The morning times., 1895-10-14
DAISIES FOR THE DEAD
Impressive Memorial Service at
G. A. R. Headquarters.
VACANT CHAIRS DECORATED
Twenty-niue Who Have Left LIES
Battlefield Recalled to Memory by
Speech and Song-SOlemn Reading of
the Roll of HOnOr-El Eloquent Sermon
by the Rev. w. IL. GotwaId.

The beautiful service prescribed in the
Grand Army ritual for commemorating the
dead was held at G.. A. X. Hall on Penn
sylvania avenue northwest yesterday aft
crnoOn, u nder the auspices of Lincoln Post.
No. 3, Department of the Potomac, in
tribute to the memory of those who have
passed beyond the vale since the last
stated memorial occasion. The exercises
were participated in by the ladies of the
auxiliary order whose ranks have also
been decimated by death, and both or
ganizations were thus aged i'll joint
discharge Of Il Traternal duty.
There were twenty-five vacant chairs
placed in a circular form about the altar
and within this encl osure were four others,
all draped with heavy folds Of Grape.
The altar was decorated with flowers
and flags, to which were added the EN- blems
of mourning. Upon this foundation the
open Bible rested and above its pages
were two naked swords crossed. Upon
We're placed the banners OF the two or
ganizations
ALL CLAD IN BLACK.
AT the right OF the altar chairs were
placed for the friends of the deceased, and
these came to the number OF twenty or
more. all clad in black The Woman's
RelieI Corps occupied seats on the left of
the altar, each member " earring the badge
OF the order. and the Il A X. comrades w ERE
grouped in the center or the hall.
The roles OF honor numbered twenty
nine all told, four only being accredited To
The relief corps. The lists as read were as
follows:
Lincoln Post-John Alcorn, j H Barker.
Phoenix Bartlett, Frank L. Brow nell, j.
H. Cutter, L. E. Diekey,. John Donohue,
Giacchctti, William II. GOodacre, William
Grinsted, villain Hendley, Thomas John
son, II j. Kehr, Z. H. Iarabce, Morris
John A Van Dorcn, Benjamin IL Van
Keuren, and X. NJ. yameman.
Woman's Relief Corps-Mrs. Annie +.
Lucas, Mrs. Mary Thompson, Mrs Sarah
S Aver, and Mrs. Annie Songster.
Commander b. +. Chase conducted the
tne G A X. Musical Union, Z. ID. Tracy,
director, and Mrs. Tracy, pianist, and
prayer was offered by Chaplain benjamin
SW allow The ceremony OF decorating
vacant chairs dedicated TO the members OF
The relief corps follow ed, each receiving a
large bouquet OF daisies.
Mrs. Frances 7. holmes. president of
Lincoln Corps, introduced this feature by
a brief address, e> pressing her gratitude
and that of her co-wurkers for the priyi-
lese OF participating IN the solemn serv-
ices. She referred to the beautiful custom
OF the Grand Army in thus remembering
the comrades gone, and said that death
Is robbed or many harrurs when we remem-
der that we shall Lot be utterly forgot
ten"
The members were then grouped about
the draped chairs for the bestowal Of the
mortal occasion III the history OF the corps.
THE MARGIN OF ETERNITY.
The leading feature OF the subsequent
proceedings was an address by Rev. W. IL.
Gotwald, d. D., past department com
mander.
This afternoon" said DR.. Gotwald, I'VE
are brought to the margin of eternity.
We stand by the river OF death, along
whose shores all is silence, save the roll
ing of the waves and the flutter OF the
angel wings.
There are lives, - he continued, "obscure
and seemingly OF little service, that are as
as the highest arcliangel. They come, tar
rying but little while in the circle of
love and duty. and then pass on
Referring TO those whose virtues and
valor were then being commemoratcd, be
said:
galaxy of renowned warriors, but their
lives were as devoted and heroic as the
greatest. With their comrades who fell
on the battlefield, they stood as tnylncible
barriers between our national life and our
enemies.
"A kind Providence permitted these to
return to the peaceful ayocations of life
and to die in the midst of their loved ones,
and in calm as gentle as the setting of
the sun on summer eve. or each we
can say another life has gone out, another
warfare has ended, another course has
been finished. But the life that has gone
out here has conmenced the infancy OF its
eternityover there"
he spoke WOfu OF comfort 10 tfle De
reaycd ones and referred TO the memorial
occasion as not only priv ilese but service
dictated by duty.
The rolls of honor were read. respectively.
by Miss Lillian A. Norton, secretary of the
Corps, and Joseph MaddTen, adJutant of
the Post, and Mrs. Emma Ferguson served
as Corps chaplain.
The ladies decorated the vacant chairs
of the comrades with a bouquet of daisies
ea ch.
The music was supplied by the Musical
Union. referred to, and by the choir OF the
Metropolitan NJ. f. Church, composed as
follows: Mrs. W. s. Gibson, soprano. Miss
Matte E. Gray. contralto; Mr.. a. Jay
Marsh, tenor, and Mr.. Warren F. Rich,
bassO. with Professor W. F. Daies as
orGanist.
The exercise sclosed with the hymn,
"Gob be with you till we meet again."
and the benediction, by chaplain Swallow.
Department Commander Anderson and
staff were present.