Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-30
HONOR TOTHE DEAD
The Rev. Frye's Sermon to
the Veterans
TRIBUTES TO The FALLEN
Tue PlainAsld Avenue Methodist Choir
Assist In Psstos in Conducting Yes
sssday's Kxeseisss u the Home.

The Rev. w. A. Fyfe conducted
Memorial exercises at the soldiers
home yesterday afternoon at $50
O'Clock. services being held in the con-
cert hall. Tue stage was prosuseiy de-
coratsd with faschias, and the organlst
and choir Of the Rev. Frye's church rem
deSsd excellent munc. There WAS .
large attendance Of veterans, each OF
whom wore the insiguia OF mourning.
Tters were also many visitors. Services
opened with the singing OF "America. /"
in which all joined, and the choir At
terwxrd sang with fne effect the me.
moral hymn, "Cover Them Over With
Flowers."
Mr.. Frye then delivered his address,
taking his text from the twelfth chap
ter aid fourteenth verse Of Exodus,
"And this day shall be unto you for q
memorial"
The speaker began by reference to
the sefvitude OF over two centuries EN-.
dured by the children OF Israel, and
the fact that the One who had broignt
them out OF their trouble determined
that they should observe day, the
better 70 hold their deliyerance IN
grateful memory.
We owe it to ourselves and to the ma
ton that the memories of the heroes OF
the war be kept bright and green.
Over 450,000 men were inundated at
the altar of their country's liberty dur
ing the rebellion, besides thouss nds
who have since died from effects di.
rectly tYaceable to the service. Such .
noble response to . country's cry IS un'
precedented IN the history Of war.
Many have fought Tor glory, many for
but the federal soldier fought for hb'
erty and the preservation OF the union.
We believed then as nov, that we mad
. government worth fighting for and
dying for. Take our fair spring flowers
and deck the silent abodes Of the dead
and let tho wind watt the perfume OF
the flowers away - . memorial TO the
fallen heroes whose place OF burial il
unknown and over whose dust no tears
are shed.
Thank God that the organized sys
tenn Of oppression which 10 . part Of
human slavery 10 forever dead where.
ever freeman bTeathes or the dag oi
liberty 10 upfurled. When Lincoln wa
assasslnated the verdict of empires Wa
that the reign Of anarchy in the United
States had begun aud that the union
was forever dissolved. But contrary
to those prophecies, it Was found thai
"0od still reigned and the government
at Washington still lived" Not until
! the virgin coil Of new world had beeu
discovered and the principles Of
. peoples government been laid
in blood did the supremacy ol
| liberty assert itself. The victory Wa,
permanent and serfdom and civil arts
| tocracy were forever buried. War;
bloody plow-share furrowed our soil
but 90 blessings are sown in the soi
| that the sword breaks up, we raisa
| shouts for the living and drop tears fol
| the dead. The campfire il gone out
! ths sword 10 sheathed and the grea
leaders Of both the northern and th,
| southern armies have gone 70 their re-
ward. The remaining survivors ar,
dropping ~ leaves In autumn, aud sooI
| every veteran will have lain down 4
rest in the grave that awaits him, 4
wake again Ct the revei.le of the resur
rectiOn' morning when nations anc
armies shall rise and pass in solemn
and silent review before the Diviu
Commander. What are the blessing
We enjoy7 A nation reunited in indil
soluble bonds, chastened, purified. re
deemed; slavery vsnquished, freedom
triumphant; . nation that is the leade
and teacher of all other nations, q
peace with ourselves and all the world
the nation IN new and larger life, IL
flag the emblem of the worlds hes
hope, moving on 10 it, mighty destiny