The evening times., 1896-05-30

tol Hill; lodges OF the Junior Order Of
American Mechanics, Knights of Pythias
and other civic bodies, u company of citt-
zens, Farragut Post, Farragut octet, fol-
lowed by carriages conveying the COM
mander, orator, poet and other officers Of
the day.
Upon reaching the cemetery the process
sion proceeded at once to the platform,
which had been erected on an elevation to
the north OF the main entrance and about
midway between the circle and the west
gate, not far from the Rawlins monument.
SALUTE OF GUNS.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock a salute of guns
was fired by detachment of gunDers from
the Navy Yard. In calling the assembly TO
order and opening the exercises. DR.. Raub,
as master of ceremonies, said:
I've are assembled nere today to COM
memorate the noble Deeds the heroic ser
vices, tic self-sacrifices of our dead heroes;
to strew fragrant flowers on their graves,
and to cause the Flag for which they dared
and died to wave over them, and TO conse-
crate ourselves anew to the cause for which
they fought.
'Our meeting and the purpose that brings
us together is an annual reminder that to
make this nation what it Is today, to give
us the innumerable blessings this highly IA
vored land enjoys, more than half million
young men, tile flower OF our first born,
willingly laid down their lives. They died
that the nation might live, and their precious
blood was a rich conservation OF the nation
they redeemed.
I'VE meet on this consecrated ground,
amid waving trees and beautiful flowers,
amid lofty monuments and these silent
tombs, On this Memorial Day, to decorate
their graves-to show the loving affection
we bear the memory OF our fallen cOul-
rades."
Invocation followed by Rev. j. D. viii
son. The ode. 'Consolation," was rem
dered by the Farragut octet.
The orator of the day was Rev. W. E..
Parsons, pastor of the Luther Reformation
Church. DR.. Parsons said in part:
''Once more we meet in our annual decora-
ton festival 1t is a season of flowers and
beautiful memorials. Sorrow aud reioic-
ing mipgle. We do not want the memory
of brave men to perish.
LINCOLN'S MEMORABLE WORDS.
u reckon it among the red-letter days Of
memory, the day when, November 8. 1868,
] heard Abraham Lincoln utter those i'm
mortal words at Gettysburg. Edward Ev-
erett spoke for two hours; Lincoln spoke
for two minutes.
HE sci the spirit forth in which We must
conduct all dedication and decoration cX-
erceises. 1t is tho conservation OF our
selves to more patriotic devotion.
There are those who affect to cry down
this matter of fsentiment: whucall pa triotism
foolish. and laugh at the Old Latin quota
tion about it's being sweet and proper to
die for ones country. Fortunately, the
nations existence does not hang upon such
crayens
Patriotism is not a mere sentiment. 1t
is a devotion as real and deep as any human
feeling Tomorrow, If the need should
rise, a million men would take up arms for
liberty, 10 defend a principle, to fall, il
need be-
The speaker then referred at some length
10 the old soldiers who lost their lives ii
the Ford's Theaier disaster. He rUundiy
scored the causes for that ''unpard ona ble
blunder.' and the ,ardy action Of Congress
i'll meageriy compensating the sufferers a nj
denounced the treatment accorded the war
scared veterans who were injured in he
THEGRAyEsD DECORATED.
At the conclusion Of the adtlre IS the band
rendered selection. C. E. Myers :ang a
solo. Memorial hymn. the octet Joining
in the chorus. Mr.. ID. C. Haywood read
DR. Caivin's poem, .'Is this the end?'' in
patriotic manner
Cover Them Over with Beautiful Flow
ers'' was sung by the octet. and the Sol
ders' Home Band rendered Prayer
from FrieschU;z. After the beaedictiOn
had been pronounced by Rev. j. d. Wilson,
the eutire assembly Joined in singing
America"
AT the conclusion OF the program the
graves OF the dead soldiers were strewn
with beautiful flowers by the Sunday
school children and committees from the
Women's Loyal Legion, and the Woman's
Relief Corps.