Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-01
NOT A WORD SAID
Old Veterans hurried Into the
Grave
WITHOUT THE LEAST OFFICE
Commonly Allotted TO the Most For.
saksn Pauper-A Protest and
. Reply.

SOLDIERS HOME, Mich,
July rs, 1892. !
DEAR CoNRADE- During the existence
OF TINS esta bls shment-nlsnaned the
Soldiers 'home, you have ever
shown . deep interest. not only In the
TEMPORAL Dut spiritual welfare Of its
Inmates. As christian l appeal to
you 70 cry aloud at the brutal and in
decent method being pursued IN the
disposal of our martyr dead Within
the week two deceased veterans have
been foally thrust in the earth without
benefit Of clergy or one parting woro
Ut lay sympathy. Experience has
taught US fully the misery connected
with life in the "home," but death now
presents terrors ut which Ingersoil him.
self would revolt. Is Michigan 80 poor,
or its present policy 90 mean and inde-
cent as to refuse civilized burial to lts
soldier dead? Even AndexsonvilIe re-
spected death after its living horrors.
l will not believe that either priest or
parsOn exists in the city that would
a. stained the home in these two cases
Of death.
Hastily and fraternally yours.
4. w. ANDREWS.
Chaplain 0ibsOo Rspites.
Comment seems unnecessary, yet
can hardly refrain from sanctioning q
remark one of the soldiers lately made:
Everything 10 going to the devil at the
Soldiers home" said he. The men
used TO form in line for meals, march
in regular order and wait in respectful
silence while grace WAS being said.
For months past am told they rush in
like 90 many hogs, "the devil take the
hindmost." and gulp down the food
without ceremony.
The query naturally arises, where 10
the chaplain or his substitute? What
has become of John A. Logan post
that 1t allows an ex-sOldler 10 be buried
like an unlicensed cur?' Has Major
Long become 30 demoralized by his
democratic surroundings that he. too,
has forgotten to SEQ to it that an ex-
soldier 10 buried with the honor due .
soldier? Michigan has indeed fallen
very low when abe permits those who
were once her glory aud pride to be
buried like unknown paupers. There
may be some excuse, but certainly no
sufficient excuse for such shameful
neglect.
The Veterans to Blame.
It makes my heart ache whenever
think Of the changes that have taken
place in these respects since / Was act.
ing chaplain there. Then the chapel
was nearly always filled, and / ever
tried hard to keep prominent the idea
that We were paying the last hon0rs 10
| q man who on account of services rem.
l ntpxv no ~
| was the peer of any man who ever
lived. No treason 10 30 base 90 ingratl
i tude. No act is 90 shameful a. the
act of an ex-soldier who permits his
comrades OF the battlefield to be bur
led as Comrade Andrews says these
last two soldiers have been buried
The chief sgrace of this shameful
business must he borne by the veterans
themselves, because they could have
prevented it If they had cared to. The
veterans themselves have apparently
become so sodden, 90 beastly, 81 sunker
that they deny their unfortunate com
rades even the outward appearance OF
regard when their eyes are closed in
death. A lower stage of degradation
than this can no ex-eoldier ever reach
Let US hope we shall never hear thu
| IKE again. CHARLES n. GIBSON.
! Statement OF the Commandant
A reporter for The HERALD, wh<
was sent to the home to investigate the
matter, learned that the charges wer,
true that the men had been buried
without any services.
Commandant Mckee was seen anl
said the charges that men had beer
buried without religious service Of any
kind whatever were true. in the alb
stract. The chaplain of the home i,
absent on leave OF absence ana the
records OF men had been preserved fo
a memorial service which will be held
next Sunday IN the chapel.
He also said that . man who haC
died Of consumption in the hospita
yesterday would probably be buried IN,
same way today and the services helc
.or all three next Sunday.