The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-06-01

From the heights of exalted National vision
the people of great and grateful country look
ed through the grand vista of past years. last
Monday until the retrospect brought them to
times when men offered up their lives in noble
sacrifice for the preservation of national life
and liberty. With thrilling inspiration the
surviving veterans reviewed the story of camp
fire and battle field. and recalled in sad memory |
the names and deeds of the slumbering heroes
who fell in defense of a great and righteous |
cause. HalIowed be the dust of the brave SOL
dier dead. and eternal be the gratitude of a
loyal people.
We pass from story to story and from picture
to picture in the dreadful panorama of the four
years struggle, until the eye refuses to sustain
the awful realities of carnage and suffering,
and we turn with horror from the sickeDing
sights of the after-batte scenes on the field and
in the hospital Z" Rivers of bIood'' passes from
a metaphorical extravaganza to vivid reality,
and as we contemplate the sublime PATRIOTS m
that nerved men to face such horrors we bow in
reverential gratitude to the memory and valor
of the silent sleepers who yielded for us all they
could. to life itself.
| Memorial Day is the outgrowth of the same
national spirit that awakened the people in the
days of '61, The American people love their
homes. their firesides and dearer still the con-
sttution and government which make it posi-
BILE for every citizen to have voice in the
| councils of the nation and share to the full in
its prosperity. But above ali. that they revere
in affectionate remembrance the immortal
spirits who stood up to do and to die for the
maintenance of those great principles. 1t is
sentiment that honors the American people and
| healthfully and permanently enriches their
patriotism. And while the people of the North
unite to honor their patriotic dead and to gar
fI,-
land has long ago learned to rejoice with us at
the issue of the great civil strife. and to respect
and love the fallen brave, whether he wore the
blue or the gray.
In Ravenna the dawning of this day was a
lovely portent of its midday beauties to follow
Hardly a cloud RULED the deep blue OF the vault
ed arch, and the first entertainments of summer
cast their sweet influence everywhere over
cultured field and pecpled town." Sunday
evening so members of David Mcintosh Post
and " of the W. R. c. attended the Universal
ist hurch In body, to listen to the memorial
sermon by the pastor, Rev. Andrew Wilson.
who preached an excellent sermon. from He
brews II 1: Wherefore seeing that we are
encompassed about with so great cloud of wit
nesses, let us lay aside every weight and the
sin that doth SO easily beset us and run with
patience the race that is set before us.'
; Owing to the recent heavy rains the condition
of the gro und at the Cemetery was such that il
was deemed inadvisable to hold the exercises
there, and they were held at the Opera House
at p. m. after which the Grand Army mem
bers to the number of 90. went to the cemetery
and decorated the graves.
The Opera House was filed by an audience
who manifested much deep and earnest feeling
throughout the exercises. which consisted o
the following program:
Music-Doube Quartet.
Prayer-ReV, S. w. Meek,
| Address-A. E. Seaton,
| Music-Double uartet.
Decoration of Cross-W, C
/ Music-Double Quartet.
r G. A, r. Memorial Service
? Benediction.
The address by A. E. Seaton. Esq. was Al
f exhaus tive summary of some of the best ant
t deepest thoughts arising from the contemplation
o of memorial day and its purposes. 1t was wei
: delivered and well received.
: In the evening Memorial services and eXer
}. cises were held in G. A r. Hall, which wer
Q opened with America by quartet compose
of Miss Hamm, Messrs. King. Braden and Mills
followed by invocation by Rev. w illson. Thel
came the Grand Al rmy Welcome. by Commando
Mason. with response !by officers. followed b
% | another selection from the Quartet. After read
h ing of the Scriptures and Invocation by til
Chaplain. came a very well rendered solo from
- Miss Hamm. Rev. Andrew Wilson spoke 70
: 8 few minutes in impressive lesson of " Decora
ton Day,' and Benediction from the Chaplai
= brought the services to close.