The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-02
Msmorial pax in westminster.

by large number Of persons from distance
as well as the majority of the citizens of
Westminster. The faculty and students of
Western Maryland College were well repre-
sented, and the children of the various schools
were out in full force. The exercises, owing
to the continued threatening weather, were
held in Odd Fellows Hall, which was crowded
to its utmost capacity. The center Of the
hall was occupied by the comrades of the
G. A. R., the Patriotic Order of the Sons of
America, the Junior Order of American
Mechanics, the Westminster Band and Drum
Corps, in full uniform, while the sides and
rear of the room were reserved for the general
public. The stage was tastefully decorated
with flags, flowers and portraits of distinguished
Federal Generals, and was the work of
Misses NJ. B. Shellman, Gussie Shriver,
Alice Huber, and Master Walton B. Melvin.
The portrait of Gen. John A. Logan, the
first Commander in Chief of the G. A. r.,
occupied prominent position on an easel,
surmounted by an eagle, and draped with an
American flag, while at the foot rested a
handsome laurel wreath. A stack of muskets
wreathed with roses were placed on the OPP
posite side of the stage. On the platform
were the pastors of the different churches,
Rev. DIR. j. I. Ward, president of Westmin-
ster Theological Seminary, the speakers and
dress of welcome by the Commander of the
Post, James S. Baer, followed with prayer by
Rev. j. l.. Walsh, pastor of Centenary Nj. Il.
Church. The program Of exercises were
singing america" by the choir and audi
enee; address by Major General John Il.
Parke, U. S. A.; singing ''We Deck their
Graves" Western Nd. College Glee Club;
recitation by Miss jamie B. Thomas of
poem entitled Comrades" written by
Harry j. Shellman, of Brooklyn, N. Y,
formerly of this city; singing "a Tear for the
Comrade That's Gone" by the choir; ad-
dress, Mai. Genl. 0'Bierne, of New York,
president of the Medal of Honor Legion;
singing "Tenting Tonight" by the Glee
Club; address by Hon. John L. Dunn, of
New Jersey, and benediction by Rev. j. L.
Ward, d. b. Col. w. A. McKellip intro
duced the speakers. After the exercises IN
the hall had concluded, the Post and other
organizations, headed by the Westminster
Band, marched to the cemetery where a
short service was held, concluding with the
night by the choir, who crowned the
monument of Capt. Lewis F. Byers with
wreath of laurel, bearing a card on which
was written, '.He won his laurels on many
hard fought field, brave in war and generous
in peace, his well earned rest is now com.
plete. Good night, comrade, good night.
The band, stationed in the centre OF the
cemetery, played solemn dirges while the
graves were strewn with a profusion OF
flowers, after which the line reformed, and
the Episcopal and Catholic church yards
were visited and the graves of comrades re-
membered.
The address of Gen. O'Bierne was one of
the best ever delivered here, and was fire.
quently interrupted by applause. Miss jamie
Thomas never recited better, and was highly
complimented by both Gems. o Bierne and
Parke, who personally congratulated her on
her fine rendition of the poem. The mem
bers of the choir were w. Md. College Glee
Club. H. E. Nelson, leader; tenors, Prot W.
NJ. Black, A. G. Woodfeld, l.. c. Freeny,
II. O. Keen; bassos, Prof. Fl. C. Watson, G.
81. Revelle, w. R. Revelle. S. S. Strayer;
sopranos, Mrs. jesse Higgins, Mrs. c. V.
Wantz, Mrs. Robert Hoppe and Miss Alice
Bixler; altos, Misses NJ. B. Shellman and
MolHe Shriver. 0rganist, Miss Anna Shriver.
The poem recited by Miss jamie Thomas
was as follows:
A MARYLANDER TO THE GRAND ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC.
Comrades from over the whole broad land am
your comrade too.
Ave cOmrade though never marched in the ranks
and never donned the blue.
Still eomrade to all who fought for the flag faithful,
and leal and true;
For never charge, nor an escalade,
A fierce assault 'gainst strong stoekade,
A bit of the hell that the mad war made,
But suffered in soul with you.
And fate decreed that should not join in the raid,
and the bold attack,
That take no part in the weary march, the guard
and the bivouac;
Butmy heart went forth with the marching men,
So many 10 come home never again,
From bloody field or from prison pen,
Or MANNED to go hating back.
All! well remember the fateful day when burst
the cloud of war,
And the spark that blazed into fires of hate in the
streets of Baltimore,
When the Bay State men stood by the nag and the
pave was wet with gore
cheered them then, and I'll cheer them again,
That valiant march of the old Sixth men,
Their flowing blood reused the nation then
As it never was reused before.
watched the march, and the counter
noted the rise and fall
OF the armies that mustered and went TO the front
in response to the nations call;
The bright young manhood that rushed TO meet the
ravenous mimic ball;
Some climbed to fame DER the piles of dead
Some struggled and fought and manfully bled;
Some suffered in prisons and prayed for bread;
Some died and that was all.
The storys so old too oft been told for to reell
From office, shop, forge, factory and pillow came
scores of men
To save the land from treason's hand and make II
For all of you know of the fights against Lee,
And know of Pap shermans great march to the
And the hundreds of battles too many for me
To tell of with tongue or pen.
Twould take an age and many page to tell of fight
and fOray,
ofGettysbugs great victory, of Vicksburgs tale of
The Peninsula, on the Tennessee, and many battles
When men, like gods rose in their might
And carried "Old Glory" up the height
And made its stars shine through the night,
The theme of song and story.
Some comrades were born of a dark-hued race, some
black as the shades of night,
Bnt their hearts we knew were in the right place,
and their glance DER the barrels sight
Was look toward freedom and that without fear
they manfnlly brayed the fight;
For at Wagner and Pillow they dared and died,
With true mems courage and true mems pride,
While they cut a swath that was straight and
To liberty through deaths dark night.
You need no eloquent words of praise your noble
1t was no holiday parade mid the whistling shot
and shell,
Where cannon beIched forth a fiery death and the
pains of a Dante'a hell;
For your deeds now speak in the victories won,
In the old flag kissed by the mornings sun,
In the unbroken unity, MANY in, one"
OF the Nation in which we dwell.
Comrades from over the whole broad land, am
your comrade yet
For my heart goes out to all who bear the honored
name OF Yet"
It is to them that the Nation owes an everlasting
debt
They kept the stars In the field of blue
They brought the States TO allegiance true,
To them the Nations life is due
And the Nation should ne'er forget
HARRY j. SHELLMAS.
Brooglyn NJ Y.
Finksburg Items.
Early in May Miss Ada Buckingham paid
visit of some weeks to friends in Baltimore.
Misses " H. Moores and BRINE Shipley
spent last week ia Baltimore.
Mr.. Peter Woods, who has been an invalid
for several months is at Atlantic City for his
health.
Notwithstanding the rainy evening and
night of the 18th of May, on which the La
dies Aid Society held its strawberry festival.
there was good attendance at the hall and