and
lovingly above that soldiers grave. And
you too, my child, dropped me on dear
departed mother or fathers sepulcher that
day, or your mother left me to sleep on the
silent mound of your sweet darling babe
perhaps some precious child of older years,
and You father, friend, brother; husband;
wife, bore me in your hands very gently
that day and laid me very softly Oh the
tomb of your loved one.
Oh! bring more fowers-wreaths OF
fiowers-wreaths them; plant thenf; braid
them: strew them all around. Thank God
for the lessons of memorial and decoration
days-lessons of loving remembrance Of
those who sleep the silent sleep-lessons
that are making If our Cemeteries IN Ill oui
land, gardens of flowers and beauty-lessons
, which teach our children the sweetness and
sacredness of the memory If the departed
Again, if We listen to the voice of ou1
dead heroes, they will say together-peace
peace-let peace forever reign throughout
our broad and beautiful land-enough o
dessolation-enough of bereavement
enough of suffering of blood. By
all the sacrifices of the past-by all thu
hopes and homes of the future; these he
, rees plead with us to settle our future quar-
rels by the pen rather than by the sword
by the council father thai by contendin'
armies.
NV friends, the time has surely come TO
all political parties to give up their grudges
Those who fought and fell are at peace
y they now sleep in the strange and slien
brotherhood of death. The boys in blue, All
> the bows in grey, now rest their heads upol
the same pillow of clay. May we cate
$ something of their spirit of harmony an
= peace. Let US praise God that such day
as these and decoration day are cementin
forever, more closely, more firmly, NOR
dearlv. the once severed states and hearts
Soldiers of the North clasp soliiers of tn
South in friendly greeting. Over and owe
;, again they will sit around the same board
sbout the same camp fire, and tell the stor
and recall the Scenes of their separat
struggles. They sufereditogether and the
: rejoice together.
believe that the annual decoration {
50 soldiers graves, if rightly and judicious'
~ observed, has tendency to promote an
;: perpetuate lasting peace. BY this custol
all true citizens. north and south, east an
west try to cover the ugly scars of wa
= with beautiful floral tributes and make OF
cemeteries gardens of flowers.
IS Every one who takes or sends flow
re next Decoration Day, by that act adds OF
e. link to the chain Which will bind this who
ct land together.
er We will permit no foreign government
nut the chain of despotism about US.
e; will permit no rebellious citizen to p'
q. shackles on onr God given freedom.
# Again, from the graves of our fall'
w heroes come voices saying, Hold fast
W the principles tor which we died" Oh, ho
We eloquently they speak of the Value of Of
of liberties and the great cost of our free i
IS? stitutions Dear friends, let US receive the
in message as a high and solemn trust. "L
9. us see to it" as our great Lincoln has sal
n, "tbat our dead have DOT died in vain"
to need not tell you that we are living
a. extraordinary times. These years of peac
We full prosperity are pivot on which is tur
ut ing the nations future. We may hear /
At mutterings of war. but for all that, o