Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21
FOR MEMORIAL DAY
Department Commander McElroy's
General Order.
MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY
Additional Committees and Aids
de-Camp Appointed.
SERMON FOR VETERANS

Department Commander McElroy today
issued general order in relation to the
observance of Memorial day-Saturday,
May 30-by the Department of the Poto-
mac, Grand Army of the Republic. The
order reads as follows:
1.-THE most impressive rite Of ancient
Israel was the festival Of the Passover
This colored and shaped the life OF the
chosen people and united them In bonds
which the lapse Of scores OF centuries mas
not been able to weaken. 1t was the an
nual commemoration Of the deliverance
by the hand of God from imminent deadly
peril Of extinction Of race and religion.
At every anniversary Of that dellVerance
each Hebrew father gathered his 1aInlly
about him, all grit and shod for journey,
and carrying stats. The eldest son asked
his father the meaning OF this ceremony
and the father told the story OF Israel S
dire extremity and of the providentia! res
cue. from which dated their national NE
and great ess. With branch or hyssop
they spri1 killed. the door posts with the
blood of tie slain lamb that the Angel Oh
Death might see and pass by, and par
took of a hasty meal Of unleaVened bread
and bitter herbs.
Memorial day is the Passover of the
American people. 1t is the commemoratlon
of the new firth of freedom which came
to Sfter four years Of the bloody traFail
of war. 1t is an annual reminder that 10
make this alton what 1T is today, to give
us the innumerabe blessings this highly
favored land enjoys, more than hall a mil
lion young men.tne flower OF cur hrst Dorm
willingly laid down their lives 1hey dleo
that the nation might live, and their pre-
ciou3 blood was rich conservation OF the
nation they redeemed to the highest and
hottest aspirations of exalted humanity.
LAS Passover typiiied to the Jews SO
does Memorial day to the Americans SYM
bolize the highest possible human self-sac-
rifice and devotion for the national good,
combining with signal favor OF Goo 10
make that effort supremely effective.
Like the Jews, we should strive by rites,
ceremonies and public show to make the
observance of the day deeply impress
sive 3 possible upon the rising generation
that their thought may be shaped and
molled in a way that will influence their
whole future lives, and through them
transmit to future generations the most
exalted spirit of patriotism. which will be
the strongest guaranty OF the perpetual
ton of our nation and its glorious institu-
tons.
This is the reason for Memorial day.
This, in addition to the loving affection We
bear the memory Of our fallen comrades,
Is why we should unite, with our families
ana kinsmen, to make the public celebra-
ton of the day impressive in the highest
degree.
The Rev Arthur G. Rogers, pastor of
the Church Of Our Father, corner Of 18th
and l. streets northwest, will deliver a
memorial sermon on Memorial Sunday, the
2ith instant, at il o'clock am. AS 1t is
especially desired that the attendance upon
this occasion he as large as possible, it is
hoped that all comrades who possibly can
will assemble in front of the church, at
1919 am, on that day, wearing the Grand
Army badge conspicuously displayed on the
left breast.
The following named comrades are here
by constituted a committee on transporta-
ton and quarters: a. S. Taber s. Z.
Faunce, l.. Z. Williams, John johnson, H.
NJ. Gilman, Newton Ferree and John
Hawley.
Post commanders will forward at once
the names of such of the comrades Of their
posts as have died since December 81 1SgJ
The following additional appointments as
alds-de-camp on the staff Of the depart
ment commander are hereby announced:
X. w. Montgomery, Charles +. Noske F
H. Wagner, VIM. A. Mann, c. II. Daven-
port, Benz T. Rhodes, w. H. Partridge
H. q. Potter, P. o. Lawrence and Jesse H
Strickland The comrades thus appointed
will report for duty without delay to Com
rade James b. Carter chief of staff"
The executive committee on memorial
services has issued q notice inviting at
tentfon TO the growing tendency to make
Memorial day an occasion of frivolity and
amusement, and requesting cooperation
and aid to arrest this tendency and to Sc
cure such an observance of the day as will
make 1t what 1t was intended to he, a day
sacred to the memory Of the noble dead