The record-union., 1895-05-25
HONORING THE NATIONS HEROES.
A Tribute to the Memory of the
Fallen Patriots.
Memorial Sermon by Rev. N. d. Buck
Before the Ladies' Of the g. A. r.
and Relief Corps.

At the meeting of the Ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic and Relief
Corps on Wednesday evening the fol-
lowing memorial address was delivered
by Rev. NJ d. Buck of the Sixth-street
NJ. E. Church:
Ladies Of the Grand Army Of the Re
pubic and Members Of the Wona0lt'S ne
tief Corps, Friends: L consider myself
honored in being called upon to speak 10
you few words on this patrlotlc occa-
aion. We have been reminded that Just
before us is the day when tender, touch-
ing, floral tributes will be laid upon tne
graves aud wound about the tomDs OF
our Union citizen soldiers. Inc Ohlted
States is the first country IN history 10
establish such a memorial day. Otner
nations have built costly monuments III
memory of renowned dignitaries; but our
country has set apart day, with SIM
pie, yet most effective, loving service In
memory of its whole Union soidlery
dead, irrespective of rank, renown, poll
tics or religion.
Ii is sad that there are SO many un-
known graves in the soldiers burylng
grounds, while the fathers and mothers
are mourning because they know not
where their bows are lying. We have an
undying interest in every such grave.
Low murmur OF the bees,
A hillside burying-ground closed round
With Wilding apple trees.
The snowy flowers drift slowly down
Upon the quiet graves;
And IN the south wind everyone
small flag gently waves.
Those floating colors make for me
That grassy mound shrine;
What though the one VINO sleeps beneath
Knew naught of me or mine?
Yet that brave life quenched long ago
Seems OF my own part;
For he who dies for freedom lives
In every treeman's heart.
The present generation have become
leaders Of our war literature. This is
well If thereby they form proper esti-
mate of the value of the services rendered
by the u Mon soldiers, dead and living.
For new geneIa alton has come and al
most gone since 1861. Thousands, too,
are daily landing on our shores who
never heard of Lincoln or Grant or
Richmond. The ranks of the veterans
are being fearfully thinned, and every
year the procession grows smaller. But
the number of the graves Is increasing.
And each new grave adds to the obliga
tions of the living.
Memorial Day does not mean the end
of a fearful war and the celebration of
glorious victory. 1t means the essential
unity of the nation, the perpetuation of
the Republic. the realization of that
liberty suggested by the Declaration of
Independence. What il, in those days of
struggle, the Union had been divided
There would then have been within our
territory TWO nations instead of one; twice
as many foreign diplomats as now living in
our midst; twice as many posi- Utilities of
foreign complications, and much more
than twice as much difficulty in settling
them, while the influence of each frag-
ment would be much less than half the
amount exercised by the whole. Those
who had a common ancestry, which had
been represented in the same halls of
legislation, had cheered the same flag and
fought side by side for freedom, would
have been strangers and foreigners,