Evening star., 1895-05-30

10 SranQer republic than the fathers ever
dreamed. But am not here to speak for
our absent orator-no one Is. The vacancy
| Is most impressive by its silence. The
| window Of Aladdin unfinished must re-
| main.' Meantime. the other exercises will
| go on. We have by fair hands scattered
flowers above their graves; we VIII sing
the remembered songs wave and salute
old glory wreathe the sarlands of verse
about their memory and pronounce the
benediction above united country. Then
"'Under the laurels. the blue,
Under the roses, the gray,
| and over all, heaven-leave them to their
honored rest.
After the school children sang Hail Co
lumbia," poem appropriate to the ooca-
sion was read by Comrade D. ]. Evans.
The song ITO Deck Their Graves was
| its conclusion Rev. James 'McLaren. pastor
of the Anacostia NJ. E. Church, made an
address. which. in part, was as follows:
DIR. McLnren's Address.
Memorial day is what its name implies
| a day of commemoration. In the graves
on whose mounds you will today plant flags
and scatter flowers sleep the remains of
men whose deeds of courage and daring
are worthy Of being perpetuated in the
songs of the nation, the pages of the his
torian, the canvas Of the artist and the
work Of the sculptor. 1t Is eminently fit
ting, therefore. that these men should be
remembered and their deeds Of valor be
ing song. grateful nation recognizes the
fact that 1t owes its heroic dead a debt of
gratitude it AN never discharge. The i'm
mense sum annually paid to the widows
and orphans of deceased soldiers and to
the survivors of the fearful struggle to
save the Union may seem large to some
who fail to put just estimate upon the
services rendered: but every true patriot is
ready to affirm that our country can never
fully pay for the noble lives that were sac
rificed to preserve us nation. All honor
to the heroic dead! Let flowers most bril-
liant and fragrant be wreathed into gems
Of beauty and be showered on their graves.
Let the poets sing their virtues in impas-
stoned song and orators add to the glory
Of their unfading fame.
Memorial day. however" said Mr.. Nc
Laren has a higher mission-the incul-
cation of patriotism.
Let me remind you," said he "of just
one or two things respecting our glorious
republic.
Its planting was divine The exodus and
settlement of Israel in Canaan was not
| more of God than the leading of our
fathers across the great and stormy deep
to Plymouth Rock.
"Amid the hardships Of founding a home
in the wilderness and the perils Of Indian
treachery and the expressions Of English
rule. If 1t had not been the Lord who was
on their side. how certainly had they been
swallowed up
In this belief the immortal Declaration
Of Independence was signed and given to
the world.
When the victory at Yorktown gave Its
approval to the resolve Of 20, the feeling Of
the infant nation was that Gods blessing
| on their valor had given them the victory.
Bivinely Secured.
If the planting was divine the liberty con-
quered was divinely secured. He who led
their armies presided in their councils and
made them a nation. More than a hundred
years of national life eloquently speaks of
Gods care.
Two perils beset every nation; first, from
within. and. second. from without The
last came first to US. A policy of imposi-
tion which left the young republic no al
Tentative but to suffer wrong or draw the
sword was inaugurated by the mother
country. Deciding for the latter our faith
ers were soon successful on sea and land.
The next peril came from within. nation
with but one birth hidea-liberty-soon had
to struggle with -slavery-that had
worn itself into the nations life. This idea
forced its way into recognition and threat
ened the dismemberment of the Union.
or the struggle. long. fierce and loud, l
have no need to speak. This generation
the sad story, so profoundly impressed are
Its CORY scenes.
One thing, however. We think 1t well to en-
phasize on this Memorial day is this: Our
preservation was of God.
When through the gloom, and stress, and
storm the ark of liberty was carried IL
with shattered timbers. yet undestroyed. to
where the heaven lay in peaceful calm,
how acute our feeling was that on the
helm had been the hand that holdeth the
winds In His fists ard bids the seas be
calm Oh. may this Memorial day bring
back to its pristine freshness and hold In
perpetual strength our sense of obliga-
tion to Him. who, having made, hath
through all our perils preserved us a ma
ton.
The good ship Unions voyage Is Ger,
At anchor safe she swings,
While loud and clear,
With cheer on cheer,
Her joyous welcome rings.
Hurrah! hurrah! It shakes the wave,
1t thunders on the Shore
One flag one land.
One heart, one hand
One nation evermore.'
After the audience had sung America"
and the bugler sounded Lights out" the
most of those present went to the cemetery
connected with the Institution and strewed
the graves Of the soldiers buried there
with flowers.