Huntsville gazette., 1893-09-09
NAVAL VETERANS,
An Vausaal Scene tr an Indianapolis
Chu-ch-A Touching Address to Naval
veterans, Followed by Jmpromptu
reception by Ex-President Harrison.


veterans, Followed by an Impromptu
Reception by Ex-President Hayrison.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Sept. &-There
was an unusual scene at the Taber-
uacle Presbyterian church Yesterday
morning, and one in which ex-Presi-
dent Harrison, much to his sur.
prise, was made central figure. A
| SPECIAL patriotic service had been ar
ranged for the delegates to the con-
vention of Naval Veterans. over 100 Of
whom, headed by Rear-Admiral B. S.
Osborne, occupied seats in the body of
the edifice, f1anked on either side by
delegation of the Mary A. Logan
| cadets, of Columbus, o.
Before the platform, surrounded by
floral designs, rested portrait Of
Earragut, while above and around
were Stars and Stripes in profusion.
The throng of worshippers reached
such proportions that the doors to the
adjoining chapel were thrown open
and even after the 200 seats had been
filed hundreds were content to stand
in the aisles and the connecting class
rooms. While the opening hymn was
being given out the ex-president.
whose home church, the First Presby-
terian, is closed for the summer, was
| recognized in the rear of the edifce by
| one of the ushers and a seat found for
him in one of the front pews.
An incident of the service was the
pronouncing by Rev. DR.. J. A. Round
| thaler, the pastor, of an invoca tion
| upon silken American flag, which
ad been presented by several Indiana
| comrades to Wallace Foster, of this
| city, a veteran who is known through
| out the United States for his adj
| vocacy of patriotism in public schools.
| In the address, which took the place Of
the sermon, and which was repeatedly
interrupted by applause, DIR. Round
| thaler dwelt upon the bravery and
| heroic sacrifices of the naval veterans;
declared that Farragut ranked with
| Grant on the national roll of honor,
| and urged that spirit of patriotism
should be inculcated among the rising
generation to the end that the country
might be still greater and grander in
the future than in the past. But the
| applause and enthusiasm died away
and eyes were wet and faces sad as he
delivered his peroration. Many of his
audience sobbed audibly and the ex-
president buried his face in his hand
kerchief for several moments.
Every year you meet" said the
preacher" you recall the names of
comrades and others who have been
added to the great number of those
that have met at your camp fires for
the last time. who have answered to
the last roll-call of their posts and
entered into that which is behind the
curtain of the grave. / would not
throw shadow over the gladness of
this week, but know that our citizen
soldiery of the war are particularly re-
sponsive to comradeShip and they
scarcely ever meet around the camp
fires that. with hushed voice and sweet
association of memory they do not re-
call the names of those whose faces
they will see no more on earth"
The audience still fingered after the
benediction had been pronounced, and
several of the old salts in the rear
pushed to the front and grasped the
ex-president by the hand. Seeing that
an impromptu reception could not be
avoided, the pastor invited Mr.. Harri-
son to the front of the platform, and
for over an hour men, women and chill
dren fled by, each taking him by the
hand and many expressing in few
words their pleasure at seeing him
amongst them.
stI+ rvaS said the pastOr a aftprward
lone of the most unusual and touching
scenes I have ever witnessed in a
house of prayer"