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

events imperishable elements; the ele-
ments of the infinite Justice; the ele-
ments sOfinalienable rights the elements
of superb patriotism; the elements of
undying affection. Into these events
poured the ministry of angels, the suf-
fering of man, the devotion of women,
and the helplessness of orphan chill
dren, all this flowed together to stand
forever in human memory.
If passing along on our beautiful
country roads you come to neat invit-
ing country home, house and yard,
fences and barn, garden and shrubbery
so inviting, the cheerful open door, the
blooming plants, and then the innocent
happy children, neat and clean, very
picture of comfort and security. Where
your eyes rest on such scene as that
think deeper than suns the sight, con-
cealed in that, and yet exposed in the
divine grandeur of it all, is sure to be
gentle, strong, devoted wife and moth
er, and soul in glory all its own.
so looking out upon the broad and
happy land, its peace and plenty, its
institutions and it's homes, it's indus
tries and its schools, its cities and its
fertile fields, look deeper than the mere
over which waves the emblem in stars
and stripes, beneath it all, in quiet
sleep the heroic dead, and all about it
in sleepless vigilance move the hOnOred
guard-our comrades growing old.
This makes memorable this day and it
stands forever, strong in those ele-
ments which God and angels and men
poured into the deeds, and events
which gave comfort and security to our
country.
Second, The world cannot forget
these events of the brave, because out
of that which gave us our hOnOred
dead sprang one of the most sublime
features of our American brotherhood
it gave birth to the Grand Army of
the Republic.
When Black Jack, of the fiery cam
paigns--John A. Logan-advocate
the scheme of the G. A. II. he touched
that tender, mystic chord woven on
many a battlefield, and now linking
thousands on earth with thousands of
the heavenly company.
Twenty-Five years ago affections forg-
ed like fine gold in the fierce fire of bat
tie, began to knit the soldiers into a
beautiful brotherhood, the flowers, the
songs, the prayers, the eulogies of this
day are but faint expressions of that
undying sympathy which, born OH field
in camp and in hospital will go on
cOmmemorating.
When you laid down your arms bid
ding officers and comrades good bye,
you turned to the toll of the times, you
did not forget one another, nor do you
today let grow cold that affection which
was kindled amidst that loneliness and
,.rf ffay.t rl,ar, hoe ha c.,
pie comforts of an army blanket upon
the cold form of fallen fellow, far
from home on the fatal field. You be-
came brothers in that hour of loneliness
and danger, and mothers who new
er saw you became loving mothers to
you, because you in kindness touched
down the dying eyes of their boy.
Surely the soldiers love for the sol
dier shall forever respond to that idea
on which the grand army is founded,
: the idea around which the women of
the Relief Corps plant their banners of
sympathy.
You are here today who remember
that when driven from the field by an
; on-coming charge the comrades carried
you with them, and placing you out of
danger, they returned to you, perhaps
after night, to bring you deliverance,
: and very lie itself. On sublimer SER
vice of human brotherhood than that
the stars of night never looked down
Born of such sentiment this memorial
, will live not only in flowers on the dead
comrades grave, but in helping touch
on the living comrades heart. Surely,
OH this battle field of life you will not
} abandon him to the enemy.
Last year at Rose Hill cemetery, Chi
cago, a white haired veteran STOPPING
over the headstones of his dead COM
rades to decipher the lettering, at last
read the name of one of his own mess
mates who fell at Shiloh. A painful
wall escaped the old soldiers lips "My
God, it is my old friend Jack, he saved
my life at the risk of his own, he bore
me from the field when wounded and
nursed me back to life," with this the
aged form stopped and with the sim
plicity of child kissed the green
mound containing the dust of his for
mer brother in arms; the silent sod
could conceal from sight soldier form
but God had kept affection beating in
the brOtherly bosom.
Third, One thing more that perpetu-
ates the memorial of the brave is the
fact that the very observance of it sOws
|
these motives and convictions to be
expressed in our social and civil life.
The glory of our laws and of our insti
tutions is to spring from the seed sown
on these days.
Every time the spring sun comes and
the May showers fall, we turn anew to
our fields and gardens, renewing the
harvests by fresh seeds. When under
the May sky of today we recall the sub
lime spectacle of the brave souls, we
open anew the sacred soil of patriot
ism scattering fresh seed for higher
citizenship.
There is a law that makes memo
rials become the seed of future civil
and political conditions. So this day
links us with our future as nation,
Just as the sower and reaper are linked
in the seeding and the harvest time of
cur fertile fields. Especially is this
true of you comrades of the G. "A. r.
as you stand linked with the Sons of
| Veterans.
| At Boston last summer 10000 s. of
V. followed the procession of G.. A. r.,
| literally i'm the steps of their fathers.