The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-29
HoNoRING THE SEVEN DEAD.

George II. Chapman Post Holds Memorial
Exercises I'm It's Hall.
Old soldiers and their families yesterday
afternoon filled the hall Of the George II.
Chapman Post. G. A. R., where memorial
exercises were held in honor of the seven
comrades who answered the last roll call
during the year just gone by. About the
altar of the post were seven chairs draped
In somber black and on each of them was a
wreath of May flowers. Rising up from q
group of palms was a model monument.
and on its peak was another wreath. The
crapings of the hall were in thorough keep
ing with the spirit of the day.
Rev. DR.. Rondthaler. ofitbe Tabernacle
Presby terrain Church. was the principal
speaker of the afternoon, but before his
arrival the ritualist,o exercises of the day
were conducted by the officers OF the post.
A choir OF young people under the dlrec-
ton of Comrade Sohitfling frequently in
terspersed the ritualistic forms with by INNS
and other selections. The Sons of Veter-
ans brass band took a station in the hall
and played one air during the afternoon.
The band made O very creditable display
in the new uniforms. Commander III. z.
Makepeace presided over the meeting, and
after the opening songs called on the adj
jutant to read the roll of those who had
died within the last twelve months. With
! this list of seven were brief accounts of
bach dead comrades record as a soldier
And as o member of the post. After each
fname was read the drummer of the post
gave three rolls on his mui1led drum. The
list is as follows:
John Brooks, Company II, Forty-second
Indiana Volunteers.
John Egger, Company G, Fifth Indiana
Cavalry.
Joel Converse, Company Z. Seventeen Indiana
Robert e.. Iarrimer. COmDalY Ii. One lundreQ-
nd-twentieth Indiana
b. p. Wells, Company l., Second Michigan
William Fisher. Company K. Northumberland
forty ninth Ohio Volunteers.
Thomas q. Caldwell, One-hundred-and-sixty-
seventh Ohio National Guard
Then the commander read from the
ritual: The records are honorable ones
and as the memory of all faithful soldiers
OF the Republic should be cherished and
their records preserved. direct shat they
futuSe reference" Chaplain John Hoss-
man offered fervent prayer alter this part
OF the service closed. After q recitation
by little Miss Hales. Rev. DIR. Bidwell, of
the Blackf0rd-street Church, was asked TO
address tho meeting.
lie recalled q little incident when once
he stood az the soldiers plat In the New
Albany cemetery on Decoration day and
was shown the graves of 1859 unknown
dead. 1T was hard" he said, ito stand
at the graves of our friends and
weep, but it was saddcr still
to have our friends lying sOmew here-we
know not where. 1t is good TO be- living In
these times OF peace. and in looking about
us we can see the effects that were caused in
accomplishing this peace. The anticipa-
ton of Memorial day recalls the vivid
scenes of old. and brings the comrades
closer together and closer TO the stars and
stripes as they think of the days gone hy.
1t cost something 10 perpetuate the institu-
tons of this country. and we should barn
the memory of the old soldiers in our minds
and hearts. 1 am afraid we do not think
enough of what they have done for Us. and
we are too apt To forget il. The old soldiers
who were at the battle of Valley Forge are
almost forgotten. and their graves are
known no more. There are no flowers for
the graves of these heroes The sacrifices
of the veterans of 1861 should be taught
TO our children" Mr.. Bidweli referred
touchingly TO the seven dead marked on
the posts record for the year.
song The Unknown Dead, was sung
and ex-Lieutenant Governor Hanna, who
was In the rear of the nall, was called upon
to make q short talk. He said he did not
think the people of this country could do
enough for the veterans. People did not
talk enough about the war and the soldiers.
IL they did. the newspapers In the North
would not be opposing the granting OF pen
sions TO the soldiers If any one talked
about the confederate soldiers in the south
he would be socially ostracised. The North
was too busy with other matters. The fault
of the old soldiers "a the Union was TINT
they did not assert themselves enough.
Rev. DR.. RoDdth8Ier. IN his address. gave
some very beautiful pictures of the stirring
days of the war. and delivered some WELL
chosen thoughts on the Grand Army but
ton. There was nothing be respected so
much a. this little bronze button. He did
not believe IN idoiatry. but he did believe
in doing reverence TO those things which
had ballowed recollection about them.
The saorafioes the button tells of were
graphically depicted. and it's fond recolec-
tons were recalled. Il am q minister
of the gospel aud this is sunday" said
he. but say curse the memory of the suf-
ferings in that prison of Andersonville. It
makes my heart burn hen l think of it.
There ought TO be no glorihcation TO any
rebellion or traitor" DIR. Rondthaler then
referred. without specifically describing. TO
the removal of Jefferson Davis's remains TO
Richmond with sue demonstrations. why
should they bring this in juet before Deco
ration day! I don't like it, don't like IL"
Again, IN speaking he said
If was ST. Peter at the gates of heaven.
the army button would be- the open sesame
To the land OF peace"
tie told the old soldiers that there was no
one 20 take their places ia the u. A. Il.