Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-03
IN MEMORY OF SEDAN.
The Emperor william I. Church
Dedicated In Ucriin.

Dedicated In Bcriin.
The preliminary celebration in Berlin
OF the anniversary OF Sedan began Sunday
morning with the dedication Of the EN-
peror william Memorial church.
The weather was clear and bright
throughout the day. The wind was from
the northwest, and the temperature was
low. Crowds lined the streets from Belle
vue. in the Thiergarten. over the Her
cules bridge. 10 the kurfurstendamn.
Galleries had been erected opposite the
main entrance to the church, and they
were occupied BY 20J0 girls in light
colored dresses. \ new house. facing the
entrance OF the church and built in the
same style was covered with decorations.
The church itself was covered with flags,
banners. flowers, and garlands. Troops
lined the roadway in front OF the church.
and the German-Amer.can veterans held
a position around the porch commanding
the entrance.
At $50 O'Clock Sunday morning the ring
ing Of the church bells signalizel the
Emperor's crossing the Hercules bridge.
His Majesty rode with the Empress in
an open carriage with outriders, escorted
by a squadron Of body guards The
Crown Prince and his next younger broth
er. Prince Eitel Frederick. were
seated I'm the carriage opposite the En-
peror and Empress. Both Princes wore
the uniform OF the First Infantry Guard.
The Empress worea steel-gray gown Of silk
and a care bearing the ribbon Of the
Black Eagle. Her head-dress was
FlOrentlne straw bonnet with straw
herrv-coiored velvet ribbons When the
Emperor reached the top step Of the en-
trance to the church. Herr Won Wedel,
Of .. Ifnpal Hgr1n oil r.ec.I
him thus:
Upon the anniversary Of Gravelotte
the foundation stone OF the monument
TO the great Emperor William l. was
! laid Now, on the twenty-fifth anniversary
Of Sedan. your Majesty opens the church
which was built with the funds contri-
buted by the poor and rich equally,
| throughout the country, in memory of
the Emperor who. In his simple. religious
| feeling attributed all OF his great deeds
and victories 10 God. giving VI all In this
and coming ages an IMPRESSIVE example
! Of trust and belief in God. without whose
| aid we are unable 10 succeed. May Gods
| blessing be upon MS all as We come into
| this church VIII your Majesty now
| please receive the key from the arch-
! tect2'
The procession then entered the church.
headed by the Emperor. The Grand
lllfnF s. OF IHtNrE anu Alr I.tlillf-- l'l-
| lowed the Emperor. and then came the
Imperial princes. The colors Of the regi-
ment to which the royal persons be-
longed were placed on the right and left
Of the altar. The Emperor. Empress.
and the other members Of the Royal
family sat in choir-chairs Of carved oak,
placed at the left of the altar-steps.
Court-Chaplain Faber delivered an adj
dress. sketching the life Of William the
Great. IN which he praised that monarchs
childlike and supplemented piety kind
ness. and thOughifulness for the lowest
II his servants and his sincere fear Of
God After the liturgy. superintendent
Lange. VINO presided at the organ. be-
gan the musical part Of the ceremony.
Through some Misunderstanding he
started the music before the Amen" had
been pronounced causing an awkward
| break in the services. DR.. Muller
preached a sermon. After the cere-
monies at the church the Emperor, En-
press. and the rest Of the royal party.
preceded by Herr Won Wedel. left the
church by the centre aisle. At the steps
! they stopped while the bells rang. As
they left the steps the children. ranged
on each side OF the walk sang Die
Wachtam Rhein" The soldiers who had
been stationed near the church. headed
bv their bands OF music. and with colors
/ ayirg. then passed before the Emperor,
while the children sang Hell Dir i'm
ci.gerkrauz" While the children were
singing the Emperor and Empress en-
! tered their carriage and drove away
| After their departure the high officials
withdrew, and the German-American
| veterans together with the German yete-
ran societies entered the church and
marched up and down the aisles The
veterans were followed by the children
/ and several singing societies.
DISPATCHES were received In the eve
ming showing that almost everywhere in
! Germany the anniversary or Sedan was
! celebrated with much enthusiasm.
| Al Frankfort -on-th Main the cele-
hra,ion was especially noteworthy. Eigh-
| tas, thousand veterans with bands and
| banners marched to the Geological Car
dens where a grand banquet was given
rnormous crowds gathered along the
/ ro,,te followed by the veterans and
cbeered them again and again as they
! ,ossc1 In Munich there was a similar
} re,ehratlon. The city was decorated with
| oaas and bunting. and the streets We're
! crowded.
CELEBRATION CONTINUED.
prpIJN September 1.-The celebration
~ the twenty-hfth anniversary OF the
| fall of Sedan was continued to-day. The
sun shone brightly, and the weather was
perfect. Immense crowds OF slsht-seers
thronged the streets; AZ o'clock In the
morning Emperor Wiiilam reviewed .he
T,,rst Regiment Of the Guards before the
! ccbIoss and at the conclusion OF the
review personally decorated the standards
Of the troops with oak leaves. \ half
! hour later his Majesty started for the
battle-ground, where he was to hold
review Of the veterans OF the Franco
pruss,an war who had come from the
T-nItel states TO take part in the celebra-
tion OF the German victory.