The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-31
REMEMBERED.
A Grand Memorial Day and Exercises in
Honor of the Nations Dead.

other bands served 10 bring out practicaily
the entire population of Owosso to take part
i'm the memorial exercises IN memory OF the
deceased soldiers of the civil war. AT one
o'clock the procession commenced to form
and at three marched down Washington
street, making an impressive and interest
ing parade. The streets were lined with
on both sides of the street. The procession
was made up as follows: Carriages with
President of the Day A. ID. Whipple. Rev.
w. b. Matteson, Miss Maude Gates. James
Osburn, Rev. j. M. Kerridge and others
being in the lead. followed by the martial
band Of Quackenbush post G. A, r.; Com
pany G, NJ. N. G. followed in command
of Capt. Van Epps; the Uniformed Rank,
Knights of Pythias, under command ofCapt.
Roth; Maccabees, uniformed rank, under
command of w. T.. Small, subordinate lodge
of Maccabees; Ancient Order of United
Workmen, proceeded by the A. o. U. w.
band: Owosso lodge of Odd Fellows, the
Foresters, Sons of Veterans and Quacken-
bush Post and other old soldiers, making
perhaps the largest number of old veterans
that has turned out in many years; the
ladies of the relief corps closing the line, in
carriages. The different orders made fine
appearance with their uniforms, and the
marching was exceedingly good. A side
procession of perhaps 800 girls marched on
the walk carrying flags and flowers, making
a very pretty crowd.
At the cemetery the programme was as
follows: Mr.. A. ID. Whipple called the
assemblage to order and with few words
of introduction called upon Rev. Matteson
to make the prayer. The male chorus led
by G. c. Duff sang "The Star Spangled
Banner" after which the G. A. r. memorial
service was read by the Commander and
adjutant. Rev. j. NJ. Kerridge then gave
the grafton. which was loudly applauded,
and when he would have stopped the audi
ence cried ssgo on" 1t was mastery
effort well appreciated. Miss Maude Gates
recited in her usually excellent manner,
1.-THE Soldiers Memorial" and was en-
cored. A song by the audience, They'll
Never March Again." followed by recita-
ton of one thousand words, given by the
six year old Haskall boy was well done. A
short address, ''History of the w. r. c."
was given by Mrs. Z. Ii. Jacobs. After music,
America" and benediction by Rev. Roose-
daonratad NHbau
were fairly covered with the most beautiful
flowers.
ADDRESS OF REV. j. NJ. KERRIDGB.
The four principal things to be considered ut
this time are, first, the memories that the day
brings up; second, the restatement of some past
history; third, the facts, circumstances, and
of the men who won; fourth,
some of our belongings, namely our flags, the
graves OF our comrades, the songs of the war,
the peace we enjoy.
When President Lincoln was asked to dedi-
cate the soldiers cemetery at Gettysburg, it was
supposed he would make a long speech, and a
had been engaged to make pic
ture of the scene. President Lincoln arose,
walked to the edge of the platform, took out his
glasses and put them on, bowed to the assembly,
took from his pocket page of foolscap. and be
fore the assembly came to attention the speech
was finished. Of the four or five thousand
present, very few heard the address. That ad
dress belongs to the classes of literature, and
only one in one hundred million could perhaps
make one like it. But it shows that, in a speech,
1t Is not length, but weight that is needed
stand pefore you today with an equipment
entirely barren of some of the things possessed
by speakers of former years. First, / was not
a soldier In the war. have heard of The crack
ers stamped b. c., said to infer that they were
made before the Christian era. Second, | was
never on battlefield, and never saw Chicka-
manga, Gettysburg, Atlanta, Shiloh, Antletam,
the Wilderness or Nicksburg. Third, l was
never at Libby or Andersonville, and l have no
personal "reminiscences of army or navy.
This Is my country, its citizens are my fellows,
It's laws protect me, its honor is mine, its pros
pects, are mine. glory IN 1t, and God forbid
that i should ever be a traitor to it,
This day is Memorial day. not merely patriot
&c, like the Fourth of July. or like the last Thurs
lay in November, but rather like the Jewish
of which God said, This day shall be
INTO you for a memorial, remember this day.
'or by strength of hand. the Lord brought you
)ut" Or like the Lords supper, in memOriam.
when the boy laid down his fishing rod e and base
)all bat, the student dropped his books, the
blacksmith left his hammer upon the silent
lnvll. the farmer forsook his fields. they rushed
% arms and rose to heroic proportions.
We do not forget the eagerneSs of each day in
he long peril, the sckening suspense tho al
most heartbreaking, the shame, the sorrow, the
oy, the glorious tumult of graduation which ac-
,Ompanied the long history, It's disasters. its
bloody battles, its delays, its slowly earned hon
RS, its final victories
POPE, Burnside, Hooker, Mead, Grant, come
Jack to us as symbols of periods in our own war
history rather than the names of men. Does
lot each year reveal the value of the nation, for
which our fathers, sons and brothers died? And |
ime must not deaden this act of remembrance |
my more than time shall deaden the act of our |
allegiance to Christ.
David Swing says "There cannot be Oratory |
a great theme" And surely the |
memory of our dead and living heroes is great |
heme.
Four great questions this nation has had to |
ette: First, the question In 1776 was citizen |
government: second, the questisn in 1912, was |
he sacredness of citizenship; third, the ques- |
ion I'm 1867 was the rights of citizens fourth
he question In 1868 was the liberty OF the citi-
ems.
In 177G the world was taught that kings are |
lot essential to good government, and that plain |
nipple and earnest men, called of God and by /
heir cOuntry's need, can found and administer
government of the people and by the people, |
lted to meet the needs of ALL
In 1912 the lesson was that the nation must |
acredly respect the shield thrown by the flag /
yer the humblest son, whether native or adopt |
al.
In 1867, that the most remote frontiersman.
hat he who violated them must meet the issue,
ven If the voice of cannon shall summon him to |
he bar of the nation.
In 1876, from the hills of Vermont, the wales |
{ Pennsylvania, the plains of Illinois, the beau
ful Peninsula state. the boys In blue went out i
meet the boys In gray from the rice fields of |
he Carolinas, the Cotton fields of Alabama, and |
he sugar plantations of Louisiana, for what? |
o answer the question, "Is our freedom a
elusion? Is the declaration of equal rights OF |
II to freedom, life and Joy, a fact or a fancy?"