Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-28
A PATRIOTIC OCCASION.

Hamline Church presented patriotic ap-
pearance last night. Over the reading desk
was draped flag that had seen long service on
the battlefield, and from the pulpit a later flag
with the forty-four stars hung in graceful
folds. From one gallery was displayed the
banner of Sedswick Command, No. g. Union
Veterans Union, while the stars and stripes on
handsome staff, hung back of the piano
placed In front Of the altar railing. 1t was the
annual meeting of Sedgwick Command, and
the spacious and handsome church was we'll
filled with the comrades OF tia: command and
their friends when Col W. Z. Rogers called the
assemblaSe to order and made a few introduc-
tory remarks, giving brief but eloquent
history of the command and its work. The
principal feature of the evening was the public
installation OF the officers for this year. which
was impressively conducted by Gen Jos. Dick
insOn, chief of staff to Gen. Green Clay Smith
the department commander.
he officers installed were as follows: COL
onel VIM. Edgar Rogers; lieutenant colonel,
Mark j. Bunneii; major. Neil Dumont; sur
geon. W. IL. II. Warman, NJ. D.; chaplain,
Geo. j. 2. Wood; officer OF the day, j. W. Pal
mer; adjutant, c. V. Petteys, NJ. b.; quarter
master, A. Il. &. Clement, II. D. officer OF the
guard, j. A. Frank: color bearer, W. II. Tubbs;
sentinel, Peter Sweeney.
Eloquent addresses were made by Rev F.
Todd, Representative Picker and Gen. Green
Clay smith. DR.. Todd eulogized the bravery
Of such men as those he was addressing. and
urged the rising generation to imbibe the
patriotism which mad animated those who foup hit
for the preservation of the Union. War was a
necessary evil, and the time when war should
be no more had not yet arrived. He had no
idea but that there would in the near future be
strife on this Observation-Disclosures in which the
United states would have to participate-and it
was well to be prepared. There was no such
conservator OF peace in these times as powerful
navy and spirit OF outspoken independence.
War with European nation might be regarded
as not Improbable: tie little difficulty we had
with LAZY showed that. There might even be
conflict with one OF the great nations which are
now regarded as barbarian. This couutry by
Its conduct toward China, might be assuming
Obligations which the children or grandchildren
OF the present people would have to pay. The
Chinese empire could put in the field an army
greater IN numbers than the combined armies
OF the world and still have enough aDle- bodied
men left to man every vessel of war that floats.
The Chinese military forces wero armed with
the best type OF rifles and the troops were be-
ing trained by French and German officers of
renown.
Representative Picker, who is a member of
SedgWick Command, created great enthu siasm
by MS strong advocacy of a service pension
for every soldier who fought in tine Union
army. not as a Sratuity or charity, but as a
right. He told many interesting stories of the
war, referred to some Of his own experiences
and paid a glowing tribute to the loyal women
OF the north who sustained the soldiers in the
field He said that We did not begin to realize
the momentous results OF that great struggle
and thai 1T would take at least five generations
to fully comprehend the consequences of this
victory for the Union. He urged that lessons
of patriotism be instiled into the minds Of the
rising generation, so that they would have the
true love of country and loyalty to the stars
and stripes that actuated the soldiers who left
homes tn fbairl live,
that the government might not be disrupted
He thanked God that the country was now
united. and spoke Of the patriotic feeling
manifested In every section Of the Union in
resentment OF the recent insult to the uniform
OF the American sailor and to the flag OF the
United States by Chile.
Gen. Green Clay Smith made one of those ex-
tremely happy addresses for which he is noted
and told some war stories that caused much
amusement. He referred 10 the fact that though
he was southern born and all his affiliations
were with the people Of the south and their
customs and institutions when they undertook
to destroy this Union and to set up another
flag than the stars and stripes be could not 20
with them, 1or his devotion to the government
was greater than his love for home and kindred
and state. He gave a brief sketch of the aims
and objects OF the order Of the Union Veterans
Union and told how it had grown since its in
stitution.
Mr.. John Twecdale read James Whitcomb
he was emphaticalIy encored. Miss Ida O'Neal
sang I'VE Old Boys very effectively, and Mr.,
George II. Harries sang Julia Ward Howe's
Battle Hymn OF the Republic" with spirit, the
large audience joining in the chorus
The choir was composed of the Misses Ida
O'Neal. Naomi Naylor, Ellie Perry, Maysie
Reinohi, soprano; Miss Fannie Glasgow, Mrs.
Randall Saunders and Miss Riley, alto; T. A.
Arrowsmith, ). r. Quinter and William Nell,
tenor; George Wheelock, William Spencer, w,
W. Van Asnum and Randall Saunders, bass;
Mr.. Z. ID. Thomas conductor; Mrs. Frank
Calhoun, organist; and they sang America"
Widdows' 20 God, Preserve the Union" and
the Star Spangied Banner" in a manner that
elected the warm commentator of all present
The meeting closed with the Doxology. after
an expression of thanks had been given to the
trustees OF the church and to the choir. The
committee On entertainment consisted of A. B.
T. Clements, n. D., chairman; +. T. Howe,
d. D., George J. P. Wood.