Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-06-03
MEMORIAL DAY.
Sacred 60 the Soldier Dend---HOw Rrnt-
tlebOrO Observed the Day---The Pub
lie school Exercises.


lie school Exercises.
The services in memory of the heroes of
lS61-64, who fought in defence of their
country and flag, began on Sunday, when
the Grand Army, Woman's Relief corps,
Sons of Veterans and Ladies' Aid society
attended service at the Methodist church
and listened to strong address appropri-
ate to the occasion, delivered by the pas
tor, Rev. A. II. Webb, his text being
Romans XIV, :: "FOr none of us liveth to
himself and no man dieth to himself"
Suitable music was rendered by the chorus
choir with a duet by Miss orion and Mrs
Eddy, and cOrnet solo by Mr.. Scwal
Morse. In the afternoon, as usual, dele
cations from Sedgwck post visited Yer
non, West Dummerston, GulfOrd and
Guilford Centre, and with floral tributes
and the colors for which these fallen COM
rades gave their service and lives decked
the graves of soldiers in those places.
Monday dawned with threatening sky,
and the threats were not vain, for at noon
a heavy rain set in, which continued till the
the days exercises were closed At o
A. NJ. the cemetery at West Brattleboro
was visited, where prayer was offered by
Rev Mr.. Smith, a brief address given by
Principal Shaw, the closing prayer and
dismissal being by Rev. Asa Clark.
At o'clock the old soldiers and mem
bers of other bodies, led by the First Reg
iment band, marched to the town hail.
and filed into the seats reserved for them
Despite the unfavorable weather the hall
was filled, the platform, as usual, being oc-
cupied by prominent citizens, members of
the clergy, the speakers and members of
the Grand Army A selection by the band
opened the exercises, followed by prayer
by Rev. w. II. Collins. A mixed quartet,
composed of Misses Kirwan and Veet,
Messrs. Markham and Charles Brasor gave
an appropriate song at this point, and add
ed much to the effectiveness of the day.
exercises by this and other selections rem
dered. Then came a recitation by Miss
Willard, pupil of the public schools, re-
peated by request from the school exercises
held on Friday. 1t was entitled "The
sleeping sentinel and was given with
much spirit and force Mrs. johnson. a
former New Hampshire girl, now of Bos-
ton, gave the familiar "Gettysburg' with
a dash and vim that moved the entire au-
dience. Here Col. II. +. Taylor was in
PRODUCED to bring up a matter nadvertent-
ly overlooked in the Sunday service. 4
collection had been called for by the
state department commander to be taken
on Memorial Sunday to aid in the COM
pletion of the chapel now in progress of
construction at the Soldiers Home at Ben
nington. The collection. taken at this
time, amounted to some $50.
\ burst Of applause greeted the orator,
Capt. c. IL. Butfam of the Boston Herald
staff, member of the l4th New Hamp-
shire regiment, as he advanced to the
front of the platform to address the audi
ence. The address which he gave was elo-
quent and able, mastery both in compost
ton and delivery, and the more delightful
for being rather out of the beaten track of
such discOurses. His theme was ''The true
soldier Frequent and prolonged applause
testified TO the speakers skill in reaching
the hearts of his comrades and other hear
ers and he was cheered to the echo as he
concluded. very respectful and fitting
recognition of the war governor of Yer
mont, Gov. Holbrook, who sat upon the
platform, one of the three surviving gov
errors OF that stormy period in the ma
tons life, was gracefully given by the
speaker In brief his address was this.
with the opening and closing paragraphs
practically entire:
The soldier Is the ideal man Humanity must
construct its ideals ont of existing conditions.
II man were what lee is not: If this world w-r.
some other world, then out from entirely differ
cut conditions, the race might lit another ideal
We st mp the standard of the superlltive man ON
that field where the greatest Of mankind have
wrought their npbest In the chiefest need of their
| country and their time. No great boon to uuu
| comes without a struggle; and the bruut of this
| struggle Is borne by the soldier. Save in the
stress of war, We apologize for the soldiers and
the soliIrriy idea. Referring to the great war.
We pitronzr our citizen soldier. with overyhelni-
ing stress on the citizen. We think Of our
dead as Winning fame fame in temporary condition,
on transient field. the whole tremendous Incl
dent lamrntahle, but inevitable This occasion is
protest against all such charaCterilatiuns Of the
| service We commemorate. We consider them to-
day a shining part OF the permanent essential
highest force of historic time. As a man. let his
community respect him; as husband, father.
branch, treasure this bright strong link in their
generations; as citizen, let every teeming indus
try he his monument. our, duty is peculiar, our
privilege singular. As a soldier he marched with
us; as a soldier he rendered his last, superlative
service; aS soldier, we revere him, glorify his
record, and crown his memory.
The speaker then gave and illustrated
the following as the qualities and charac-
teristics of the true soldier: The soldier is
peerless as the example of energy: he is
the highest eXemplifcation of human dis
cipline; he alone can dissolve the obstinate
elements in the vast terrestrial aembic (:
the true soldier endures injustice and oblo-
guy loyalty; he is the most notable exam
pie of unselhshness and self abnegaton :
he reduces pretension to the lowest terms ;
the soldier imortaliZes genuine worth: he
must evince the sublmest hope and conf
dence reached in the whole range of hui
man feeling: the greatest soldier abhors
war; he eXalts moral as well as military
greatness; he realizes the worth and honor
of high service; the soldier is obliged to
recognize and act upon all the facts: he
enforces the rights of man; the soldierly
idea ennobles men; the soldier has asserted,
vindicated American manhood; he is the
ultimate and indispensable force of civil
lied mankind; he recognizes, obeys, main
tains the higher power, both earthly and
heavenly
Can the soldier he dispensed with in times of
| peace In vast aggregatons uniformed and with
! bayunets yes, But what is the soldiers highest
! vocation, and what do YOU mean hy war and
| peace The soldier COnserYes institutions and
cnntronts anarchic dynamite. Where on earth is
there peace! At what period Of mans past
! We're there dangerous forces more numernus and
gigantic than those which tower and lower
straight ahead in the path Of peaceful American
| destiny The qualities of the soldier can alone
conquer the future. For the sake of government
for the sake of home and society, for the sake of
manhood the soldier ideal must be maintained
| supreme, unsued.
When cheap men die the wealth of
| thlS peoples sorrow is not poured out Precious
blood brings the tears of the soul. At the shrine
OF unpolluted valor we repeat the sincere Offering
| OF mighty people. On twice a thousand battle
| fields the bodies of our brave are Wondering
! We join with all who admire strength esteem
| yalor, love patriotism and ceave to honor in
! Hgltlng atreSh sweet incense at the tomb of the
! soldier who stood between the nation and lis
| grave and made indubitabe the strength the ius
tice, and the welfare of this Union.
Al the pODplngiop If tba a1Ir,ec Al,