The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-09
JOHN ]. IRVING HoNoRED.
The Veteran Legion Holds Memorial
Services.

The heavy ownfal Of rain last even
ing prevented a large attendance at the
memorial services held in Humboldt Hall
by Encampment No. 81, Union Veteran
Legion.
Grape, stood erect in the centre of the
a vacant chair covered with black in
token of the absence of the departed
comrade, John ]. ~Irving. He was a
brave and daring soldier, a member of
Company G, Fifth New Jersey Regiment,
and captured the flag of the Eighteenth
North Carolina Regiment at Chancellors-
vile. A specialrprogramme of war music
was rendered by a male quartette,
Messrs. Welsh, Wetter, Barney and
Frazer. assisted by a boy choir, Masters
Wilson, Blackwell. Newton, Williams,
Hyslop, smedes. Ellison and Ryns. from
the Park Reformed Church. under the
Prof. w. F. Williams.
lieutenant Colonel Garrett A. Higbee,
Acting Colonel, presided; Colonel Edward
Donnelly, acting as Past Colonel, n in
their respective stations were acting
S1At w hO1lIl
Chaplain Storms, Major Kelly, Officer of
the Day Miller, Adjutant William Brown
ing and Quartermaster Sergeant Egan.
The services began with the singing of
Our Native Land" by the quartette,
followed by the opening of the encamp-
ment in due form according to the ritual
Of the Legion. The quartette and choir
then sang the song America" After a
presiding officer. the Legion prayer was
read by the Chaplain, and the singers
Beautifully rendered sThe Vacant
Chair" The following, as the roll Of
honor, was then read by Adjutant Brown
ing. accompanied by a roll of the drum
by Quartermaster Sergeant Egan:-
Record of Comrade John J.. Irving.
Enlisted August %, 1861, in Company G,
Fifth New Jersey Volunteers, as pri-
vate; mustered out September Z, 1864. af-
ter an honorable service Of three years;
mustered in Encampment No. 81, U. S.
Y. L. Died September u. 1885,"
Acting Lieutenant Colonel Wakefield
then stepped forward and in the name
OF the comrades placed in the vacant
chair a laurel wreath. The choir SANG
"Tenting on the. Old Camp Ground, and
Colonel Donnelly recited from the ritual
an address to the members Of the Legion
on patriotism and Fraternity sleep,
Comrades, Sleep was next sung. and
then was introduced the orator Of the
evening, the Rev. John Francis Morgan.
pastor of the Park Reformed Church.
EitSi expressing MS appreciation of
what he considered a compliment in be-
ing called upon to deliver the memorial
address, Mr.. Morgan said, in part, that
his acceptance of the invitation showed.
in his opinion, that he had no narrow
conceptions either as d citizen or min
lister; that man was the noblest work
of God; he not only cam from God but
was made in Gods own image. Man.
in comparison with any other being God
had made, stood alone as the greatest
of all, and the lives of men are developed
by adverse circumstances.
He then spoke eloquently of the great
men of the war and the noble sacrifice Of
those who left their homes and eyery-
thing they had dear, except their man
hood, and went to the front to battle.
saying this country must remain united,
and with a heroism that was couple
with that of a Lincoln, a Grant or a Sher-
man and hundreds of others almost equal
ly dear and entitled to honor"
He paid a high tribute to Comrade
Irving. Cover Them Over with Beau
tiful Flowers" was sung in solos and
chorus, followed by the Doxology and
the closing of the services. with the
benediction by the Rev. Mr.. Morgan. and
taps, Lights Out" which was made a
realism by the momentary turning off Of
the lights.