Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-06-02
Memorial Day in Ellsworth.

Memorial Day brought many people from
the suburbs and surrounding towns to thi,
city, to participate in the observance OF
those appropriate exercises with which We
honor the departed soldiers.
During the forenoon attachments from
the G. A R. Post visited the severa
cemeteries to place the flags and fora
tributes upon the graves of their dead
comrades.
The procession formed iu front of Grand
Army Hall in post-office square at abou,
two O'Clock In the afternoon The out-of
door program was necessarily omitted on
account Of the unsuitableness of the
weather. The fife and drum corps led the
way acting as an escort to the G. A. r.
Post which followed on. In the rear. the
prettiest sight Of all marched multitude
of little school-boys. each bearing a bou.
quet Of flowers. In spite of the mud and
rain the procession marched with slow and
measured tread to Hancock Hall where the
exercises of the day were held. Solemnly
they filed up the steps and took their seats.
a great crowd following. and soon the hall
was filed to Overlooking. The school
boys carefully placed their flowers on the
stage in front. Commander NJ. S. Smith.
acted as master of ceremonies
In the rear of the stage was choir of
ten voices. consisting of Mrs. Dora Hop
kns. Miss Mary Stockbridge. Miss Mary
F. Hopkins, Miss Maude Phillips, Mrs.
Flora Lewis, J. II. Brimmer, A. W. King,
c. A. Allen, f. +. Redman. o. W. Tapley !;
Mrs. Sarah Hall was the pianist. The
program was opened with a selection from
the choir. Rev. Mr. Garland, pastor Of
the Free Baptist church, offered prayer,
which was followed by another musical
selection Commander Smith then adj
dressed the Post and the audience, briefly
spoke of the occasion and introduced Rev.
the day. He said
Twenty-four years ago that great citi-
zen, noble soldier and distinguished states
man. John A. Logan, issued an order as
commander-in-chief of the Grand Army
of the Republic. setting apart May 30th OF
each year, to be devoted TO decorating it'll
flowers the graves of the noble men who
died in defence Of their country
To-day the American people are stand
ing where the dead heroes sleep, and over
these graves sixty millions are unified
Go where you will to-day and you will see
the sons and daughters OF proud America
with loving hands and grateful memories
casting enblems of sweet affection upon
the graves which hold the dust Of this
nations heroic dead. To my mind, no day
but that when Jesus Christ burst the
barriers Of death and opened the grave
and thereby brought JOY and gladness out
of eternal darkness and sorrow can be
more sacred and holy than this day set
apart for such purpose
You, my comrades, call to mind to-day
the heroic deeds of men, of women. yes.
OF children, in those then so dark but now
SO glorious, days.
Beaten bsck I'm many fray,
Yet newer strength they borrow
And v here the vanguard camped to-day
The rear would rest tomorrow"
They could not bear that this great ex.
pertinent 10 which the eyes OF the nations
had been turned for so many years should
be a failure. The speaker then quoted
from Webster and Clay showing the clouds
thai bad 80 long hing over n. sna.inr
and following down .hrnuyb ~. vasr. no
showed how the cloud Increased notil ,ha
mobile Lincoln found /, nac.ss.rv 20 cau
for volunteers n. ;heD nsir,.d IN .la.
orent words tn. nic.ure of tho vo,n,,..rs
leaving their loved Northern homes. many
of them never to return, He paid tribute
to the noble women who so fear lessly bore
their mart in IN. army 81 hrav. h.a,,.
.patriotisn WA. ma, only saen smor,
those whose guns giis,.ned her..,b
Southern .un. IL vas seen In TN, ln,,.ly
homes where ,oiled these wives snd
mothers dnrjng those weary ve,-s Of
watching and waiting"
He then said that we can in no better
way honor our heroic dead than by imita-
ting their virtues. and while We NAV not
be called upon to die for our country ".
are daily called upon to lire for it. The
DAYS Of the peril OF our country are not ali
In the past A plumber of the dangers
which threaten our free institutions were
then touched upon, among them being the
drink curse, sabbath desecrstion, etc.
He then showed how in and through all
the past the hand of the Almighty could
be traced in bringing the world TO It's
present state Of civilization. but that il
had always been through human nstru-
mentality There had been a Moses for
the delIversnce Of the children of Israel
and every period of reform down through
the ages had found its leader And Abra-
ham Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, Mcclellan
ana the thousands OF Others were instru-
-. an ar,'.aa - 80, -. ','e ~. ~:
efforts were and could have been success
fUl only by the aid of the thousands Of the
hoys IN oiue whose hses ana death We
~, -, =, ~ /" ~ "e,e ,hus
,beir leader. So in the. nrohlem. ~ "a.
day God will raise up leaders. and let Us
taur> meet These prooieths ana De deter
~ ~, s,,,knf ~ ornf,aara.asha
sI.o MIA ,haJr Memorial dav ana NJ Tho
..lo-t cause with word. Of charity The
race problem was also discussed brief;
aud he closed with eloquent words Of
encouragement 10 the remaining members
OF the rapldiy-thinning ranks OF the u A.
IA "uu y. 'he o'iis VI 'ee., aus ''"''' =
- 80, 49,. ~, -;a -
TIL m. story of Corinth and Vickshnrg
of Getty.hurg and the Wilderness mi
that the sons and grandsons, no less
patriotic than were the fathers, will not
allow the old nag TO be disgraced nor the
ih"h 'es VI the hatioh ueienuers W
HE exercises closed with That grand