Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-04-03
AN ENJOYABLE EVENT.
Elwcll Patriots Presented a Beautiful
Flag.

ElWJl PatTIotS Presented Beautiful
Flag.
Friday, March 20, was a gala day for
Amsbury COmmandeIy. |. Y. |. The
ladies' OF The w Y. Il | served sup
pei IL then hall to about 10 people.
In the evening beautiful II ~ was pre-
eented 10 the cOmmaudery III behalf Of
the people of Eiwell ana vicinity. The
hall was decorated with evergreen and
flags.
The exercises of the evening opened
with the song, The Red, " hIte and
Blue by II little girls, oIganlst Nettle
LathrOp. MI. and Mrs. Seeley Ans
bury rendered a number of musical ST
lecIlOns. After brief remarks 10y the
YeteTa s aud s5Veral Rotations chair
man McLachlau introduced X. >. MI
lei, who delivered ali excellent address
Of which we give synopsis.
1t IS with feelings of profound graft
tude and seuse OF the honor cOn-
ferred, that | accept your kind INVITA-
ton 10 address you on this OCCASION.
IL Is one 81 which any American Cltl-
Zen should feel PROUD. And | assure
you, / fully appreciate the honor done
me | see before me- many OF The udt
tlt-Sdcred veterans. who, lnOre than
thirty years ago braved the STORMS or
battle and the hardships of camp life
To preserve the union and the national
flag. Ii Is IN vain We decry all sentl~
ment as unworthy of citizens. Govern
ments owe their origin and peTpeLtuty
largely To sentiment. The best ana
OraYest men of every nation have been
inspired by deeds Oh nerOlsm ana our
nation has found its chief potency III
the sentiment OF loyal attachmenL 10
dii the interest typitied by the WORD
American.
O1ce 1t was noble To be called a RU-
mou; 50 to-day every true and loyal
cltlzen holds The world America the
dearest OF all names. Inc OTgaulZd-
ton Known as the e.. y. *. ana tDe
battlefield boys OF the |. V. |. are the
llvlng representatives Ot That vast host,
which more than thirty years ago
waged the republics battles. The prln-
clples Tor which they faced shot AMI
smell have trlumphed and been re-
affirmed tOr ali time, and the stars and
stripes ilJat proudly over uulIeu
country. There exists but one nation
"A government, one American SOIL We
rrJ nee IN freedoms victory and regret
only The price at which II was bought
| believe that the memory OF our late
civil war should not be entirely ObllteI
ated, and that were We 10 lay aside the
priceless boon IL would rob The present
age of the lessons Uf the past ana make
repetition of hat sad event a posi-
bihty. Generosity well becomes the
victor aud we hearty accord to the
ydnquished purity of motive and cour
age.
While we condemn the error OF their
course we cheerfully forgive il; but We
can never approve of the act. The
facts which our soldiers made history.
we Of today learn from books and hear
say. The record, off repeated, tend,
30 make us patriotic aud liberty low
iOg people, it fosters feeling of loyal
devotion 10 our country and its flag.
We mourn our soldier dead, we extol
their brave deeds and delight to repeal
he stlrriag record OF their devotion
of which we cannot speak too highly.
Go with me, If you please, to that
memorial tield al Gettysburg, the con
secrated spot made dear 70 the hearts OF
Americas sons and daughters. There
0n that bloody be d. beneath the scOrch
ng rays OF toe meridian sun the best
nd bravest shed their blood
Thy sleep beneath the stars. Oh,
brave. brave bOysl Time will MOI