The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-05-25

morning. 1t is a custom with the
Grand Army to ask some organization
of the National Guards. where such ex-
ist, to escort them to church and recog-
MIXING the eminent fitness of the First
battery, light artillery, N. G. u, that
body was selected to act on this oc-
caSion. There was a good attendance
OF the battery members and when the
line was formed it presented an I'M
posing appearance and attracted much
favorable attention from citizens.
The interior of the beautiful little
church was decorated with flowers
and Gags and presented a very pleasing
sight to those who attended. The ed
ifice was crowded to its fullest capac-
iy, the occasion calling out a great
many who were not members of either
of the organizations which attended
aservi,ee.
Rev H. B. Steelman delivered the
sermon: which was an able effort. The
text was from the 137th Psalm, fifth
and sixth verses: If ! forget thee,
oh, Jerusalem, let my right hand for
get its cunning, etc.
The reverend gentleman said this
passionate utterance was but the result
of an intense patriotism and that the
feeling alluded to was one of the
grandest which could take possession
of TIE human heart. He called atten-
ton TO the fact that the men who had
assembled there to worship as was the
custom. had at the time the dark
cloud of war lowered over the land
in those gloomy days of 81, gone down
on the fields of the sunny south and
fought for the preservation of the re-
public: that they were not actuated
by sordid motives, but by motives OF
good to the common country left home
and friends to engage in the sangulIn-
airy strife which resulted in cementmg
the nation together again stronger than
ever before.
on many a CORY field they had fough+
and many had died. Although but
child when the war was pending, he
could remember with distinctness the
days when he with his father, watched
the soldiers training for the strife. He
recalled vividly the letters which came
home from the southern states convey
ing the sad tidings Of the death on the
field of sons. husbands, fathers and
brothers and could yet hear ringing in
his ears the walls OF the bereaved who
mourned for the loved ones who went
down in the struggle.
Yet while the men who sat in front
of the speaker were at one time men
of war, today they were men CT peace.
No sooner was the battle ended; no
sooner had Lee and Grant shaken
hands with each other at AppomattoX,
than they became men of peace in very
truth They organized the association
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
and together with the foemen who once
crossed bayonets with them, they now
met once each year and blue and grey
united in paying a common tribute to
The dead. 1t was the soldier who
fought on the field who had respect for
those with whom he engaged in strife.
1t was the soldier who barred his breast
TO the Shot and she'll who could say
with the great commander, Let US
have peace" There are those who de-
sire to keep up sectional strife, but
they are nothing but designing politi-
clans who strive 10 attain ends for
their own personal aggrandizement
The speaker did not believe there eX-
listed today more loyal people than
those who live in what was once known
as the South" but which was now a
part OF the nation which knows no
north, no south, no east, no west. but
with Abraham Lincoln believes in a
united nation with malice toward
none and charity to ALL
The Grand Army Of the Republic is
responsible for Memorial Day, when
all go together to the graves of the
departed and strew sweet flowers ON
lux l1oS ItSlillS pldteS VI the QedQ- In
the democracy of the cemetery there
is nothing but equality. The old SOL
der has taught that tbs grave of the
unknown private shall be treated
with the same Difference as the gener-
al. When the tiny ones go to the silent
home of The dead heroes and lay the
garlands on the green sward which
covers their still forms they are
taught to revere the nameless one
equally with the one who reposes in the
never ending sleep underneath the
costly mOnolith.
Memorial Day will never perish in
the hearts Of the people of the nation.
Although the time is fast approaching
when the last man of the organization
viii have gone to the slumber which
awaits all mankind. there will be those
Is 40 viii come after who will keep the
memory of those who fought ever green
in their hearts. Some holidays have
had the purposes for which they are
celebrated, perverted and changed, but
this one viii never be so long as the
lesF>ons of patriotism which have been
taught are kept up.
The minister paid a glowing tribute
To the hero of the musket There are
many generals who have achieved
fame and distinction on the bloody
fed, who are entitled to all the honor
that a grateful country can give. but
TO the man VINO did the fighting in the
front r9sfk; who stood in the smoke
of the BEETLE with the leaden hail fall
ing around like rain drops Of the sum-
rner sky: who fought through the strife
from morning till evening and fell
as the sun went down: whose life blood
drenChed the sod as he breathed the
name OF some loved one and died he
all the glory that cam be ascribed nv
a lowing people.
The evening of the soldiers life is at
hand The old men whose heads ora
whitened by the fronts of the MANY
winters which have elapsed since the
white flag Of peace was hoisted on the
battle field viii soon be no more The
lines of the battles of the future Will
be made UP of the younger men who
are now training themselves for the
benefit of the common country. And
as the sun of the soldiers life sinks
TO rest be'iIind the western hills. and
Re hears the sound of the revielle above
sumnloning him to join the ranks of
his comrades gone befores TO answer to
the roll call up above he should pre-
pare himself TO become one of the
blessed IN the great nation where God
Is the ruler, where war never comes
and where the circle of friendship IS
never broken.
The musical exercises were very
pleasing. Mr.. Woodward, the tenor Of
the choir and Mrs. Randolph sang 2
duet. Jesus, Lover of My Soul'' and
the Y. M. c. A. ouartette rendered
'''The Dying Soldier"
: The choir and congregation sang
America" at the close with spirit and
energy and the veterans and escort
marched back to the hall. where the
battery received the thanks of Com
rnander Bishop for their coi1n,-feSv r.